bbc--2020-09-18--Covid-19: Parts of Madrid to lockdown amid virus spike

Parts of the Spanish capital Madrid are to be subject to lockdown restrictions to curb a rise in Covid-19 , as cases across Europe continue to spike .
From Monday , more than 850,000 people in the Madrid region will face limits on travel and sizes of groups .
Spain has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe , and Madrid is again the worst-hit region .
Many northern hemisphere countries are now bracing for a second wave of the pandemic as winter approaches .
The World Health Organization has warned of the perils as people move indoors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do in order to avoid amplification events , drive down transmission of this epidemic , protect the opening of schools and protect the most vulnerable in our society , '' Dr Mike Ryan , the WHO 's head of the health emergencies programme , said .
France recorded its highest number of new confirmed daily cases since the pandemic began , at 13,215 - a jump of nearly 3,000 more cases in 24 hours .
They included Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire , who said he had tested positive but was showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marseille and Nice , are bringing in tighter restrictions .
The UK recorded 4,322 new cases and 27 deaths on Friday - its highest number of cases since 8 May , and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned a second wave was now `` inevitable '' .
Large parts of the north of England are now subject to great lockdown measures .
Spain now has 625,651 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University , and rates of infection in the Madrid region are more than double the national average , the Spanish government says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst hit health districts in the region will be subject to lockdown restrictions .
Residents will only be able to leave their zone to go to work , school or to seek medical care .
Social gatherings within their zone will be limited to six , public parks will be closed and commercial businesses will need to close by 22:00 .
`` There are 37 basic areas where the incidence is very high , over 1,000 for every 100,000 people in the last 14 days , '' said Madrid regional government chief Isabel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly high population density and connectivity .
We need above all measures to ensure that quarantines are observed . ''
The areas affected are in some of Madrid 's poorer districts and , Reuters reports , residents there are feeling abandoned , stigmatised and fearful that the new restrictions will deprive them of income .
One retiree in Vallecas , a southern district with a lower average income , higher immigrant population and one of the highest infection rates in Madrid , told Reuters the health system was paralysed there .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , queues everywhere , '' Mari Paz Gonzalez said .
`` We are abandoned ...
They left us in the hands of God . ''
You might also be interested in :

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the perils as people move indoors. "There is a lot of work to do in order to avoid amplification events, drive down transmission of this epidemic, protect the opening of schools and protect the most vulnerable in our society," Dr Mike Ryan, the head of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said.


bbc--2020-09-18--UK 'now seeing a second wave' of Covid-19

The UK is `` now seeing a second wave '' of Covid-19 , Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said , adding : `` It 's been inevitable we 'd see it in this country . ''
Mr Johnson said he did not `` want to go into bigger lockdown measures '' but that tighter social distancing rules might be necessary .
It is understood a new three-tiered set of restrictions is being considered .
The plan would aim to avoid a national lockdown but could stop household-to-household contact .
The first tier would be the level of measures currently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - with social distancing the key aspect .
The second tier would involve what is currently being imposed in north-east of England - curfews on hospitality venues and a ban on meetings between households .
The final third tier would involve stricter lockdown measures .
If this plan is put into action , `` Tier two '' restrictions are expected to be imposed on a region-by-region basis , but it is thought likely that they could eventually cover almost all of the UK .
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said it was `` increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the capital will need to follow areas such as the north-east of England and come under additional measures .
• Can a 'circuit break ' halt the second Covid wave ?
• What are the rules for meeting friends and family ?
• Covid symptoms : Is it a cold , flu or coronavirus ?
• UK coronavirus cases up by 4,322 on Friday An account of a meeting at which the three-tier measures were discussed has been shared with the BBC .
It explained the government 's shielding policy was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision could come soon on further measures to protect the vulnerable .
Any further shielding decisions are expected to take a much more tailored approach than before .
With the virus expected to be more severe over the winter , officials are looking at bringing in measures that could last until the spring .
Earlier , BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the government was considering a short period of tighter rules across England that could be announced in the next week , which could involve closing hospitality venues .
It comes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 cases .
Public Health England 's medical director Yvonne Doyle warned of `` far worse things to come '' as the UK recorded widespread growth of the virus across the country .
`` Clearly when you look at what is happening , you 've got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in , '' the prime minister said , referring to measures introduced on Monday .
He added that `` the British people have done an amazing job - they 've brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` people find it difficult to keep this up , it 's difficult to maintain that discipline for a long time '' .
• LOCAL LOCKDOWNS : What happens if you have one ?
• GLOBAL SPREAD : How many worldwide cases are there ?
• LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
Speaking in Oxfordshire , Mr Johnson said the government would keep `` everything under review '' but a second national lockdown was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We want to keep schools open , '' he said .
`` We want to keep the economy open as far as we possibly can , we want to keep businesses going . ''
Mr Johnson added : `` The only way we can do that is , obviously , if people follow the guidance . ''
'UK 's trajectory is not written in stone' The question is no longer where we are , but where we are heading .
Yes , the number of people infected , in hospital with Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at far lower levels than at the peak .
Scientists will quibble about the exact definition of a `` second wave '' , but all data points to rising numbers of infections .
The government 's science advisers say the number is now doubling every week .
If those trends continue then infections could go from the estimated 6,000-a-day to more than 100,000 by mid-October .
It is that trajectory , which is not written in stone , the government is trying to change .
There are questions for politicians , from whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improving Test and Trace .
But , with evidence suggesting only one in five people are following the self-isolation rules when they get sick , there are also questions for all of us .
The government has also been considering what it called a `` circuit-break '' approach , which could involve re-introducing restrictions in public spaces for a period of a few weeks to suppress the spread of the virus .
Schools and workplaces would stay open .
Ideas suggested by the government 's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( Sage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality sector .
Millions of Britons are now living under stricter coronavirus measures , with London Mayor Sadiq Khan saying the capital should not wait `` for this virus to again spiral out of control before taking action '' .
New measures to curb the spread of the virus have been introduced across parts of the North West , Midlands and West Yorkshire .
This includes Lancashire ( excluding Blackpool ) , Merseyside and the Cheshire boroughs of Warrington and Halton .
Additional restrictions are also being put in place in Wolverhampton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all parts of Bradford , Kirklees and Calderdale .
Some areas of West Yorkshire had already been subject to restrictions implemented at the start of August but they were eased .
They are now subject to these new rules .
In total , nearly 4.7 million people will be affected by the new restrictions , which ban separate households from meeting each other at home or in private gardens .
• A rapid test can accurately diagnose a coronavirus infection within 90 minutes without needing a specialist laboratory , scientists say • Personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes until next March , as part of a government coronavirus plan for NHS England this winter • The R number , which measures how quickly the virus is spreading , has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4 from between 1.0 and 1.2 last week , the government said .
It means on average 10 infected people will infect between 11 and 14 people , so the epidemic is growing • British retail sales have continued to increase for the fourth consecutive month , boosted by spending on household goods and DIY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Year 's Eve firework display will not be taking place this year , Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told LBC • Northern Ireland 's health minister has described three Van Morrison songs protesting against coronavirus lockdowns as `` dangerous ''

"Clearly when you look at what is happening, you've got to wonder whether we need to go further than the rule of six that we brought in," the prime minister said, referring to measures introduced on Monday.


bbc--2020-09-18--Brazil's Pantanal fires: Animals 'dying of hunger and thirst'

More than 15,000 fires in Brazil 's Pantanal wetlands have been causing widespread devastation this year .
The basin 's @ @ @ @ @ price , suffering death and injury , hunger and thirst .

More than 15,000 fires in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands have been causing widespread devastation this year.
The basin's wildlife has paid a heavy price, suffering death and injury, hunger and thirst.


bbc--2020-09-18--Stolen books worth £2.5m found under floor of Romanian house

About 200 `` irreplaceable '' books worth more than £2.5m ( $ 3.2m ) , which were stolen from a warehouse in London , have been found buried under the floor of a house in rural Romania , police say .
They were taken by thieves in January 2017 who cut holes in the roof of a warehouse in Feltham then abseiled in , dodging sensors .
Officers discovered the books underground during a search of a house in the region of Neamț , in north-eastern Romania , on Wednesday .
The find follows raids on 45 addresses across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , investigators say .
Thirteen people have been charged , 12 of whom have already pleaded guilty .
The hoard includes rare versions of Dante and sketches by the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya , as well as the titles by Galileo and Isaac Newton dating back to the 16th and 17th Centuries .
`` These books are extremely valuable , but more importantly they are irreplaceable and are of great importance to international cultural heritage , '' said Det Insp Andy Durham , from the Metropolitan police 's Specialist Crime South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a warehouse ahead of being transported to a specialist book auction in Las Vegas , in the US , when they were stolen .
The thieves cut through the roof of the warehouse in Feltham , near Heathrow airport , and abseiled 12m ( 40ft ) to the ground , dodging movement sensors , according to AFP news agency .
You might also like : They then spent hours rummaging through bags before making off with their haul by the same route .
Investigators say the Romanian gang flies members into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flies them out shortly afterwards , with different members taking the stolen property out of the country by alternative transport methods .
The group is said to be linked to a number of prominent Romanian crime families who form part of the Clamparu crime group .

Investigators say the Romanian gang flies members into the UK to commit specific offences, then flies them out shortly afterwards, with different members taking the stolen property out of the country by alternative transport methods.


bbc--2020-09-18--Afghan mothers' names to be included on children's ID cards

Afghan mothers will have their names printed on their children 's national identity cards , after a campaign to challenge taboos around women 's names .
President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday signed into law an amendment long sought by women 's rights campaigners .
Until now , Afghan law dictated that only the father 's name should be recorded on ID cards .
Using a woman 's name in public in Afghanistan is traditionally frowned upon and can be considered an insult .
Some women have suffered beatings for perceived indiscretions such as using their names to obtain prescriptions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the hashtag # WhereIsMyName garnered high-profile support from celebrities and members of parliament .
It called for mothers ' names to be included alongside fathers ' names on national identity cards , and benefited from nearly two decades of progress on women 's rights in Afghanistan since the toppling of the Taliban in 2001 .
• Afghan women campaign for the right to reveal their names A social media campaign saw activists introduce themselves using their names and their mothers ' names .
Laleh Osmany , founder of the # WhereIsMyName campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was `` overjoyed '' at the result .
`` There is no doubt that this victory is the result of persistent campaign and consonance among the campaigners and citizens , '' she said .
`` The government also stood by the citizens , and I express my gratitude to the president himself and his deputies for their support .
I also thank everyone , men and women who supported our campaign and raised their voice , and congratulate all equal rights campaigners [ on this victory ] . ''
The Afghan cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to include the mother 's name in the ID card is a big step towards gender equality and the realisation of women 's rights '' .
Maryam Sama , a member of parliament from Kabul who spoke out in support of the # WhereIsMyName campaign , paid tribute in a Twitter post to the activists who had worked `` tirelessly '' for the change .
`` Our struggles paid off , '' she wrote .
The decision came amid concern that progress could be set back in the coming weeks as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Taliban .
Representatives from both sides are expected to meet this weekend to begin talks delayed for several months by a dispute over a prisoner exchange .
The problem starts early , when a girl is born .
It takes a long time for her to be given a name .
Then when a woman is married , her name does not appear on her wedding invitations .
When she is ill , her name does not appear on her prescription , and when she dies , her name does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her headstone .
The move is expected to face fierce opposition from conservative figures and leaders .
Many conservative and traditional people deem the move as a `` Western plan and exported idea '' .
The founder of # WhereIsMyName campaign , Laleh Osmany , says that she is now in fear of her life and has received several death threats .
Talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government started on 12 September in Qatar , after the Afghan grand assembly , under pressure from the US , agreed to release 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition for the militants to join the peace negotiations .
Now , many women fear that freedoms gained in the 20 years since the fall of the Taliban will be sacrificed in the talks .
Just three women are in the 21-member negotiating team .
In an open letter from 10 September , Afghan women called on world leaders to guarantee the preservation of equality , democracy and inclusivity , and help to protect future generations from the threat of extremism .
It seems now that President Ghani has just done that .

The problem starts early, when a girl is born. It takes a long time for her to be given a name. Then when a woman is married, her name does not appear on her wedding invitations. When she is ill, her name does not appear on her prescription, and when she dies, her name does not appear on her death certificate or even her headstone.


bbc--2020-09-18--Rock climbing when you're blind

Rock climbing when you're blind

Matthew Shifrin is a blind rock climber from Boston who took up the sport almost a year ago thanks to @ @ @ @ @ Max acts as Matthew 's caller - giving directions and guiding him to where holds @ @ @ @ @ .
As Matthew became more advanced at it , he wanted a way to plan @ @ @ @ @ So he devised a system of mapping out his routes using his beloved childhood toy @ @ @

Matthew Shifrin is a blind rock climber from Boston who took up the sport almost a year ago thanks to his friend Max Hernandez.
Max acts as Matthew's caller - giving directions and guiding him to where holds are on the climbing route.
As Matthew became more advanced at it, he wanted a way to plan and strategise his climbs.
So he devised a system of mapping out his routes using his beloved childhood toy - Lego.
Video by Alexandra Ostasiewicz


bbc--2020-09-19--The racist church bombing that shocked the world

On 15th September 1963 , four young black girls were killed in a racist bomb attack at a church in @ @ @ @ @ Baptist church had been a centre for civil rights activities in the city .
Sarah @ @ @ @ @ she was badly injured in the attack , and her sister , Addie Mae aged @ @ @ @ @ those who died .
Sarah Collins Rudolph spoke to Witness History about that day .
@ @ @ @ @ of our times told by the people who were there .

On 15th September 1963, four young black girls were killed in a racist bomb attack at a church in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Baptist church had been a centre for civil rights activities in the city.
Sarah Collins Rudolph was 12 when she was badly injured in the attack, and her sister, Addie Mae aged 14, was one of those who died.
Sarah Collins Rudolph spoke to Witness History about that day.
Witness History: The stories of our times told by the people who were there.


bbc--2020-09-18--ICYMI: A thirsty armadillo and record-breaking free diver

A tiny armadillo quenches its thirst after a wildfire rescue , and a free diver takes the plunge , breaking @ @ @ @ @ are some of the stories you may have missed this week .

A tiny armadillo quenches its thirst after a wildfire rescue, and a free diver takes the plunge, breaking a world record.
Here are some of the stories you may have missed this week.


bbc--2020-09-18--Week in pictures: 12 - 18 September 2020

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week .

Image caption,
A new bronze statue of US First Lady Melania Trump is unveiled near her hometown in Slovenia. It replaces a wooden sculpture erected last year, which was set alight shortly afterwards by unknown arsonists. Some described the original as a "disgrace" or a "Smurfette", saying it did not look like Mrs Trump.


bbc--2020-09-18--Super Mario at 35: 'The little plumber who defined a genre'

September 1985 .
Mario and his faithful brother Luigi make their debut in the first ever `` Super Mario Bros. '' No-one could have known that 35 years later , the moustached men would have sold a staggering 373 million games across the world .
Mario , with his distinctive red overalls and unfortunate habit of losing his love interest to a spiky over-sized turtle , has become a much-loved part of millions of people 's lives .
But why more than three decades on is he still so popular ?
Four Super Mario super fans have been telling Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plumber .
To celebrate Mario 's 35th birthday , Nintendo is re-releasing three of his classic adventures .
Super Mario 64 ( originally released on the Nintendo 64 ) , Super Mario Sunshine ( GameCube ) and Super Mario Galaxy ( Wii ) .
The oldest of the three - 64 - is Ethan Hunt from Liverpool 's favourite game of all time , despite being three years old when it was first released .
`` I 've got an appreciation for just what the game did , '' he tells Newsbeat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when I did n't play Mario games .
`` I got the Gameboy Advance when I was six , then the Nintendo DS version of Super Mario 64 ( its first re-release which came out in 2004 ) .
`` I just fell in love with the game .
I 'd seen footage of of the N64 original , so I went back from there . ''
Ethan went on to buy a second hand Nintendo Entertainment ( NES , first released in the eighties ) a Super Nintendo Entertainment System ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all because of his passion for the game .
In a world of ultra high definition , 3D gaming and huge budget titles being made every year , what makes people like Ethan in their twenties play Mario games that are older than they are ?
Jon Doyle writes for two Nintendo magazines - Switch Player and Ninty Fresh .
`` The games are so well made that the gameplay is timeless , '' the 29-year-old says .
`` Mario 64 back in the day was revolutionary in terms of how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graphics were n't quite up to what the PlayStation was managing , but the gameplay itself was second-to-none .
`` And that 's been the case over every console generation where they 've released a new Mario game '' .
Jon says one of the most impressive things about the Mario series is Nintendo 's ability to keep reinventing it while still keeping up quality .
`` Mario 64 still feels like an incredible platform today as it did back then .
`` Mario Sunshine on the GameCube for example , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a completely fresh idea .
`` Very few games define a genre and repeatedly do so with nearly every title . ''
Becky Frost is from charity Special Effect , which helps gamers with physical disabilities .
In a world where some games can be complicated or daunting , Becky says Mario 's pick up and play style has helped him jump , climb , swing and fly ( we could go on ) through three and a half decades .
`` Mario and the Nintendo games have a great focus on accessibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You 've got Mario Kart for example which has all of its different accessibility options built in , which is absolutely fantastic for charities like us when we 're creating setups for people to to use in in different ways .
`` You also get families playing together on different skill levels , where it levels the playing field as well . ''
That was certainly the case for 28-year-old Vaneet Mehta . '
I ca n't wait to see where they take Mario next' One of his earliest memories is running around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yoshi eat anything he could find , as well as watching his dad get to higher levels than he could .
`` Every single game since then has really tried to capture that magic .
The way that it 's created this hub , the castle , there 's so much to explore .
`` You 're sort of learning more and more as you unlock new areas , jumping through paintings not knowing what 's going to be in front of you .
`` It had so much magic to it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a world of change . ''
Vaneet , like thousands of others is looking forward to bringing the three classic games back into his life for Mario 's birthday , but also to see where Mario travels to for his next mission .
`` You just have this big sandbox , you can just mess around in and explore this giant world in front of you .
I 'm really interested to see what they do next . ''
Mario may have had three and a half decades of racing karts , travelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round and round until he lands on a bomb ( we 've all done it . )
But hold on to your hat Mario , you 're far from finished .
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"You've got Mario Kart for example which has all of its different accessibility options built in, which is absolutely fantastic for charities like us when we're creating setups for people to to use in in different ways.


bbc--2020-09-19--How many people does it take to oust a political leader?

Which are more effective , violent or non-violent protests ?
And how big does a protest have to be , to drive a political leader out of office ?
One researcher , who has studied these questions carefully , thinks the crucial threshold is 3.5 % of the population .
The latest one making the news is in Belarus - where tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets following a disputed election , in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory .
The authorities have reacted with brutality ; many demonstrators have been arrested and there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite this , the movement itself has remained largely peaceful .
Prof Chenoweth has focused her work on unrest mostly in dictatorships not democracies .
Unlike democrats , dictators ca n't be voted out of office .
In a democracy , if a policy is unpopular , politicians can be elected with the promise to abolish it .
There 's no such mechanism in a dictatorship .
There are definitional issues here .
The definitions of democracy and dictatorship are contested .
And there may be a spectrum - a political system may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also the matter of how one classifies violence and non-violence .
Despite these difficulties of categorisation , there are some forms of protest that are clearly non-violent and others that are clearly violent .
Assassination is clearly violent .
Peaceful demonstrations , petitions , posters , strikes and boycotts , sit-ins and walk-outs , are non-violent .
According to one well-known classification , there are 198 forms of non-violent protest .
And by analysing every protest movement on which there was sufficient data , from 1900 all the way to 2006 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conclusion that a movement was twice as likely to be successful if it was non-violent .
The answer seems to be that violence reduces a movement 's support base .
Many more people will actively join non-violent protest .
Non-violence is generally lower risk , it requires less physical ability and no advanced training .
It usually requires less time commitment .
For all these reasons , non-violent movements have higher participation rates from women , children , the elderly and people with disabilities .
And why does this matter ?
Well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slobodan Milosevic .
When soldiers were interviewed about why they never turned their guns on protesters , they explained that they knew some of them .
They were reluctant to shoot at a crowd containing their cousins , or friends , or neighbours .
And , of course , the larger the movement , the more likely it is that members of the police and security forces will be acquainted with some of its participants .
In fact , Erica Chenoweth has come up with a very precise figure for how large a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost inevitable .
The figure is 3.5 % of the population .
That may sound small but it 's not .
The population of Belarus is just over nine million - and so 3.5 % is over 300,000 .
The big demonstrations in the capital , Minsk , are estimated to have involved tens of thousands , or perhaps 100,000 , though the Associated Press once put it as high as 200,000 The 3.5 % rule is not iron-clad .
Many movements succeed with lower rates of participation than this , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support - the Bahraini uprising of 2011 is one such example Chenoweth cites .
And while her latest findings generally reinforce the initial research - showing that non-violence is more effective than violence - she has identified two interesting trends .
The first is that non-violent resistance has become by far the most common method of struggle worldwide , much more so than armed insurrection or armed struggle .
Indeed , between 2010 and 2019 there were more non-violent uprisings in the world than in any other decade in recorded history .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protest has declined .
It has declined drastically with violent movements - around nine out of 10 violent movements now fail , Chenoweth says .
But non-violent protest also succeeds less often than it used to .
Before , around one in two non-violent campaigns succeeded - now it 's around one in three .
There have , of course , been some dramatic results since 2006 .
The Sudanese president , Omar al-Bashir , was deposed in 2019 , for example .
A few weeks later , popular unrest forced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bouteflika .
But these oustings are becoming rarer .
Why ?
Well , there could be many explanations , but one would appear to be the double-edged impact of social media and the digital revolution .
For a few years , it seemed that the internet and rise of social media had furnished protest organisers with a powerful new tool .
They 've made it easier to transmit information of all kinds - for example , where and when to congregate for the next march .
But despotic regimes have now found ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using it against their opponents .
`` Digital organising , '' says Erica Chenoweth , `` is very vulnerable to surveillance and to infiltration . ''
Governments can also use social media for propaganda and to spread disinformation .
You may also be interested in :

Despite these difficulties of categorisation, there are some forms of protest that are clearly non-violent and others that are clearly violent. Assassination is clearly violent. Peaceful demonstrations, petitions, posters, strikes and boycotts, sit-ins and walk-outs, are non-violent. According to one well-known classification, there are 198 forms of non-violent protest. And by analysing every protest movement on which there was sufficient data, from 1900 all the way to 2006, Erica Chenoweth and co-author Maria Stephan reached the conclusion that a movement was twice as likely to be successful if it was non-violent.


bbc--2020-09-18--What happened to Breonna Taylor?

What happened to Breonna Taylor?

The death of unarmed black woman Breonna Taylor - who was shot in her Louisville home by US police in March - has resonated around the world , with protesters demanding that the public `` say her name '' so she is not forgotten .
Her family sued the city for the death and reached a multi-million dollar settlement , which included several major police reforms .
But they , alongside social justice advocates , are still demanding criminal charges for the three officers who fired the shots .
Two of the officers remain on the force and the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been charged .
Investigations by state authorities and the FBI continue , with a decision on charges expected in the coming days .
`` It 's only the beginning of getting full justice , '' said her mother , Tamika Palmer , after the settlement was reached in Septembere .
`` It 's time to move forward with the criminal charges because she deserves that and much more , '' she continued .
Ms Taylor , an emergency medical technician , was at home in bed in Louisville on 13 March , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight , her family says .
She died after being shot in her hallway at least five times .
The Louisville Metro Police Department narcotics officers raided her home , using a battering ram to take her front door off its hinges .
No drugs were found on her property and Ms Taylor has no criminal record .
Police were acting on a `` no-knock '' warrant , a controversial type of search warrant that allows police to enter the home without warning .
Police claim they did knock before entering but Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputed this .
Ms Taylor was asleep with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker , a licensed gun owner , according to her family .
After being awoken , Mr Walker opened fire with his pistol .
Mr Walker believed people were breaking in and he fired in self-defence , he told police during an interview on the night of Ms Taylor 's death .
In an audio recording of Mr Walker 's call to 911 , he is heard telling the emergency dispatcher : `` I do n't know what 's happening .
Somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girlfriend . ''
Louisville police say they returned fire after one officer was shot in the leg .
Officers did not provide medical aid to Ms Taylor , as they were helping their colleague who had been hit in the shootout .
The police report contained numerous errors , including listing Ms Taylor 's injuries as `` none '' and saying no force was used to enter , when a battering ram had been used .
Mr Walker was initially charged with attempted murder and assault of a police officer , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid national scrutiny of the case .
Why were police at her home ?
The search warrant obtained by police included Ms Taylor 's address because authorities believed a suspect in a drug ring - her ex-boyfriend - used her apartment to hide drugs , according to US media .
• Seven solutions to US police problems • Black Lives Matter in the UK : 'We 're still not being heard' The ex-boyfriend , who was arrested on the same night of her death for drug possession , has said that prosecutors pressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` co-defendant '' in the case against him .
In May , Ms Taylor 's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit .
That civil suit concluded in September with a $ 12m ( £9.3m ) pay out from the city , but family members say that was only one `` layer '' of justice for Ms Taylor .
No-knock warrants allow police to enter a residence unannounced .
They are often used in drug raids to prevent suspects from flushing evidence down the toilet .
But they have long been controversial , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect on unsuspecting suspects or innocent bystanders .
Only Florida and Oregon ban no-knock warrants state-wide , but after Ms Taylor 's death other states and cities have begun working on similar legislation .
Louisville 's city council banned them as a direct result of the case , calling the action `` Breonna 's law '' .
In June , the Democrat-controlled US House of Representative voted to ban no-knock warrants for federal police nationwide , but the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to take up the bill .
What has changed since her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of police reforms , including a requirement that all search warrants be approved by a senior officer and a housing credit to officers who move to the low-income neighbourhoods they patrol .
The officers who entered Ms Taylor 's apartment were not wearing body cameras .
The Louisville Metro Police Department now requires all officers to wear body cameras .
The former police chief was fired in June after officers failed to turn on their cameras before a separate fatal shooting of an African-American restaurant owner , David McAtee .
The city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police chief since Ms Taylor 's death .
Yvette Gentry , who takes over on 1 October , will be the department 's first black female police chief .
• Officer to be fired over Breonna Taylor shooting One of the three officers involved in Ms Taylor 's death - Brett Hankinson - was fired from the force in June after investigators found he had `` wantonly and blindly fired ten ( 10 ) rounds '' into Ms Taylor 's apartment , according to his termination letter .
The other two officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove , have been re-assigned to administrative duties .
How big has the campaign become ?
Ms Taylor 's name circulated widely during the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality , which erupted in May after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis .
Many felt her death had been overlooked and deserved more attention .
Since then , more and more Americans have called for justice in her memory .
At the Democratic National Convention in August , both former First Lady Michelle Obama and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidential candidate Joe Biden has said the officers should be criminally charged .
Major league sports athletes have worn her name on their helmets , jerseys and shoes , and chat show host Oprah Winfrey commissioned billboards in Louisville to call for her killers to be arrested .

In May, Louisville postal inspector Tony Gooden said that another government agency had been asked in January to investigate whether Ms Taylor's home had been receiving suspicious mail. Mr Gooden did not name the agency but said it had found no evidence of wrongdoing.


bbc--2020-09-19--Pakistan outcry over police victim-blaming of gang-raped mother

Pakistan is in shock after robbers gang-raped a woman in front of her children near a motorway .
But in a country where sexual violence towards women is common , why has this incident caused people to come out onto the streets and demand change , asks the BBC 's Saira Asher .
Women in Pakistan are often advised by family members or relatives not to be out late at night , or to make sure they have a male companion with them for their safety .
But when a top police official , charged with finding the attackers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame for being out after dark alone , it ignited fury .
Comments that previously may not have been publicly questioned are now being called out as victim-blaming .
`` Blaming the victim , judging a woman 's character to determine whether she was a victim ; these are rooted in our society for decades , '' says Moneeza Ahmed , who is part of a feminist collective .
`` So the backlash is a sign that our society is listening , changing and a lot more women are speaking up . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
At around 3am on 9 September , the woman ran out of fuel on a motorway leading out of the eastern city of Lahore .
Her two children were with her .
She called her relatives in Gujranwala who advised her to call the motorway emergency numbers and also set off to help her .
According to the complaint registered with the police by one of the woman 's relatives , the car was broken into by two men in their early- to mid-30s who stole money and jewellery she had on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her two children in a nearby field , and then escaped .
Police say she is still traumatised , though she did provide them with some basic descriptions of her attackers .
• How a rape was filmed and shared in Pakistan The next day the most senior police official in Lahore , Umer Sheikh , appeared in front of the media and implied that she had been partly to blame .
He questioned why she had not taken a busier road , given that she had been alone with her children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In several TV appearances he reiterated these points , also adding that the woman , who is a resident of France , seemed to be operating under the impression Pakistan was as safe as France .
The reaction was like nothing seen in the country before and came from all quarters .
On social media people called him out for his victim-blaming .
Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said on Twitter : `` For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang-raped by saying she should have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable & have taken up this issue .
Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape .
That 's it . ''
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the remarks , as did a host of others .
Ms Ahmed says she and others are fighting against `` a patriarchal mind-set ; women being blamed for rape , or not being able to go out at night with her kids , or being called promiscuous if she does '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done little to stem the anger directed at the police chief .
`` Representatives from all political parties making this point on television , activists , academics ; it was a beautiful coming together of brave women , '' says Reema Omer , legal adviser for the South Asia programme at the International Committee of Jurists .
Protest marches are being held in major cities across the country .
There are demands for reforms to the police , and to the medical-legal , court and prison systems .
For the victim , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Few rape cases are ever prosecuted in Pakistan , and even fewer successfully .
Federal Minister Fawad Chaudry said in the National Assembly this week that there are an average of 5,000 rape cases registered every year and that 5 % lead to convictions .
Rights group say the true figure is even lower , pointing out that many rape cases are never brought to the attention of the police .
Women fear humiliation from police officers and social judgement if they go public .
Speaking to BBC Urdu , lawyer and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sensitise the police and judiciary to crimes like rape .
And to improve forensic evidence collection and the methodology of investigation to improve conviction rates .
In 2002 , Mukhtar Mai 's case made international headlines when she decided to take legal action against the men who had gang raped her on the orders of a village council .
After a lengthy legal battle - already an extraordinary act in a country where many women raped take their lives instead of reporting their cases - in 2011 five of the six men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a lack of evidence .
But the reaction to the motorway rape , as its come to be known , or to the victim-blaming , would have been inconceivable when Mukhtar Mai 's case hit world headlines .
In recent years , Pakistan has seen the rise of a more vocal and social-media savvy group of feminists who are challenging the social norms that keep women 's freedoms severely restricted .
`` Now we have women who are expressing themselves on social media and going on mainstream media and it has shaped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You may also be interested in :

Federal Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari said on Twitter: "For an officer to effectively blame a woman for being gang-raped by saying she should have taken the GT Road or question as to why she went out in the night with her children is unacceptable & have taken up this issue. Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape. That's it."


bbc--2020-09-19--IPL: The players who could become new cricket superstars

But everything will be different this time because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The matches will be played in empty stadiums and the usual parties will also not happen .
Here are some of the players who have the potential to be match-winners for their teams .
His dream came true soon after he returned to India after playing in the under-19 World Cup in South Africa in February .
Tendulkar met him and praised his performances in the tournament .
His team has huge expectations from him and it 's obvious why if we look at his Under-19 World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 105 not out , 62 , 57 not out , 29 not out and 57 .
He was the top scorer in this year 's edition and became only the third batsman in the tournament 's history to score five half centuries .
Jaiswal came to the bustling city of Mumbai from a small town in Uttar Pradesh state to better his skills .
He slept rough and sold street snacks to make a living .
A local coach soon spotted him and took him under his wings - and his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It wo n't be easy for him to make a mark in his star-studded team which has international stalwarts like Jos Butler and Ben Stokes .
But then he knows how to make his mark , specially when the going gets tough .
He took 17 wickets , often at crucial times to help India win matches .
His team lost the finals to Bangladesh , but Bishnoi emerged as one of the star performers from the tournament .
He is part of the Kings XI Punjab team in the IPL , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their campaign .
The Kings are largely a mid-table side and they will be looking at Bishnoi to repeat his World Cup heroics for them .
Garg captained India under-19 in the World Cup and took his side to the final .
Though his scores were modest , they do n't tell the full story .
The middle-order batsman also has a strong reputation in India 's domestic cricket tournaments .
He made his first-class debut in 2018 for Uttar Pradesh state and soon scored a double hundred , announcing his arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily in other matches too and that paved the way for him to become the captain of the under-19 side .
Sunrisers Hyderabad have put faith in him in this year 's IPL .
If history is to be taken into account , Garg 's chances of a promising career look bright .

His team has huge expectations from him and it's obvious why if we look at his Under-19 World Cup record. His scores read 88, 105 not out, 62, 57 not out, 29 not out and 57. He was the top scorer in this year's edition and became only the third batsman in the tournament's history to score five half centuries.


bbc--2020-09-19--Coronavirus in South Africa: Relief, pride and the 'new normal'

South Africa 's President Cyril Ramaphosa looked appropriately dour , and sounded appropriately cautious , as he appeared on national television this week to warn of the dangers of a second wave of infections and to urge the public against relaxing their guard against the virus .
As the infection rate here sinks below an important threshold of one new case per day per 100,000 people , South Africa is moving - with relief , and with some pride - into a new phase .
With almost all economic activity resuming , the nation 's borders slowly opening , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strictest lockdowns ending , this feels like a significant moment - an opportunity to take stock , even to celebrate , and to explore the ever-thorny issue of who , or what , should share most credit for containing Covid-19 .
`` I had visions of Italy… that we 're not ready , that we 're going to get overwhelmed , '' recalled Professor Salim Abdool Karim - chair of the government 's Covid-19 advisory panel and the public face of the scientific community - thinking back to March , and to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an oncoming viral `` storm '' .
Instead , very few hospitals were overwhelmed , and the official death toll of some 15,000 is significantly lower than even the most optimistic modelling predicted .
But , like many scientists , his inclination is not to sit back and enjoy the good news , but rather to keep probing and testing hypotheses in order to better understand both Covid-19 , and South Africa 's response to it .
Much of it contradictory .
Or rather , much of it still needing to be put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flip side , the systems put in place to cope with both pre-existing diseases , `` assisted us and better prepared us to cope with Covid , '' said Prof Karim .
`` At one stage we were the fifth worst in the world .
I would n't call that something to be proud of .
You may also be interested in : As we 've reported here in recent months , there have been instances of appalling mismanagement , alarming allegations of corruption , and some grave errors in handling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of the lockdown - and the legitimate debate , enriched by hindsight , about whether the government got the balance right - to another day .
Prof Karim has drawn up a list of nine factors , or hypotheses , which he applies not just to South Africa , but to other countries - not least on this continent - which appear to have been spared the worst .

With almost all economic activity resuming, the nation's borders slowly opening, and one of the world's earliest and strictest lockdowns ending, this feels like a significant moment - an opportunity to take stock, even to celebrate, and to explore the ever-thorny issue of who, or what, should share most credit for containing Covid-19.


bbc--2020-09-18--Man City's Aguero could be out for two months, says Guardiola

Last updated on .From the section Man City Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fears striker Sergio Aguero could miss the first two months of the Premier League season .
It kept the Argentine out of the final 10 games of City 's domestic campaign as well their two Champions League matches in August .
Guardiola says he is now uncertain whether City 's 32-year-old record goalscorer will be fit until November .
`` We knew the injury was difficult , '' said Guardiola .
`` He still has n't had one training session with us and Sergio is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has been out for a long time , so maybe in one or two months he will be ready . ''
Aguero 's obvious replacement , Gabriel Jesus , scored five goals in 12 games at the end of last season .
Guardiola does have new signing Ferran Torres available for Monday 's trip to Wolves .
However , Torres is more of a wide player , so the likely alternative to Jesus would be Raheem Sterling , deployed in a 'false nine ' role .
With veteran midfielder David Silva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , it leaves Guardiola heading into the new campaign without the remaining stalwarts of his club 's first title-winning squad from 2012 .

Last updated on .From the section Man City
Sergio Aguero has missed 12 games since he injured his knee against Burnley on 22 June
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fears striker Sergio Aguero could miss the first two months of the Premier League season.
Aguero suffered a knee injury against Burnley on 22 June.
It kept the Argentine out of the final 10 games of City's domestic campaign as well their two Champions League matches in August.
Guardiola says he is now uncertain whether City's 32-year-old record goalscorer will be fit until November.
"We knew the injury was difficult," said Guardiola.
"He still hasn't had one training session with us and Sergio is not a guy who regains his physical condition quickly. He has been out for a long time, so maybe in one or two months he will be ready."
Aguero's obvious replacement, Gabriel Jesus, scored five goals in 12 games at the end of last season.
Guardiola does have new signing Ferran Torres available for Monday's trip to Wolves. However, Torres is more of a wide player, so the likely alternative to Jesus would be Raheem Sterling, deployed in a 'false nine' role.
With veteran midfielder David Silva leaving City for Real Sociedad during the summer, it leaves Guardiola heading into the new campaign without the remaining stalwarts of his club's first title-winning squad from 2012.


bbc--2020-09-18--Liverpool sign Thiago from Bayern for £20m and set sights on Wolves' Jota

Last updated on .From the section Liverpool Liverpool have signed midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich on a four-year deal for £20m .
`` It 's an amazing feeling .
I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very happy to be here , '' he said .
Thiago will wear the number six shirt at Anfield and becomes the club 's second summer signing after Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas .
He will be eligible to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday .
Thiago won La Liga twice with Barcelona before a 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bundesliga seven times and the Champions League in August .
His arrival at Anfield ends weeks of speculation about whether the Premier League champions would make a stand-out summer signing .
The £20m fee will be paid in instalments over the length of the deal , and up to an additional £5m will be paid based on the Reds ' success in the Premier League and Champions League as well as any individual awards earned by Thiago .
`` Absolutely great - I 'm really happy that it finally worked out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp .
`` I know all the people at Bayern wanted to keep him desperately .
That 's normal and understandable because he played an important role , in the last season as well .
`` He just was ready for a new challenge and he decided for us . ''
Thiago added : `` I must adapt to the team as fast as I can in the situation and the context that we are living right now .
`` Everything is more compact and we started a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football and I think we have to mix all the big things up , all the good things we have .
`` I will help the team in a defensive and offensive [ way ] and also in a mental aspect . ''
Klopp said : `` When we spoke about all the players , he respects them all massively .
He admires them .
`` We played against him when we played Munich in the Champions League two years ago [ Liverpool won 3-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so he knows what kind of machine we can be and he wanted to be part of that . ''
Meanwhile , Liverpool have targeted another addition in Wolves forward Diogo Jota , who was a surprise omission from his side 's Carabao Cup defeat by Stoke on Thursday .
After the game , Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo repeatedly refused to state the reason for the Portuguese 's absence .
Now it has emerged the 23-year-old former Porto and Atletico Madrid player is being targeted by Klopp 's side in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £35m .
Jota joined Wolves on loan in their 2017-18 Championship-winning campaign , making a £12.8m permanent switch in 2018 .
He has made 131 appearances , scoring 44 goals , including hat-tricks in last season 's Europa League victories against Besiktas and Espanyol .
Any deal , which would represent a record transfer sale for Wolves , is likely to see full-back Ki-Jana Hoever move the other way .
The 18-year-old Dutchman can play either as a full-back or in central defence and fits Wolves ' recent quest to bring in younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Thiago one of best midfielders in the world' It [ the Thiago deal ] is quite cheap considering what you are getting , which is one of the best holding midfielders in the world .
Liverpool fans should consider themselves very lucky because they are picking up an absolute superstar who could probably play in any team in the world .
They have plenty of reason to be excited .
When Pep Guardiola went to Bayern , his first signing was Thiago and he said 'it 's Thiago or no-one for me ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to buy Alonso as a replacement .
Thiago is in the form of his life , the way he played in the Champions League , combining that skill and elegance with winning balls back .
He makes it look effortless .
It adds something to that Liverpool midfield , which does n't quite have that skill-set .
The idea is to rotate a lot more .
There will be so many games - this will be the shortest , most insane season ever - so to rotate players around is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with so much energy .
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page .

Thiago has won 39 caps for Spain
Liverpool have signed midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich on a four-year deal for £20m.
The fee for the Spain international, 29, could eventually rise to £25m with bonuses.
"It's an amazing feeling. I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very happy to be here," he said.
Thiago will wear the number six shirt at Anfield and becomes the club's second summer signing after Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
He will be eligible to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Thiago won La Liga twice with Barcelona before a 2013 move to Bayern, where he won the Bundesliga seven times and the Champions League in August.
His arrival at Anfield ends weeks of speculation about whether the Premier League champions would make a stand-out summer signing.
The £20m fee will be paid in instalments over the length of the deal, and up to an additional £5m will be paid based on the Reds' success in the Premier League and Champions League as well as any individual awards earned by Thiago.
"Absolutely great - I'm really happy that it finally worked out and we could just do it," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
"I know all the people at Bayern wanted to keep him desperately. That's normal and understandable because he played an important role, in the last season as well.
"He just was ready for a new challenge and he decided for us."
Thiago added: "I must adapt to the team as fast as I can in the situation and the context that we are living right now.
"Everything is more compact and we started a little bit later, but still it is football and I think we have to mix all the big things up, all the good things we have.
"I will help the team in a defensive and offensive [way] and also in a mental aspect."
Klopp said: "When we spoke about all the players, he respects them all massively. He admires them.
"We played against him when we played Munich in the Champions League two years ago [Liverpool won 3-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie after a 0-0 draw at Anfield], so he knows what kind of machine we can be and he wanted to be part of that."
Meanwhile, Liverpool have targeted another addition in Wolves forward Diogo Jota, who was a surprise omission from his side's Carabao Cup defeat by Stoke on Thursday.
After the game, Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo repeatedly refused to state the reason for the Portuguese's absence.
Now it has emerged the 23-year-old former Porto and Atletico Madrid player is being targeted by Klopp's side in a deal that could be worth up to £35m.
Jota joined Wolves on loan in their 2017-18 Championship-winning campaign, making a £12.8m permanent switch in 2018. He has made 131 appearances, scoring 44 goals, including hat-tricks in last season's Europa League victories against Besiktas and Espanyol.
Any deal, which would represent a record transfer sale for Wolves, is likely to see full-back Ki-Jana Hoever move the other way.
The 18-year-old Dutchman can play either as a full-back or in central defence and fits Wolves' recent quest to bring in younger players they can develop.
Analysis - 'Thiago one of best midfielders in the world'
The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein on Radio 5 live's Euro League's podcast
It [the Thiago deal] is quite cheap considering what you are getting, which is one of the best holding midfielders in the world.
Liverpool fans should consider themselves very lucky because they are picking up an absolute superstar who could probably play in any team in the world. They have plenty of reason to be excited.
When Pep Guardiola went to Bayern, his first signing was Thiago and he said 'it's Thiago or no-one for me'. When Thiago got injured he then went to buy Alonso as a replacement.
Thiago is in the form of his life, the way he played in the Champions League, combining that skill and elegance with winning balls back.
He makes it look effortless. It adds something to that Liverpool midfield, which doesn't quite have that skill-set. The idea is to rotate a lot more. There will be so many games - this will be the shortest, most insane season ever - so to rotate players around is going to be brilliant for a team who play with so much energy.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


bbc--2020-09-18--DeChambeau climbs in tough conditions at US Open

Patrick Reed holds a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the US Open after a chaotic second round in windy conditions at a tricky Winged Foot .
But fellow American Reed birdied the last as he scrambled to four under par .
Overnight leader Justin Thomas fell back with a three-over 73 , while Rory McIlroy is seven adrift after a 76 .
Thomas started the second round on five under but had four bogeys and a double bogey before a couple of birdies in his closing holes lifted him to two under .
• None Re-live the action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McIlroy , chasing his fifth major and first since 2014 , started the day two shots off the lead and birdied the first .
But seven bogeys and a double bogey followed as he dropped away to three over par .
World number one Dustin Johnson is also at three over after dropping two shots in his final three holes in a level-par 70 .
Former Masters champion Reed made five bogeys during his level-par 70 on Friday but was continuously able to claw shots back and a birdie at the 557-yard par-five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world number 10 into the lead .
`` Thursday was soft , benign , the pins were more accessible , '' said Reed , who opened with a four-under 66 .
`` It 's almost like they set it up to ease us in and then they showed us what it was really going to be like .
You had to shoot a low one on Thursday because you knew Friday was going to be brutal . ''
DeChambeau , who signed for a two-under-par 68 , was one of only three players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with fellow American Bubba Watson and Japan 's Hideki Matsuyama carding 69s .
However , 17 players sit within six shots of the lead at the halfway point of the men 's second major of 2020 , which was delayed from June because of the coronavirus pandemic .
DeChambeau stated earlier in the week he would be looking to overpower Winged Foot 's notoriously difficult West Course , where only one of five men 's US Open winners have finished under par .
The world number nine , the longest average driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showcased that power with a 380-yard drive on the par-five ninth , his final hole , before pitching to within six feet to set up his closing eagle .
DeChambeau revealed some late-night practice after his opening round had paid off as the 27-year-old carded the best round of the day .
`` I knew it was going to be cooler and so I waited and was able to hit balls almost in dark , '' added the American , who said the windy conditions made it `` super tough '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar conditions so we got some good numbers with my wedges and I felt really comfortable . ''
Watson , who almost returned home on Wednesday to be with his family when Hurricane Sally hit Florida , was the only other player in the early wave to shoot under par .
The American 's one-under 69 would have looked even better if not for a double bogey on his last hole that put him at one over heading into the weekend .
World number three Thomas , one of the late starters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in five holes on his front nine before double-bogeying the first , his 10th .
But he recovered with birdies on both par-threes on his closing stretch to card a three-over 73 that leaves him at two under par .
Only six players are under par heading into the third round , with Harris English tied with Thomas at two under after following his opening 68 with a well-constructed 70 on Friday .
Players enjoyed unusually benign conditions on the opening day at Winged Foot , where Geoff Ogilvy won at five over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Open , but the West Course began to bite back on Friday .
Despite relatively low scores no player carded a bogey-free round on day one , and difficult pin positions during a windy second round kept scoring at a premium .
Xander Schauffele , one of the favourites to win his first major , birdied the 11th to briefly move within two shots of the lead but three bogeys in his final five holes saw the American finish with a two-over 72 to sit level for the tournament .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within two of the lead but he followed back-to-back bogeys with a double at the last to card a 74 and slip to one over par .
Thomas Pieters , who started the day on four under , moved into the lead with two birdies on the front nine , but unravelled after the turn as six bogeys saw him fall back to level par .
`` It 's definitely twice as tough as Thursday , with the wind , '' said the Belgian after his four-over-par 74 .
England 's former world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ build on an opening 67 , beginning his round with back-to-back bogeys and adding another at the sixth .
A birdie on the par-five ninth offered the 47-year-old some relief , but he dropped four shots in his final three holes for a six-over 76 that leaves him three over par for the week .
Compatriot Matt Wallace is two further back at five over , alongside Scotland 's Robert MacIntyre However , Tommy Fleetwood , runner-up in 2018 , struggled to find any momentum as five birdies were wiped out by nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second to finish eight over and miss the cut , which came at six over par .
Justin Rose , the 2013 winner , also missed out on 10 over , while Gary Woodland 's US Open defence came to an end with a second round of 74 .
And what of Tiger Woods ?
The three-time US Open winner , who missed the cut at Winged Foot in 2006 , following the death of his father , will also be missing the weekend this year .
`` It 's frustrating that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the weekend , '' Woods , who finished on 10 over said .
`` It feels like the way the golf course is changing , anybody who makes the cut has the opportunity to win this championship . ''

US Open second-round leaderboard -4 P Reed (US); -3 B DeChambeau (US); -2 J Thomas (US), R Cabrera-Bello (Spa), H English (US); -1 J Kokrak (US) Selected others: Level X Schauffele (US); +1 J Rahm (Spa); +3 L Westwood (Eng), D Johnson (US), R McIlroy (NI); +5 M Wallace (Eng); +6 S Lowry (Ire); +8 T Fleetwood (Eng), G Woodland (US); +10 T Woods (US), J Rose (Eng)
Patrick Reed holds a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the US Open after a chaotic second round in windy conditions at a tricky Winged Foot.
Bryson DeChambeau eagled his final hole to set the target at three under par early on and then watched as many of his challengers crumbled in New York.
But fellow American Reed birdied the last as he scrambled to four under par.
Overnight leader Justin Thomas fell back with a three-over 73, while Rory McIlroy is seven adrift after a 76.
Thomas started the second round on five under but had four bogeys and a double bogey before a couple of birdies in his closing holes lifted him to two under.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy, chasing his fifth major and first since 2014, started the day two shots off the lead and birdied the first. But seven bogeys and a double bogey followed as he dropped away to three over par.
World number one Dustin Johnson is also at three over after dropping two shots in his final three holes in a level-par 70.
Former Masters champion Reed made five bogeys during his level-par 70 on Friday but was continuously able to claw shots back and a birdie at the 557-yard par-five ninth, his 18th, edged the world number 10 into the lead.
"Thursday was soft, benign, the pins were more accessible," said Reed, who opened with a four-under 66.
"It's almost like they set it up to ease us in and then they showed us what it was really going to be like. You had to shoot a low one on Thursday because you knew Friday was going to be brutal."
DeChambeau, who signed for a two-under-par 68, was one of only three players to shoot better than par in round two, with fellow American Bubba Watson and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama carding 69s.
However, 17 players sit within six shots of the lead at the halfway point of the men's second major of 2020, which was delayed from June because of the coronavirus pandemic.
DeChambeau shines in tricky conditions
Bryson DeChambeau is now one of the game's longest drivers after packing on extra muscle
DeChambeau stated earlier in the week he would be looking to overpower Winged Foot's notoriously difficult West course, where only one of five men's US Open winners have finished under par.
The world number nine, the longest average driver on the PGA Tour last season, showcased that power with a 380-yard drive on the par-five ninth, his final hole, before pitching to within six feet to set up his closing eagle.
DeChambeau revealed some late-night practice after his opening round had paid off as the 27-year-old carded the best round of the day.
"I knew it was going to be cooler and so I waited and was able to hit balls almost in dark," added the American, who said the windy conditions made it "super tough".
"I knew it was going to be similar conditions so we got some good numbers with my wedges and I felt really comfortable."
Watson, who almost returned home on Wednesday to be with his family when Hurricane Sally hit Florida, was the only other player in the early wave to shoot under par.
The American's one-under 69 would have looked even better if not for a double bogey on his last hole that put him at one over heading into the weekend.
World number three Thomas, one of the late starters, endured a troubling start with four bogeys in five holes on his front nine before double-bogeying the first, his 10th.
But he recovered with birdies on both par threes on his closing stretch to card a three-over 73 that leaves him at two under.
Only six players are under par heading into the third round, with Harris English tied with Thomas at two under after he followed his opening 68 with a well-constructed 70 on Friday.
Woods, Fleetwood and Rose heading home
Players enjoyed unusually benign conditions on the opening day at Winged Foot, where Geoff Ogilvy won at five over par in 2006 when it last staged the US Open, but the West course began to bite back on Friday.
Despite relatively low scores, no player carded a bogey-free round on day one and difficult pin positions during a windy second round kept scoring at a premium.
Xander Schauffele, one of the favourites to win his first major, birdied the 11th to briefly move within two shots of the lead but three bogeys in his final five holes saw the American finish with a two-over 72 to sit level for the tournament.
South Africa's former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen also climbed to within two of the lead but he followed back-to-back bogeys with a double at the last to card a 74 and slip to one over par.
Thomas Pieters, who started the day on four under, moved into the lead with two birdies on the front nine, but unravelled after the turn as six bogeys saw him fall back to level par.
"It's definitely twice as tough as Thursday, with the wind," said the Belgian after his four-over-par 74.
England's former world number one Lee Westwood also failed to build on an opening 67, beginning his round with back-to-back bogeys and adding another at the sixth.
A birdie on the par-five ninth offered the 47-year-old some relief, but he dropped four shots in his final three holes for a six-over 76 that leaves him three over par for the week.
Compatriot Matt Wallace is two further back at five over, alongside Scotland's Robert MacIntyre on his US Open debut.
However, Tommy Fleetwood - runner-up in 2018 - struggled to find any momentum as five birdies were wiped out by nine dropped shots, including a double-bogey at the second to finish eight over and miss the cut, which came at six over par.
Justin Rose, the 2013 winner, also missed out on 10 over, while Gary Woodland's US Open defence came to an end with a second round of 74.
And what of Tiger Woods? The three-time US Open winner, who missed the cut at Winged Foot in 2006, following the death of his father, will also be missing from the weekend this year.
"It's frustrating that I'm not going to be here for the weekend," Woods, who finished on 10 over said. "It feels like the way the golf course is changing, anybody who makes the cut has the opportunity to win this championship."


bbc--2020-09-18--Bale arrives at Tottenham training ground to complete loan move

Last updated on .From the section European Football Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale arrived at Tottenham Hotspur 's training ground on Friday as he neared a return to the club .
He flew into Luton Airport before travelling to the training ground in Enfield , north London .
Bale originally joined Spurs from Southampton in 2007 before moving to the Spanish giants for a then world record £85m in 2013 .
He has gone on to score more than 100 goals for Real and won four Champions Leagues .
`` Until I 'm told Bale is a Tottenham player , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact he 's a Real Madrid player , '' said Spurs boss Jose Mourinho .
It is also anticipated Real Madrid full-back Sergio Reguilon will complete his transfer to Tottenham on Friday .
The 23-year-old Spain international played last season on loan at Sevilla , winning the Europa League .
• None All or Nothing : Tottenham Hotspur 's Amazon documentary reviewed Bale 's agent , Jonathan Barnett , told BBC Wales Sport on Wednesday that talks over a move were `` slowly progressing '' .
Barnett said : `` Gareth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the last seven years .
We are still negotiating .
We shall see how it goes . ''
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho refused to speculate on the discussions , saying : `` He is a Real Madrid player and I do n't comment on players from other clubs .
I have to respect that .
It 's better not to speak .
`` I tried to sign him for Real Madrid , which was not possible to do during my time there .
But the president followed my instinct and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought Gareth to the club .
It 's not a secret , even Gareth knows that . ''
In July 2019 , Real cancelled a deal for Bale to join Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning , and he played 20 times for the Spanish champions last season .
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 at home by Everton in their first game of the new Premier League campaign on Sunday .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Bale arrives at Tottenham training ground
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale arrived at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground on Friday as he neared a return to the club.
Wales international Bale, 31, is expected to rejoin Spurs on loan.
He flew into Luton Airport before travelling to the training ground in Enfield, north London.
Bale originally joined Spurs from Southampton in 2007 before moving to the Spanish giants for a then world record £85m in 2013.
He has gone on to score more than 100 goals for Real and won four Champions Leagues.
"Until I'm told Bale is a Tottenham player, I still think and feel and respect the fact he's a Real Madrid player," said Spurs boss Jose Mourinho.
It is also anticipated Real Madrid full-back Sergio Reguilon will complete his transfer to Tottenham on Friday. The 23-year-old Spain international played last season on loan at Sevilla, winning the Europa League.
Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, told BBC Wales Sport on Wednesday that talks over a move were "slowly progressing".
Barnett said: "Gareth is closer to leaving Madrid than at any time in the last seven years. We are still negotiating. We shall see how it goes."
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho refused to speculate on the discussions, saying: "He is a Real Madrid player and I don't comment on players from other clubs. I have to respect that. It's better not to speak.
"I tried to sign him for Real Madrid, which was not possible to do during my time there. But the president followed my instinct and my knowledge and the season I left he brought Gareth to the club. It's not a secret, even Gareth knows that."
In July 2019, Real cancelled a deal for Bale to join Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning, and he played 20 times for the Spanish champions last season.
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 at home by Everton in their first game of the new Premier League campaign on Sunday.


bbc--2020-09-18--Man Utd agree terms with Porto full-back Telles - Saturday's football gossip

Last updated on .From the section Gossip Manchester United have agreed terms with Porto full-back Alex Telles and the 27-year-old Brazil international could now sign a five-year deal .
( RMC Sport - via Mirror ) Sections of the Real Madrid dressing room are said to be relieved that Wales forward Gareth Bale has made a loan move to Tottenham .
( AS - in Spanish ) Rennes want Chelsea to include two players in any deal for Senegal international goalkeeper Edouard Mendy , 28 .
England defender Fikayo Tomori , 22 , is one of those the French club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have asked about a possible loan deal for France and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele , 23 .
( Sport ) Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says the club have held talks with Liverpool over a loan move for English striker Rhian Brewster , 20 .
( Yorkshire Live ) But Crystal Palace also want to sign Brewster from the champions on a permanent deal .
( 90Min ) Manchester City are considering a deal for Sevilla 's French centre-back Jules Kounde , 21 .
The move could see Argentina international Nicolas Otamendi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Telegraph ) Crystal Palace 's potential sale of 24-year-old Norway international striker Alexander Sorloth to RB Leipzig will fund a move for Brentford 's Algeria international forward Said Benrahma , 25 .
( Guardian ) Any move away from Southampton for striker Danny Ings , 28 , is `` 100 % not discussable '' according to manager Ralph Hasenhuttl .
( Daily Echo ) Leeds are still keen on signing Argentina international midfielder Rodrigo de Paul , 26 , from Udinese .
( Fabrizio Romano ) American defender DeAndre Yedlin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Besiktas .
( NBC ) Arsenal , Leeds and Wolves are all keen on 18-year-old Reading midfielder Michael Olise .
( Football League World ) Newcastle are close to signing Peru playmaker Rodrigo Vilca , 21 , from Deportivo Municipal .
( Mail ) Burnley manager Sean Dyche has described the club 's way of working in the transfer market as `` last minute '' and `` tricky '' .
( Mail ) Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says it 's `` a dream '' of his to coach Real Madrid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says winger Demarai Gray has a decision to make over his future and that the 24-year-old will ultimately decide when he leaves the club .
( Leicester Mercury ) Lyon could offer 26-year-old Dutch forward Memphis Depay to AC Milan in a swap deal which would see the French club sign 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta .
( Di Marzio - in Italian )

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Manchester United have agreed terms with Porto full-back Alex Telles and the 27-year-old Brazil defender could now sign a five-year deal. (RMC Sport - via Mirror) external-link
United will need to move quickly to secure the deal as Paris St-Germain have stepped up their interest in Telles. (O Jogo - in Portuguese) external-link
Sections of the Real Madrid dressing room are said to be relieved that Wales forward Gareth Bale is making a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur. (AS - in Spanish) external-link
Rennes want Chelsea to include two players in any deal for Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, 28. England defender Fikayo Tomori, 22, is one of those the French club want. (Football Insider) external-link
Liverpool have asked about a possible loan deal for France and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, 23. (Sport) external-link
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder says the club have held talks with Liverpool over a loan move for English striker Rhian Brewster, 20. (Yorkshire Live) external-link
But Crystal Palace also want to sign Brewster from the champions on a permanent deal. (90Min) external-link
Manchester City are considering a deal for Sevilla's French centre-back Jules Kounde, 21. The move could see Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi, 32, move in the opposite direction. (Telegraph) external-link
55 goals in 47 games last term... Would Lewandowski have won the Ballon d'Or?
Crystal Palace's potential sale of 24-year-old Norway striker Alexander Sorloth to RB Leipzig will fund a move for Brentford's Algeria international forward Said Benrahma, 25. (Guardian) external-link
Any move away from Southampton for England striker Danny Ings, 28, is "100% not discussable" according to manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. (Daily Echo) external-link
Leeds are still keen on signing Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, 26, from Udinese. (Fabrizio Romano) external-link
Juventus are interested in re-signing Moise Kean, 20, from Everton with the Italy forward struggling to settle at Goodison Park since arriving in summer 2019. (Goal) external-link
United States defender DeAndre Yedlin, 27, looks set to leave Newcastle for Besiktas. (NBC) external-link
Arsenal, Leeds and Wolves are all keen on 18-year-old Reading midfielder Michael Olise. (Football League World) external-link
Gossip: Could Odsonne Edouard join Jack Grealish at Aston Villa?
Newcastle are close to signing Peru playmaker Rodrigo Vilca, 21, from Deportivo Municipal. (Mail) external-link
Burnley manager Sean Dyche has described the club's way of working in the transfer market as "last minute" and "tricky". (Mail) external-link
Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says it's "a dream" of his to coach Real Madrid. (Cadena Cope Radio - via ESPN) external-link
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says winger Demarai Gray has a decision to make over his future and that the 24-year-old will ultimately decide when he leaves the club. (Leicester Mercury) external-link
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson's decision to offer a contract to former England full-back Nathaniel Clyne, 29 - who is back training with his boyhood club - will depend on 19-year-old Nathan Ferguson's recovery from injury. (Football London) external-link
Lyon could offer 26-year-old Netherlands forward Memphis Depay to AC Milan in a swap deal that would see the French club sign 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta. (Di Marzio - in Italian) external-link


bbc--2020-09-19--Thailand protests: Thousands gather for mass anti-government rally

Protesters have begun gathering in the Thai capital Bangkok , in what organisers hope will be the largest anti-government demonstration so far .
The city has seen weeks of almost-daily rallies calling for the prime minister 's resignation .
Some are also urging reforms to the monarchy , despite the risk from the country 's strict royal defamation laws .
Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out for Saturday 's student-led protests .
The demonstrators plan a symbolic occupation of a park next to a grand palace used for royal ceremonies • Why young people are protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all to challenge the monarchy A previous protest in August drew around 10,000 protesters , according to Thai police .
However , organisers expect a higher turnout this weekend and police say 5,000 people have already gathered , according to Reuters news agency .
The movement is demanding that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha - who took power in a 2014 coup and won disputed elections last year - stand down .
The calls for royal reform are particularly sensitive , with criticism of the Thai monarchy punishable by long prison sentences .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says a series of political scandals and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic have led to growing discontent in the country .
Why are there protests ?
Thailand has a long history of political unrest and protest , but a new wave began in February after a court ordered a fledgling pro-democracy opposition party to dissolve .
The Future Forward Party ( FFP ) had proved particularly popular with young , first-time voters and garnered the third-largest share of parliamentary seats in the March 2019 election , which was won by the incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June when prominent pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit went missing in Cambodia , where he had been in exile since the 2014 military coup .
• The satirist who vanished in broad daylight His whereabouts remain unknown and protesters accuse the Thai state of orchestrating his kidnapping - something the police and government have denied .
Since July there have been regular student-led street protests .
Demonstrators have demanded that the government headed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha , a former army chief who seized power in the coup , be dissolved ; that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities stop harassing critics .
What is different this time ?
The demands of protesters took an unprecedented turn last month when a 10-point call for reform to the monarchy was read out at one rally .
The move sent shockwaves through a country which is taught from birth to revere and love the monarchy and fear the consequences of talking about it .
The young woman who delivered the manifesto , Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul , has said their intention `` is not to destroy the monarchy but to modernise it , to adapt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she and her fellow activists have been accused of `` chung chart '' - a Thai term meaning `` hatred of the nation '' - and they say they are deeply fearful of the consequences of doing `` the right thing '' by speaking out .
What are the laws protecting the monarchy ?
Each of Thailand 's 19 constitutions of modern times has stated , at the top , that : `` The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship '' and that `` no person shall expose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action '' .
These provisions are backed by article 112 of the criminal code , known as the lese-majeste law , which subjects anyone criticising the royal family to secret trials and long prison sentences .
The definition of what constitutes an insult to the monarchy is unclear and human rights groups say the law has often been used as a political tool to curb free speech and opposition calls for reform and change .
One man in 2015 faced up to 15 years in prison for posting images on social media of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that appeared to mock the monarch .
Other ways of falling foul of the law include `` liking '' any critical reference on social media , questioning anything from Thai history that could be construed as negative to the monarch , or producing a book or play with characters resembling members of the royal family .
• The many ways to get arrested for lese-majeste in Thailand The law had been increasingly enforced in the years after the 2014 coup , although it has slowed since King Vajiralongkorn let it be known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so widely used .
But observers say the government has used other legal routes , including the sedition law , to target dissent .

A series of political scandals, together with the economic disruption caused of Covid-19, have stirred public discontent in Thailand with the government, and sympathy for the student-led protests. The protest leaders hope that with this ambitious rally at the heart of Bangkok's old royal quarter they can keep up the momentum of their movement, which has already pushed the government to agree to discuss changes to the constitution.


bbc--2020-09-18--Covid-19: Lockdown in parts of Madrid amid virus spike

Parts of the Spanish capital Madrid are to be subject to lockdown restrictions to curb a rise in Covid-19 , as cases across Europe continue to spike .
From Monday , more than 850,000 people in the Madrid region will face limits on travel and sizes of groups .
Spain has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe , and Madrid is once again the worst-hit region .
Many northern hemisphere countries are now bracing for a second wave of the pandemic as winter approaches .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned of the perils as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of work to do in order to avoid amplification events , drive down transmission of this epidemic , protect the opening of schools and protect the most vulnerable in our society , '' Dr Mike Ryan , the head of the WHO 's health emergencies programme , said .
France recorded its highest number of new confirmed daily cases since the pandemic began , at 13,215 - a jump of nearly 3,000 more cases in 24 hours .
They included Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire , who said he had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several cities , including Marseille and Nice , are bringing in tighter restrictions .
The UK recorded 4,322 new cases and 27 deaths on Friday - its highest number of cases since 8 May , and Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned a second wave was now `` inevitable '' .
Large parts of the north of England are now subject to extensive lockdown measures .
Spain now has 625,651 cases , according to Johns Hopkins University , and rates of infection in the Madrid region are more than double the national average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 37 of the worst-hit health districts in the region will be subject to lockdown restrictions .
Residents will only be able to leave their zone to go to work , school or to seek medical care .
Social gatherings within their zone will be limited to six , public parks will be shut and commercial businesses will need to close by 22:00 .
`` There are 37 basic areas where the incidence is very high , over 1,000 for every 100,000 people in the last 14 days , '' said Madrid regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These areas have particularly high population density and connectivity .
We need , above all , measures to ensure that quarantines are observed . ''
The areas affected are in some of Madrid 's poorer districts and , Reuters reports , residents there are feeling abandoned , stigmatised and fearful that the new restrictions will deprive them of income .
One retiree in Vallecas , a southern district with a lower average income , higher immigrant population and one of the highest infection rates in Madrid , told Reuters the health system was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out here waiting , crowded , queues everywhere , '' Mari Paz Gonzalez said .
`` We are abandoned ...
They left us in the hands of God . ''
You might also be interested in :

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the perils as people move indoors. "There is a lot of work to do in order to avoid amplification events, drive down transmission of this epidemic, protect the opening of schools and protect the most vulnerable in our society," Dr Mike Ryan, the head of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said.


bbc--2020-09-19--Syria war: US deploys reinforcements to Syria after Russia clashes

The US has ramped up its military presence in Syria after a number of skirmishes with Russian forces intensified tensions in the country .
US officials said six Bradley Fighting Vehicles and about 100 troops were part of the deployment to north-east Syria .
Incidents between US and Russian forces that patrol that part of the country have escalated this year .
US Navy Captain Bill Urban said the move would `` ensure the safety and security of Coalition forces '' .
He added that , alongside the fighting vehicles , which had been based in Kuwait , the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and increase `` the frequency of US fighter patrols over US forces '' .
`` The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria , but will defend Coalition forces if necessary , '' Mr Urban , a spokesman for US Central Command , said in a statement on Friday .
`` These actions and reinforcements are a clear signal to Russia to adhere to mutual de-confliction processes and for Russia and other parties to avoid unprofessional , unsafe and provocative actions in north-east Syria , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cited officials as saying the troops and vehicles were sent to deter Russian forces from entering a security area , where US coalition and Kurdish forces were operating .
Over the years , there have been frequent interactions between US and Russian forces in Syria .
But in recent weeks , incidents in north-east Syria have become increasingly belligerent .
At the end of August , seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle .
The Russian and US governments blamed each other for the collision , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US said Russian forces had entered a `` security zone '' that they had agreed to stay out of .
Russia , meanwhile , said it had given the US military prior warning that it would be patrolling there .
The US has about 500 troops in the area - far fewer than previously - to help secure it against any further threat from Islamic State ( IS ) jihadists .
The The Russians back Syrian government forces while the Americans support local Kurdish fighters , part of a civil war that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's forces , has long opposed the presence of the US military in the country .

The US said Russian forces had entered a "security zone" that they had agreed to stay out of. Russia, meanwhile, said it had given the US military prior warning that it would be patrolling there.


bbc--2020-09-18--Danny Masterson: That ’70s Show star denies rape charges, his lawyer says

Actor Danny Masterson , best known for his role in the hit series That '70s Show , has appeared in court accused of raping three women in the early 2000s .
He is charged with raping the women , who were all in their 20s , between 2001 and 2003 .
Mr Masterson , 44 , denies the charges and has argued he was being persecuted for his high-profile membership of the Church of Scientology .
If convicted , the actor could face up to 45 years in prison .
Free on $ 3.3m ( £2.5m ) bail since his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first court appearance over the allegations in Los Angeles on Friday .
While the actor did not enter a plea , his lawyer , Tom Mesereau , mounted a vigorous defence of his client , dismissing the charges against him as politically motivated .
The lawyer accused Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey of filing the charges for political gain ahead of a bid to retain her post in a November election .
`` There have been repeated attempts to politicise this case , '' said Mr Mesereau , who also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a previous case .
`` He is absolutely not guilty and we 're going to prove it . ''
Ms Lacey is yet to comment , but Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller dismissed Mr Mesereau allegations as `` false '' and `` pure speculation , with no basis in fact '' .
Friday 's court hearing was attended by all three of Mr Masterson 's accusers , while about 20 of the actor 's supporters stood outside the courtroom , unable to enter due to coronavirus regulations .
The allegations against Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when the # MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations was gathering momentum .
Mr Masterson was removed from The Ranch - the Netflix comedy in which he starred - over the allegations .
• Netflix writes accused actor out of The Ranch At the time , Mr Masterson denied the `` outrageous allegations '' and vowed to clear his name `` once and for all '' .
`` Obviously , Mr Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out , '' his lawyer Mr Mesereau said in a statement .
The charges came after a three-year investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department .
Prosecutors did not file charges in two other cases due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations expiring .
Mr Masterson has been married to the actor and model Bijou Phillips since 2011 .
That '70s Show - which also starred Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis - ran from 1998 to 2006 , @ @ @ @ @

"Obviously, Mr Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out," his lawyer Mr Mesereau said in a statement.