bbc--2020-06-17--Why Trump's plan to withdraw US troops has dismayed Germany

For the people of Grafenwoehr , Elvis will always be the king .
In 1958 , stationed as a young American soldier in Germany , the singer gave a concert here which remains the stuff of legend .
Two years ago , the Bavarian town - which is home to the largest US military training base outside America - even held an anniversary party .
But even as costumed fans shimmied , jived and reminisced , the talk was of an uncertain future .
US President Donald Trump had , reportedly , just ordered officials to evaluate the cost and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German soil .
At the time some were alarmed but many dismissed it as tactical talk .
Designed to put Germany - which Mr Trump had singled out for failing to meet Nato spending commitments on defence - in its place .
But it was the first of many such threats .
So , earlier this week , when , after a week of reports and rumours , the US president confirmed plans to pull 9,500 soldiers out of Germany , many in Berlin were dismayed but few were surprised .
Ministers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbursts over German policy .
The US president is irritated by Germany 's trade surplus and unhappy about its commitment to the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline , which will double Russian gas supplies to Europe .
But it 's Germany 's failure to meet the Nato commitment of spending 2 % of GDP on defence ( it has increased the amount but spends only 1.38 % , compared to 3.4 % by the US ) which has focused Mr Trump 's ire .
• What does the US do for Nato @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is notoriously poor .
As the first reports arrived in Berlin , Peter Beyer , transatlantic co-ordinator for German Chancellor Angela Merkel , had already made his frustration clear .
He told the Rheinische Post : `` This is completely unacceptable , especially since nobody in Washington thought about informing its Nato ally Germany in advance . ''
And Germany 's foreign minister , Heiko Maas , has confirmed that his government had received no detailed information about the US plan .
The timing has intrigued some .
The popular rumour in Berlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Merkel who , by refusing to attend a planned G7 summit in Washington over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic , effectively scuppered the event .
Others believe the strategy to be the work of the rather belligerent former US ambassador to Germany .
Richard Grenell has just left the post having , unlike his predecessors , made few friends in Berlin .
Just last year he raised the prospect of troop withdrawal in response to Germany 's defence spending .
Some see the confirmation as his parting shot .
Others , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs committee , Norbert Roettgen , suspect the US president is playing to the home crowd , mindful of this autumn 's presidential election .
`` Trump is campaigning and has long promised to bring the troops home , '' tweeted Mr Roettgen .
`` In doing so , he now tries to score domestically '' .
Two questions dominate .
What impact would troop withdrawal have ?
And does Mr Trump really mean it ?
Around 35,000 American soldiers are stationed in Germany , supported by thousands of US civilian staff .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's post-World War Two history , Germany hosts more US troops than any other European country .
Today Germany is considered a useful strategic base for the US military ; a good point from which to launch operations in the Middle East , for example .
Few believe diluting that presence would have positive consequences - for America or the West in general .
The German Ambassador to the US , Emily Haber , said : `` US troops… are not there to defend Germany .
They are there to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there to project American power in Africa , in Asia . ''
Others have predicted that a withdrawal would play into the hands of Russia and other adversaries .
Will it happen ?
No one 's sure and opinion is divided .
It would n't be the first time President Trump has followed through on what , at first glance , appeared to be an empty threat .
Poland - ever conscious of an unpredictable Russia - is watching , hopeful that Mr Trump might make good on the suggestion that the soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hand , John Kornblum , the former US ambassador to Germany , told one German newspaper : `` I predict there will not be any troop withdrawal .
Trump is big on making announcements but does n't act on them . ''
But the development will intensify questions about global alliances and Germany 's place in the world .
There 's already an ongoing domestic debate over defence spending and , more fundamentally , how or even whether modern Germany - which , for historical reasons , has barely engaged militarily on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own capabilities and role .
The head of the Munich Security Conference , Wolfgang Ischinger , recently told the BBC that Germany risked shirking its responsibilities as a powerful European country .
Germans , he said , `` have developed a tendency of thinking of themselves as morally superior because we are not waging aggressive wars , because we 're always wagging our finger and saying let 's be on the good side .
Being on the good side in a bad world requires also to be able to deter , to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every evening in Grafenwoehr , US soldiers solemnly march up to a flagpole on the base and , in silence , lower the stars and stripes before folding it away for the night .
American troops - for so many here - are woven into the fabric of German life .
But with so many certainties , the once warm transatlantic relationship - the reliance on old allies and the strength of Nato - are now fraying at the edges .
• Nato is the world 's most powerful defence alliance • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after World War Two , amid anxiety over Soviet expansion • It was founded on the principle of collective defence between allies

Germans, he said, "have developed a tendency of thinking of themselves as morally superior because we are not waging aggressive wars, because we're always wagging our finger and saying let's be on the good side. Being on the good side in a bad world requires also to be able to deter, to defend if necessary and help defend others".


bbc--2020-06-17--The 101-year-old who was once Charles de Gaulle's chauffeur

France 's President Macron will travel to London on Thursday for ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of Charles de @ @ @ @ @ broadcast urging the people of France to resist the German invasion .
De Gaulle led @ @ @ @ @ occupation from London .
While he was in the UK , a young English woman @ @ @ @ @ aged 101 , Olivia Jordan told the BBC 's James Landale how she came to @ @ @ @ @ French war hero .

France's President Macron will travel to London on Thursday for ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s famous BBC broadcast urging the people of France to resist the German invasion.
De Gaulle led the fight against the Nazi occupation from London. While he was in the UK, a young English woman was his driver.
Now aged 101, Olivia Jordan told the BBC's James Landale how she came to be the driver for a French war hero.


bbc--2020-06-17--Blowing bubbles: Soapy spheres pop pollen on fruit trees

Japanese researchers have succeeded in fertilising pear trees using pollen carried on the thin film of a soap bubble .
They 've been searching for alternative approaches to pollination , because of the decline in the number of bees worldwide .
When fired from a bubble gun , the delicate soapy spheres achieved a success rate of 95 % .
The researchers are now testing drones that fire bubbles for pollination .
With the decline in bee numbers over the past decade , researchers have been looking at different ways of achieving pollination - a key step in the production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eijiro Miyako , from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology , had previously tested the ability of a drone to deliver pollen - but even though the drone was just two centimetres long , it kept damaging the flowers in the process .
One day , while watching his young son play in local park , Dr Miyako had a moment of inspiration .
`` I was playing soap bubbles with my son at a park close to my home , when a soap bubble accidently hit my son 's face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There was no damage because soap bubbles are soft , light , and flexible . ''
`` But I got an inspiration because I thought the bubbles wo n't damage the flowers and would be an ideal material for pollination . ''
Dr Miyako commandeered the bubble solution , causing his son to start crying and necessitating the purchase of more bubbles .
In the lab , he was able to confirm , via optical microscopy , that soap bubbles could carry pollen .
Realising that most conventional soap would be too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he terms `` chemically functionalised '' soap bubbles that could each carry up to 2,000 pollen grains .
Loading up their bubble guns , Dr Miyako and his colleagues tested the technique at a pear orchard .
In the absence of bees , some pollination work is now done by hand using a feather brush .
After shooting the bubbles onto the trees , young fruits started to form some 16 days later , at a volume equal to the hand pollination .
`` The rates of both soap-bubble-mediated pollination and hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no significant differences were observed between them , '' said Dr Miyako .
`` In fact , the shape and size of young pear fruits after soap bubble pollination look the same as hand pollination .
However our method has more potential advantages in terms of future automation and reduction of pollen grains . ''
Soap bubbles , though , are not without their troubles .
The technique creates a lot of waste and the wind and rain can ruin the efforts to pollinate .
Dr Miyako believes these restrictions can be overcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ localisation and mapping , path planning and motion control .
Tests have already been carried out with an autonomous drone carrying a bubble gun .
The drone was able to hit targets from two metres with a success rate of 90 % .
Dr Miyako is very optimistic about the potential for technology to succeed in pollination .
`` Some might dismiss this as something of a fantasy , but the soap bubble is effective for pollination . ''
`` I was probably the only person on the planet to believe this when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe I still am now . ''
The research has been published in the journal iScience .

Dr Eijiro Miyako, from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, had previously tested the ability of a drone to deliver pollen - but even though the drone was just two centimetres long, it kept damaging the flowers in the process.


bbc--2020-06-17--Emma Watson joins board of Gucci owner Kering

British actor and activist Emma Watson has joined the board of French fashion giant Kering , owner of the Gucci label .
The Harry Potter star , a well-known supporter of eco-friendly fashion , will chair Kering 's sustainability committee after shareholders backed the move .
Kering has faced criticism over its sustainability record .
Former Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam and the head of Chinese ride hailing giant Didi Chuxing , Jean Liu , were also made board members .
Ms Watson , who rose to fame playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films , is known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red carpet events and other public appearances .
• Can the 'broken ' fashion industry be fixed ?
Along with other campaign work , she is the face of the Good On You app , which rates fashion brands on their ethical and sustainability credentials .
The app has been less than complimentary about top Kering brands such as Gucci , Saint Laurent and Balenciaga , rating them only `` Not good enough '' or `` It 's a start '' .
Due to its long supply chains and energy intensive production , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aviation and shipping industry combined , according to the UN .
It also responsible for producing large amounts of waste and polluting waterways .
But luxury firms , like many more mainstream brands , have been trying to bolster their sustainability credentials as they attempt to win over younger shoppers .
British designer Stella McCartney - who ended a partnership with Kering last year - is currently advising the board of LVMH , which owns Louis Vuitton among other luxury brands , on environmental issues .
Kering itself is trying to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the number of collections it produces and making 67 % of the energy it uses renewable .
The firm 's board appointments also come as companies face pressure to improve the diversity of their leadership .
Ms Liu , who is based in Beijing , has helped to build Didi into a multi-billion dollar transport business with 550 million users worldwide , and was ranked among Time magazine 's 100 Most Influential People in 2017 .
Mr Thiam , who was born in Ivory Coast , has led both Credit Suisse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February after it emerged that two former employees had been put under surveillance , although Mr Thiam denied knowledge of the operations .
Kering boss François-Henri Pinault praised the new board members ' `` knowledge and competences , and the multiplicity of their backgrounds and perspectives '' .

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bbc--2020-06-17--Coronavirus: I want to meet five friends. How can I stay safe?

After two months at home - two months of virtual happy hours , socially distanced hangouts , and learning when to unmute yourself on Zoom - all 50 states and the District of Columbia have begun the process of reopening .
For some of us , that means the first face-to-face interactions with friends and family outside our household in weeks .
But even as lockdowns are lifted , without a vaccine - which is likely still a year away - the risk remains .
`` I would tell most people : just because places are opening , does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Dr Abraar Karan , physician and public health researcher at Harvard Medical School tells the BBC .
`` The virus is still out there , '' he says .
And every social interaction is an opportunity for the virus to catch and spread .
`` This is a new kind of risk that we 're going to have to incorporate . ''
So how can you see your friends safely ?
We spoke to Dr Karan and two other health experts to help weigh the risks of meeting friends , and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're there .
If we meet outside , is 6ft ( 2m ) far enough apart ?
To start , the outdoors are a good place to be , Dr Karan says .
`` Outdoor risk is likely much lower .
Point blank , '' he says .
And 6ft apart is key to lowering risk .
`` The virus can transmit further than 6ft , but if you 're outdoors the particles are likely to disperse . ''
• Where are cases still rising ?
• All 50 US states now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is based on a lot of research , '' she says .
`` It 's probably not foolproof but it 's a safe enough distance that it became the recommendation . ''
But for Dr Marcus , every question about risk and Covid hinges on your options .
`` Each of these decisions could be made thinking about the risk relative to whatever your alternative is , '' she says .
So while 6ft is likely safe `` 10ft is obviously better '' .
If it 's windy , can we sit a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably disperses [ Covid droplets ] more , '' Dr Karan says .
But a particularly breezy day does n't mean you should be invading your friends ' personal space .
An early coronavirus outbreak in Guangzhou , China was linked to a restaurant 's air conditioning : the transmission was consistent with the airflow of the air conditioning unit .
`` The key is : we do n't know enough about what outdoor transmission looks like , '' Dr Karan says .
Can we hug each other briefly if we are wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's not going to go anywhere , '' says Dr Amesh Adalja , a senior researcher in infectious disease and pandemic preparedness at Johns Hopkins University .
`` I do n't think the solution is not to hug anybody . ''
Echoing Dr Karan and Dr Marcus , Dr Adalja stresses that the risks and benefits for any social interaction during this period will look different for every person .
`` For certain individuals , the benefit is going to outweigh the risk , '' Dr Adalja says .
`` I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' '' he says .
`` But again : close contact is close contact .
Minimising close contact is important right now . ''
And if you decide to break the 6ft barrier , wearing a mask `` very likely and significantly '' reduces the rate of transmission , he says , meaning face coverings are a smart harm reduction strategy .
Can we share snacks if we sanitise ?
`` I do n't think the virus is spreading around the world because people are sharing candy bars , '' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picnic with friends , Dr Marcus and Dr Karan advise caution .
`` If you can avoid sharing food and drinks , that 's probably safest , '' Dr Marcus says .
And if you do : `` keep your hands as clean as possible '' .
`` It 's even more granular , '' Dr Karan adds .
`` What kind of food are we talking about ? ''
Things like individually wrapped sandwiches are likely fine , he says .
But for now , it 's best to skip messier snacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laugh and raise our voices , does that increase risk ?
Some bad news for loud talkers : it likely does .
`` There have been studies looking at the aerosol transmission for louder speakers , '' Dr Karan says .
Outbreaks in church choirs , like those in Washington state and Arkansas - even without physical contact between members - add weight to this theory .
Is there a safe way to invite friends into my house ?
All three experts agree - outdoors is better than indoors .
`` If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand… you are at a higher risk and you 're putting your friends at risk , '' Dr Karan says .
`` That 's just a tough reality . ''
But they also note the harms of social isolation , especially for long periods .
`` The virus is something you have to live with , '' Dr Adalja says .
`` It 's not a viable situation not to see anybody . ''
Having a friend inside your home can be done in a `` common sense way , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus is primarily getting around by individuals in close contact with each other - something to keep in mind if you 're socialising indoors .
Is it safe for them to use my bathroom ?
Bathrooms are tricky , Dr Karan says , because of their `` high touch paths '' .
`` The sink knob , the door knob - these are all high touch areas , '' he says .
And high touch areas mean higher risk .
Especially as virus particles can live in the air for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sharing a bathroom could cause more risk than its worth .
How should I disinfect the space afterwards ?
If you decide to have a friend come inside for a visit , the clean up should n't be too difficult .
Soap and water should do .
`` This is n't a very hearty virus , '' Dr Adalja says .
`` It 's easily disrupted by using a normal household cleaner . ''
Are kids - generally thought to be lower risk - allowed to play with each other ?
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality rates among children are lower than adults , that does n't mean they are immune .
`` We need to understand more about the transmission risk among children , '' Dr Karan says .
`` We do n't know what factors will predispose kids to more severe disease , or how they will transmit to adults . ''
So for now , Dr Karan says , arranging playdates for children should be avoided .
`` I 'm not saying your kid is never going to play with his or her friend again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm saying give it some time . ''
Can I pet my friend 's dog or cat ?
There is evidence of Covid-19 among pets , Dr Karan says , but none so far suggesting that dogs or cats can transmit the virus to humans .
`` Is it impossible ?
No , but we do n't have evidence , '' he says .
So while you may want to pause before hugging a friend , giving a warm welcome to their golden retriever should be safe .
Is it safe to swim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should n't make things any riskier .
`` It 's not waterborne transmission from what we know , '' Dr Karan says .
But spending time in a pool has its own problems .
`` The biggest concern : we ca n't swim with masks on , '' he says .
`` You still need to socially distance , '' which may prove tricky while treading water .
What 's the etiquette for asking friends where they 've been and what kind of contact they 've had with others ?
For potentially difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been , or who they 've seen , Dr Marcus suggests looking at resources and guidance that already exists .
`` There 's already been a lot of work done trying to support communication related to risk , '' Dr Marcus says .
In the polyamory community , for example , conversations about risk tolerance , boundaries , and exclusive vs non-exclusive relationships predate concerns over Covid-19 .
`` The point is : let 's not reinvent the wheel here , '' she says .
`` I think we probably have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other contexts that can be leveraged . ''
But before you make plans ... Across all these choices , experts say that the goal should be reducing harm and risk as much as possible .
`` Most activities that are non-essential but put you at high risk are probably not worth it right now , '' Dr Karan says .
`` The economy pushed us to open up sooner than we would have done from a public health standpoint . ''
As a rule of thumb , Dr Marcus suggests minimising the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you start to loosen social distancing , try to keep that contact to as small a number of people as possible .
`` It 's much safer to have one other household join yours in a double bubble than it is to have a dinner party with a different family every night , '' she says .
But as long as the outbreak continues , there will be compromise .
`` We ca n't just tell people to abstain from social contact forever . ''

Coronavirus: I want to meet five friends. How can I stay safe? Published 17 June 2020
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Every US state has begun its reopening. So what will socialising look like now?
After two months at home - two months of virtual happy hours, socially distanced hangouts, and learning when to unmute yourself on Zoom - all 50 states and the District of Columbia have begun the process of reopening.
For some of us, that means the first face-to-face interactions with friends and family outside our household in weeks.
But even as lockdowns are lifted, without a vaccine - which is likely still a year away - the risk remains.
"I would tell most people: just because places are opening, does not mean the virus is under control," Dr Abraar Karan, physician and public health researcher at Harvard Medical School tells the BBC.
"The virus is still out there," he says. And every social interaction is an opportunity for the virus to catch and spread.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Experts agree: staying 6ft apart will make interactions safer
"This is a new kind of risk that we're going to have to incorporate."
So how can you see your friends safely? We spoke to Dr Karan and two other health experts to help weigh the risks of meeting friends, and some of the decisions you might face while you're there.
If we meet outside, is 6ft (2m) far enough apart?
To start, the outdoors are a good place to be, Dr Karan says.
"Outdoor risk is likely much lower. Point blank," he says. And 6ft apart is key to lowering risk.
"The virus can transmit further than 6ft, but if you're outdoors the particles are likely to disperse."
Dr Julia Marcus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School, agrees.
"The 6ft is based on a lot of research," she says. "It's probably not foolproof but it's a safe enough distance that it became the recommendation."
But for Dr Marcus, every question about risk and Covid hinges on your options.
"Each of these decisions could be made thinking about the risk relative to whatever your alternative is," she says. So while 6ft is likely safe "10ft is obviously better".
If it's windy, can we sit a bit closer?
"I think wind probably disperses [Covid droplets] more," Dr Karan says.
But a particularly breezy day doesn't mean you should be invading your friends' personal space.
An early coronavirus outbreak in Guangzhou, China was linked to a restaurant's air conditioning: the transmission was consistent with the airflow of the air conditioning unit.
"The key is: we don't know enough about what outdoor transmission looks like," Dr Karan says.
Can we hug each other briefly if we are wearing masks?
"This is a virus that's not going to go anywhere," says Dr Amesh Adalja, a senior researcher in infectious disease and pandemic preparedness at Johns Hopkins University. "I don't think the solution is not to hug anybody."
Echoing Dr Karan and Dr Marcus, Dr Adalja stresses that the risks and benefits for any social interaction during this period will look different for every person.
"For certain individuals, the benefit is going to outweigh the risk," Dr Adalja says.
Image source, Getty Images
Dr Karan is slightly more cautious.
"I'm not saying 'don't hug your friends,'" he says. "But again: close contact is close contact. Minimising close contact is important right now."
And if you decide to break the 6ft barrier, wearing a mask "very likely and significantly" reduces the rate of transmission, he says, meaning face coverings are a smart harm reduction strategy.
Can we share snacks if we sanitise?
Dr Adalja sees "no major risk" in sharing snacks.
"I don't think the virus is spreading around the world because people are sharing candy bars," he says.
But before you opt for a picnic with friends, Dr Marcus and Dr Karan advise caution.
"If you can avoid sharing food and drinks, that's probably safest," Dr Marcus says. And if you do: "keep your hands as clean as possible".
"It's even more granular," Dr Karan adds. "What kind of food are we talking about?"
Things like individually wrapped sandwiches are likely fine, he says. But for now, it's best to skip messier snacks like chips and dip.
When we laugh and raise our voices, does that increase risk?
Some bad news for loud talkers: it likely does.
"There have been studies looking at the aerosol transmission for louder speakers," Dr Karan says.
Outbreaks in church choirs, like those in Washington state and Arkansas - even without physical contact between members - add weight to this theory.
Is there a safe way to invite friends into my house?
All three experts agree - outdoors is better than indoors.
"If you're inviting friends indoors you just have to understand… you are at a higher risk and you're putting your friends at risk," Dr Karan says. "That's just a tough reality."
But they also note the harms of social isolation, especially for long periods.
Image source, Getty Images
"The virus is something you have to live with," Dr Adalja says. "It's not a viable situation not to see anybody."
Having a friend inside your home can be done in a "common sense way," he adds.
Still, as he says, the virus is primarily getting around by individuals in close contact with each other - something to keep in mind if you're socialising indoors.
Is it safe for them to use my bathroom?
Bathrooms are tricky, Dr Karan says, because of their "high touch paths".
"The sink knob, the door knob - these are all high touch areas," he says. And high touch areas mean higher risk.
Especially as virus particles can live in the air for several hours, and even longer on surfaces, sharing a bathroom could cause more risk than its worth.
How should I disinfect the space afterwards?
If you decide to have a friend come inside for a visit, the clean up shouldn't be too difficult. Soap and water should do.
"This isn't a very hearty virus," Dr Adalja says. "It's easily disrupted by using a normal household cleaner."
Are kids - generally thought to be lower risk - allowed to play with each other? Can they share toys?
Though infection and mortality rates among children are lower than adults, that doesn't mean they are immune.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Young children appear to be less susceptible to the virus, but they're not immune
"We need to understand more about the transmission risk among children," Dr Karan says. "We don't know what factors will predispose kids to more severe disease, or how they will transmit to adults."
So for now, Dr Karan says, arranging playdates for children should be avoided.
"I'm not saying your kid is never going to play with his or her friend again," he says. "I'm saying give it some time."
Can I pet my friend's dog or cat?
There is evidence of Covid-19 among pets, Dr Karan says, but none so far suggesting that dogs or cats can transmit the virus to humans.
"Is it impossible? No, but we don't have evidence," he says.
So while you may want to pause before hugging a friend, giving a warm welcome to their golden retriever should be safe.
Is it safe to swim in a pool?
The water itself shouldn't make things any riskier.
"It's not waterborne transmission from what we know," Dr Karan says.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Social distancing in water can be tricky, but is key for harm reduction
But spending time in a pool has its own problems.
"The biggest concern: we can't swim with masks on," he says. "You still need to socially distance," which may prove tricky while treading water.
For potentially difficult or awkward conversations about where a friend has been, or who they've seen, Dr Marcus suggests looking at resources and guidance that already exists.
"There's already been a lot of work done trying to support communication related to risk," Dr Marcus says.
Image source, Getty Images
In the polyamory community, for example, conversations about risk tolerance, boundaries, and exclusive vs non-exclusive relationships predate concerns over Covid-19.
"The point is: let's not reinvent the wheel here," she says. "I think we probably have some of these skills that were developed in other contexts that can be leveraged."
But before you make plans...
Across all these choices, experts say that the goal should be reducing harm and risk as much as possible.
"Most activities that are non-essential but put you at high risk are probably not worth it right now," Dr Karan says. "The economy pushed us to open up sooner than we would have done from a public health standpoint."
As a rule of thumb, Dr Marcus suggests minimising the number of contacts you have. So if you start to loosen social distancing, try to keep that contact to as small a number of people as possible.
"It's much safer to have one other household join yours in a double bubble than it is to have a dinner party with a different family every night," she says.
But as long as the outbreak continues, there will be compromise.


bbc--2020-06-17--George Floyd: Three generations of an African-American family on what needs to change

The death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man in police custody , has sparked over a thousand protests across the US .
Here 's what one African-American family has to say about movements past - and moving forward .
Video showing Floyd struggling to breathe as a white police officer knelt on his neck swiftly led to nationwide outrage and in the weeks since , there have been demonstrations in all 50 US states .
These protests form part of a long history of uprisings against racial injustice in America .
But what needs to be done differently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 16-year-old Raymon Curry during a protest in Charlotte , North Carolina , in a video that went viral this month .
In the clip , activist Curtis Hayes Jr , 31 , pulls Raymon from the crowd and tells him that they need to `` find a better way '' to express their pain over the killings of African-Americans .
We asked Raymon , along with his mother , 33-year-old Jasmaine , and his grandmother , Sherondia , aged 58 , to share what they believe the country needs to change in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born in New York City in the early 1960s .
While she 's enraged by what 's happening , she says she 's proud of the diversity of people turning out to protest compared to when she was younger .
`` I 've seen not only black people but white people , different races of people protesting .
And what really encouraged me was when I saw protests going on all over the world .
`` I was very young when the civil rights movement began back in the 60s .
My mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When I look back at the movement I say , 'How did they survive when water hoses were thrown at them , dogs sent on them ? '
'' The protests over the death of George Floyd have seen the tearing down of Confederate statues and monuments connected to slavery and colonialism .
• The stories behind the statues targeted in protests • The awkward questions about slavery from US tourists • Should Washington and Jefferson monuments come down ?
But Sherondia thinks this is n't enough .
`` Today we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need open dialogue , we need people coming together and breaking down barriers and socioeconomic injustices going on in this country .
We do n't just need a word , we need action . ''
She says what 's kept her going through the years has been her faith .
`` Racism has always existed .
It 's something that I think black people have learned to live with .
But even though it 's uncomfortable , we have found the strength .
The strength of the church , the strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God .
So our strength came from that faith . ''
'We gave so many chances for this to be corrected' Sherondia 's daughter , Jasmaine , was born in 1987 .
She says one of her most vivid memories is of watching the Million Man March , a gathering of African-American men in Washington DC in 1995 .
`` I remember black men coming together , and they were interrupted by officials .
I was young and learning about Rodney King , things of that nature .
I remember looking at Ebony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was in first grade [ aged six or seven ] - about Emmett Till and seeing his picture .
`` So the problem goes back to my time and even to my mom 's time .
My grandmother told me stories about going to black-only bathrooms .
In my era , in the 80s , I did n't sit and watch Martin Luther King like my grandmother but I heard that same message .
That message has now moved to a new generation .
`` I 'm fed up .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , someone else is going to tell me , 'You were n't enslaved ' .
But my ancestors were .
So actions speak louder than words , and if it takes burning down something , it 's unfortunate but we gave so many chances for this to be corrected . ''
On the day that Raymon was filmed in the now-viral exchange , he did n't tell his mother that he was going out to protest .
`` I gave him permission to go and play with his friend , '' Jasmaine recalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next day that he went to the protest , my main concern as a mother was for his safety .
There was one point we were telling our kids to stay away from strangers , gangs , violent people , but it 's reverted to me telling him to stay away from the police . ''
'Peace by any means necessary' Raymon , one of two boys , has grown up listening to his mother and grandmother tell him about racial injustice , and remembers watching news of the deaths of black Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movements ] as something we 've got to learn from , '' he says .
`` We want to be equal , to all be heard and to have a voice .
I know what my mom and grandma saw growing up and it 's still continuing .
Now it 's my turn to be the leader of my generation . ''
So how does he think protests should change from previous generations ?
`` By this time , peace should n't be an option .
We should get our voices heard and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How many times do we have to be peaceful before we get our justice ?
I 'm trying every day to think of ways .
It 's something I should n't have to deal with at this age . ''
`` I 'm not a violent or hateful person , but tearing down statues is what 's getting attention .
Now we 're finally having our voices heard .
We were part of the slavery system and the statues represent that . ''
More on the George Floyd protests • How have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US must confront its Original Sin to move forward • Three facts that help explain anger in the US

George Floyd: Three generations of an African-American family on what needs to change Published 17 June 2020
Image caption, (From left to right) Jasmaine and Raymon Curry, Sherondia Morgan, with the family's youngest son Princeton Holmes
The death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in police custody, has sparked over a thousand protests across the US. Here's what one African-American family has to say about movements past - and moving forward.
Video showing Floyd struggling to breathe as a white police officer knelt on his neck swiftly led to nationwide outrage and in the weeks since, there have been demonstrations in all 50 US states.
These protests form part of a long history of uprisings against racial injustice in America.
But what needs to be done differently now?
That was the question posed to 16-year-old Raymon Curry during a protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a video that went viral this month.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Activist explains plea for peaceful protests
In the clip, activist Curtis Hayes Jr, 31, pulls Raymon from the crowd and tells him that they need to "find a better way" to express their pain over the killings of African-Americans.
We asked Raymon, along with his mother, 33-year-old Jasmaine, and his grandmother, Sherondia, aged 58, to share what they believe the country needs to change in order to move forward.
'We need action'
Sherondia was born in New York City in the early 1960s. While she's enraged by what's happening, she says she's proud of the diversity of people turning out to protest compared to when she was younger.
"I've seen not only black people but white people, different races of people protesting. And what really encouraged me was when I saw protests going on all over the world.
"I was very young when the civil rights movement began back in the 60s. My mother told me stories and I saw pictures. When I look back at the movement I say, 'How did they survive when water hoses were thrown at them, dogs sent on them?'"
The protests over the death of George Floyd have seen the tearing down of Confederate statues and monuments connected to slavery and colonialism.
But Sherondia thinks this isn't enough.
"Today we need more than just Confederate statues coming down. We need open dialogue, we need people coming together and breaking down barriers and socioeconomic injustices going on in this country. We don't just need a word, we need action."
She says what's kept her going through the years has been her faith.
"Racism has always existed. It's something that I think black people have learned to live with. But even though it's uncomfortable, we have found the strength. The strength of the church, the strength of believing that there is absolutely a God. So our strength came from that faith."
'We gave so many chances for this to be corrected'
Sherondia's daughter, Jasmaine, was born in 1987. She says one of her most vivid memories is of watching the Million Man March, a gathering of African-American men in Washington DC in 1995.
"I remember black men coming together, and they were interrupted by officials. I was young and learning about Rodney King, things of that nature. I remember looking at Ebony Magazine and reading so early - when I was in first grade [aged six or seven] - about Emmett Till and seeing his picture.
"So the problem goes back to my time and even to my mom's time. My grandmother told me stories about going to black-only bathrooms. In my era, in the 80s, I didn't sit and watch Martin Luther King like my grandmother but I heard that same message. That message has now moved to a new generation.
"I'm fed up. Even if I'm peaceful and speak the truth, someone else is going to tell me, 'You weren't enslaved'. But my ancestors were. So actions speak louder than words, and if it takes burning down something, it's unfortunate but we gave so many chances for this to be corrected."
On the day that Raymon was filmed in the now-viral exchange, he didn't tell his mother that he was going out to protest.
"I gave him permission to go and play with his friend," Jasmaine recalls.
"So to find out the next day that he went to the protest, my main concern as a mother was for his safety. There was one point we were telling our kids to stay away from strangers, gangs, violent people, but it's reverted to me telling him to stay away from the police."
'Peace by any means necessary'
Raymon, one of two boys, has grown up listening to his mother and grandmother tell him about racial injustice, and remembers watching news of the deaths of black Americans.
"I see [previous protest movements] as something we've got to learn from," he says.
"We want to be equal, to all be heard and to have a voice. I know what my mom and grandma saw growing up and it's still continuing. Now it's my turn to be the leader of my generation."
So how does he think protests should change from previous generations?
"By this time, peace shouldn't be an option. We should get our voices heard and get this peace by any means necessary. How many times do we have to be peaceful before we get our justice? I'm trying every day to think of ways. It's something I shouldn't have to deal with at this age."
"I'm not a violent or hateful person, but tearing down statues is what's getting attention. Now we're finally having our voices heard. We were part of the slavery system and the statues represent that."
More on the George Floyd protests


bbc--2020-06-17--Racism in Russia: Stories of prejudice

Racism in Russia: Stories of prejudice

The Black Lives Matter ( BLM ) protests have not swept across Russia the way they have elsewhere , but people of colour living there have told the BBC about the casual discrimination they experience on a daily basis .
There are estimated to be tens of thousands of people of colour living in Russia - including Russian-born people with mixed heritage and people from African and Caribbean countries who are working or studying in Russia .
Here are some of their stories .
Recently a video of a taxi driver refusing to take a black man in his cab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The person left standing on the kerb was 21-year-old Roy Ibonga , a Congolese man studying economics at Bryansk State University .
In his video , published on social media , the driver can be heard saying `` If I do n't like a person , I wo n't give them a ride .
It 's my car '' .
When Roy asks him bluntly `` Are you a racist ? ''
the driver replies , `` Yes , of course . ''
Later the Yandex taxi company , the Russian equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Thank you for finding a way to tell us about this intolerable behaviour .
I 'm very sorry that it happened to you , '' wrote a customer service rep .
According to news reports , the driver was dismissed the same day .
The company said `` rude or racist drivers have no place at Yandex Taxi '' .
Roy wrote about the incident on Instagram .
Some people expressed support , but others wrote racist insults .
Later Roy closed his account .
Some social media users criticised Yandex for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a boycott .
'Once they would n't let me into a cafe' Roy lives in Bryansk , a city 380km ( 236 miles ) south of Moscow , where he is not the only African student , but all of them , he says , experience similar racist treatment .
`` That incident with the taxi - it happens a lot .
I just decided to video it this time to show people .
It 's the same every time .
It happens to my friends too , but they ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak Russian .
`` Once last year they would n't let me into a cafe .
The security guard told me , 'You ca n't come in because last time some African guys came in there was a fight ' .
What has that got to do with me ?
I asked .
But he would n't let me in .
I even called the manager , but they just told me I was n't allowed in .
`` Maybe it 's because there are n't many of us and we have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are n't used to us .
There 's a big difference between Bryansk and Moscow .
Moscow is like a different country .
I never felt discrimination there . ''
He said he had `` never seen police beat up a black person in Russia '' and `` I 've never had anything to do with the police here '' .
`` If people are racist towards me , I just walk away .
There 's no point being aggressive .
People wo n't understand anyway and they wo n't change .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes you stressed .
You start to think , 'Why was I born black ? '
`` I was born in Congo and lived all my life there .
I only encountered racism when I came to Russia in 2017 .
I find it very hurtful .
You step outside and everyone looks at you as if you 're not human .
It 's really offensive . ''
`` I live in Moscow , but went to university in St Petersburg and I was born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk [ in the Russian Far East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated meanly by other kids at school and reminded every single day that her skin colour was different .
`` It was very hard to put up with every day , even though I went to one of the best schools in town , specialising in maths and physics .
I could n't stand up for myself there .
I did n't tell my parents about it .
My big brother protected me at school .
Sometimes he had to get into fights for me . ''
Isabel dreamt about moving from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to walk down the street without people looking at her .
Both she and her Dominican dad were routinely stared at .
`` When I moved to St Petersburg everything was so much better , I began to forget that I look different .
But later , when I started work and needed to rent a flat , I felt the racism again . ''
It was particularly bad in Moscow , says Isabel .
All the letting ads said `` Slavs only '' .
`` When landlords heard my name on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a permit to live in Moscow , they did n't believe I could pay the rent .
I had to arrange to meet them in person , so they could see I was a normal person with a normal job and would n't turn their apartment into a drug den .
`` Whenever I meet new people , as soon as they relax the jokes start .
I either ignore them or join in the banter , if I can see that it 's just teasing .
If you get angry every time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Isabel 's mother is from Sakhalin island and her dad from the Dominican Republic .
They met in the 1980s , studying in Kyiv , the capital of then-Soviet Ukraine .
Isabel 's father came over to the Soviet Union on a student exchange programme .
Isabel says that when her parents got married , while still studying , the university 's reaction was negative .
Her mother was harassed and called an `` enemy of the people '' .
`` At university they started giving her bad grades , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class .
The day after giving birth to my brother she had an exam .
The university refused to let her postpone it .
She was n't allowed to defend her dissertation properly .
She always got top marks , but they would n't give her anything higher than a third-class degree .
`` These days people who are educated and travel know that the world is full of variety , but most people here do n't and they 're not interested .
Racism shows itself in Russia in attitudes towards people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ones who need to protest , but they are afraid to because a lot of them are here illegally . ''
• Viewpoint : Why racism in US is worse than in Europe • The stories behind the statues targeted in protests '' I have experienced casual racism in Moscow .
Sometimes people look suspiciously or with disapproval and move to another seat if you sit down next to them in the metro .
But I have n't noticed any serious racial hatred .
Not as an adult .
`` I did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think it left a mark on me .
I lived on the outskirts of Moscow .
It was n't just the kids , but their parents who were bringing them up to be racist .
`` When my mum came to a parents ' evening and complained that the other children were offending me , they told her , 'it 's your fault for giving birth to him ' .
Later I went to a better school .
The kids and especially the parents there were much more aware and open-minded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a kid and I often did n't want to go to school .
Now it does n't bother me so much , but there are still moments .
`` Once , at the journalism faculty at university I held a door open for a girl and someone behind me said , 'Oh !
The journalism faculty has a black doorman ! '
Things like that make me angry but generally much less than they used to .
I 've learnt to have a positive attitude to myself and think my appearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the casual racism that 's a problem in Russia and it comes from ignorance .
I do n't think we have the institutionalised racism of the West . ''
`` I have been following the protests in the USA right from the start .
I 'm shocked by the brutality against people of colour there .
Racism is a problem in Russia , too , but here everything is hushed up . ''
Kamilla is of Russian and Nigerian origin .
She grew up in Stary Oskol , a town 600km south of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of colour around .
`` You could count the number of black people there on the fingers of one hand .
I was lucky because my class was quite tolerant and we all knew each other from nursery school .
But kids in other classes called me names .
That was racist for sure and they insulted me . ''
`` I came to Moscow to play for the team when I was 12 and the racism was not so bad there .
I still get impolite questions like , 'So are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' Some people do n't realise these comments are offensive .
I usually give a sarcastic reply or just ignore them .
`` The basketball clubs are already used to having black girls on their teams , so there 's less racism around .
But when you play for a Russian team there are always comments on social media pages : Is she really Russian ?
Has there been a mix-up ?
People think it 's funny when a black girl plays for Russia . ''
`` It upset me so much when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it so much to heart .
But now I shrug it off .
Why do they call me names ?
The answer is simple : it 's not me that 's wrong , it 's the people around me . ''
Alena El-Hussein is of Russian and Sudanese origin , born in Moscow .
Throughout her life she felt she looked different .
`` It is n't always offensive .
It depends on the situation .
Very occasionally I 've been called chernaya - `` a black '' - but it was always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been clashes , but more often about my personality than the colour of my skin .
There have certainly been times when people called me 'chocolate ' and other things like that . ''
Alena believes the problem of racism in Russia is different from the USA .
`` Russian men and women identify themselves with white European colonisers .
Ignorance of history misleads them into some delusion of superiority .
`` Racism here is n't so much against black people as against people from the former Soviet republics .
`` People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious racism .
It 's interesting that there are n't protests against it .
Maybe Russian society has n't woken up to it yet . ''

"Once last year they wouldn't let me into a cafe. The security guard told me, 'You can't come in because last time some African guys came in there was a fight'. What has that got to do with me? I asked. But he wouldn't let me in. I even called the manager, but they just told me I wasn't allowed in.


bbc--2020-06-17--How reliant is Australia on China?

How reliant is Australia on China?

Australia 's relationship with China is not a happy one at the moment .
Canberra 's push for answers on the pandemic 's origins has angered Beijing .
In the past month it has put in place some bruising sanctions and travel warnings .
Many have urged Australia to reduce its economic reliance on China , but is this really an option ?
`` I love the Chinese , '' says Chris Kelly , an Australian who 's sown barley on his family farm for decades .
`` Love them .
Every barley grower in Australia loves the Chinese because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year Australia produced over 8 million tonnes of the golden grain used in beer and pig feed .
China bought more than half - at a premium price .
But last month , China imposed an 80 % tariff on Australian barley .
It came after Canberra , echoing the US , called for an investigation into Covid-19 's origins - a move that Beijing labelled `` politically motivated '' .
China has since suspended some major Australian beef imports , and warned students and tourists against travelling to the `` racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a secretive process , it sentenced an Australian man to death for drug smuggling .
It 's fuelled frenzied discussion in Australia : Is China retaliating against accusations it mishandled the coronavirus ?
Could this be the start of a trade war like that seen between the US and China ?
Like other liberal democracies , Australia is increasingly challenged by the need to balance its economic dependence on China and its own values and interests .
In recent times , Canberra has raised concerns about human rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's 5G network , and debated allegations of Beijing interfering in domestic affairs .
This friction is n't unique to Australia .
Canada , Japan and South Korea - among others - have seen economic pushback from China , allegedly for political reasons .
But Australia 's economic dependence on China is greater than many nations .
For the past decade , China has been Australia 's largest trading partner and now accounts for 32.6 % of its exports .
Australia 's mines have delivered iron ore , coal and gas to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rivals in Brazil for their quality and geographic proximity .
It 's a deal that benefits both nations .
Other sectors - education , tourism , agriculture , wine - have also flourished in the Chinese market .
But like barley , they are not as exclusive to Australia and so more vulnerable to political tension , economists say .
This has all intensified debate over whether Australia has become too reliant on China and should look to other trading partners .
It needs to drastically strengthen relations with its Asian neighbours , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist at the University of Technology , Sydney .
It has made efforts , she says , noting Prime Minister Scott Morrison had scheduled a trip to India this year and made repeated entreaties to PM Narendra Modi .
His visit to Vietnam last year - the first by an Australian leader in 25 years - was recognition of its rising star as a market economy , she adds .
Australia 's ecotourism and university sectors have been actively courting both nations .
Dr Chan suggests Australia could rely on a combination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and South Korea - to lessen reliance on China .
Not all are among Australia 's top 10 trading partners currently ; in many cases , there is no existing free trade agreement .
But economists dispute the idea that the Chinese market can easily be replaced .
India is often cited for its potential .
Australia has set a goal to send A $ 45bn ( £25bn ; $ 31bn ) in annual exports to India by 2035 .
But last year , it sold more than A $ 160bn to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options that come anywhere near to making up China 's numbers , '' says Prof Jane Golley , a China economy specialist at the Australian National University .
Government attempts at intervention ( a practice seen in Japan ) , would just be a waste of money , economists say .
`` It 's a bit strange for the government to tell companies you ca n't sell to the Chinese or you have to sell more to other countries when other countries simply are n't trying to buy , '' Dr Shiro Armstrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BBC .
• What 's behind Trump 's new strategy on China ?
Australian companies are already working hard to reduce reliance on China , adds Dirk van der Kley , from policy research group China Matters , citing universities in particular .
`` Sure , they 've made a little difference on the edges .
But it 's the market which matters here . ''
Even more opportunities with China ?
Prof Golley says she finds calls by some security analysts to turn away from China - covered heavily by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wonder if the man on the street who reads the headline and thinks we need to diversify from China - I always wonder if they think through what that could mean and how it might lead to them or their children not having jobs in the future . ''
Australia would be better served looking at the bigger picture , she and others argue .
It is far less reliant on exports ( 20 % of GDP ) than many nations .
But those proceeds flow directly into jobs and welfare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosperity .
Richard Maude , a former foreign policy head in the Australian government , says it is vital that Australia can co-operate with China on food security , energy and climate change .
Mr Van Der Kley predicts others markets will also emerge for Australia as China 's middle class ages , particularly in sectors such as health care and nursing .
The significant Chinese diaspora in Australia should not be overlooked , others say .
Australia is home to more than 1.2 million people of Chinese ancestry , many of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring deep community links .
Chinese consumers continue to favour Australia for education and tourism , partly for this reason .
But on the political level , there 's a consensus that Canberra-Beijing relations have sunk to their lowest ebb in decades .
It has been three years since a bilateral meeting of leaders , despite Australia 's repeated requests .
Prof Golley says the government should work hard to help Australian businesses engage with Chinese counterparts , but fears this is being damaged by the `` deteriorating '' political relationship .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its diplomacy - for example it could criticise China from within a group of like-minded nations rather than striking out on its own .
They also suggest hawks within the government should be reined in by Prime Minister Scott Morrison .
Ultimately , though , slick diplomacy is just `` packaging '' , says Mr Maude , the former diplomat : `` China will still often object to what 's inside , no matter how well wrapped . ''
Mr Morrison has said : `` We 're just being Australians .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything that is inconsistent with our values , or have sought to be in any way hostile to our partnership with China . ''
Australia has n't changed but China fundamentally has , says Mr Maude .
He argues that Beijing has become more assertive and authoritarian .
Canberra - like other democracies - can no longer overlook political reality for economic gains .
`` The risk of economic retaliation will be a permanent feature of the 'new normal ' in the relationship , '' he says .
`` We ca n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' But for Mr Kelly on his barley farm , he feels like the proverbial canary down a gold mine .
`` We 've been feeling anxious for years - this has been going on for a while , '' he says .
`` It just feels like the worst-case scenario has arrived . ''

"I wonder if the man on the street who reads the headline and thinks we need to diversify from China - I always wonder if they think through what that could mean and how it might lead to them or their children not having jobs in the future."


bbc--2020-06-17--Tanzania's Magufuli - taking on coronavirus and imperialism

Tanzania 's President John Magufuli has been criticised over his repeated attacks on `` imperialists '' and his recent declaration that prayers had ended coronavirus in the East African state .
But this is unlikely to bother him as , throughout his presidency of more than five years , he has styled himself as a stout African nationalist and a devout Catholic waging war against foreign powers seeking to exploit the East African nation .
`` I want you Tanzanians to believe that you have a real president , a real rock .
I can not be threatened and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in March 2018 .
He hopes that he has cemented this reputation over the last two years , and it will secure him a second term in elections due in October .
One of Mr Magufuli 's biggest battles was against Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold Corp .
He demanded a 60 % stake for the government in three of its gold mines to end the `` exploitation '' of Tanzania 's resources .
The 60-year-old president cast the negotiations as a clash between a cow and a rabbit and , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % share , the talks signalled that it was no longer business as usual .
As Barrick boss Mark Bristow walked from the lectern to shake Mr Magufuli 's hand at the signing ceremony in January , he said : `` What it 's done is challenge the mining industry and all of us to embark on something where we win together or lose together . ''
In his response , Mr Magufuli not only burnished his nationalist credentials , but also his religious credentials , saying : `` I thank God for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has also cancelled two deals with China : the building of Tanzania 's first electric railway line linking the main commercial city Dar es Salaam to the capital , Dodoma , about 500km ( 310 miles ) away and the construction of East Africa 's biggest port in Bagamoyo , once the capital of German East Africa , at a cost of $ 10bn ( £8bn ) .
Mr Magufuli said only a `` madman '' would accept the financial terms negotiated by his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete 's government for the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed selfish leadership and a failure to put the nation first for Tanzania 's underdevelopment .
But it is Western powers that Mr Magufuli is most suspicious of , and he accuses local `` puppets '' - usually a cast of opposition politicians , rights activists and critical journalists - of championing the interests of their `` masters '' .
`` This healthy suspicion sometimes fuels paranoia , which is strange for a president who has consolidated so much power , '' Tanzanian analyst Thabit Jacob told the BBC .
`` His nationalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is squeezing the opposition , narrowing civic space , cracking down on the media and increasing surveillance . ''
Tanzanian writer Elsie Eyakuze said he had a `` brutal pragmatism that leans on a particular world view of strong leadership .
`` It does not allow for discussion or dissent about methods or outcomes as this would ostensibly weaken the government or introduce an element of chaos . ''
No trips to the West Mr Magufuli has revived use of the Swahili word `` beberu '' .
It literally means `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly used to refer to `` Western imperialists '' when Tanzania was fighting for independence , and when a socialist government took office following the end of British colonial rule .
Mr Magufuli has not been on a single official visit to a Western nation since coming to power .
Nor has he attended , as president , sessions of the UN General Assembly , which other African leaders see as an opportunity to spell out their vision to a global audience .
You may also be interested in : • Coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Find out more about John Magufuli He has attended African Union summits and visited a few African countries - including Rwanda and Uganda , whose leaders in many ways share his suspicions of Western nations .
However , he puts his vision for the nation ahead of his pan-African ideals .
He did not attend regional summits to discuss the coronavirus crisis , and the temporary border closure of Tanzania 's borders with Zambia and Kenya point to diplomatic tensions .
When Uganda 's President Yoweri Museveni described the regional body , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` household '' whose `` occupants '' needed to co-operate to combat the virus , Mr Magufuli - without directly referring to his Ugandan counterpart 's comments - said at a church service in his home town that `` we co-operate in bringing development .
However , in resolving a problem , everyone has their own means '' .
Unlike Uganda and Rwanda , Mr Magufuli did not impose a lockdown to curb the virus , saying he feared it would cause poverty .
As a result , he has come under criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say densely populated cities should have been under lockdown .
However , Mr Magufuli is not alone in rejecting such measures .
Data collected by the respected Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Africa CDC ) shows that around a quarter of African states , including Ethiopia , did not shut down to curb the spread of the virus .
• Why lockdowns may not be the answer in Africa And soon after the first Covid-19 case was detected in the country in mid-March , Tanzania took measures such as closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before this , Mr Magufuli famously exchanged a foot greeting with opposition politician Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad at the presidential mansion as health experts warned that the virus could spread through handshakes .
Despite this , World Health Organization ( WHO ) Africa director Matshidiso Moeti accused Tanzania of acting slowly to curb the spread of the virus .
`` In Tanzania we have observed that physical distancing , including the prohibition of mass gatherings , took some time to happen and we believe that these might have been probable factors that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the South African-born WHO official said in April .
For his critics , one of Mr Magufuli 's biggest mistakes has been to encourage religious services , sometimes without social distancing , despite the fact that most health experts say the risk of infections spreading is extremely high at such gatherings .
`` Coronavirus is a devil .
It can not live in the body of Christ , '' the Tanzanian leader , who has a PhD in chemistry and is a devout Catholic , said in March .
And when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said : `` The corona disease has been eliminated thanks to God . ''
A few days later he appeared to row back on his statement , saying the virus was still around and urging people to continue to take precautions such as washing their hands regularly .
But on Tuesday , in his final parliamentary address before election campaigning started , Mr Magufuli repeated that God had spared Tanzania the virus , and called for all schools to reopen and for a return to normality .
However on the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tanzania had 66 active coronavirus cases , releasing data for the first time since April when Mr Magufuli questioned the reliability of the figures .
In at least two previous speeches , Mr Magufuli described Tanzania 's fight against the disease as `` warfare '' , hinting that he saw it as a `` Western plot '' .
`` There are so many unbelievable things being done in this country .
Either the imperialists have bought off the laboratory technicians , or they are not competent , which is not true , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credibility of testing kits , without saying who had supplied them .
`` So many times , I have insisted that not everything that you are given is good .
There could be people being used , that equipment could be used… but it could also be sabotage because this is warfare , '' he said , lurching towards a conspiracy theory .
Mr Magufuli has also championed traditional medication , including steam inhalation and a Malagasy-produced tonic made from the artemisia plant , to fight the virus , despite the WHO saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works .
`` Magufuli sees African nations as allies , or at least , not 'mabeberu ' , and therefore , prefers to deal with them and seek out medical remedies from them rather than from elsewhere , '' Tanzanian political analyst Dan Paget said .
Many health experts believe the leaders - who also include Liberia 's George Weah - are creating false hopes , but herbal medicine is part of the lives of most Africans .
WHO data shows that 80 % of them use it .
Whether Mr Magufuli 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming months .
For now , he has strengthened his support among many African nationalists , religious conservatives , and businessmen , bolstering his chances of securing a second term in the October election .
When Mr Kikwete handed power to him in 2015 , he said : `` I 'm leaving , but we 've brought this chuma [ Swahili for a piece of iron ] . ''
It was an apt description of Mr Magufuli 's style of leadership , which has been applauded by his supporters and loathed @ @ @ @

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


bbc--2020-06-17--Last of Us Part 2: Creators say diversity in games ‘essential’

The abandoned house is pitch black , except for the dim circle of light squeezing out of your torch .
As you sneak past the moth-bitten sofa , broken television and toppled chest of drawers , suddenly you realise you 're not alone .
The sound of pained screeching and clicking pierces the silence and , seemingly out of nowhere , a hunched figure with its limbs at unnatural angles , starts shuffling towards you .
Now you - or rather Ellie , your character - has a decision to make .
Try to kill it , or run ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ellie is one of the most famous characters in gaming 's recent history .
Ashley first auditioned for the role in 2012 and tells us : `` I am so unbelievably proud to play this character .
`` I love Ellie and think it 's very important for people to see characters like her in video games . ''
`` To have a young female lead that is gay makes it feel real . ''
The Last of Us Part 2 is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Last of Us - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 95 out of 100 .
It followed the story of the then teenage girl Ellie and her smuggler protector Joel .
They travelled across the US as scientists tried to develop a cure for an infection that turned half the world into zombie-like creatures and led to the breakdown of society .
Its ending kept gamers and critics talking for a long time and the sequel picks up Ellie and Joel 's story a few years later .
Ashley describes Ellie as `` someone who 's a little quiet at times and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable '' .
The new game is focused on her and a diverse cast of characters .
There 's a trans person , people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and different sexualities .
It is something the games industry has been criticised for lacking in the past - especially in major releases like this .
Ashley says : `` I just think it 's essential , representation in all media , we need it in every form .
`` I think things are slowly starting to change .
`` I would love to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't considered something risky . ''
For game director Neil Druckman , the decision was n't made for the sake of it : `` We did n't say , 'Let 's get diverse just to stand out ' .
It was more like an option to give us a richer story . ''
Neil is also one of the bosses at the development studio Naughty Dog , and says they 've been slowly trying to broaden the scope of the characters in their games for years .
`` Some of the stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like even putting Ellie on the front of the box was a bit controversial .
I do n't think it should have been , but it was at the time .
`` I think that 's why we feel more confident to be able to draw all these different kinds of characters , with different backgrounds and identities to give us a diversity of storytelling .
`` That does n't automatically make the story better .
But there 's something magical when people see themselves in games , it broadens our audience and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Neil is also aware that his studio is in a privileged position to be able to take risks : `` Naughty Dog has had a series of commercial successes , so it allows us to take chances .
`` If The Last of Us Part 2 is successful , and someone wants to make a game with a similar cast , at least then marketing teams can look over and be like , 'Well that worked ' so it wo n't be the thing that holds people back . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bumpy ride for the developer .
From delays due to the coronavirus pandemic , to story leaks and criticisms of violent trailers .
It is a bleak world that Ellie and Joel inhabit and some reviews of the game have questioned the level of violence .
Neil is n't flustered when considering criticisms of his game , saying : `` I think if we 're telling this story in a different medium then the body count would n't be as high .
`` It needs to be as high because we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game plays .
`` What we 're going for , is that how it feels is more important than what the body count would be in real life .
`` Ellie could not take on this many people , we know that , but we 're after a certain kind of adrenaline and tension .
`` I do n't know how we could have created that with just a handful of people for you to come up against , that does n't mean it 's not possible and I 'd love to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the feeling of authenticity is more important than the actual one-to-one realism . ''
The game is releasing at a time of major discussions across the world about racial and gender equality .
Neil says this game reflects that : `` It 's very much based on real world conflict and tribalism .
`` Things that we now unfortunately see very clear examples of in the US .
`` But they 're not new .
They 've been with us for the entire history of our species , and they probably will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more games to explore this kind of stuff . ''
As for Ashley - an actor who spends lots of time working in games - she hopes things will keep changing : `` It feels like the industry grew up '' .
`` We 've learned things and we need to start telling stories that include everyone .
`` When you see that and play it , you 'll see how important that is . ''
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"If The Last of Us Part 2 is successful, and someone wants to make a game with a similar cast, at least then marketing teams can look over and be like, 'Well that worked' so it won't be the thing that holds people back."


bbc--2020-06-17--Why a recession can be a good time to start a business

What do General Motors , Burger King , CNN , Uber and Airbnb all have in common ?
The were all founded during economic downturns .
GM launched in 1908 , when the US economy was in turmoil after `` the Panic of 1907 '' financial crisis .
Meanwhile , Burger King flipped its first patty in 1953 , when the US was again in recession , and CNN started its news broadcasts in 1980 , when US inflation hit almost 15 % .
For both Uber and Airbnb , they set up business during the global financial crisis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the best , and longest-lasting , companies are set up during downturns , according to Dane Strangler , a fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Centre , in Washington DC .
He says that the difficult economic backdrop makes them both tougher and more nimble for years to come .
`` There 's this trial by fire idea , '' he says .
`` If you get started in a recession , you really have to scrape and scrimp to make that company successful .
`` You are trying to make it when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to get customers when there is n't any demand . ''
We are certainly in a downturn again now , as a result of coronavirus and the subsequent lockdowns around the world .
The World Bank predicts that the global economy will shrink by 5.2 % in 2020 , its worst performance since 1946 and the aftermath of World War Two .
The US economy is already in recession , and the Bank of England predicts that the UK is about to see its sharpest downturn since 1706 .
That 's 314 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , successful companies can be born in tough times .
Could there be promising start-ups from the entrepreneurial class of 2020 that will go on to become household names ?
More new businesses are certainly being set up despite - and as a result of - coronavirus .
In the US , 67,160 applications were filed to set up new companies in the last week of May , official figures show .
That was a 21 % rise on the same seven days in 2019 .
Whereas from 2018 to 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Robert Fairlie , an economics professor at the University of California Santa Cruz , says the latest increase is party because more people start businesses when jobs are scarce .
He calls this `` necessity entrepreneurship '' .
`` If someone does n't have opportunities in a salaried job , that 's part of the motivation [ behind setting up their own company ] , '' he says .
But some entrepreneurs may have had ideas for businesses stewing for a while .
`` With the shutdown people have had more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from busy work schedules , '' says Prof Fairlie .
`` So if there 's a business idea they 've had , they might thing , let 's try this out . ''
More from the BBC 's series taking an international perspective on trade : • Coronavirus may have huge impact on property markets • 'You audition for a show only for it to get cancelled ’ • How coronavirus is changing the adverts you see • How can the car industry hope to recover ?
Other new start-ups have recognised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has presented business opportunities that also allow them to do their bit to help defeat the pandemic .
This is especially true when it comes to PPE or personal protective equipment , and the number of new firms set up in the past few months to fill a shortfall in supply .
Matthew Campbell-Hill and his wife Lydia launched their business Aerosol Shield in April .
The firm 's eponymous product is a small , pop-up medical isolation shield or `` tent '' .
Transparent plastic sheeting attached to a plastic frame , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's head and shoulders , thereby reducing medical staff 's exposure to the person 's coughs .
`` We did n't set out to start a business , [ but ] we went from knowing about the issue to launching the company in six days , and taking bulk orders before we 'd finished the seventh day . ''
says Mr Campbell-Hill , who is a senior fellow at the University of Birmingham 's Institute of Clinical Sciences .
To make the shields , he and Lydia - who is a GP - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes tents for armies and humanitarian organisations , and is also Europe 's largest manufacturer of bouncy castles .
Another UK business launched as a result of coronavirus is Hidden Smile , a facemask supplier set up earlier this month by Oxfordshire-based entrepreneur Neil Cotton .
Its masks are made from two layers of cotton , with a folded paper filter inside .
`` You do n't need to replace the filter as often , as it is n't exposed to the outside world , nor , crucially , to the moisture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cotton .
`` You also look like an extra from [ medical TV drama ] Holby City . ''
Other industries that have seen a big rise in business as a result of coronavirus , and therefore offer opportunities to new start-ups , include home improvement and the delivery sector .
Nicole Gibbons , who founded US paint firm Clare in 2018 , says that sales have soared as a result of the lockdown .
`` Normally people would rather have brunch on weekends , and not paint their homes . ''
she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabin fever , and want to do something . ''
Meanwhile , London-based courier business Gophr says it has just seen its busiest ever two months as more people have got a taste for online shopping .
For anyone thinking of now setting up their own business , Markus Berger de Leon , a partner at management consultancy McKinsey , says think long and hard before you make the plunge .
But if you do jump , then move quickly .
`` You really need to think , 'should I spend my next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something else ? '
, '' he says .
`` And that makes you need to embrace and scale one skill that is core to your company .
And think about doing that with as little money , as fast as possible .
The start-ups that survive a recession as ones that learn fastest . ''

Nicole Gibbons, who founded US paint firm Clare in 2018, says that sales have soared as a result of the lockdown. "Normally people would rather have brunch on weekends, and not paint their homes." she says. "But now they have cabin fever, and want to do something."


bbc--2020-06-17--Coronavirus: What is dexamethasone and how does it work?

An anti-inflammatory drug called dexamethasone has been hailed as a ground-breaking treatment for hospital patients seriously ill with Covid-19 .
A UK trial showed the drug could save lives - the first internationally to do so - and it can be used in the NHS immediately .
What is the drug ?
Dexamethasone is a steroid - a medicine that reduces inflammation by mimicking anti-inflammatory hormones produced by the body .
How does it work ?
This drug works by dampening down the body 's immune system .
Coronavirus infection triggers inflammation as the body tries to fight it off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into overdrive and it 's this reaction that can prove fatal - the very reaction designed to attack infection ends up attacking the body 's own cells .
It 's only suitable for people who are already in hospital and receiving oxygen or mechanical ventilation - the most unwell .
The drug does not work on people with milder symptoms , and suppressing their immune system at this point would not be helpful .
How effective is it ?
According to the scientists who carried out the trials , one in three deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For patients on oxygen , it could prevent one death in five .
There was no significant benefit for patients who were not receiving respiratory support .
What was the trial ?
The results come from the Recovery ( Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 therapy ) trial , conducted by the University of Oxford .
It 's testing whether existing medicines used for other conditions could also be useful in treating Covid-19 .
About 2,100 patients received a 6mg daily dose of dexamethasone in the trial for 10 days .
Their progress was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 4,300 patients who received no additional treatment .
Scientists hope dexamethasone could eventually be used as part of a suite of drugs which , together , could reduce deaths even further .
It is now recommended for adults , not including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding .
How widely available is the drug ?
Dexamethasone is a low-cost drug which already exists and is in good supply .
The UK government says it has already stockpiled enough of the drug to treat 200,000 people , in anticipation of a good result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug will cost £5.40 a day per patient and the treatment lasts for up to 10 days .
It was first made in 1957 and became available for use in the UK in the early 1960s .
Because it 's been around for such a long time , the drug is out of patent .
That means lots of different companies can make it and it is widely available around the world .
The Department of Health and Social Care says the drug has also been added to the government 's parallel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buying medicines meant for UK patients and selling them on for a higher price in another country .
The World Health Organization has welcomed the trial results , saying more therapies are now needed for milder symptoms .
The findings are particularly good news for developing countries too .
In many African nations , for example , the drug costs less than two dollars .
In South Africa , where the drug is manufactured , the government has already been advised to use it to treat patients on oxygen or ventilation support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 5,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Africa , the majority of whom had underlying health conditions .
What other conditions is it used for ?
The drug can help treat various illnesses involving inflammation or swelling in the body , or conditions where the immune system goes into overdrive - for example , severe asthma which can cause inflammation in the airways and lungs , severe allergic reactions or painful , inflamed joints .
Dexamethasone is also useful in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus , which are caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body .
Are there any side-effects ?
Common side effects of dexamethasone used for other conditions include anxiety , difficulty sleeping , weight gain and fluid retention .
However , coronavirus patients only need a relatively low dose which should limit side effects .
The Chief Medical Officer for England said there were `` no excess harms identified in using this dose of dexamethasone in this patient population '' .
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• EUROPE LOCKDOWN : How is it being lifted ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ means and why it matters • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Coronavirus: What is dexamethasone and how does it work? Published 18 June 2020
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Image source, Getty Images
An anti-inflammatory drug called dexamethasone has been hailed as a ground-breaking treatment for hospital patients seriously ill with Covid-19.
A UK trial showed the drug could save lives - the first internationally to do so - and it can be used in the NHS immediately.
What is the drug?
Dexamethasone is a steroid - a medicine that reduces inflammation by mimicking anti-inflammatory hormones produced by the body.
How does it work?
This drug works by dampening down the body's immune system.
Coronavirus infection triggers inflammation as the body tries to fight it off.
But sometimes the immune system goes into overdrive and it's this reaction that can prove fatal - the very reaction designed to attack infection ends up attacking the body's own cells.
Dexamethasone calms this effect.
It's only suitable for people who are already in hospital and receiving oxygen or mechanical ventilation - the most unwell.
The drug does not work on people with milder symptoms, because suppressing their immune system at this point would not be helpful.
How effective is it?
According to the scientists who carried out the trials, one in three deaths could be prevented among patients on ventilators.
For patients on oxygen, it could prevent one death in five.
There was no significant benefit for patients who were not receiving respiratory support.
What was the trial?
The results come from the Recovery (Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 therapy) trial, conducted by the University of Oxford.
It's testing whether existing medicines used for other conditions could also be useful in treating Covid-19.
About 2,100 patients received a 6mg daily dose of dexamethasone in the trial for 10 days.
Their progress was compared with a random sample of just over 4,300 patients who received no additional treatment.
Scientists hope dexamethasone could eventually be used as part of a suite of drugs which, together, could reduce deaths even further.
It is now recommended for adults, not including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How widely available is the drug?
Dexamethasone is a low-cost drug which already exists and is in good supply.
The UK government says it had already stockpiled enough of the drug to treat 200,000 people, in anticipation of a good result from the trial.
The drug costs from £5.40 a day per patient and the treatment on Covid-19 patients lasts for up to 10 days.
It was first made in 1957 and became available for use in the UK in the early 1960s.
Because it's been around for such a long time, the drug is out of patent.
That means lots of different companies can make the drug and it is widely available around the world.
The Department of Health and Social Care says the drug has also been added to the government's parallel export list, which bans companies from buying medicines meant for UK patients and selling them on for a higher price in another country.
Image source, JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP
What's reaction been worldwide?
The World Health Organization has welcomed the trial results, saying more therapies are now needed for milder symptoms.
The findings are particularly good news for developing countries too.
In many African nations, for example, the drug costs less than two dollars.
In South Africa, where the drug is manufactured, the government has already been advised to use it to treat patients on oxygen or ventilation support.
Data from the WHO shows that more than 5,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Africa, the majority of whom had underlying health conditions.
What other conditions is it used for?
The drug can help treat various illnesses involving inflammation or swelling in the body, or conditions where the immune system goes into overdrive - for example, severe asthma which can cause inflammation in the airways and lungs, severe allergic reactions or painful, inflamed joints.
Dexamethasone is also useful in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, which are caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body.
Are there any side-effects?
Common side effects of dexamethasone used for non-Covid conditions include anxiety, difficulty sleeping, weight gain and fluid retention.
Rarer side effects include eye disorders, blurred vision and haemorrhage.
However, coronavirus patients only need a relatively low dose which should limit side effects.
The Chief Medical Officer for England said there were "no excess harms identified in using this dose of dexamethasone in this patient population".
Do other steroids work?
Prof Peter Horby, who led the UK research on dexamethasone, said the use of steroids to treat viral respiratory infections, such as Covid-19, has been controversial.
Trials of the drugs during other disease outbreaks, including Sars - another coronavirus- were mixed with some showing a benefit, but others not.
"It's been a huge ongoing debate," says Prof Horby.
Scientists are trialling other steroids, such as methylprednisolone, in coronavirus patients with some promising early results.