bbc--2020-06-17--Man City sweep aside Arsenal on Premier League's first night back

Arsenal 's David Luiz was sent off in a performance riddled with mistakes as Manchester City secured a comfortable victory behind closed doors on the first night of the Premier League 's return .
Luiz , who came on as a first-half substitute , failed to clear the ball just before half-time and Raheem Sterling fired in City 's opener .
The defender was then sent off after pulling back Riyad Mahrez in the second half to give away a penalty , which Kevin de Bruyne coolly slotted in for City 's second .
Substitute Phil Foden netted a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rebound from Sergio Aguero 's strike .
There was concern for City late on as Eric Garcia needed several minutes of treatment on the pitch after a nasty collision with goalkeeper Ederson , and was carried off on a stretcher .
Arsenal were second best throughout as manager Mikel Arteta left Alexandre Lacazette on the bench and Mesut Ozil was kept out of the extended 20-man squad .
There were bursts of energy from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah going forward in the first half but it was City who were more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Silva were all denied by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno , who produced an impressive display , but it seemed inevitable City would move ahead when Luiz 's mistake gifted Sterling a chance from close range .
Victory for Pep Guardiola 's side means league leaders Liverpool remain six points away from winning the title - writing off any potential celebrations in Sunday 's Merseyside derby .
On an evening in which thousands tuned in to watch a new-look Premier League on their TV screens , players from both clubs used their platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for racial equality .
All players and staff took a knee immediately before kick-off , mirroring the actions of those at Villa Park in the earlier match , and the words 'Black Lives Matter ' replaced players ' names on the back of their shirts .
• Football Daily : The Premier League takes a knee , and the 'ghost goal' • 'It 's my fault ' - Luiz on Arsenal defeat After being left out of the starting line-up by Arteta , Luiz was handed his chance when he was brought on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their second injury of the match .
Pablo Mari , making just his second Premier League start for the club , followed Granit Xhaka , who was taken off on a stretcher early on .
But Luiz , prone to questionable decision-making , only confirmed his manager 's decision to leave him out initially had been for the best .
Failure to clear the ball properly led to Sterling 's opener - the ball bouncing off Luiz 's knee from De Bruyne 's pass , landing straight into the path of the City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night four minutes into the second half when he tugged Mahrez 's shirt with no intention to play the ball , giving away a penalty and receiving a red card .
De Bruyne reminds us of his quality Some things were different on the league 's return .
Fans were absent , players wore face masks in the dugout , there was enhanced crowd noise for television viewers and managers did post-match press conferences via Zoom .
But some things remained the same .
De Bruyne was the best player on the pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded as one of the best in the business , reminded those watching at home of his quality with several intricate passes in the first half .
He forced the first save of the match from Leno with a curling free-kick in the first three minutes and two of his defence-splitting passes again tested the keeper 's reactions half an hour later .
It was ironic one of his poorer passes would lead to Sterling 's opener - helped by Luiz 's poor control - but De Bruyne stamped his mark on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second from the spot .
He needed only 69 minutes to whet the appetite of those who feared football would not be the same on its return .
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola , speaking to Sky Sports : `` We are really concerned [ about Eric Garcia ] .
He responded quite well but we have to wait .
He is conscious which is a good sign .
We will make another test .
`` In the beginning it was a lot of energy .
Everybody wanted the ball .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was important to score before half time .
I am happy with the performance of the team . ''
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta , speaking to Sky Sports : `` Everything went wrong from the first minute .
Every possible accident that could have happened hopefully happened today .
`` [ David Luiz ] is someone that is very honest and straight forward .
My opinion on David Luiz has n't changed .
It wo n't change because he had a difficult performance tonight .
On leaving Mesut Ozil out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason . ''
Sterling hits 50 - the best of the stats • Manchester City have won their past seven matches against Arsenal in all competitions , extending their best ever winning run against the Gunners .
• Arsenal have lost by three or more goals both home and away in a league season versus an opponent ( Man City in 2019-20 ) for the first time since 1969-70 , against Chelsea .
• Arsenal are winless in their past 26 Premier League away games against fellow 'big six ' opposition ( D10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory coming at Etihad Stadium in January 2015 ( 2-0 ) .
• Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season ( 25 - nine goals and 16 assists ) - it 's also his best goal involvement tally in a single top-flight campaign in England .
• Raheem Sterling became the first player to score a goal in the month of June in the English top-flight since Walter Rickett , for Sheffield United against Stoke on 14 June , 1947 .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club game in all competitions - he 's never been on the losing side in those fixtures for Liverpool and Manchester City ( W47 D3 ) .
• David Luiz became the first player to be sent off , concede a penalty and commit an error leading to an opposition goal in a Premier League match since Carl Jenkinson for West Ham against Bournemouth in August 2015 .
• He has conceded four penalties in the Premier League this season - the joint-most in a single campaign in the competition 's history ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011-12 , Ibrahima Sonko 2007-08 , Claus Lundekvam 1999-00 , Ken Monkou 1993-94 and Luc Nijholt 1993-94 ) .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring Manchester City's first goal on the Premier League return
Arsenal's David Luiz was sent off in a performance riddled with mistakes as Manchester City secured a comfortable victory behind closed doors on the first night of the Premier League's return.
Luiz, who came on as a first-half substitute, failed to clear the ball just before half-time and Raheem Sterling fired in City's opener.
The defender was then sent off after pulling back Riyad Mahrez in the second half to give away a penalty, which Kevin de Bruyne coolly slotted in for City's second.
Substitute Phil Foden netted a third for the defending champions, capitalising on a rebound from Sergio Aguero's strike.
There was concern for City late on as Eric Garcia needed several minutes of treatment on the pitch after a nasty collision with goalkeeper Ederson, and was carried off on a stretcher.
Arsenal were second best throughout as manager Mikel Arteta left Alexandre Lacazette on the bench and Mesut Ozil was kept out of the extended 20-man squad.
There were bursts of energy from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah going forward in the first half but it was City who were more dangerous.
Man City 3-0 Arsenal: It's not the same - Pep Guardiola misses fans in Arsenal win
De Bruyne, Sterling and David Silva were all denied by Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, who produced an impressive display, but it seemed inevitable City would move ahead when Luiz's mistake gifted Sterling a chance from close range.
Victory for Pep Guardiola's side means league leaders Liverpool remain six points away from winning the title - writing off any potential celebrations in Sunday's Merseyside derby.
On an evening in which thousands tuned in to watch a new-look Premier League on their TV screens, players from both clubs used their platform to support the Black Lives Matter movement for racial equality.
All players and staff took a knee immediately before kick-off, mirroring the actions of those at Villa Park in the earlier match, and the words 'Black Lives Matter' replaced players' names on the back of their shirts.
Luiz hoping to restart... again
Luiz did not start or end the game for Arsenal
After being left out of the starting line-up by Arteta, Luiz was handed his chance when he was brought on in the 23rd minute as Arsenal suffered their second injury of the match.
Pablo Mari, making just his second Premier League start for the club, followed Granit Xhaka, who was taken off on a stretcher early on.
But Luiz, prone to questionable decision-making, only confirmed his manager's decision to leave him out initially had been for the best.
Failure to clear the ball properly led to Sterling's opener - the ball bouncing off Luiz's knee from De Bruyne's pass, landing straight into the path of the City forward.
And Luiz completed a dreadful night four minutes into the second half when he tugged Mahrez's shirt with no intention to play the ball, giving away a penalty and receiving a red card.
De Bruyne reminds us of his quality
Some things were different on the league's return.
Fans were absent, players wore face masks in the dugout, there was enhanced crowd noise for television viewers and managers did post-match press conferences via Zoom.
But some things remained the same. De Bruyne was the best player on the pitch.
The Manchester City midfielder, widely regarded as one of the best in the business, reminded those watching at home of his quality with several intricate passes in the first half.
He forced the first save of the match from Leno with a curling free-kick in the first three minutes and two of his defence-splitting passes again tested the keeper's reactions half an hour later.
It was ironic one of his poorer passes would lead to Sterling's opener - helped by Luiz's poor control - but De Bruyne stamped his mark on the game even further by scoring City's second from the spot.
He needed only 69 minutes to whet the appetite of those who feared football would not be the same on its return.
Manchester City fans react to a missed chance during the match on a big screen shown on TV
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are really concerned [about Eric Garcia]. He responded quite well but we have to wait. He is conscious which is a good sign. We will make another test.
"In the beginning it was a lot of energy. Everybody wanted the ball. It was not quiet. We had chances. It was important to score before half time. I am happy with the performance of the team."
'I feel really bad' - Guardiola on racial inequality
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "Everything went wrong from the first minute. Every possible accident that could have happened hopefully happened today.
"[David Luiz] is someone that is very honest and straight forward. My opinion on David Luiz hasn't changed. It won't change because he had a difficult performance tonight.
On leaving Mesut Ozil out of the squad: "It was a tactical reason."
Player of the match - Kevin de Bruyne
While Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno made a number of good saves, it was Kevin de Bruyne's quality which stood out for Manchester City - he was involved in their opening two goals
Sterling hits 50 - the best of the stats
Manchester City have won their past seven matches against Arsenal in all competitions, extending their best ever winning run against the Gunners.
Arsenal have lost by three or more goals both home and away in a league season versus an opponent (Man City in 2019-20) for the first time since 1969-70, against Chelsea.
Arsenal are winless in their past 26 Premier League away games against fellow 'big six' opposition (D10 L16), with their last such victory coming at Etihad Stadium in January 2015 (2-0).
Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season (25 - nine goals and 16 assists) - it's also his best goal involvement tally in a single top-flight campaign in England.
Raheem Sterling became the first player to score a goal in the month of June in the English top-flight since Walter Rickett, for Sheffield United against Stoke on 14 June, 1947.
Sterling also scored in his 50th home club game in all competitions - he's never been on the losing side in those fixtures for Liverpool and Manchester City (W47 D3).
David Luiz became the first player to be sent off, concede a penalty and commit an error leading to an opposition goal in a Premier League match since Carl Jenkinson for West Ham against Bournemouth in August 2015.
He has conceded four penalties in the Premier League this season - the joint-most in a single campaign in the competition's history (also Jose Fonte 2016-17, Gary Caldwell 2011-12, Ibrahima Sonko 2007-08, Claus Lundekvam 1999-00, Ken Monkou 1993-94 and Luc Nijholt 1993-94).


bbc--2020-06-17--Premier League players take knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement

Players from Manchester City , Arsenal , Aston Villa and Sheffield United display their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ ahead of their Premier League matches .
Read more : Players take a knee on @ @ @ @

Up Next. 'The best day of my life' - Fans on reaching final. Video, 00:01:13'The best day of my life' - Fans on reaching final


bbc--2020-06-17--'Players taking a knee shows we're going in right direction'

Manchester City 's Raheem Sterling said it was a `` massive step '' that players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on the opening night of the Premier League 's return .
Players and staff from Aston Villa , Sheffield United , Manchester City and Arsenal knelt as their matches began .
Match officials also took part , on a night players ' names on shirts were replaced with 'Black Lives Matter ' .
`` It shows we 're going in the right direction , '' Sterling told Sky Sports .
`` Little by little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural , it was organic .
We saw the teams do it in the earlier kick-off and thought it was something we had to do as well . ''
• Football Daily : The Premier League takes a knee , and the 'ghost goal' The Premier League was returning after a 100-day hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic .
And players and officials showed their support for the movement for racial equality following the death of George Floyd in the United States last month .
Floyd , a 46-year-old unarmed black man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
His death sparked protests around the world .
A joint statement issued by Villa and Sheffield United shortly after their match began said they `` were proud to stand in solidarity '' with the actions of their players and coaching staff in `` expressing our collective support for the Black Lives Matter movement '' .
Both clubs said they hoped they had sent `` a strong message of unity '' and amplified `` the many messages of support from Premier League players and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City manager Pep Guardiola added : `` White people should say sorry for the way we have treated black people for 400 years .
I am ashamed of what we have done to black people around the world .
`` It is not only in the USA where it has happened .
The problem is everywhere .
`` Maybe for our generation it is too late but for the following generations , they can understand the only race is ourselves .
We are human beings .
It does n't matter the colour of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kneeling symbolically during the pre-game national anthem in the NFL in 2016 , in protest at police violence against African-Americans in the United States .
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison said the moment players took a knee in the opening game of the restart was `` special '' .
He told BBC Radio 5 Live : `` That touched my heart .
I did n't expect that .
It was magnificent .
Credit to both sets of players and staff . ''
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said Premier League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their shirts shows the league wants to be on the right side of history .
`` What the Premier League have done , is to give them the power , '' said Wright , who was sent racist abuse on social media last month .
Research by UK Sport and Sport England last year found that black , Asian and minority ethnic ( BAME ) people accounted for just 5.2 % of board members across the 130 sport organisations they fund , including the Football Association .
According to the 2011 Census , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England and Wales is from a BAME background .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Premier League players kneel in Black Lives Matter solidarity
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling said it was a "massive step" that players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on the opening night of the Premier League's return.
Players and staff from Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Manchester City and Arsenal knelt as their matches began.
Match officials also took part, on a night players' names on shirts were replaced with 'Black Lives Matter'.
"It shows we're going in the right direction," Sterling told Sky Sports.
"Little by little we're seeing change. It was natural, it was organic. We saw the teams do it in the earlier kick-off and thought it was something we had to do as well."
The Premier League was returning after a 100-day hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And players and officials showed their support for the movement for racial equality following the death of George Floyd in the United States last month.
Floyd, a 46-year-old unarmed black man, died as a white police officer held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death sparked protests around the world.
'I feel really bad' - Guardiola on racial inequality
A joint statement issued by Villa and Sheffield United shortly after their match began said they "were proud to stand in solidarity" with the actions of their players and coaching staff in "expressing our collective support for the Black Lives Matter movement".
Both clubs said they hoped they had sent "a strong message of unity" and amplified "the many messages of support from Premier League players and the wider football family".
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola added: "White people should say sorry for the way we have treated black people for 400 years. I am ashamed of what we have done to black people around the world.
"It is not only in the USA where it has happened. The problem is everywhere.
"Maybe for our generation it is too late but for the following generations, they can understand the only race is ourselves. We are human beings. It doesn't matter the colour of our skin."
Colin Kaepernick started kneeling symbolically during the pre-game national anthem in the NFL in 2016, in protest at police violence against African-Americans in the United States.
A 'Black Lives Matter' badge will feature on all playing shirts for the rest of the season
'That touched my heart'
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison said the moment players took a knee in the opening game of the restart was "special".
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "That touched my heart. I didn't expect that. It was magnificent. Credit to both sets of players and staff."
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said Premier League players wearing 'Black Lives Matter' on their shirts shows the league wants to be on the right side of history.
"What the Premier League have done, is to give them the power," said Wright, who was sent racist abuse on social media last month.
Research by UK Sport and Sport England last year found that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people accounted for just 5.2% of board members across the 130 sport organisations they fund, including the Football Association.
According to the 2011 Census, about 13% of the population of England and Wales is from a BAME background.


bbc--2020-06-17--'Hello. Really missed you' - how fans welcomed the Premier League back

`` Hello football .
Lovely to see you , finally .
Really missed you . ''
Ten minutes before kick-off in Wednesday 's match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United - the first in the Premier League since the season was suspended three months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic - Gary Lineker summed up the feeling of football fans everywhere .
Football was back , and boy were we glad it was .
It did n't take long to feel as if football had never been away .
Technology controversy dominated an otherwise fairly dull , goalless draw at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premier League champions Manchester City breezed past Arsenal 3-0 .
But with social distancing measures in force and a lack of fans inside the stadiums , this was a sign of what - for the forseeable future - will be the new normal when it comes to watching Premier League matches .
This is how some of those watching found the experience .
• Football Daily : The Premier League takes a knee , and the 'ghost goal' Fake fans in the living room and pubs in sheds In Birmingham , fans did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being inside the ground .
A couple of hardy souls braved the rain and set up a gazebo over a bench across the road from Villa Park , making do with at least being able to see the ground , while watching the action on a tablet .
Those watching at home also did their best to replicate the experience of either watching the game at the ground , or with fellow supporters in the pub .
Justine did her best to make her Villa-supporting husband feel like he was at the Sheffield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , Liverpool fan Sam had clearly been very productive during lockdown , doing what perhaps many of us dream of - turning his garden shed into a pub .
How did fans find the match-watching experience ?
For those watching the action at home , they had the option to watch the game with either pre-recorded crowd noises or just with the live stadium sounds - predominantly the shouts of players and their managers echoing around the empty grounds .
When we asked on our live text commentary page which they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
A select few fans did get to watch the game from 'inside ' the ground .
At both Villa Park and Etihad Stadium , fans from both teams were shown on giant video screens - reacting to big decisions , near misses and , of course , goals .
'Missing the crowd ' but still 'enjoyable ' - the view from within the ground BBC Radio 5 live commentary John Murray at Etihad Stadium : `` We 've watched a decent game here but I have really missed a crowd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the things that makes big time football - big crowds , noisy crowds , reacting to important moments in the game .
It makes it for everyone .
`` We need it and it ca n't come back quickly enough . ''
Former Chelsea winger and BBC Radio 5 live co-commentator Pat Nevin , who was also at Etihad Stadium : `` I enjoyed it more than I thought I would .
`` I remember why I watched football .
I watch football for the artistry of it and the entertainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not as good but I still saw plenty of that - Kevin de Bruyne provided much of it , but I can watch this . ''

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Man City 3-0 Arsenal: It's not the same - Pep Guardiola misses fans in Arsenal win
"Hello football. Lovely to see you, finally. Really missed you."
Ten minutes before kick-off in Wednesday's match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United - the first in the Premier League since the season was suspended three months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic - Gary Lineker summed up the feeling of football fans everywhere.
Football was back, and boy were we glad it was.
It didn't take long to feel as if football had never been away. Technology controversy dominated an otherwise fairly dull, goalless draw at Villa Park, before last season's Premier League champions Manchester City breezed past Arsenal 3-0.
But with social distancing measures in force and a lack of fans inside the stadiums, this was a sign of what - for the forseeable future - will be the new normal when it comes to watching Premier League matches. This is how some of those watching found the experience.
Fans give verdict on new way of watching football
Fake fans in the living room and pubs in sheds
In Birmingham, fans did their best to make up for not being inside the ground.
A couple of hardy souls braved the rain and set up a gazebo over a bench across the road from Villa Park, making do with at least being able to see the ground, while watching the action on a tablet.
Anything to at least get a taste of the matchday-going experience...
Those watching at home also did their best to replicate the experience of either watching the game at the ground, or with fellow supporters in the pub.
Justine did her best to make her Villa-supporting husband feel like he was at the Sheffield United game - as this picture shows.
Aston Villa fan Paul watched the game in a makeshift Holte End
Meanwhile, Liverpool fan Sam had clearly been very productive during lockdown, doing what perhaps many of us dream of - turning his garden shed into a pub.
Sam Watson tweeted this picture of his 'pub' at the bottom of his garden
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson celebrated his 30th birthday by also watching the Premier League's return in his garden
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote.
How did fans find the match-watching experience?
For those watching the action at home, they had the option to watch the game with either pre-recorded crowd noises or just with the live stadium sounds - predominantly the shouts of players and their managers echoing around the empty grounds.
When we asked on our live text commentary page which they preferred, it was a pretty close-run thing.
BBC Sport readers preferred to watch the game with fake crowd noises provided, but only just
A select few fans did get to watch the game from 'inside' the ground.
At both Villa Park and Etihad Stadium, fans from both teams were shown on giant video screens - reacting to big decisions, near misses and, of course, goals.
Manchester City fans celebrated the goals on Wednesday night inside the stadium via zoom
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app please click here to vote.
'Missing the crowd' but still 'enjoyable' - the view from within the ground
BBC Radio 5 live commentary John Murray at Etihad Stadium: "We've watched a decent game here but I have really missed a crowd. Really missed it.
"It is one of the things that makes big time football - big crowds, noisy crowds, reacting to important moments in the game. It makes it for everyone.
"We need it and it can't come back quickly enough."
Games will be played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future
Former Chelsea winger and BBC Radio 5 live co-commentator Pat Nevin, who was also at Etihad Stadium: "I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
"I remember why I watched football. I watch football for the artistry of it and the entertainment on the pitch. No, it was not as good but I still saw plenty of that - Kevin de Bruyne provided much of it, but I can watch this."


bbc--2020-06-17--Luiz gets 2.31 - but who is your man of the match?

Premier League football returned on an eventful Wednesday - with David Luiz having a particularly action-packed time .
Luiz was @ @ @ @ @ to face Manchester City but still found time to come on , give away a @ @ @ @ @ and get sent off .
He did not fare well on our Player Rater .
@ @ @ @ @ back into his side though - man of the match with a rating of 8.16 @ @ @ @ @ list below .
Catch up on Man City v Arsenal here

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
It was a performance to forget for David Luiz
Premier League football returned on an eventful Wednesday - with David Luiz having a particularly action-packed time.
Luiz was left out of the side to face Manchester City but still found time to come on, give away a goal, concede a penalty and get sent off.
He did not fare well on our Player Rater.
Kevin de Bruyne was straight back into his side though - man of the match with a rating of 8.16. Check out the full list below.
Catch up on Man City v Arsenal here


bbc--2020-06-18--John Bolton: Trump sought Xi's help to win re-election

US President Donald Trump sought help from Chinese President Xi Jinping to win re-election , ex-National Security Adviser John Bolton 's new book says .
Mr Bolton says Mr Trump wanted China to buy agricultural produce from US farmers , according to details of the forthcoming book previewed by US media .
He also says Mr Trump `` remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House '' .
The Trump administration is trying to block the book from going on sale .
Speaking to Fox News , Mr Trump said of Mr Bolton : `` He broke the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he did not have approval . ''
`` He was a washed up guy , '' the president added .
`` I gave him a chance . ''
John Bolton joined the White House in April 2018 and left in September the following year , saying he had decided to quit as national security adviser .
President Trump , however , said he had fired Mr Bolton because he disagreed `` strongly '' with him .
He is known as a foreign policy hardliner and also served in the administration of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser he was the top counsellor to the US president on security matters at home and abroad .
Mr Bolton 's 577-page tome , The Room Where It Happened , is due to go on sale on 23 June .
But on Wednesday night , the Department of Justice sought an emergency order from a judge to stop the book 's release .
• John Bolton : Who is man behind Trump-Xi allegations ?
The publisher , Simon & Schuster , said in a statement : `` Tonight 's filing by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in futility . ''
It said hundreds of thousands of copies of the book have already been distributed around the world and the injunction would accomplish nothing .
Mr Trump 's Democratic challenger in this November 's election , Joe Biden , said in a statement about the book : `` If these accounts are true , it 's not only morally repugnant , it 's a violation of Donald Trump 's sacred duty to the American people . ''
What does Bolton allege about the meeting with Xi ?
The allegations refer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Xi at the G20 summit in Osaka , Japan , in June last year .
`` Trump , stunningly , turned the conversation to the coming US presidential election [ in 2020 ] , alluding to China 's economic capability and pleading with Xi to ensure he 'd win , '' Mr Bolton wrote .
`` He stressed the importance of farmers and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome . ''
Farmers make up a key voting bloc and largely supported Mr Trump in the 2016 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer disputed Mr Bolton 's account , saying the request for help with re-election `` never happened '' .
Mr Bolton also mentions an earlier conversation at the summit 's opening dinner , in which they discussed the building of camps in China 's western Xinjiang region .
Mr Trump said the construction should go ahead as it was `` exactly the right thing to do '' .
China has detained about a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the camps for punishment and indoctrination .
The Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of Uighurs , and on Wednesday the president signed legislation authorising US sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for the repression of Muslims in Xinjiang province .
China denies mistreating Uighurs and attacked the US move , calling it malicious and threatening countermeasures .
On one hand , the account John Bolton offers in his new book should seem somewhat familiar .
This is hardly the first time a former adviser or anonymous current aide to Donald Trump has offered anecdotes about a president seemingly uninterested in the details of governing and uninformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For nearly three-and-a-half years , there have been plentiful stories about a White House rife with backbiting and internal power struggles .
Mr Bolton 's book goes beyond this well-trodden ground , however , in painting a broad portrait of a president willing to bend foreign policy to advance his domestic and personal political agenda .
This was the heart of the impeachment case congressional Democrats made against Trump in January .
Mr Bolton confirms their allegations that the president wanted the withholding of military aid to pressure Ukraine to provide damaging information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolton adds that Trump 's dealings with China were also done with an eye on his re-election , and that he repeatedly intervened to assist friendly autocrats around the world .
Republicans suggest this is all the work of a disgruntled employee trying to sell books , while Democrats are already growling that Bolton should have volunteered these bombshells during the impeachment proceedings .
That ship has sailed , of course , but Bolton 's book can still have a bite , distracting a presidential campaign struggling to find its footing less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else did Mr Bolton say ?
Mr Bolton says the impeachment inquiry into the president might have had a different outcome this year if it had gone beyond Ukraine and investigated other instances of alleged political interference .
In January , President Trump was impeached for withholding military aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into starting a corruption investigation into Mr Biden and his son Hunter .
The president denied the wrongdoing and was acquitted after a two-week trial in the Republican-controlled Senate in February , which did not include any witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Democrats for declining to testify to the hearings - does not discuss in the book whether he thinks that Mr Trump 's actions on Ukraine were impeachable .
The publication contains a number of other damaging allegations : 'Oh , are you a nuclear power ? '
Among other things , Mr Trump is alleged to have been unaware that the UK was a nuclear power .
Britain 's atomic deterrent came up during a meeting with Theresa May in 2018 , when it was mentioned by one of the then-prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Trump said : `` Oh , are you a nuclear power ? ''
Mr Bolton said he could tell it `` was not intended as a joke '' .
Mr Trump also once asked his former chief-of-staff John Kelly if Finland was part of Russia , writes Mr Bolton .
Mr Trump said invading Venezuela would be `` cool '' , according to the book , and that the South American nation was `` really part of the United States '' .
But he was less enthusiastic about another invasion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is quoted in the book as saying : `` This was done by a stupid person named George Bush . ''
Mr Bolton writes that in a May 2019 phone call Russian President Vladimir Putin pulled off a `` brilliant display of Soviet-style propaganda '' by likening Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton , which `` largely persuaded Trump '' .
Mr Putin 's objective was to defend his ally , Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro , Mr Bolton writes .
In 2018 , Mr Trump labelled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions , but he clung to power .
In an interview with ABC News to be broadcast in full this Sunday , Mr Bolton says of Mr Trump : `` I think Putin thinks he can play him like a fiddle . ''
Mr Bolton writes that many of the president 's closest aides privately disparaged him .
When he arrived at the White House , Mr Bolton said Mr Kelly warned him : `` You ca n't imagine how desperate I am to get out of here .
This is a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out . ''
During Mr Trump 's 2018 meeting with North Korea 's leader , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo passed Mr Bolton a note about the president that said : `` He is so full of shit . ''
He writes that Mr Pompeo , often described as a Trump loyalist , was among aides who considered resigning in disgust in frustration at working for the president .
Mr Bolton writes that the president `` saw conspiracies behind rocks , and remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Republicans suggest this is all the work of a disgruntled employee trying to sell books, while Democrats are already growling that Bolton should have volunteered these bombshells during the impeachment proceedings. That ship has sailed, of course, but Bolton's book can still have a bite, distracting a presidential campaign struggling to find its footing less than five months before election day.


bbc--2020-06-18--Galwan Valley: Image appears to show nail-studded rods used in India-China brawl

An image has emerged showing a crude weapon purportedly used by Chinese forces in the fatal brawl along China 's disputed border with India on Monday .
The fight in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian soldiers dead and raised tensions between the two powers .
China did not acknowledge any casualties among its forces .
Both sides accused the other of an incursion .
The border between the two nations in the region is poorly demarcated and can shift with topographical changes .
The image that emerged on Thursday showed crude weapons that appeared to be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was passed to the BBC by a senior Indian military official on the India-China border , who said the weapons had been used by the Chinese .
Defence analyst Ajai Shukla , who first tweeted the image , described the use of such weapons as `` barbarism '' .
The absence of firearms in the clash dates back to a 1996 agreement between the two sides that guns and explosives be prohibited along the disputed stretch of the border , to deter escalation .
The image was widely shared on Twitter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media users .
Neither Chinese or Indian officials commented on it .
Media reports said troops clashed on ridges at a height of nearly 4,267m ( 14,000 ft ) along a steep terrain , with some soldiers falling into the fast-flowing Galwan river in sub-zero temperatures .
First deaths in four decades The two sides have brawled along the disputed border in recent weeks , but Monday 's clash was the first to lead to fatalities in at least 45 years .
Unconfirmed reports in Indian media said at least 40 Chinese soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue any information about casualties .
Some Indian soldiers are still believed to be missing .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said India had crossed the border twice , `` provoking and attacking Chinese personnel , resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides '' , the AFP news agency reported .
China on Wednesday claimed `` sovereignty over the Galwan Valley region '' - a claim rebutted by India as `` exaggerated and untenable '' .
Members of the public in both nations have since staged protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border area , while officials have spoken cautiously and moved towards a diplomatic resolution .
Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the foreign ministers of both countries had shared a phone conversation on Wednesday on the developments and `` agreed that the overall situation should be handled in a responsible manner '' .
`` Making exaggerated and untenable claims is contrary to this understanding , '' Mr Srivastava was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India news agency .
An Indian government statement after Subrahmanyam Jaishankar 's conversation with China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erect a structure on the Indian side of the de facto border , the Line of Actual Control ( LAC ) .
The statement accused the Chinese of a `` premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties '' and urged China to `` take corrective steps '' .
Meanwhile , a Chinese statement quoted Mr Wang as saying : `` China again expresses strong protest to India and demands the Indian side launches a thorough investigation ... and stop all provocative actions to ensure the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why were there no guns ?
The Galwan river valley in Ladakh , with its harsh climate and high-altitude terrain , lies along the western sector of the LAC and close to Aksai Chin , a disputed area claimed by India but controlled by China .
This is not the first time the two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought without conventional firearms on the border .
India and China have a history of face-offs and overlapping territorial claims along the more than 3,440km ( 2,100 mile ) , poorly drawn LAC separating the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border happened in 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in a remote pass in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh .
The clash was variously described by former diplomats as an ambush and an accident .
But no bullets have been fired since .
At the root of this is a 1996 bilateral agreement that says `` neither side shall open fire ... conduct blast operations or hunt with guns or explosives within two kilometres of the Line of Actual Control '' .
But there have been other tense confrontations along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian and Chinese soldiers exchanged physical blows on the border at Pangong Lake , also in Ladakh , and in the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim hundreds of miles to the east .
India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into Ladakh 's Galwan Valley and says China occupies 38,000 sq km ( 14,700 sq miles ) of its territory .
Several rounds of talks in the last three decades have failed to resolve the boundary disputes .

The last firing on the border happened in 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in a remote pass in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The clash was variously described by former diplomats as an ambush and an accident. But no bullets have been fired since.


bbc--2020-06-18--Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh kicked out for calling rival 'racist'

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was thrown out of the House of Commons for not apologising after he called @ @ @ @ @ .
The exchange took place after Mr Singh had introduced a motion to recognise systemic @ @ @ @ @ Mounted Police .

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh was thrown out of the House of Commons for not apologising after he called another MP "racist".
The exchange took place after Mr Singh had introduced a motion to recognise systemic racism in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.


bbc--2020-06-18--Beloved UK wartime singer Vera Lynn dies at 103

Dame Vera Lynn , the Forces ' Sweetheart whose songs helped raise morale in World War Two , has died aged 103 .
The singer was best known for performing hits such as We 'll Meet Again to troops on the front line in countries including India and Egypt .
Her family said they were `` deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain 's best-loved entertainers '' .
In a statement , they confirmed she died on Thursday morning surrounded by her close relatives .
Information on a memorial will be announced at a later date .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ career of the Forces ' Sweetheart • 'An inspiration to us all ' - tributes to Dame Vera Six weeks ago , ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day and during the height of the coronavirus pandemic , Dame Vera said simple acts of bravery and sacrifice still define our nation .
A week later , she became the oldest artist to get a top 40 album in the UK , beating her own record when her greatest hits album re-entered the charts at number 30 .
Dame Vera , who had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the age of 22 , was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover , There 'll Always Be An England , I 'll Be Seeing You , Wishing and If Only I Had Wings .
Her wartime classic We 'll Meet Again was referenced by the Queen in April during a speech to Britons who were separated from families and friends during the coronavirus lockdown .
The late singer 's daughter , Virginia Lewis-Jones , said she was proud of the difference her mother made through her charity work .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charity , which her mother founded to help young children with cerebral palsy , `` always held a very special place in her heart '' .
Born in London 's East Ham in 1917 , Dame Vera 's singing talent was discovered at a young age and by age 11 she had left school to pursue a full-time career as a dancer and singer .
In 1939 , in poll by the Daily Express , she was voted by servicemen as their favourite entertainer - gaining her the Forces ' Sweetheart nickname .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the singer 's `` charm and magical voice entranced and uplifted our country in some of our darkest hours '' .
`` Her voice will live on to lift the hearts of generations to come , '' he said .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said : `` Her songs still speak to the nation in 2020 just as they did in 1940 . ''
BBC One will air a tribute programme at 19:30 on Thursday , the broadcaster confirmed .
WW2 veteran Sir Tom Moore , who raised more than £32m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic in April , said : `` I really thought Vera Lynn would live longer , she 's been speaking so well on TV recently .
She had a huge impact on me in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life . ''
In 1940 , at the height of the London Blitz , Vera Lynn would set off to the BBC 's underground studios at the Criterion Theatre in central London .
The 15-minute show was called Starlight and was broadcast at 2:30am to soldiers around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was being criticised in Parliament for broadcasting slushy , sentimental songs .
A number of MPs felt there needed to be more upbeat songs to boost morale .
Her popularity even surprised the BBC , this was after all a little overseas show broadcast in the middle of the night .
Vera Lynn sang the songs that resonated emotionally with people who were separated from their loved ones and she sang them directly to you .
It was warm , intimate , heartfelt and personal , and that 's why Vera Lynn became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singer Katherine Jenkins , who performed Dame Vera 's wartime classics for the VE Day anniversary last month , said : `` I simply can not find the words to explain just how much I adored this wonderful lady .
`` Her voice brought comfort to millions in their darkest hours , her songs filled the nation 's hearts with hope , and her emotive performances , whether home or abroad , then or now , helped to get us through . ''
The Royal British Legion described her as `` an unforgettable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hope to the Armed Forces community past and present '' .
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle said she was a `` hero '' who captured the `` sense of longing felt by so many during our darkest hour '' , while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said she `` lifted our nation and its Armed Forces in their moment of maximum peril '' .

The Queen echoed her famous WW2 anthem during a speech to Britons who were separated from families and friends during the coronavirus lockdown in April, telling the nation: "We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again."


bbc--2020-06-18--Paulinho Paiakan: Amazon indigenous chief dies with coronavirus

One of the best-known indigenous defenders of the Amazon rainforest has died with coronavirus in Brazil , where the disease continues its rapid spread .
Paulinho Paiakan , chief of the Kayapó people , came to international attention in the 1980s in the fight against Belo Monte , one of the world 's largest dams .
He was around 65 .
In 1998 , he was convicted of the rape of an 18-year-old , a case that hurt his reputation .
The country is among the world 's worst affected , and the outbreak is believed to be weeks away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-highest numbers of infections - over 955,000 - and deaths , more than 46,500 , after the US .
Paiakan was one of the most important indigenous voices during Brazil 's return to democracy in the 1980s , and helped lead the campaign for the creation of large indigenous reserves in the Amazon .
Alongside Kayapó chief Raoni and musician Sting , he brought attention to the impact of the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam on the Xingu river , in the Amazon .
After many hurdles , a modified project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
He also fought to expel illegal miners and loggers from indigenous areas .
But his image was stained in 1992 , after a student accused him of rape , a case that had worldwide repercussions .
His allies argued the claim was fabricated to tarnish Paiakan 's reputation and to silence him .
After a long legal process , he was sentenced to six years in jail in 1998 , but served only part of it under house arrest on his indigenous reserve in the northern state of Pará .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in the attack .
Reacting to his death on Wednesday at a hospital in Pará , the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples ' Association ( Apib ) described Paiakan as a `` father , leader and warrior '' for indigenous peoples and the environment .
Gert-Peter Bruch , founder of environmental group Planet Amazon , told AFP news agency : `` He worked all his life to build worldwide alliances around indigenous peoples to save the Amazon .
He was far ahead of his time .
We 've lost an extremely valuable guide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 280 indigenous people have died with coronavirus , according to Apib .
There are special concerns about the outbreak in the area , where hospitals are underfunded and access to remote areas is difficult .
Pará , home to tens of thousands of indigenous people , has become one of the hardest-hit states in the country .
But in some other areas the level of contagion appears to be easing .
On Wednesday , Mike Ryan , emergencies programme head at the World Health Organization ( WHO ) , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe '' , and that the moment was of `` extreme caution '' .
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro , who initially described the virus as a `` little flu '' , has been heavily criticised at home and abroad for his handling of the crisis .
He has refused to follow WHO advice and two health ministers have left the job over disagreements with the president .
Earlier this month , his government stopped publishing data about the virus .
It was forced to reverse the decision after being accused of trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also repeatedly criticised state and local authorities for imposing restrictions that have shut down large cities across the country .
The measures have started to be lifted in some areas .

Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who initially described the virus as a "little flu", has been heavily criticised at home and abroad for his handling of the crisis. He has refused to follow WHO advice and two health ministers have left the job over disagreements with the president.


bbc--2020-06-18--UK pub chain and insurer apologise for slave links

Pub chain Greene King and insurance market Lloyd 's of London have apologised for their historical links to the slave trade .
One of Greene King 's founders owned a number of plantations in the Caribbean .
Meanwhile , maritime insurance - which was focused on Lloyd 's - thrived on the trans-Atlantic slave trade .
Both corporations have apologised and Lloyd 's has said it will donate to charities representing black , Asian and minority ethnic ( BAME ) groups .
Greene King said it would make a `` substantial investment to benefit the BAME community '' , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money can best be used .
Lloyd 's and Greene King 's moves were first reported by the Telegraph in the UK .
Lloyd 's , which was founded in 1688 , insured slave ships .
It is often lauded as the world 's leading insurance market , focusing on specialist areas , such as marine , energy and political risk .
In a statement , Lloyd 's said : `` There are some aspects of our history that we are not proud of .
`` In particular , we are sorry for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market in the 18th and 19th-Century slave trade . ''
`` This was an appalling and shameful period of English history , as well as our own , and we condemn the indefensible wrongdoing that occurred during this period . ''
The insurer said it would provide financial support to charities and organisations promoting opportunity and inclusion for BAME groups .
It has also launched a number of new initiatives aimed at developing black and minority ethnic talent within the organisation .
`` In recent years , Lloyd 's has driven ahead with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve culture across the market .
We have made progress , but not enough . ''
Pressure has been growing on companies around the world to address links to slavery and tackle racial inequality following the death of George Floyd in the US last month while in police custody .
`` Racism - the ideology used to justify slavery - is a legacy that still shapes the life chances for people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK , '' said Dr Katie Donington , a senior lecturer in history at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an important step that firms with historical links to trans-Atlantic slavery are now beginning the process of acknowledging the past . ''
• British History in depth- Slavery and the Building of Britain While she welcomed the commitment by Lloyd 's , she added : `` The offer of investment in BAME charities and organisations needs further scrutiny - how much will be invested and who will receive the money ?
`` This is a history which is specific to the black community and directing forms of reparative justice towards descendent groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies may have been reluctant to speak out in the past , the international outcry and huge demonstrations following Mr Floyd 's death has made speaking up a `` business imperative '' .
Dwayna Hayley , a senior vice president at Porter Novelli , a communications firm that has advised companies such as McDonald 's and Pepsi , previously told the BBC : `` What is driving this is the understanding that if we do n't cater to the people that we serve , we could lose market share , '' she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move . ''
Brewer and pub chain Greene King was originally founded in 1799 by Benjamin Greene , who owned highly-profitable plantations .
His son Edward took over control of the brewery in 1836 and it was renamed Greene King in 1887 after merging with a local brewery .
When slavery was abolished in 1833 , the UK government raised huge amounts for compensation .
However , that money was not paid to those who had been enslaved , but was given instead to slave-owners for their `` loss of human property '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who received payment .
Details of the sums are listed in a database held by the University College London ( UCL ) .
Nick Mackenzie , Greene King 's chief executive officer , said : `` It is inexcusable that one of our founders profited from slavery and argued against its abolition in the 1800s .
While that is a part of our history , we are now focused on the present and the future . ''
To address the issue , the pub chain will `` make a substantial investment to benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversity in the business '' .
Royal Bank of Scotland ( RBS ) , Lloyds Banking Group , Barclays and HSBC were among a number of banks found by the Telegraph to be linked to the slave trade .
• Royal Bank of Scotland : In a 2009 report , the bank admitted that individuals who were partners or directors of RBSG ( Royal Bank of Scotland Group ) predecessors `` may have owned slaves themselves or been otherwise directly connected to slave enterprises in the British West Indies '' .
Founded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence that suggested other partners of its predecessors may have been part-owners of `` ships involved in slave trading voyages during the 18th and early 19th Centuries '' .
`` As an organisation with a history stretching back more than 300 years , these important and painful issues have a place in our history .
We recognise our responsibility to engage with that '' , RBS said in a statement .
The bank , currently majority-owned by the UK government , added that it had `` looked into its past links with slavery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would look at `` what more we can do as a bank '' , including making financial contributions to BAME groups .
• Lloyds Banking Group : John White Cater was the president of London and Brazilian Bank and received compensation for five claims for estates in Jamaica .
Eight former companies associated with the group have links to claimants or beneficiaries in UCL 's database .
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said : `` A lot has changed during the 300-year history of our brands and while we have much within our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't be proud of it all .
Like any institution that is so interwoven with our country 's history , we must acknowledge and learn from our past . ''
They added that the firm would `` deliver better results for our colleagues and customers .
This is our aim .
We can do more , we can do better and we will do it together . ''
• Barclays : One manager , one founder subscriber and three directors of the Colonial Bank are listed as claimants or beneficiaries by UCL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1917 .
The claims include nine by director John Bloxam Elin relating to estates in Jamaica .
`` The history of Barclays , like other institutions , is being examined following recent events .
We ca n't change what 's gone before us , only how we go forward , '' a Barclays spokesperson said .
`` We are committed as a bank to do more to further foster our culture of inclusiveness , equality and diversity , for our colleagues , and the customers and clients we serve . ''
• HSBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Pollard was a trustee over a claim related to the Calhoun estate in Nevis .
Mr Pollard was manager of the London Joint Stock Bank , which was eventually merged into HSBC , now the UK 's largest bank .
HSBC did not immediately respond to the BBC 's request for comment .

A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: "A lot has changed during the 300-year history of our brands and while we have much within our heritage to be proud of, we can't be proud of it all. Like any institution that is so interwoven with our country's history, we must acknowledge and learn from our past."


bbc--2020-06-18--Coronavirus Beijing: Why an outbreak sparked a salmon panic in China

Beijing has in the past week seen a spike of Covid-19 cases - almost all of which have been linked to a huge wholesale food market .
State media said the virus was discovered on chopping boards used for imported salmon at the Xinfadi market - sparking fears across the country .
Supermarkets and restaurants across Beijing hurried to pull salmon from their shelves , and imports from Europe were halted .
On Wednesday it was announced that a 22-year-old man - known to have occasionally cleaned frozen seafood - had tested positive for the virus in Tianjin , near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control ( CDC ) said that it was unlikely that salmon carried the virus .
So how and why did the panic emerge ?
What happened in the market ?
Last Thursday , Beijing reported its first virus case after 57 days without a locally-transmitted infection .
Since then , almost 150 cases have been confirmed - almost all of which have been linked to the city 's largest wholesale market .
Xinfadi supplies 80 % of Beijing 's vegetables and meat and is used by tens of thousands of people a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , there is no evidence of a wildlife trade in the Xinfadi market .
Traces of the virus were found on a chopping board used by a seller of imported salmon , said reports .
But some 40 samples from the market tested positive for the virus - some of which were not from chopping boards used to cut salmon , said a spokesman for Beijing 's Municipal Health Commission .
Could salmon be a host for the virus ?
It 's very unlikely .
An official at the Chinese Centre for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that salmon was the host - or even an intermediate host - for the virus .
Shi Guoqing , deputy director of the CDC 's emergency response centre , said there was no trace of the virus on the salmon before it reached the market - suggesting the virus was present in the market , rather than in the salmon itself .
`` Viruses must rely on the viral receptor on the host cell surfaces to infect cells .
Without the certain receptor they can not enter into cells successfully , '' Cheng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told CGTN .
`` All known evidence so far suggests this kind of receptors exist only in mammals , not fish . ''
However , the CDC 's chief epidemiologist , Wu Zunyou , said the fish could not catch the virus in their natural habitat - but added that it was possible they were contaminated by workers during their capture or transportation .
Overall , it is still unclear what the original source of the virus is - or where it might have come from , though the WHO has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drink to humans .
`` Coronaviruses can not multiply in food ; they need an animal or human host to multiply , '' the global health body said in a document published on its website .
It also said it was `` highly unlikely '' that it could spread through food packaging .
China imports about 80,000 tons of chilled and frozen salmon each year from countries like Chile , Norway , the Faroe Islands and Australia , according to the Global Times .
The virus is not rampant in most of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salmon was not the source , after Norwegian salmon producers saw orders from China cancelled over the weekend .
Other countries around the globe however , seem largely unfazed by the salmon speculation .
Hong Kong 's Centre for Food Safety confirmed that 16 samples of imported salmon from countries including Chile , Iceland and Denmark all tested negative for the virus .
Long queues were also seen outside sushi restaurants in the city .
Singapore 's Food Agency has also said there was no evidence that the virus would be transmitted via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said it would monitor `` developments in this area '' .
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• EUROPE LOCKDOWN : How is it being lifted ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Overall, it is still unclear what the original source of the virus is - or where it might have come from, though the WHO has said it cannot be transmitted through food and drink to humans.


bbc--2020-06-18--Coronavirus: Covid-denying priest Father Sergei Romanov seizes Russian monastery

An ultraconservative Russian priest who denies coronavirus exists has taken over a women 's monastery by force .
Father Sergei Romanov entered the Sredneuralsk convent outside the city of Yekaterinburg on Tuesday .
The mother superior and several nuns have left and armed guards are patrolling the site .
Father Sergei has stated church authorities `` will have to storm the monastery '' if they want him to leave .
Police visited the site on Wednesday but made no arrests .
The controversial cleric was barred from preaching in April and then stripped of the right to wear a cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disobey public health orders .
• Is Putin rushing Russia out of lockdown ?
Father Sergei helped found the Sredneuralsk Convent in the early 2000s , and hundreds of supporters have flocked there over the years to hear his sermons .
Russian authorities shut churches to worshippers on 13 April amid the ongoing pandemic , and only reopened them this month .
On Thursday officials reported Russia has confirmed 7,790 new infections - its lowest daily rise in six weeks - bringing the total recorded cases to 561,091 .
The official death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear the true number is far higher .
Father Sergei has described the ongoing coronavirus outbreak as a `` pseudo-pandemic '' and accused church leaders of `` working with the forerunners of the Antichrist '' by closing churches .
After suspending him in May the Russian Orthodox Church organised an ecclesiastical court to determine his future .
But at the court session on Monday Father Sergei told officials his conscience was clear and declared they would have to kick him out of the Sredneuralsk monastery by force .
He left the meeting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site .
Reports suggest many of the armed men now guarding it are veterans of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine .
Journalists are barred , though one reporter from Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta managed to get inside past the guards and met Father Sergei .
`` The diocese forbids me to serve , forbids me to speak .
But I was blessed to speak , '' he told the journalist .
Father Sergei faces another session of the ecclesiastical court on 26 June .
The Yekaterinburg diocese says Mother Superior Varvara - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - left temporarily `` to avoid unnecessary strife '' , and said the cleric should use the time ahead of his next court date `` for correction and repentance '' .
A former policeman , Father Sergei spent 13 years in a prison colony for murder - though his supporters deny this is the case .
He was released in the late 1990s .
Legally , the priest has changed his name to Nikolai Romanov , in honour of Russia 's last Tsar Nicholas II .
The former emperor and his family were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after their murders in 1918 , near the Sredneuralsk site , and Father Sergei is seen as the figurehead of the shadowy `` tsar worshipper '' movement within the church .
Father Sergei has made numerous controversial claims in the past , including suggesting the Antichrist would soon rise in Russia as a counterpart to President Vladimir Putin , and has criticised laws against domestic violence and anti-Semitic sermons .
He has also ministered to several Russian sports stars and politicians .

Legally, the priest has changed his name to Nikolai Romanov, in honour of Russia's last Tsar Nicholas II. The former emperor and his family were thought to have been buried outside Yekaterinburg after their murders in 1918, near the Sredneuralsk site, and Fr Sergiy is seen as the figurehead of the shadowy "tsar worshipper" movement within the church.


bbc--2020-06-18--Rayshard Brooks shooting: US policeman faces murder charge

A police officer who fatally shot a fleeing black man in the back last week in Atlanta , Georgia , will be charged with murder and assault , officials say .
Garrett Rolfe , who has already been fired , faces 11 charges related to Rayshard Brooks ' death .
If convicted , he could face the death penalty .
The other officer at the scene , Devin Brosnan , will testify as a prosecution witness in the case , officials said .
The case comes amid US protests over police killings of black Americans .
Lawmakers in Washington are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials said this was the ninth time that an Atlanta police officer had been prosecuted for homicide .
They added that it is believed to be the first time a police officer would testify against a member of his own unit , though Mr Brosnan 's lawyer denied his client would be a witness in the case .
• Which US police reform plan might become law ?
• Seven solutions to US police problems President Trump has said he is concerned about the way the case against Mr Rolfe is being handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair shake because police have not been treated fairly in our country , '' he told Fox News .
`` You ca n't resist a police officer like that , '' he added , referring to Mr Brooks ' actions during the incident .
Mr Brooks , 27 , failed a sobriety test on 12 June after he was found asleep inside his car that was blocking a drive-through lane at a Wendy 's restaurant .
After pulling over his vehicle , the father-of-four appeared `` slightly impaired , but his behaviour during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said on Wednesday .
For over 40 minutes , video shows him complying with officers as he consented to a weapons search and provided them with his identification details .
However , as officers tried to handcuff him , he began struggling .
The footage appears to show Mr Brooks punched Mr Rolfe , grabbed Mr Brosnan 's stun gun and turned back while fleeing to fire it at Mr Rolfe .
Mr Brooks suffered two gunshots to the back that caused organ injuries and blood loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness ' vehicle , nearly killing the driver , investigators say .
• The struggle that cost Rayshard Brooks his life Prosecutors said Mr Rolfe said : `` I got him . ''
For over two minutes after Mr Brooks was shot , neither officer provided medical attention as police are required to do , prosecutors said .
Instead , Mr Rolfe kicked Mr Brooks while he was on the ground , Mr Howard added .
Officer Brosnan - who has already been placed on administrative leave - will be charged with assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulder as he lay dying .
What else did the prosecutor say ?
The district attorney said that eight videos from the scene showed Mr Brooks `` displayed no aggressive behaviour during the 41 minutes and 17 seconds '' that he was questioned , and posed no physical risk to the officers in that time .
Mr Brooks was 18ft ( 5.5m ) from the officers when he was shot twice in the back , investigators say .
`` I believe that at the time of the shooting , Mr Brooks did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , noting that police rules prohibit firing a Taser at a fleeing suspect .
`` So he certainly can not fire a handgun at someone running away , '' he said .
How have the suspects responded ?
A lawyer for Mr Rolfe blamed Mr Brooks for his choice to `` violently attack '' the arresting officers `` suddenly , without warning or provocation '' .
`` Mr Brooks violently attacked two officers and disarmed one of them , '' continued the statement issued by the LoRusso Law Firm .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Officer Rolfe , any officer would have reasonably believed that he intended to disarm , disable , or seriously injure him . ''
A lawyer for Mr Brosnan disputed the district attorney 's claim that he will serve as a `` state 's witness '' , or that he has already admitted to standing on Mr Brooks as he died .
What has the reaction been ?
The shooting came as the nation was already in uproar over the death in police custody of another unarmed black man , George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers involved in Mr Floyd 's arrest have been sacked and are facing charges of second-degree murder , or aiding and abetting murder .
The Wendy 's restaurant where Mr Brooks died was burned down after about 1,000 protesters turned up there in the hours after his death .
His death also led to the resignation of Atlanta 's chief of police .
A lawyer for Mr Brooks ' widow , Tomika Miller , told the Associated Press that he was not aware of some of the details announced on Wednesday , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Brooks lay dying .
`` It 's heartbreaking , but it 's an attempt to redefine justice , '' said lawyer L Chris Stewart .
Why this case is different The swiftness with which a white police officer has been fired and then charged with murder in the killing of Rayshard Brooks is just the latest sign of how rapidly and dramatically police agencies have shifted strategy when it comes to dealing with deadly force cases .
Historically , not only have police chiefs been reticent to take action against officers involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation '' had taken place , they 've been quick to defend the officer 's use of force if he or she `` reasonably '' believed that a person had a deadly weapon or posed immediate danger to the officer .
In this case , video shows that Brooks had taken the officer 's Taser and appears to use it .
But not only is the weapon designated as less than lethal , the video shows he was running away and that the shots that killed him entered his back .
Now the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whether or not a Taser should be considered a deadly weapon will surely come into play , as well as whether the officer had `` reasonable '' fear of Brooks .
What is already clear is that police departments are not feeling nearly as confident relying on the old strategies and rhetoric that historically have allowed them to slow-play their response to a police-involved killing .

Now the officer faces 11 charges, the question of whether or not a Taser should be considered a deadly weapon will surely come into play, as well as whether the officer had "reasonable" fear of Brooks.


bbc--2020-06-18--US-China row moves underwater in cable tangle

An underwater data cable , linking the US to Hong Kong , looks set to be rejected by the US government because of fears of Chinese data theft .
The Pacific Light Cable Network , backed by Google and Facebook , is designed to boost internet speed and capacity .
But a US government committee known as `` Team Telecom '' has now recommended that the US denies it approval .
The decision is another sign of the growing tension between the US and China , who are in a trade war .
It would reportedly be the first such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security grounds .
What is the Pacific Light Cable Network ?
Around the world , there are hundreds of undersea cables providing internet connectivity .
The new cable was announced in 2016 as a partnership between Google , Facebook , and other companies .
Google said the cable would be 12,800 km long ( 8,000 miles ) and would be the `` highest-capacity trans-Pacific route '' .
`` In other words , [ the cable ] will provide enough capacity for Hong Kong to have 80 million concurrent HD video conference calls with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Where are the world 's undersea cables ?
The project would also have portions connecting the US with Taiwan and the Philippines .
The cable has been laid , reportedly at a cost of `` many millions of dollars '' , but needs approval to operate .
One of the companies working with Facebook and Google is the Dr Peng group , a Chinese broadband giant .
What did Team Telecom say ?
The committee has recommended approval for the Taiwan and Philippines sections .
But on Wednesday , it recommended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied `` on national security grounds '' .
• China 's `` sustained efforts to acquire the sensitive personal data of millions of US persons '' • China 's `` access to other countries ' data through both digital infrastructure investments '' • The Dr Peng Group 's `` relationship with Chinese intelligence and security services , and its obligations under Chinese intelligence and cyber-security laws '' • China 's `` recent actions to remove Hong Kong 's autonomy and allow for the possibility that Chinese intelligence and security services will operate openly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be taken by the US Federal Communications Commission .
What is the background ?
After President Trump took office , the US imposed billions of dollars ' worth of tariffs on Chinese goods , with China retaliating .
Mr Trump had long accused China of unfair trading and intellectual property theft .
The US has also targeted Chinese technology firm Huawei , calling it a national security threat , and is taking a more aggressive stance on Hong Kong .
China is trying to introduce a security law in Hong Kong , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
But the US , and others , say the law would threaten the city 's autonomy .
Mr Trump said he would remove Hong Kong 's privileged status in US law .
`` China has replaced one country , two systems , with one country , one system , '' he said in May .

China is trying to introduce a security law in Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region of China. But the US, and others, say the law would threaten the city's autonomy.


bbc--2020-06-18--Coronavirus: What will happen to pets after lockdown?

Many people brought pets into their lives during lockdown .
A pet behaviourist explains how animals will react to their @ @ @ @ @ and how promoting distance in the home now can be beneficial in the long run @

Many people brought pets into their lives during lockdown.
A pet behaviourist explains how animals will react to their owners' return to work and how promoting distance in the home now can be beneficial in the long run.
Video Journalist: Chloe Kim.
Senior producer: Phoebe Frieze


bbc--2020-06-18--Rayshard Brooks widow: 'I felt everything that he felt'

The widow of Rayshard Brooks , Tomika Miller , has given her reaction as the Fulton County district attorney shared @ @ @ @ @ death .
Mr Brooks was fatally shot by a police officer , who has since @ @ @ @ @ Wendy 's restaurant in Atlanta on 12 June .
District attorney Paul Howard announced that @ @ @ @ @ had been charged with felony murder and 10 other offences .

The widow of Rayshard Brooks, Tomika Miller, has given her reaction as the Fulton County district attorney shared details of her husband's death.
Mr Brooks was fatally shot by a police officer, who has since been fired, outside a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta on 12 June.
District attorney Paul Howard announced that the former officer Garrett Rolfe had been charged with felony murder and 10 other offences.


bbc--2020-06-18--Dame Vera Lynn, a symbol of resilience and hope

Dame Vera Lynn , who has died at the age of 103 , was Britain 's wartime Forces ' Sweetheart , and remained one of the country 's most potent symbols of resilience and hope .
With songs such as We 'll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover , she inspired both troops abroad and civilians at home during World War Two .
As Britain 's cities came under attack , her wistful songs , with their messages of yearning and optimism , were heard in millions of British homes .
And 75 years later , the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced another stern test .
She was born Vera Margaret Welch on 20 March 1917 in the London suburb of East Ham , the daughter of a plumber .
She discovered her talent for singing at an early age and was performing in local clubs when she was seven .
By the time she was 11 , she had abandoned school for a full-time career as a dancer and singer in a touring music hall revue .
She had also adopted a new stage name , Vera Lynn , borrowing her grandmother 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the age of 16 , fronting a number of bands who were still clinging to the more genteel musical traditions in the face of an onslaught from be-bop and jazz .
Lynn was self-effacing , unlike many of the singing stars of the day , and her gentle persona quickly endeared her to audiences .
Her broadcasting debut came in 1935 , singing with the Joe Loss Orchestra , which led to regular radio appearances and widened her circle of fans .
But in 1939 , war intervened .
As families gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Neville Chamberlain 's announcement that Britain was at war with Germany , Lynn remembered thinking : `` Oh well , bang goes my career . ''
But when she volunteered for war work , she was told the best thing she could do was to keep on being an entertainer .
This was reinforced when , in a 1939 poll by the Daily Express , she was voted by servicemen as their favourite entertainer , and gained her Forces ' Sweetheart nickname .
In the same year , she first sang We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than any other came to be associated with World War Two .
Its underlying message of hope - that scattered families would eventually be reunited after the conflict - struck a chord with troops abroad and their relatives at home .
Her down-to-earth style quickly established her as the public 's favourite antidote to the misery of the blackout and the Blitz .
With appearances at the London Palladium and Holborn Empire , Vera Lynn proved a national tonic in the anxious days at the beginning of the war .
In 1941 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think I thought much of him at first , '' she later said .
`` He wooed me with chewing gum . ''
But the union lasted six decades until his death .
Lewis also became her manager .
• 'An inspiration to us all ' - tributes to Dame Vera She was given her own radio programme and , thanks to the BBC 's shortwave transmitters , could be heard across the world .
Lynn spent the war years entertaining the troops , performing in hospitals and army camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Burma .
She stayed in tents and grass huts , and `` went goodness knows how long without a bath '' .
Of her journeys to such threatening territory , she explained : `` It was so important to get entertainment to the boys . ''
Vera Lynn 's success continued well into peacetime and , in 1952 , she became the first British artist to have a number one hit in America with the song Auf Wiedersehen , Sweetheart .
And two years later , she had her only British number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Son .
She never retired and was always happy to move in new directions , notably with a cover of Abba 's Thank You For The Music .
However , it was plain that the public , including those born long after the war , wanted to hear her perform her classic songs .
In 2009 , at the age of 92 , Lynn became the oldest living artist to top the British album chart , outselling both the Arctic Monkeys and the Beatles , with whom she shared the top 10 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her fame .
`` I do n't live in the past , '' she once said , `` even though I have never been allowed to forget it . ''
As well as making frequent appearances at veterans ' reunions , Lynn was a tireless charity worker for hundreds of organisations .
In 1992 she founded the Dame Vera Lynn School for Parents and Handicapped Children .
In a 2005 speech , she remarked : `` We should always remember , we should never forget , and we should teach the children to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a dame and in 2000 she was named as the Briton who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th Century .
A great friend of another wartime idol , the Queen Mother , Dame Vera made her last public singing performance in front of her in 1995 .
The place was Buckingham Palace , and thousands of people had gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war .
The singer was well into her eighth decade , but could still deliver a heart-wrenching tune .
Twenty-five years later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's songs and contribution was shown to be as deep as ever .
The UK was facing another crisis - and a virus , rather than a foreign army , was the foe this time .
In a televised address in April , the Queen evoked Dame Vera 's wartime message , assuring families and friends who were separated during the coronavirus pandemic : `` We will meet again . ''
• The Queen 's coronavirus address : 'We will meet again' Just two weeks earlier , Dame Vera herself had sent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the British public to find `` moments of joy '' during these `` hard times '' .
Then in May , We 'll Meet Again was used during the finale of the BBC 's coverage of the 75th anniversary of VE Day .
Dame Vera appeared in a virtual duet with Katherine Jenkins , while key workers also joined in with the song .
That led an album that had been released for her 100th birthday - featuring contributions from younger singers including Alfie Boe , Alexander Armstrong and Cynthia Erivo - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a lifetime of service to her country , Dame Vera was still held as the embodiment of the best of the British spirit .

She never retired and was always happy to move in new directions, notably with a cover of Abba's Thank You For The Music. However, it was plain that the public, including those born long after the war, wanted to hear her perform her classic songs.


bbc--2020-06-17--Tanzania's John Magufuli - the man vowing to defeat coronavirus and imperialism

Tanzania 's President John Magufuli has been criticised over his repeated attacks on `` imperialists '' and his recent declaration that prayers had ended coronavirus in the East African state .
But this is unlikely to bother him as , throughout his presidency of more than five years , he has styled himself as a stout African nationalist and a devout Catholic waging war against foreign powers seeking to exploit the East African nation .
`` I want you Tanzanians to believe that you have a real president , a real rock .
I can not be threatened and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in March 2018 .
He hopes that he has cemented this reputation over the last two years , and it will secure him a second term in elections due in October .
One of Mr Magufuli 's biggest battles was against Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold Corp .
He demanded a 60 % stake for the government in three of its gold mines to end the `` exploitation '' of Tanzania 's resources .
The 60-year-old president cast the negotiations as a clash between a cow and a rabbit and , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % share , the talks signalled that it was no longer business as usual .
As Barrick boss Mark Bristow walked from the lectern to shake Mr Magufuli 's hand at the signing ceremony in January , he said : `` What it 's done is challenge the mining industry and all of us to embark on something where we win together or lose together . ''
In his response , Mr Magufuli not only burnished his nationalist credentials , but also his religious credentials , saying : `` I thank God for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has also cancelled two deals with China : the building of Tanzania 's first electric railway line linking the main commercial city Dar es Salaam to the capital , Dodoma , about 500km ( 310 miles ) away and the construction of East Africa 's biggest port in Bagamoyo , once the capital of German East Africa , at a cost of $ 10bn ( £8bn ) .
Mr Magufuli said only a `` madman '' would accept the financial terms negotiated by his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete 's government for the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed selfish leadership and a failure to put the nation first for Tanzania 's underdevelopment .
But it is Western powers that Mr Magufuli is most suspicious of , and he accuses local `` puppets '' - usually a cast of opposition politicians , rights activists and critical journalists - of championing the interests of their `` masters '' .
`` This healthy suspicion sometimes fuels paranoia , which is strange for a president who has consolidated so much power , '' Tanzanian analyst Thabit Jacob told the BBC .
`` His nationalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is squeezing the opposition , narrowing civic space , cracking down on the media and increasing surveillance . ''
Tanzanian writer Elsie Eyakuze said he had a `` brutal pragmatism that leans on a particular world view of strong leadership .
`` It does not allow for discussion or dissent about methods or outcomes as this would ostensibly weaken the government or introduce an element of chaos . ''
No trips to the West Mr Magufuli has revived use of the Swahili word `` beberu '' .
It literally means `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly used to refer to `` Western imperialists '' when Tanzania was fighting for independence , and when a socialist government took office following the end of British colonial rule .
Mr Magufuli has not been on a single official visit to a Western nation since coming to power .
Nor has he attended , as president , sessions of the UN General Assembly , which other African leaders see as an opportunity to spell out their vision to a global audience .
You may also be interested in : • Coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has attended African Union summits and visited a few African countries - including Rwanda and Uganda , whose leaders in many ways share his suspicions of Western nations .
However , he puts his vision for the nation ahead of his pan-African ideals .
He did not attend regional summits to discuss the coronavirus crisis , and the temporary border closure of Tanzania 's borders with Zambia and Kenya point to diplomatic tensions .
When Uganda 's President Yoweri Museveni described the regional body , the East African Community , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to co-operate to combat the virus , Mr Magufuli - without directly referring to his Ugandan counterpart 's comments - said at a church service in his home town that `` we co-operate in bringing development .
However , in resolving a problem , everyone has their own means '' .
Unlike Uganda and Rwanda , Mr Magufuli did not impose a lockdown to curb the virus , saying he feared it would cause poverty .
As a result , he has come under criticism from the main opposition parties , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under lockdown .
However , Mr Magufuli is not alone in rejecting such measures .
Data collected by the respected Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Africa CDC ) shows that around a quarter of African states , including Ethiopia , did not shut down to curb the spread of the virus .
• Why lockdowns may not be the answer in Africa And soon after the first Covid-19 case was detected in the country in mid-March , Tanzania took measures such as closing schools and banning sports events .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a foot greeting with opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad at the presidential mansion as health experts warned that the virus could spread through handshakes .
Despite this , World Health Organization ( WHO ) Africa director Matshidiso Moeti accused Tanzania of acting slowly to curb the spread of the virus .
`` In Tanzania we have observed that physical distancing , including the prohibition of mass gatherings , took some time to happen and we believe that these might have been probable factors that led to a rapid increase in cases there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in April .
For his critics , one of Mr Magufuli 's biggest mistakes has been to encourage religious services , sometimes without social distancing , despite the fact that most health experts say the risk of infections spreading is extremely high at such gatherings .
`` Coronavirus is a devil .
It can not live in the body of Christ , '' the Tanzanian leader , who has a PhD in chemistry and is a devout Catholic , said in March .
And when Mr Magufuli addressed worshippers earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease has been eliminated thanks to God . ''
A few days later he appeared to row back on his statement , saying the virus was still around and urging people to continue to take precautions such as washing their hands regularly .
But on Tuesday , in his final parliamentary address before election campaigning started , Mr Magufuli repeated that God had spared Tanzania the virus , and called for all schools to reopen and for a return to normality .
However on the same day , Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releasing data for the first time since April when Mr Magufuli questioned the reliability of the figures .
In at least two previous speeches , Mr Magufuli described Tanzania 's fight against the disease as `` warfare '' , hinting that he saw it as a `` Western plot '' .
`` There are so many unbelievable things being done in this country .
Either the imperialists have bought off the laboratory technicians , or they are not competent , which is not true , '' he said .
He also questioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had supplied them .
`` So many times , I have insisted that not everything that you are given is good .
There could be people being used , that equipment could be used… but it could also be sabotage because this is warfare , '' he said , lurching towards a conspiracy theory .
Mr Magufuli has also championed traditional medication , including steam inhalation and a Malagasy-produced tonic made from the artemisia plant , to fight the virus , despite the WHO saying there is no evidence that the treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as allies , or at least , not 'mabeberu ' , and therefore , prefers to deal with them and seek out medical remedies from them rather than from elsewhere , '' Tanzanian political analyst Dan Paget said .
Many health experts believe the leaders - who also include Liberia 's George Weah - are creating false hopes , but herbal medicine is part of the lives of most Africans .
WHO data shows that 80 % of them use it .
Whether Mr Magufuli 's strategy has paid off will become clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has strengthened his support among many African nationalists , religious conservatives , and businessmen , bolstering his chances of securing a second term in the October election .
When Mr Kikwete handed power to him in 2015 , he said : `` I 'm leaving , but we 've brought this chuma [ Swahili for a piece of iron ] . ''
It was an apt description of Mr Magufuli 's style of leadership , which has been applauded by his supporters and loathed by his critics .

As Barrick boss Mark Bristow walked from the lectern to shake Mr Magufuli's hand at the signing ceremony in January, he said: "What it's done is challenge the mining industry and all of us to embark on something where we win together or lose together."