bbc--2020-04-17--Captain Tom Moore: How the war veteran captured our hearts

There was an unmistakable sense of conviction in Tom Moore 's voice as he addressed the camera after completing his walk .
`` To all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment , '' he said , addressing a British public who have seen life turned upside down by coronavirus .
`` The sun will shine on you again , and the clouds will go away . ''
Moments before , the 99-year-old war veteran had completed the 100th lap of a sponsored walk around his Bedfordshire garden .
With service medals pinned to his breast pocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he crossed the finish line at a slow but determined pace .
In just a few days , Mr Moore , nicknamed Captain Tom by his growing legion of fans , had risen from nowhere to the status of near national treasure .
When he had started fundraising for the walk , it had been with the modest aim of raising £1,000 .
Inspired by the dedicated work of medics , Captain Tom had wanted to thank the `` magnificent '' NHS staff who had helped him with cancer treatment and a broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached the finish line , he had become a social media phenomenon and raised an astonishing £12m .
By the teatime the same day , donations had risen to £15m .
And the total keeps growing and growing and has now passed £17m .
Alongside the donations , Captain Tom had inspired the sort of intense fandom more commonly associated with Instagram influencers .
Schoolchildren had been inspired to send cards for his imminent 100th birthday .
Artists had produced illustrations celebrating his achievements .
Rebecca Osborne is one of those who fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus headlines began to dominate , his fundraising gave her hope .
`` We 've been watching the figures go up , and instead of watching those figures go up I could watch the money go up for the NHS , '' she says , referring to Captain Tom 's online fundraising page .
In normal times , Rebecca sketches at live events .
But since the outbreak , she has turned her artistic talents to drawing cartoons of key workers , asking people to donate to the NHS when they share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her sketch of Captain Tom , shown at the top of this page , to be liked more than 17,000 times after it was shared from his Twitter account .
He inspired her because , despite being in a vulnerable category , she says , he has chosen to do `` something that nobody else has done '' .
`` It 's setting a very good example to everybody that we can all do something . ''
'What Yorkshire is all about' Fellow cartoonist Graeme Bandeira - whose office at the Yorkshire Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's hometown , Keighley - says he personifies the endurance that the country needs to get through this epidemic .
He chose to depict Tom Moore crossing a red finish line to emphasise his `` phenomenal achievement '' .
`` He epitomises what Yorkshire folk are about : tough , gritty , stern exteriors .
They sort of fight from within , you know ?
They 're very proud people . ''
'He saw the best and worst of humanity' Born in 1920 , Tom Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rising to captain .
He served in India and Burma .
His military experience features prominently in the many messages of support he has received on social media .
There have been calls for him to be knighted , online and on the notice board of at least one London Tube station , thanks to the anonymous duo All On The Board .
One member of the pair , who both work for London Underground , says most people have `` huge admiration and respect for those who fought in the war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen the best and worst of humanity .
So when someone like Captain Tom does what he has done it will galvanise people and work wonders .
Individually we all have our own invisible enemies to fight , in regards to health and mental health and we are having to fight this invisible enemy too .
We all have to unite to fight it . ''
'It brought everyone together' It is clear that Captain Tom 's appeal spans generations .
On Wednesday , Only Fools and Horses star John Challis called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army major - prompting a flood of support from fans of the 1980s sitcom .
`` 100 % agree , '' one Twitter user commented .
`` He is a hero , '' wrote another .
More than 150 miles from the Trotters ' Peckham stomping ground , in Port Talbot , south Wales , eight-year-old Reegan Davies set up her own campaign to thank Captain Tom .
In a video posted on Twitter , she asked children around the country to send him a card for his 100th birthday on 30 April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] a 100-year-old before , '' she says on the phone , explaining why she wrote her own card .
He was a war hero .
Now he 's my hero and he 's the nation 's hero . ''
Her mum , Lisa Carter , says her daughter 's campaign is evidence of young people `` giving back '' .
`` It finally shows the younger generation are looking up to the older generation , '' she says .
`` There 's always been something negative in the media - that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things like that .
I think it 's just brought everyone together . ''
Kyle Dowling , from Sheffield , was inspired to draw his own cartoon of Captain Tom by the sense of patriotism he feels he has stirred .
`` This hero has fought for our country and is now fighting again for our country by raising millions for our health service , '' he says .
`` He 's a true gent and really does put the great into Great Britain . ''
For Kyle , Captain Tom 's assurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' is a great comfort during the lockdown .
`` It 's helped me smile and think… it 's not forever .
Tomorrow is just another step towards it being over . ''

Captain Tom Moore: How the war veteran captured our hearts Published 30 April 2020
Image source, Rebecca Osborne
There was an unmistakable sense of conviction in Tom Moore's voice as he addressed the camera after completing his walk.
"To all those people who are finding it difficult at the moment," he said, addressing a British public who have seen life turned upside down by coronavirus. "The sun will shine on you again, and the clouds will go away."
Moments before, the then 99-year-old war veteran had completed the 100th lap of a sponsored walk around his Bedfordshire garden. With service medals pinned to his breast pocket, and clutching his walking frame, he crossed the finish line at a slow but determined pace.
In just a few days, Mr Moore, nicknamed Captain Tom by his growing legion of fans, had risen from nowhere to the status of near national treasure.
When he had started fundraising for the walk, it had been with the modest aim of raising £1,000. Inspired by the dedicated work of medics, Captain Tom had wanted to thank the "magnificent" NHS staff who had helped him with cancer treatment and a broken hip. By the time he had reached the finish line, he had become a social media phenomenon and raised an astonishing £12m. By the teatime the same day, donations had risen to £15m. And the total keeps growing and growing and has now passed £30m.
Alongside the donations, Captain Tom had inspired the sort of intense fandom more commonly associated with Instagram influencers. Schoolchildren had been inspired to send cards for his 100th birthday. Artists had produced illustrations celebrating his achievements.
Image source, Richard Jarmy Photography Image caption, Artist Rebecca Osborne had her cartoon of Captain Tom liked more than 17,000 times
Rebecca Osborne is one of those who fell under Captain Tom's spell. As the coronavirus headlines began to dominate, his fundraising gave her hope.
"We've been watching the figures go up, and instead of watching those figures go up I could watch the money go up for the NHS," she says, referring to Captain Tom's online fundraising page.
In normal times, Rebecca sketches at live events. But since the outbreak, she has turned her artistic talents to drawing cartoons of key workers, asking people to donate to the NHS when they share them online. She didn't expect her sketch of Captain Tom, shown at the top of this page, to be liked more than thousands of times after it was shared from his Twitter account.
He inspired her because, despite being in a vulnerable category, she says, he has chosen to do "something that nobody else has done".
"It's setting a very good example to everybody that we can all do something."
'What Yorkshire is all about'
Image source, Graeme Bandeira, Yorkshire Post
Fellow cartoonist Graeme Bandeira - whose office at the Yorkshire Post is about 20 miles from Captain Tom's hometown, Keighley - says he personifies the endurance that the country needs to get through this epidemic. He chose to depict Tom Moore crossing a red finish line to emphasise his "phenomenal achievement".
"He epitomises what Yorkshire folk are about: tough, gritty, stern exteriors. They sort of fight from within, you know? They're very proud people."
'He saw the best and worst of humanity'
Born in 1920, Tom Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the Army for World War Two, rising to captain. He served in India and Burma. His military experience features prominently in the many messages of support he has received on social media.
There have been calls for him to be knighted, online and on the notice board of at least one London Tube station, thanks to the anonymous duo All On The Board. One member of the pair, who both work for London Underground, says most people have "huge admiration and respect for those who fought in the war".
This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Instagram The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip instagram post by allontheboard Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of instagram post by allontheboard
"Those who survived it have seen the best and worst of humanity. So when someone like Captain Tom does what he has done it will galvanise people and work wonders. Individually we all have our own invisible enemies to fight, in regards to health and mental health and we are having to fight this invisible enemy too. We all have to unite to fight it."
'It brought everyone together'
It is clear that Captain Tom's appeal spans generations.
In mid-April, Only Fools and Horses star John Challis called for him to be made an honorary Army major - prompting a flood of support from fans of the 1980s sitcom. "100% agree," one Twitter user commented. "He is a hero," wrote another.
More than 150 miles from the Trotters' Peckham stomping ground, in Port Talbot, south Wales, eight-year-old Reegan Davies set up her own campaign to thank Captain Tom. In a video posted on Twitter, she asked children around the country to send him a card for his 100th birthday on 30 April.
Image source, Lisa Carter Image caption, Reegan Davies, who started the campaign to send Captain Tom 100th birthday cards
"I had never [seen] a 100-year-old before," she says on the phone, explaining why she wrote her own card. He was a war hero. Now he's my hero and he's the nation's hero."
Her mum, Lisa Carter, says her daughter's campaign is evidence of young people "giving back".
"It finally shows the younger generation are looking up to the older generation," she says. "There's always been something negative in the media - that they don't respect their elders, and things like that. I think it's just brought everyone together."
'It's not forever'
Image source, Kyle Dowling
Kyle Dowling, from Sheffield, was inspired to draw his own cartoon of Captain Tom by the sense of patriotism he feels he has stirred.
"This hero has fought for our country and is now fighting again for our country by raising millions for our health service," he says. "He's a true gent and really does put the great into Great Britain."
For Kyle, Captain Tom's assurance that "the clouds will go away" is a great comfort during the lockdown.


bbc--2020-04-16--The scientists who made a 'home-brew' coronavirus test

Dr Charles Swanton 's days are busy , but the work is rewarding .
The Francis Crick Institute , where he works , has been testing medics at the Royal Marsden hospital who were sent home after showing symptoms of Covid-19 .
Those found to be free of the virus are now back at their jobs .
Overburdened hospitals have been desperate for more testing facilities like this to help medical staff return to work .
The UK government set a target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of April , but has struggled to get near that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone has the coronavirus is a complicated process ( different tests , which see if someone has ever had the virus are still awaiting approval ) .
Molecules on a swab are broken down into genetic code , using chemicals , liquid handling robots and a PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) machine which can make billions of copies of DNA strands .
Private and university laboratories across the UK have donated enough equipment for three huge testing centres in Glasgow , Milton Keynes and Alderley Park in Cheshire .
But having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need blended cocktails of chemicals to function .
These secret recipes have been tested over time , verified by regulators and guarded by the companies that sell them .
Like a cook with a ready-bake cake mix , scientists know all the ingredients , but the exact proportions are specific to each company .
The firms that manufacture and sell them include Qiagen , Roche , Merck and Eurofins Genomics .
Each have their own recipes , designed for specific models of the PCR machines .
Dr Swanton and his colleagues at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world would be clamouring for these kits .
They also knew the firms that manufactured them would be swamped .
So rather than wait , they reverse engineered their own `` home-brew '' to test local medical staff in London , as a voluntary service .
The Crick Institute is led by Nobel Prize-winning scientist , Sir Paul Nurse , but not run by the health services .
It is a research lab formed from a partnership between Cancer Research UK , and London hospitals which include the Royal Marsden , Imperial College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University College London .
Three weeks ago , when the virus crept across Europe their labs were deemed non-essential and closed .
They handed in much of their machinery to the Department of Health and Social Care which is leading the testing ramp-up , outside hospitals .
Dr Swanton , at the time , worked as Cancer Research UK 's chief clinician , researching the way that cancer progresses .
`` We were going to be sent home .
I thought to myself , 'Well there are a lot of non-essential workers I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus effort , ' '' he says .
He sent an email round .
A working group was formed .
At the same time , Mr Nurse sent an email to his employees at the Crick Institute asking for possible volunteers for a lab .
• Coronavirus threatens the next generation of smartphones • 'The phone slipped into the bath ' : Conference call tales Clinicians including Dr Swanton , many from the University College London , and some at a private lab nearby in St Pancras called HSL ( Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a new procedure for making the chemical kits with the equipment that the government had left behind .
Dr Swanton now leads the Covid-19 testing efforts at the Crick Institute .
`` We have the staff here , the facilities , the resources , the reagents and the know-how to get on and just do it .
And so that 's what we chose to do , '' says Dr Swanton .
Their home-made chemical kit ( an RNA extraction kit ) has been approved through a rapid accreditation process and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The test for Covid-19 uses two stages of pre-packed chemical kits to extract the genetic material from the mucus and cells found on a skin swab .
RNA Extraction - around £350 for one pack of 50 In this part of the test , the virus 's genetic code , its RNA , or ribonucleic acid , is found , cleaned and separated .
Enzymes and other chemicals break up all of the cells that are sent in on the tip of the swab .
Enzymes called proteases to break up proteins in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to laundry detergent to cut up the proteins in food stains . )
Another set of chemicals stick the RNA to a membrane .
And the reaction takes place in a liquid called a buffer .
At this point , the RNA is still too small to be detected .
This is when the second chemical cocktail comes into play .
PCR kit - Around £250 for one pack of 200 This chemical cocktail allows the virus RNA code in the PCR machine to reproduce itself .
Here the RNA is converted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fluorescent chemicals and copies are made until there are enough to detect .
If enough bright spots show , the test indicates that the virus was present in the sample .
The companies that are better known for making these chemical kits warn against reverse engineering them under the current circumstances .
Dr Thomas Theuringer , a spokesperson for Qiagen , a German chemicals company that supplies reagents to the UK , says replacing these reagent cocktails with home-made recipes is `` playing with fire '' .
`` We can only guarantee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them in our production facilities where we have a controlled environment .
Any mis-step and you might get a false positive and create more harm than good , '' he says .
Several reagents produced by the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) in the US failed to produce conclusive results .
The CDC later admitted that kits had been `` rushed '' .
`` We are not talking about baking a cake - this is about life and death , '' says Dr Theuringer .
The benefit of using commercial solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been making them for a long time and that the standard operating procedures in their labs have been verified by several international health organisations .
Roche , a company which also currently makes reagent kits for UK testing sites , agrees .
`` The primary obstacles in another company or manufacturer producing any Roche test and reagents are time and expertise .
Roche can not guarantee safety and reliability if the reagents required for the test were manufactured outside our production network , '' a spokesman told the BBC in an email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` People have used home-brews for RNA extraction for a long time but for scaling up testing needs to be done in an automated fashion so that you can process many samples . ''
Prof Kool teaches chemistry at Stanford , has his own RNA extraction kit business and offered to help the effort in the United States , but testing centres there told him his kits were not the right kind for the machines they had in place .
`` Kind of like printer ink - you have to buy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
`` These kits are all corporate secrets , '' he says , but adds that the automated kits have plug-ins which work best with the kind of 24-hour testing that needs to be done with Covid-19 .
`` Even while people are sleeping , the robots can be running samples , '' he says .
This is the nub of the problem with large testing sites , like the ones built by the government .
The PCR machines they have collected from labs across the UK will work best with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortest supply .
The problem is worldwide , everyone is trying to get hold of the same automated RNA extraction kit .
To add to the complexity , the companies that sell them have differing ideas on which buyers should take priority .
This has been a difficult prospect for Qiagen , says its representative , Dr Theuringer , because his company has had to find a version of what fair allocation might be .
`` No one company alone can help meet the demand , '' he says .
It went from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 million per month , hired new staff and moved from a three-shift day to working around the clock .
Even so , they have been unable to meet demand , and even passed buyers on to their competitors .
Roche says it remains committed to its partnership with the UK government .
But its spokesman warns that `` due to the high demand on reagents and consumables the supply situation may be challenging in the short term in some cases '' .
Dr Swanton can not tell whether making their own test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right decision .
`` Only time will tell , '' he says , `` But we thought that doing nothing was not an option , really . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

"We have the staff here, the facilities, the resources, the reagents and the know-how to get on and just do it. And so that's what we chose to do," says Dr Swanton.


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Iran and the US trade blame over sanctions

With Iran one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus , a war of words has broken out over the impact of US sanctions .
Iran says they 're hampering its battle with the disease - but the US denies that and says Iran has mishandled the crisis .
We 've been looking at the claims made by both sides and whether there 's any truth in them .
What are the US sanctions ?
In 2018 , President Trump pulled the US out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers , which he said was flawed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil industry and other key sectors of the economy and shut Iran out of the US financial system .
The aim was to get Iran to renegotiate the nuclear deal but so far it 's refused to do so .
The sanctions have driven Iran 's economy into severe recession , with oil exports largely stopping , major foreign companies pulling out to avoid US penalties and the value of the local currency plummeting .
What is Iran saying about sanctions ?
Its leadership says the sanctions make it difficult for Iran to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat Covid-19 patients .
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused the US of moving from `` economic terrorism '' to `` medical terror '' by declining to lift the sanctions after Iran 's outbreak began in mid-February .
But he 's also said recently that despite the sanctions , Iran `` has made significant progress '' against the virus , thanks to its own resources and support from some foreign countries .
What is the US saying ?
`` We have repeatedly said that US sanctions do not impede the Iranian regime 's response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus said on 1 April .
And the sanctions do allow the sale of food , agricultural commodities , medicine and medical devices , `` provided such transactions do not involve persons designated in connection with Iran 's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or support of international terrorism '' .
The US has also noted Iran has refused a US offer of humanitarian and medical aid .
And it says the Iranian government has sufficient funds to pay for what it needs , including hundreds of billions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can Iran get medical supplies ?
In the past , Iran has relied heavily on imports for more advanced medicines , with EU countries being important suppliers .
That trade has fluctuated in recent years but it 's clear the tightening of sanctions towards the end of 2018 had an impact .
Iran faces a number of problems in buying medical supplies internationally , despite the exemptions for humanitarian goods : • only a few Iranian banks can access the international banking system • lengthy and complicated legal compliance for businesses trading with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) limit on US export licences for exempt food and medical items • a sharp drop since 2016 in the number of export licences for specialist medical equipment , some of which might be needed to treat Covid-19 patients Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi has said Iran is struggling to buy ventilator systems and intensive care beds and ca n't transfer over money to import certain drugs .
Has Iran received any help from abroad ?
Iran is asking the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) for $ 5bn in emergency funding - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it says , Iran has sufficient funds .
France , Germany and the UK have sent medical supplies under a financial mechanism set up last year to get around the US sanctions - but the transaction was reported to be worth less than €500,000 ( £436,000 ) .
Earlier this year , Switzerland , a major exporter of medical products , ran a successful trial of a humanitarian scheme ( approved by the US authorities ) to enable companies to sell food , medicine and agricultural commodities to Iran - but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been no transactions since then .
However , a number countries as well as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and the EU have are giving Iran medical aid , including personal protection equipment , testing kits and ventilators .
And there have also been calls for sanctions to be eased during the pandemic from the UN human rights chief , Michelle Bachelet , to enable Iran to receive more medical supplies .
• EASY STEPS : What can I do ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the outbreak The Iranian government has insisted it 's taken all necessary measures to contain the outbreak .
But there were allegations that despite cases of infection emerging in January , the government did n't go public with the news until 19 February to avoid harming turnout for parliamentary elections .
The Iranian government denies it withheld information about the spread of the coronavirus .
But it did not impose restrictions straight away , even in the holy city of Qom , the initial centre of the country 's outbreak , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister .
The government did start to limit movement between some cities and asked people not to travel to popular holiday destinations during the Nowruz festival celebrating the Persian New Year .
• Are there clues to the real virus death toll in Iran ?
But by then , Iran had become one of the worst-hit countries in the world , although it 's reported far few virus deaths relative to its population than other nations .

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bbc--2020-04-17--Leeds legend Hunter dies after contracting coronavirus

Leeds United great Norman Hunter has died in hospital aged 76 after contracting coronavirus .
The tough-tackling centre-back , nicknamed 'Bites Yer Legs ' , was a key player in Leeds ' most successful era .
He won two league titles during a 14-year first-team career at Elland Road , and was a non-playing member of England 's 1966 World Cup-winning squad .
Hunter was admitted to hospital on 10 April after testing positive for coronavirus .
Leeds said Hunter 's death leaves `` a huge hole '' in the family of the club .
`` His legacy will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norman 's family and friends at this very difficult time , '' the club said in a statement .
• Hunter ' a man of steel who could produce silk' The defender , who joined Leeds aged 15 , went on to play 726 matches in all competitions for the club , the fourth-highest individual total in their history .
As an integral part of Don Revie 's famous side , Hunter won the First Division title in 1969 and 1974 , helped them beat Arsenal in the 1968 League Cup final , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Leeds defeated the Gunners to win the FA Cup .
He also played in the 1975 European Cup final defeat by Bayern Munich in Paris - a year after Revie left to manage England - but he did taste European success as Leeds won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971 .
Speaking in 2013 , when he announced he was selling his Leeds memorabilia at auction , Hunter said his one regret from his time playing for the club was that he never lifted the European Cup .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my shirt from that game [ against Bayern ] but I honestly do n't know where it is , '' he added .
`` I was that upset that I do n't know what I did with it .
`` Medals do n't mean much to me .
For me it was about being at Leeds United and playing with that group of players and staff .
Although a member of the squad , Hunter did not play during England 's triumphant 1966 World Cup campaign , with their central defensive partnership formed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and captain Bobby Moore .
The England national team said they were `` extremely saddened '' by Hunter 's death and that `` all of our thoughts are with his family , friends and supporters '' .
After leaving Leeds in 1976 , Hunter also played for Bristol City and Barnsley , managing the Tykes and Rotherham after he retired from playing .
The Professional Footballers ' Association said : `` Football has lost a legend and we join the entire football community in mourning this loss . ''

Norman Hunter won the league title with Leeds in 1969 and 1974
Leeds United great Norman Hunter has died in hospital aged 76 after contracting coronavirus.
The tough-tackling centre-back, nicknamed 'Bites Yer Legs', was a key player in Leeds' most successful era.
He won two league titles during a 14-year first-team career at Elland Road, and was a non-playing member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad.
Hunter was admitted to hospital on 10 April after testing positive for coronavirus.
Former Leeds team-mate Eddie Gray said Hunter was an "iconic figure" at the club.
"He was a truly great player," Gray, 72, told the BBC. "I don't think people realise because of the 'Bites Yer Legs', it took away from his actual ability as a player.
"He never got as many caps as he deserved because of the great Bobby Moore, but he was as good as any defender that played the game."
Leeds said the defender's death leaves "a huge hole" in the family of the club.
"His legacy will never be forgotten and our thoughts are with Norman's family and friends at this very difficult time," the Yorkshire club said in a statement. external-link
Eddie Gray pays tribute to 'truly great' Leeds team-mate Norman Hunter
Hunter joined Leeds aged 15 and went on to play 726 matches in all competitions for the club - the fourth-highest individual total in their history.
As an integral part of Don Revie's famous side, Hunter won the First Division title in 1969 and 1974, helped them beat Arsenal in the 1968 League Cup final, and then returned to Wembley in 1972 as Leeds defeated the Gunners to win the FA Cup.
He also played in the 1975 European Cup final defeat by Bayern Munich in Paris - a year after Revie left to manage England - but he did taste European success as Leeds won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971.
Speaking in 2013, when he announced he was selling his Leeds memorabilia at auction, Hunter said his one regret from his time playing for the club was that he never lifted the European Cup.
"Someone asked me if I was selling my shirt from that game [against Bayern] but I honestly don't know where it is," he added. "I was that upset that I don't know what I did with it.
"Medals don't mean much to me. For me it was about being at Leeds United and playing with that group of players and staff.
"It was magic."
Although a member of the squad, Hunter did not play during England's triumphant 1966 World Cup campaign, with their central defensive partnership formed by Jack Charlton - his Leeds team-mate - and captain Bobby Moore.
The England national team said they were "extremely saddened" by Hunter's death and that "all of our thoughts are with his family, friends and supporters".
After leaving Leeds in 1976, Hunter also played for Bristol City and Barnsley, managing the Tykes and Rotherham after he retired from playing.
The Professional Footballers' Association said: "Football has lost a legend and we join the entire football community in mourning this loss."
'He loved Leeds like nothing else' - tributes to Hunter
Norman Hunter also won the FA Cup and League Cup with Leeds
England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst: "Enormously shocked and saddened to hear the awful news about my friend Norman Hunter, he will be very sadly missed. My heartfelt thoughts are with his wife, Sue, his family and the England and Leeds United fans, a huge part of the 1966-70 England squad back in the day."
Former England captain Gary Lineker: Grew up watching that great Leeds side of which Norman Hunter was a huge part. This awful virus was one crunching tackle too far but he'll be biting yer legs somewhere. RIP.
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Norman always had a laugh. He was very professional, a hard worker and someone who was good to have around in the squad.
"He was somebody you never liked playing against because he did let players know he was around. He was a great player. He had a lot more than just being a tough man."
Former Leeds defender Danny Mills on BBC Radio 5 Live: "He loved Leeds like nothing else. It's incredibly sad that he won't get to see Leeds promoted back to the Premier League.
"His knowledge of football was immense. He could be critical of the players and the team but he did it in a charming way. He could be critical but never offended anybody."
Former England defender Casey Stoney: "I was extremely privileged to sit next to Norman at a PFA awards a couple of years ago and he was one of the nicest, warmest and friendliest men I've met. He shared stories that were amazing to hear and was so kind to me and I was just a stranger."
BBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter Ian Dennis: "I worked with Norman Hunter at BBC Radio Leeds. I had four wonderful years with him, it was an absolute education.
"My condolences to his family. He was a gentle giant. He was the opposite off the pitch to how he was on it."


bbc--2020-04-17--BBC Sport's five things to do today

BBC Sport's five things to do today

Our chief football writer Phil McNulty reflects on 10 times he got predictions very wrong .
Friday means it 's @ @ @ @ @ This one has 162 answers .
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Football Focus: James Maddison says #PlayersTogether 'handled brilliantly' by captains
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bbc--2020-04-17--Doctors and coronavirus: ‘How can we not be afraid?’

The coronavirus pandemic is taking a heavy toll on the healthcare workers around the world battling to contain it .
Many fear for their lives amid limited supplies of essential protective equipment .
The virus has also changed their relationships with their patients , co-workers and families , and some are struggling under the psychological weight of the crisis .
No global figures are available , but individual country data highlight the risks they are facing in treating patients , with thousands of healthcare professionals infected in countries like Italy , Spain and the US .
We spoke to five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the world 's worst-affected countries about the challenges they are facing .
Some who are barred from speaking publicly asked to remain anonymous .
Before the coronavirus came we would see masks and personal protective equipment ( PPE ) lying on every bed space in our intensive care unit , but as of now they usually stay locked in a cupboard and you have to go in and fetch them .
I am concerned about the risks involved .
The most important thing is we are probably getting exposed a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public who probably have exposure once .
Despite having PPE , there is still a chance that , if you 're doing procedures that generate aerosols , you are at risk of getting exposed and for us it 's probably going to be multiple times instead of just once .
Since I live with my husband , a medic who works in Covid-positive wards , my main concern is that it 's probably going to be us getting the thing into each other at some point .
Psychologically it 's hard because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-risk work as of now .
Our shifts have become more frequent ; we 're doing more night shifts ; we 're working every other weekend ; and all our annual leave has been cancelled .
So it 's hard on the work front and the sad thing is probably that we do n't have anything to get that stress off us as there 's no way we can relax .
You either work in a high-risk situation and get stressed or you are just at home doing nothing so it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment .
The first few patients we were doing Ebola-style .
We were throwing out masks in quantities and then it was realised as we were coming to the end of our supplies that , oh no , there 's no new stuff coming in because the distribution 's impacted so we 're scrambling to re-use the last bits of what we have on hand .
There have been a lot of healthcare workers getting sick around the world so I think there 's justifiable concern .
I 'm concerned for my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory issues .
We 're doing our best to keep those nurses out of the rooms .
I 'm fortunate that I do n't have underlying health conditions .
I worry about taking it home to my husband and I 've kind of wondered if I should move into the guest bedroom and try not to come within six feet of him .
But so far we 're just continuing on with life as normal .
We still are not going to sacrifice ourselves and run in without PPE .
I refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of masks , I do n't know what I 'll do .
It 'll be a huge ethical dilemma .
I feel that my commitment to my profession does not extend to sacrificing my own life and doing knowingly needlessly reckless things .
My employer has a responsibility to continue providing protective equipment to keep nurses safe .
I feel lucky because , at the moment , I can wear a mask and a new disposable gown every day that I go to work ( although the latter are already beginning to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same clothes all shift and protect them with a surgical mask and a semi-transparent gown , which is what we discard when leaving the room .
Many colleagues from other units and other hospitals sometimes do not even have that and share on social media how gowns and shoes are being made with garbage bags , and protective visors with all kinds of gadgets .
We see at the bedside the most serious consequences of this disease .
How can we not be afraid of it ?
Strangely enough , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 is when I am working .
I suppose this is a defence mechanism that I have created to cope with this situation .
I focus on taking care of my patients .
Once the shift ends , this defence mechanism `` turns off '' and I think about the risks I 'm exposing myself to day after day , and I do fear the possibility of finding myself in the future in the same situation my patients are in .
That this could happen to me .
After work I take off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital at the entrance and go to the shower and clean - clean everything .
I live alone but other colleagues isolate themselves from their family in their own home because of the risk of infecting them .
I watch the news and I get angry , I get depressed , I despair .
You listen to people 's applause from their balconies .
Sometimes I cry .
I do n't know if I am grateful or frustrated .
There are better and worse days .
Lately it has been harder for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing in the day is no different .
The difference is that everything is much slower because you have to dress up every time - we have masks and gloves and something to put over our eyes and something like a jumpsuit .
You have to wear them all the time .
You can not remove them .
So that 's why we 're working six hours in a row and every six hours we need to change .
Once you start working , you have to work until the end - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bathroom or drink or anything .
You can not go out for dinner or to the park .
Inside the hospital you can not have a coffee with colleagues .
You just go there , work and go home .
The relationship with the patients has become totally different ...
I used to stay a little bit and talk with the patient to try to create a relationship but now you ca n't .
The patient can not hear because the oxygen is very loud and also because you do n't want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to .
Besides , it 's very hot in all that plastic you have to wear .
Also you can only talk to relatives on the phone .
You feel like you 're a doctor in wartime .
We do n't have much time to stop and think about it because we 're working .
We 're going to think about it all later probably .
It always happens when you 're in an emergency , you do n't think - you just act .
So far , I 've had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to take care of a patient .
There have been times when I 've had to reuse items and I worried that in the act of taking off a possibly contaminated item and putting it back on I am contaminating myself .
You ca n't see the particles , it 's not like red paint where you 'd be like `` oh I got some on myself '' .
It 's not a spill , there 's no alarm that sounds .
You 're very concerned about invisible contamination and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good you are doing harm .
Many healthcare practitioners around the country are starting to contract this disease , and it makes sense .
We are uniquely vulnerable .
And many of us , at least the people I 've spoken to , are speaking in terms of not if but when we will contract it .
We 're basically behaving with the assumption that many of us will contract it .
We 've had a will for more than a decade because we have children - it was a thing we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing you do to be a responsible adult - but I do n't think we have really viewed it as a real possibility until now .
And now we have reworked it .
I have moved down to the basement so I 'm separated from my family - separate bedroom , separate bathroom .
I 'm semi-quarantining my personal items so that , if I do need to quarantine , the provisions are already in place .
It 's reasonably likely that if someone in the family gets it , it 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edited for length and clarity .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

The relationship with the patients has become totally different... I used to stay a little bit and talk with the patient to try to create a relationship but now you can't. The patient cannot hear because the oxygen is very loud and also because you don't want to stay in the room longer than you have to. Besides, it's very hot in all that plastic you have to wear. Also you can only talk to relatives on the phone.


bbc--2020-04-17--India coronavirus: The underpaid and unprotected women leading the Covid-19 war

Some 900,000 female community health workers are on the frontline as part of India ’ s battle against Covid-19 .
But they are poorly paid , ill-prepared and vulnerable to attacks and social stigma , reports BBC Marathi ’ s Shrikant Bangale .
“ The value of our life is just 30 rupees [ less than $ 1 ] , according to the government , ” says Alka Nalawade , a community health worker in the western state of Maharashtra .
“ The government is paying us 1,000 rupees ( $ 13 ; £10 ) a month for corona-related work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 30 rupees daily for putting our life in danger.
” Ms Nalawade is among the state ’ s 70,000 Ashas , short for Accredited Social Health Activists .
She is a single mother , and has been doing this job for 10 years now in Pawarwadi village , where she lives .
Ashas are drawn from local and largely rural communities , and are a crucial element in India ’ s primary and community health programmes .
They go door-to-door educating people about maternal and child health , contraception , immunisation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in health programmes and monitoring the results .
Their role in the fight against Covid-19 is not that different - they visit the homes they have been assigned , educate families about isolation , and monitor people for symptoms of the virus .
But the risk is far greater than anything they have faced before .
For one , they don ’ t have the right gear , including masks or sanitiser .
India is facing a severe shortage of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , and even doctors and nurses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they use cotton masks which they wash daily so they can re-use them - and for sanitiser , they have a bottle of spirit that they mix with water .
One of them , Karuna Shinde , says she carries a scarf with her , which she uses to cover her face .
“ Wherever there is lack of safety equipment , we have instructed the local administration about it , ” says Rajendra Yadravkar , Maharashtra 's junior health minister .
“ Ashas have been putting their lives in danger on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected .
It ’ s the government ’ s responsibility to support them.
” But this doesn ’ t reassure the workers or their families who often discourage them from going to work .
“ My husband insists that I shouldn ’ t go to work .
He says other people such as nurses and doctors get paid a proper salary , let them do this work , ” says Ms Shinde .
Apart from the fear of infection , families are also concerned about safety as there have been reports of health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
And yet , Ms Nalawade says , the compensation - a monthly wage of 1,000 rupees - does not reflect the dangers she and her colleagues face .
She says she would earn 10 times her salary if she worked as a daily-wager on a farm .
“ How are we supposed to meet our household expenses with 30 rupees ?
” she asks .
‘ ‘ What if I get infected with the virus ?
Who will look after us ?
Will I get treated for 30 rupees ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for simply trying to do their job - people often stop them from entering their homes and make them stand outside while answering their questions for fear that the Ashas may infect them .
“ We are working for the people , but if the same people are going to behave with us this way , what are we supposed to do ?
” asks Ms Nalawade .
The women also complain that they receive little recognition for their efforts .
“ Nobody even mentions our work , ” says Anjana Wankhede .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief minister , everybody only praises doctors and police.
” She says that ’ s unfair since the government relies on the data that Ashas collect daily .
“ We visit each and every household and provide these numbers to the government .
The government talks based on these numbers , but they don ’ t talk about the Ashas who collect the numbers .
”

Several Ashas told the BBC that they use cotton masks which they wash daily so they can re-use them - and for sanitiser, they have a bottle of spirit that they mix with water. One of them, Karuna Shinde, says she carries a scarf with her, which she uses to cover her face.


bbc--2020-04-17--Africans in China: We face coronavirus discrimination

Ade* was given until midnight to vacate his apartment .
Five months earlier , the Nigerian student had moved to Guangzhou , southern China , to study computing at Guangdong university .
He had just paid his university fees for the new semester when his landlord informed him that he needed to leave .
He scrambled to pack his belongings .
The police were waiting for him and his roommates outside .
When he attempted to drop off his bags at a friend 's warehouse , he was prevented from entering .
He spent several nights sleeping on the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , how they forced us out of our houses and forced us to self-quarantine , '' he told the BBC from a hotel in the city .
`` They told me that the [ test ] result is out and I am negative .
Still they do n't want me to go out . ''
African community leaders in Guangzhou believe the vast majority of the city 's African population have been forced into quarantine or are sleeping on the streets .
`` Some are in hiding , '' said one community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In early April , online rumours began to circulate that parts of the city where Africans live and trade were under lockdown after two Nigerians who had tested positive for the virus escaped .
Chinese media reported that a Nigerian patient had attacked a Chinese nurse .
The local authority says it has tested every African national in the city for the coronavirus .
It found that 111 of the more than 4,500 Africans in Guangzhou tested positive .
`` They just came with their ambulance and medical team and took us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Chinese law and an order from the government , '' said Hao* , a businessman from Ivory Coast .
Guangzhou has become a hub for Africans in China .
Towards the end of the century 's first decade , hundreds of thousands were thought to live in the city .
Many of them entering the country on short-term visas to buy goods from nearby factories and send them back to the continent .
By some estimates there were more than 200,000 dwelling in the city .
Some settled for the long term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years , the numbers have dwindled .
Businessmen have complained of unfair visa restrictions and unfair treatment .
In 2018 , small hotels in Xiao Bei Lu , a popular area for African traders , temporarily turned away Africans from several nations , they told the BBC .
`` Most of the Africans living there are nice and friendly with the locals , and they are doing business as normal for the past years , '' said one Guangzhou resident who did not want to be named .
`` If there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some Africans are overstaying and doing some illegal things .
`` The conflict over the virus test , I think it is something of a misunderstanding .
It is not about racial discrimination .
That 's not the style of the Guangzhou people , '' he said .
`` People are not hostile to Africans in their mind , unless some Africans are doing things against the local rules , '' he added .
You may also like to read : • A dazed city emerges from the harshest of lockdowns • China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese government dismissed claims of racism , insisting China and Africa are friends , partners and brothers and that it has zero tolerance to racism .
But many of those the BBC spoke to say they have been singled out because of their race .
`` Ninety-eight per cent of Africans are in quarantine , '' said one community leader who did not want to be named .
Africans across China say they are facing increased scrutiny .
On the deserted campus of Wuhan University African faces outnumber Chinese .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Michael Addaney a Ghanaian graduate student studying in the Chinese city where coronavirus was first detected .
For more than two months he has waged a social media campaign demanding his government bring his countrymen and women home .
At the height of the outbreak , an estimated 5,000 African students were stranded in Wuhan and neighbouring cities , after most sub-Saharan nations failed to evacuate their citizens .
`` We feel like sacrificial lambs for no reason .
The plan was to keep the people safe by sacrificing us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be named .
`` What was the point as our countries did n't put measures in place to protect the people from the virus ? ''
When Wuhan officially ended its lockdown on 8 April , normality began to creep back into the city .
More than a week on , African students on campuses remain unable to leave the grounds of the university .
They have no information of when their own lockdown will be lifted .
Back in Guangzhou , a student from Sierra Leone said she believed Africans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this is happening because there has been a rise in foreign imported cases , [ but ] the majority are from Chinese nationals , '' she said .
`` Only a small percentage is made up of Africans . ''
She received a letter from her university stating that all Africans needed to be tested .
Despite being tested twice she remains in quarantine .
'Others not treated like this' '' With all this happening , the Chinese have exhibited racism and discrimination against black people here in Guangzhou .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white and non-Africans who are not going through what we are going through - quarantine and multiple testing , '' she said .
`` Quarantine hotels are like forced detention for blacks . ''
A Nigerian businessman under quarantine said that `` it was the police that removed me from my apartment and put me on the streets '' .
`` I do n't have any problem with my landlord .
He did n't even know I had been evicted .
My children slept on the streets for many days . ''
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect myself ?
• STRESS : How to look after your mental health On social media , hundreds of Africans in Guangzhou have organised groups supplying each other with regular updates .
They send photos of numerous hotels and hospitals where businessmen , residents and students are being held across the city .
Some post test results showing that they are negative .
Others post medical and hotel bills that they say they can not afford to pay .
Videos of Africans sleeping on the streets have gone viral .
The Guangdong government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who experience discrimination '' .
But for those in quarantine , suspicions remain high .
Videos continue to circulate online of Africans being moved between hotels by ambulance .
Xiao Bei Lu is known as `` China 's little Africa '' but social media videos show that its streets , at one time packed with African traders , are now deserted .
The names of the interviewees have been changed .

"Most of the Africans living there are nice and friendly with the locals, and they are doing business as normal for the past years," said one Guangzhou resident who did not want to be named.


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: ‘Liberate’ states protesting against lockdown, says Trump

President Donald Trump has appeared to endorse protests against stringent lockdown measures in several states .
In a series of tweets , he said : `` LIBERATE MINNESOTA '' , `` LIBERATE MICHIGAN '' and then `` LIBERATE VIRGINIA '' .
Protesters say the severe economic restrictions are hurting citizens , but health officials warn lifting them could spread infection .
The US saw its highest daily death toll on Thursday , recording 4,591 deaths in 24 hours .
That spike could be because Johns Hopkins University , which records the data , began to include deaths with a Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest number of cases and deaths worldwide , more than 672,200 confirmed infections and 33,000 deaths .
Demonstrations calling on authorities to end the shutdown have occurred in Michigan , Ohio , North Carolina , Minnesota , Utah , Virginia and Kentucky .
The states Mr Trump referenced in Friday 's tweets are all led by Democrats .
Ohio and Utah , which he did not mention , have Republican governors .
• The daunting reality of getting US back to normal • Why is NYC reporting sudden surge in virus deaths ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin , Oregon , Maryland , Idaho and Texas .
The protests have varied in size , ranging from a few dozen people in Virginia to thousands in Michigan .
The president 's apparent support comes a day after his administration unveiled new guidance for re-opening state economies .
His Friday tweets contrast with his stance on Thursday , where he said he was sympathetic to the demonstrators , but `` they seem to be protesters who like me ... my opinion is just about the same as all of the governors '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tweets , saying he called the White House to ask `` what they think we could have done differently '' , but did not hear back .
`` The president unveiled a three step plan that mirrors exactly what we 're trying to do , '' Mr Walz told reporters .
`` I called to ask , what are we doing differently about moving towards getting as many people back into the workforce without compromising the health of Minnesotans or the providers ?
`` And that will probably take longer than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's responsibility to tell us that . ''
What does federal guidance say ?
That guidance recommends three phases of slowly re-opening businesses and social life , with each phase lasting a minimum of 14 days .
It includes some recommendations across all three phases including good personal hygiene and employers developing policies to ensure social distancing , testing and contact tracing .
Dr Anthony Fauci , from the White House coronavirus taskforce , cautioned that even as restrictions were eased `` it 's not game over '' .
He warns that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be setbacks along the way .
On Friday morning Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets calling for the `` liberation '' of three states with Democratic governors , as though they were enemy-controlled territory .
The governor of one , Michigan 's Gretchen Whitmer , recently was the target of a mass protest at the state capital against her sweeping lock-down orders .
A mixed crowd of conservatives , white nationalists and anti-government militias waved Confederate and pro-Trump flags , and signs accusing Whitmer of dictatorial overreach .
Another of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital protests earlier in the year from gun-rights activists .
The president 's social media fusillade suggests his goal is to reward - or encourage - such shows of force from his political base , as opinion polls indicate Trump 's approval rating is sagging after a boost during the early weeks of the outbreak .
Trump followed those incendiary tweets by criticising New York 's Andrew Cuomo , another Democrat , for mishandling the pandemic and spending too much time `` complaining '' .
Just a day after Trump reportedly told governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the shots '' on when to begin easing restrictions , it appears the president wants to up the pressure - and the political risk - for Democrats by other means at his disposal .
Trump has benefitted in the past from a finely tuned sense of the sentiments - and resentments - of his supporters .
Friday morning could be an indication that he 's positioning himself to again stand in their midst .
Protesters say stringent restrictions on movement and businesses are an overreaction to the outbreak .
Organisers of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It is not the governor 's place to restrict free movement of Minnesota citizens ! ''
`` President Trump has been very clear that we must get America back to work very quickly or the 'cure ' to this terrible disease may be the worse option ! ''
The group added that the state 's economy `` will be dealt a death blow '' if restrictions continue .
The event now has over 600 attendees marked on Facebook and some 2,800 more users interested in the event .
Earlier this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked roads , demanding the state reopen after Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended stay-at-home restrictions .
• How California kept ahead of the curve Governor Whitmer is also facing federal lawsuits against her orders shuttering non-essential businesses and limiting travel .
However , public health experts , and some state governors , including Republican governors , have stressed the importance of social distancing .
On Friday , Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced he was establishing a `` strike force '' to `` safely and strategically '' re-open America 's second largest state .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector leaders will look into what services and activities may resume under existing guidelines .
The governor will offer a re-opening plan based on the findings on 27 April .
In addition , Mr Abbott said retail outlets that are able to deliver goods to customer 's cars , homes or other locations with minimal contact may begin operating on 24 April .
In Florida , the mayor of Jacksonville said he would re-open beaches with limited hours starting Friday .
Mayor Lenny Curry said residents must still practice social distancing , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parks in the city will also be opened , though gatherings of more than 50 are banned .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Just a day after Trump reportedly told governors in a conference call they would "call the shots" on when to begin easing restrictions, it appears the president wants to up the pressure - and the political risk - for Democrats by other means at his disposal.


bbc--2020-04-17--'Voice of WWE' Howard Finkel dies age 69

Professional wrestling ring announcer Howard Finkel has died .
He was 69 .
Finkel 's voice was synonymous with World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) in the 1980s and 1990s , and he announced wrestlers from Hulk Hogan to Stone Cold Steven Austin .
He made his debut for the World Wide Wrestling Federation - the predecessor to WWE - in 1977 .
The announcer then became the first person WWE hired when it was established in 1980 .
There has been an outpouring of tributes from the wrestling world , with wrestlers and fans alike sharing their memories of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the grandest moments in sports entertainment history were made all the grander thanks to Howard ’ s iconic voice '' .
Triple H , whose first title win in WWE - the Intercontinental Championship in 1996 - was announced by Finkel , said `` you weren ’ t someone until you heard Howard announce you '' .
Former champion Booker T called him `` without a doubt the greatest ring announcer of all time '' and Trish Stratus , a six-time women 's champion , said Finkel was `` the voice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hogan thanked `` the Fink '' for supporting him `` through the good and bad times '' .
• Why football is cancelled , but fighting isn ’ t '' Even when I was on the outs Howard would call on a consistent basis to tell me to always keep my head up , '' he said .
`` It was 'never say never ' and 'you and Vince will work it out ' .
My good friend RIP .
I love you for life . ''
Such was his ubiquity in professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared a tribute on social media .
Though he made fewer appearances with WWE in later years , one memorable moment in 2011 saw Howard Finkel return - to a rapturous response from the crowd .
Tasked with announcing CM Punk to the ring , Finkel was overcome with emotion when the 16,000 people in attendance began loudly chanting his name after the surprise appearance .
The crowd were so vocal , he was teased by commentators that he was taking his time to savour the moment , and when CM Punk eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glance at his watch before the two shared a hug .
Finkel later called it the highlight of his career .


bbc--2020-04-17--Nasa to launch first manned mission from US in decade

Nasa has announced that next month it will launch its first manned mission from US soil in almost 10 years @ @ @ @ @ spacecraft it is carrying are due to take off from Florida ’ s Kennedy Space @ @ @ @ @ taking two astronauts to the International Space Station ( ISS ) .
Both the rocket @ @ @ @ @ private company SpaceX .
Nasa has been using Russian rockets for manned flights since its @ @ @ @ @ 2011 .
If successful , SpaceX – headed by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk - will @ @ @ @ @ to send Nasa astronauts into space .
The Falcon Nine rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft @ @ @ @ @ space centre ’ s historic Pad 39A , the same one used for the Apollo @ @ @ @ @ will take astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley approximately 24 hours to reach the ISS @ @ @ @ @ two Russian cosmonauts are currently aboard the ISS .

The rocket and the spacecraft it is carrying are due to take off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on 27 May, taking two astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen 'to be released from prison'

President Donald Trump 's former personal lawyer , Michael Cohen , is reportedly set for an early release from prison due to Covid-19 .
Cohen is serving a three-year sentence after pleading guilty to multiple offences , including violating campaign finance laws and lying to Congress .
He is currently in a minimum-security New York prison where virus cases have been reported among inmates and staff .
New York has been the epicentre of the outbreak in the US .
There are currently over 671,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the US , and the death toll has risen to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly a third are in New York state .
• A run through the 'warzone ' of New York • The daunting reality of getting US back to normal Cohen , 53 , has been serving his sentence at the Otisville correctional facility in upstate New York since last May , and was due to be released in November 2021 .
Cohen 's counsel had requested he finish his time at home due to the pandemic in March , but was rejected by a federal judge , who said Cohen should `` accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lawyer for Cohen now says he will finish his sentence at home , US media report .
The president 's former fixer is to remain in quarantine for two weeks before he is released .
Cohen , who once said he would take a bullet for Mr Trump , was the first member of Mr Trump 's inner circle to be jailed during the special counsel 's inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election .
He admitted to lying to Congress about a Trump Tower project in Moscow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making hush money payments to women alleging affairs with Mr Trump and other tax and bank fraud charges unrelated to the president .
According to the federal Bureau of Prisons ( BOP ) , as of Thursday , 473 inmates and 279 staff have tested positive for Covid-19 nationwide .
There have been 18 inmate deaths due to the virus .
There are 14 confirmed Covid-19 cases among inmates at the Otisville prison .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look after your mental health The BOP manages over 150,000 inmates and 36,000 employees .
The agency has faced criticism for its handling of outbreaks and is under pressure to release some non-violent inmates .
Reform campaigners say prisoners face unique risks , due to a lack of hygiene in overcrowded cells and hallways .
Handcuffed people can not cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze , sinks often lack soap , and hand sanitiser is considered contraband due to its alcohol content .
A number of other high-profile convicts , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cosby , have also appealed for release due to the virus .
At the start of April , Attorney General William Barr directed the BOP to move vulnerable inmates out of three federal facilities in Louisiana , Ohio and Connecticut that had Covid-19 outbreaks .
`` Given the speed with which this disease has spread through the general public , it is clear that time is of the essence , '' he said .
The attorney general also told officials to review inmates with risk factors at other `` similarly situated facilities where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations '' .


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: Captain Tom Moore passes £20m in NHS fundraising

A 99-year-old war veteran has been left `` speechless '' after raising more than £20m for the NHS .
Capt Tom Moore originally aimed to raise just £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday .
The Duke of Cambridge hailed him as a `` one-man fundraising machine '' .
His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore said : `` There are no words left to say .
We can not believe people 's generosity and he 's just floored by it . ''
Ms Ingram-Moore continued : `` We 're all speechless .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started .
We 're just working our socks off supporting him and this phenomenon .
`` Yesterday we did 35 interviews and another 17 today but the Yorkshireman takes it all in his stride .
`` He 's become an A-list celebrity .
I 'm just the sidekick . ''
More than 976,000 people have now made donations to his JustGiving page .
And more than half a million people have called for Capt Tom to be knighted in a petition to the Honours Committee .
The petition , which was set up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 553,000 signatures after his efforts grabbed the nation 's attention .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is looking at ways to recognise his `` heroic efforts '' .
As he finished the challenge on Thursday , having raised about £14m , Capt Tom said it was `` an absolutely fantastic sum of money '' .
In a tweet , he said he would be doing `` less walking '' on Friday but would be talking to TV channels in the United States , Argentina , Europe and the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the sum of money was `` absolutely enormous '' and `` very difficult to imagine '' .
He also thanked everyone who had donated for their support .
`` I say thank you very much indeed .
I appreciate it because the object for which we 're donating is so important and so necessary ...
I think you 're all so kind and thoughtful contributing to this cause , '' he said .
The total includes an undisclosed donation from the Duke of Cambridge , who , with the Duchess of Cambridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the veteran .
Prince William said : `` It 's amazing and what I love also is that he 's a 99-year-old war vet .
`` He 's been around a long time , he knows everything and it 's wonderful that everyone has been inspired by his story and his determination .
`` He 's a one-man fundraising machine and God knows what the final total will be .
But good on him , and I hope it keeps going . ''
In response , Capt Tom said : `` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say something like that . ''
He also said it was `` a moment we will never forget '' .
Capt Tom , who is originally from Keighley in West Yorkshire , has seemingly risen from nowhere to the status of near national treasure .
Keighley Town Council has tweeted that it will `` honour the fundraising hero '' with the freedom of the town .
Capt Tom began raising funds to thank NHS staff who helped him with treatment for cancer and a broken hip .
With the aid of a walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 25-metre ( 82ft ) loop in his garden in Marston Moretaine , Bedfordshire , in 10-lap chunks well before his birthday on 30 April .
NHS Charities Together said it was `` truly inspired and humbled '' by his efforts .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Find BBC News : East of England on Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews @ bbc.co.uk

"I say thank you very much indeed. I appreciate it because the object for which we're donating is so important and so necessary... I think you're all so kind and thoughtful contributing to this cause," he said.


bbc--2020-04-17--UK medics to be asked to reuse gowns if shortages

Doctors and nurses in England are to be asked to treat coronavirus patients without fully protective gowns and to reuse equipment due to shortage fears .
The decision came in a reversal of guidance to hospitals from Public Health England on Friday .
Earlier this week , the BBC reported the plan was being considered as a `` last resort '' .
It comes as NHS Providers warned some hospitals ' supplies could run out in 24 hours .
Chris Hopson , head of the association , which represents healthcare trusts across England , said in a tweet : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national stock of fully fluid repellent gowns and long-sleeved laboratory coats will be exhausted in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours . ''
He said that national leaders have left `` no stone unturned '' - but gowns that were ordered weeks ago are currently only arriving in `` fits and starts '' .
Public Health England changed its guidance , which until now required long-sleeved , disposable , fluid-repellent gowns for people treating Covid-19 patients .
Now it says if these gowns are not available , staff can wear washable medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the BBC said the measures were considered earlier this week to cope with `` acute supply shortages '' It comes as the UK recorded 847 new coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals on Thursday , taking the total to 14,576 .
• Why some NHS workers are wearing bin bags A Department of Health spokesman said : `` New clinical advice has been issued today to make sure that if there are shortages in one area , frontline staff know what PPE to wear instead to minimise risk . ''
And Health Secretary Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to wave a magic wand '' to increase supply of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
`` But given that we have a global situation in which there is less PPE in the world than the world needs , obviously it 's going to be a huge pressure point , '' he told a virtual committee of MPs .
Mr Hancock admitted the supply of gowns was `` tight '' but said he was aiming to get enough gowns to staff this weekend .
He added that the government was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that PPE to the front line '' .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Dr Rob Harwood , consultants committee chairman at the British Medical Association , said : `` If it 's being proposed that staff reuse equipment , this must be demonstrably driven by science and the best evidence - rather than availability - and it absolutely can not compromise the protection of healthcare workers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
More doctors and their colleagues can not be expected to put their own lives on the line in a bid to save others , and this new advice means they could be doing just that .
It 's not a decision they should have to make . ''
At least 50 NHS workers have now died after contracting coronavirus .
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said : `` Week after week , we hear of problems in PPE getting to the front line despite what ministers tell us at Downing Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs fixing and ministers must explain how they will fix it urgently . ''
• Testing will be rolled out to people working in public services such as police , fire and prison staff , the health secretary has said • Scientists at the University of Oxford say they should have at least a million doses of a coronavirus vaccine by September • Councils in England have warned that the coronavirus crisis is pushing them to the brink of financial failure • Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the government 's furlough scheme by @ @ @ @ @ @ @

"Too many healthcare workers have already died. More doctors and their colleagues cannot be expected to put their own lives on the line in a bid to save others, and this new advice means they could be doing just that. It's not a decision they should have to make."


bbc--2020-04-17--Chernobyl wildfire blankets Kyiv in thick smog

Acrid smoke from a wildfire near the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant has blanketed Ukraine 's capital Kyiv , making its air pollution among the worst in the world .
Kyiv 's pollution now ranks alongside that of several Chinese cities , Swiss monitoring group IQAir reports .
The coronavirus lockdown is keeping most Kyiv residents at home anyway .
Ukraine 's health ministry says the radiation level remains normal and Chernobyl faces no immediate threat .
At one point on Thursday , according to the IQAir index , Kyiv 's air pollution was the worst in the world .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , caused by the coronavirus pandemic , has made the air in many cities cleaner .
That partly explains why Kyiv 's smog looks especially bad now .
The Chernobyl plant was the scene of the world 's worst nuclear disaster in 1986 , when an accident blew the roof off a reactor , sending a radioactive plume across Europe .
Firefighters have been tackling the wildfire for more than a week , and there was a new flare-up fanned by strong winds on Thursday .
But now the emergency services say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power station area .
• Chernobyl : The least romantic weekend ever ?
The plant is surrounded by a 30km ( 19 mile ) -radius exclusion zone , created in 1986 because of radioactive hotspots .
It includes the abandoned settlement of Pripyat .
The health ministry has urged Kyiv 's roughly 3.7m people to stay indoors and close windows , Reuters news agency reports .
The ministry warns that the smog can cause headaches , coughs , difficulty breathing and inflammation .

Firefighters have been tackling wildfires in the Chernobyl zone and in areas nearer to Kyiv, and there was a new flare-up fanned by strong winds on Thursday. But the emergency services say fire has not spread to the Chernobyl power station area.


bbc--2020-04-17--Israel 'heading towards record fourth election'

Israel is facing the growing prospect of an unprecedented fourth election in just over a year after a deadline to form a government expired .
Its president passed the mandate to parliament after centre-left bloc leader Benny Gantz failed to seal talks to form a unity government in time .
If no-one else gets nominated within 21 days , new elections will be held by 4 August .
Israel has been in a political crisis after three inconclusive rounds .
Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's right-wing Likud party won more seats than Mr Gantz 's Blue and White in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was backed by a thin majority of lawmakers and given the mandate to form a government .
However , Mr Gantz , former chief of staff of the Israeli defence forces , struggled to put together a governing coalition and , with the country in the grip of the coronavirus crisis , agreed to national unity talks with Mr Netanyahu .
Despite days of on-off negotiations , the two sides have been unable to strike a deal , although a joint statement said talks would continue .
The discussions are believed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's support for legislation to allow the government to overrule High Court decisions , including forcing him to resign .
The prime minister has been charged with bribery , fraud and breach of trust .
He denies any wrongdoing .
He was meant to go on trial earlier this month , but it was postponed when the courts were ordered closed ( apart from in certain cases ) because of the coronavirus crisis .
Mr Gantz 's mandate expired on Wednesday night and the task of producing a new candidate for PM passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday morning .
If a majority of MPs in the 120-seat assembly choose a new nominee , that person will have 14 days in which to try to form a government .
Should they fail , or if no-one is put forward , the Knesset will face dissolution and elections will be called by 4 August .
Israel has been in a prolonged political crisis since April 2019 when elections failed to produce a governing coalition .
Two subsequent elections were also inconclusive .

He was meant to go on trial earlier this month, but it was postponed when the courts were ordered closed (apart from in certain cases) because of the coronavirus crisis.


bbc--2020-04-17--Saudi Arabia executes dance troupe attacker

A man who stabbed at least three Spanish dancers in Saudi Arabia during a live performance has been executed .
The assault on the theatre group took place during a festival in the capital Riyadh in November .
State media linked the attacker , named as Imad al-Mansouri , 33 , from Yemen , to extremist group Al-Qaeda .
It took place as Saudi Arabia eased long-standing restrictions on entertainment imposed by conservative religious figures .
The attack happened on 11 November when a man stormed the stage in King Abdullah Park in Riyadh and stabbed members of the theatre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism cases found al-Mansouri guilty of multiple charges , including acting on the orders of a senior al-Qaeda leader in Yemen .
He was put to death on Thursday in Riyadh , the interior ministry said in a statement .
• Reform and repression go hand in hand in Saudi Arabia Al-Qaeda have not said that they carried out the attack .
A second man was sentenced by the Specialised Criminal Court to 12.5 years in prison .
Saudi authorities claimed al-Mansouri filmed a video of himself railing against the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media .
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman promised a programme of modernising reforms called Vision 2030 when he was appointed in 2017 .
Decades-old bans on cinemas and mixed-gender concerts were lifted , and women are now permitted to attend football matches .
Billions of dollars were promised to develop an entertainment industry , and international acts including K-Pop , Cirque du Soleil and Mariah Carey have performed there .
But reforms have stalled amid the arrest of women ’ s rights activists and scandal about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Istanbul , Turkey .
Last year Nikki Minaj cancelled a scheduled concert , citing support for women and LGBT communities .
In February a Saudi rapper was reportedly arrested after releasing a video to her song Mecca Girl .
Saudi authorities say the November attack was the first since the reform programme was announced .

But reforms have stalled amid the arrest of women’s rights activists and scandal about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey.


bbc--2020-04-17--Cuomo: 'Don't pass the buck without passing the bucks'

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that states need better funding from the federal government to reopen their economies .
@ @ @ @ @ Trump administration for failing to `` pass the bucks '' to ramp up testing in @ @ @ @ @ part of the three phases towards reopening that the president announced on Thursday .
Governor @ @ @ @ @ 's lockdown to 15 May .
The president quickly fired back on Twitter and suggested @ @ @ @ @ time 'doing ' and less time 'complaining ' . ''
He added that the federal @ @ @ @ @ `` far more money , help and equipment than any other state , by far @ @ @ @ @ and women who did the job never hear you say thanks . ''

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that states need better funding from the federal government to reopen their economies.
He appeared to criticise the Trump administration for failing to "pass the bucks" to ramp up testing in the state, which is part of the three phases towards reopening that the president announced on Thursday.
Governor Cuomo has extended New York's lockdown to 15 May.
The president quickly fired back on Twitter and suggested the governor "spend more time 'doing' and less time 'complaining'."
He added that the federal government has given New York "far more money, help and equipment than any other state, by far, and these great men and women who did the job never hear you say thanks."


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus nightmare in Ecuador's main city Guayaquil - pictures

Ecuador 's biggest city , Guayaquil , is one of the worst-hit places in Latin America in the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed and hundreds of bodies have been left unburied , sometimes lying in the street @ @ @ @ @ 421 people in Ecuador and infected 8,450 , but the real figures are believed to @ @ @ @ @ relatively low rate of testing means many cases have probably gone unreported .
The official @ @ @ @ @ Guayaquil , Jorge Wadad , said in the first two weeks of April almost 6,000 @ @ @ @ @ than the average for this time of year .
More on the pandemic : • @ @ @ @ @ do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise @ @ @ @ @ look after your mental health All images are subject to copyright .

The official charged with collecting bodies in Guayaquil, Jorge Wated, said in the first two weeks of April almost 6,000 more deaths had been registered than the average for this time of year.


bbc--2020-04-17--Apollo 13: The silence in the blackout from those who were there

As the Apollo 13 crew re-entered the Earth 's atmosphere there was a blackout period where they could n't communicate @ @ @ @ @ blackout period was supposed to last three minutes , but it lasted 90 seconds longer @ @ @ @ @ control unaware if the crew were going to make it home safely .
Fifty years @ @ @ @ @ from those who lived through it at mission control , as well as Commander Jim @ @ @ @ @ .

As the Apollo 13 crew re-entered the Earth's atmosphere there was a blackout period where they couldn't communicate with mission control.
The blackout period was supposed to last three minutes, but it lasted 90 seconds longer, leaving those at mission control unaware if the crew were going to make it home safely.
Fifty years on, hear the story from those who lived through it at mission control, as well as Commander Jim Lovell and his wife Marilyn.
Video journalist: Stephanie Constantine


bbc--2020-04-17--BBC correspondents and contributors read poetry from the personal to the universal

Poetry has helped some of the BBC 's correspondents and guests through difficult times .
Here they share the words @ @ @ @ @ .
These readings are part of a series every week day on the Today programme @ @ @ @ @ readings from week one here and week two here

Poetry has helped some of the BBC's correspondents and guests through difficult times.
Here they share the words that have resonated with them.
These readings are part of a series every week day on the Today programme - you can hear the readings from week one here and week two here


Week in pictures: 11-17 April 2020

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week as people react to the spread of the coronavirus .
An Indonesian nurse at a clinic in Bireuen , Aceh province , is seen wearing protective gear with a newborn baby also wearing a face shield to protect against transmission of the coronavirus .
Indonesia so far has had about 5,500 cases and nearly 500 confirmed virus deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
The golden sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun lies in the restoration lab of the newly built Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archaeologist Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun 's tomb in 1922 .
A forest fire burns within just a few miles of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant , site of the world 's worst nuclear accident in 1986 .
On Tuesday , the authorities said the fire had been contained .
A man wearing a face mask looks over a barricade set up to keep people out of a residential compound in Wuhan , the city in China where the coronavirus pandemic began .
Officials this week raised the death toll by 50 % but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All photographs belong to the copyright holders as marked .

Image caption,
An Indonesian nurse at a clinic in Bireuen, Aceh province, is seen wearing protective gear with a newborn baby also wearing a face shield to protect against transmission of the coronavirus. Indonesia so far has had about 5,500 cases and nearly 500 confirmed virus deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.


bbc--2020-04-17--National Youth Orchestra's Ode to Joy across Great Britain

The orchestra 's 164 musicians joined together to perform the classic piece in a show of solidarity , dedicated to @ @ @ @ @ `` musical pick-me-up '' .
They were joined by Marin Alsop , music director of @ @ @ @ @ who conducted from her home in the US .

The orchestra's 164 musicians joined together to perform the classic piece in a show of solidarity, dedicated to everyone in need of a "musical pick-me-up".
They were joined by Marin Alsop, music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, who conducted from her home in the US.