bbc--2020-07-21--Johnny Depp and Amber Heard: Elon Musk offered actress '24/7' security

Elon Musk offered Amber Heard `` 24/7 security '' after she told him she wanted a restraining order against Johnny Depp , the High Court has heard .
She denied Mr Musk visited her while her then-husband Mr Depp was away .
Mr Depp , 57 , is suing the publisher of the Sun over an article that labelled him a `` wife beater '' - but the newspaper insists it was accurate .
The US actress , 34 , was giving evidence in London for a second day on the 11th day of her ex-husband 's libel action .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kill me , says Heard • Depp 'never , never violent to me ' - Winona Ryder She dismissed suggestions Mr Musk visited her in 2015 while Mr Depp was away , saying she was not in touch with the Tesla founder until the following year .
On Tuesday , Mr Depp 's lawyer , Eleanor Laws QC , questioned Ms Heard on her statement , in which the lawyer said the actress had indicated that Mr Depp was `` illogically jealous '' and that she was n't having any `` illicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Justice Nicol , intervened to say the word `` illicit ... carries a connotation '' .
The lawyer read out text messages between Ms Heard and Mr Musk from 22 May 2016 , in which Ms Heard told him that she was going to get a restraining order against Mr Depp .
The messages came a day after an alleged incident at the Eastern Columbia Building in Los Angeles , where Mr Depp and Ms Heard lived , in which the actress claims Mr Depp threw her mobile phone at her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actor denies .
Questioning Ms Heard , Ms Laws said Mr Musk offered to `` arrange 24/7 security for you '' , adding that he said : `` The offer would stand , even if you never wanted to see me again ... anyway , sorry for being an idiot .
The radio silence hurts a lot .
It only matters because I really like you . ''
The barrister cited evidence from Alejandro Romero , a concierge at the Eastern Columbia Building , who said he saw Mr Musk visiting Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia '' .
Ms Heard said Mr Romero was `` wrong '' , insisting that she was n't in communication with Mr Musk until 2016 .
In his written witness statement , Mr Romero said : `` From March 2015 onwards , Ms Heard was visited regularly late at night , at around 11pm to midnight , by Mr Elon Musk . ''
The concierge claimed Ms Heard gave Mr Musk his own fob to access the building .
Ms Laws later put it to the actress that in March 2015 , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Mr Musk , which Ms Heard denied .
Ms Heard has said that Mr Depp accused her of having affairs with fellow actors , including James Franco - with whom she starred in the film The Adderall Diaries .
Mr Depp 's lawyer asked Ms Heard about Mr Franco and her comment in her statement that he was `` someone that Mr Depp was accusing you of having an affair with and he was quite wrong about it '' .
Ms Heard said : `` That 's right . ''
The lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actress travelling downstairs in the lift at the Eastern Columbia Building on 22 May 2016 at around 23:00 local time ( 06:00 BST ) , before travelling back upstairs shortly after with Mr Franco .
After Ms Heard confirmed that the man in the footage was Mr Franco , Ms Laws asked her if she was trying to `` avoid '' being seen by the camera .
Ms Heard replied that the pair were `` talking '' and Mr Franco was saying to her `` 'oh my god , what happened to you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Heard said she collected Mr Franco from downstairs after 23:00 local time , before adding that `` in those days , I did n't sleep much at night '' .
Ms Laws turned to an alleged incident in which Mr Depp 's cleaner was said to have found faeces in his bed the morning after Ms Heard 's 30th birthday party at the Eastern Columbia Building .
Mr Depp has previously said it was `` a mystery '' who defecated in the bed `` and it was not left by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to the couple 's dogs .
He said he was `` convinced '' that Ms Heard or `` one of her cohort '' had defecated on the bed .
Ms Heard denied that she or any of her friends had left `` human excrement '' on the bed when challenged by Ms Laws , calling such an act `` absolutely disgusting '' .
Asked about the couple 's dog and its problem with toilet training , Ms Heard said it had become a `` common occurrence '' after one of the dogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a puppy .
She said Mr Depp 's housekeeper Hilda Vargas would clean up after the dogs `` occasionally '' but that when her ex-husband 's dog had accidents in the bed she herself would clean it up .
Ms Laws said Ms Vargas `` knew the difference '' between the mess the couples ' dogs made and human faeces , and asked Ms Heard if Ms Vargas was wrong .
Ms Heard said : `` I ca n't imagine what kind of human being would have a sense of humour like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think that 's funny , I think it 's horrific . ''
' I hit him to protect my sister' Ms Heard was asked about the alleged `` stairs incident '' in LA in March 2015 , when the actress has said she thought Mr Depp was going to push her sister , Whitney Henriquez , down the stairs .
Mr Depp 's barrister put it to Ms Heard that she `` was the violent one '' in the `` very nasty row '' between the actress and her now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depp had hit her and her sister , and denied Ms Law 's suggestions that she threw a can of Red Bull and spat at him .
She admitted striking Mr Depp `` in defence '' of her sister , as she thought he was `` about to push her down the stairs '' .
Ms Heard said this belief was based on a `` rumour '' she had heard from `` two people '' that Mr Depp had `` pushed a former girlfriend '' , which she thought was Kate Moss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would `` never forget '' the incident in LA , as it was the `` first time '' she had hit him back in all the `` years '' she claimed Mr Depp had hit her .
Ms Laws challenged Ms Heard that she had never mentioned the claim about Ms Moss before , suggesting the actress was `` making this up as you go along '' .
Ms Heard said that she did n't have `` the opportunity ( to list ) every instance of every moment of every memory that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The libel case centres on an article published on the Sun 's website in April 2018 headlined : `` Gone Potty : How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy ' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film ? ''
.
The article related to allegations made by Ms Heard , which Mr Depp denies .
Her evidence was initially due to conclude on Wednesday but will now continue until Thursday morning , with her friends Melanie Inglessis and Joshua Drew expected to appear by videolink on Wednesday afternoon .

Questioning Ms Heard, Ms Laws said Mr Musk offered to "arrange 24/7 security for you", adding that he said: "The offer would stand, even if you never wanted to see me again... anyway, sorry for being an idiot. The radio silence hurts a lot. It only matters because I really like you."


bbc--2020-07-21--Nile dam dispute: Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan agree to resume talks

Ethiopia , Egypt and Sudan have agreed to resume talks over the Grand Renaissance Dam reservoir on the Blue Nile , following a virtual summit .
The project has been a source of huge diplomatic tension since its construction began in Ethiopia in 2011 .
Ethiopia sees the hydroelectric project as crucial for its economic growth and a vital source of energy .
But Egypt and Sudan , which are downstream , fear the large dam will greatly reduce their access to water .
Years of fraught negotiations have failed to reach a consensus on how and when to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should release .
• Why the dam is so controversial • Who owns the River Nile - and why it matters • Why the Nile could see a 'water war' If it becomes operational , the dam will generate 6,000 megawatts , making it the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa .
It will provide power to some 65 million Ethiopians , who currently lack a regular electricity supply .
The agreement to resume talks was struck during a meeting of the African Union , chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ahmed hailed the progress , adding that the $ 4bn ( £3bn ) dam was already `` overtopping '' due to rains over the last couple of weeks .
Ethiopia had always said it would fill the dam in July , while Egypt had warned it to delay while talks continued .
In a statement , Egypt 's presidency said future negotiations would focus on `` developing a binding legal agreement on the rules for filling and operating '' the dam .
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The statement did not give a figure for how much water was now in the dam reservoir but Ethiopia previously said the first-year target was 4.9 billion cubic meters of water, taking it up to the height of the lowest point on the dam wall.


bbc--2020-07-20--Coronavirus: Did 'herd immunity' change the course of the outbreak?

On Thursday 12 March , everyday life remained relatively normal across the UK .
The back pages of the newspapers were dominated by the victory of Atletico Madrid over Liverpool - 50,000 fans had crammed into Anfield stadium .
Throughout that day shoppers shopped , while millions drove to work or poured out of trains into city centres .
And in the evening , people went out .
At Wembley Arena , Lewis Capaldi sang to an audience of 12,000 fans - having urged them to bring hand sanitiser with them .
Around the UK people headed for events big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal times .
A new coronavirus was spreading across the globe .
On that day , Italy was shutting all non-essential shops and the Republic of Ireland announced that schools would close .
But looking back , the question that will always be asked is - did the UK go into lockdown too slowly ?
Should those crowds have been out that day ?
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) had been asking countries to do everything they could to contain the infection since late February .
And some countries were scaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppress the virus .
But on 12 March , the UK had all but abandoned community testing to focus on those sick enough to be admitted to hospital .
At the time , there were 590 known cases of coronavirus in the UK - more than four times the number in the previous week .
The government announced it was moving out of the `` contain '' phase into the `` delay '' phase .
The risk level was raised to high , and anyone with symptoms was asked to self-isolate for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start .
At a press conference Prime Minister Boris Johnson , his chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty explained the policy to keep schools open and to allow major public events to go ahead .
Johnson said that according to scientific advice , banning major public events would have little effect on the spread of the disease .
Prof Whitty argued that beginning social distancing measures `` too early '' would risk people becoming tired of them and public compliance waning .
And Sir Patrick began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity .
Speaking about the coronavirus he said : `` It 's not possible to stop everybody getting it and it 's also actually not desirable because you want some immunity in the population .
We need immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future . ''
Mr Johnson reiterated that people should remember to wash their hands .
The next day tens of thousands of people poured into Cheltenham Racecourse to watch the Gold Cup .
Sir Patrick was on BBC Radio 4 's Today programme .
He said the thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to `` reduce the peak '' , and because most people would only get a `` mild illness '' , to `` build up some degree of herd immunity… so that more people are immune to this disease and we reduce the transmission '' .
At the same time , he said , the vulnerable would need to be protected from the virus .
In response to a question asking whether it would be a `` good thing '' to allow the disease to spread widely now , rather than later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high numbers of infections over a short period of time , overwhelming the NHS .
`` So that 's the flattening of the peak .
You ca n't stop it , so that you should end up with a broader peak , during which time you would anticipate that more people will get immunity to this and that in itself then becomes a protective part of this process . ''
He said previous epidemics had shown that measures to strongly suppress the virus risked it bouncing back when they were ended .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point at which a population has developed protection against a disease .
There are two ways to do this .
Vaccination is one route .
But with any new virus it 's impossible to say how long it will take to develop a vaccine , if ever .
The other way is for people to catch the disease and build up some form of immunity .
If exposed to the virus again , it is assumed they have protection .
If most people in a population are protected then the virus can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems .
One is that with a new virus - like this particular coronavirus - it 's not always clear how much protection having had the disease , particularly a mild case , gives you or how long it lasts .
And if most of the population catches the disease , many thousands might die .
On 13 March , Sir Patrick stated that about 60 % of the population would need to become infected for society to have `` herd immunity '' - effectively some 40 million people in the UK .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that 's going to be an important part of controlling this longer term , '' he told Sky News .
These comments sparked an immediate backlash .
Anthony Costello , professor of health and sustainable development at University College London and a former director of maternal and child health at the WHO , tweeted : `` Is it ethical to adopt a policy that threatens immediate casualties on the basis of an uncertain future benefit ? ''
And Dr Margaret Harris from the WHO told the BBC 's Today programme on 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough about the science of this virus .
We can talk theories , but at the moment we are really facing a situation where we have got to look at action . ''
That day , more than 200 scientists - ranging from experts in mathematics to genetics - signed an open letter to the government urging it to introduce tougher measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 .
`` We consider the social distancing measures taken as of today as insufficient , and we believe that additional and more restrictive measures should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to play down the words that had sparked the furore .
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said Sir Patrick 's comments had been misinterpreted .
`` Herd immunity is not part of our action plan but is a natural by-product of an epidemic , '' he said .
That same evening , the Telegraph website published an article by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock .
`` We have a plan , based on the expertise of world-leading scientists .
Herd immunity is not a part of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a goal or a strategy . ''
On Sunday 15 March , the health secretary appeared on the BBC 's Andrew Marr and Sky 's Sophy Ridge programmes , restating that herd immunity was not the government 's policy .
The Telegraph website said the government had appeared to `` U-turn on the idea '' .
The Express said herd immunity had been abandoned after `` a huge backlash '' .
But despite repeated government denials , the BBC has learned that on 13 March , when Sir Patrick Vallance was outlining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , herd immunity was being discussed at the heart of the health service .
From the start of the outbreak , Simon Enright , director for communications for NHS England and NHS Improvement , would offer weekly briefings to media teams in other health organisations and medical royal colleges .
He and his team would share some of the latest information on strategy and thinking .
The BBC has seen contemporaneous notes from the meetings and spoken to people on the calls .
At the meeting on 13 March , Mr Enright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government 's top scientific and medical advisers .
The notes say the communications chief shared NHS England 's own advice on holding internal work events , but say `` we are not telling you what to do '' .
`` We want people to be infected with Covid-19 , '' the notes say .
`` The best way of managing it is herd immunity and protect the vulnerable . ''
Mr Enright was clear where the idea had come from , according to the notes .
It was on the `` direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chief scientific adviser .
NHS England had cancelled one of its own events but only so staff could be retained to work on the coronavirus response , according to the notes .
`` In other words - if you cancel events to stop people coming out of service that 's fine , but do n't cancel because of risk of infection . ''
NHS England says Mr Enright was paraphrasing what he had heard Vallance say on the Today programme that morning , and other comments made in the press briefings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government followed in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` This is chaos , '' says Richard Horton , editor of the medical journal The Lancet , who has criticised what he sees as the failure to heed early warnings from China .
`` This is no way to manage a pandemic .
`` What it shows is that at the heart of the government 's response there was no clear command-and-control structure as to how we were going to manage this outbreak .
`` It 's very important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herd immunity , because history is being rewritten at the moment and herd immunity is being written out of the history . ''
A government spokesperson said : `` This is a new virus and an unprecedented global pandemic , and our strategy to protect , delay , contain , research and mitigate was clear from the outset .
It is categorically wrong to suggest herd immunity was the government 's aim . ''
Some critics believe it is problematic if herd immunity was part of the government 's thinking at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific adviser to the government between 2000 and 2007 , has been a vocal critic of the UK government 's efforts to fight coronavirus .
`` I can only give you one rational explanation for this tragedy and that is that they had decided to go for herd immunity .
We did hear the phrase 'herd immunity ' , although the government subsequently somehow denied that they were doing that . ''
There are plenty of experts who now believe an earlier lockdown would have saved lives .
Prof Neil Ferguson , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a committee of MPs on 10 June the number of coronavirus deaths could have been halved if lockdown had been introduced only a week earlier .
But the prime minister responded to Prof Ferguson 's comments hours later at the No 10 press conference that day , saying it was `` simply too early to judge ourselves '' .
`` We made the decisions at the time on the guidance of Sage [ the government 's scientific advisory group ] , including Prof Ferguson , that we thought were right for this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spent months speaking to more than a dozen scientists advising the government on its response to the outbreak to try to find out just how important the concept of herd immunity was to the scientific thinking that drove government strategy at the beginning of the outbreak .
Some of Sage 's papers model different ways of responding to the outbreak .
Two of the options when responding to a disease like Covid-19 are known as suppression and mitigation , according to Dr Thomas House , a statistician from the University of Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( SPI-M ) that feeds into Sage .
Suppression , he says , aims to reduce infections to zero , while mitigation accepts the inevitability of an outbreak and concentrates efforts on minimising suffering .
`` If a tsunami is coming we do n't try to stop the tsunami , we just try to ensure that the minimum number of people are harmed by it . ''
`` Herd immunity was on the table , '' says Prof Ian Hall , an epidemiologist , head of the University of Manchester modelling team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attended multiple Sage meetings .
He described it `` as a concept '' , a technical term typically used when discussing the spread of disease .
Dr Hall says SPI-M discussed a range of options to be able to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed and buy it time to prepare , while the population achieved `` some sort of herd immunity '' .
Herd immunity can be achieved by an uncontrolled spread of infection which can happen quickly , but that would overwhelm the NHS .
Hall says this was never realistic because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of deaths .
But it can also be achieved by measures to mitigate the disease which look to protect lives , in the absence of any vaccine , and build up immunity over a long time .
Jeremy Hunt , chairman of the health and social care select committee , has criticised the scientific advice at the start of the pandemic , calling it `` wrong '' .
`` Ministers were given the choice of extreme lockdown or mitigated herd immunity , '' he recently told the Times newspaper .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adoption of a testing regime used in previous coronavirus outbreaks in East Asia .
`` We were unfortunately following a flu policy , not Sars ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) . ''
The government has spent much of the past decade preparing for a flu pandemic - something consistently rated the number one natural hazard threat on the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies .
What do I need to know about the coronavirus ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor and chairwoman of global public health at University of Edinburgh 's Medical School , says the 2011 flu plan - which still forms the basis of a planned response to such a pandemic - appears primarily concerned with mitigating the impact of the virus .
`` This was very much the view that you could not control or contain this outbreak , '' she says .
`` [ The virus is ] going to run through , it 's inevitable , it 's unstoppable . ''
Sridhar , who is also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisory group , says the initial UK response looked like it was `` largely out of the 'flu playbook ' '' .
`` It was the idea that you do n't want to disrupt people 's lives .
You want to keep things moving but you have to mitigate or take care of the health consequences as it flows through . ''
Dr Hall remembers the moment he began to question how close the UK was to emulating scenes in Italy .
He and a team at the University of Manchester had spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease might spread in the UK .
In mid-March , he was approached by some Chinese students at the university demanding to know why the UK was not acting faster , in line with the Chinese government 's response .
Dr Hall told them that scientists were not sure that transmission of the disease would be similar in the UK because of differences between the two countries .
But the students ' questioning got him and the team thinking .
Scientists had agreed the amount of time it was taking for infections to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a Sage consensus statement on 16 March .
But the Manchester team were concerned it could be much shorter , and the virus was spreading more rapidly .
After days of scrutinising data , Hall and the team found that the total number of positive swabs in Italy and the UK were doubling much faster , closer to every three days .
They presented this to SPI-M on 20 March .
The NHS was now just 14 days from being overwhelmed , according to their projections .
It took another three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , working with different data , to agree .
In the meantime , infections were rising exponentially , meaning every day was critical .
On 16 March , a crucial report was published by a team from Imperial College led by Prof Ferguson .
It looked at three scenarios : • doing nothing and letting the virus spread • a mitigated approach where the spread of the disease was accepted but measures were taken to slow it • Suppression , effectively trying to stop the epidemic in its tracks , and bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first scenario the modelling projected 500,000 dead , but even in the mitigated approach potential deaths were estimated at 250,000 with the NHS being completely overwhelmed .
Over the next seven days after the release of the report , an escalating series of actions was taken .
On 16 March the government set out its social distancing policy , on 18 March it announced schools would be closed and on 20 March pubs , bars , cafes , restaurants , clubs , theatres , cinemas and gyms were all closed with immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown was announced in an address to the nation by Boris Johnson .
Non-essential shops were closed and people were ordered to stay home .
And yet Prof Ferguson says he had already provided the government by early March with estimations of the likely number of deaths if a mitigation strategy was pursued - at least 305,000 .
This was revised down to 250,000 in the report he published on the 16 March but the NHS would still be over capacity .
`` Our projections of the potential health impact of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says .
They were `` actively discussed '' within government , he adds .
Prof Ferguson says he told Sage the findings were his best estimate of what was most likely to happen .
He says other scientists had reached similar conclusions too .
But Sage only considered these a reasonable worst-case scenario - of the kind used by the government to plan for a range of eventualities - and not a forecast of what was most likely to happen .
There were other early voices providing key pieces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been told that NHS England 's medical director Stephen Powis informed Sage as early as 13 March that projections predicted the NHS would not have capacity to cope under a strategy which looked only to mitigate the spread of the virus and not suppress it .
`` If that result was known on 5 March that 's devastating , '' says Richard Horton .
`` We wasted over two weeks when the virus was exponentially growing through communities up and down the country . ''
`` This information should have been publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that we could have had a public discussion and built public support for an early lockdown . ''
Scenes of hospitals being overwhelmed , such as those in northern Italy , were never replicated in the UK .
But in March , the virus was spreading inside care homes .
The need to `` protect the vulnerable '' had been mentioned repeatedly by the government and its advisers .
Graham Medley , chairman of SPI-M , gave an illustration of the challenges of delivering this when explaining herd immunity on BBC 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that theoretically - although impractically - one way to achieve it would be to move all vulnerable people to the north of Scotland , and the rest of the population to Kent .
That way `` a nice big epidemic '' in Kent would allow herd immunity and the re-mixing of the entire country again , he said .
`` We ca n't do that , so what we 're going to have to try and do , ideally , is manage this acquisition of herd immunity and minimise this exposure of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , co-chair of the Sage group advising on care homes , told the BBC that forecasts of the spread of infections in care homes were not conducted until early April .
It was not done previously because of a lack of data on the outbreak in care homes .
`` We did n't see the care home outbreaks back in March arising , '' he says .
Dr Hall says the links and infection risk between care homes , hospitals and the community were not well documented .
`` I did n't appreciate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff that move between care homes and the potential for staff to introduce disease , '' he says .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has on many occasions defended the government 's handling of the outbreak in care homes , insisting that from the beginning it had tried to throw a `` protective ring '' around them .
Four months on from the introduction of the lockdown , scientists remain unsure how long any immunity from coronavirus might last .
No-one knows when an effective vaccine will come .
But Dr Hall says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herd immunity .
`` Without a vaccine we will go on with transmissions at a relatively low level hopefully and with contact tracing and all the other interventions to mitigate the disease , we will eventually achieve herd immunity one way or another . ''
But that could take years .
For Prof Ferguson , the issue with the suppression strategy is it leaves many countries without a long-term exit plan and `` stuck in the same policy '' until a vaccine is found .
The fear is that as soon as restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across borders .
Only very few countries , such as New Zealand and Taiwan , have come close to eliminating the virus , he said .
Questions about the timing of policy decisions and the scientific advice that guided the response may take some time to answer .
The prime minister recently committed to an inquiry , but no timeframe has been given .
Sir Patrick told a Commons science committee on 16 July that it was `` clear that the outcome has not been good in the UK '' .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered when determining how a country has responded to the outbreak .
`` There will be decisions made that will turn out not to have been the right decisions at the time , '' he said .
Sir David King says that , `` When it comes to the inquiry , the politicians will say , 'We were just following the scientific advice . '
'' But King , like many of the scientists we spoke to , complains that this suggests there is one definitive view .
These scientists point out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's actions are ultimately based on political decisions .
The Prime Minister , Boris Johnson , Health Secretary Matt Hancock , chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance declined to give an interview .
A government spokesperson told the BBC : `` At every stage , we have been guided by the advice of experts from Sage and its subcommittees , and our response ensured the NHS was not overwhelmed even at the virus ' peak , so that everyone was always able to get the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics the danger is a second wave of infections will come without lessons having been learnt from the first .

A government spokesperson told the BBC: "At every stage, we have been guided by the advice of experts from Sage and its subcommittees, and our response ensured the NHS was not overwhelmed even at the virus' peak, so that everyone was always able to get the best possible care."


bbc--2020-07-21--Portland protests: Fresh violence as demonstrators clash with federal officers

The US city of Portland has seen another night of clashes between demonstrators and federal law enforcement officers sent by @ @ @ @ @ almost two months of anti-racism protests there .
Police in Portland , Oregon , said @ @ @ @ @ to disperse a large crowd of protesters - some armed with hammers - who had @ @ @ @ @ were throwing projectiles .
There have been nightly rallies in the city since the death @ @ @ @ @ custody in May , but clashes have escalated in recent days .
Mr Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ enforcement agents to protect government buildings in Portland has been deeply controversial .
The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ Brown , has demanded their withdrawal .
More about the Portland protests • Does Trump @ @ @ @ @ in federal forces ?
All images are subject to copyright .

The US city of Portland has seen another night of clashes between demonstrators and federal law enforcement officers sent by President Donald Trump to end almost two months of anti-racism protests there.


bbc--2020-07-21--Nordic couple gets married in border ceremony

A Norwegian bride married her Swedish groom at a ceremony conducted at the border between their countries - with the guests standing on each side of the border , in line with Covid-19 restrictions .
The couple told the BBC that they could n't wait any longer for the restrictions to be lifted .
''We did not want to change the date… all we wanted was to get married ! ''
they said .
And because Sweden has taken a much more relaxed approach to Covid-restrictions , neighbouring countries like Norway have not included it in the list of destinations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may also be interested in : So what the couple did was exchange their vows in the middle of a forest in Norway 's south-eastern Holebekk region , right next to the Swedish border .
They stood on one side of the border , separated by a white ribbon from some of their family and friends .
The bride , Camilla Oyjord , said she had suggested the idea as a joke , to which friends and families responded with enthusiasm .
''We wanted to become husband and wife !
Love conquers all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alexander Clern , said they did n't think anyone would come , as it was a long drive into the woods , but they were delighted by a big turnout of wedding guests .
And there were two uninvited guests as well - police officers who were there to make sure no one crossed the ribbon .
''The police officers asked politely if they could join in and watch .
We off course said yes to that , '' the newlyweds added .

So what the couple did was exchange their vows in the middle of a forest in Norway's south-eastern Holebekk region, right next to the Swedish border. They stood on one side of the border, separated by a white ribbon from some of their family and friends.


bbc--2020-07-21--Moon bears: Korean campaigners call for farm closures

Animal rights campaigners are asking the South Korean president for help to save hundreds of the country ’ s caged @ @ @ @ @ 400 bears are being kept on farms across the country .
They ’ re waiting @ @ @ @ @ parts which some people use as medicine .
It ’ s legal in South Korea @ @ @ @ @ their bile .
The only other country which allows this is China .
The demand @ @ @ @ @ s native bear population and now campaigners believe the coronavirus pandemic has shown the potential @ @ @ @ @ parts as medicine .

Animal rights campaigners are asking the South Korean president for help to save hundreds of the country’s caged moon bears.
More than 400 bears are being kept on farms across the country. They’re waiting to be killed for their parts which some people use as medicine.
It’s legal in South Korea to slaughter the bears for their bile. The only other country which allows this is China.
The demand almost wiped out Korea’s native bear population and now campaigners believe the coronavirus pandemic has shown the potential risks of using wild animal parts as medicine.
Reporter: Laura Bicker, BBC Seoul correspondent


bbc--2020-07-21--Birmingham designer creates PPE for men with turbans

From 24 July , face masks are to become compulsory in shops in England where masks on public transport have @ @ @ @ @ The shops and supermarket mandate brings England into line with Scotland , and NHS sites @ @ @ @ @ as mask-wearers are finding out , one size does not fit all .
For instance @ @ @ @ @ turbans or long beards do ?
Sunnie Delilah , a designer from Birmingham , has @ @ @ @ @ after seeing her Sikh father-in-law struggle .
After posting her creation on social media , @ @ @ @ @ orders .

From 24 July, face masks are to become compulsory in shops in England where masks on public transport have been required since mid-June.
The shops and supermarket mandate brings England into line with Scotland, and NHS sites across the UK.
But as mask-wearers are finding out, one size does not fit all. For instance, what do men with turbans or long beards do?
Sunnie Delilah, a designer from Birmingham, has been working on the problem after seeing her Sikh father-in-law struggle.
After posting her creation on social media, she has been receiving international orders.
Produced by Pria Rai, BBC Asian Network. Filmed by Geoff Ward


bbc--2020-07-20--How a 10-year-old created a lockdown print hit for punk fans

After getting interviews with the likes of Manic Street Preachers and Super Furry Animals , he 's selling out of @ @ @ @ @ With orders coming from as far afield as America and Australia , bands are even @ @ @ @ @ it .

Ten-year-old Arlo Lippiatt's lockdown project was creating a music fanzine.
After getting interviews with the likes of Manic Street Preachers and Super Furry Animals, he's selling out of copies of Pint-Sized Punk.
With orders coming from as far afield as America and Australia, bands are even contacting him to be in it.


bbc--2020-07-21--Secret Morse code tune sees game removed in China

A popular mobile game has been taken offline in mainland China for `` rectification work '' , after netizens discovered its musical director had written a song containing Morse code with a hidden Hong Kong pro-democracy message .
According to China 's Global Times newspaper , the Cytus II musical rhythm game , produced by Taiwan 's Rayark Games , has been removed from China 's mainland app stores .
This was done after netizens discovered a controversial song by Hong Kong musical director ICE , real name Wilson Lam , on his Soundcloud account .
The piece , Telegraph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his page in March , but after netizens discovered it contained in Morse code the phrase `` Liberate Hong Kong , the revolution of our times '' , many in the mainland called for him to be sacked .
It is unclear who was able to decipher the hidden message , and it is unlikely that anyone within the mainland themselves was able to , given that Soundcloud and YouTube are blocked in China .
Nevertheless , the discovery has ignited lively conversation on popular Chinese microblog , Sina Weibo .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing , '' one user says , receiving more than 200 likes .
Others applaud the `` cleverness '' and `` skill '' of someone being able to decipher Morse code .
Many users outside the mainland have also commented on Mr Lam 's Facebook page , thanking him for his supporting Hong Kong 's activists .
In mainland China , pro-democracy messages in support of Hong Kong activists are heavily frowned upon and there has been active censorship of them .
The central Chinese government has criticised activism in Hong Kong as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` violent '' and has the potential to cause damage to China as a country .
You may also be interested in : • The invention of Morse and the first transatlantic cable Mr Lam has since announced his resignation on Facebook .
In his statement , he said that his song had `` created controversy resulting in a wide discussion among netizens '' .
He said that the song was his `` private activity '' and `` has nothing to do with Rayark Games '' and had offered his resignation `` with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainland agent company , Dragonest Games , have also issued a statement saying that `` further collaboration with the artist will be stopped .
We apologise for any impact from the incident and strongly condemn the action of the composer '' .
Mr Lam 's piece has also been removed from Soundcloud but versions exist on YouTube .
Morse code was a method of telecommunications invented in 1837 using a series of dots and dashes .
It played a key role in early transatlantic communications , and was crucial during World War One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have used Morse code in their opening themes .
Barrington Pheloung 's Inspector Morse theme included a motif based on the letters M.O.R.S.E ; while composer Ronnie Hazlehurst wrote the name of the 1970 's comedy starring Michael Crawford into the theme of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em , a memorable musical joke which reportedly earned him £30 .
Next story : Nordic couple gets married in border ceremony

In mainland China, pro-democracy messages in support of Hong Kong activists are heavily frowned upon and there has been active censorship of them. The central Chinese government has criticised activism in Hong Kong as "separatist" behaviour that is often "violent" and has the potential to cause damage to China as a country.


bbc--2020-07-21--Coronavirus: How the outbreak has hit tourism in Africa

With its game parks , beaches and historic sites , Africa attracts a huge number of foreign tourists but numbers are sharply down because of the coronavirus outbreak , writes Larry Madowo .
Maria Maile has been cooking lunches and hosting overnight guests at her home in South Africa 's coastal city of Cape Town since her first three guests checked in nearly 22 years ago .
She lives there with her daughter and three grandchildren , but the spare room has been available to book - until that is the coronavirus outbreak shut down South Africa , and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not coming in so the only income I 'm getting is the social grant from the government , '' she told me from her home in Cape Town 's Khayelitsha township .
`` I fear for myself as well because I 'm 70 .
I need the money , but my health comes first , '' she added .
Ms Maile 's predicament underscores how the pandemic has crippled Africa 's tourism industry , depleted much needed foreign exchange earnings and left millions out of work .
A few countries on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
But this raises a dilemma : open up too fast and foreign tourists could bring a new outbreak of Covid-19 ; remain closed for too long and more livelihoods will be lost and there might be little left to salvage .
`` To say the impact of the crisis has been devastating is an understatement , '' said Naledi Kabo , CEO of Africa Tourism Association .
`` I do n't think tourism will ever look like it did before . ''
Africa received 71.2 million tourists in 2019 and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the UN 's World Tourism Organization .
Travel and tourism contribute 9 % to the continent 's economy but global movement restrictions and virus-induced travel anxiety have kept most people in Europe and North America at home as the summer holiday season begins .
You may want to watch : African countries have already lost nearly $ 55bn ( £43bn ) in revenues so far , according to the African Union .
`` Psychologically , people do n't necessarily feel safe enough to travel and even then , unemployment numbers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it needs to be any more , '' said Eche Emole , who runs the events and travel company Afropolitan Group .
He has already cancelled planned tour group trips to Kenya , Tanzania , Ethiopia and Ghana .
And now major end-of-year events in Accra , which attracted nearly 100,000 people in 2019 , could be next .
`` The goal right now is to stay alive .
Whatever else you lose ; you can always get it back , '' Mr Emole said .
Tanzania and Tunisia , famous for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the only major African countries that have reopened international borders and are welcoming foreign tourists .
Morocco and Mauritius , both popular destinations , have ended national lockdowns but foreign visitors are not yet allowed in .
Kenya , Seychelles and Rwanda will resume international passenger flights on 1 August but with restrictions and visitors will have to test negative for coronavirus .
`` Our rough estimate is that tourism revenues in 2020 will shrink by between 50 and 70 % , '' Clare Akamanzi , chief executive officer of the Rwanda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` However , this will depend on what happens in the last few months of the year after the reopening of the airports . ''
The tiny East African nation , where mountain gorillas are a major tourist attraction , reported its highest annual growth in tourism in 2019 , attracting 1.63 million visitors and earning $ 498m .
Ms Akamanzi said recovery might take `` 12 to 18 months depending on how the Covid-19 situation evolves '' .
South Africa , the country hardest hit by Covid-19 on the continent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists at all in 2020 .
`` I do n't foresee any international tourism happening within this calendar year , '' said Sisa Ntshona , chief executive officer of South Africa Tourism .
He expects that it may take two to three years to return to 2019 levels of 10.2 million tourists that visited the southern African nation .
Many South Africans were spooked after a widely shared news story at the beginning of the pandemic falsely claimed that Cape Town 's high numbers of coronavirus infections were caused by foreign tourists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Town Tourism , said the first cases of Covid-19 were more likely imported by South Africans who had travelled abroad .
The agency has been researching how badly `` the Mother City '' has been affected as much visited attractions like Table Mountain remain largely empty .
`` About 83 % of businesses indicated that they would not survive longer than six months under the current lockdown conditions with 56 % of businesses not having a recovery plan in place , '' Mr Duminy said in a statement to the BBC .
Few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predict the future because the virus is so volatile .
But they know it will be different .
`` Covid-19 has shone a light on issues that have previously existed - digitization ; the need to shift traditional marketing efforts to target new diverse audiences especially the diaspora market ; making intra-Africa travel easier via visas , air connectivity ; and regional collaboration between destinations , '' Ms Kabo said .
Namibia , Kenya and Rwanda are among nations adapting to a work-from-home era with virtual tours to appeal to a younger population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself as a high value , low volume eco-tourism destination which we believe corresponds to the current trends that we are seeing today as tourists book their trips .
`` Secluded outdoor spaces are the new normal and Rwanda has plenty of that , '' Ms Akamanzi said .
Tourists at hotels , resorts and other properties on the continent may see less human contact as the experience evolves in an age of social distancing .
`` What 's going to change fundamentally is the behaviour pattern of the tourists .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trust .
And the less interaction they have with people , the safer they will feel , '' noted Mr Ntshona .
The Radisson Hotel Group , which has 45 hotels and more than 5,000 employees in Africa , has already seen the inevitable effect on headcount .
`` We really have focused on perhaps reducing hours , temporary layoffs or cutting costs in other parts of our business rather than taking very difficult decisions with our teams , '' said Radisson executive Tim Cordon .
Like the rest of the industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first to recover as countries gradually ease lockdowns .
As a result , Ms Maile in Khayelitsha could until next year be serving lunches to South African visitors rather than the usual tourists from Paris and beyond .

She lives there with her daughter and three grandchildren, but the spare room has been available to book - until that is the coronavirus outbreak shut down South Africa, and her business, in March.


bbc--2020-07-21--Coronavirus in India: 'PM Modi, please make men share housework!'

Quibbles over who does the housework during the recent coronavirus lockdown have brought the gender politics of India 's homes into the open , writes the BBC 's Geeta Pandey in Delhi .
Housework in India usually involves a lot of heavy lifting .
Unlike in the West , few Indian homes are equipped with dishwashers , vacuum cleaners or washing machines .
So , dishes have to be individually cleaned , clothes have to be washed in buckets and hung out to dry , and homes have to be swept with brooms and mopped with rags .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elderly and infirm to be cared for .
In millions of middle class homes , the housework is delegated to the hired domestic help - part-time cooks , cleaners and nannies .
But what happens when the help ca n't come to work because there is a nationwide lockdown ?
The answer is friction and fighting - and in one unique case , a petition urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene .
`` Does the handle of a jhadu ( broom ) come printed with the words : 'to be operated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the petition , published on change.org .
`` What about the manual of the washing machine or gas stove ?
Then why is it that most men are not doing their share of housework ! ''
The petition 's author , Subarna Ghosh , who was fed up of cooking and cleaning and doing laundry while trying to work from home , wants the prime minister `` to address the issue in his next speech '' and to `` encourage all Indian men to do an equal share of housework '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't more people talk about it ? ''
she wrote .
Ms Ghosh 's petition has gathered nearly 70,000 signatures - a reflection of the scale of gender inequality in homes across India .
According to an International Labour Organization report , in 2018 women in urban India spent 312 minutes a day on unpaid care work .
Men did 29 minutes .
In villages , it was 291 minutes for women as against 32 minutes for men .
In Ms Ghosh 's Mumbai home it was no different .
The petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of `` life experiences of my own , and also of lots of women around me '' .
The burden of housework had always been hers , she said .
`` I do cooking , cleaning , making beds , laundry , folding clothes and everything else . ''
Her husband , a banker , was `` not the type to help with housework '' , she said .
Her teenage son and daughter sometimes chip in .
Ms Ghosh , who runs a charity which works on reproductive justice , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to compromise on work was much higher during the lockdown .
`` My work suffered , at least in April , the first month of the lockdown .
I was exhausted all the time , I was tired every day .
Our family dynamics changed .
I definitely complained a lot .
And when I complained people said , 'Then do n't do it ' . ''
Ms Ghosh took their advice - for three days in early May , she did n't do any dishes or fold any clothes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the pile of laundry grew bigger and bigger , '' she said .
Her husband and children realised how upset she was and they cleaned up the mess .
`` My husband has started helping me with chores .
He understood I was very affected by it , that it was bothering me a lot , '' she said .
`` But our men are also victims of this culture and society .
They have not been trained to do housework .
They require a little bit of hand-holding . ''
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other patriarchal societies , girls are groomed from a young age to be perfect homemakers .
It is taken for granted that the housework is their responsibility and if they went out and got themselves a job , they would just have to do `` double duty '' - manage both home and work .
`` As a child , it was always me who had to do house chores , work in the kitchen and help out my mom , '' wrote one woman , Pallavi Sareen , when I asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories about division of labour .
`` My brother would n't even serve himself lunch , '' she said .
• The women eating with their families for the first time Most who replied saying their homes were gender neutral had either lived abroad or married men who had spent time in the West .
The stories closer to home were different .
`` Housework is still considered a woman 's job , '' wrote Upasana Bhat .
`` Even if men offer to help , how many will do so if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a truly progressive day .
I know of women whose husbands help out , but ca n't lift a finger in the kitchen when his parents visit . ''
According to an Oxfam report , Indian women and girls put in more than three billion hours of unpaid care work daily .
If it were assigned a monitory value it would add trillions of rupees to India 's gross domestic product .
But in reality , the cost of housework is rarely calculated .
It is seen as something a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ms Ghosh thought differently .
She saw her mother and aunts do all the housework and thought , `` No way I 'm going to be like that '' .
When she married , the fault lines over housework were partly hidden because of the presence of domestic help , leading to a false sense of equality at home .
`` Domestic help also helps maintain peace in our homes , '' she said .
`` The chores are taken care of and it seems all is well . ''
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily drudgery of housework and with the inequality that had been `` shoved under the carpet '' .
`` The lockdown made these chasms more glaring , '' Ms Ghosh said .
`` It also gave me an opportunity to look it in the eye and lay it bare . ''
So she set about petitioning the prime minister .
The women she spoke to in her neighbourhood said they were equally frustrated with housework , but most found the idea that their husbands help around the house ludicrous .
`` Many asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean ? '
Many , in fact , praised their husbands for being easy-going .
They 'd say , 'He 's very nice , whatever I cook he eats without complaining ' . ''
The issue was so close to home that it was difficult to confront , Ms Ghosh said .
`` When it 's your own father , brother or husband , how do you question them ?
But the personal is political too - so I need to talk about it , but I also have to play the good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her husband that she was starting a petition he was `` very supportive '' , she said .
`` His friends made fun of him .
They asked him , 'Why did n't you just do some housework ?
Look , now your wife has gone and petitioned Modi ! '
`` He took it on the chin , '' she said , laughing .
`` He told them , 'Because more men listen to Mr Modi than their own wives ' . ''
Ms Ghosh 's petition was also criticised by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many chided her for bothering the prime minister with `` a frivolous matter '' .
`` Some people wrote to me saying Indian women need to do their housework .
Yes we do , but where are the men ? ''
I asked her if she though Mr Modi would talk about housework .
`` I 'm hopeful , '' she said .
`` Mr Modi has a huge support base among women , so he should talk about an issue that 's important to women .
When the rainy season started , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so why ca n't he talk about gender equality ? ''

That's because in India, as in many other patriarchal societies, girls are groomed from a young age to be perfect homemakers. It is taken for granted that the housework is their responsibility and if they went out and got themselves a job, they would just have to do "double duty" - manage both home and work.


bbc--2020-07-21--Singapore election: Does the political shake-up change anything?

Singapore may be one of the world 's wealthiest and `` smartest '' countries , but there 's one thing it has never had , until now - an official opposition party .
After a recent surprising election , change is in the air , writes the BBC 's Sharanjit Leyl .
On 10 July , voters wearing masks stood in socially distanced queues in Singapore to cast their ballot , with a pandemic crisis and looming recession on their minds The election - one of a handful globally during the pandemic - saw the ruling People 's Action Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , but to the surprise of many , with a reduced majority .
The biggest opposition group , the Workers ' Party , had its best result to date , winning 10 seats .
Backing an opposition party in Singapore has largely been seen as a protest vote .
And until now , the few opposition MPs have been a relatively powerless voice in parliament .
While campaigning , the Workers Party leader Pritam Singh had in fact assured voters his party did n't even have ambitions to govern - they just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check and balance to the PAP .
But in response to the WP 's unexpected success , Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave Mr Singh the title of Official Leader of the Opposition - the first time any opposition leader in Singapore has been considered relevant enough to hold the post .
It means Mr Singh is entitled to state funding for staff and resources , making his party a genuine opposition .
In a statement to the BBC , Mr Singh points out that the party 's numbers in parliament are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one third required to break the ruling party 's parliamentary supermajority '' .
• Why the ruling PAP dominates in Singapore polls • What it 's like to campaign during a pandemic But it marks a major shift in politics and could be a step towards breaking the PAP 's complete dominance of Singaporean politics .
Singaporeans have never experienced a time where the PAP was not in charge - they have won every election since Singapore was granted self rule by the British in 1959 .
The party was co-founded by Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the architect of Singapore 's rapid economic success .
So aligned is the party with `` LKY '' that his death shortly before elections in 2015 saw a surge of support for the PAP .
His son , Lee Hsien Loong , is the current prime minister .
While credited with spearheading Singapore 's success , the PAP has also been accused of implementing draconian policies such as strictly regulating public assembly and the media .
A `` fake news '' law implemented last year - which allows government ministers to order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and harmful to the public interest - has heightened concerns of yet more limits to freedom of expression and increasing self-censorship .
During the recent elections , a number of media organisations and sites carrying comments from an opposition candidate fell victim to the law .
And while Singaporean politics mirrors the first-past-the-post Westminster model , there are key differences that make it harder for opposition parties .
MPs contest for constituencies that vary in size and the larger ones are not represented by an individual MP , but by a team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representative Constituencies ( GRCs ) .
The system was introduced in 1988 as a way to include more representation from Singapore 's Malay , Indian and other minority groups in the predominantly Chinese city - so parties could `` risk '' running one or two minority candidates .
But until recently , opposition parties have not had the resources to recruit enough skilled and experienced people to genuinely contest these larger constituencies .
When the Workers ' Party won the Aljunied GRC in 2011 , it was considered a shock win and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they have picked up another large GRC constituency .
And , in what has been ranked the world 's most expensive city , it 's costly to even stand in an election .
Candidates must deposit S $ 13,500 ( $ 9,700 : £7,700 ) to contest and need to win more than one-eighth of total votes to get it back .
The electoral divisions of constituencies are often changed to reflect population growth - opposition parties say this is not done transparently and amounts to gerrymandering , something the government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are long-standing allegations that PAP-held areas tend to be allocated more funds for the improvement and maintenance of facilities than opposition constituencies , which discourages swing voters .
The PAP declined a BBC interview request on these issues .
All of this has meant that while oppositions parties are vocal and active , it 's been almost impossible for them to gain ground .
Pritam Singh campaigned on the premise that the government is more responsive to people 's concerns when it loses elected seats , as they did in 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election result and went on to change policies around immigration , a major source of consternation for many voters .
His party 's success has been largely attributed to young and first time voters , who make up about a third of the electorate and were keen to see Singapore develop as a democracy .
What were seen to be PAP attacks against opposition candidates also put off the electorate .
Eugene Tan , a regular commentator on politics , and an assistant professor of law at the Singapore Management University , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters - especially younger one - are starting to view one-party dominance as `` a freakish , even unfair , state of affairs '' .
The PAP 's `` instinctive quest for political dominance '' is `` increasingly at odds with the electorate 's growing belief that political competition and diversity… are critical ingredients of a robust system of good governance '' , he told the BBC .
Viswa Sadasivan , a political blogger and academic , said this election was a game-changer in Singaporean politics .
Like Mr Tan , he previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - seats handed to non-partisan individuals to provide alternate viewpoints .
These nominated posts were created in 1990 at a time when there were barely any elected opposition members in parliament and the PAP would often win elections even before polling day because there were so few seats contested .
The election result , he told the BBC , was `` a slap-in-the-face for PM Lee Hsien Loong , who asked for a strong mandate from the people '' .
They both contend that institutionally , the odds are still stacked against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominance .
But the ruling party will be under pressure now to review and revoke systemic political policies and practices that are unfair , according to Mr Viswa .
Mr Tan says the PAP government may finally be coming to terms with the fact that `` public perceptions '' of `` an un-level playing field is a growing source of grievance for voters '' .
`` That is hurting the ruling party ultimately , '' he said .
According to both Mr Tan and Mr Viswa , with louder voices now in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a more collaborative tone - especially given recent dismal economic figures .
Ultimately most Singaporeans agree , whichever side they voted for , that the outcome of this election is a sign their country 's democracy may finally be maturing .

His party's success has been largely attributed to young and first time voters, who make up about a third of the electorate and were keen to see Singapore develop as a democracy. What were seen to be PAP attacks against opposition candidates also put off the electorate.


bbc--2020-07-21--How singer Samantha Crain rebuilt her career after a life-changing accident

In summer 2017 , shortly after releasing her album You Had Me At Goodbye , singer-songwriter Samantha Crain had three car accidents in three months .
The third left her bedridden for a year and a half , and with no feeling in her hands .
She doubted she would ever be able to hold a guitar again .
`` The loss of my hands left me in a really dark , dark space , '' says Crain .
`` I was really depressed and having panic attacks '' .
She likens the situation to a loss of identity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the world , the way I process the world , and I felt like everything was being taken away from me .
`` I did n't know who I was outside of being a musician , and so there was this time of getting to know myself from scratch again .
`` It was kind of like being like a child again . ''
Before the accidents , Crain was an acclaimed musician , known for her piercing , expressive vocals and profoundly personal lyrics .
A two-time winner of the Native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defied categorisation , marrying folk music with the sounds of country rock and college indie , while touring with artists as diverse as Neutral Milk Hotel , Brandi Carlile and First Aid Kit .
She stresses she 's not `` an awful driver that goes recklessly all over the place '' .
But even though she says she was n't to blame for her crashes , she was left `` in a really bad state financially '' after having to pay for her medical treatment .
`` So it put me in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way too , which is kind of crazy .
I think Americans relate to that a lot - they 're in a car wreck and then they 're in debt for the rest of their life .
It 's insane . ''
As she began to rebuild her life mentally and physically , Crain 's therapist encouraged her to keep a diary of her recovery .
Unable to hold a pen , she recorded the entries as voice memos on her phone .
Over time , they became a comprehensive journal of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of `` Samantha Crain the musician '' .
`` I was dealing with a lot of past trauma and my childhood and then my early adulthood , '' she says .
But there was also a `` giddiness '' to discovering new sides to her personality and shedding the anxieties that had plagued her in her 20s .
`` I do n't know if this is something that a lot of people do , '' she says by way of example , `` but sometimes I 'll be on a train and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really embarrassing I did 10 years ago pops up into my head .
`` And my reaction is I hum a little tune , 'da d-da d-da da-daaa , ' because I feel so uncomfortable all of a sudden .
And that 's basically because I 've allowed myself to be vulnerable for like a split second .
`` Now that I 'm 33 , I 'm hoping to have less shame about myself , so that whenever I have one of those embarrassing memories , I 'll just be able to laugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of therapy and medicine , Crain began to regain some feeling in her hands .
She tentatively picked up her acoustic guitar and tried some chords .
Within the first two or three attempts , a song poured out of her .
`` I sat down at my kitchen table and , out of curiosity , I popped up one of those audio diaries and listened to some of the words and that 's what this song spawned from .
So it kind of came out of nowhere , but it was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , in a way . ''
Called An Echo , it 's a sparse but urgent ballad that carries all the weight of the last three years , but ultimately conveys the freedom of starting anew .
Fittingly , the song was also a watershed moment in Crain 's recovery .
Having written An Echo , she resolved to get better so she could record it and put it on an album .
That album was released last week under the title A Small Death - an oxymoron representing Crain 's realisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , all the time '' .
The title was lifted from a track called Joey , which taps into the album 's main theme - the impermanence of life , and the tricks of memory .
`` Was it ever real ?
/ I do n't even feel like that girl any more , '' sings Crain , as she reminisces with an old friend .
`` Was it ever me ?
/ I do n't even see through those eyes any more . ''
`` There 's plenty of moments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember the event , but you remember a picture of it or a video , '' she explains .
`` And that 's how I felt , looking back on a lot of the things that I was writing about - I know it was me that lived through that , but I do n't really remember it innately , I only remember the memory of it . ''
The ability to detach memories from the accompanying feelings is a sort of survival mechanism , she reckons .
`` You ca n't walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's that middle ground where you 're resilient enough keep moving and be able to interact with the world in a normal way .
`` I think if we were fully feeling the depths of our emotions for all the things that had happened in our life , all the time , we would n't be able to function . ''
That 's why A Small Death feels like `` a fever dream '' , she says .
It 's revisiting the past through the lens of a woman who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the last few years have been characterised by inertia and hardship , Crain says her convalescence forced her to think differently about music .
`` I got this sort of bonus round , this extra chance to make another record , so it deserved extra attention . ''
She 's `` never been more thoughtful '' about the writing and recording process , producing the entire album by herself , and ensuring that every note and lyric earned their place .
`` I 've always operated in a creative sphere where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and move on .
With this record , I was really unpacking things like , 'OK , if I 'm going to say something in a song , what do I really mean by that ? '
Or , from a production standpoint , 'If this song is going to have a certain instrument , what is that achieving ? '
'' That approach is apparent on Pastime - one of the album 's standout tracks - which paints Crain 's journey of self-discovery as a new romance .
`` And with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - which is why we did monk-like chants in the background .
I wanted the song to be trance-like almost .
Like , 'Have I been listening to this song for 30 seconds or 30 minutes ? '
`` In the past , I do n't think I would have taken that extra step to think , 'What 's the feeling behind the song ?
And how can I emphasise that in the production ? '
'' When we speak , in early July , Crain explains that her recovery is n't complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now '' , but `` I am still pretty nervous about what touring will actually end up looking like for me '' .
Zoom gigs and live-streams could be a solution , perhaps , but the singer says she craves interaction with a live audience .
`` When you get people in a room , either someone in the audience is going to do something weird or I might get drunk and say something crazy . ''
A Small Death was originally due to come out on 1 May on Real Kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by British singer-songwriter Lucy Rose .
Rose fell in love with the songs after Crain sent her a work-in-progress demo , and calls it `` one of the best albums I had heard in years , maybe ever '' .
Coronavirus prompted them to push the release back , in the hope that Crain might be able to play some gigs to promote the album when the lockdown eased .
`` As it turns out , it really did n't matter - but I 'm definitely ready for the catharsis to be completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"I sat down at my kitchen table and, out of curiosity, I popped up one of those audio diaries and listened to some of the words and that's what this song spawned from. So it kind of came out of nowhere, but it was also being written for two and a half years, in a way."


bbc--2020-07-21--How deep are Britain and China's economic ties?

The economic relationship between the UK and China has grown significantly over the past two decades .
In 1999 , China was the UK 's 26th biggest export market .
It now sits in sixth place .
Trade between the two countries hit a record high last year , with large infrastructure projects and education playing major roles .
But as tensions rise between London and Beijing - following the UK government 's U-turn on using Huawei telecoms 5G equipment in the country 's networks - the ties that have benefited both nations may now be under threat .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sixth largest export market , worth £30.7bn , according to the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) .
This was a record high , up from £23.4bn in 2018 , and the fourth year-on-year increase in a row .
In the other direction , China was the UK 's fourth largest source of imports , worth £49bn , also a record high .
China also plays an increasingly important role in the UK 's infrastructure , including its nuclear power capabilities .
China General Nuclear Power ( CGN ) is partly financing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear power station in Somerset .
The state-owned Chinese group also has an option to buy 20 % of another planned plant , at Sizewell in Suffolk , and a majority stake in an entity looking into several more nuclear power projects .
China 's state-run sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation ( CIC ) has an 8.7 % stake in Thames Water , along with a 10 % stake in the firm that owns London 's Heathrow Airport .
China also has a stake in the UK 's North Sea oil production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CNOOC ) .
The number of Chinese students at UK universities has more than trebled since 2006 , according to the National Institute of Economics and Social Research ( NIESR ) .
Tuition fees from Chinese students add up to at least £1.7bn a year across universities and independent schools .
Experts have warned that UK universities will struggle financially if China imposes a ban on its students coming to Britain .
`` As Chinese students account for the largest body of foreign students , the financial impact would be large '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence firm Emerging Strategy .
`` Universities will need to adjust their costs or find new ways to generate revenue . ''
But the British Council has downplayed fears of a mass exodus of Chinese students .
`` Long-term planning to study abroad is unlikely to be affected by short-term political relations .
The UK has always been one of the top destinations for Chinese students , '' a spokesman told the BBC .
China has been active in many high-profile acquisitions in the UK , resulting in billions of pounds flowing into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken over by China 's Jingye Group in a move expected to save more than 3,000 jobs .
The Chinese firm said it would invest more than £1bn to help modernise the steelworks .
Other notable takeovers include black cab maker LTI , which was bought by Chinese carmaker Geely , and Wolverhampton Wanderers football club , which was taken over by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International .
Technology firm Huawei 's investment in the UK is a high-profile and a long-standing one , dating back to 2005 .
While Huawei will no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new 5G equipment , it still has involvement in existing telecoms infrastructure .
While much of the talk has been around Huawei , it 's not the only technology company that the UK and China share links with .
China 's thirst for high tech UK companies saw it take over chipmaker Imagination Technologies in 2017 .
The vast majority of the cash for the purchase came from the Beijing-backed China Reform investment fund .
While most of the flow is money into the UK from Chinese companies and government-backed entities , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , a country of 1.4 billion people with rapidly-growing disposable incomes .
Significant British companies are spread across sectors such as energy , car production , pharmaceuticals and financial services Last year , China 's ambassador to Germany threatened `` consequences '' for its carmakers if Huawei was blocked from Germany 's 5G networks , raising concerns that Beijing may use such tactics against other countries ' interests .
`` Chinese citizens are prompt to follow boycotts based on national interests dictated by the party , '' said a Shanghai-based spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Steven Lynch , managing director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China told the BBC that he was optimistic that such a situation could be avoided .
`` We hope that British automotive manufacturers who both import vehicles into China and manufacture locally will not be targeted for the UK government 's decision , '' he said .
The pro-business group warned that British telecoms and IT companies could also potentially be at risk .
But Mr Lynch added that the two countries should be able to `` sustain robust trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the challenging political environment '' .

"The rising hostility between the UK and China is unlikely to have a strong effect on the leading components of their trade. The major effect is likely to be on UK higher education and the role of the UK as a hub for Chinese companies."


bbc--2020-07-21--Tokyo Olympics postponement leaves UK firms in limbo

The world of sport has been severely disrupted by Covid-19 , with headlines highlighting everything from cancelled events and empty stadiums , to athlete health and spectator safety .
But the pandemic has also had a huge knock-on effect on businesses that support the sport industry - and nowhere is that more apparent than around the Tokyo 2020 Olympics .
The Games , originally due to start on Friday , have been delayed until summer 2021 , affecting UK firms who had been fortunate enough to win work .
British companies were set to provide parts for water sport courses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Olympic venue construction - not to mention softer services such as sponsorship expertise .
Two of the bigger affected firms are ES Global and Aggreko Events Services .
Glasgow-based Aggreko is the only British firm among the 66 official Tokyo Olympic partners and sponsors , and has been part of the Games since Seoul 1988 , providing generators .
Its initial Tokyo contract value was around $ 200m ( £158m ) and Aggreko said earlier this year it expected that to increase to around $ 250m .
It has received more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the Japanese hosts continue to deliver scheduled instalments .
Robert Wells is the managing director of Aggreko Events Services .
`` A postponement is much better than a cancellation , '' he says .
`` At the moment we are in detailed conversations with the Games ' organising committee .
There is a huge logistics operation to reschedule things . ''
He said Aggreko was now removing generating equipment it had already installed in some Olympic venues .
They will go back to Aggreko 's facility in Tokyo , stored , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready for next year .
`` Clearly there will be a cost of delay , '' Mr Wells adds .
`` But we ca n't quantify that at the moment .
We are talking continuously with the organising committee about what it may be . ''
As well as generators , Aggreko is also supplying the likes of power cabling , plus electricity from existing Japanese power grids .
The firm will be employing some 500 contractors in the run-up to the Games , and 300 during the event .
Meanwhile , London-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for six events : triathlon , shooting , golf , tennis , rowing and hockey .
`` Although organisers have made statements that the Games are only postponed , there are contradictory statements coming out at a lower political level - there is a certain level of uncertainty , '' says Olly Watts , joint chief executive of ESG .
`` It has been made clear there are circumstances under which the Games could be cancelled , depending on how the virus continues in Japan and worldwide .
`` Our existing contract has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He says the firm is waiting to see if the Tokyo organisers are going to come up with new contracts , now the event is taking place in 2021 .
`` Any changes will be slow to filter down , '' he says .
`` With regard to our existing contracts , my feeling is they will be honoured . ''
ESG had started installing venues , for example , 99 % of the shooting venue was in place when the Games were called off in March .
The others all had equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Shooting is largely being left up .
With the others , all equipment is being stored on site .
Olympic Games organisers say they are renegotiating existing contracts `` for example , with regards to fulfilment periods and delivery dates '' and are also `` newly procuring other items that will be required '' .
It is not just big-name firms who have been affected by the postponement .
Smaller UK firms are hoping to showcase their expertise to the Japanese and wider sporting world .
For founder Bill Fellowes , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be his third Olympics after London 2012 and Rio 2016 .
His ambulances are manufactured in the UK and the firm provides them to 17 British racecourses and the Middle East .
`` For Tokyo these will be our first trailers to have air-conditioning because of the temperatures there , '' he says .
Equisave is providing six vehicles , with two non-air conditioned vehicles already shipped for test events in Japan last year , and the four high-tech ambulances set to follow .
`` My contract originally said to ship the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were cancelled before then .
`` In my line of work it is financially feast or famine , and we could n't afford to sit on the ambulances for a year .
`` So we came to an arrangement .
As long as the Games organisers would pay for the cost of the ambulances in full - which they have done - we will store them here in the UK free for them . ''
The remaining ambulances will now be shipped next year .
Despite the uncertainty , one small UK firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympic installations .
Cumbria-based RapidBlocs makes large blocks to be used in the canoe slalom event .
Its equipment has been installed into the concrete course in central Tokyo 's Kasai Rinkai Park .
Company founder Andy Laird says large blocks - made from polyethylene and steel - are put onto the concrete base of a canoe course .
The blocks then `` sculpt '' the direction and flow of water .
`` We are all paid for .
We made it , shipped it , and then installed .
The trial event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great . ''
As well as Tokyo 2020 , he has also already installed the canoe slalom course for the 2024 Games in Paris .
`` We completed that in May 2019 , '' he says .
`` We are done and dusted for the next two Olympics .
That is four Olympics we have supplied now . ''
Away from infrastructure , Len Olender is from True Gold Communications , an agency that helps sponsors and sports bodies with their Olympic marketing programmes .
He has previously worked with the likes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now on his 14th winter and summer games , he has been helping the Oceania National Olympic Committees ( ONOC ) .
`` We had secured a wonderful plaza at Tokyo harbour for our showcase Oceania Village in partnership with the city of Tokyo , '' he says .
But the postponement means it is not known if the site will be available next year .
It is hoped that the project will pick up again early next year , but Mr Olender does not know if there will be funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a potential silver lining to the Olympics ' delay .
Games partners will have the opportunity to activate their sponsor programmes in a different way , taking account of things like social distancing and AI technology - which could create opportunities .
Also , Tokyo 2021 organisers might want to sell the Games as part of the global `` rebirth '' of the sporting world after coronavirus .
`` This could mean heightened interest to be on the Olympic bandwagon , and hence more opportunities for marketing agencies , and sponsorship @ @ @

"So we came to an arrangement. As long as the Games organisers would pay for the cost of the ambulances in full - which they have done - we will store them here in the UK free for them."


bbc--2020-07-21--'Courageous' Aston Villa out of relegation zone with one game left

Aston Villa 's players must prepare for a `` cup final '' after showing `` courage '' to secure a priceless win over Arsenal and move out of the Premier League relegation zone with one game to go , says boss Dean Smith .
Trezeguet beat Emiliano Martinez with a powerful first-time finish after Tyrone Mings had diverted a corner into the Egypt international 's path to lift Villa out of the bottom three for the first time since 28 February .
Villa moved above managerless Watford , who had started the day 17th before a heavy 4-0 home defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Midlanders ' second win in three games sets up a dramatic final day at the bottom of the table on Sunday , which Villa will begin level on points with Watford and three points ahead of Bournemouth - with two of those three teams likely to go down .
• Who needs what to survive ?
Final-day permutations Meanwhile , 16th-placed West Ham , who also play on Wednesday , still require one point to secure safety , although their goal difference ought to keep them up .
Villa 's last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they win - providing Watford do not win by a margin two or more goals greater than they do - Smith 's men will secure another season in the top flight , having spent much of it in the bottom three .
`` We had seen Watford play earlier and get beat .
We knew we had to get a win to even catch them up , '' Smith told BBC Sport .
`` By getting the win it puts our fate in our own hands .
`` There was a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the players .
It was a massive performance and I am proud of the players for that but now we have to recover and get ready for our cup final .
`` We 're working hard to maintain our status and the last three results have shown that . ''
A 10th league defeat means Arsenal , playing in their first match since reaching the FA Cup final , will finish outside the top six for the first time in 25 years .
They can come no higher than eighth after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Eddie Nketiah going closest to equalising with a header which hit the post .
However , the Gunners will still have a big say in the relegation battle when they host Villa 's rivals Watford on Sunday .
During the match , a banner reading `` Back Arteta Kroenke Out ' was towed by an aeroplane over Villa Park in reference to Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke .
Villa 's fate back in their own hands After Watford 's 2-1 win over Newcastle on 11 July , Villa looked down and out - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go .
But Smith 's side have reacted magnificently in the closing stages of the season , beating Crystal Palace , drawing at Everton before overcoming Arsenal with a gritty display oozing in character to give themselves a fighting chance of staying up .
Watford 's defeat earlier on Tuesday opened the door for Villa to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time in five months , despite being forced to reshuffle their defence in the first half after Ahmed Elmohamady was forced off with an injury .
Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restart with Trezeguet netting half of them , his latest an instinctive finish which beat Martinez for pace and power .
Villa were forced to endure some nervous moments , particularly towards the end after substitute Keinan Davis wasted a glorious chance to double the lead after firing wide .
Smith reacted to the final whistle by clenching his fist - with Villa 's fate back in their own hands .
They will be safe if they win ( presuming Watford do not win by two more goals than they do ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not win .
But defeat would send Villa down if Watford avoid defeat or if Bournemouth win at Everton .
This felt like a big step backwards for Arsenal after a positive spell in which they collected 13 points from six games .
Having followed up victory over runaway champions Liverpool by beating Manchester City to seal a first FA Cup final visit since 2017 , the Gunners did not force Villa keeper Pepe Reina into a serious save .
It was the first time Villa had not faced any shots on target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 's stream of goals have been a highlight of his side 's season , but the Gabon forward was frustrated at Villa Park and his future remains a hot topic of conversation among supporters .
`` The quicker we do it the better because the player will be more focused , more determined and more calm , '' said Arteta on the eve of this game when asked if Aubameyang , whose current deal expires next summer , will sign a new contract .
It was Nketiah who went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the England Under-21 forward heading against the post after connecting with a corner .
The Gunners can still qualify for Europe but they will now have to win the FA Cup to play in next season 's Europa League .
`` I do n't think the league table lies at all , '' conceded Arteta .
`` You can see the gap and the difference in points with the other teams .
It 's where we are .
That 's the reality . ''
• Villa have beaten Arsenal at Villa Park in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time since they did so in December 1998 under John Gregory , ending a run of 17 home games without a win against the Gunners .
• Arsenal have lost four of their six away Premier League matches since the restart .
• The Gunners have lost 10 league matches for a third consecutive season for the first time since a run of seven seasons between 1981-82 and 1987-88 .
• 21 of the 46 goals Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League this term have come from set-pieces .
Both teams are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final day of the season - while Villa visit West Ham on Sunday ( 16:00 BST ) looking to stay up , Arsenal round off their Premier League campaign at home to relegation-threatened Watford at the same time .
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Trezeguet has scored three goals in his past three Premier League appearances
Aston Villa's players must prepare for a "cup final" after showing "courage" to secure a priceless win over Arsenal and move out of the Premier League relegation zone with one game to go, says boss Dean Smith.
Trezeguet beat Emiliano Martinez with a powerful first-time finish after Tyrone Mings had diverted a corner into the Egypt international's path to lift Villa out of the bottom three for the first time since 28 February.
Villa moved above managerless Watford, who had started the day 17th before a heavy 4-0 home defeat by Manchester City, on goal difference.
The Midlanders' second win in three games sets up a dramatic final day at the bottom of the table on Sunday, which Villa will begin level on points with Watford and three points ahead of Bournemouth - with two of those three teams likely to go down.
Meanwhile, 16th-placed West Ham, who also play on Wednesday, still require one point to secure safety, although their goal difference ought to keep them up.
Villa's last game is away to West Ham and if they win - providing Watford do not win by a margin two or more goals greater than they do - Smith's men will secure another season in the top flight, having spent much of it in the bottom three.
"We had seen Watford play earlier and get beat. We knew we had to get a win to even catch them up," Smith told BBC Sport. "By getting the win it puts our fate in our own hands.
"There was a lot of character and a lot of courage from the players. It was a massive performance and I am proud of the players for that but now we have to recover and get ready for our cup final.
"We're working hard to maintain our status and the last three results have shown that."
A 10th league defeat means Arsenal, playing in their first match since reaching the FA Cup final, will finish outside the top six for the first time in 25 years.
They can come no higher than eighth after a disappointing performance by Mikel Arteta's side, Eddie Nketiah going closest to equalising with a header which hit the post.
However, the Gunners will still have a big say in the relegation battle when they host Villa's rivals Watford on Sunday.
During the match, a banner reading "Back Arteta Kroenke Out' was towed by an aeroplane over Villa Park in reference to Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: Survival is now in our own hands - Dean Smith on Villa win
Villa's fate back in their own hands
After Watford's 2-1 win over Newcastle on 11 July, Villa looked down and out - seven points from safety with four games to go.
But Smith's side have reacted magnificently in the closing stages of the season, beating Crystal Palace, drawing at Everton before overcoming Arsenal with a gritty display oozing in character to give themselves a fighting chance of staying up.
Watford's defeat earlier on Tuesday opened the door for Villa to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time in five months, despite being forced to reshuffle their defence in the first half after Ahmed Elmohamady was forced off with an injury.
Smith's side have scored six goals since the restart with Trezeguet netting half of them, his latest an instinctive finish which beat Martinez for pace and power.
Villa were forced to endure some nervous moments, particularly towards the end after substitute Keinan Davis wasted a glorious chance to double the lead after firing wide.
Smith reacted to the final whistle by clenching his fist - with Villa's fate back in their own hands.
They will be safe if they win (presuming Watford do not win by two more goals than they do), or draw providing the Hornets do not win. But defeat would send Villa down if Watford avoid defeat or if Bournemouth win at Everton.
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: FA Cup even important after disappointing loss - Mikel Arteta
Gunners take a step backwards
This felt like a big step backwards for Arsenal after a positive spell in which they collected 13 points from six games.
Having followed up victory over runaway champions Liverpool by beating Manchester City to seal a first FA Cup final visit since 2017, the Gunners did not force Villa keeper Pepe Reina into a serious save.
It was the first time Villa had not faced any shots on target in a Premier League game since January 2016.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's stream of goals have been a highlight of his side's season, but the Gabon forward was frustrated at Villa Park and his future remains a hot topic of conversation among supporters.
An aeroplane circled Villa Park
"The quicker we do it the better because the player will be more focused, more determined and more calm," said Arteta on the eve of this game when asked if Aubameyang, whose current deal expires next summer, will sign a new contract.
It was Nketiah who went closest to scoring for the visitors, the England Under-21 forward heading against the post after connecting with a corner.
The Gunners can still qualify for Europe but they will now have to win the FA Cup to play in next season's Europa League.
"I don't think the league table lies at all," conceded Arteta. "You can see the gap and the difference in points with the other teams. It's where we are. That's the reality."
Man of the match - Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)
Another huge shift from Jack Grealish, the Villa captain inspiring his team-mates to a crucial win which ensures they are out of the relegation zone with one game left
A 22-year wait - the stats
Villa have beaten Arsenal at Villa Park in a Premier League game for the first time since they did so in December 1998 under John Gregory, ending a run of 17 home games without a win against the Gunners.
Arsenal have lost four of their six away Premier League matches since the restart.
The Gunners have lost 10 league matches for a third consecutive season for the first time since a run of seven seasons between 1981-82 and 1987-88.
21 of the 46 goals Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League this term have come from set-pieces.
What's next?
Both teams are involved in games which affect relegation on the final day of the season - while Villa visit West Ham on Sunday (16:00 BST) looking to stay up, Arsenal round off their Premier League campaign at home to relegation-threatened Watford at the same time.