bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: No wake, no funeral, just prayers in a cemetery

Death is no hushed whisper in Ireland .
It 's a rallying cry to a whole community .
The dead person is brought home and laid out in an open coffin in the `` good room '' .
A fresh white linen cloth will be spread across a table - a lighted candle , snowdrops perhaps and a photograph on top .
Mourners file past the coffin .
They shake hands with the family .
`` Sorry for your trouble , '' they say .
• Six more people die with coronavirus in NI Callers come to the wake house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tins of biscuits , home-baked Victoria sponges .
Every last china teacup in the community is unearthed from cupboards .
Trays of tea are handed around .
But this pandemic has robbed families of such tradition .
Now , the new normal is often no wake , no funeral , just a few prayers in a cemetery .
In Fermanagh , Tom Best last saw his wife , Anne , as she was taken in an ambulance from their Derrylin home .
They had been married for 51 years .
But she died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ward of the hospital .
He could not be there .
There was no church ceremony .
She was buried in St Ninnidh 's cemetery as a handful of mourners watched on from a distance and the parish priest said prayers and the undertaker stood by .
A single , white rose was placed on the coffin by a gravedigger in gloves .
Tom Best had to self isolate .
His heart was in the graveyard but he paced up and down their garden , clutching his wife 's photograph .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't be there when she died or at the funeral , '' he told reporter Rodney Edwards of the Impartial Reporter .
`` I 'm not going to break all the rules and walk up and see her .
I 'm not going to do that because that would not be right .
It would be selfish on all the people of Derrylin .
`` It 's heartbreaking .
I do n't think we have faced anything like this in our time , not in my 77 years .
Across Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Church of Ireland and Methodist - have set out rules for their priests , their ministers , their congregations .
In some places , there is still room for a kind of wake or a funeral , it just has to be much smaller - people must keep their distance .
Communities are trying to find new ways of expressing their respect .
In County Kerry , when elderly woman Betty Ryan died , there was no wake at her home and many parishioners could not enter the church for her funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the graveyard , respecting the rules of social distancing and respecting their friend and neighbour by their quiet presence as she was laid to rest .
In the Catholic diocese of Clogher that straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic , the guidelines have been tightened .
There will be no weddings , no baptisms and no funeral Masses for those who die - these will take place when the crisis has passed .
Clogher Bishop Larry Duffy said he was `` saddened '' but this was about protecting lives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ families will be supported over the phone .
If a child is ill and the parents ring the priest , then they will be advised to bless the child with a crucifix or their own hand and the priest may pray down the phone .
Rev Dr Frank Sellar , a former Presbyterian moderator and minister of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in Belfast has not dealt with a case involving Covid-19 yet , but he knows it is coming .
There will only be close family at the funeral , a service at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a celebration of the loved one 's life at a later date .
But amid the suffering , he sees a strength in people .
`` There is a pragmatism about people here because of the Troubles - a little bank of resource that is coming to the fore , '' he said .
`` I am heartened by the network of support that there is .
`` Family and neighbours are in touch either writing letters or speaking on the phone .
It is not ideal , but they are there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when , after this pandemic is over , there will be an emotional backlog of stress - something that the churches and clergy and people in caring roles will be anticipating .
`` It is almost as if things are being put on hold .
I would imagine when this is over , this will come to the fore . ''
What would the guideline be if a minister were called to a dying person 's bedside ?
`` There would be a certain pastoral discretion , '' he said .
Speaking on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian D'Arcy talked about his struggle to support people .
`` Who would have thought that , in a great crisis , somebody ca n't go to a church to pray , '' he asked .
`` Who would have thought that , in a great crisis , there would not be a priest there to help them to die ?
`` Who would have thought that we could n't have a funeral service for people ? ''
Showing compassion from the far end of a telephone was not easy , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfort people in an intensive care ward by phone and that 's all I can do at the present time , '' he said .
`` How do you comfort them when they ca n't see their loved one who died ? ''
The coronavirus has robbed people of final contact , they can not see or talk to or touch the person they love in their final hours or afterwards .
`` All of that is important for healthy grief , '' he said .
Undertaking has long been a family affair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Kanes Funeral Directors in Belfast .
He took over the reins from his father who worked through the dark days of the Troubles when people died suddenly , in bombings and shootings .
The company , he said , has always been about the `` personal touch '' .
`` With Covid-19 cases , we have to tell people that we ca n't talk to them in person .
Instead , they have to self isolate and we have to talk to them over the phone .
For those whose relatives die with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no comfort in a wake or church ceremonies .
`` Their loved ones will be going straight from the home to the cemetery .
`` There can be no more than 10 people at the graveside and they have to stay five metres from the grave that will be roped off .
They ca n't throw in a spade full of soil or even a flower . ''
`` O'Kanes never like to refuse any of our customers ' requests , '' he said .
`` Now we have to and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
'Why ca n't we do this ? '
they ask .
But it 's for their safety and for the safety of ourselves . ''
The coffins of those who die with coronavirus must be sealed .
There will be no viewing of the remains , as is customary .
Their bodies will not be embalmed .
Clothes will be laid over the bodies of the dead , they will not be dressed .
`` We understand that people can not carry the coffin because traditionally they put their arms around each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of social distancing .
`` You can drive up behind the hearse to the crematorium .
But you can not go in .
You must turn and drive away .
`` It feels so barbaric , so strange . ''
Most of all , it feels like people are being robbed of what 's most precious when they are at their lowest point .
`` People are going through the hardest time of their lives and you are saying no to this and no to that , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going over old times . ''
At the moment , there is no longer the place for that .
How have you dealt with rituals around death during this difficult time ?
Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
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"I'm not going to break all the rules and walk up and see her. I'm not going to do that because that would not be right. It would be selfish on all the people of Derrylin.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: The unusual ways countries are managing lockdowns

Countries across the globe are taking unprecedented measures to prevent the coronavirus spreading , ranging from the extreme to the relaxed to the creative .
We 've taken a look at some of the more unusual steps countries have taken to combat Covid-19 .
The Central American country , which has had close to 1,000 confirmed cases , has announced strict quarantine measures separating people by gender in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
From Wednesday , men and women will be able to leave their homes for only two hours at a time , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to go out on Sundays .
`` This absolute quarantine is for nothing more than to save your life , '' security minister Juan Pino said at a press conference .
In some Colombian towns , people are allowed outside based on the last number of their national ID number .
For example , people in Barrancabermeja with an ID number ending in 0 , 7 or 4 are allowed to leave the house on Monday , while those with an ID number ending 1 , 8 or 5 can go outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia 's government introduced a `` dog-walking hour '' from 20:00 to 21:00 for those in lockdown .
But that has now been scrapped , to howls of protest from dog-owners .
One vet said that skipping the evening walk could worsen the condition for the dogs with urinary problems and `` aggravate basic hygienic conditions in people 's homes '' .
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been raising plenty of eyebrows with his attitude towards the coronavirus outbreak .
He laughed off the suggestion that his country should try to stem the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't see the virus `` flying around '' .
Speaking to a TV reporter at an indoor ice hockey match , he also claimed that crowds at the match were fine because the coldness of the stadium would prevent the virus from spreading .
There is no evidence that this could be the case and the coronavirus can not be seen with the naked eye .
Unlike most of Europe , Belarus has not placed any restrictions on sports events .
`` There are no viruses here , '' Mr Lukashenko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flying around , have you ?
I do n't see them either !
This is a fridge .
Sport , particularly the ice , this fridge here , that 's the best antiviral cure ! ''
He has also cited drinking vodka and regular trips to the sauna as ways to ward off the virus - which is completely at odds with professional advice .
Unlike its neighbours , Sweden has taken a relaxed attitude when it comes to lockdown measures , despite close to 4,500 confirmed cases there .
The government hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to do the right thing .
Gatherings of more than 50 people were banned on Sunday but schools for children under the age of 16 remain open .
Pubs and restaurants can still offer table service and many people are still socialising as normal .
The strategy is dividing opinion both at home and abroad , but only time will tell whether the Swedes ' laid-back approach will backfire .
Advice offered in Malaysia has proven to be no less controversial .
The government was forced to apologise after its women 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress up , wear makeup and avoid nagging their husbands during the country 's partial lockdown .
Social media users were quick to criticise the posters , which were later taken down .
Turkmenistan , meanwhile , has reportedly gone for a completely different approach to the dealing with the pandemic… and banned the word `` coronavirus '' .
According to the independent news website , the Turkmenistan Chronicle - which is banned in the Central Asian nation - the government has removed the word from its health information brochures .
Journalists working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about the virus or wearing masks in public could face arrest .
The authorities say no cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Turkmenistan , which borders one of the world 's hardest-hit nations , Iran .

"There are no viruses here," Mr Lukashenko said. "You haven't seen them flying around, have you? I don't see them either! This is a fridge. Sport, particularly the ice, this fridge here, that's the best antiviral cure!"


bbc--2020-03-31--Big splash: The world's largest designer of water parks

In 1980 Geoff Chutter found himself `` mortgaged to the underside of the nostrils '' , and the owner of a brand new water park .
The then 28-year-old had no previous experience of working in the world of giant water slides and swimming pools , but he thought it would be more fun than continuing to work as an accountant .
So he decided to build his own .
Geoff had previously spent five years employed by the auditing firm KPMG Canada , until one day he came across the country 's first water park in the western province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there on a work assignment , and he was immediately intrigued .
`` It had some basic component that I thought was hugely fun , '' says Geoff .
`` How good would it be to spend your life putting smiles on families ' faces ? ''
So , inspired , he decided to quit the day job , take a leap of faith , and open Canada 's second water park .
Joining with a business partner , he found 18 acres of land in the city of Penticton , British Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 years , and Geoff 's business - Whitewater West - is today the world 's largest designer and manufacturer of water parks .
When he opened that first park back in 1980 , Geoff says it was `` very much house is on the line , savings on the line - modest as they were '' .
He adds : `` In reflection , the only thing more naïve than myself was the Royal Bank of Canada [ who gave us the money ] . ''
At the time , the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the first modern attraction opening in Florida in 1977 .
So Geoff could n't simply buy in slides , or even follow some already drawn up plans .
Instead he had to design and build his park from scratch , working with an engineering firm to create everything .
During the park 's inaugural summer , something fortuitous happened .
`` Four [ separate ] fellows came by and said 'Gee , I 'd like to do that in my home town .
How 'd you do it ? '
'' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build four new parks , three in Canada and one in Washington State , in the US .
Launching his new endeavour he had soothed his stress with the thought that , if the venture failed miserably , he always had accounting to fall back on .
But riding that first wave of success , he says that he has `` frankly never looking back '' .
Three years after his park opened , he sold it , divesting completely from park ownership and operations , to instead focus on waterslide and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery .
Today , Whitewater has 600 employees around the world , and projects across six continents , from Russia to India , Brazil to the US , and Australia to South Africa .
With annual sales of $ 200m ( £116m ) , the firm works with everyone from hotels , to amusement park behemoths like Disney , for whom it designed the vast Typhoon Lagoon wave pool in Orlando , Florida .
`` We 're the big boys in the industry - we 're the gorillas in the living room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The water parks industry has boomed over the decades , with 30.9 million visiting the top 20 water parks in the world alone in 2018 , according to sector-wide figures .
To try to stay ahead of the curve in an industry always seeking bigger thrills and fresh experiences , Geoff says that the company focuses on innovation .
Teams of designers , architects and engineers work at its headquarters in Vancouver , alongside artists and sculptors , to create the next most popular water slides , and other aqueous attractions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivals have not expanded outside of the US and Canada , Geoff says that he was always keen to build a truly global presence .
More from the BBC 's Paths to Success mini-series : • 'It was never my plan to be the boss of a huge company' • 'That was the worst day of my business life' • ' I had the glimmer of hope things would work out' • How a serious accident led to business success He credits the time he spent in France as a teenager - he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1966 to 1969 - with making him see the world `` an awful lot smaller '' , and that `` it 's your oyster '' .
So he was always keen to explore the possibilities of expanding the company worldwide .
`` We saw our competition - North American-based - afraid to venture out , '' he says .
`` So we went to Asia , we went to Europe . ''
On occasions , he says the company was warned by sceptics that water parks just would n't work in some countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Whitewater opened its first overseas project in 1988 , there were concerns that Japanese women would be too worried about sun exposure to embrace a water park .
`` Yet to this day our number one attendance day was 68,000 in a park in Tokyo , completely blowing up that theory , '' he says .
The business was also told that modesty concerns would get in the way of any success in the Middle East , but Geoff says that women-only events at a park in Dubai are a hit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone into , we 've been told 'Nice idea , but you 're going to fail there ' , '' says Geoff .
`` [ Yet ] , those components of water , sun , family , friends - they 're very powerful when they 're together . ''
The firm now has regional offices in Barcelona , Dubai , and Shanghai , and manufacturing operations in Turkey , the Philippines and Canada .
Dave Sangree , present of consulting firm Hotel and Leisure Advisors , says that Geoff 's stewardship of Whitewater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his attention to the wider water park industry , Mr Sangree says that it is expected to only continue to grow , especially in Africa and parts of Asia where the market is not fully developed .
`` You have a growing middle-class worldwide , people love to spend time with their children worldwide , and water parks are certainly a fun alternative , '' adds Mr Sangree .
Back at Whitewater 's headquarters , Geoff is particularly excited about developing and building surf pools .
`` I think it 's going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , surf in Saskatoon , surf in Toronto , and have world-class waves [ miles from the ocean ] , '' he says .
It does sound more enjoyable than being an accountant .

When he opened that first park back in 1980, Geoff says it was "very much house is on the line, savings on the line - modest as they were". He adds: "In reflection, the only thing more naïve than myself was the Royal Bank of Canada [who gave us the money]."


bbc--2020-03-31--Birth in a pandemic: 'You are stronger than you think'

The coronavirus crisis is throwing many pregnant women 's birth plans up in the air and leading some health trusts to increase home births .
The image captured hearts on social media 10 days ago .
Faolán , Gaelic for `` little wolf '' , was born in Drogheda in Ireland on Saturday 14 March and a few days later his grandfather dropped round to see him - through the window .
He stayed for 10 minutes , gazing at his first grandchild .
It was hard to have family so close and yet separated by a pane of glass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold Faolán , says his mother , Emma Dillon Gallagher , who went into labour before Ireland 's lockdown and emerged from hospital into a different world .
Like parents of newborns in the UK , Emma and her husband Mìcheál then self-isolated for 14 days , while visiting family members took turns at the window .
A tweet of the photograph above , with the caption `` three generations of social distancing '' , has since collected nearly 730,000 likes .
But this is just one of many changes brought about by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some pregnant women it has opened up the prospect of having to give birth alone , or of being unable to have the Caesarean section they were hoping for .
For others it 's a case of not being able to have the baby in a midwife-led birth centre , but in a hospital instead - or even at home .
While some health trusts are clamping down on home births because of the virus , others are planning to deliver babies this way whenever it 's medically safe .
Nikki Dennett-Thorpe gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Emma Dillon Gallagher , on 19 March - the day before all UK schools and nurseries were closed indefinitely .
She needed a Caesarean section , so when she developed a persistent cough her hospital in Eastbourne suddenly had to make special arrangements .
She waited in an isolation room , ready in her hospital gown and compression socks as the staff tried to find an operating theatre which would n't be needed immediately afterwards - allowing time for it to be decontaminated before the next patient .
Nikki worried that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be disturbing .
`` I thought , when Stanley comes out he is going to be faced with mummy and daddy with surgical masks on , '' she says .
But in the end , the consultant decided it would be safe to postpone the Caesarean section for 24 hours , while Nikki was tested for coronavirus - and fortunately she got the all-clear .
Nikki and her husband then went into isolation for 14 days , with Stanley and their toddler .
Like Faolán during his isolation , Stanley has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Women who have chosen to have a Caesarean section when it is n't a medical necessity - because they are anxious about natural birth , for example - are in some cases being told that it may have to be delayed , or even cancelled , says the charity Birthright .
One woman who called the group said she 'd been told she would have to wait and see if there was capacity to have a C-Section on the day , and may have to have an induction instead .
The NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be at higher risk from coronavirus and should only leave the house for very limited purposes The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ( RCOG ) says `` pregnant women do not appear to be more likely to be seriously unwell than other healthy adults if they develop the new coronavirus '' .
There is no evidence to suggest an increased risk of miscarriage if a pregnant woman becomes infected , according to the RCOG , and `` given current evidence , it is considered unlikely that if you have the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's development '' .
It adds : `` In all reported cases of newborn babies developing coronavirus very soon after birth , the baby was well .
Health trusts currently have competing priorities .
One is to limit transmission of the virus by keeping people out of hospital as much as possible .
Another is to divert staff to help treat Covid-19 patients , and a third is to free up space for these patients to be treated .
It 's for the last reason that a number of midwife-led Birth Centres have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some areas , women will now be giving birth in a hospital environment instead , but in others the plan is to switch to home births in all cases where this is medically possible .
At the same time , in parts of the country women have been told that the home births they were planning may no longer be possible because of a shortage of midwives - two are often required to be present throughout - or ambulances .
An ambulance must always be available in case something goes wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hospital .
First time mum-to-be Hanna Cesek-Shaw has her heart set on giving birth at home and has been told so far that this can go ahead .
`` I have never been less keen to go to a hospital , '' she says .
`` I like the idea of my baby being born into a pool in our living room into a nice calm environment , one that we have control over one where I can be in my own bed after and eat my own food . ''
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the Birth Centre has closed and women are being offered home births as a possible alternative .
It may not be an option they all want to take up .
For Hanna , by contrast , her primary fear is that something may happen at the last minute to derail her carefully laid home-birth plans .
She 's in touch with other women online who have been told there are n't enough midwives or ambulances .
But she says she 's not `` anti-hospital '' and has noticed a great wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital births in the last few days .
`` They 've all been sharing really positive things about labour wards , so they 're like , 'Labour ward birth , not what you had planned , but look how good it can be . '
And that 's been really reassuring and good to see . ''
If Hanna does have to give birth in hospital , she wo n't be able to take her doula , and her husband , Rhodri , will be asked to leave two hours after the baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give birth without a loved-one present at all .
Who will look after any existing children when the baby is being born ?
With lots of grandparents now in self-isolation they are out of the equation , as is anyone who could bring coronavirus into the new baby 's home .
One pregnant woman told me that when she goes into labour her husband will have no choice but to drop her off in the hospital car park and then drive home with their toddler .
Her Ghanaian parents are no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am trying to be brave about having to go through it all without my husband there to hold my hand or rub my back , but some days it all gets too much , '' she says .
`` I am just going to try to focus on meeting my baby at the end . ''
Rebecca Campbell , a nurse from Cheshire , gave birth alone on Wednesday morning because her husband , Richard , has a health condition that means he can not safely enter a hospital during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the birth of his twin sons , four years ago , and took for granted that he would be present for the birth of his daughter - until coronavirus came along .
He said he felt `` devastated '' to miss it .
Rebecca made plans to FaceTime Richard once she had their daughter in her arms .
The hospital was aiming to give her personal protective equipment and her own room to recover in but she was well aware that it might not be possible and was prepared in that case to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter , in a family member 's empty house .
The idea of being away from her husband and boys was distressing , but she steeled herself for it - because returning to her family and taking the coronavirus with her was too great a risk to take .
It has n't been possible to ask her , in the hours since the birth , whether she will have to isolate or not .
None of these women could have imagined nine months ago that they would be giving birth during a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` You are braver and stronger than you think . ''
For young Stanley Dennett-Thorpe , meanwhile , the breaking news updates on the television are a blur .
He often sleeps through the UK government 's daily 5pm briefing .
The constant deluge of coronavirus information exists outside his orbit .
His world revolves around his mum , and for that she is thankful .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide @ @ @

She's in touch with other women online who have been told there aren't enough midwives or ambulances. But she says she's not "anti-hospital" and has noticed a great wave of positivity on her social media feed about hospital births in the last few days. "They've all been sharing really positive things about labour wards, so they're like, 'Labour ward birth, not what you had planned, but look how good it can be.' And that's been really reassuring and good to see."


bbc--2020-03-31--Why a Frenchman built a 'Tudor' castle in Burkina Faso

Originally from France , Thibault Fornier , 55 , and his business partner Jean Koala , 28 , have spent the last 10 years building a `` Tudor '' castle , complete with turrets and battlements , on the outskirts of Burkina Faso 's capital , Ouagadougou .
Hamerkop Manor is loosely based on Hampton Court Palace , Henry VIII 's residence , on the outskirts of London .
Pouring tea from a Victorian-style tea set as he explains why he built it , Mr Fournier says : `` I love the royal family , not all of them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I see her as the guardian of Western civilisation .
I am convinced that after the Queen is gone , Western civilisation will disappear with her . ''
Mr Fornier became enamoured with all things British after he went to the UK on a language exchange programme at the age of 15 .
`` I like the English lifestyle - English cars , architecture .
I even bought a Rolls Royce the same day I bought this land , '' he says .
Since moving to West Africa in the 1980s he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three former French colonies - Burkina Faso , Ivory Coast and Senegal - and has put much of the money he earned from it into the construction of Hamerkop , which is always continuing , he says .
You may also be interested in : • The Kenyan artist whose London home became a museum • The race to cover a Mali mosque in mud In one corner of the garden , workers from the local village have constructed an enclosure for pet tortoises and are in the process of building a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from which the tortoises can be viewed .
Mr Koala , a Burkinabé , became Mr Fornier 's business partner in 2012 after he started working as a labourer on the construction of Hamerkop .
`` For the building of the castle , I had a hand in almost everything , '' Mr Koala says .
`` I was the supervisor and the site manager .
Now that the main part of the building is built , I am head chef and manage the bar , '' he adds .
Mr Koala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamerkop into a business .
To help cover the costs of the ongoing building work , it is now run as a private members ' club called `` The Windsors '' .
As head chef , Mr Koala serves seven course meals to guests , although he has opted for a French menu , rather than British .
Almost every other aspect of Hamerkop has a distinctly British flavour - like the 12m ( 39ft ) castle turrets and a thatched Tudor cottage .
There are smaller pieces of memorabilia too .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a sealed jar of commemorative marmalade from Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer 's wedding .
Paintings and sketches of various members of the royal Windsor family can be found peppered across walls in many of the rooms .
Much of the furniture is imported from Europe and has a distinctly British feel to it .
A life-size metal sculpture of a stag , made by a Burkinabé artist , stands in the hallway greeting guests .
• A former French colony , it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960 • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and adopted radical left-wing policies - he is often referred to as `` Africa 's Che Guevara '' • The anti-imperialist revolutionary renamed the country Burkina Faso , which translates as `` land of honest men '' • People in Burkina Faso , known as Burkinabés , love riding motor scooters • It is renowned for its pan-African film festival , Fespaco , held every two years in Ouagadougou • The cotton-exporting nation is battling an Islamist insurgency in the north .
Read : The country where it ’ s too dangerous to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mortality and death throughout Hamerkop .
There is a small chapel filled with Catholic icons , which Mr Fornier says was made to commemorate loved ones who have passed away , especially his mother .
Above the fireplace in the living room , hangs a reproduction of Arnold Böcklin 's painting Isle of the Dead .
On the window sill is a statuette of the crucifixion surrounded by items traditionally associated with witchcraft in Burkina Faso - the hand of a monkey , a tortoise shell and porcupine spikes , propped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to show the link between religions here .
Because someone has faith in the hand of a monkey , we call him an animist .
For me , all religions are the same .
We all believe in a superior being , '' Mr Fornier says .
`` I am a Christian , but I 'm especially fascinated by [ Catholic ] burial ceremonies , '' he adds .
Some visitors suggest that Hamerkop can feel like an uncomfortable throwback to a colonial era , but Mr Fournier points out that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local village .
`` I eat and drink with them .
I behave as a villager here , '' he says .
When asked about the future of Hamerkop , he replies : `` I ca n't do anything else except continue .
`` If someone comes to buy this place for 500m francs ( $ 827,400 ; £669,000 ) , we can sell it , but what will we do with the money ?
`` We would just start building again ...
It 's a gilded cage .
We are doomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he is gone , his business partner and his children will be unlikely to continue running Hamerkop .
`` I think [ it ] will crumble , but people will still visit in 30 or 50 years .
`` They 'll see the ruins and think - some kind of madness existed here once . ''

Since moving to West Africa in the 1980s he has worked in the creative side of advertising in three former French colonies - Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Senegal - and has put much of the money he earned from it into the construction of Hamerkop, which is always continuing, he says.


bbc--2020-03-31--How Dua Lipa and The Weeknd are bringing the 80s back… again

`` I 'm Dua , and I 'll be your instructor today . ''
With its lycra , leotards and sweatbands , the workout video for Dua Lipa 's Physical is a camp and colourful homage to the TV exercise classes of the 80s .
The track itself is heavily inspired by the disco and electronica which defined the decade 's sound .
Same goes for the biggest song in the world right now : The Weeknd 's Blinding Lights , with its super synth-pop keyboard hook .
The 1980s is inspiring pop music once again - and influencing artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its sound can currently be found everywhere in mainstream pop - from Little Mix 's Break Up Song to The 1975 's back catalogue to Heartbreak Weather , the title track from Niall Horan 's new album .
It 's perhaps most obvious throughout The Weeknd 's After Hours , especially in the saxophone crescendo of In Your Eyes .
`` For me the definitive 80s sound is a splashy snare and a kick drum with a lot of kick , '' says Tim McEwan , one half of US electronic duo The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80s-sounding pop with all the hallmarks of the decade - including big soundscapes , dreamy vocals , and saxophone solos - for years .
`` You then throw in these dreamy synth pads which create these hyper melodic songs . ''
While The Midnight agree all music is cyclical , the current wave of 80s nostalgia might be because we `` miss the simplicity of a different time '' .
`` Technology has taken over to such a degree that there 's something very tactile about the 80s and 90s that people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vinyl , old game cartridges . ''
Some of the defining pop songs of the 1980s A-Ha - Take On Me Whitney Houston - I Wan na Dance With Somebody ( Who Loves Me ) The 80s has always been a `` significant music period '' but the decade 's influence '' has `` really stuck '' this time round , according to the Independent 's music correspondent Roisin O'Connor .
Born in the 1990s , she remembers finding 80s music through film soundtracks such as Back To The Future .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems like you 're discovering hidden treasure . ''
She says one of the qualities of the 1980s was the distinct vocals - from `` the dramatic baritone of Depeche Mode 's Dave Gahan to Jimmy Somerville 's falsetto in Bronski Beat '' .
Dua Lipa 's vocal on Physical reminds Roisin of Debbie Harry ( from Blondie ) - and says the Weeknd `` is famously obsessed with Michael Jackson '' .
For Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens , who was born in 1995 , the 80s sound is `` futuristic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on disco and Eurodance , he recently re-versioned the 1983 Italian dance-epic Take A Chance .
He also sampled the staccato keyboards from Yazoo 's 1982 hit Do n't Go on Turn Me On , his collaboration with Riton .
`` Good music from the past will always be there in the future , '' he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat .
The hook on Turn Me On was created by Vince Clarke who - as a member of Yazoo , Depeche Mode and Erasure - helped pioneer the sounds of the 1980s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Heldens .
Vince Clarke has also been a major influence in the life and career of producer and singer Jack Antonoff , who has made music with Taylor Swift , Lorde and Carly Rae Jepsen .
The pair worked together on Antonoff 's Bleachers albums Strange Desire and Gone Now .
Speaking to Buzzfeed in 2014 , Antonoff said : `` Modern pop music should just write Vince a cheque for a billion dollars . ''
TV has done its bit too - with the colours and aesthetic of the Starcourt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as perhaps the most visually in-your-face representation of the 80s .
The show `` came at the perfect time '' , according to Tim from The Midnight .
`` We definitely live in the same universe . ''
He thinks the Duffer brothers , who created Stranger Things , `` nailed an aesthetic that enhances whatever else is going on around it '' .
`` Our last album , Kids , came out in 2018 - which was around the same time as the third season .
A lot of people have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The band are now preparing for the release of a new album later this year , which The Midnight 's Tyler Lyle says represents their `` strongest songs '' to date .
`` We are trying to make music that feels authentic to us . ''
The 80s throwback is perhaps at the peak of its influence right now and , as with anything in music , music critic Roisin O'Connor thinks that the sound could `` peter out over the next year or so '' .
`` When you have artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lipa doing it , you 've reached your top levels .
I would n't be surprised if artists soon try exploring other avenues .
`` However , it 's so significant we 're never not going to hear influence from that time in our music . ''
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

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bbc--2020-04-01--Premier League clubs in 'moral vacuum' and players should sacrifice salary - politicians

Premier League clubs are living in a “ moral vacuum ” and players should be first to sacrifice salaries during the coronavirus pandemic , say politicians .
Julian Knight , the chair of the Department for Culture , Media and Sport committee , has condemned the actions of some Premier League clubs , who have furloughed non-playing staff .
Tottenham , Newcastle and Norwich have opted to utilise the government ’ s job retention scheme during the pandemic .
“ It sticks in the throat , ” said Knight .
“ This exposes the crazy economics in English football and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told BBC Radio 5 Live that top-flight players should be the ones to “ carry the burden ” .
“ My view is always that those who are the least well off should get the most help , ” he said .
“ Highly paid football players are people who can carry the greatest burden and they should be the first one to , with respect , sacrifice their salary , rather than the person selling the programme or the person who does catering or the person who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the salary some of the Premier League footballers get .
“ It should be those with the broadest shoulders who go first because they can carry the greatest burden and have probably got savings , rather than those who were in catering or hospitality who have probably got no savings and live week by week and who probably won ’ t get the [ government ] benefits for five weeks.
” The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme means the government will pay staff placed on furlough - temporary leave - 80 % of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a month .
While some clubs have opted to use that scheme , a number have taken other steps to reduce their costs while football is suspended during the pandemic .
Players at Championship leaders Leeds United have already volunteered to take a wage deferral while Birmingham City players who earn more than £6,000 a week have been asked to take a 50 % cut for the next four months .
In Europe , Barcelona players have taken a 70 % pay cut while Juventus players and manager Maurizio Sarri have agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Lord Mervyn King , former governor of the Bank of England , says Tottenham 's decision is fair , and Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber says he can understand why clubs such as Spurs would furlough staff .
Brighton have committed to playing all matchday staff until the end of the season but Barber says he can not rule out having to make cuts .
“ It ’ s a very difficult time for everybody and I can fully understand why people think that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has got a lot of cash , ” he told BBC Radio 5 Live .
“ In many cases that ’ s not the case , it ’ s a bit of a myth , but what we have to do is protect jobs .
“ We ’ re doing whatever we can to do that and that ’ s the priority at the moment for just about every industry in the country , including ours.
” Premier League and English Football League clubs are set to discuss a collective wage deferral agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Association on Wednesday .

Players should take wage cut to help staff - Redknapp
Premier League clubs are living in a "moral vacuum" and players should be first to sacrifice salaries during the coronavirus pandemic, say politicians.
Julian Knight, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, has condemned the actions of some Premier League clubs, who have furloughed non-playing staff.
Tottenham, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Norwich have opted to utilise the government's job retention scheme.
"It sticks in the throat," said Knight.
"This exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vacuum at its centre."
On Wednesday, Bournemouth announced that "a number of staff" would be furloughed, external-link while the club's chief executive Neill Blake, first-team technical director Richard Hughes, manager Eddie Howe and assistant manager Jason Tindall have taken "significant, voluntary pay cuts".
The Professional Footballers’ Association has written to all of its members urging them not to agree any reduction or deferral in wages until they have spoken to the union.
In a letter seen by BBC Sport, the PFA says: "The PFA requested to see each club's financial situation before we offer advice to players on whether to accept the terms offered.
"Before accepting or signing any paperwork from your club, it is vitally important that squads collectively discuss proposals with the PFA."
In a joint statement the Premier League, EFL, PFA and League Managers' Association said they had a "constructive meeting" on Wednesday "regarding the challenges facing the game".
"The meeting reiterated that the overriding priority is the health and well-being of the nation - including that of players, coaches, managers, club staff and supporters - and everyone agreed football must only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so," the statement said.
"No decisions were taken with discussions set to continue in the next 48 hours with a focus on several high-profile matters, including player wages and the resumption of the 2019-20 season."
Highly paid footballers should carry the burden - Khan
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told BBC Radio 5 Live top-flight players should be the ones to "carry the burden".
"My view is always that those who are the least well-off should get the most help," he said.
"Highly paid football players are people who can carry the greatest burden and they should be the first ones to, with respect, sacrifice their salary, rather than the person selling the programme or the person who does catering or the person who probably doesn't get anywhere near the salary some of the Premier League footballers get.
"It should be those with the broadest shoulders who go first because they can carry the greatest burden and have probably got savings, rather than those who work in catering or hospitality who have probably got no savings and live week by week and who probably won’t get the [government] benefits for five weeks."
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme external-link means the government will pay staff placed on furlough - temporary leave - 80% of their wages, to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
Knight is concerned the scheme is not being used in the appropriate way.
"This isn't what it's designed for. It's not designed to effectively allow them to continue to pay people hundreds of thousands of pounds, while at the same time furloughing staff on hundreds of pounds," said the MP for Solihull.
"I don't know whether or not the Treasury can legally turn down these applications.
"But at the same time I think football needs to have a good, long, hard look at itself and see whether or not morally this is really right and whether or not actually what they need to do is come to an arrangement with some of their stars so they can continue to pay their [non-playing] staff 100% of their wages rather than furloughing them on 80%."
While some clubs have opted to use that scheme, a number have taken other steps to reduce their costs while football is suspended during the pandemic.
Players at Championship leaders Leeds United have already volunteered to take a wage deferral while Birmingham City players who earn more than £6,000 a week have been asked to take a 50% cut for the next four months.
In Europe, Barcelona players have taken a 70% pay cut while Juventus players and manager Maurizio Sarri have agreed to freeze their pay for four months.
However, Lord Mervyn King, former governor of the Bank of England, says Tottenham's decision is fair, and Brighton & Hove Albion chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber says he can understand why clubs such as Spurs would furlough staff.
Brighton have committed to paying all matchday staff until the end of the season but Barber says he cannot rule out having to make cuts.
"It's a very difficult time for everybody and I can fully understand why people think that the football industry and particularly the Premier League has got a lot of cash," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"In many cases that's not the case, it's a bit of a myth, but what we have to do is protect jobs.
"We’re doing whatever we can to do that and that’s the priority at the moment for just about every industry in the country, including ours."
Analysis
Dan Roan, BBC sports editor
This has the potential to turn into one of the gravest PR disasters in the Premier League's history.
Many are now asking whether the government's taxpayer-funded job retention scheme was really designed for clubs who - in the case of Spurs for instance - have profits of £68m, a Bahamas-based owner worth £4bn, a chairman paid £7m, and players who, on average, earn £70,000 per week.
Government sources indicate the scheme is open to all businesses and it is up to individual clubs to decide whether to apply. But by furloughing non-playing staff while continuing to keep squads on full pay, Spurs, Newcastle United, Norwich City and Bournemouth have provoked an inevitable outcry, and also put major pressure on players - and the PFA - to agree to a deal that would see players have their pay deferred or even cut - as has happened at clubs in Europe.
My understanding is that a deal that will see players agree to defer a proportion of their wages plus some kind of financial contribution to a good cause should be signed off by the end of the week.
The PFA is wary of the risk that some clubs may cut pay, only to then make transfer signings rather than reimbursing their staff, and want a collective agreement rather than unilateral action, as has been seen at Leeds and Birmingham.
This is undoubtedly a complicated dilemma for the sport. The PFA has to consider the interests of players outside the top two divisions who do not earn fortunes, and it has asked the Premier League and EFL to come up with financial data for clubs so it can determine which are most in need of help from players.
And as agents will no doubt point out, players' contracts must not be breached. But unless clarity and compromise soon emerges from this week's talks, the risk is that much of the good work that football clubs are doing to help their cmmunities in this crisis could be overshadowed.


bbc--2020-04-01--Match of the Day: Top 10 Premier League keepers - rank yours

Clean sheets are crucial and there have been plenty of match-saving goalkeepers to have played in the Premier League - but who is the greatest ?
That was the subject discussed by Gary Lineker , Alan Shearer and Ian Wright on the latest edition of the Match of The Day : Top 10 podcast and we want you to get involved by ranking your favourites from a shortlist drawn up by the Match of the Day commentary team .
To hear the MOTD team 's final selections - recorded during a debate held in Lineker 's kitchen , before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure you listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds .
And at the bottom of the page have a go at ranking the 10 players yourself .
• Listen to the third episode of Match of the Day : Top 10 How to judge the Premier League 's greatest goalkeeper ?
Goalkeepers in the past had to be good with only their hands , keeping the ball out of the net , but there is a growing emphasise on outfield skills too .
`` The goalkeeping position has evolved massively , '' says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the football team because they have to play with their feet . ''
Shearer said : `` When we started out , the goalkeeper had to keep the ball out of the goal , that was his job .
Now he has got to be able to play . ''
Asked if he studied goalkeepers before going into games , Wright said : `` Definitely .
For example , I knew former Coventry goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic always liked to pat the ball down and then catch it so any shot that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anything that was coming in , I would just go in for . ''
Lineker : `` He has been unbelievably good for Liverpool , has made a massive difference to their team and transformed things for the team .
He is a goalkeeper that exhumes calmness which is very important . ''
Shearer : `` Alisson and Virgil an Dijk have been the game changers for Liverpool .
On the pitch , they are the ones that have made the difference . ''
Lineker : `` Cech kept clean sheets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he played in .
He won four Golden Gloves , four Premier League titles , the Champions League , five FA Cups , three League Cups , the Europa League and was the Czech footballer of the year nine times .
Shearer : `` When he first came to England he was open to a lot of criticism because he not that big , he had not bulked up and made too many mistakes .
Then he went through that period where he was fantastic and made some incredible saves .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistakes and goalkeepers are often judged on how many mistakes they make . ''
Wright : `` The period that Manchester United have been through over the last three or four years , I do not know where they would be without him . ''
Lineker : `` Some of the saves he has made have been extraordinary . ''
Wright : `` He has been amazing for Manchester City .
Not only has he won trophies , he is one of the goalkeepers that has changed the position for the way keepers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Some of the passes this guy comes out with , he is better than some of the players I have played with . ''
Wright : `` When he was younger , Ederson played left-back , you could easily see him playing left centre-half now with the way he pings the ball about .
He has great footballing ability . ''
Wright : `` Given was a good shot-stopper and had athletic ability , but he was somebody I fancied it against . ''
Shearer : `` He was n't great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the game now , but he worked hard and was a brilliant professional . ''
Shearer : `` He made hundreds of appearances and had great longevity .
To be around for that amount of time , you have to be a good goalkeeper . ''
Wright : `` He was one of the leaders in the dressing room .
He had a bit of something ( an edge ) about him but also a mistake in him , maybe someone you could n't trust one million percent . ''
Lineker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I played against in my time , a phenomenal goalkeeper and made the 'starfish ' save .
What an unbelievable career . ''
Wright : `` I only scored against Schmeichel in friendlies .
He was the only goalkeeper I thought about before I went into a game because he was so good .
I genuinely hated him as a goalkeeper .
I knew how good he was and how it was to score against him .
Christopher Wreh scored against Schmeichel - people do n't even know who he is - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Lineker : `` He is the most laid back goalkeeper I have met in my life .
He made one of the best saves ever from me , I was three yards out and the ball came across and bang , hit it , but he just came across from nowhere and it was unbelievable .
You would never congratulate the goalkeeper after , it was sickening but he deserved credit after that one , my god what a save . ''
Wright : `` From the time he came into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calm and he made the rest feel that way .
Him being in goal on a daily basis , telling me where to go , when a goalkeeper will close in with a bad touch , I know I would not have scored as many goals as I did without playing with a keeper of that calibre . ''
Lineker : `` Van der Sar shows you the importance of a good goalkeeper in the modern game because Manchester United took a long time to replace Schmeichel . ''
Shearer : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how they have changed goalkeeping , Van der Sar could play , no doubt .
He could pass a ball . ''

You can rank your favourite goalkeeper below
Clean sheets are crucial and there have been plenty of match-saving goalkeepers to have played in the Premier League - but who is the greatest?
That was the subject discussed by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright on the latest edition of the Match of The Day: Top 10 podcast and we asked you to get involved by ranking your favourites from a shortlist drawn up by the Match of the Day commentary team.
More than 160,000 of you made your selections, and the result is below (result correct as of 08:30 BST on Sunday, 5 March).
To hear the MOTD team's final selections - recorded during a debate held in Lineker's kitchen, before the coronavirus outbreak in the UK - make sure you watch Match of the Day: Top 10 on iPlayer.
1. Peter Schmeichel
Schmeichel is one of only five keepers to score in the Premier League, netting for Aston Villa against Everton in October 2001
Premier League appearances: 310
Clean sheets: 128
Lineker: "He was the best goalkeeper I played against in my time, a phenomenal goalkeeper and made the 'starfish' save. What an unbelievable career."
Wright: "I only scored against Schmeichel in friendlies. He was the only goalkeeper I thought about before I went into a game because he was so good. I genuinely hated him as a goalkeeper. I knew how good he was and how it was to score against him. Christopher Wreh scored against Schmeichel - people don't even know who he is - and I didn't manage to do it."
2. Petr Cech
Cech has kept more clean sheets than any other keeper in Premier League history
Premier League appearances: 443
Clean sheets: 202
Lineker: "Cech kept clean sheets in nearly half of the Premier League games he played in. He won four Golden Gloves, four Premier League titles, the Champions League, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Europa League and was the Czech footballer of the year nine times.
3. Edwin van der Sar
Van der Sar holds the record for the most consecutive clean sheets in Premier League history, achieving 14 between November 2008 and February 2009
Premier League appearances: 313
Clean sheets: 132
Lineker: "Van der Sar shows you the importance of a good goalkeeper in the modern game because Manchester United took a long time to replace Schmeichel."
Shearer: "We keep going on about Alisson and Ederson and how they have changed goalkeeping, Van der Sar could play, no doubt. He could pass a ball."
Wright: "1,311 minutes without conceding a goal, a world record."
4. David Seaman
Seaman made more appearances in all competitions (564) than any other keeper in Arsenal's history
Premier League appearances: 340
Clean sheets: 140
Lineker: "He is the most laid back goalkeeper I have met in my life. He made one of the best saves ever from me, I was three yards out and the ball came across and bang, hit it, but he just came across from nowhere and it was unbelievable. You would never congratulate the goalkeeper after, it was sickening but he deserved credit after that one, my god what a save."
Wright: "From the time he came into the dressing room, Seaman was so calm and he made the rest feel that way. Him being in goal on a daily basis, telling me where to go, when a goalkeeper will close in with a bad touch, I know I would not have scored as many goals as I did without playing with a keeper of that calibre."
5. David de Gea
De Gea made 14 saves against Arsenal in December 2017 - no keeper has made more in a single Premier League game since 2003-04
Premier League appearances: 304
Clean sheets: 108
Shearer: "When he first came to England he was open to a lot of criticism because he not that big, he had not bulked up and made too many mistakes. Then he went through that period where he was fantastic and made some incredible saves. At the moment, he is making too many mistakes and goalkeepers are often judged on how many mistakes they make."
Wright: "The period that Manchester United have been through over the last three or four years, I do not know where they would be without him."
Lineker: "Some of the saves he has made have been extraordinary."
6. Alisson
Since the start of last season, Alisson has conceded a goal on average every 156 minutes (33 goals conceded in 5155 minutes) - the best ratio among keepers to have played more than one game in the competition during this period
Premier League appearances: 58
Clean sheets: 31
Lineker: "He has been unbelievably good for Liverpool, has made a massive difference to their team and transformed things for the team. He is a goalkeeper that exhumes calmness which is very important."
Shearer: "Alisson and Virgil an Dijk have been the game changers for Liverpool. On the pitch, they are the ones that have made the difference."
7. Ederson
Ederson has kept more clean sheets than any other keeper since his Premier League debut for Manchester City and provided two assists in all competitions
Premier League appearances: 99
Clean sheets: 45
Wright: "He has been amazing for Manchester City. Not only has he won trophies, he is one of the goalkeepers that has changed the position for the way keepers have to be now."
Shearer: "Some of the passes this guy comes out with, he is better than some of the players I have played with."
Wright: "When he was younger, Ederson played left-back, you could easily see him playing left centre-half now with the way he pings the ball about. He has great footballing ability."
8. Jens Lehmann
Lehmann holds the longest player unbeaten run from the start of a Premier League career (47)
Premier League appearances: 148
Clean sheets: 54
Wright: "He was one of the leaders in the dressing room. He had a bit of something (an edge) about him but also a mistake in him, maybe someone you couldn't trust one million percent."
9. Shay Given
Given played in 19 different Premier League seasons - a record for a keeper in the competition
Premier League appearances: 451
Clean sheets: 113
Wright: "Given was a good shot-stopper and had athletic ability, but he was somebody I fancied it against."
Shearer: "He wasn't great at kicking, which is a huge part of the game now, but he worked hard and was a brilliant professional."
10. David James
James has saved more penalties (13) than any other keeper in Premier League history
Premier League appearances: 572
Clean sheets: 169
Shearer: "He made hundreds of appearances and had great longevity. To be around for that amount of time, you have to be a good goalkeeper."


bbc--2020-04-01--Ex-Marseille president Diouf dies with coronavirus

Former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died aged 68 after contracting coronavirus , the club have announced .
The Senegalese was president between 2005 and 2009 when Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 twice and reached two French Cup finals .
They went on to win a first French league title in 18 years in 2010 .
`` Pape will remain in the hearts of the Marseillais forever , as one of the great architects in the club 's history , '' Marseille posted on Twitter .
The Ligue de Football Professionnel ( LFP ) said : `` Journalist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pape Diouf dedicated his whole life in service of football .
`` A member of the LFP administrative council from September 2007 to June 2009 , Pape Diouf will be remembered as a charismatic and passionate director . ''
Former France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse played for Marseille when Diouf was in charge .
`` Today French football has lost a great man , '' he posted on social media .
`` My sadness is great today .
Rest in peace . ''
Manchester City 's French defender Benjamin Mendy described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news .
`` A great president but above all a huge man , who always worthily represented Marseille and its values .
A great loss for French football and the African continent .
Rest in peace , '' he tweeted .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Former French international Didier Deschamps (left) was appointed manager of Marseille under Diouf in 2009
Former Marseille president Pape Diouf has died aged 68 after contracting coronavirus, the club have announced.
The Senegalese was president between 2005 and 2009 when Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 twice and reached two French Cup finals.
They went on to win a first French league title in 18 years in 2010.
"Pape will remain in the hearts of the Marseillais forever, as one of the great architects in the club's history," Marseille posted on Twitter. external-link
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said: "Journalist, agent, president of Olympique de Marseille, Pape Diouf dedicated his whole life in service of football.
"A member of the LFP administrative council from September 2007 to June 2009, Pape Diouf will be remembered as a charismatic and passionate director."
Former France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse played for Marseille when Diouf was in charge.
"Today French football has lost a great man," he posted on social media. external-link "My sadness is great today. Rest in peace."
Manchester City's French defender Benjamin Mendy described his "sadness" at hearing the news.


bbc--2020-04-01--BBC Sport's five things to do today

BBC Sport's five things to do today

As season two of Sunderland 'Til I Die drops on Netflix , we speak to the men behind the programme @ @ @ @ @ in the edit suite' Footballers get on their bikes and who is Bournemouth 's piano @ @ @ @ @ ...
This week 's Match of the Day : Top 10 podcast focuses on Premier @ @ @ @ @ will you rank the top 10 ?
Sign up for BBC Sport notifications sent straight @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section Sport
Read this...
As season two of Sunderland 'Til I Die drops on Netflix, we speak to the men behind the programme:
Watch this...
Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Max Whitlock's five exercises to try at home
Try this...
Listen to this...
Footballers get on their bikes and who is Bournemouth's piano man?
Tell us this...
This week's Match of the Day: Top 10 podcast focuses on Premier League goalkeepers.
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bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: Playing classical music for South Korea hospital patients

Won Hyung-joon was playing his violin at home and broadcasting on social media to comfort people during the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ arts and healing centre at South Korea 's Myongji hospital asked him if he 'd @ @ @ @ @ .
The concert was held just outside a hospital room occupied by a family , @ @ @ @ @ grandmother and three-month-old baby .

Won Hyung-joon was playing his violin at home and broadcasting on social media to comfort people during the coronavirus outbreak, when staff at the arts and healing centre at South Korea's Myongji hospital asked him if he'd perform for their Covid-19 patients.
The concert was held just outside a hospital room occupied by a family, which included a mother, grandmother and three-month-old baby.


bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: Why some countries wear face masks and others don't

Step outside your door without a face mask in Hong Kong , Seoul or Tokyo these days , and you may well get a disapproving look .
Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak some places have fully embraced wearing face masks , and anyone caught without one risks becoming a social pariah .
In other places - the Czech Republic and Slovakia - it 's now compulsory .
But in many other parts of the world , from the UK and the US to Sydney and Singapore , it 's still perfectly acceptable to walk around bare-faced .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them is not just about government directives and medical advice - it 's also about culture and history .
But as this pandemic worsens , will this change ?
• How a virus reveals the many ways China is feared • Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses ?
The official word on face masks Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak , the official advice from the World Health Organization has been clear .
Only two types of people should wear masks : those who are sick and show symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are suspected to have the coronavirus .
Nobody else needs to wear a mask , and there are several reasons for that .
One is that a mask is not seen as reliable protection , given that current research shows the virus is spread by droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces .
So it could protect you , but only in certain situations such as when you 're in close quarters with others where someone infected might sneeze or cough near your face .
This is why experts say frequent hand washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective .
Removing a mask requires special attention to avoid hand contamination , and it could also breed a false sense of security .
Yet in some parts of Asia everyone now wears a mask by default - it is seen as safer and more considerate .
In mainland China , Hong Kong , Japan , Thailand and Taiwan , the broad assumption is that anyone could be a carrier of the virus , even healthy people .
So in the spirit of solidarity , you need to protect others from yourself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask , and in some parts of China you could even be arrested and punished for not wearing one .
Meanwhile , in Indonesia and the Philippines , where there are suspicions that there are many under-reported cases , most people in major cities have begun wearing masks to protect themselves from others .
For many of these countries , mask-wearing was a cultural norm even before the coronavirus outbreak .
They 've even become fashion statements - at one point Hello Kitty face masks were the rage in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East Asia , many people are used to wearing masks when they are sick or when it 's hayfever season , because it 's considered impolite to be sneezing or coughing openly .
The 2003 Sars virus outbreak , which affected several countries in the region , also drove home the importance of wearing masks , particularly in Hong Kong , where many died as a result of the virus .
So one key difference between these societies and Western ones , is that they have experienced contagion before - and the memories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in South East Asia , especially in more densely-populated cities , many wear masks on the streets simply because of pollution .
But it has n't caught on everywhere in Asia - here in Singapore , the government has urged the public not to wear masks to ensure adequate supplies for healthcare workers , and most people walk around without one .
There is substantial public trust in the government , so people are likely to listen to such advice .
In one of the only two European countries to have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the use of masks has helped slow the spread of the virus , but did not offer any more scientific evidence for this .
Some argue that ubiquitous mask wearing , as a very visual reminder of the dangers of the virus , could actually act as a `` behavioural nudge '' to you and others for overall better personal hygiene .
`` Putting on a mask every day before you go out is like a ritual , like putting on a uniform , and in ritual behaviour you feel you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands for , which is more hygienic behaviour like not touching your face or avoiding crowded places and social distancing , '' said Donald Low , a behavioural economist and professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology .
Then , there 's the idea that every little bit counts in the war the world is waging against the virus .
`` We ca n't say if face masks are ineffective , but we presume they have some effect because that 's the protection we give to healthcare workers , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong University .
`` If face masks are used on a lot of people in crowded areas , I think it would have some effect on public transmission , and at the moment we 're looking for every small measure we can to reduce transmission - it adds up . ''
But there are downsides of course .
Some places such as Japan , Indonesia and Thailand are facing shortages at the moment , and South Korea has had to ration out masks .
There is the fear that people may end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - use masks sold on the black market , or wear homemade masks , which could be of inferior quality and essentially useless .
People who do not wear masks in these places have also been stigmatised , to the point that they are shunned and blocked from shops and buildings .
In Hong Kong , some tabloids have splashed pictures on their covers of Westerners not wearing masks and congregating in groups in the city 's nightlife district , and criticised expatriates and tourists for not taking enough precautions .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where mask wearing is not the norm , such as the West , those who do wear masks have been shunned or even attacked .
It has n't helped that many of these mask wearers are Asians .
But those societies that do advocate everyone wearing a mask may have a point and increasingly , experts are now questioning the official WHO advice .
Firstly , there is some emerging evidence that there are more `` silent carriers '' , or healthy people with the virus who show little or no symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is estimated that a third of all positive cases show no symptoms , according to classified Chinese government data seen by the South China Morning Post .
On the Diamond Princess , the cruise ship that docked in Yokohama , about half of the more than 600 positive cases found onboard were found to have no symptoms .
A similar proportion of asymptomatic cases has been reported in Iceland , which says it is testing a higher proportion of citizens than anywhere else in the world .
The prevailing belief has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibit symptoms , they are not very contagious .
But some are questioning this now .
Maybe if everyone wore a mask those silent carriers would n't turn into spreaders ?
A recently published study of cases in China found that `` undocumented cases of infection '' , or those with either mild or no symptoms , were significantly contagious and could have been responsible for nearly 80 % of positive virus cases .
It 's just one study though , and future research will no doubt add nuance to the overall picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ product of recent history , experience with contagion and cultural norm .
But as the scale of this pandemic grows , along with evidence and research , our behaviour may yet change again .

One is that a mask is not seen as reliable protection as other methods, given that current research shows the virus is spread by droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces. So it could protect you, but only in certain situations such as when you're in close quarters with others where someone infected might sneeze or cough near your face. This is why experts say frequent hand washing with soap and water is far more effective.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Are loss of smell and taste key symptoms?

A loss of smell or taste may be a sign that you have coronavirus , according to UK researchers .
A team at King 's College London looked at responses from more than 400,000 people reporting suspected Covid-19 symptoms to an app .
But loss of smell and taste are also signs of other respiratory infections , such as the common cold .
And experts say fever and cough remain the most important symptoms of the virus to look out for and act upon .
If you or someone you live with has a new continuous cough or high temperature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop the risk of spreading coronavirus to others .
Coronavirus : What should I do ?
What did the study find ?
The King 's College researchers wanted to gather information on possible coronavirus symptoms to help experts better understand and fight the disease .
Of those reporting one or more symptoms of coronavirus to the Covid Symptom Tracker app : • 53 % said they had fatigue or tiredness • 18 % loss of sense of smell or taste Of these 400,000 people , 1,702 said they had been tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result and 1,123 a negative one .
Among the ones who had coronavirus infection confirmed by a positive test , three-fifths ( 59 % ) reported loss of smell or taste .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Should loss of smell and taste be added to the key symptoms to watch out for ?
Experts say there 's not enough evidence yet .
Public Health England and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to the list .
ENT UK , the body that represents Ear , Nose and Throat doctors , says it is not surprising that some patients with coronavirus might report these as symptoms , but they are not specific to Covid-19 .
The King 's researchers say loss of smell and taste might be useful extra symptoms to watch for , perhaps not on their own but alongside other important ones like cough and fever .
Lead researcher Prof Tim Spector said : `` When combined with other symptoms , people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 according to our data , and should therefore self-isolate for seven days to reduce the spread of the disease . ''

Lead researcher Prof Tim Spector said: "When combined with other symptoms, people with loss of smell and taste appear to be three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 according to our data, and should therefore self-isolate for seven days to reduce the spread of the disease."


bbc--2020-03-31--NY governor on coronavirus: 'My brother Chris is positive'

Andrew Cuomo says his brother Chris Cuomo , who is a CNN presenter , has tested positive for Covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ virus does not care how young , old , poor or wealthy you are , @ @ @ @ @ '' .
New York City is the worst-hit place in America , with 932 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University .
Almost two-thirds of states have issued directives for their citizens to stay @ @ @ @ @ states have localised orders in effect .

Andrew Cuomo says his brother Chris Cuomo, who is a CNN presenter, has tested positive for Covid-19.
The governor added that the virus does not care how young, old, poor or wealthy you are, it is "the equaliser".
New York City is the worst-hit place in America, with 932 confirmed fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Almost two-thirds of states have issued directives for their citizens to stay put, while the remaining states have localised orders in effect.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: US 'considers cloth face masks for public'

US health authorities are debating whether to recommend face coverings for everyone when they go out in public .
One internal memo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that even simple cloth masks could help reduce the risk of virus transmission , the Washington Post reports .
President Donald Trump has suggested that individuals could `` use a scarf '' .
Current guidelines say that masks only need to be worn by healthcare workers , the sick , and those caring for them .
There is currently a shortage of N95 and surgical masks in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been told to reuse masks several times , or use bandanas when masks are not available .
There have been over 190,000 cases of coronavirus in the US , with about 4,000 deaths .
In other developments on Wednesday : • US Vice-President Mike Pence warned the US appears to be on a similar trajectory as Italy , which has had the most deaths of any country • In the UK , Wimbledon tennis tournament has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two • British government officials vowed to ramp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Justin Trudeau has promised the largest economic programme in the country 's history • The official death toll in Iran has passed 3,000 How could the US advice on face masks change ?
The Washington Post obtained memos from the CDC , which said that cloth masks could help prevent the spread of the virus if people wore them in public , even during simple tasks like visiting the supermarket .
The advice is being shared with the White House coronavirus task force for their consideration , the Washington Post reports .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official guidance yet , there has been a clear change in tone from officials over the last few days .
• 'You prepare for the worst as a nurse but not this' • Why some countries wear face masks and others don't • Coronavirus : Who should be wearing masks ?
Back in February , Surgeon General Jerome Adams had tweeted : `` STOP BUYING MASKS !
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching # Coronavirus , but if healthcare providers ca n't get them to care for sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities at risk ! ''
He also said in an interview that individuals could `` increase [ their ] risk of getting '' the virus by wearing a mask , because `` folks who do n't know how to wear them properly tend to touch their faces a lot '' .
However , on Wednesday , Dr Adams told Good Morning America that the CDC had been asked to review its guidelines on masks , because `` we 've learned there 's a fair amount of asymptomatic spread '' - although he stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to health care professionals who needed them most .
Similarly , on Tuesday , the US 's top infectious diseases expert , Anthony Fauci , said the White House coronavirus task force was actively discussing whether to recommend a wider use of masks , Dr Fauci told CNN he would `` lean towards '' recommending a `` much more broad , community-wide use of masks outside of the health care setting '' once there was a sufficient supply of masks for healthcare workers .
However , experts have stressed that it is vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand washing , even when wearing a mask .
Do masks work - and why the confusion ?
There have been a lot of confusing , or contradictory , messages on this .
Even Dr Fauci acknowledged on Tuesday that `` this whole thing of masks has been confounded and conflated to create confusion '' .
Essentially , there are three different issues that have been linked together , causing that confusion : • Whether masks are effective enough at preventing community spread to justify them being used by the general public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of supplies for healthcare workers On the first point : Coronavirus is spread by droplets that can spray into the air when those infected talk , cough and sneeze .
As a result , healthcare workers who are at risk of encountering infected airborne droplets are told to wear N95 masks , which filter out at least 95 % of airborne particles , or , if those are not available , surgical masks .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• US v ITALY v CHINA : How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE WAY : The US governor who saw it coming early • ON FRONTLINE : 'Nurses prepare for the worst but not this' • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis There is debate amongst health experts on the second point - whether masks are effective when used by the public .
Many have argued that hand-washing and social distancing are more effective , that masks could offer a false sense of security , and that people could infect themselves if they touch the masks incorrectly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear evidence that face masks work when used by the wider community .
However , more and more health experts now say there are benefits .
They argue that the public use of masks can primarily help by preventing asymptomatic patients - people who have been infected with Covid-19 but are not aware , and not displaying any symptoms - from unknowingly spreading the virus to others .
Masks may help lower the risk of individuals catching the virus through the droplets from another person 's sneeze or a cough - and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and take them off correctly .
Experts have also argued that even small measures to reduce transmissions can be worth taking , especially when combined with other steps such as hand washing .
`` Something does n't have to be 100 % effective to be beneficial , '' Dr Fauci told CNN .
There is widespread agreement on point three - that while supplies are limited , medical face masks need to be left for those who need them the most , especially as healthcare workers play a vital role in protecting everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone wears masks then healthcare workers who need them may not get them . ''
But , he added , `` If you have enough masks… we may need to modify the stance on whether people should be wearing masks . ''
In recent days , health experts have started suggesting a new approach - that the public should try to wear non-medical , cloth masks - which they could even make themselves - to help flatten the curve without using up medical supplies .
What do other countries do ?
In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask by default - it is seen as safer and more considerate .
In mainland China , Hong Kong , Japan , Thailand and Taiwan , the broad assumption is that anyone could be a carrier of the virus , even healthy people .
So in the spirit of solidarity , you need to protect others from yourself .
Some of these governments are urging everyone to wear a mask , and in some parts of China you could even be arrested and punished for not wearing one .
• What can the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?

Many have argued that hand-washing and social distancing are more effective, that masks could offer a false sense of security, and that people could infect themselves if they touch the masks incorrectly. Experts have also argued there is no clear evidence that face masks work when used by the wider community.


bbc--2020-04-01--BA expected to suspend 36,000 staff

BA expected to suspend 36,000 staff

British Airways is expected to announce it will suspend around 36,000 staff .
The airline , which grounded much of its fleet due to the coronavirus crisis , has been negotiating with the Unite union for more than a week .
The two sides have reached a broad deal but are yet to sign on some details .
The agreement means that up to 80 % of BA cabin crew , ground staff , engineers and those working at head office will have their jobs suspended but no staff are expected to be made redundant .
The decision will affect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airport after the airline suspended its operations at both locations until the crisis is over .
Those affected are expected to receive some of their wages through the government 's coronavirus job retention scheme , which covers 80 % of someone 's salary capped at a maximum of £2,500 a month .
It 's thought that the Unite union has been pushing for staff to be paid more than that .
BA has already reached a separate deal with its pilots who will take a 50 % pay cut over two months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( IAG ) is in a better financial position than some of its competitors .
The group has made healthy profits in recent years .
But the airline 's expected decision to suspend such a large number of workers gives a sense of how hard UK aviation has been hit by travel restrictions , designed to stem the spread of the pandemic .
With future bookings cancelled for the foreseeable future , airlines have been haemorrhaging cash .
Over the next three months , the International Air Transport Association expects airlines to rack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £32.3bn ) .
It said carriers were burning through their cash reserves fast , mainly because of the multi-billion-pound cost of refunding tickets for cancelled flights .
Many staff at Virgin Atlantic have had their jobs suspended for two months and crews at Easyjet are out of work for three months .
This week British Airways has run government repatriation flights to get hundreds of British nationals home from Peru , after the country went into lockdown .
It 's one of several UK-based airlines that has agreed to run further repatriation flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of people are still stuck in other parts of the world .

No one who works at British Airways will be surprised at today's announcement. When the planes are sitting on the ground - and nearly all of BA's fleet is doing just that, dispersed to regional airports around the country - there is no need for the army of workers who fly the aircraft, maintain them, load and unload the bags, and serve the passengers.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Top South African HIV scientist Gita Ramjee dies

Tributes are being paid to world-renowned South African scientist Gita Ramjee , who has died from Covid-19-related complications .
`` She dedicated many years of her life to finding HIV prevention solutions for women , '' her colleague and friend Gavin Churchyard told the BBC .
Head of UNAids Winnie Byanyima said Prof Ramjee 's death was a huge loss at a time when the world needed her most .
South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world .
The country has begun a three-week lockdown as part of efforts to stop the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Updates from around the continent • No alcohol , no dog walks : Lockdown in South Africa '' The passing of Prof Ramjee comes as a huge blow to the entirety of the healthcare sector and the global fight against HIV/Aids , '' the country 's Deputy President David Mabuza said in a statement .
`` In her , we have indeed lost a champion in the fight against the HIV epidemic , ironically at the hands of this global pandemic .
In her honour , we should heed the call to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this global pandemic as well as continue the fight to achieve zero new HIV infections . ''
Prof Ramjee , who died in hospital near the coastal city of Durban on Tuesday , had been working as the chief scientific officer at the Aurum Institute , a leading authority in the fight against HIV and TB .
`` Gita was a vibrant person , a real fighter .
If she sets her mind on something , nobody better stand in her way , '' Aurum head Prof Churchyard , who knew her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Pumza Fihlani .
`` That will be my lasting memory of her - how she fought with everything to advance access to healthcare for women in disadvantaged communities . ''
The HIV researcher fell ill after returning to South Africa in mid-March from the UK , where she had been presenting at a symposium at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) .
She held an honorary professorship at the LSHTM , as well as at the University of Washington and the University of Cape Town .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Female Scientist Award by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships .
Afterwards she told the HIV Trials Network : `` I was absolutely thrilled by this award , as it recognises decades of my commitment to clinical research activities in HIV prevention .
What makes it more rewarding is that I now stand among the female giants . ''
You may also be interested in : • 'They removed my uterus and I had no idea for 11 years' • The Ethiopian leading the fight against the coronavirus She also spoke about her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a successful husband - and her advice for younger women interested in a career in science : `` Love of the job , passion , drive and tenacity are critical traits to have for scientific excellence . ''
Prof Churchyard said Prof Ramjee would be greatly missed : `` To have an African scientist , who is internationally recognised pass - really leaves a huge void for us .
`` But Gita firmly believed in building capacity , in sharing knowledge and she did that .
She leaves a tremendous legacy behind her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As an unrelenting fighter , unrelenting in her fight against HIV , against tuberculosis and now Covid-19 .
The last thing she would want us to do is to give up .
We wo n't give up , we must keep fighting and working to find solutions . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"In her, we have indeed lost a champion in the fight against the HIV epidemic, ironically at the hands of this global pandemic. In her honour, we should heed the call to flatten the curve by strengthening our responses to this global pandemic as well as continue the fight to achieve zero new HIV infections."


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus forces postponement of COP26 meeting in Glasgow

A key climate summit in Glasgow will be delayed until next year due to disruption caused by the coronavirus .
The announcement was made in a joint statement from the UK and UN after a `` virtual '' meeting of officials .
Dozens of world leaders were due to attend the COP26 gathering that was set to run in Glasgow from November 9 this year .
It is expected that the conference will now take place by the middle of next year .
• Government insists COP26 summit will be in Glasgow As the virus has spread around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks that the COP26 talks would be delayed .
Around 30,000 delegates , journalists and environmental campaigners were due in Scotland for the meeting .
However the changing priorities that coronavirus has forced on governments can be clearly seen in Glasgow 's Scottish Events Campus ( SEC ) which was due to host the talks .
It is now set to become a temporary hospital to house patients affected by Covid-19 .
The decision to move COP26 was taken by UN officials , including UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa and UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president-designate of the meeting .
`` The world is currently facing an unprecedented global challenge and countries are rightly focusing their efforts on saving lives and fighting Covid-19 , '' Mr Sharma said in a statement .
`` That is why we have decided to reschedule COP26 . ''
`` We will continue working tirelessly with our partners to deliver the ambition needed to tackle the climate crisis and I look forward to agreeing a new date for the conference . ''
Five years on from the landmark Paris agreement , all nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action plans on the table at the Glasgow meeting .
Environmental groups said the decision was understandable .
`` Postponing COP26 is the right thing to do - public health and safety must come first now , '' said Laurence Tubiana , one of the architects of the Paris agreement and CEO of European Climate Foundation .
`` This crisis has shown that international cooperation and solidarity are essential to protect global well-being and peace .
COP26 next year should become a centre piece of revitalized global cooperation . ''
The summit has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rows between the UK and Scottish governments , and with Claire O'Neill , the minister originally appointed to run the talks , sacked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
While the delay was almost inevitable in the light of coronavirus , some officials believe there may be a silver lining .
Governments are set to spend huge amounts to boost their economies once the pandemic is over .
There 's a view that when the summit is eventually held , it could be an important forum for ensuring that money is spent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic will also reorder to an extent the priorities for COP26 , as alongside the UN climate process countries will be devising stimulus packages for economies hard-hit by the crisis , '' said Adair Turner , Senior Fellow at the Institute for New Economic Thinking .
`` With low-carbon stimulus as a new priority for COP26 , it should be seen as an opportunity to rebuild economies hit by coronavirus in ways that are healthier , more resilient to future shocks and fairer to a wider range of people . ''
• A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

Governments are set to spend huge amounts to boost their economies once the pandemic is over. There's a view that when the summit is eventually held, it could be an important forum for ensuring that money is spent on sustainable and renewable projects.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Crew of US aircraft carrier to be quarantined in Guam

US officials have arranged for sailors from a virus-stricken aircraft carrier to be quarantined in Guam , where the ship has been docked since Friday .
Guam ’ s governor said those without the virus would be moved to hotels or quarantined at a naval base .
At least 100 people aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the disease , reports say .
Earlier this week the ship ’ s captain pleaded for most of his crew to be quarantined so deaths could be avoided .
Until now , sailors from the aircraft carrier had been restricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Captain Brett Crozier wrote to the Pentagon warning that the outbreak aboard his ship was “ accelerating ” because crew members were living in confined spaces .
`` We are not at war .
Sailors do not need to die , '' he wrote in the letter , dated 30 March , which was published by the San Francisco Chronicle .
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told MSNBC on Wednesday that 1,000 sailors had been taken off the ship and “ more and more ” were being taken ashore for treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessel running .
Mr Modly said every crew member would be tested for the disease .
The ship can carry up to 6,000 people and the secretary said 800 testing kits were available last week .
More would be sent , he added .
According to local newspaper Pacific Daily News , Guam ’ s Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said she supported the move but had “ not made the decision lightly ” .
Guam is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak in Micronesia , with almost 70 cases confirmed .
To prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed in quarantine must remain isolated for 14 days .
They will also have daily medical checks .
“ I know there will a small chorus of cynics who will oppose the position , but now is not the time for us-versus-them , ” said Ms Guerrero .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

Mr Modly said every crew member would be tested for the disease. The ship can carry up to 6,000 people and the secretary said 800 testing kits were available last week. More would be sent, he added.


bbc--2020-04-01--Afghanistan and Taliban begin direct talks with aim of prisoner swap

Afghanistan has begun its first face-to-face talks with the Taliban on exchanging thousands of prisoners .
Details of the initial meeting in Kabul emerged on Wednesday , ahead of a planned second day of talks , as Afghans observed tight restrictions on movement because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Under a US-Taliban deal , the government will free 5,000 Taliban prisoners , while the militants will release 1,000 .
The talks took place against a backdrop of continuing violence in the country .
Authorities blamed the Taliban for an explosion in the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday that killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How much progress has been made in talks ?
The prisoner swap had been due to take place in early March , as part of a US-Taliban deal signed on 29 February , but there have been a series of setbacks .
Until Wednesday , the two sides had only met by video conference .
With talks due to resume for a second day on Wednesday , Afghanistan 's Office of the National Security Council said that progress had only been made so far `` on technical matters '' .
The talks were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Cross ( ICRC ) and the focus was on the release of security force and national defence captives as well as Taliban prisoners , the ICRC said .
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the meetings did not amount to negotiations , telling AFP : `` There will be no political talks there '' .
The US Secretary of State , Mike Pompeo called the beginning of the talks `` good news '' .
• Who are the Taliban ?
Afghanistan has recorded almost 200 cases of Covid-19 , largely in the west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Four people have died .
Testing is not widespread in the country .
Restrictions have been placed on movement both in Herat and Kabul province in an attempt to stem the spread of the outbreak .
There have been reports of panic buying and shortages of essential goods .
The Taliban had been due to send a large team to the Kabul talks , but in the end sent a three-man delegation because of the virus outbreak .
A spokesman for the militant group said the trio would monitor the prisoner release process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though US troops began withdrawing last month under the terms of the deal with the Taliban , movement on the prisoner swap has been slow because of disagreements between President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival Abdullah Abdullah .

The Taliban had been due to send a large team to the Kabul talks, but in the end sent a three-man delegation because of the virus outbreak. A spokesman for the militant group said the trio would monitor the prisoner release process and take the necessary technical measures.