bbc--2020-08-04--My Money: 'I eat biscuits like a naughty schoolboy'

My Money is a series looking at how people spend their money - and the sometimes tough decisions they have to make .
Here , Mark Bauwens from Gaillac in France takes us through a week in his life during the coronavirus pandemic .
Mark , 64 , is retired , `` sadly single '' and lives in south-west France .
He has a vegetarian house cat , a yard cat and five horses .
He shops at Lidl as well as French chain supermarkets together with open-air markets .
Variety might be the spice of life but buying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is more cost and time-effective .
Each day this week , I will broadly eat and drink similarly although the variety of meat , cheese and biscuits ( ! )
alters .
Breakfast .
Two slices of wholemeal bread with a slice of ham and cheese each and fresh fruit .
Washed down by real coffee .
Lunch .
10 min boil in the bag rice with fresh fish ( a treat in the summer season ) , paté and bread with home-grown tomatoes and salad .
Followed by fresh fruit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to half a packet of chocolate biscuits ( as I lose control ) , with the remainder for dinner , like a naughty , guilty schoolboy .
Chocolate is good for morale I 've read and it 's true !
Dinner .
Charcuterie ( slices of cold meats ) and cheese .
Oh , and more fresh fruit .
Finally , a few beers whilst watching TV .
More blogs from the BBC 's My Money Series : • UK : ' I wonder if my wallet or body will recover ? '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , I can get through today' We 're looking for more people to share what they spend their money on .
If you 're interested , please email my.money @ bbc.co.uk or get in touch via our My Money ( World ) Facebook group , or if you live in the UK , please join our My Money ( UK ) Facebook group and we 'll aim to contact you .
Mindful that Covid-19 has no known cure , effective treatment nor protection by vaccination , I continue my somewhat monastic diet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since starting , I 've gone from over 85kg down to just under 70kg to maximise my chances in the unlikely event I catch the virus , as all the government , medical and scientific advice as well as BBC News coverage indicates that being lean , active and fit is critical to survival and best recovery .
Each morning is spent riding , looking after the horses and afternoons looking after the fields in which the horses live in summer .
Manure for the fruits and vegetables I grow is not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to barter manure for bread , tractor diesel and car petrol .
A car-free life is totally impractical as although the supermarket is within riding distance a modern town is too dangerous for a horse and rider .
In a rural world , electric cars are impractical due to long distances , the paucity of charging points and their lack of range .
Country people drive in fields and tow heavy trailers which will never be compatible with electric cars .
It 's why economic diesel 4x4s proliferate .
I suppose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really become much worse , people might revert to a horse and cart in towns .
Working people might move and work from a new , country home .
Blackberries are in season this week as are red plums on the public rights of way .
Foraged the surplus to stew and freeze for winter .
The idyllic life in rural , south western France is breathtakingly wonderful and I never forget how lucky I am .
But the worst thing about the hen/cock , egg/chick facts of life is that today my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hens is due for the chop .
Barbecued chicken breast is one of my weekend favourites .
But one of the advantages of an iPhone diary is that entries are so easy to delete .
Hen reprieved for another week , I decide to buy a steak instead tomorrow .
Barbers were closed by law in France too and I bought an electric trimmer and in the evening I cut my own hair and beard .
I doubt that I 'll return to the barber again .
Saving €20 ( £18.06 ) plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vegetarian house cat eats nearly as much as I do , his bag of feed is always top of my list .
Specialist greengrocers to buy large trays of whatever is in season is not necessary this week ( it 's nectarines , peaches , green gauges , apricots , strawberries and melons , so quite a choice ) as I have blackberries and plums .
Total saved €18 for the next week .
The supermarket one-way system is still a challenge and I 've had to go around again , just too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from my mistakes .
In fact , I think I 've learnt the mistake .
Ominously , I 'm left next to the boulangerie section with pain aux raisins , pain au chocolat and chocolate gâteau shouting at me : `` Buy me , buy me , you know you want to ! ''
but just as I 'm about to succumb , the trolleys move forwards .
Gone but not forgotten .
Living on my own sadly , this is cleaning day .
I take a peculiar delight and pride in economising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The septic tank is sensitive to disinfectant and bleach which will kill that chemical process so I have good reason .
No invitation tonight to friends , so I 'll barbecue the steak treat .
That hen still looks confident .
Giving them names might be my mistake , perhaps numbers might work better ?
Or would that just remind me of how many `` awful deeds '' I perpetrated ?
To renew my annual hunting licence is one of my annual costs .
But it allows me to provide both small game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a share of large game ( red deer and boar ) for the winter kitchen usually as a heartwarming stew with foraged mushrooms , herbs , apples and supermarket fine pasta €1/1kg so it is especially cost-effective and welcome .
Cost €159.60 for the season with insurance .
Also have to order and pay for firewood for the woodburners , my only form of heating .
Cost €1,300 .
Stacking has become an art form in itself .
How does Mark feel about his week ?
Summer weeks are always full of sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of wasps keen to share .
Spend this week was typical of both summer and winter seasons .
My diet is always healthy and bio .
Summer salads last as they are not washed unlike the supermarket produce .

Mindful that Covid-19 has no known cure, effective treatment nor protection by vaccination, I continue my somewhat monastic diet, albeit a very healthy one. Since starting, I've gone from over 85kg down to just under 70kg to maximise my chances in the unlikely event I catch the virus, as all the government, medical and scientific advice as well as BBC News coverage indicates that being lean, active and fit is critical to survival and best recovery.


bbc--2020-08-04--Bryan scores twice in extra time as Fulham beat Brentford to return to Premier League

Fulham beat Brentford in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to two extra-time goals from Joe Bryan .
The left-back caught Bees goalkeeper David Raya off guard with a free-kick from 40 yards in the 105th minute of the game at Wembley , with the Spaniard expecting a cross and then unable to scamper back and save Bryan 's skidding low effort .
With the Bees pouring forward in search of an equaliser , Bryan burst forward and combined with Aleksandar Mitrovic before stabbing past Raya to make the game safe with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a goal back with a header from eight yards out in the fourth minute of added time , but it was too late for the Bees to spark a comeback .
The goals from Bryan were two rare moments of quality and quick-thinking in an otherwise cagey encounter between the two west London rivals , which finished goalless after 90 minutes .
• Football Daily podcast : Fulham are promoted to the Premier League Scott Parker celebrated wildly at full-time having led Fulham to promotion in his first full season as manager .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from top-flight relegation after replacing Claudio Ranieri in February 2019 , but can now prepare them for a 15th campaign in the Premier League .
Parker was unable to call on top scorer Mitrovic , returning from injury , from the start - but the Serbia international showed composure to tee-up Bryan for the crucial second goal with a slick one-two inside the box .
Ivan Cavaleiro almost made it 3-0 for Fulham in the closing stages when he was denied by Raya , and Dalsgaard 's header came far too late to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had only scored once this season for the Whites heading into the game , but the 26-year-old ended up being the hero as his goals secured a promotion which could be worth £135m over the next three years .
Parker has transformed Fulham 's fortunes following their relegation last summer - as the Whites suffered 26 defeats and conceded 81 goals over the course of the 2018-19 league campaign .
They were among the favourites to go straight back up pre-season , but were unable to overhaul Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign halted for three months by the coronavirus crisis .
Mitrovic missed both legs of their semi-final win against Cardiff through injury , and the Championship 's golden boot winner was only fit enough for a place on the bench .
Despite the 25-year-old 's absence , Parker 's side had the better chances in a low-key first 90 minutes , with Raya twice saving from Josh Onomah in the first half .
However , midfielder Harrison Reed was fortunate to only see yellow for a crunching challenge on Christian Norgaard before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free-kick into the side-netting soon after the restart and Bobby Decordova-Reid stabbed an effort wide from 12 yards out .
Meanwhile , Marek Rodak 's only save of note came in the second half when the Slovakian tipped over a fierce effort from Brentford 's Ollie Watkins .
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank will be left wondering where things went wrong , as his side spurned another chance to win promotion to the top flight .
Brentford needed four points from their final two games of the season against Stoke and Barnsley to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finish third .
His prolific forward line of Said Benrahma , Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins had netted 59 goals between them in 2019-20 , but were unable to produce clear-cut openings against a stubborn Fulham backline .
The Bees have assembled a young and attacking squad via a recruitment model largely based on analytics , but Frank will now face a battle to hang on to Watkins and Benrahma , who are likely be the subject of transfer interest from Premier League clubs .
It is Brentford 's fourth play-off final defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win promotion in nine play-off campaigns - setting a new English Football League record .
Their exile from the top flight will stretch into a 74th year as the Bees move into their new 17,500-capacity stadium at Lionel Road ahead of the start of next season .
Former England midfielder Parker said he was proud that players involved in last season 's disastrous Premier League campaign had bounced back .
`` We 've done what we 've done tonight , but there 's still improvement , and that 's what makes me so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` For all of the good players and everything you see , what makes me so happy I see a group of players who only a year ago were struggling psychologically , did n't have a mindset or mentality .
`` I 've driven this team every single day and what makes me proud is I stood on the touchline tonight and seen a team that represents what I 've been saying over the last 12 months . ''
Brentford boss Frank was also full of praise for his side .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Fulham , Scott Parker , his coaching staff and everyone involved , '' the Dane said .
`` Of course it 's tough when you lose a final like this in a very tight game but I 'm extremely proud of my players .
`` We have gone from a mid-table club to a team who , in the league table , was the third-best team .
`` We are very fine margins away from the Premier League , which is an incredible achievement from us . ''
• From gamer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the track ?
• The UK 's most unusual festivals : From Cheese Rolling to Gravy Wrestling Championships

Last updated on .From the section Championship
Fulham will join Leeds and West Brom in the Premier League
Fulham beat Brentford in the Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League thanks to two extra-time goals from Joe Bryan.
The left-back caught Bees goalkeeper David Raya off guard with a free-kick from 40 yards in the 105th minute of the game at Wembley, with the Spaniard expecting a cross and then unable to scamper back and save Bryan's skidding low effort.
With the Bees pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Bryan burst forward and combined with Aleksandar Mitrovic before stabbing past Raya to make the game safe with three minutes remaining.
Henrik Dalsgaard pulled a goal back with a header from eight yards out in the fourth minute of added time, but it was too late for the Bees to spark a comeback.
The goals from Bryan were two rare moments of quality and quick-thinking in an otherwise cagey encounter between the two west London rivals, which finished goalless after 90 minutes.
Scott Parker celebrated wildly at full-time having led Fulham to promotion in his first full season as manager.
The 39-year-old was unable to save them from top-flight relegation after replacing Claudio Ranieri in February 2019, but can now prepare them for a 15th campaign in the Premier League.
Parker was unable to call on top scorer Mitrovic, returning from injury, from the start - but the Serbia international showed composure to tee-up Bryan for the crucial second goal with a slick one-two inside the box.
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya was caught out by Joe Bryan's 40-yard free-kick
Ivan Cavaleiro almost made it 3-0 for Fulham in the closing stages when he was denied by Raya, and Dalsgaard's header came far too late to set up a Bees comeback.
Bryan had only scored once this season for the Whites heading into the game, but the 26-year-old ended up being the hero as his goals secured a promotion which could be worth £135m over the next three years.
Fulham show resolve to win
Parker has transformed Fulham's fortunes following their relegation last summer - as the Whites suffered 26 defeats and conceded 81 goals over the course of the 2018-19 league campaign.
They were among the favourites to go straight back up pre-season, but were unable to overhaul Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion as they stuttered at certain points of a campaign halted for three months by the coronavirus crisis.
Mitrovic missed both legs of their semi-final win against Cardiff through injury, and the Championship's golden boot winner was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
Fulham captain Tom Cairney lifted the trophy at an empty Wembley
Despite the 25-year-old's absence, Parker's side had the better chances in a low-key first 90 minutes, with Raya twice saving from Josh Onomah in the first half.
However, midfielder Harrison Reed was fortunate to only see yellow for a crunching challenge on Christian Norgaard before the break.
Neeskens Kebano sent a free-kick into the side-netting soon after the restart and Bobby Decordova-Reid stabbed an effort wide from 12 yards out.
Meanwhile, Marek Rodak's only save of note came in the second half when the Slovakian tipped over a fierce effort from Brentford's Ollie Watkins.
Bees create unwanted history
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank will be left wondering where things went wrong, as his side spurned another chance to win promotion to the top flight.
Brentford needed four points from their final two games of the season against Stoke and Barnsley to go up automatically but lost both matches to finish third.
Ollie Watkins finished joint top-scorer in the Championship with Aleksandar Mitrovic - both with 26 goals
His prolific forward line of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins had netted 59 goals between them in 2019-20, but were unable to produce clear-cut openings against a stubborn Fulham backline.
The Bees have assembled a young and attacking squad via a recruitment model largely based on analytics, but Frank will now face a battle to hang on to Watkins and Benrahma, who are likely be the subject of transfer interest from Premier League clubs.
It is Brentford's fourth play-off final defeat, and they have now failed to win promotion in nine play-off campaigns - setting a new English Football League record.
Their exile from the top flight will stretch into a 74th year as the Bees move into their new 17,500-capacity stadium at Lionel Road ahead of the start of next season.
'Struggling psychologically a year ago'
Matchwinner Joe Bryan (left) was part of the Fulham squad relegated from the Premier League
Former England midfielder Parker said he was proud that players involved in last season's disastrous Premier League campaign had bounced back.
"We've done what we've done tonight, but there's still improvement, and that's what makes me so proud and happy," he added.
"For all of the good players and everything you see, what makes me so happy I see a group of players who only a year ago were struggling psychologically, didn't have a mindset or mentality.
"I've driven this team every single day and what makes me proud is I stood on the touchline tonight and seen a team that represents what I've been saying over the last 12 months."
Brentford boss Frank was also full of praise for his side.
"First I would like to say congratulations to Fulham, Scott Parker, his coaching staff and everyone involved," the Dane said.
"Of course it's tough when you lose a final like this in a very tight game but I'm extremely proud of my players.
"We have gone from a mid-table club to a team who, in the league table, was the third-best team.
"We are very fine margins away from the Premier League, which is an incredible achievement from us."


bbc--2020-08-04--Ireland chase 329 to stun England with Stirling and Balbirnie scoring centuries

Ireland stunned England in a thrilling third one-day international , completing a chase of 329 with one ball to spare at the Ageas Bowl .
Paul Stirling smashed 142 off 128 balls and captain Andrew Balbirnie 113 off 112 , sharing a superb stand of 214 for the second wicket .
Stirling was run out with 65 needed and Balbirnie holed out 15 runs later , but Ireland held their nerve to seal a seven-wicket victory in the final match of a series England won 2-1 .
Kevin O'Brien and Harry Tector , who put on an unbroken 50 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over as Ireland claimed only their second win over England in ODIs .
James Vince dropped Stirling on 95 and 139 , Tom Banton put down Tector on 19 and a ragged England bowled several costly wides and no-balls late on .
Eoin Morgan 's 84-ball 106 looked to have put them on course for victory .
Morgan and Banton , who made 58 , added 146 but both fell in quick succession in a collapse of 4-26 as England failed to take full advantage of being 190-3 in the 27th over .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ without many key players who are part of the Test squad , should have defended their total .
It was Ireland 's highest successful chase in ODIs , beating their famous pursuit against England at the 2011 World Cup , and gave them 10 points in the qualification league for the 2023 World Cup .
• What we learned from England 's series win The Ireland top order were abject in the first two matches of this series before firing in stunning fashion .
Faced with little choice but to attack , opener @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the empty stands , targeting a short leg-side boundary .
He took a fancy to Saqib Mahmood early on and then attacked leg-spinner Adil Rashid , England 's key bowler in recent years , by slog-sweeping him over the rope on three occasions .
Balbirnie , who , like Stirling , had struggled this series , played a more steady hand , accumulating rather than opting for power strokes .
The mix-up that saw Tom Curran run out Stirling and a poor shot from Balbirnie - he hit Rashid to long-on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost Ireland , but 20-year-old Tector and O'Brien held on .
The chase was the highest successful chase by a visiting team in England in ODIs , coming from a team 11th in the International Cricket Council rankings .
It was O'Brien , the man who made an unbeaten 113 off 63 balls in Bangalore , who hit the winning run which resulted in Irish cheers ringing around the empty stadium .
It was a jubilant night for Ireland but a disappointing one for England as they lost their grip on the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without captain Morgan in the field .
He sat out the Ireland innings because of a groin injury , with Moeen Ali leading the side .
The drops of Stirling were difficult , while Tector was reprieved when Banton misjudged a chance at long-on .
The game was in the balance after the wickets of Stirling and Balbirnie and with 42 needed from 27 balls .
David Willey then bowled a waist-high full toss that was thumped for six by O'Brien and followed that with a wide .
Ireland were strong favourites going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but another no-ball on height from Mahmood did not help England .
Morgan said afterwards that a score of 360 or 370 could have been possible , but the loss of him and Banton in quick succession prevented that .
Jason Roy was out in the first over for the second game in a row , Vince followed knocks of 25 and 16 with another 16 to do little to quieten calls for him to be dropped , and Moeen Ali failed again , chipping a simple catch to short extra cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from player of the series Willey , who continued his impressive all-round form , and Tom Curran 's unbeaten 38 , England may not have reached 250 . '
A special day for Ireland ' - what they said England captain Eoin Morgan : `` Full credit to Ireland - they outplayed us today .
We had an average day and stuttered throughout .
`` It was in and around a par score but the wicket got better and Ireland played better than they had in the last two games . ''
Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Special : `` It 's a special day for Ireland - to get a win against England on their home turf - but to get 10 points on the board is the most important thing .
We 're delighted with that . ''
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie : `` I feel ecstatic .
We did n't play our best cricket in the first two games but to put in that performance , particularly with the bat , gives us confidence that we can compete with the best whenever those fixtures come about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ win . ''
Former England batsman Michael Carberry : `` Ireland looked dead and buried after the two defeats but the fight they 've shown ... '' They dug in with the ball at the back end - there were times when it looked like England were going to post something huge but Ireland just kept chipping away .
They were special with the bat . ''
• From gamer to professional racer : How did simulation lead to the track ?
• The UK 's most unusual festivals : From Cheese Rolling @ @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Third one-day international, Ageas Bowl, Southampton England 328 (49.5 overs): Morgan 106, Banton 58, Willey 51 Ireland 329-3 (49.5 overs): Stirling 143, Balbirnie 113 Ireland won by seven wickets; England won series 2-1 Scorecard
Ireland stunned England in a thrilling third one-day international, completing a chase of 329 with one ball to spare at the Ageas Bowl.
Paul Stirling smashed 142 off 128 balls and captain Andrew Balbirnie 113 off 112, sharing a superb stand of 214 for the second wicket.
Stirling was run out with 65 needed and Balbirnie holed out 15 runs later, but Ireland held their nerve to seal a seven-wicket victory in the final match of a series England won 2-1.
Kevin O'Brien and Harry Tector, who put on an unbroken 50, scored the eight needed off the final over as Ireland claimed only their second win over England in ODIs.
James Vince dropped Stirling on 95 and 139, Tom Banton put down Tector on 19 and a ragged England bowled several costly wides and no-balls late on.
Eoin Morgan's 84-ball 106 looked to have put them on course for victory.
Morgan and Banton, who made 58, added 146 but both fell in quick succession in a collapse of 4-26 as England failed to take full advantage of being 190-3 in the 27th over.
Still, the world champions, albeit without many key players who are part of the Test squad, should have defended their total.
It was Ireland's highest successful chase in ODIs, beating their famous pursuit against England at the 2011 World Cup, and gave them 10 points in the qualification league for the 2023 World Cup.
Bangalore repeated in Southampton
The Ireland top order were abject in the first two matches of this series before firing in stunning fashion.
Faced with little choice but to attack, opener Stirling cut loose and launched six sixes into the empty stands, targeting a short leg-side boundary.
He took a fancy to Saqib Mahmood early on and then attacked leg-spinner Adil Rashid, England's key bowler in recent years, by slog-sweeping him over the rope on three occasions.
Balbirnie, who, like Stirling, had struggled this series, played a more steady hand, accumulating rather than opting for power strokes.
The mix-up that saw Tom Curran run out Stirling and a poor shot from Balbirnie - he hit Rashid to long-on with the required rate comfortable - could have cost Ireland, but 20-year-old Tector and O'Brien held on.
The chase was the highest successful chase by a visiting team in England in ODIs, coming from a team 11th in the International Cricket Council rankings.
It was O'Brien, the man who made an unbeaten 113 off 63 balls in Bangalore, who hit the winning run which resulted in Irish cheers ringing around the empty stadium.
England fluff their lines
It was a jubilant night for Ireland but a disappointing one for England as they lost their grip on the game with bat and ball.
They were without captain Morgan in the field. He sat out the Ireland innings because of a groin injury, with Moeen Ali leading the side.
The drops of Stirling were difficult, while Tector was reprieved when Banton misjudged a chance at long-on.
The game was in the balance after the wickets of Stirling and Balbirnie and with 42 needed from 27 balls.
David Willey then bowled a waist-high full toss that was thumped for six by O'Brien and followed that with a wide.
Ireland were strong favourites going into the final over with eight required, but another no-ball on height from Mahmood did not help England.
Morgan said afterwards that a score of 360 or 370 could have been possible, but the loss of him and Banton in quick succession prevented that.
Jason Roy was out in the first over for the second game in a row, Vince followed knocks of 25 and 16 with another 16 to do little to quieten calls for him to be dropped, and Moeen Ali failed again, chipping a simple catch to short extra cover for one.
Without a 42-ball 51 from player of the series Willey, who continued his impressive all-round form, and Tom Curran's unbeaten 38, England may not have reached 250.
'A special day for Ireland' - what they said
England captain Eoin Morgan: "Full credit to Ireland - they outplayed us today. We had an average day and stuttered throughout.
"It was in and around a par score but the wicket got better and Ireland played better than they had in the last two games."
Ireland batsman Paul Stirling on BBC Test Match Special: "It's a special day for Ireland - to get a win against England on their home turf - but to get 10 points on the board is the most important thing. We're delighted with that."
Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie: "I feel ecstatic. We didn't play our best cricket in the first two games but to put in that performance, particularly with the bat, gives us confidence that we can compete with the best whenever those fixtures come about. It's very satisfying to get the win."
Former England batsman Michael Carberry: "Ireland looked dead and buried after the two defeats but the fight they've shown...
"They dug in with the ball at the back end - there were times when it looked like England were going to post something huge but Ireland just kept chipping away. They were special with the bat."


bbc--2020-08-04--Ferran Torres: Man City sign Valencia winger

Manchester City have completed the signing of Valencia winger Ferran Torres for 23m euros ( £20.87m ) .
He is City 's first summer signing and replaces Germany forward Leroy Sane , who left on 3 July for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich .
`` Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football , '' Torres said .
• ' I want to be the best ' - Ferran Torres speaks to Guillem Balague '' I am so happy to be joining City . ''
City 's director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have followed Ferran 's progress closely and have been very impressed .
`` He is young and still developing , but his technical qualities are exactly what we are looking for in a winger .
He is quick , direct , can create space with one movement and is capable of producing match-winning moments . ''
City have also had a £40m bid for Bournemouth centre-back Nathan Ake accepted .
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page .
• From gamer to professional racer : How did simulation lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most unusual festivals : From Cheese Rolling to Gravy Wrestling Championships

Last updated on .From the section Man City
Ferran Torres has made five appearances for Spain Under-21s
Manchester City have completed the signing of Valencia winger Ferran Torres for 23m euros (£20.87m).
He is City's first summer signing and replaces Germany forward Leroy Sane, who left on 3 July for Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract.
"Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football," Torres said.
"I am so happy to be joining City."
City's director of football Txiki Begiristain added: "We have followed Ferran's progress closely and have been very impressed.
"He is young and still developing, but his technical qualities are exactly what we are looking for in a winger. He is quick, direct, can create space with one movement and is capable of producing match-winning moments."
City have also had a £40m bid for Bournemouth centre-back Nathan Ake accepted.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


bbc--2020-08-04--Jadon Sancho: Man Utd and Borussia Dortmund far apart in valuation

Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund remain far apart in their valuation of England forward Jadon Sancho .
It had been reported United had agreed personal terms with Sancho , but BBC Sport understands that is not the case .
The Red Devils have made Sancho their number one transfer target this summer .
Dortmund want about £100m for the 20-year-old and say they want a deal to be done by 10 August so they can get on with their pre-season campaign with no distractions .
United feel that sum - which would be a record for a British player - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic , which has cost top-flight clubs in Europe an estimated £3.5bn during the 2019-20 season .
United remain keen on Sancho but are wary of repeating the mistake they made in giving Alexis Sanchez a contract worth £400,000 a week .
The club are attempting to agree a deal that would allow the Chilean , who has two years left on his deal , to join Inter Milan .
Forwards Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood and goalkeeper David de Gea have all signed new deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United would not want to put themselves into a position where they have to revisit them .
While this could be viewed as the start of hard negotiations on both sides , United do have the option of looking at alternatives .
And , although this seems unlikely , BBC Sport has been told they will do that unless Dortmund step back significantly from their current position .
• From gamer to professional racer : How did simulation lead to the track ?
• The UK 's most unusual festivals : From Cheese @ @ @ @ @

Sancho joined Dortmund from Manchester City in August 2017
Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund remain far apart in their valuation of England forward Jadon Sancho.
It had been reported United had agreed personal terms with Sancho, but BBC Sport understands that is not the case.
The Red Devils have made Sancho their number one transfer target this summer.
Dortmund want about £100m for the 20-year-old and say they want a deal to be done by 10 August so they can get on with their pre-season campaign with no distractions.
United feel that sum - which would be a record for a British player - is unrealistic and does not take into account the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has cost top-flight clubs in Europe an estimated £3.5bn during the 2019-20 season.
United remain keen on Sancho but are wary of repeating the mistake they made in giving Alexis Sanchez a contract worth £400,000 a week. The club are attempting to agree a deal that would allow the Chilean, who has two years left on his deal, to join Inter Milan.
Forwards Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood and goalkeeper David de Gea have all signed new deals in the past 13 months, and United would not want to put themselves into a position where they have to revisit them.
While this could be viewed as the start of hard negotiations on both sides, United do have the option of looking at alternatives.
And, although this seems unlikely, BBC Sport has been told they will do that unless Dortmund step back significantly from their current position.


bbc--2020-08-04--Spain and Real Madrid 'legend' Casillas retires aged 39

Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has retired from football at the age of 39 .
Casillas made 725 appearances for Real during a 16-year career at the Bernabeu , winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns .
He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and two successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012 .
Casillas joined Porto in 2015 but has not played since suffering a heart attack during training in April 2019 .
During his recovery he was given a role on the club 's coaching staff in July 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , winning two Primeira Liga titles and one Portuguese Cup .
Casillas won 167 international caps for Spain between 2000 and 2016 .
Only Sergio Ramos has made more appearances for the national side .
Real Madrid defender Ramos posted a photo of himself with Casillas on Twitter as a tribute to his former team-mate .
Announcing his retirement on Twitter , Casillas said : `` The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you , not the destination to which it takes you .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that it has been the path and the dream destination . ''
Real Madrid said Casillas , who joined the Spanish giants at the age of nine , was the best goalkeeper in the 118-year history of the club .
`` Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation , admiration and love for one of the greatest legends of our club and world football , '' read a statement on the club 's website .
`` Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation ( RFEF ) , before later withdrawing because of the `` exceptional social , economic and health situation '' the country was suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Iker Casillas made 167 appearances for Spain, the country's second-most capped player
Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has retired from football at the age of 39.
Casillas made 725 appearances for Real during a 16-year career at the Bernabeu, winning three Champions League titles and five La Liga crowns.
He also helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and two successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
Casillas joined Porto in 2015 but has not played since suffering a heart attack during training in April 2019.
During his recovery he was given a role on the club's coaching staff in July 2019.
He made 156 appearances for the Portuguese side, winning two Primeira Liga titles and one Portuguese Cup.
Casillas won 167 international caps for Spain between 2000 and 2016. Only Sergio Ramos has made more appearances for the national side.
Real Madrid defender Ramos posted a photo of himself with Casillas on Twitter as a tribute to his former team-mate.
Announcing his retirement on Twitter external-link , Casillas said: "The important thing is the path you travel and the people who accompany you, not the destination to which it takes you.
"I think I can say, without hesitation, that it has been the path and the dream destination."
Real Madrid said Casillas, who joined the Spanish giants at the age of nine, was the best goalkeeper in the 118-year history of the club.
"Real Madrid wants to show its appreciation, admiration and love for one of the greatest legends of our club and world football," read a statement on the club's website.
"Iker Casillas belongs to the heart of Real Madrid and will be so forever."
In February, he announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), before later withdrawing because of the "exceptional social, economic and health situation" the country was suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic.


bbc--2020-08-04--Premier League clubs in European cups to get delayed start to new season

Premier League clubs involved in the latter stages of European cup competitions will be given a delayed start to the 2020-21 season .
Precise details around the calendar for next season will not be decided until later this month .
But it has already been decided in principle that all clubs should be given a minimum amount of time off .
Manchester City and Chelsea are in the Champions League with Manchester United and Wolves in the Europa League .
A 30-day period has generally been accepted , which would mean any club involved in the 'Final Eight ' stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not start their campaigns on 12 September when the new Premier League will begin .
Manchester City take a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid into their Champions League last-16 second leg tie at Etihad Stadium on Friday .
Should they reach the final in Lisbon on 23 August , they will miss the first two weekends of the new campaign .
The same is also true for either Manchester United or Wolves , if either were to reach the Europa League final in Cologne on 21 August .
United and Wolves play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday and Thursday this week .
United lead Austrian side LASK 5-0 while Wolves drew 1-1 with Olympiakos in March .
A decision still needs to be made about a delayed start for the teams who get knocked out in last-16 ties this week .
This could include Chelsea , who are 3-0 down after the home leg of their tie against Bayern Munich .
While those clubs would have 30 days between their final game and the opening weekend of the season , given the restart comes immediately after an international break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of friendlies those clubs could arrange before their first competitive match .
Speaking on Tuesday United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said `` Hopefully we will get some help if we go through to the end .
`` I 'll look after the players , we 'll give the players time off to recharge , maybe a couple of weeks . ''
Solskjaer gave little away when asked about the benefit of getting transfers completed early now the 2020 summer transfer window is open .
Borussia Dortmund have set a 10 August deadline for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward Jadon Sancho - who is United 's top summer transfer target .
`` This transfer window is a long one and every transfer takes its course , '' Solskjaer added .
`` At the moment , I 've got no updates for you .
If there 's any news , we 'll update you . ''

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester United have played nine games so far in the 2019-20 Europa League
Premier League clubs involved in the latter stages of European cup competitions will be given a delayed start to the 2020-21 season.
Precise details around the calendar for next season will not be decided until later this month.
But it has already been decided in principle that all clubs should be given a minimum amount of time off.
Manchester City and Chelsea are in the Champions League with Manchester United and Wolves in the Europa League.
A 30-day period has generally been accepted, which would mean any club involved in the 'Final Eight' stages of the Champions League or Europa League will not start their campaigns on 12 September when the new Premier League will begin.
Manchester City take a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid into their Champions League last-16 second leg tie at Etihad Stadium on Friday. Should they reach the final in Lisbon on 23 August, they will miss the first two weekends of the new campaign.
The same is also true for either Manchester United or Wolves, if either were to reach the Europa League final in Cologne on 21 August.
United and Wolves play their last-16 Europa League second-leg ties on Wednesday and Thursday this week. United lead Austrian side LASK 5-0 while Wolves drew 1-1 with Olympiakos in March.
A decision still needs to be made about a delayed start for the teams who get knocked out in last-16 ties this week. This could include Chelsea, who are 3-0 down after the home leg of their tie against Bayern Munich.
While those clubs would have 30 days between their final game and the opening weekend of the season, given the restart comes immediately after an international break, it would severely limit the number of friendlies those clubs could arrange before their first competitive match.
Speaking on Tuesday United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said "Hopefully we will get some help if we go through to the end.
"I'll look after the players, we'll give the players time off to recharge, maybe a couple of weeks."
Solskjaer gave little away when asked about the benefit of getting transfers completed early now the 2020 summer transfer window is open.
Borussia Dortmund have set a 10 August deadline for any club to agree a deal for forward Jadon Sancho - who is United's top summer transfer target.
"This transfer window is a long one and every transfer takes its course," Solskjaer added.
"At the moment, I've got no updates for you. If there's any news, we'll update you."


bbc--2020-08-04--Hamilton's tyre failed at British GP after 'extremely long use' says manufacturer

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli says the failures suffered by three cars near the end of the British Grand Prix were caused by `` extremely long use '' on a demanding circuit .
Pirelli said tyres had been stressed by teams running long stints after early pit stops under a safety car .
It said the increased speeds of the 2020 cars had also contributed .
• None 'The most dramatic ending I can remember' Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola said he believed the right-rear tyre failure that triggered Daniil Kvyat 's Alpha Tauri to crash on lap 12 was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , but he said that the tyre had been sent back the company 's base in Milan for further investigation .
This was the incident that prompted the safety car that led to the early pit stops .
Pirelli is sticking with its decision to supply softer tyres for this weekend 's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix , which will also be held at Silverstone , but is stipulating increased minimum tyre pressures `` to reduce the stress on the construction '' .
Lewis Hamilton narrowly held on for victory in Sunday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the final lap , as he was heading down the Wellington Straight after Turn Five , the Loop .
But his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas lost second place with his failure two laps earlier , and Sainz dropped out of fifth place with his on the penultimate lap .
Hamilton said after the race that Mercedes had been told by Pirelli that the team `` could do almost a whole race distance with it but [ I do n't know ] whether or not that 's at the pace we were going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race led to `` the most challenging operating conditions for tyres '' .
Its statement added : `` The second safety-car period prompted nearly all the teams to bring forward their planned pit stop and so carry out a particularly long final stint : around 40 laps , which is more than three-quarters the total race length on one of the most demanding tracks of the calendar .
`` Combined with the notably increased pace of the 2020 F1 cars ( pole position was 1.2 seconds faster compared to 2019 ) this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Prix especially tough , as a consequence of the biggest forces ever seen on tyres generated by the fastest F1 cars in history . ''
It added that these factors `` placed the left-front tyre under maximum stress for a very high number of laps , with the resulting wear meaning that it was less protected from the extreme forces in play '' .

Race winner Lewis Hamilton examines his punctured front left tyre after the British Grand Prix
Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli says the failures suffered by three cars near the end of the British Grand Prix were caused by "extremely long use" on a demanding circuit.
Both Mercedes and the McLaren of Carlos Sainz suffered left-front failures in the final three laps of Sunday's race.
Pirelli said tyres had been stressed by teams running long stints after early pit stops under a safety car.
It said the increased speeds of the 2020 cars had also contributed.
Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola said he believed the right-rear tyre failure that triggered Daniil Kvyat's Alpha Tauri to crash on lap 12 was "probably caused by a slow puncture", but he said that the tyre had been sent back the company's base in Milan for further investigation. This was the incident that prompted the safety car that led to the early pit stops.
Pirelli is sticking with its decision to supply softer tyres for this weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, which will also be held at Silverstone, but is stipulating increased minimum tyre pressures "to reduce the stress on the construction".
Lewis Hamilton narrowly held on for victory in Sunday's race after suffering a tyre failure early in the final lap, as he was heading down the Wellington Straight after Turn Five, the Loop.
But his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas lost second place with his failure two laps earlier, and Sainz dropped out of fifth place with his on the penultimate lap.
Hamilton said after the race that Mercedes had been told by Pirelli that the team "could do almost a whole race distance with it but [I don't know] whether or not that's at the pace we were going".
Pirelli said the events of the race led to "the most challenging operating conditions for tyres".
Its statement added: "The second safety-car period prompted nearly all the teams to bring forward their planned pit stop and so carry out a particularly long final stint: around 40 laps, which is more than three-quarters the total race length on one of the most demanding tracks of the calendar.
"Combined with the notably increased pace of the 2020 F1 cars (pole position was 1.2 seconds faster compared to 2019) this made the final laps of the British Grand Prix especially tough, as a consequence of the biggest forces ever seen on tyres generated by the fastest F1 cars in history."
It added that these factors "placed the left-front tyre under maximum stress for a very high number of laps, with the resulting wear meaning that it was less protected from the extreme forces in play".


bbc--2020-08-05--Beirut explosion: Frantic search for survivors of deadly blast

Rescue workers in Lebanon are searching for more than a hundred people who are missing after a huge explosion devastated the port area of the capital Beirut on Tuesday .
The blast killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4,000 others .
The whole city was shaken by the explosion and a mushroom cloud could be seen spreading over the port area .
President Michel Aoun said the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse .
Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertiliser in agriculture and as an explosive .
President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared three days of mourning which started on Wednesday .
The explosion occurred just after 18:00 ( 15:00 GMT ) on Tuesday after a fire at the port .
• In pictures : Chaos and destruction in Beirut after blast • Lebanon : Why the country is in crisis Eyewitness Hadi Nasrallah says that he saw the fire but did not expect the blast .
`` I lost my hearing for a few seconds , I knew something was wrong , and then suddenly the glass just shattered all over the car , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the stores , the buildings .
Just glass going down from all over the building , '' he told the BBC .
BBC Arabic reporter Maryem Taoumi was conducting a video interview in Beirut with a member of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy at the time of the explosion .
The following video shows Ms Taoumi , who is now safe , being knocked over by the force of the blast .
The BBC 's Lina Sinjab said she could feel the wave of the explosion from her home , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` My building was shaking , it was about to fall , all windows were forced open , '' she said .
The blast was also felt 240km ( 150 miles ) away on the island of Cyprus , in the eastern Mediterranean , with people there saying they thought it was an earthquake .
BBC journalist Rami Ruhayem said there was chaos in the aftermath of the blast as ambulances with their sirens wailing inched their way through heavy traffic to get to the site .
There were shards of glass on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleared by tractors , he added .
Local media showed people trapped beneath rubble and video footage showed wrecked cars and blast-damaged buildings .
Hospitals were said to be overwhelmed .
The head of Lebanon 's Red Cross , George Kettani , described it as a `` huge catastrophe '' , adding : `` There are victims and casualties everywhere . ''
The Red Cross said it was working with the Lebanese health ministry to set up morgues .
It added that a search and rescue operation was still under way to locate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Minister Hamad Hassan said Lebanon 's health sector was short of beds and lacked the equipment necessary to treat the injured and care for patients in critical condition .
He said that `` a large number of children '' had been rescued but added that he feared that the number of dead would rise further .
Officials said that an investigation was under way to find the exact trigger which caused the ammonium nitrate - which had reportedly been stored in a warehouse after it was unloaded from a ship impounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explode .
• Common industrial chemical used mainly as fertiliser in agriculture • Also one of the main components in explosives used in mining • Not explosive on its own , ignites only under the right circumstances • When it explodes , it can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas • Strict rules on how to store it safely : site has to be fire-proofed , and not have any drains , pipes or other channels in which ammonium nitrate could build up British former intelligence officer Philip Ingram told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nitrate could only be turned into an explosive substance under certain circumstances .
Mr Ingram said that safely stored it was relatively safe but that in confined space and when contaminated with items such as fuel oil it could cause an explosion .
Lebanon 's Supreme Defence Council said those found responsible for the explosion would face the `` maximum punishment '' possible .
The explosion comes at a sensitive time for Lebanon .
With Covid-19 infections on the rise , hospitals were already struggling to cope .
Now , they are faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country is also going through an economic crisis .
Lebanon imports most of its food and large quantities of grain stored in the port have been destroyed causing fears of widespread food insecurity to come .
The future of the port itself is in doubt due to the destruction caused .
Many building and homes have been reduced to an uninhabitable mess of glass and as many as 300,000 people have been left homeless , Beirut 's governor Marwan Aboud said .
Lebanese from areas not affected by the explosion have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those whose homes have been destroyed .
President Aoun announced that the government would release 100 billion lira ( £50.5m ; $ 66m ) of emergency funds but the impact of the blast on the economy is expected to be long-lasting .
Public Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that the government was `` trying , as best we can , to bridge the gap resulting from the economic blockade and the exacerbated economic and financial crisis , to which has been added this new test and scourge as a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the scene of a huge car bombing which killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 .
A verdict is due in the trial of four men accused of orchestrating the attack on Mr Hariri at a special court in the Netherlands .
Even before the blast , tensions were high in Lebanon , with street demonstrations against the government 's handling of the worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war .
Many blame the ruling elite who have dominated politics for years and amassed their own wealth while failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve the country 's problems .
People have to deal with daily power cuts , a lack of safe drinking water and limited public healthcare .
There has also been tension on the border with Israel , which said last week that it had thwarted an attempt to infiltrate Israeli territory by Hezbollah , a militant Shia Islamist organisation that wields considerable power in Lebanon .
But a senior Israeli official has told the BBC that `` Israel has no connection '' to the Beirut blast .
Have you been personally affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

The Saint Georges hospital near the site of the explosion was badly damaged and several members of staff were killed. Three Beirut hospitals were closed with two others only partially operational, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The body said it would airlift medical supplies to Lebanon on Wednesday evening.


bbc--2020-08-05--Cyclone Isaias reaches Canada after killing at least five in US

At least five people have been killed as Tropical Storm Isaias swept through US states on the Atlantic Coast .
Two died when a tornado struck a mobile home park in North Carolina and at least three more were killed in New York , Delaware and Maryland .
Isaias has since moved into south-eastern Canada and been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone .
The Canadian Hurricane Center has warned of heavy rainfall over southern Quebec .
The ninth named storm of the year , Isaias hit Puerto Rico , Haiti and the Dominican Republic with hurricane strength winds last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uprooted trees , destroyed crops and homes and caused flooding and landslides .
It was downgraded to a tropical storm after passing over the Caribbean , but was re-categorised as a category-one hurricane as it approached the Carolinas on Monday .
From North Carolina up to New York , Isaias left more than 3.4 million residents without power .
It spawned tornadoes , uprooted trees , damaged homes and caused floods and fires .
A tropical storm warning was issued for the north-east coast all the way to Maine , covering major cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police in New York City said a tree fell and killed a man inside his vehicle in Queens .
A driver in Maryland was also killed when a tree toppled on to the car in the storm .
In Delaware , an 83-year-old woman was found dead under a large branch near her home .
In New Jersey , Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency and all state offices remained closed on Tuesday .
In neighbouring New York , state authorities deployed emergency supplies including pumps , chainsaws , bottled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State officials in regions preparing for hurricanes this season have been grappling with opening shelters that comply with social distancing regulations .
US disaster agencies have updated preparedness and evacuation guidance in light of Covid-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control recommends families add Covid-19 items to a disaster `` go kit '' that can be taken in an emergency situation : • At least two face coverings per person ( though masks should not be worn by those under two years old or those who are unconscious ) Here are some key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you must evacuate to a shelter : • Keep 6ft ( 2m ) of distance from anyone not among your household • If possible , wear a face covering and wash it regularly • Frequently disinfect your area in the shelter ( including toys and electronics )

Police in New York City said a tree fell and killed a man inside his vehicle in Queens. A driver in Maryland was also killed when a tree toppled on to the car in the storm.


bbc--2020-08-05--India PM Modi lays foundation for Ayodhya Ram temple amid Covid surge

Indian PM Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone for a Hindu temple in the northern city of Ayodhya .
Hindu mobs demolished a medieval mosque there in 1992 , saying it was built on the ruins of a temple for Lord Ram , a revered deity .
Hindus and Muslims claimed ownership over the site for decades .
Last year , the top court gave the site to Hindus , ending a decades-long legal battle .
The inauguration comes amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases in India .
The dispute , which goes back more than a century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thorniest court cases .
The Supreme Court gave Muslims another plot of land in the city to construct a mosque .
Mr Modi laid a symbolic silver brick in the sanctum sanctorum , or innermost sanctuary , of the site as scores of devotees watched the event on giant screens across the city .
Due to Covid-19 , the venue and surrounding areas were cordoned off , and access was restricted to invitees only .
BBC Hindi 's Sarvapriya Sangwan , who is in Ayodhya , says crowds of people gathered outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Modi on his way to the site .
Speaking soon after he laid the foundation stone , Mr Modi began with the words , `` Jai Siya Ram '' , instead of the more popular slogan , `` Jai Shri Ram '' , which has become a rallying cry for right-wing Hindus in the country .
Mr Modi said that the site had been `` liberated '' , and a `` grand house '' would be finally constructed for Lord Ram who had been living `` in a tent for years '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction that had housed the idol of Ram Lalla or infant Ram for more than three decades while the court case dragged on .
The idol was moved to a makeshift temple on the premises of the site earlier this year .
Hindus believe Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Ram .
And the construction of the temple is a core promise made by Mr Modi 's governing Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) , and is seen as a huge symbolic gesture for its strident Hindu nationalist base .
A local told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Lord Ram would finally have `` a proper home '' .
• The build-up to a demolition that shook India Officials said they would follow Covid-19 protocols , but our reporter at the site described crowds gathered on the road leading up to it and beyond the barricades .
People also climbed onto rooftops to get a glimpse of the venue , many of whom were chanting `` Jai Shri Ram '' .
Most were not wearing masks or following social distancing , she added .
Hymns about Lord Ram were played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many shop fronts too were painted yellow and saffron flags put up everywhere - both colours that Hindus consider auspicious .
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders also attended the event .
But the inauguration was a somewhat muted affair amid the pandemic .
India has been reporting record daily totals - it recorded more than 1.9 million cases and nearly 40,000 deaths from the virus .
Uttar Pradesh , the state where Ayodhya is located , has confirmed more than 100,000 Covid-19 cases so far .
Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the event .
Media reports say that devotees from across the country have been sending silver and gold - in the form of coins , bricks and bars - to use in the construction of the temple .
Police officers are said to have been ordered to guard these precious metals .
As many as 200,000 bricks inscribed with `` Shri Ram '' ( Lord Ram ) that have been collected from devotees over the years will be used to build the foundation of the temple , according to the Times of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect of the proposed temple , told news website The Print that the structure would be designed in the `` Nagara '' style of temple architecture - a popular north Indian temple building style .
The inner sanctum of the temple - where the idol of the primary deity is housed - will be octagonal .
The temple will include a large structure of three floors with 366 pillars and five domes .
Mr Sompura said that a memorial wall in honour of those who were involved with the temple movement would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about ?
At the centre of the row was a 16th-Century mosque that was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992 , sparking riots that killed nearly 2,000 people .
Many Hindus believe that the Babri Masjid was actually constructed on the ruins of a Hindu temple that was demolished by Muslim invaders .
Muslims say they offered prayers at the mosque until December 1949 when some Hindus placed an idol of Ram in the mosque and began to worship the idols .
Over decades , the two religious groups went to court many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What was the final ruling ?
In its unanimous verdict , the Supreme Court said that a report by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) provided evidence that the remains of a building `` that was not Islamic '' were beneath the structure of the demolished Babri mosque .
The court said that , given all the evidence presented , it had determined that the disputed land should be given to Hindus for a temple to Lord Ram , while Muslims would be given land elsewhere to construct a mosque @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set up a trust to manage and oversee the construction of the temple .
However , the court added that the demolition of the Babri mosque was against the rule of law .

Mr Modi said that the site had been "liberated", and a "grand house" would be finally constructed for Lord Ram who had been living "in a tent for years". He was referring to a temporary construction that had housed the idol of Ram Lalla or infant Ram for more than three decades while the court case dragged on.


bbc--2020-08-05--Ellen DeGeneres: Stars back TV host amid 'toxic workplace' claims

Comedian Kevin Hart , singer Katy Perry and other stars have come to Ellen DeGeneres ' defence after allegations that her TV show is a toxic workplace .
However , the show 's one-time resident DJ has said he `` did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment '' .
It follows a Buzzfeed News story that claimed senior staff had bullied and intimidated others on set .
DeGeneres later apologised to staff , saying steps would be taken to `` correct the issues '' that had come to light .
One current and 10 former employees told Buzzfeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was `` dominated by fear '' .
On Tuesday , Tony Okungbowa , who was the programme 's DJ from 2003-2006 and 2007-2013 , echoed those accounts , adding : `` I stand with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace . ''
DeGeneres has distanced herself from the accusations , saying she had been `` misrepresented '' by `` people who work with me and for me '' .
Some of the host 's celebrity friends have now closed ranks .
Hart said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and called her `` one of the dopest people on the ... planet '' .
He wrote on Instagram : `` It 's crazy to see my friend go thru what she 's going thru publicly ...
The internet has become a crazy world of negativity ... We are falling in love with peoples down fall [ sic ] . ''
Perry said she had `` only ever had positive takeaways '' from appearing on DeGeneres ' daytime talk show .
Writing on Twitter , the pop star called her a `` friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` love & a hug '' .
She went on : `` I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought to the world through her platform for decades . ''
Other celebrities to have backed DeGeneres include actors Diane Keaton and Ashton Kutcher .
DeGeneres ' wife Portia de Rossi took to Instagram on Tuesday to thank fans for their support .
`` To all our fans ... we see you , '' wrote the former Ally McBeal actress , who married DeGeneres in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the claims made against her programme , among them Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett .
`` Sorry but it comes from the top , '' he wrote on Twitter when DeGeneres ' letter to staff was made public last week .
`` Know more than one who were treated horribly by her , '' he added , saying such alleged behaviour was `` common knowledge '' .
In her letter to staff , the host wrote : `` On day one of our show , I told everyone in our first meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place of happiness .
`` Obviously , something changed , and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case . ''
The claims led to an internal inquiry by production company WarnerMedia , who said there would be `` several staffing changes '' as a result .
Meanwhile , viewing figures for DeGeneres ' show fell to `` a new series low '' last month , according to The Wrap .
It said ratings for the penultimate week of July were down 9 % on the previous week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week in 2019 .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.


bbc--2020-08-05--Meghan allowed to keep friends' identities secret

The Duchess of Sussex has been allowed keep the names of five friends who gave an interview about her secret in her case against the Mail on Sunday .
Mr Justice Warby said she had won the High Court order to protect their names `` for the time being at least '' .
Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers for breach of privacy and copyright infringement after it reproduced parts of a letter sent to her father in 2018 .
The publisher , which denies the claims , said her friends could be witnesses .
Associated Newspapers also said the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Meghan 's five friends to the US magazine People .
• Harry and Meghan sue over 'drone photos ' of son • Sussexes 'did not contribute ' to book on royals In an article in the magazine in February 2019 , the friends anonymously spoke out against the bullying Meghan said she had faced from Britain 's tabloid media .
They have only been identified in confidential court documents .
Meghan 's lawyers first asked to keep the friends ' names private last week in an application heard at London 's High @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband , Prince Harry , attended the hearing .
In a witness statement submitted to the High Court , the duchess said Associated Newspapers was `` threatening to publish the names of five women '' .
`` Each of these women is a private citizen , young mother , and each has a basic right to privacy , '' she said .
Justin Rushbrooke QC , representing the duchess , said at the time that forcing her to disclose their identities would be `` an unacceptably high price '' to pay for pursuing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the publisher 's lawyers resisted the application to keep their identities secret , claiming the duchess 's friends brought the letter into the public domain when it was referred to for the first time in the People interview .
In written submissions , Antony White QC , acting for Associated Newspapers , said the friends were `` important potential witnesses on a key issue '' .
`` Reporting these matters without referring to names would be a heavy curtailment of the media 's and the defendant 's entitlement to report this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it , '' he said .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now based in California with their son Archie , having stepped back as senior royals at the end of March .

"Reporting these matters without referring to names would be a heavy curtailment of the media's and the defendant's entitlement to report this case and the public's right to know about it," he said.


bbc--2020-08-05--Sweden's economy less hard-hit by coronavirus

Sweden , which avoided a lockdown during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic , saw its economy shrink 8.6 % in the April-to-June period from the previous three months .
The flash estimate from the Swedish statistics office indicated that the country fared better than other EU nations which took stricter measures .
However , it was still the largest quarterly fall for at least 40 years .
The European Union saw a contraction of 11.9 % for the same period .
Individual nations did even worse , with Spain seeing an 18.5 % contraction , while the French and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12.4 % respectively .
`` The downturn in GDP is the largest for a single quarter for the period of 1980 and forward , '' Statistics Sweden said .
`` It is , as expected , a dramatic downturn .
But compared to other countries , it is considerably better , for instance if you compare to southern Europe , '' said Nordea bank chief analyst Torbjorn Isaksson .
Sweden has largely relied on voluntary social distancing guidelines since the start of the pandemic , including working from home where possible and avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to operate in Sweden , the country 's economy is highly dependent on exports , which were hit by lack of demand from abroad during the pandemic .
Despite the contraction , Sweden is not yet in recession , since the first quarter saw growth of 0.1 % .
An economy is generally deemed to be in recession if it contracts for two consecutive quarters .
Various forecasts predict the Swedish economy will still shrink by about 5 % this year .
That is less than other countries hit hard by Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK , but still similar to the rest of Scandinavia .
Sweden 's unemployment rate of 9 % remains the highest in the Nordics , up from 7.1 % in March .

Recent opinion polls have suggested declining confidence in the minority government's handling of the pandemic. If the economy continues to worsen, there may be sharper national debates about the decision not to lockdown and the subsequent early high death toll.


bbc--2020-08-05--Neil Young sues Donald Trump's campaign for using his songs

Neil Young is suing Donald Trump 's re-election campaign for repeatedly using his music without his permission .
The rock star says the US president breached copyright laws by playing his songs at political rallies and events .
The Canadian has objected to the use of Rockin ' in the Free World and Devil 's Sidewalk for what he called an `` un-American campaign of ignorance and hate '' .
The Trump campaign has not yet commented .
Young said he had complained about Mr Trump 's use of his music since 2015 , but had been `` wilfully '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now officially a US citizen after having lived in the country for decades , is seeking damages of up to $ 150,000 ( £114,400 ) per infringement .
These include at a Trump rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , in June , and the US president 's visit to Mount Rushmore in July .
`` This complaint is not intended to disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens , who are free to support the candidate of their choosing , '' Young 's lawyers wrote in the filing , which was posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Plaintiff in good conscience can not allow his music to be used as a 'theme song ' for a divisive , un-American campaign of ignorance and hate . ''
The 74-year-old has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - first as a solo artist , and then with his old band Buffalo Springfield .
He 's not the only musician angry with the US president for having used their material .
• Rolling Stones warn Trump not to use their songs Last month , The Rolling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face legal action if he continued using their songs at his campaign rallies .
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also joined artists including Aerosmith and Sir Elton John in recently signing an open letter calling on politicians to obtain permission before playing their music at campaign and political events .
According to music rights organization BMI , regular music licences issued to concert halls and other venues do not cover political rallies .
Political candidates must obtain a separate Political Entities Licence , which gives them access to 15 million songs .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But artists have the right to take their music off the list .
The Rolling Stones have done so , although Young has not explicitly said whether he also has .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

But artists have the right to take their music off the list. The Rolling Stones have done so, although Young has not explicitly said whether he also has.


bbc--2020-08-05--South Korea battles deadly floods and landslides

At least 15 people have died and more than 1,500 have been forced from their homes after torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in South Korea .
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called for two areas to be declared disaster zones after 42 consecutive days of rain - the country 's longest monsoon in seven years .
The rescue effort is being complicated by coronavirus restrictions .
There are fears that crowded shelters could spread the virus .
The interior ministry said efforts were being stepped up to keep displaced people in temporary shelters - mainly gyms and community shelters - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are separating families and individuals and beds are being spaced apart to encourage social distancing , they said .
On Wednesday , Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged officials to declare Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces as special disaster zones .
The move would enable them to receive extra aid from the national government .
Weeks of rain have left vast swathes of farmland under water .
In the capital , Seoul , the swollen Han river has flooded motorways and bridges .
About 1,300 houses are reported to have been submerged or buried in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency reported , while nearly 1,000 roads and bridges have also been damaged .
At one shelter in the city of Anseong , in Gyeonggi province , 83-year-old Kwon Cha-soon said she had lost everything when a landslide struck her home .
`` There is n't a single plate ...
It 's an empty house , '' she said .
`` All my pots and garlic jars have been swept away . ''
In a bid to help inundated areas , the floodgates at the Soyang River Dam in Chuncheon , Gangwon Province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the three years , Yonhap added .
Meanwhile , North Korean state media has also warned of `` torrential rain '' .
Although it gave no details , the prospect of floods during the summer harvest season has raised fears for the secretive country 's food supply .
North Korea has struggled for decades with food production .
The nation suffered a famine in the 1990s which is thought to have killed hundreds of thousands .
Last year millions of North Koreans were forced to rely on meagre rations after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the UN .

About 1,300 houses are reported to have been submerged or buried in landslides across the country, Yonhap news agency reported, while nearly 1,000 roads and bridges have also been damaged.


bbc--2020-08-05--Coronavirus: Queensland to close border to New South Wales

Australia 's Queensland will extend its border closure to New South Wales ( NSW ) and the Australian Capital Territory ( ACT ) to halt the spread of coronavirus from south-eastern states .
It has already shut to Victoria - the centre of Australia 's second wave - amid an outbreak in Melbourne .
Victoria reported 725 new infections on Wednesday , yet another daily record despite being four weeks into lockdown .
NSW saw many fewer - 12 - but all other states have consistently fared better .
Sydney - the NSW capital and Australia 's largest city - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , prompting concerns that community transmission could grow .
It has so far avoided returning to a second lockdown , but recently advised people to begin wearing masks .
With about 19,500 cases in total and 232 deaths , Australia has still fared better than many countries due to effective suppression measures early in the pandemic .
But since June - when most Australians emerged from a first lockdown - the outbreak in Melbourne has spiralled .
• How did the virus re-emerge in Australia ?
• Why did Melbourne 's lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Melbourne over the past month make up more than half of Australia 's total cases since the pandemic began .
It is suspected to have begun with breaches in hotel quarantine of infected travellers returning from overseas .
Why is Queensland worried about NSW and ACT ?
These include several travellers from interstate who were found to have deceived authorities to avoid a 14-day quarantine - breaches which have caused anger .
Noting consistent cases in Sydney , the Queensland government last week closed its borders to residents of the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would widen to all of NSW as well as the ACT , a small territory which includes the nation 's capital , Canberra .
The order takes effect from Saturday .
`` We 've seen that Victoria is not getting better and we 're not going to wait for New South Wales to get worse , '' said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk .
Except for a few recent cases , the ACT has been virus-free for the past few months .
But Ms Palaszczuk said the ban applied to the ACT too because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sydney ban by flying from Canberra .
How bad is it in Melbourne ?
On Sunday Victorian authorities declared a `` state of disaster '' and enacted a night-time curfew in Melbourne .
The new , tougher lockdown came after earlier measures failed to reduce cases .
Victoria has now seen more than 30 days of infections in triple figures .
It recorded its deadliest day yet on Wednesday - with 15 people losing their lives .
• What is the 'sovereign citizen ' movement ?
Officials stressed that the record 725 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus about a week ago - prior to the stricter lockdown .
`` [ The numbers ] do jump around from day to day , but the notion of more than 700 cases is not sustainable , '' said Premier Daniel Andrews .
`` We need to drive the numbers down . ''
What about elsewhere ?
Outside of Victoria and New South Wales , new infections remain very low .
Western Australia , South Australia and the Northern Territory all shut their borders to the southern states last month to prevent cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , has gone 14 days without a new case .

"[The numbers] do jump around from day to day, but the notion of more than 700 cases is not sustainable," said Premier Daniel Andrews. "We need to drive the numbers down."


bbc--2020-08-04--UN pledges to help Mali rebuild heritage sites damaged in conflict

The UN 's cultural organisation , Unesco , is backing a $ 1m ( £767,000 ) plan to help restore the heritage of central Mali damaged by recent armed conflict .
The Cliff of Bandiagara is famous for its homes carved into the rock as well as the traditional way of life .
Unesco says inter-communal fighting has destroyed a number of villages in the area - also known as the Land of the Dogon - as well as artefacts .
It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1989 .
Unesco has teamed up with the Switzerland-based International Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Areas , which is providing the money .
Both buildings and cultural objects have been lost resulting in the `` deterioration of cultural practices and traditions of the Dogon , Peuls , Bozo , Bambara and Sonrhai groups '' , Unesco said in a statement .
It estimates that of 15 of the area 's 289 villages have either been totally or partially ruined .
Fifteen others have been affected close to the Cliff of Bandiagara .
While historically there had often been conflict between the more settled communities , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mopti region , this began to become more violent after the militant jihadist uprising in northern Mali in 2012 .
It spread to central areas by 2015 and brought more instability , weapons and a lack of government control into Mopti .
Unesco also argues that the disappearance of certain traditions has fuelled inter-communal conflict .
`` Culture is not only all too often a victim of protracted armed conflicts - it is also a critical source of resilience and an important foundation for peacebuilding , '' Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spent over the next three years on restoring the damaged architectural heritage `` notably housing , granaries and sites dedicated to traditional culture , as well as to restore the production of cultural objects , and safeguard ceremonial objects in a memorial collection '' , Unesco says .
UN experts will work with the Malian government .
The continued insecurity in the country has sparked mass protests with people calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta .
Cultural sites have also been targeted in the conflict in the north of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court In 2016 , Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi pleaded guilty to destroying nine mausoleums and a mosque in Timbuktu .
As head of jihadist group Ansar Dine 's moral `` accountability '' enforcers , known as the the Hisbah , he led the destruction of key shrines in 2012 .

While historically there had often been conflict between the more settled communities, such as the Dogon, and the pastoralists in the Mopti region, this began to become more violent after the militant jihadist uprising in northern Mali in 2012.


bbc--2020-08-05--Tropical Storm Isaias: 'The Lord spared us for another day'

Deadly Tropical Storm Isaias has cut a swathe of destruction along parts of the East Coast , including obliterating a @ @ @ @ @ weather system also knocked out power for millions on the US East Coast .
Isaias @ @ @ @ @ damage over the next few days .

Deadly Tropical Storm Isaias has cut a swathe of destruction along parts of the East Coast, including obliterating a mobile home park.
The weather system also knocked out power for millions on the US East Coast. Isaias is expected to cause more damage over the next few days.


bbc--2020-08-05--TikTok: The story of a social media giant

President Donald Trump has warned that he will ban TikTok unless an American firm buys its US operations .
So how did an app attract millions of users but come to be seen as a national security risk in just two years ?
Alone it stands , a red gummy bear atop a dimly lit stage , and the unmistakable voice of Adele singing .
Then , as the unseen crowd joins in with the next line , the camera pans out to reveal hundreds more gummy bears singing along to Someone Like You .
It 's silly and cute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fledgling video app TikTok , it did more in 15 seconds than marketing budgets of millions .
Posted in December 2018 , it quickly racked up millions of views on the app but - more importantly - was picked up by thousands of copycats on other social networks .
The world was alerted to the app and TikTok has since attracted a vibrant , creative and young audience of hundreds of millions .
TikTok 's origins are different to the fairytale start-up story we have heard before .
This is not an empire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great idea in their mum 's garage .
It actually started life as three different apps .
The first was an app called Musical.ly , which launched in Shanghai in 2014 but had strong US business links and a healthy audience in that key market .
In 2016 , Chinese tech giant ByteDance launched a similar service in China called Douyin .
It attracted 100 million users in China and Thailand in the space of a year .
ByteDance decided it was onto something and wanted to expand under a different brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it bought Musical.ly , folded it in , and began TikTok 's global expansion .
TikTok 's secret lies in its use of music and an extraordinarily powerful algorithm , which learns what content users like to see far faster than many other apps .
Users can choose from a huge database of songs , filters and movie clips to lipsync to .
It 's inspired some huge trends like Lil Nas X 's Old Town Road or Curtis Roach 's Bored in the House .
Even the BBC News theme tune went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus briefings .
Many people will spend most of the time on the For You Page .
This is where the algorithm puts content in front of users , anticipating what they will enjoy based on content they have already engaged with .
It 's also where it shows content it thinks could go viral .
The idea is that if the content is good it will travel , regardless of how many followers the creator has .
Many TikTok communities have emerged , brought together by the types of content they enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like `` Alt '' or `` Deep '' often feature creators who are n't necessarily looking to fill their wallets but who are simply on the platform to make funny or informative content .
For them , it 's not about winning the attention of big brands - it 's about finding like-minded people .
The growth of TikTok and its sister app Douyin have been rapid .
In July last year the apps already had one billion downloads worldwide , of which 500 million were active users .
A year later they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800 million active users .
The app 's rapid growth has also put TikTok at the forefront of the minds of politicians .
What does it mean to have a Chinese app so quickly become a large part of modern life ?
Although the accusations are vague , India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese government for spying .
It has been alleged that every major Chinese enterprise has an internal `` cell '' answerable to the ruling Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents tasked with gathering secrets .
India initially banned TikTok in April 2019 , after a court ordered its removal from app stores amid claims it was being used to spread pornography .
That decision was overturned on appeal .
When it banned TikTok again , along with dozens of other Chinese owned apps in June 2020 , the Indian government said it had received complaints about apps `` stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users ' data '' .
The US government opened a national security review of the platform in late 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmaker suggested it posed a risk .
More recently , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed TikTok was among a number of Chinese apps `` feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party '' .
• How would the US go about banning TikTok ?
• Beyond TikTok : Who else might Trump ban ?
The UK 's Information Commissioner 's Office and Australian intelligence agencies are currently probing the app but have n't revealed what they are looking for .
It 's of course worth noting that relations between these countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odds with China over trade , Indian and Chinese forces involved in border clashes , and the UK opposing new security laws in Hong Kong .
Exactly what TikTok does with data is contested .
We know from its privacy policy that it collects a huge amount , including : • Which videos are watched and commented on It was also revealed that it read the copy-and-paste clipboards of users , but so did dozens of other apps including Reddit , LinkedIn and the BBC News app , and nothing sinister was discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data collection being comparable to other data-hungry social networks such as Facebook .
However , unlike its US-based rivals , TikTok says it is willing to offer an unprecendented level of transparency in order to ease some of the fears about its data collection and flow .
TikTok 's new chief executive Kevin Mayer , an American former Disney executive , said it would allow experts to examine the code behind its algorithms .
This is hugely significant in an industry where data and code is closely guarded .
However , the concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected , it 's also more theoretical - could the Chinese government compel ByteDance to hand over data ?
The same concerns have been raised about Huawei .
The 2017 National Security Law in China compels any organisation or citizen to `` support , assist and co-operate with the state intelligence work '' .
However , like Chinese telecoms giant Huawei , bosses at TikTok have repeatedly said that if this ever happened , `` we would definitely say no to any request for data '' .
Another concern is of the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being used to influence public debates .
TikTok is one of the first platforms many young people will come to to share social activism content .
In May it promoted # BlackLivesMatter as a trend .
But even as the hashtag drew in billions of views , there were criticisms that content from black creators was being supressed and that hashtags related to the protests were being hidden .
It is not the first time TikTok 's algorithm has been criticised for the way content is chosen .
A report by The Intercept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deprioritise content from anyone deemed too `` ugly '' , or poor .
Last year , the Guardian reported that TikTok censored material deemed to be politically sensitive , including footage of Tiananmen Square protests and Tibetan independence demands .
Further reporting from the Washington Post suggested moderators in China had the final say on whether videos were approved .
ByteDance said such guidelines had since been phased out and that all moderation was independent of Beijing .
Yet the discussions taking place with Microsoft about the possibility of buying TikTok 's US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most significant technology products in years .
TikTok has emerged as a meeting place for under-25s , whereas apps like Twitter and Instagram are often seen as being for older users .
But for those who use TikTok to have their voices heard , the possibility of a ban feels like a loss .
Downloads of shortform video app competitors Byte and Triller have spiked in the US as users prepare themselves for jumping ship .
But many , it seems , will hang on to TikTok until the very last moment - @ @ @ @ @

Although the accusations are vague, India and the US have concerns that TikTok is collecting sensitive data from users that could be used by the Chinese government for spying. It has been alleged that every major Chinese enterprise has an internal "cell" answerable to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, with many of its agents tasked with gathering secrets.


bbc--2020-08-04--Microsoft's TikTok grab: Inspired or naive?

I thought Microsoft 's boss would be relieved that his company was safely out of the firing line .
What I did n't know at the time was that Satya Nadella was in fact looking to expand deeper into social media .
Microsoft already owns LinkedIn .
Acquiring video-based social-media platform TikTok , though , would make it responsible for its controversial content .
In short , it would open itself up to all the criticisms and accusations that the other big social-media companies have faced in recent years .
TikTok does n't allow political ads .
It wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But TikTok - almost unwittingly - has become political .
For example , videos using the # BLM hashtag - referencing Black Lives Matter - have been viewed more than 12 billion times ; videos using the # Trump2020 hashtag more than seven billion .
There 's plenty of controversial stuff on the platform , too , from conspiracy theories to hateful content .
If Microsoft buys TikTok , make no mistake , it is buying a platform with a lot of politics on it .
And that matters .
Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns YouTube , and Twitter have learnt the hard way that trying to moderate political content can be a nightmare .
What do you do when Donald Trump calls into question postal voting ?
Or someone sticks up a video recommending hydroxychloroquine ?
Or a user denies climate change ?
These are the headaches that these companies have to deal with every day .
Even though the Congressional hearing last week was about antitrust , many of the questions were to do with political interference on the companies ' social-media platforms .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from .
Why , then , would a company actively court them ?
Nadella , it seems , ca n't resist a bargain He thinks he can buy the American arm of TikTok , which would also include TikTok in Canada , Australia and New Zealand , at a basement price .
After all , Trump says he will ban TikTok if the company ca n't find a suitor by 15 September .
That puts Microsoft in a commanding negotiating position .
Microsoft 's technological proficiency also means it 's likely US Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' data from Beijing 's cyber-spies .
And because ad spend on LinkedIn is a fraction of what Facebook or YouTube rake in , it 's unlikely the purchase will get caught in anti-competition legislation .
If I were drawing a cartoon of Nadella right now , he 'd have dollar signs for eyes .
And yet , there are still potential pitfalls .
The China Daily - a state-owned newspaper - described TikTok 's treatment as `` theft '' and said China `` had plenty of ways to respond if the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is a problem for Microsoft because unlike some US tech giants , it has a major presence in China .
In fact , Microsoft brags on its website that : `` Today , our most complete subsidiary and largest R & D centre outside the United States is in China . ''
To put it bluntly , if Microsoft is seen by Beijing as having cashed in on TikTok , China has the levers it can pull to hurt it .
That would be a spectacular own goal for Microsoft - in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company into in 1992 .
And it gets worse .
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro was asked on Monday by CNN whether Microsoft was going to be compromised by the deal .
`` Maybe Microsoft could divest its Chinese holdings , '' he said .
That really plays to the heart of what is happening here .
Trump 's administration does n't much like Chinese tech in the US , and it does n't much like big US tech companies getting too close to Beijing , either .
This , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Remember that the deal is totally dependent on Trump 's patronage .
Nadella has said that he 's only exploring the possibility of a purchase after he got the green light from President Trump .
Trump has already said that the US taxpayer should get a cut of any deal .
But what else does Trump want ?
That will worry Microsoft .
In fact , the more you think about it , the more it 's the case that Microsoft , by acquiring TikTok , would be acquiring its geopolitical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Microsoft is , it 's still small enough to be a pawn in a game of chess between two global superpowers .
The question now : is that a risk Nadella is willing to take ?
Or will he survey the landscape and view TikTok as just too big a gamble ?

That really plays to the heart of what is happening here. Trump's administration doesn't much like Chinese tech in the US, and it doesn't much like big US tech companies getting too close to Beijing, either.


bbc--2020-08-05--Europe lockdown: New coronavirus curbs country by country

On 4 May , Spain set out its plan to start easing one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe , which saw children under 14 confined to their homes for six weeks .
While coronavirus appears to be under control in much of the country , Catalonia - including Barcelona - and neighbouring Aragón in the north-east saw a huge spike in infections in July .
The federal and regional governments have also agreed new rules to contain local outbreaks in future , such as travel bans in and out of coronavirus hotspots .
The government said it would impose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if there was a second wave of infections .
Cases are rising in the north-west , in Mayenne in particular , and in eastern regions where the wearing of masks is obligatory outdoors and where gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned .
The city of Antwerp , which saw a spike in infections , introduced a curfew at the end of July .
In restaurants , a maximum of four people are allowed to sit at a table , although larger households are allowed to sit together .
Shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hairdressers and museums are all open and since 1 July there has been no upper limit for people inside or outside , provided they stick to 1.5m social distancing .
However , in July the government issued a warning against all but essential travel to Antwerp , Barcelona , the cities of Lisbon and Porto in Portugal and Croatia .
Sweden and the UK also remain out of bounds except for essential travel .
From 5 August , Athens International Airport will offer testing to any passenger on request , at a cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has had a stricter lockdown than the UK , with residents only allowed to exercise within 2km ( 1.2 miles ) of their homes .
A phased easing of restrictions started on 18 May .
The government still advises against non-essential travel overseas .
This includes Britain , but does not apply to Northern Ireland .
It also includes all travel by cruise ship .

Lockdowns are gradually being eased as the summer tourist season gets under way, and there are plans for an EU-wide digital vaccination certificate to be in place by 1 July.