bbc--2020-09-12--Toots Hibbert: Jamaican reggae legend dies aged 77

Jamaican reggae pioneer Frederick Nathaniel `` Toots '' Hibbert has died at the age of 77 .
The legendary musician fronted the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals from the early 1960s .
Hibbert `` passed away peacefully '' in Kingston , Jamaica surrounded by his family , the group announced on Friday .
As yet it is unknown how Hibbert died , although he had been tested for coronavirus in the last two weeks and was put into intensive care .
Hibbert is credited with popularising reggae music and even naming the genre - his 1968 single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first song to use the term .
Other popular tracks include Pressure Drop , Sweet and Dandy , and 54-46 That 's My Number .
In a statement , the band and Hibbert 's family thanked medical staff `` for their care and diligence '' .
He is survived by his wife and seven of his eight children .
His death comes just weeks before the release of Got to Be Tough , the band 's first full-length album in more than a decade .
Described as `` the world 's greatest living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profile last month , his vocal style has been compared to Otis Redding .
The magazine lists him as one of the 100 greatest singers of all time .
Tributes poured in for the legendary musician on social media .
UK actor and comedian Sir Lenny Henry said he was `` so sorry '' to hear of his death .
`` His music was a constant in our house growing up , '' he tweeted .
`` His voice was powerful and adaptable to funk , soul , country , AND reggae .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pop group UB40 said Hibbert 's music `` influenced and inspired us to love reggae music from an early age '' , while UK artist Ghostpoet wrote : `` Another legend returns to the earth .
What an impact he made in his time here . ''
And Ziggy Marley - son of reggae icon Bob Marley - wrote on Twitter that Hibbert was `` a father figure to me '' .

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bbc--2020-09-12--Navid Afkari: Iran executes young wrestler despite global outcry

Iran has executed a wrestler accused of murder , state media report , defying international appeals for him to be spared .
Navid Afkari , 27 , was sentenced to death over the murder of a security guard during a wave of anti-government protests in 2018 .
He said he had been tortured into making a confession .
A union representing 85,000 athletes worldwide was among those to call for a stay of execution .
The World Players Association said he had been `` unjustly targeted '' for taking part in the protests , and called for Iran 's expulsion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the execution .
US President Donald Trump also appealed for mercy , saying the wrestler 's `` sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets '' .
His brothers Vahid and Habib were sentenced to 54 and 27 years in prison in the same case , according to human rights activists in Iran .
In an audio recording leaked from the prison where he is being held , Afkari said he had been tortured .
His mother said her sons were forced to testify against each other .
The brothers ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter that contrary to Iranian news reports , there was no video of the moment of the security guard 's killing .
He added that footage used as evidence in the case was taken an hour before the crime took place .
Afkari was a national champion in wrestling , a sport that has a long history and is hugely popular in Iran .
In 2018 , protesters in cities across Iran took to the streets over economic hardship and political repression .

His lawyer had said on Twitter that, contrary to Iranian news reports, there was no video of the moment of the security guard's killing. He added that footage used as evidence in the case was taken an hour before the crime took place.


bbc--2020-09-12--Woman who sawed off own hand found guilty of fraud

A Slovenian woman has been found guilty of deliberately sawing off her own hand as part of an insurance scam .
A court in the capital Ljubljana found that Julija Adlesic , 22 , had taken out five insurance policies in the year before her injury .
She had claimed it happened as she cut branches .
She now faces two years in prison , while her boyfriend has been given a three-year sentence .
Adlesic and a number of relatives were arrested in 2019 after she arrived in hospital with her hand cut off above the wrist .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had intentionally left the severed hand behind rather than bringing it with them to ensure the disability was permanent .
However , authorities recovered it in time to sew it back on .
Prosecutors said the woman 's boyfriend had also made internet searches about artificial hands in the days beforehand .
Prosecutors said this was proof that the injury was intentional .
Throughout the trial , Adlesic had denied intentionally cutting off her hand .
Had the fraudulent claim been successful , the couple would have received more than half a million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest paid in monthly instalments .

The court found that she and her boyfriend had intentionally left the severed hand behind rather than bringing it with them to ensure the disability was permanent. However, authorities recovered it in time to sew it back on.


bbc--2020-09-11--Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: Teacher beats brother to win jackpot

A teacher whose brother previously won the £500,000 prize has gone one better to win the jackpot on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire ?
Donald Fear , 57 , used just one 50/50 lifeline to become the first £1m winner in 14 years .
Brother Davyth , who teaches geography , appeared on the show in September last year .
Mr Fear said his brother was his `` hero and best friend '' .
`` Other way around now , '' said presenter Jeremy Clarkson .
The history and politics teacher 's final question on Friday 's pre-recorded show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pirate died in battle off the coast of what is now North Carolina ? ''
The options were Calico Jack , Blackbeard , Bartholomew Roberts , and Captain Kidd .
• 'It was Ocean 's Eleven with middle-class people' • Ask The Host : Does Millionaire 's new lifeline work ?
Mr Fear , who lives in Telford , said he had taught piracy to a group of Year 8 students about eight years ago , and remembered the date of 1718 .
`` You do n't be a history teacher for 33 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the date 1718 and Blackbeard leapt out at me instantly . ''
Clarkson expressed his amazement at the history teacher 's knowledge throughout his run of 15 correct answers .
`` It 's like sitting next to the internet in a pink shirt , '' he said , describing him as `` an encyclopaedia with a moustache '' .
Mr Fear is the sixth million-pound winner in the show 's 22-year history .
After his win , the father of four celebrated by going on a caravan holiday along the Northumberland coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse Debs .
And his elder brother Davyth has also been part of his celebrations .
`` He is so pleased for me , '' said Mr Fear .
`` We went to spend a night in a hotel with our wives last week and got absolutely plastered and he kept poking me saying how pleased and how overjoyed he was by it . ''
Mr Fear said he wanted to give at least 70 % of his winnings to his family and spend the rest on a `` comfortable retirement '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon - since winning the jackpot , he has resigned from Haberdashers ' Adams Grammar school in Newport , Shropshire .
But he said : `` The rules are you have to go at the end of a term .
`` Actually , I never investigated the possibility of whether it would be possible not to go back at all - but how unfair to my A-level students that would be ? ''
Mr Fear added : `` I was planning to go in two years anyway just before my 60th birthday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going just after my 58th . ''

"We went to spend a night in a hotel with our wives last week and got absolutely plastered and he kept poking me saying how pleased and how overjoyed he was by it."


bbc--2020-09-12--Peru Congress opens way for impeachment of president

Peru 's Congress has started impeachment proceedings against President Martín Vizcarra who is accused of trying to obstruct a corruption investigation .
The move was backed in a 65-36 vote .
Lawmakers are expected to debate next week whether Mr Vizcarra should be removed for `` moral incapacity '' .
He is accused of misusing public funds and then trying to cover this up .
Friday 's session of Congress was called after the head of Congress , Manuel Merino , was given leaked audio recordings in which Mr Vizcarra appears to discuss ways of covering up the alleged misuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conversations between Mr Vizcarra and government aides .
He is heard telling aides to downplay details of his office 's hiring of a little-known singer , Richard Cisneros , to deliver pro-government motivational talks .
Cisneros was reportedly paid $ 49,500 ( £38,000 ) .
The opposition accuses the presidency of wasting resources when ordinary Peruvians face economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis .
More than 30,000 people have died of Covid-19 in Peru , which has one of the highest death rates in the world .
How has the president responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , denies all the allegations .
Earlier on Friday , he described attempts to remove him as `` a plot to destabilise his government '' .
In September 2019 , Mr Vizcarra dissolved Congress , arguing that lawmakers were obstructing his anti-corruption agenda .
No party won an overall majority in the elections that followed in January .

Friday's session of Congress was called after the head of Congress, Manuel Merino, was given leaked audio recordings in which Mr Vizcarra appears to discuss ways of covering up the alleged misuse of public funds.


bbc--2020-09-12--Venezuela: President Maduro says US spy seized near oil sites

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says a `` US spy '' has been captured near two oil refineries in the country 's north-western state of Falcón .
In a televised address , Mr Maduro said the man was seized with weapons and large amounts of cash near the Amuay and Cardon refineries on Thursday .
He said the man was `` serving as a marine on CIA bases in Iraq '' .
He gave no further details .
The US has so far made no public comment on the issue .
Separately , Mr Maduro said that the Venezuelan authorities had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion at El Palito refinery in the northern Carabobo state .
He did not elaborate .
Luke Denman and Airan Berry were found guilty of conspiracy , illicit trafficking of weapons and terrorism .
The pair were among 13 people arrested in May as they attempted to enter Venezuela by sea from Colombia .
US President Donald Trump , long an opponent of socialist President Maduro , has denied accusations by Venezuela that he was behind that incident .
Washington backs opposition leader Juan Guaidó and recognises him as the country 's legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela are tense .
Mr Maduro has accused America of manipulating political opposition to steal the country 's vast oil wealth .
America and Mr Guaidó , meanwhile , have blamed the president for Venezuela 's economic collapse .

Separately, Mr Maduro said that the Venezuelan authorities had recently foiled a plot to cause an explosion at El Palito refinery in the northern Carabobo state. He did not elaborate.


bbc--2020-09-12--Obituary: Toots Hibbert - the man who coined the word reggae

Toots Hibbert , frontman of the legendary reggae band Toots and the Maytals , has died at the age of 77 .
One of Jamaica 's most influential musicians , he helped popularise reggae in the 1960s with songs like Pressure Drop , Monkey Man and Funky Kingston .
He even claimed to have coined the genre 's name , on 1968 's Do The Reggay .
Hibbert 's family said he had died on Friday .
The cause was not disclosed , but he had recently been taken to hospital with Covid-like symptoms .
The musician was later placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesman said the musician was `` fighting for his life . ''
A charismatic and soulful performer , Hibbert scored 31 number one singles in Jamaica .
Thanks to his full-throated vocals , he was often referred to as `` The Otis Redding of Reggae '' - but he was always Toots .
The musician was born in May Pen , a town about 30 Miles west of Jamaica 's capital , Kingston , in December 1942 .
The youngest of seven children , he grew up singing gospel music in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he formed his ambition to become a performer .
`` We had to sing before class , sing in the morning , '' he told BBC 6 Music in 2018 .
`` And teacher said , 'Yeah , you have the best voice , ' and gave me good encouragement . ''
His mother , a midwife , died when he was eight , with his father dying three years later .
As a teenager , he moved to Kingston , where he lived with his older brother John ( who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and found work in a barbershop .
There , he struck a friendship with singers Jerry Matthius and Raleigh Gordon , with whom he formed the Maytals .
In 1962 , the year Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom , they were discovered by Clement `` Coxsone '' Dodd , who signed them to his Studio One label .
Over the next 10 years , they released a string of hit singles including Fever , Bam Bam , and Sweet and Dandy .
But the group hit a roadblock in 1967 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana .
He served nine months in jail and , on his release , recorded 54-46 ( That 's My Number ) - a reference to his prison number .
It became one of the first reggae songs to receive widespread popularity outside Jamaica , introducing many Europeans to the sound for the first time .
At the time , however , the word reggae did n't exist .
The music , which was an evolution of ska and rocksteady , had been called blue-beat or boogie-beat until Hibbert intervened .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what to call it , '' he told 6 Music .
`` And in Jamaica we had a slang - if we 're not looking so good , if we 're looking raggedy , we 'd call it 'streggae ' .
That 's where I took it from .
`` I recorded this song [ Do The Reggay ] and people told me that the song let them know that our music is called Reggae .
So I 'm the one who coined the word ! ''
The Maytals were part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Bob Marley and the Wailers , Lee `` Scratch '' Perry , Peter Tosh , and Jimmy Cliff ; and they recorded with everyone from the Skatalites to Prince Buster .
`` It was competitive and friendly , a golden time , '' Hibbert recently recalled in a profile for Rolling Stone .
The group scored a UK hit with Monkey Man in 1970 , and , in 1972 , Hibbert appeared in the ground-breaking film The Harder They Come .
The cult classic starred Jimmy Cliff as Ivan , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek his fortune as a singer .
The first time he enters a recording studio , The Maytals are recording a song - and his eyes light up with wonder .
The Maytals ' song Pressure Drop was featured on the film 's soundtrack - which introduced many US fans to reggae - and it was later covered by the Clash , cementing the group 's reputation in the UK .
In 1980 , they entered the Guinness Book of World Records after a concert in London 's Hammersmith Palais was cut to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with Island Records boss Chris Blackwell personally delivering copies to record shops in his Mini Cooper .
A year later , howver , Matthias and Gordon retired from music and Hibbert continued as a solo act .
He assembled a new version of the Maytals in the 1990s and toured extensively - but made a more high-profile comeback with the 2004 album True Love .
Boasting new recordings of his best-known hits , the record featured a host of guest stars , including Eric Clapton , Keith Richards , No Doubt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roots .
It went on to win a Grammy award , rejuvenating the musician 's career .
He released a solo album , Light Your Light , in 2007 and hit the road for the Maytals 50th anniversary in 2012 .
The following year , however , he was injured during a concert , and was unable to perform again until 2016 .
`` What happened was we were doing a college show , and one of the guys loved my music so much that he threw a liquor bottle onstage , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to catch it but it but it hit my head .
It was a pity that it happened .
It 's taken me three years to make people happy again . ''
The fan was arrested - and Hibbert told the judge he had suffered `` extreme anxiety , memory loss , headaches , dizziness and , most sadly of all , a fear of crowds and performing '' .
However , he requested that the 19-year-old receive a light sentence .
`` He is a young man , and I have heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he wrote in a letter to the judge .
`` My own pain and suffering would be increased substantially knowing that this young man would face that prospect . ''
The man received a six-month sentence .
In the ensuing years , Hibbert recorded almost every day in his home studio ; and recently released what was to be his last album , Got To Be Tough .
It was co-produced by Ringo Starr 's son , Zak Starkey , who marvelled at the musician 's longevity .
`` The power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've ever met , '' he told Rolling Stone .
`` And he has lived through all the generations of Jamaican music .
He was at the forefront at the start , and he 's at the forefront now .
How incredible is that ? ''
In 2012 , Hibbert explained his theory of reggae in a profile for Interview magazine .
He described his songs as `` a message of consolation ; a message of salvation .
The youth are going to the school and they have to listen to the words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words .
God has to listen to the words .
So , we have to make it positive .
`` If you sing nursery rhymes , it is nothing .
You just blow up tomorrow , and the record dies at the same time .
But if you give positive words , that song lives for ever . ''
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

He described his songs as "a message of consolation; a message of salvation. The youth are going to the school and they have to listen to the words. The parents have to listen to the words. God has to listen to the words. So, we have to make it positive.


bbc--2020-09-11--Oregon wildfires: Drone footage shows homes completely wiped out

Drone footage shows streets of houses that have been completely wiped out by wildfires in the US state of Oregon @ @ @ @ @ allowed to return to where their houses once stood and are realising the extent of @ @ @ @ @ .

Drone footage shows streets of houses that have been completely wiped out by wildfires in the US state of Oregon.
Some residents have been allowed to return to where their houses once stood and are realising the extent of the damage to their communities.
Read more: Half a million flee 'unprecedented' Oregon fires


bbc--2020-09-11--With the ongoing risk of coronavirus, what does the average school day now look like?

After months of virtual learning , some schools have now reopened their doors to pupils .
But with the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ does the average school day now look like ?
Students from five different countries tell @ @ @ @ @ are putting in place to keep them safe , and how these new rules are @ @ @ @ @ their new normal school day .

After months of virtual learning, some schools have now reopened their doors to pupils. But with the ongoing risk of coronavirus, what does the average school day now look like?
Students from five different countries tell us what measures their schools are putting in place to keep them safe, and how these new rules are affecting them. This is their new normal school day.
Produced by Cordelia Hemming, Kesewaa Browne, Georgina Pearce and Hannah Gelbart
Edited by Robert Coxwell
BBC My World is a news service for teenagers around the world, brought to you by executive producers Angelina Jolie and the BBC World Service. You can watch more on BBC My World's YouTube channel


bbc--2020-09-12--ICYMI: Sparkles, surfing and a leopard in a shed

From diamonds to mammoth bones - some gems you may not have seen this week .

From diamonds to mammoth bones - some gems you may not have seen this week.


bbc--2020-09-11--How India and China bought peace - for now

Both countries still have a huge deployment in the region where they have overlapping territorial claims - and overcoming their differences will not be easy .
Many observers , including Michael Kugelman , deputy director at the Wilson Center think-tank , believe that both countries were ready for a confrontation , but they also realised that a war , even a limited one , was not an option .
`` It would have been catastrophic for both countries and the wider region .
The economic stakes were too high to risk a war , '' he said .
The fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing for many years and is known to share good relations with Chinese diplomats appears to have helped .
Lieutenant General ( retired ) Vinod Bhatia , who served in the Indian army , says troops are used to operating in harsh conditions , but `` given a chance , both armies would want to avoid that '' .
Both countries also have many other crises to deal with .
India 's Covid-19 caseload continues to rise at an alarming rate and its economy is suffering .
Any armed confrontation would affect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How soon could peace be restored ?
`` Several points along the LAC are contentious where troops are still stationed , so there is no clarity on the resolution of these issues , '' she says .
`` The area is too big and it will take time for commanders to come to an understanding .
The military-level talks will happen when tensions are still high and emotions are raw , '' he says .
What caused the escalation will also determine how quickly disengagement can happen .
A major factor cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new road that connects Indian army stations in the region to a forward air base .
`` Beijing felt punishing India will give a warning to Delhi and Washington at the same time .
But what they did not calculate was that India will refuse to back down , '' she says .
So , they became more aggressive , she says , adding that this was reflected in the statements of Beijing officials in recent days .
Aggression has been a key factor in China 's foreign policy - particularly in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remind the country 's neighbours of its superior military might .
Resolving these core issues , including unsettled disputes going back decades , along the LAC that stretches for 3,440km ( 2,100 miles ) , will not be resolved in a few days .
`` So , it 's a good start , '' Mr Kugleman says .
`` Talks are better than no talks , but we just have to be cautiously optimistic . ''

So, they became more aggressive, she says, adding that this was reflected in the statements of Beijing officials in recent days. Aggression has been a key factor in China's foreign policy - particularly in recent months. And Chinese state media often remind the country's neighbours of its superior military might.


bbc--2020-09-10--Coronavirus: Who would get the vaccine first?

If or when scientists succeed in making a coronavirus vaccine , there wo n't be enough to go around .
Research labs and pharmaceutical companies are rewriting the rulebook on the time it takes to develop , test and manufacture an effective vaccine .
Unprecedented steps are being taken to ensure roll-out of the vaccine is global .
But there are concerns that the race to get one will be won by the richest countries , at the expense of the most vulnerable .
So who will get it first , how much will it cost and , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure nobody gets left behind ?
Vaccines to fight infectious diseases usually take years to develop , test and deliver .
Even then , their success is not guaranteed .
To date , only one human infectious disease has been totally eradicated - smallpox - and that took 200 years .
The rest - from polio to tetanus , measles , mumps and TB - we live with , or without , thanks to vaccinations .
How soon can we expect a coronavirus vaccine ?
Trials involving thousands of people are already under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Covid-19 , the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus .
A process that usually takes five to 10 years , from research to delivery , is being pared down to months .
In the meantime , manufacturing is being scaled up - with investors and manufacturers risking billions of dollars to be ready to produce an effective vaccine .
Russia says trials of its Sputnik-V vaccine have shown signs of an immune response in patients and mass vaccination will start in October .
China says it has developed a successful vaccine that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But concerns have been raised about the speed at which both vaccines have been produced .
Neither are on the World Health Organization 's list of vaccines that have reached phase three clinical trials - the stage that involves more widespread testing in humans .
Some of these leading candidates hope to get their vaccine approved by the end of the year - although the WHO has said it does not expect to see widespread vaccinations against Covid-19 until the middle of 2021 .
British drug manufacturer AstraZeneca , which has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ramping up its global manufacturing capacity and has agreed to supply 100 million doses to the UK alone and possibly two billion globally - should it prove successful .
Clinical trials were paused this week after a participant had a suspected adverse reaction in the UK .
Pfizer and BioNTech , who say they have invested more than $ 1bn in their Covid-19 programme developing an mRNA vaccine , expect to be ready to seek some form of regulatory approval as early as October this year .
If approved , that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of 2020 and potentially more than 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021 .
There are around 20 other pharmaceutical companies with clinical trials under way .
Not all of them will succeed - normally only about 10 % of vaccine trials are successful .
The hope is that the global focus , new alliances , and common purpose will raise the odds this time .
But even if one of these vaccines is successful , the immediate shortfall is clear .
• How close to developing a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bets to secure potential vaccines , making deals for millions of doses with a range of candidates before anything has been officially certified or approved .
The UK government , for example , has signed deals for undisclosed sums for six potential coronavirus vaccines that may or may not prove successful .
The US hopes to get 300 million doses by January from its investment programme to fast-track a successful vaccine .
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has even advised states to be prepared for a vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But not all countries are in a position to do likewise .
Organisations such the Medecins Sans Frontieres , often on the frontline delivering vaccines , say locking in advanced deals with pharmaceutical companies creates `` a dangerous trend of vaccine nationalism by richer nations '' .
This in turn reduces global stocks available to the vulnerable in poorer countries .
In the past , the price of life-saving vaccines has left countries struggling to fully immunise children against diseases such as meningitis , for example .
Dr Mariângela Simão , the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicines and health products , says we need to ensure vaccine nationalism is held in check .
`` The challenge will be to ensure equitable access - that all countries have access , not just those who can pay more . ''
The WHO is working with the epidemic response group , Cepi , and the Vaccine Alliance of governments and organisations , known as Gavi , to try to level the playing field .
At least 80 rich nations and economies , so far , have signed up to the global vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise $ 2bn ( £1.52bn ) by the end of 2020 to help buy and fairly distribute a drug worldwide .
The US , which wants to leave the WHO , is not one of them .
By pooling resources in Covax , participants hope to guarantee 92 lower income countries , in Africa , Asia and Latin America , also get `` rapid , fair and equitable access '' to Covid-19 vaccines .
The facility is helping to fund a range of vaccine research and development work , and supporting manufacturers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Having a wide portfolio of vaccine trials signed up to their programme , they are hoping at least one will be successful so they can deliver two billion doses of safe , effective vaccines by the end of 2021 .
`` With COVID-19 vaccines we want things to be different , '' says Gavi 's CEO Dr Seth Berkley .
`` If only the wealthiest countries in the world are protected , then international trade , commerce and society as a whole will continue to be hit hard as the pandemic continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How much will it cost ?
While billions of dollars are being invested in vaccine development , millions more are being pledged to buy and supply the vaccine .
Prices per dose depend on the type of vaccine , the manufacturer and the number of doses ordered .
Pharmaceutical company Moderna , for example , is reportedly selling access to its potential vaccine at between $ 32 and $ 37 a dose ( £24 to £28 ) .
AstraZeneca , on the other hand has said it will supply its vaccine `` at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per dose - during the pandemic .
The Serum Institute of India ( SSI ) , the world 's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume , is being backed by $ 150m from Gavi and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to make and deliver up to 100 million doses of the successful Covid-19 vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries .
They say the ceiling price will be $ 3 ( £2.28 ) a dose .
But patients receiving the vaccine are unlikely to be charged in most cases .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NHS health service .
Student doctors and nurses , dentists and vets could be trained to back up existing NHS staff in administering the jab en masse .
Consultation is currently under way .
Other countries , such as Australia , have said they will offer free doses to their population .
People receiving vaccines via humanitarian organisations - a vital cog in the global distribution wheel - will not be charged .
In the US , while the shot might be free , healthcare professionals could charge for administering the jab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine bill .
So who gets it first ?
Although the pharmaceutical companies will be making the vaccine , they wo n't be the ones who decide who gets vaccinated first .
`` Each organisation or country will have to determine who it immunises first and how it does that , '' Sir Mene Pangalos - AstraZeneca 's Executive Vice President told the BBC .
As the initial supply will be limited , reducing deaths and protecting health care systems are likely to be prioritised .
The Gavi plan is that countries signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income alike , will receive enough doses for 3 % of their population - which would be enough to cover health and social care workers .
As more vaccine is produced , allocation is increased to cover 20 % of the population - this time prioritising over 65s and other vulnerable groups .
After everybody has received 20 % , the vaccine would be distributed according to other criteria , such as country vulnerability and immediate threat of Covid-19 .
Countries have until 18 September to commit to the programme and make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still under way for many other elements of the allocation process .
`` The only certainty is that there wo n't be enough - the rest is still up in the air , '' says Dr Simao .
Gavi insists richer participants can request enough doses to vaccinate between 10-50 % of their population , but no country will receive enough doses to vaccinate more than 20 % until all countries in the group have been offered this amount .
Dr Berkley says a small buffer of about 5 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept aside , `` to build a stockpile to help with acute outbreaks and to support humanitarian organisations , for example to vaccinate refugees who may not otherwise have access '' .
How do you distribute a global vaccine ?
A lot depends on which vaccine is successful .
The ideal vaccine has a lot to live up to .
It needs to be affordable .
It needs to generate strong , long-lasting immunity .
It needs a simple refrigerated distribution system and manufacturers must be able to scale-up production rapidly .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( MFS / Doctors Without Borders ) , already have effective vaccination programmes in place around the world with the so called `` cold chain '' facilities - cooler trucks and solar fridges to keep vaccines at the right temperature as they travel from factory to field .
But adding a new vaccine to the mix could pose huge logistical problems for those already facing a difficult environment .
Vaccines usually need to be kept refrigerated - usually between 2C and 8C .
That 's not too much of a challenge in most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` immense task '' where infrastructure is weak and electricity supply and refrigeration unstable .
`` Maintaining vaccines under cold chain is already one of the biggest challenges ' countries face and this will be exacerbated with the introduction of a new vaccine , '' MSF medical adviser Barbara Saitta told the BBC .
`` You will need to add more cold chain equipment , make sure you always have fuel ( to run freezer and refrigerators in absence of electricity ) and repair/replace them when they break and transport them wherever you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their vaccine would need the regular cold chain between 2C and 8C .
But it looks like some candidate vaccines will need ultra-cold chain - storage at -60C or colder before being diluted and distributed .
`` To keep the Ebola vaccine at -60°C or colder we had to use a special cold chain equipment to store and transport them , plus we had to train staff to use all this new equipment , '' said Barbara Saitta .
There is also the question of the target population .
Vaccination programmes usually target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan how to reach people that normally are not part of the immunization program .
As the world waits for the scientists to do their bit , many more challenges await .
And vaccines are not the only weapon against coronavirus .
`` Vaccines are not the only solution , '' Says Dr Simao , of the WHO .
`` You need to have diagnostics .
You need to have a way to decrease mortality , so you need therapeutics , and you need a vaccine .
`` Besides that , you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowded places and so on . ''
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
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Russia says trials of its Sputnik-V vaccine have shown signs of immune response in patients and has rolled out the vaccine for public use while late-stage trials continue. China says it has developed a successful vaccine that is being made available to its military personnel. But concerns have been raised about the speed at which both vaccines have been produced.


bbc--2020-09-12--‘Signings could open up title race’ - Shearer previews new Premier League season

Alan Shearer joins Gary Lineker and Ian Wright on Match of the Day at 22:20 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of four Premier League games .
It is only 42 days since the FA Cup final so it does n't really feel as if we have been away , but we are off again with the first Match of the Day of the season on Saturday - and I ca n't wait .
This is just the start of a fascinating few months and the Premier League title race is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time out , when Liverpool had it sewn up by Christmas .
I have gone with Manchester City to be champions this time , but it is very hard to make predictions now about what will happen as the transfer window does not close until 5 October .
If anyone needs any evidence of what a huge difference a signing or two can make , they need look no further than Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United .
When he joined United at the end of January , they had just been booed off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - their fourth defeat in seven matches .
If I 'd said then that United would go on a 17-game unbeaten run , I would have been laughed out of the studio .
But Fernandes ' arrival transformed the whole team , not just by his own skill and ability to find a killer pass , but because his presence seemed to add an extra 10 % to every other United player too .
That kind of impact is what every team wants from the signings they have already made this summer - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come .
'There are still questions over City 's defence' I thought Liverpool would have been more active already in terms of signing squad players but there is still time for that to happen , as well as strong talk about them getting Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara .
He would be an excellent buy .
It would take some player to join Liverpool and go straight into their starting XI and improve them , but he would if they can get him .
When I talk about game-changing transfers , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have been to have seen Lionel Messi in the Premier League .
It 's a real shame he did n't come to Manchester City for whatever reason .
Instead , Pep Guardiola will have to crack on with just the firepower of Sergio Aguero , Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling , which is going to be tough for him !
Seriously , though , I am expecting a big reaction from City as they try to win the title back .
The big question over Guardiola 's side is still about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wait to see if they have put it right .
They simply have to improve there , but I am expecting them to spend more money in order to do it .
Aymeric Laporte , who missed so much of last season , is fit again and Nathan Ake is a good signing - but I can understand why they are still being linked with more reinforcements in that department .
Can Chelsea or Man Utd challenge too ?
City are not the only team who will think they are capable of closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent £200m already , so it is clear what their intentions are .
Frank Lampard had a very positive first season in charge given the circumstances , with the club under a transfer embargo , but now they have splashed the cash , the expectation level changes .
Suddenly his target goes from hoping they can get in the top four , to a demand that they challenge for the title .
You do n't spend that sort of money otherwise but , while I am sure they will improve , I still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
United , too , will be looking up the table after their great run to finish third , but bettering that finish is going to be extremely hard for them as things stand .
I 'm not sure they have the depth to sustain a challenge , although I 'm expecting one or two more signings to go with Donny van de Beek and if Jadon Sancho is one of them I could understand if their fans started getting excited .
United are going to be good to watch even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am really interested to see how their goalkeeping situation plays out because we could see a real battle to be number one between David de Gea and Dean Henderson .
Are Newcastle on the up , at last ?
The title race is really between Liverpool and City , but the fight for the top four is going to be interesting in itself .
Lots of teams will fancy it .
Leicester and Wolves will be up there again and I 'm not discounting Tottenham , either .
They will be better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matt Doherty and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg , Jose Mourinho has made a couple of very astute signings even though they are not necessarily glamour buys .
Arsenal are another team that seem to be going places , and you can not help but be impressed by what Mikel Arteta has done since he took charge at the end of last year .
He has won the FA Cup and now the Community Shield and , when you watch his side , you can see they look a lot tighter and are a proper unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not just signings that can change the whole mood of a club , though .
Keeping a player can be massive and what might be key for the Gunners and where they go from here is what happens next with their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang .
The Arsenal fans are sitting and waiting , desperate for Aubameyang to sign his new deal .
I know he 's got a year left on his contract but it would be a major boost if he committed his future to the club .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are not going to be in the mix for the Champions League places but there have been some signs that things are possibly on the up at last .
The signings that Steve Bruce has made so far are definitely encouraging - we desperately needed a goalscorer but buying Callum Wilson has covered that off .
He is a player I think highly of and he is capable of scoring the goals to keep us out of another relegation battle .
Our top league scorer last season was a midfielder , Jonjo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was pretty obvious that our attack was somewhere we needed to improve .
Ryan Fraser will help in that area too .
Callum is 28 and a proven Premier League goalscorer - he was valued at around £30-40m a few years ago but Newcastle have got him for £20m , which is a steal .
If he hits form he might just get back in the England squad too - I hope so anyway .
He contacted me before he joined to ask about the club and the area .
As you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it all .
In fact , I would have given him a lift up to St James ' Park to sign his contract , if he 'd wanted one !

Alan Shearer joins Gary Lineker and Ian Wright on Match of the Day at 22:20 BST on Saturday on BBC One and the BBC Sport website for highlights of four Premier League games.
Here he looks at the contenders in the title race, and the prospects for his former club Newcastle.
It is only 42 days since the FA Cup final so it doesn't really feel as if we have been away, but we are off again with the first Match of the Day of the season on Saturday - and I can't wait.
This is just the start of a fascinating few months and the Premier League title race is going to be far closer than it was last time out, when Liverpool had it sewn up by Christmas.
I have gone with Manchester City to be champions this time, but it is very hard to make predictions now about what will happen as the transfer window does not close until 5 October.
If anyone needs any evidence of what a huge difference a signing or two can make, they need look no further than Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.
I need to be 'much better' before Cantona comparisons - Fernandes
When he joined United at the end of January, they had just been booed off at Old Trafford after losing to Burnley - their fourth defeat in seven matches. If I'd said then that United would go on a 17-game unbeaten run, I would have been laughed out of the studio.
But Fernandes' arrival transformed the whole team, not just by his own skill and ability to find a killer pass, but because his presence seemed to add an extra 10% to every other United player too.
That kind of impact is what every team wants from the signings they have already made this summer - or the ones they hope are still to come.
'There are still questions over City's defence'
I thought Liverpool would have been more active already in terms of signing squad players but there is still time for that to happen, as well as strong talk about them getting Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
He would be an excellent buy. It would take some player to join Liverpool and go straight into their starting XI and improve them, but he would if they can get him.
Klopp defends Liverpool's lack of transfer activity
When I talk about game-changing transfers, though, nothing compares to how special it would have been to have seen Lionel Messi in the Premier League.
It's a real shame he didn't come to Manchester City for whatever reason. Instead, Pep Guardiola will have to crack on with just the firepower of Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, which is going to be tough for him!
Seriously, though, I am expecting a big reaction from City as they try to win the title back.
The big question over Guardiola's side is still about their defence, and we will have to wait to see if they have put it right. They simply have to improve there, but I am expecting them to spend more money in order to do it.
Aymeric Laporte, who missed so much of last season, is fit again and Nathan Ake is a good signing - but I can understand why they are still being linked with more reinforcements in that department.
Liverpool finished 18 points clear of second-placed City last season, and 33 points ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea
Can Chelsea or Man Utd challenge too?
City are not the only team who will think they are capable of closing the gap on Liverpool. Chelsea have spent £200m already, so it is clear what their intentions are.
Frank Lampard had a very positive first season in charge given the circumstances, with the club under a transfer embargo, but now they have splashed the cash, the expectation level changes.
Suddenly his target goes from hoping they can get in the top four, to a demand that they challenge for the title. You don't spend that sort of money otherwise but, while I am sure they will improve, I still think winning the league will be beyond them.
Chelsea agreed a deal with Hakim Ziyech in February and have continued their spending with Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva, splashing out a total of around £200m on six major signings during this transfer window
United, too, will be looking up the table after their great run to finish third, but bettering that finish is going to be extremely hard for them as things stand.
I'm not sure they have the depth to sustain a challenge, although I'm expecting one or two more signings to go with Donny van de Beek and if Jadon Sancho is one of them I could understand if their fans started getting excited.
United are going to be good to watch even if they don't get Sancho, but I am really interested to see how their goalkeeping situation plays out because we could see a real battle to be number one between David de Gea and Dean Henderson.
Gossip: Can Man Utd sign Jadon Sancho & Jack Grealish this summer?
Are Newcastle on the up, at last?
Shearer's top-four prediction 1. Man City 2. Liverpool 3. Chelsea 4. Man Utd
The title race is really between Liverpool and City, but the fight for the top four is going to be interesting in itself. Lots of teams will fancy it.
Leicester and Wolves will be up there again and I'm not discounting Tottenham, either. They will be better organised than last season and, in Matt Doherty and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Jose Mourinho has made a couple of very astute signings even though they are not necessarily glamour buys.
Arsenal are another team that seem to be going places, and you cannot help but be impressed by what Mikel Arteta has done since he took charge at the end of last year.
He has won the FA Cup and now the Community Shield and, when you watch his side, you can see they look a lot tighter and are a proper unit when they face the top teams.
It's not just signings that can change the whole mood of a club, though. Keeping a player can be massive and what might be key for the Gunners and where they go from here is what happens next with their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Arsenal fans are sitting and waiting, desperate for Aubameyang to sign his new deal. I know he's got a year left on his contract but it would be a major boost if he committed his future to the club.
As for my old team Newcastle, well we are not going to be in the mix for the Champions League places but there have been some signs that things are possibly on the up at last.
Callum Wilson (left) and Ryan Fraser have both arrived at Newcastle from relegated Bournemouth. The Magpies have also signed midfielder Jeff Hendrick after he left Burnley and Norwich defender Jamal Lewis
The signings that Steve Bruce has made so far are definitely encouraging - we desperately needed a goalscorer but buying Callum Wilson has covered that off. He is a player I think highly of and he is capable of scoring the goals to keep us out of another relegation battle.
Our top league scorer last season was a midfielder, Jonjo Shelvey, with six goals so it was pretty obvious that our attack was somewhere we needed to improve. Ryan Fraser will help in that area too.
Callum is 28 and a proven Premier League goalscorer - he was valued at around £30-40m a few years ago but Newcastle have got him for £20m, which is a steal. If he hits form he might just get back in the England squad too - I hope so anyway.
He contacted me before he joined to ask about the club and the area. As you can imagine, I was very positive about it all.
In fact, I would have given him a lift up to St James' Park to sign his contract, if he'd wanted one!
Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.


bbc--2020-09-12--Zverev fights back to reach first Grand Slam final

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Germany 's Alexander Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final in the most difficult manner after fighting back to beat Spain 's Pablo Carreno Busta in a tense US Open five-setter .
But Zverev showed incredible resolve to turn the match around and win 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 against the 20th seed .
Zverev will play Austrian second seed Dominic Thiem in Sunday 's final .
Thiem , 27 , beat Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6 ( 9-7 ) 7-6 ( 7-5 ) in Friday 's second semi-final at Flushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Grand Slam champion crowned for the first time since the 2014 US Open , when Croatia 's Marin Cilic won .
The absence of 2019 champion Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the behind-closed-doors Grand Slam , plus the expulsion of top seed Novak Djokovic for hitting a line judge with a ball , has given the chance for a new name to be etched on to a major trophy .
Switzerland 's Stan Wawrinka was the last man outside of the 'Big Three ' to win the Australian Open , French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following his win at Flushing Meadows in 2016 .
The chances of Zverev becoming the newest Grand Slam champion looked slim after Carreno Busta 's strong start .
But the former world number three is now one win away after a remarkable comeback in a semi-final which was neither high quality nor engrossing .
Zverev grinned incredulously as he waved his fists towards his box when Carreno Busta lamped a return into the net on the second match point .
`` I knew I had to come up with better tennis and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I knew I had to play better .
I 've never come back from two sets to love but I 'm happy to do it at this stage .
`` I 'm through to my first Grand Slam final and that 's all that matters . ''
Zverev shows both sides of his ability in strange match Zverev has long been touted as one of the next generation to eventually replace Nadal , Federer and Djokovic at the top of the men 's game , but has too often showed a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubting his true credentials .
Here , the world number seven showed both sides of that make-up as he came back to win from a two-set deficit for the first time in his career .
Zverev lacked purpose and intensity in the opening two sets as a focused Carreno Busta executed the perfect game plan to take advantage .
Zverev 's second serve is a glaring weakness in his game and it came to the fore again as things went from bad to worse in the second set .
Double faults in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Carreno Busta opening up a 3-0 lead and he ended a one-sided set having won just three of 19 points on his second serve .
Another telling stat was Zverev 's 22 unforced errors compared to just three from Carreno Busta 's racquet .
That led to former US Open semi-finalist Tim Henman describing Zverev 's second-set performance as a `` horror show '' in his role as a television analyst .
Suddenly , Zverev loosened up in the third and began to look more like the player who won the ATP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game improved drastically as he earned four holds to love and also cut down on the unforced errors .
Zverev maintained that level in the fourth as it became a question of whether Carreno Busta could handle his nerves .
Zverev continued to hit more winners than unforced errors in the decider , helping him break serve in the first and last games of the set .
In truth , it was a mixture of Zverev winning the match and Carreno Busta losing it .
More credit must go to Zverev , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing to panic when he faced defeat .
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Alexander Zverev won from two sets down for the first time in his career
2020 US Open Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 31 Aug-13 Sept Coverage: Selected live radio and text commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app.
Germany's Alexander Zverev reached his first Grand Slam final in the most difficult manner after fighting back to beat Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in a tense US Open five-setter.
Fifth seed Zverev, 23, looked lost as Carreno Busta played smartly and precisely to race into a two-set lead.
But Zverev showed incredible resolve to turn the match around and win 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 against the 20th seed.
Zverev will play Austrian second seed Dominic Thiem in Sunday's final.
Thiem, 27, beat Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-5) in Friday's second semi-final at Flushing Meadows.
The final will see a new Grand Slam champion crowned for the first time since the 2014 US Open, when Croatia's Marin Cilic won.
The absence of 2019 champion Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the behind-closed-doors Grand Slam, plus the expulsion of top seed Novak Djokovic for hitting a line judge with a ball, has given the chance for a new name to be etched on to a major trophy.
Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka was the last man outside of the 'Big Three' to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or US Open, following his win at Flushing Meadows in 2016.
The chances of Zverev becoming the newest Grand Slam champion looked slim after Carreno Busta's strong start.
But the former world number three is now one win away after a remarkable comeback in a semi-final which was neither high quality nor engrossing.
Zverev grinned incredulously as he waved his fists towards his box when Carreno Busta lamped a return into the net on the second match point.
"I knew I had to come up with better tennis and be more stable," said Zverev.
"I knew I had to play better. I've never come back from two sets to love but I'm happy to do it at this stage.
"I'm through to my first Grand Slam final and that's all that matters."
Zverev shows both sides of his ability in strange match
Zverev has long been touted as one of the next generation to eventually replace Nadal, Federer and Djokovic at the top of the men's game, but has too often showed a number of weaknesses which have led to many doubting his true credentials.
Here, the world number seven showed both sides of that make-up as he came back to win from a two-set deficit for the first time in his career.
Zverev lacked purpose and intensity in the opening two sets as a focused Carreno Busta executed the perfect game plan to take advantage.
Zverev's second serve is a glaring weakness in his game and it came to the fore again as things went from bad to worse in the second set.
Double faults in each of his opening two service games contributed to Carreno Busta opening up a 3-0 lead and he ended a one-sided set having won just three of 19 points on his second serve.
Another telling stat was Zverev's 22 unforced errors compared to just three from Carreno Busta's racquet. That led to former US Open semi-finalist Tim Henman describing Zverev's second-set performance as a "horror show" in his role as a television analyst.
Suddenly, Zverev loosened up in the third and began to look more like the player who won the ATP Finals two years ago. His service game improved drastically as he earned four holds to love and also cut down on the unforced errors.
Zverev maintained that level in the fourth as it became a question of whether Carreno Busta could handle his nerves.
Zverev continued to hit more winners than unforced errors in the decider, helping him break serve in the first and last games of the set.
In truth, it was a mixture of Zverev winning the match and Carreno Busta losing it.
More credit must go to Zverev, though, for showing an incredible resolve and refusing to panic when he faced defeat.


bbc--2020-09-12--Celtics edge Raptors to reach Eastern Conference finals

Last updated on .From the section Basketball The Boston Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals with a 92-87 win against defending champions the Toronto Raptors in the series ' deciding game .
Celtics ' Jayson Tatum starred with 29 points and 12 rebounds in game seven .
The Celtics will face Miami Heat in the conference finals .
Game one of that series - Celtics ' third conference finals appearance in the last four seasons - will take place on Tuesday .
Heat reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2014 with a 4-1 series win over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from 2-0 down to tie the series against Celtics at 3-3 , but VanVleet 's 20 points were not enough to help them to victory .
Jaylen Brown added 21 points and eight rebounds for Celtics , while Marcus Smart had 16 points , six assists and a crucial block in the final minute .
`` I tip my hat to Toronto .
They 're the defending champs and they have a lot of heart , '' Tatum said .
`` They made us earn that .
I think we responded after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-2 .
It was big and I think it 's going to help us moving forward . ''

Last updated on .From the section Basketball
Boston Celtics last won a conference title in 2010
The Boston Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals with a 92-87 win against defending champions the Toronto Raptors in the series' deciding game.
Raptors' Fred VanVleet missed a three-point attempt that would have tied the game at 90-90 with 12 seconds left then Kemba Walker made his free throws at the other end to seal the win.
Celtics' Jayson Tatum starred with 29 points and 12 rebounds in game seven.
The Celtics will face the Miami Heat in the conference finals.
Game one of that series - Celtics' third conference finals appearance in the last four seasons - will take place on Tuesday.
Heat reached the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2014 with a 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Raptors had come back from 2-0 down to tie the series against Celtics at 3-3, but VanVleet's 20 points were not enough to help them to victory.
Jaylen Brown added 21 points and eight rebounds for Celtics, while Marcus Smart had 16 points, six assists and a crucial block in the final minute.
"I tip my hat to Toronto. They're the defending champs and they have a lot of heart," Tatum said.
"They made us earn that. I think we responded after almost being up 3-0, then tied 2-2. It was big and I think it's going to help us moving forward."


bbc--2020-09-12--Coronavirus: Oxford University to resume vaccine trial after pause

Trials of a Covid-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University will resume after being paused due to a reported side effect in a patient in the UK .
On Tuesday , AstraZeneca said the studies were being paused while it investigated whether the adverse reaction was linked with the vaccine .
But on Saturday , the university said it had been deemed safe to continue .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed the news that the trials would resume .
`` This pause shows we will always put safety first .
We will back our scientists to deliver an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
The university said in a statement that it was `` expected '' that `` some participants will become unwell '' in large trials such as this one .
It added that the studies could now resume following the recommendations of an independent safety review committee and the UK regulator , the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency .
• UK 'must avoid party weekend ' ahead of new rules It would not disclose information about the patient 's illness for confidentiality reasons , but the New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial had been diagnosed with transverse myelitis , an inflammatory syndrome that affects the spinal cord and can be caused by viral infections .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says nearly 180 vaccine candidates are being tested around the world but none has yet completed clinical trials .
Hopes have been high that the vaccine might be one of the first to come on the market , following successful phase 1 and 2 testing .
Its move to Phase 3 testing in recent weeks has involved some 30,000 participants in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brazil and South Africa .
Phase 3 trials in vaccines often involve thousands of participants and can last several years .
The government 's chief scientific adviser , Sir Patrick Vallance , told the Downing Street press conference on Wednesday what had happened in the Oxford trial was not unusual .
The news comes after Prof Sir Mark Walport , a member of the government 's scientific advisory group Sage , warned the UK was `` on the edge of losing control of the virus '' .
He told BBC Radio 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only got to look across the Channel to see what is happening in France and what 's happening in Spain . ''
Official figures released on Saturday showed a further 3,497 people have tested positive with the virus in the UK .
It is the second day in a row that number of daily reported cases has exceeded 3,000 .
It brings the overall number of confirmed cases so far to 365,174 .
Meanwhile , the government figures revealed that a further nine people have died within 28 days of testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 41,623 .
Official figures indicate the UK 's coronavirus epidemic is growing again , after the R number - the reproduction rate of the virus - was raised to between 1 and 1.2 for the first time since March .
Meanwhile , daily coronavirus cases in Scotland have reached a four-month high , according to the Scottish government 's latest data .
A total of 221 people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours - the highest daily figure since 8 May , when there were 225 positive tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions intended to halt the rises are due come into force on Monday .
In England indoor and outdoor gatherings of more than six people will be banned , except in certain circumstances such as for work or school .
Those breaking the rules could be fined .
In Scotland , socialising will be limited to a maximum of six people inside and outside - but unlike England they must be from two households , and children under 12 are exempt .
In Wales , also from Monday , it will be illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended household to meet indoors - but up to 30 can still meet outdoors .
Localised restrictions for parts of Northern Ireland , including Belfast and Ballymena , are to come into force on Monday , aimed at reducing contacts between people in homes in the affected areas .
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove agreed fines might be necessary to ensure people self-isolate when required .
He told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme : `` I do n't want to see fines being levied , but even more I do not want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that puts the most vulnerable at risk . ''
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It would not disclose information about the patient's illness for confidentiality reasons, but the New York Times reported that a volunteer in the UK trial had been diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that affects the spinal cord and can be caused by viral infections.


bbc--2020-09-12--US wildfires leave dozens missing in Oregon, state governor says

Dozens of people are missing in Oregon alone , state Governor Kate Brown has said , as deadly wildfires continue to sweep through US West Coast states .
Fires have been raging in California , Oregon and Washington for three weeks .
Fanned by winds amid record heat , the blazes have burnt millions of acres , destroyed thousands of homes , and killed at least 25 people .
California 's Governor Gavin Newsom said the fires show the debate around climate change is `` over '' .
`` Just come to the state of California .
Observe it with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters from a charred mountainside .
The fires have burnt a total 4.5m acres - an area larger than Connecticut and slightly smaller than Wales - in recent weeks , according to the National Interagency Fire Center .
The smoke pollution from the wildfires has left Oregon 's largest city , Portland , with the worst air quality in the world , followed by San Francisco and Seattle , according to IQAir.com .
White House spokesman Judd Deere announced in a tweet on Saturday that President Donald Trump would visit California on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ?
In Oregon , where firefighters are battling 16 large blazes , 40,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders .
Oregon 's Office of Emergency Management ( OEM ) says the fires have killed six people , but officials warn the final death toll could be much higher .
Governor Kate Brown on Friday implored householders to stay out of the fire zones despite reports of looting .
`` Let me assure you that we have the Oregon National Guard and Oregon State Police monitoring the situation and preventing looting , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 , told Reuters news agency of her family 's frightening drive to safety through fires burning on both sides of their car .
She told her four children to close their eyes as they made their escape .
`` Everything is gone .
We have to start again from nothing , but we are alive , '' she told the news agency .
At least one blaze in Oregon - the Almeda Fire , one of the most destructive in the state - is being treated as suspected arson .
In Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires .
A one-year-old boy died earlier this week as his family tried to escape a blaze .
His parents remain in critical condition .
While natural factors such as strong winds have helped the spread of these massive fires , the underlying heating of the climate from human activities is making these conflagrations bigger and more explosive .
Nine of the world 's 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2005 , and the UN warned this week that the five years from 2016 until this year will very likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Oregon and California have warmed by more than 1C since 1900 .
The sustained warmth has seen six of the 20 largest fires on record in California all occur this year .
In Oregon , the spate of fires has burned nearly twice the average annual losses in just the past week .
In California , a prolonged drought over the past decade has killed millions of trees , turning them into potent fuel for the fires .
Mountain regions that are normally cooler and wetter have dried out more rapidly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel load .
Climate scientists had forecast that western wildfires would grow in size , scale and impact - but their predictions are coming to fruition faster than expected .
What is the latest in California ?
Governor Newsom , a Democrat , spoke on Friday as he inspected damage from the North Complex Fire , near Oroville in Northern California .
`` The debate is over , around climate change , '' Mr Newsom told reporters .
`` This is a climate damn emergency .
This is real and it 's happening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management in recent decades , but added : `` That 's one point , but it 's not the point . ''
Highlighting the states effort to combat climate change , he said the record heat waves and unprecedented fires were the sort of problems long forecast by scientists .
President Trump , a climate sceptic , has stressed poor fire-control measures as the main cause of the latest blazes .
`` You 've got to clean your forests - there are many , many years of leaves and broken trees and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a rally last month .
The North Complex Fire , which has been burning since 18 August , is among the deadliest in history .
Ten bodies have been found so far and another 16 people are missing .
California has seen at least 20 deaths in total from fires since 15 August .
Tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders as 14,800 firefighters continue to combat 28 major fires in the state .
Have you been affected by the US wildfires ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also get in touch in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

"You've got to clean your forests - there are many, many years of leaves and broken trees and they're like, so flammable," he told a rally last month. "I've been telling them this now for three years. But they don't want to listen."


bbc--2020-09-12--Moria migrants tear-gassed by Greek police in protest over new camp

Italy and Greece have accused wealthier northern countries of failing to do more , while a number of central and @ @ @ @ @ to the idea of taking in a quota of migrants .
What is being done @ @ @ @ @ fire at Moria was `` a sharp reminder to all of us for what we @ @ @ @ @ '' , Germany 's Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said .
But a group of charities @ @ @ @ @ the German government saying more has to be done for all of the migrants , @ @ @ @ @ What do we know about the fire ?
The fires started hours after reports that @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 at the camp .
Authorities placed the facility under quarantine last week after @ @ @ @ @ to have contracted coronavirus .

Moria migrants tear-gassed by Greek police in protest over new camp Published 12 September 2020
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Thousands of migrants and refugees are demanding more permanent housing elsewhere
Police on the Greek island of Lesbos fired tear gas at protesting migrants who were left homeless when their camp burned down on Wednesday.
Around 13,000 migrants and refugees had been living in squalor in the overcrowded Moria camp, and are desperate to leave the island.
The clashes broke out near a temporary camp built by Greek authorities.
A fire was set there earlier in the day, near a police blockade, and had to be extinguished by firefighters.
A new camp, Kara Tepe, has now been set up.
Police said about 200 people had checked in at the new camp, while dozens - mostly families - queued outside, waiting for hygiene and safety checks.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Migrants and refugees arrive at a new tent camp in Lesbos
Families have been sleeping in fields and on roads after fleeing the blaze on Wednesday.
The Moria camp was initially designed to house 3,000 migrants. People from 70 countries had been sheltered there, most from Afghanistan.
On Friday, migrants and refugees approached police barriers blocking the road out of Moria camp, holding signs calling for "freedom" and opposing the construction of a new camp.
There is also strong resistance from the island's permanent residents for a new camp, and they have been blocking roads to stop aid deliveries.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Riot police fired tear gas on Saturday
The question of how to deal with the mass arrivals of migrants, mainly to Italy and Greece, has divided the EU for years.
Italy and Greece have accused wealthier northern countries of failing to do more, while a number of central and eastern nations are openly resistant to the idea of taking in a quota of migrants.
What is being done for the migrants?
The new camp will begin hosting some of those left without shelter from Saturday, Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said.
On Friday, Germany announced that 10 European countries had agreed to take 400 unaccompanied minors who had been living in Moria.
The fire at Moria was "a sharp reminder to all of us for what we need to change in Europe", Germany's Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said.
But a group of charities and NGOs have written to the German government saying more has to be done for all of the migrants, not just those minors.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Migrants are struggling to cope out in the open
"The shameful situation in the camp and the fire disaster are the direct result of a failed European refugee policy - now the EU must finally help the people affected," the open letter reads.
What do we know about the fire?
Fires broke out in more than three places overnight on Tuesday, according to local fire chief Konstantinos Theofilopoulos. Further fires left the camp almost completely destroyed.
The fires started hours after reports that 35 people had tested positive for Covid-19 at the camp. Authorities placed the facility under quarantine last week after a Somali migrant was confirmed to have contracted coronavirus.
Eight of the 35 who tested positive for Covid-19 are since believed to have been found and isolated.
Mr Mitarachi said the fires "began with the asylum seekers because of the quarantine imposed". Some of those infected with the virus had reportedly refused to move into isolation with their families.
He did not say, however, that the fires were a deliberate act of arson aimed at destroying the camp.


bbc--2020-09-12--Coronavirus: South Korea's Covid detectives

South Korea , a country held up as a model for its response to Covid-19 , has been struggling to @ @ @ @ @ .
At the forefront are a team of dedicated government contact tracers , who have @ @ @ @ @ test anyone who is suspected of having been in contact with the virus .
BBC @ @ @ @ @ s virus detectives who battle long hours as they face their biggest challenge : gaining @ @ @ @ @ carriers who are reluctant to provide personal information .
Filmed and produced by Jungmin Choi @ @ @ @ @ and Jungmin Choi

South Korea, a country held up as a model for its response to Covid-19, has been struggling to contain a new nationwide outbreak.
At the forefront are a team of dedicated government contact tracers, who have the authority to isolate and test anyone who is suspected of having been in contact with the virus.
BBC Korea joins South Korea’s virus detectives who battle long hours as they face their biggest challenge: gaining trust and cooperation from suspected carriers who are reluctant to provide personal information.
Filmed and produced by Jungmin Choi, edited by Kevin Kim and Jungmin Choi


bbc--2020-09-12--US film Nomadland triumphs at Venice Film Festival

US film Nomadland has won the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival , the first such event held with live audiences since the Covid-19 outbreak .
The film , by Chinese-born Chloé Zhao , stars Frances McDormand as a widow who lives as a nomad after the 2008 crisis .
Mexican director Michel Franco 's thriller New Order and historic drama Wife of a Spy by Japan 's Kiyoshi Kurosawa both won Silver Lions .
Those watching the films in Venice 's cinemas had to wear masks .
About half of the seats at the venues on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few celebrities made the trip to the world 's oldest film festival .
Australian actress Cate Blanchett , who headed the jury at the 77th edition of the festival , said the winner had been chosen after `` healthy and robust '' deliberations by the jury members .
`` Good discussion is good discussion with a mask or not , '' she said .
Zhao , who is the first woman to win the festival 's top award in 10 years , and McDormand were speaking via Zoom from California .
`` Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your festival in this weird , weird , weird world and way , '' McDormand said .
The festival 's Grand Jury prize went to Franco 's film , while Kurosawa was named the best director .
They were jointly given the Silver Lions .
Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky was given the Special Jury prize for Dear Comrades !
, a film about the massacre of protesters in the USSR in 1962 .
Britain 's Vanessa Kirby won the best actress award , while the best actor prize went to Italy 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Italian city is one of the `` big three '' film festivals , alongside Cannes and Berlin .
The Berlin festival took place as scheduled from 20 February to 1 March .
But organisers of the Cannes festival - which had been due in May - were forced to postpone the event due to the coronavirus outbreak .

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who headed the jury at the 77th edition of the festival, said the winner had been chosen after "healthy and robust" deliberations by the jury members.


bbc--2020-09-12--US Open 2020: Naomi Osaka beats Victoria Azarenka to win third Grand Slam title

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Naomi Osaka demonstrated her growing maturity to fight back against Victoria Azarenka in a compelling US Open final and claim her third Grand Slam title .
Osaka was overwhelmed in the first set and was in danger of trailing 3-0 in the second before recovering to win 10 of the next 11 games to take momentum .
Belarusian Azarenka , in her first major final since 2013 , was broken for 5-3 in the decider before Osaka served out .
Osaka shrieked with joy as she took her second match point , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the New York sky as she contemplated her latest achievement .
Osaka 's level raised considerably as 31-year-old Azarenka was unable to maintain the intensity she showed in a one-sided opening set .
The fightback ensured Osaka , who won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open , maintained her record of winning every Grand Slam final she has played in .
`` I do n't want to play you in any more finals , I did n't really enjoy that , it was a really tough match for me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was really inspiring for me because I used to watch you play here when I was younger .
I learned a lot , so thank you . ''
• None Follow reaction to Osaka 's second US Open title Another US Open title for Osaka - but a contrasting occasion Osaka 's maiden victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago came in straight sets against Serena Williams in a hostile environment following the American 's infamous argument with umpire Carlos Ramos .
It left Osaka in tears as she stood on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slam trophy .
This second success could not have been more different .
Here she had to fight back from a set down against an inspired Azarenka - and navigate a tricky decider which could have swung either way - on a virtually empty Arthur Ashe Stadium because of the coronavirus pandemic .
And even in what were still strange circumstances , Osaka could this time enjoy the moment with a beaming smile as she lifted the prize in the company of her team and rapper boyfriend Cordae - even if she 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table herself rather than be presented with it because of social distancing rules .
Osaka looked a little lost as Azarenka overwhelmed her in a fast start , hitting 13 unforced errors and struggling to cope with the Belarusian 's proactive play and controlled aggression .
Draping a towel over her head at changeovers was a sign of Osaka 's concerns .
Her attempts to collect her thoughts and regain her composure did not initially work , however .
Another wayward forehand prompted a frustrated Osaka to throw her racquet to the floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mental resilience which she says she has developed over recent months came to the fore .
`` I just thought it would be embarrassing to lose this under an hour , '' said Osaka , who will rise to third in the world after her win .
That resulted in a major momentum shift in her favour as Azarenka threatened to move 3-0 ahead in the second set .
A rasping forehand by Osaka proved pivotal , not only in the game , but ultimately in the whole match as she seized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one maintained that level in the decider to earn a 4-1 lead , but was unable to convert one of three break points to move 5-1 ahead .
That might have proved costly when Azarenka immediately put the set back on serve , only for Osaka to battle back again by winning what proved to be the final two games .
Not only has Osaka impressed on court during the Cincinnati Masters-US Open bubble in the past month , she has also won many admirers for her activism in the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
A few days before the start of the US Open , Osaka pulled out of her Western and Southern Open semi-final in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake , a black man , by police in Wisconsin .
Before her US Open first-round match , she wore a face mask with the name of Breonna Taylor , a black woman who was shot dead by a policeman in March .
Osaka , who has Japanese and Haitian parents , and was brought up in the United States , said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her target was to reveal all of them by reaching Saturday 's final and that provided her with extra motivation to win the title , according to her coach Wim Fissette .
`` I felt the point was to make people start talking , '' Osaka said after her victory .
`` I 've been inside the bubble and not sure what 's going on in the outside world .
The more retweets it gets , the more people talk about it . ''
Azarenka wins hearts but falls short of another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aiming to complete a remarkable renaissance by landing her first Grand Slam title since defending her Australian Open crown in 2013 .
Few had predicted she would compete for the sport 's biggest prizes again after a turbulent previous few years .
Azarenka took time away from the sport to give birth in December 2016 and had her comeback stalled by a lengthy custody battle over son Leo .
Last week she admitted she had thought about quitting when the WTA Tour was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic .
She had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going into last month 's restart , but came back from the enforced break reinvigorated and possessing a fresh perceptive on life That enabled her to win a first WTA title in four years when Osaka pulled out of their scheduled Western & Southern Open final with a hamstring injury - and she continued her form in the Grand Slam .
Ultimately though , she could not become the fourth mother to win a major title as Osaka consigned her to a third defeat in a US Open final .
When Osaka won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rang around the Arthur Ashe Stadium as Serena Williams had been docked a game .
This time virtual silence greeted her triumph - but again she had to do it the hard way .
Azarenka played an almost flawless first set , and it was only when four games from defeat that Osaka found her range and some serious power .
The 22-year-old has taken some knocks over the past 18 months as she came to terms with life as one of the world 's highest profile athletes .
A first-round defeat at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest to take - but look at her now .
Not only is she playing with supreme confidence once again , but is also able to use her influence to promote social justice in a very assured and unassuming way .

Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Naomi Osaka lay down on Arthur Ashe Stadium moments after sealing victory
Naomi Osaka demonstrated her growing maturity to fight back against Victoria Azarenka in a compelling US Open final and claim her third Grand Slam title.
Japanese fourth seed Osaka, 22, won 1-6 6-3 6-3 for her second US Open title.
Osaka was overwhelmed in the first set and in danger of trailing 3-0 in the second but then won 10 of the next 12 games to seize the momentum.
The Belarusian, 31, in her first major final since 2013, was broken for 5-3 in the decider before Osaka served out.
Osaka shrieked with joy as she took her second match point, then calmly lay on the court and stared at the New York sky as she contemplated her latest achievement.
Osaka's level raised considerably as Azarenka was unable to maintain the intensity she showed in a one-sided opening set.
The fightback ensured Osaka, who won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open, maintained her record of winning every Grand Slam final she has played in.
"I don't want to play you in any more finals, I didn't really enjoy that, it was a really tough match for me," Osaka jokingly told Azarenka.
She added: "It was really inspiring for me because I used to watch you play here when I was younger. I learned a lot, so thank you."
Another US Open title for Osaka - but a contrasting occasion
Osaka's maiden victory at Flushing Meadows two years ago came in straight sets against Serena Williams in a hostile environment following the American's infamous argument with umpire Carlos Ramos.
It left Osaka in tears as she stood on the podium waiting to collect her first Grand Slam trophy.
This second success could not have been more different.
Here she had to fight back from a set down against an inspired Azarenka - and navigate a tricky decider which could have swung either way - on an Arthur Ashe Stadium left virtually empty because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And even in what were still strange circumstances, Osaka could this time enjoy the moment with a beaming smile as she lifted the prize in the company of her team and rapper boyfriend Cordae - even if she had to take the trophy from the table herself rather than be presented with it because of social distancing rules.
Osaka looked a little lost as Azarenka overwhelmed her in a fast start, hitting 13 unforced errors and struggling to cope with the Belarusian's proactive play and controlled aggression.
Draping a towel over her head at changeovers was a sign of Osaka's concerns. Her attempts to collect her thoughts and regain her composure did not initially work, however.
Another wayward forehand prompted a frustrated Osaka to throw her racquet to the floor in disgust.
Eventually, though, the mental resilience which she says she has developed over recent months came to the fore.
"I just thought it would be embarrassing to lose this under an hour," said Osaka, who will rise to third in the world after her win.
That resulted in a major momentum shift in her favour as Azarenka threatened to move 3-0 ahead in the second set.
A rasping forehand by Osaka at 40-30 proved pivotal, not only in the game, but ultimately in the whole match as she seized control to level.
The former world number one maintained that level in the decider to earn a 4-1 lead, but was unable to convert one of four break points to move 5-1 ahead.
That might have proved costly when Azarenka immediately put the set back on serve, only for Osaka to battle back again by winning what proved to be the final two games.
Osaka gets the world talking
Not only has Osaka impressed on court during the Cincinnati Masters-US Open bubble in the past month, she has also won many admirers for her activism in the fight against racism and police brutality in the United States.
A few days before the start of the US Open, Osaka pulled out of her Western and Southern Open semi-final in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man, by police in Wisconsin.
Before her US Open first-round match, she wore a face mask with the name of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot dead by a policeman in March.
Osaka, who has Japanese and Haitian parents and was brought up in the United States, said she had seven masks with seven different names.
Osaka arrived on court for the final wearing a face mask with the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old shot dead by a police officer while he was playing with a toy gun in a playground in Ohio in 2014
Her target was to reveal all of them by reaching Saturday's final and that provided her with extra motivation to win the title, according to her coach Wim Fissette.
"I felt the point was to make people start talking," Osaka said after her victory.
"I've been inside the bubble and not sure what's going on in the outside world. The more retweets it gets, the more people talk about it."
Azarenka wins hearts but falls short of another Slam
Former world number one Azarenka was aiming to complete a remarkable renaissance by landing her first Grand Slam title since defending her Australian Open crown in 2013.
Few had predicted she would compete for the sport's biggest prizes again after a turbulent past few years.
Azarenka took time away from the sport to give birth in December 2016 and had her comeback stalled by a lengthy custody battle over son Leo.
Last week she admitted she had thought about quitting when the WTA Tour was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Azarenka, who made just three unforced errors in a brilliant first set, also lost in the 2012 and 2013 finals to Serena Williams
She had won only one match in the previous year going into last month's restart, but came back from the enforced break reinvigorated and possessing a fresh perspective on life.
That enabled her to win a first WTA title in four years when Osaka pulled out of their scheduled Western & Southern Open final with a hamstring injury - and she continued her form in the Grand Slam.
Ultimately though, she could not become the fourth mother to win a major title as Osaka consigned her to a third defeat in a US Open final.
Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
When Osaka won the title two years ago, boos rang around the Arthur Ashe Stadium as Serena Williams had been docked a game.
This time virtual silence greeted her triumph - but again she had to do it the hard way.
Azarenka played an almost flawless first set, and it was only when four games from defeat that Osaka found her range and some serious power.
The 22-year-old has taken some knocks over the past 18 months as she came to terms with life as one of the world's highest profile athletes.
A first-round defeat at last year's Wimbledon was perhaps the hardest to take - but look at her now.
Not only is she playing with supreme confidence once again, but is also able to use her influence to promote social justice in a very assured and unassuming way.


bbc--2020-09-12--Afghan-Taliban talks: Government calls for ceasefire

The Afghan government has called for a humanitarian ceasefire with the Taliban , as the first-ever peace talks between the two sides began in Qatar .
Abdullah Abdullah , who led the government 's delegation , stressed that there was `` no winner through war '' .
The Taliban did not mention a truce , reiterating instead that Afghanistan should be under Islamic law .
The US encouraged both sides to reach an agreement , telling them : `` The entire world wants you to succeed '' .
Afghanistan has seen four decades of conflict , with tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began on Saturday , one day after the 19th anniversary of the deadly 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks in New York , that led to the US beginning military operations in Afghanistan .
• What to expect from new Taliban peace talks • The girl who picked up an AK-47 to defend her family The conflict in Afghanistan has been the longest in US history .
Why are these talks so important ?
These are the first direct talks between the Taliban and representatives of the Afghan government .
The militants had until now refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerless and American `` puppets '' .
The conflict is still continuing in Afghanistan , and the government says 12,000 civilians have been killed since February .
At Saturday 's opening ceremony , the head of Afghanistan 's peace council , Abdullah Abdullah , called for an immediate ceasefire , telling Reuters `` one of the top most issues on the minds of the people is reduction in violence in a significant way '' .
He added that his delegation `` represents a political system that is supported by millions of men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and ethnic backgrounds in our homeland '' , and that they hoped `` to close the gates of war and pain forever '' .
Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Akhund , meanwhile , said he hoped negotiations would `` move forward with patience '' .
He added he wanted Afghanistan to be `` independent , united , and ... have an Islamic system in which all tribes and ethnicities of the country find themselves without any discrimination '' .
The United States reached its own deal with the Taliban in February , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentous '' opportunity .
`` I think everyone sitting here today knows that it took hard work and sacrifice to reach this moment , '' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said .
`` The entire world wants you to succeed , and is counting on you to succeed . ''
Many Afghans who 've travelled here described this day as emotional .
Today was about symbolism and a start to end a war which has touched every part of Afghanistan , and every family .
Both sides say today 's first discussions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected , but on many other questions there are deep differences - the timing of a ceasefire , the shape of the political system , the extent of personal freedoms .
But more than anything else , the biggest issue is how to end a war now described as the deadliest in the world .
How hard will it be to reach a deal ?
Everyone taking part in the talks has acknowledged that they will be challenging .
Many worry that fragile progress made in women 's rights could be sacrificed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights activist pointing out that `` there is not a single woman '' in the Taliban 's negotiating team .
The talks also present a challenge to the Taliban , who will have to bring forward a tangible political vision for Afghanistan .
They have so far been vague , stating they wish to see an `` Islamic '' but also `` inclusive '' government .
The talks may provide more evidence of how the militant group has changed since the 1990s , when they ruled using a harsh interpretation of Sharia law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

Both sides say today's first discussions on procedural issues have gone much better than expected, but on many other questions there are deep differences - the timing of a ceasefire, the shape of the political system, the extent of personal freedoms.


bbc--2020-09-12--Charlottesville: Confederate soldier statue removed

A statue of a Confederate soldier has been taken down in the US city of Charlottesville , Virginia , the scene of a far-right rally three years ago .
Crowds cheered as a crane removed the bronze figure , known as `` At Ready '' , early on Saturday .
There has been an increased focus on monuments connected to slavery in the wake of mass anti-racism protests in the US and abroad this year .
A number of statues have been removed as a result .
Memorials to the Confederacy , a group of southern states that fought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Civil War of 1861-65 , have been among those targeted .
But there has been opposition to the removal of such symbols , with President Trump saying earlier this year that he would `` not even consider '' renaming military bases named after Confederate generals .
• Why the fuss over Confederate statues ?
• Columbus and Confederate statues torn down in US The bronze statue was taken down from its plinth in front of the Albemarle County courthouse , where it had stood since 1909 , early on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the monument , along with a cannon , were removed .
Albemarle County voted to dismantle the statue in August , the first decision to be made under a new law for removing Civil War monuments in Virginia introduced earlier this year .
In 2017 , Charlottesville became the site of the largest white nationalist rally in decades , following a plan to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee .
Avowed neo-Nazi James Alex Fields Jr was later sentenced to life in prison after driving his car into a crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and injuring dozens of others .
• ' A battle for the soul of America' In June , Virginia 's Governor Ralph Northam announced that another Lee statue would be removed , this time in the state capital of Richmond .
The decision came amid mass protests across the country following the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody .
However , a judge has since granted a temporary injunction to stop the statue 's removal .

But there has been opposition to the removal of such symbols, with President Trump saying earlier this year that he would "not even consider" renaming military bases named after Confederate generals.


bbc--2020-09-12--Greece-Turkey tensions: Greece announces military boost

The new arms include 18 French Rafale fighter jets , four frigates and four navy helicopters , Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said .
The country also plans to increase the size of its armed forces by 15,000 soldiers over the next five years .
Tensions have flared between Greece and Turkey over gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean .
The two Nato allies have competing claims over maritime rights , prompting fears that tensions could escalate further .
The European Union , of which Greece is a member , has previously called for dialogue .
`` The time has come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiatives constitute a robust programme that will become a national shield , '' Mr Mitsotakis said on Saturday .
The spending will also include new anti-tank weapons , navy torpedoes and air force missiles .
The new spending is the largest in two decades , AFP news agency reports .
France has backed Greece in the dispute with Turkey , and earlier this week President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of being `` clear and firm '' with Turkey , which he accused of `` unacceptable behaviours '' .
In July , Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to carry out a drilling survey in waters close to the Greek island of Kastellorizo , a short distance from the coast of south-west Turkey .
In response , Greece carried out naval exercises with a number of EU countries and the United Arab Emirates .
Tensions between the two countries have been strained by several other issues , including the divided island of Cyprus and the crossing of migrants into Greece from Turkey .
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Tensions between the two countries have been strained by several other issues, including the divided island of Cyprus and the crossing of migrants into Greece from Turkey.