bbc--2020-08-12--What Europe's cities are doing to handle heatwaves

On Wednesday central London saw its longest stretch of high temperatures in almost six decades , with thermometers reading 34 degrees C or above for six consecutive days .
Those fortunate enough to be able to get away to the countryside and coast for holidays may be enjoying slightly cooler temperatures , but many residents remain at home .
Around three-quarters of the population of Europe now live in urban areas , according to the European Union .
Much of western Europe is sweltering this August .
As the human influence on our climate becomes ever more marked , heatwaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , researchers say .
How can cities adapt to make life easier for their residents during periods of very high temperatures ?
Why are cities so hot ?
The phenomenon of urban areas being several degrees hotter than their surroundings is known as the urban heat island effect .
London 's City Hall says the UK capital can be up to 10 degrees C hotter than its surrounding areas .
There are many reasons for the temperature differences observed in cities , including the different way building materials reflect the sun 's rays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that water runs off surfaces into drains rather than being absorbed into the ground .
Let 's explore what different cities across Europe are doing to try to reduce these effects - and to help their citizens keep cool .
Anyone who 's sat underneath a tree on a hot day will know how much the shade helps to keep you - and the ground - cool .
But trees do n't just provide shade and reflect the sun 's rays back up .
They take up water from the ground and lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a process called evapotranspiration .
The water the tree does n't need comes out through tiny holes on the underside of its leaves , and becomes water vapour .
This change from water to water vapour needs energy from the sun 's rays , which would otherwise warm the air .
Think of it as the tree sweating , helping to keep the tree cool and infinitesimally lowering the air temperature .
Barcelona - which has a high population density contributing to a marked heat island effect - is concentrating on planting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its efforts to green the city .
The Catalan city already has more trees than many other European cities , with an estimated 1.4m within the municipal boundaries .
It has a 20-year tree masterplan , aiming to increase the proportion of land covered by trees to 30 % and ensure the tree species are adapted to climate change .
And there are other environmental benefits to having trees within an urban environment , including increased biodiversity by creating habitats for wildlife , helping contain noise pollution , and reducing problems with surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only form of vegetation that can help cool down the air .
In smaller spaces where there may not be room for a new tree , some cities are increasing planting - or encouraging residents to do so .
Paris now allows anyone to apply for a permit to start a garden anywhere at all .
These `` permits to vegetate '' as they probably should n't be translated , mean that residents can plant gardens on pavements and small areas of public land to make the city greener .
WATCH : Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into gardens Both Paris and London have been deploying green roofs or living walls in their urban architecture .
These are when vegetation is deliberately established on a roof , deck or vertical wall structure .
Like trees , the plants reflect the sun 's rays , and cool the air via evapotranspiration .
A report for London 's City Hall estimated that in 2017 there were 1.5m sq m of green roofs in the Greater London area .
Read more : Is London moving its gardens to the sky ?
Vienna has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets '' for the second summer running .
In these streets , in neighbourhoods across the inner city , cars are banned from parking and people are invited to use the outside space as an `` outdoor living room '' .
The streets are kitted out with seating areas , drinking fountains and some even have water spray misting machines .
Children can play and there are plants growing .
The city authorities have chosen street segments to close off in parts of the city with less access to outdoor spaces , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
4 .
Changing urban architecture to add more water and reflective surfaces As well as existing rivers , lakes and fountains which people can splash in to cool down - and which themselves reflect the sun 's rays - some localities are trying to use water in innovative ways to help cool city streets .
In Nice , in southern France , urban architects sought to use a pavement wetting system to cool down the area of a new transport hub and make it more comfortable for pedestrians .
Water seeps up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then evaporates , cooling the pavement .
In Thessaloniki , Greece 's second city , authorities installed water jets , sprinklers and curtains , as well as outdoor fans to help cool a public square .
Buildings are usually made out of materials which absorb the sun 's rays , rather than reflect them as does vegetation or water .
They can also take a long time to cool down , leading to stifling night-time temperatures .
Using paler-coloured materials for buildings ' surfaces is an easy way to reduce the energy absorbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and walls have been typical in southern Europe for a very long time .
So-called `` cool roofs '' made out of modern materials with high solar reflectance ( or albedo ) are available .
Projects in India found that indoor temperatures could be reduced in buildings with cool roofs by at least 2 degrees .
Read more : How much can painting a roof white reduce its temperature ?
The elderly and young children find it hardest to cope physically with the impacts of a heat wave .
A severe heat wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths across Europe , particularly in France where nearly 15,000 lost their lives .
The scale of the tragedy in that incident led France to put in place better measures to deal with future heat waves .
After record temperatures last year , the French government said these preventative measures had helped keep the death toll to a tenth of the 2003 numbers .
The city of Paris has an app to help people find out where they can go to keep cool in the city .
Rotterdam and Athens also have their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , London has a pilot project providing a map of green and shaded areas where Londoners can take refuge on hot days .
• How to look after yourself in hot weather

Vienna has set up a network of "cool streets" for the second summer running. In these streets, in neighbourhoods across the inner city, cars are banned from parking and people are invited to use the outside space as an "outdoor living room". The streets are kitted out with seating areas, drinking fountains and some even have water spray misting machines. Children can play and there are plants growing.


bbc--2020-08-12--Why the Mauritius oil spill is so serious

The amount of oil spilled from the Japanese-owned ship nearby the lagoons and coastal areas of south-east Mauritius is relatively low compared to the big oil spills the world has seen in the past , but the damage it will do is going to be huge , experts say .
Unlike most previous offshore spills , this has taken place near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve , which is a wetland of international importance .
So , it 's the location rather than the size of the spill which is causing greatest concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The stunning turquoise waters of the blue lagoon outside the coastal village of Mahébourg in Mauritius , the backdrop for numerous Bollywood movies , are now stained black and brown .
The ship , MV Wakashio , ran aground at Pointe d'Esny in late July , and oil began leaking from it last Thursday .
Satellite images show the oil spill stretched out between the mainland at Pointe D'Esny and the island of Ile-aux-Aigrettes .
It is thought that more than 1,000 tonnes of fuel have leaked out of the ship and into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been launched from the shore with many local people volunteering to help .
On 7 August , nearly two weeks after the shipwreck , the Mauritian government declared the incident a national emergency .
Mauritius is a biodiversity hotspot with a high concentration of plants and animals unique to the region .
`` The wind and the water currents are not helping , they are taking the oil towards the areas that have vital marine ecosystems , '' Sunil Mokshananda , a former Greenpeace strategist , who is on an island near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Mauritian marine environment is home to 1,700 species including around 800 types of fish , 17 kinds of marine mammals and two species of turtles , according to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity .
`` There are very few such marine areas with such rich biodiversity left on the planet .
An oil spill like this will impact almost everything there , '' said Dr Corina Ciocan , a senior lecturer in marine biology at the UK 's University of Brighton .
`` It is not just about the light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the water caused by the spill .
`` There will also be soluble compounds from the oil that will dissolve in the water , a mousse-like layer underneath the surface of the water , and then very heavy residues on the bed - so the entire marine ecosystem will be affected . ''
The ship , MV Wakashio , is believed to have been carrying around 4,000 tonnes of fuel , of which nearly 1,200 tonnes have already spilled , according to the operator Mitsui OSK Lines .
Despite bad weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil has now been removed from the ship 's fuel reservoirs , although a small amount remains on board elsewhere .
There had been fears that the ship could break up , spilling even more oil into the sea .
Fuel has been transferred to shore by helicopter and to another ship owned by the same Japanese firm , Nagashiki Shipping .
Why the ship came so close to the lagoon is not clear and is being investigated by police .
At a news conference , Akihiko Ono , executive vice-president of Mitsui @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spill and for `` the great trouble we have caused '' .
One of the major concerns has been for coral reefs in the lagoon - which are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea - because of the diversity of life found in them .
Around 25 % of fish in the ocean depend on healthy coral reefs , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US .
They protect coastlines from storms and erosion .
Coral reefs and the marine ecosystems are the major pillars of Mauritian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's economy .
`` The toxic hydrocarbons released from spilled oil will bleach the coral reefs and they will eventually die , '' said Professor Richard Steiner , an international oil spill adviser and a marine biologist in Alaska , US .
Last year Professor Steiner helped the government of the Solomon Islands when a ship spilled oil on the coral reef off its coast : '' Although the oil spill was n't large - just a few hundred tonnes of oil - the damage to the coral reefs there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spills around the world have not been in as environmentally sensitive areas , they have still significantly affected marine animals and plants .
In 2010 , the Deep Water Horizon incident off the Gulf of Mexico saw nearly 400,000 tonnes of oil spill , resulting in the death of thousands of species ranging from plankton to dolphins .
There were also other longer-term impacts on marine life including impaired reproduction , reduced growth , lesions and disease .
`` Researchers found skin lesions on red snapper from the northern Gulf in the months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became less frequent and severe by 2012 , '' wrote Dr Steven Murawski , marine ecologist at the University of South Florida , and Sherry Gilbert , assistant director of the university 's C-IMAGE Consortium in the journal The Conversation .
`` There is other evidence of ongoing and increasing exposures to hydrocarbons over time in economically and environmentally important species like golden tilefish , grouper and hake . ''
In 1978 , a large crude oil carrier ran aground off the coast of Brittany , France , which leaked nearly 70 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Around 200 miles of the French coast were polluted by the oil slick , and it killed millions of invertebrates , such as molluscs and crustaceans .
The spill also killed an estimated 20,000 birds , and contaminated oyster beds in the region .
Experts say that despite best efforts , generally less than 10 % of oil spilled in incidents like these is successfully cleaned up .
France has sent a military aircraft with pollution control equipment from its nearby island of Réunion to help with the Mauritian spill , while Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French efforts .
The Mauritius coast guard and several police units are also at the site in the south-east of the island .
`` The Mauritian government should do the environmental impact assessment as soon as they can , '' said Professor Steiner .
`` The impact is likely to remain for years . ''

The amount of oil spilled from the Japanese-owned ship nearby the lagoons and coastal areas of south-east Mauritius is relatively low compared to the big oil spills the world has seen in the past, but the damage it will do is going to be huge and long-lasting, experts say.


bbc--2020-08-12--Coronavirus in India: Did men do more housework during lockdown?

Did Indian men do more housework during the Covid-19 lockdown ?
Preliminary data suggests they did , but is it enough to say that Indian homes are becoming more gender equal ?
The BBC 's Geeta Pandey in Delhi reports .
Dr Rahul Nagar , a Delhi-based dermatologist , says there 's always been `` a very clear division of labour '' in his home .
His wife , also a doctor , did the cooking and was the primary carer for their child .
Like most middle-class Indians , they employed a part-time help who did the cleaning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bits and pieces .
But then came the pandemic - and as Covid-19 cases began to rise , India went into a strict lockdown and their domestic helper was unable to come to work .
`` Pre-lockdown , for every five hours of work my wife did , I did one hour .
But this pandemic has been a bolt from the blue , '' says Dr Nagar .
`` During the first two months of the lockdown , we divided the chores amongst us .
My wife being a government doctor could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work throughout .
So , I stayed at home and shared the chores .
`` I did the babysitting , attending his online classes , bathing him and feeding him .
Throughout the lockdown , I was mopping the floor .
I tried my hand at cooking and baking . ''
Now with the lockdown relaxed , Dr Nagar says , their help is back and he has started going to his clinic a few days a week , but he is still attending his son 's two-hour-long daily online classes .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal number of hours on chores and childcare .
We are even-stevens , '' he laughs .
Dr Nagar is not alone - data shows that Indian men did more chores in April , the first month of the lockdown , than they had earlier .
Ashwini Deshpande , professor of economics at Ashoka University , compared the data put out by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy ( CMIE ) , an independent think tank , for the months of December 2019 and April 2020 .
Her estimate shows that the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours on chores .
Of course , women were still doing most of the work , but the increase in the time spent on housework was more for men than for women .
`` This meant that the gender gap in average hours spent on domestic work decreased in the first month of the lockdown , nationally as well as across most states , '' Prof Deshpande wrote in a paper analysing the CMIE data .
On average , she told the BBC , men devoted an extra hour to housework - 2.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December .
For women , it was 4.6 hours in April compared to 4 hours in December .
Some of the best-performing states were Delhi , Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu ; the worst included Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh .
In India , like in many other parts of the world , the burden of unpaid care work normally falls on women .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for women as against 32 minutes for men .
But this gender disparity was brought into sharper focus as couples , and families , were confined to their homes during the strict countrywide lockdown to fight the Covid-19 pandemic .
With few Indian homes equipped with dishwashers , vacuum cleaners or washing machines , all the work has to be done manually and chores are labour-intensive .
So , most families hire domestic help , such as part-time cooks , cleaners and nannies , who play a key role in the smooth running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they were unable to come to work during the lockdown , many women complained about how their workload had risen .
• The women eating with their families for the first time Last month , I wrote an article about disquiet within Indian homes over who does how much of the housework after one woman petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell Indian men to do more .
Prof Deshpande says the increase in men spending more hours on housework during the lockdown is primarily driven by the recently unemployed - 104 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , she says , in urban households , especially the middle classes , men also had to pitch in due to the absence of the domestic helpers .
The CMIE data is based on a survey of the same set of 43,600 individuals , who were interviewed in December 2019 and again in April .
About 63 % of those interviewed were from urban areas while 36.8 % were in rural areas ; 47 % of the respondents were female while 53 % were male ; they included farmers , daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prof Deshpande says the survey findings are `` significant '' because it was the same set of men and women who were interviewed pre- and post-lockdown and `` this allows us to compare the answers '' .
But , she cautions that these findings are preliminary and the data for the subsequent months will have to be studied before it can be said whether the changes are temporary or permanent .
`` We wo n't know until September when the next set of CMIE data will be available .
We can only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is anecdotal evidence , though , that winds of change that started blowing within our homes in April have continued well into the subsequent months .
Last month , when I was writing about families quibbling over housework , I asked friends and colleagues on social media for their stories about division of labour in their homes .
One woman , Sara Hasan , wrote that she and her partner did chores that they were naturally better at and that they complemented each other 's work .
`` It 's been quite comforting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have survived the lockdown . ''
Another woman , Pallavi Sareen , wrote : `` As a child , it was always me who had to do house chores , work in the kitchen and help out my mom .
My brother would n't even serve himself lunch .
But the lockdown turned him into a chef and now he spends most of his time in the kitchen . ''
Lockdown stories similar to those of Pallavi , Sara and Dr Nagar have given rise to hope that our homes may finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender neutral .
There is also historical evidence that cataclysmic events can sometimes produce lasting change in society .
Citing US Congressman Clarence D Long 's 1958 book , Prof Deshpande writes in her paper that `` the years after World War II resulted in a rise in female labour force participation in OECD countries .
This was also a time when the division of domestic chores shifted towards greater equality '' .
So could the pandemic and the lockdown be the great leveller for Indian gender relations and bring about long-term change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We would need to examine the evidence over a longer time period , as such changes unfold slowly over several years ; a month-long lockdown is certainly no proof of the magnitude and persistence of shifts , '' Prof Deshpande says .

Another woman, Pallavi Sareen, wrote: "As a child, it was always me who had to do house chores, work in the kitchen and help out my mom. My brother wouldn't even serve himself lunch. But the lockdown turned him into a chef and now he spends most of his time in the kitchen."


bbc--2020-08-12--The millions being made from cardboard theft

Getting all your cardboard recycled may often seem like a pain , but there is big money to be made from all this so-called `` beige gold '' .
And sadly this is attracting criminals around the world .
Thieves are making a fortune from stealing used cardboard that 's been left out to be recycled , and selling it on .
This means that legitimate recycling firms , and the city and other local authorities who take a cut from their sales , are missing out on tens of millions .
`` To be honest , most of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as long as it goes , '' says a shopkeeper in the bustling Chamartin district of central Madrid .
Behind him stand two of the Spanish capital 's well-known blue municipal recycling bins , which until February of this year had been raided daily by one of the city 's numerous recycled cardboard trafficking gangs .
Meanwhile , a few miles away , at the headquarters of the Nature Protection Service ( Seprona ) of the Spanish Guardia Civil police force , hangs a map of Madrid covered in different coloured dots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 different routes used by the various gangs .
Seprona was brought in to help tackle the problem in 2018 after Madrid 's city police force , the Policia Municipal Madrid , had failed to solve the issue with its policy of fining anyone caught stealing used cardboard .
It was estimated that almost half of all cardboard put into recycling in Madrid was being stolen .
Back in February , the Seprona-led Operation Hartie ( the Romanian word for paper ) leapt into action , and 42 suspected cardboard gang members were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money laundering .
Of the 42 , three were Spanish , the others were all Romanian .
They are accused of stealing and shipping more than 67,000 tonnes of waste a year since 2015 , at an average value of €10m ( $ 11.8m ; £9m ) per year .
Believed to have been involved in 11 of the 18 routes in the city , it is estimated that they cost the City Council of Madrid a total of €16m in lost recycling revenues .
In a case that has been delayed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to take place later this year .
The police have photos of some of the men crawling in and out of recycling bins .
This photographic evidence came despite the Madrid council deliberately introducing dumpsters with small holes in 2016 .
`` Perhaps the thieves just got thinner ? ''
jokes the shopkeeper .
Ana Prieto , the press officer for Seprona , says the criminals set up a company that mixed the illegally collected cardboard with some that was legitimately sourced , `` meaning a loss of traceability '' , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South East Asia '' .
While figures are not available for how much recycled cardboard is stolen globally , experts say it is very much a worldwide problem .
And there are vast amounts of money to be made .
The annual value of the legitimate trade in recycled cardboard and other papers is expected to climb to $ 5.4bn ( £4.1bn ) by 2024 , up from $ 4.3bn in 2017 .
This increase is not surprising when you consider the continuing rise in online shopping , and the fact that most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardboard boxes that are made from recycled fibre ( said to be 93 % recycled for boxes in Europe ) .
Over the past decade used cardboard has mostly been sent to China , to be pulped and turned into the new boxes its vast export sector requires .
This has made some Chinese people very rich , such as billionaire Zhang Yin , the `` queen of trash '' , whose firm specialises in importing used cardboard from the US .
Like any commodity , the price of recycled cardboard ebbs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellin , chief executive of UK trade body The Recycling Association , says the current price is between £70 and £80 per tonne .
`` But at the start of coronavirus it spiked to £130 .
Getting hold of cardboard was a bit 'name your price ' at the time , because with everyone stuck at home there was a big rise in online sales , '' he says .
`` But historically the price has been even higher .
Ten years ago it was as high as £200 a tonne . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environmental crime team at Europol , the European Union 's law enforcement agency .
He helped on the case in Madrid , and says the theft of recycled cardboard is a pan-European problem .
`` This phenomenon is far wider than you would imagine in Europe , '' he says .
`` It has crossed from [ just ] paper theft to money laundering , and fraud , with international and local networks interacting . ''
Mr Moreno adds that national police forces are now increasingly targeting the problem , particularly Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported on the problem in the US , which has been prevalent in New York and California .
But does the problem exist in the UK ?
Mark Hall from recycling firm Business Waste says he `` would n't be surprised '' .
`` The problem is that recycled cardboard is so untraceable , '' he says .
`` It is not as if it has a tracker on it .
`` And theft is hardly ever reported by companies , because why would they ?
If magic pixies have nicked their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have to pay a firm like mine to come and pick it up .
So they are going to keep schtum [ quiet ] . ''
This is very much the opinion of the shopkeeper we spoke to in Madrid .
More from the BBC 's series taking an international perspective on trade : • The islands that want tourists as well as fish The Recycling Association 's Simon Ellin adds that the criminals are also likely to be unaffected by the big structural change that is due to take place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
This is China banning all imports as part of the government 's effort to develop its own internal recycling sector .
He says that the legitimate global recycling industry is now sending its cardboard to countries such as Turkey , Indonesia , Malaysia , Vietnam and Thailand instead .
The criminals will simply divert their cargo containers of stolen cardboard to those nations too .
`` What 's the saying , 'where there is muck there is brass ' ?
And where there is brass to be made you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

The annual value of the legitimate trade in recycled cardboard and other papers is expected to climb to $5.4bn (£4.1bn) by 2024, up from $4.3bn in 2017. This increase is not surprising when you consider the continuing rise in online shopping, and the fact that most consumer goods are delivered to you in cardboard boxes that are made from recycled fibre (said to be 93% recycled for boxes in Europe).


bbc--2020-08-12--Belarus election: How Nexta channel bypassed news blackout

For days Belarusians have had little information of the unrest filling their streets , with state-run TV making little attempt to report it and other websites and social media offline .
But one source of information that has attracted increasing numbers in this country of 9.5 million people is a channel on the popular Telegram messaging app called Nexta .
Pronounced NEKH-ta , it has managed to bypass many of the restrictions .
By Wednesday , opposition websites were online again , but for three nights there has been silence .
How Nexta got to its audience '' We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how one Belarusian described the situation .
Meanwhile , hundreds of messages are being posted for Nexta 's 1.5 million subscribers .
A riot police vehicle is seen driving into a crowd , police are filmed beating a protester on the ground , petrol bombs are thrown - this news is visible and uncensored .
The Telegram messenger has only been available sporadically via wi-fi , but its founder Pavel Durov says it has enabled `` anti-censorship tools '' .
`` An internet shutdown is a huge mistake by the authorities , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Telegram has picked up almost all Belarusians who are flooding the streets in an effort to bring about changes in the country . ''
With most of the opposition leadership out of the country , the channel has played a key role in co-ordinating the protests .
But more established opposition media are wary of such an activist source of information whose messages are hard to verify .
Nexta has published calls for help , maps showing where police are located as well as addresses for protesters to hide in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists .
It has also advised subscribers how to bypass internet blocking by using proxies and other means .
Ahead of the third night of protests , it put out detailed instructions to protesters on how to act on the streets .
It has no website , and only a small editorial team of four in Warsaw , but it does have a YouTube and a Telegram channel , and an audience hungry for information .
Its chief editor says they are `` pioneers of cyber journalism '' , where video and photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and illustrative as possible '' .
Founded five years ago as a YouTube music by teenager Stepan Putilo , also known as Stepan Svetlov , it translates from Belarusian as `` someone '' .
The first video was a sarcastic cover version of a song , mocking the 2015 campaign ahead of the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko .
`` For all of 20 years there 's been no choice , only a worn-out tyre '' .
• Five things you might not know about Belarus • How protests shook up the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and officials drunk driving , promising `` honest information about the reality in Belarus '' .
`` It was my hobby .
I made funny videos for my relatives ' birthdays .
Then I decided to accumulate all the trash of Lukashenko 's Belarus , '' Mr Putilo told human rights website Charter 97 .
Telegram channel Nexta Live surfaced in 2018 and the following year a documentary about Belarus 's autocratic leader attracted almost three million views on YouTube .
`` The film tells in detail about how Lukashenko stole our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 years of life , '' Stepan Putilo said .
A court in Belarus declared the film was `` extremist '' .
But Nexta 's Telegram channel got noticed and the 2020 election took it to a new and bigger audience .
`` Who in 2020 needs a site that any official from the ministry of information can block with one click ? ''
its founders ask .
Its Telegram posts have been attracting hundreds of thousands of views , more than websites such as Tut.by , hit by censorship .
What does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nexta uses anonymous material from across Belarus .
The platform is secure , too , says Mr Protasevich , who argues that the stories they post would never get broadcast on state-run TV .
Like Stepan Putilo , he lives in Poland , where he applied for political asylum .
Despite running the channel from outside Belarus he insists posts are checked for factual accuracy and he sees no issue about backing the protests from Warsaw .
Within hours , its audience grew on election night by 100,000 and then after two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a million .
He says that although the channel mainly uses the information sent by users , he rejects criticism from such journalists inside Belarus .
They say mistakes have been made , and they point to its apparent ability to co-ordinate protests .
Hours after Nexta reported that protester Yevgeny Zaichkin had died in the early hours of Monday , he told Reuters news agency he had survived a brutal beating from police .
Anna Kaltygina , from opposition website Tut.by , believes Nexta devalues media work by publishing unverified information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When working in Poland , it is difficult to fact-check messages that come from Belarus , '' she told Echo Moscow website .
Nexta 's chief editor says what matters to him is the bloodshed on the streets .
`` Do I feel responsible for what we publish ?
Only in terms of whether it will bring people closer to victory and the end of the dictatorship . ''
There is some confusion here .
The channel has no ads and only the names of Stepan Putilo and Roman Protasevich are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past that money has come from supporters as well as an earlier university scholarship .
However , his colleague told the BBC that they just had advertising and no donations .
A Belarusian petitions website recently called for state funding for Nexta , arguing it was far more useful than state TV .

"Who in 2020 needs a site that any official from the ministry of information can block with one click?" its founders ask. Its Telegram posts have been attracting hundreds of thousands of views, more than websites such as Tut.by, hit by censorship.


bbc--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris: Countries rush to celebrate Biden's running mate

It is not just American Democrats celebrating the choice of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden 's running mate , making her the first black woman and South Asian American to become a vice-presidential candidate .
People in India , Jamaica and Canada are also queuing up to heap praise on her .
The California senator was born in the US to parents of Indian and Jamaican heritage .
She also spent a good portion of her early life in Montreal , Canada .
The senator 's mother , Shyamala Gopalan , moved to the US from India to pursue a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Balachandran , Ms Harris 's 80-year-old maternal uncle , told The Washington Post he was `` very , very happy '' with the news .
His niece is `` quick on her feet and a damn good debater '' , he said , adding that she would not be fazed by the inevitable nastiness of the election .
She `` does n't take things lying down '' , he said .
The fact that someone of Indian origin could be `` a proverbial heartbeat away from the presidency is thrilling '' , wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition Congress Party .
Ram Madhav , a senior member of the governing BJP , also gave her the thumbs up .
The world of Bollywood has been congratulating Ms Harris , including Priyanka Chopra , who called the moment `` transformational '' .
The reaction has been similarly positive for many in Jamaica .
`` As a woman with Jamaican roots , her elevation shows that as a country , Jamaica has developed many nuggets who have made their mark on the global stage , '' Irwine Clare , head of Caribbean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some have been joking about how Jamaicans will be claiming Ms Harris 's nomination .
Ms Harris caused controversy last year when she admitted to smoking cannabis when she was younger .
`` Half my family 's from Jamaica .
Are you kidding me ? ''
she told The Breakfast Club radio show .
• How could Kamala help - or hurt - Joe Biden While the statement would have made some warm to Ms Harris , who was then one of the front-runners to be the Democratic nominee , it angered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Donald J. Harris , the emeritus professor of economics at Stanford University , said that his deceased grandparents and parents `` must be turning in their grave '' to see the family name and Jamaican identity `` being connected , in any way , jokingly or not with the fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker and in the pursuit of identity politics '' .
Finally , the senator 's nomination was n't overlooked in Canada , where she spent time as a child .
Her old high school in Quebec tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud of Kamala , '' former classmate Hugh Kwok told the Montreal Gazette .
`` She was a special person , kind and thoughtful , always very interested in helping everyone . ''

Donald J. Harris, the emeritus professor of economics at Stanford University, said that his deceased grandparents and parents "must be turning in their grave" to see the family name and Jamaican identity "being connected, in any way, jokingly or not with the fraudulent stereotype of a pot-smoking joy seeker and in the pursuit of identity politics".


bbc--2020-08-12--PSG in Champions League semi-finals after late goals shatter Atalanta

Paris St-Germain scored two late goals in a sensational comeback against Atalanta to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 25 years .
A night of frustration for PSG forward Neymar looked set to ensure more continental disappointment for the French champions as unfancied Atalanta led through Mario Pasalic .
But the Brazil forward then laid on a 90th-minute equaliser for Marquinhos and substitute Kylian Mbappe teed up former Stoke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to slide in the winner .
On the 50th anniversary of the club 's founding , it looked like being a familiar tale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football 's biggest stage .
Neymar , the world 's most expensive player , was all too often the only bright spark for Thomas Tuchel 's side , but was also guilty of two glaring misses .
But the introduction of Mbappe - the world 's second-most expensive player - proved crucial as his pace and quality finally undid the stubborn Atalanta rearguard to provide an astonishing finale to the first one-legged quarter-final in the re-shaped competition .
PSG will now face either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid in the first semi-final next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Euro Leagues : Will Man City make it , can Barca get the better of Bayern ?
PSG have made a habit of finding improbable ways to lose in the Champions League since their emergence as a global force off the pitch - with Barcelona 's comeback from 4-0 down three years ago perhaps the most notable .
And Tuchel could well have joined Unai Emery , Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc in paying for that failure with his job with another letdown in Lisbon .
Champions League debutants Atalanta undoubtedly kicked-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , scoring 98 goals in Serie A and playing attractive , fluid , attacking football .
Neymar had already missed one glorious chance - running clean through on goal but shooting wide - when Pasalic capped a typically stylish Atalanta attack with a brilliant left-footed curler to give the Italian side the lead .
Neymar - whose salary was reported this week to be equal to that of the whole Atalanta squad - blazed wide again when well placed .
But to his credit the former Barcelona man , brought to Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to work hard for his side , driving them forward all night .
His 16 completed dribbles were the most in a Champions League game since Lionel Messi for Barcelona against Manchester United in April 2008 .
He was always likely to produce PSG 's decisive moment if one arrived , and Marquinhos got on the end of his dangerous ball across goal to poke in the equaliser just as a tired Atalanta looked poised to record a huge shock .
Their heads understandably went down as extra-time loomed but the fit-again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped onto the pitch - glided past their defence again to lay on a tap-in for Choupo-Moting , a free transfer from the Potteries two years ago .
It was only a third win in 11 quarter-final matches in the European Cup for the French side .
Could they now go all the way and claim the prize they covet most ?
'It 's impossible to eliminate us' Neymar : `` I never thought of going home .
From the warm-up to the end , we believed in it .
We never gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to the final away from me .
`` We are a great group , we are a family , so we know that with this state of mind , it is impossible to eliminate us . ''
Thomas Tuchel : `` I thought about elimination , after 88 minutes at 1-0 , I am realistic .
But I did n't have the feeling that we were n't going to score .
`` I told my assistants that if we scored a goal we would win .
After this match , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss Gian Piero Gasperini : `` We came very close , it was very close .
It looked as if we could do it , pull off a great achievement .
`` Mbappe coming into the game , combined with the presence of Neymar , changed things for PSG .
He gave an energy to PSG , who were losing the match - it was fundamental because of what he brought to the game . ''
• Champions League last eight : All you need to know & vote for your winner • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for • What was the best Champions League quarter-final ?
• New rules inside the Champions League bubble - from laundry to urine tests • Film : The Revenant : Leonardo DiCaprio stars in an epic tale of survival

Last updated on .From the section European Football
There were just 149 seconds between Marquinhos' equaliser and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's winner
Paris St-Germain scored two late goals in a sensational comeback against Atalanta to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 25 years.
A night of frustration for PSG forward Neymar looked set to ensure more continental disappointment for the French champions as unfancied Atalanta led through Mario Pasalic.
But the Brazil forward then laid on a 90th-minute equaliser for Marquinhos and substitute Kylian Mbappe teed up former Stoke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to slide in the winner.
On the 50th anniversary of the club's founding, it looked like being a familiar tale of failure for PSG on European club football's biggest stage.
Neymar, the world's most expensive player, was all too often the only bright spark for Thomas Tuchel's side, but was also guilty of two glaring misses.
But the introduction of Mbappe - the world's second-most expensive player - proved crucial as his pace and quality finally undid the stubborn Atalanta rearguard to provide an astonishing finale to the first one-legged quarter-final in the re-shaped competition.
PSG will now face either RB Leipzig in the first semi-final next Tuesday night.
The £200m man delivers
PSG have made a habit of finding improbable ways to lose in the Champions League since their emergence as a global force off the pitch - with Barcelona's comeback from 4-0 down three years ago perhaps the most notable.
And Tuchel could well have joined Unai Emery, Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc in paying for that failure with his job with another letdown in Lisbon.
Champions League debutants Atalanta undoubtedly kicked-off as underdogs but have been superb all season, scoring 98 goals in Serie A and playing attractive, fluid, attacking football.
Neymar had already missed one glorious chance - running clean through on goal but shooting wide - when Pasalic capped a typically stylish Atalanta attack with a brilliant left-footed curler to give the Italian side the lead.
Neymar - whose salary was reported this week external-link to be equal to that of the whole Atalanta squad - blazed wide again when well placed.
But to his credit the former Barcelona man, brought to Paris largely to deliver in this competition, continued to work hard for his side, driving them forward all night.
His 16 completed dribbles were the most in a Champions League game since Lionel Messi for Barcelona against Manchester United in April 2008.
He was always likely to produce PSG's decisive moment if one arrived, and Marquinhos got on the end of his dangerous ball across goal to poke in the equaliser just as a tired Atalanta looked poised to record a huge shock.
Their heads understandably went down as extra-time loomed but the fit-again Mbappe - majestic from the moment he stepped onto the pitch - glided past their defence again to lay on a tap-in for Choupo-Moting, a free transfer from the Potteries two years ago.
It was only a third win in 11 quarter-final matches in the European Cup for the French side. Could they now go all the way and claim the prize they covet most?
'It's impossible to eliminate us'
Neymar: "I never thought of going home. From the warm-up to the end, we believed in it. We never gave up. No-one will take this desire to go to the final away from me.
"We are a great group, we are a family, so we know that with this state of mind, it is impossible to eliminate us."
Thomas Tuchel: "I thought about elimination, after 88 minutes at 1-0, I am realistic. But I didn't have the feeling that we weren't going to score.
"I told my assistants that if we scored a goal we would win. After this match, these efforts are absolutely deserved."
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini: "We came very close, it was very close. It looked as if we could do it, pull off a great achievement.
"Mbappe coming into the game, combined with the presence of Neymar, changed things for PSG. He gave an energy to PSG, who were losing the match - it was fundamental because of what he brought to the game."
Man of the match - Neymar (Paris St-Germain)
The Brazil superstar missed two inviting chances in the first half but stuck at it, carried his team when they needed him and eventually engineered the breakthrough.


bbc--2020-08-12--Thursday's gossip column - Liverpool face Man City competition for Thiago

Last updated on .From the section Gossip Manchester City have entered the race for Bayern Munich 's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara and are believed to be offering more than Liverpool for the 29-year-old .
( SportBild - via Star ) Juventus have approached Arsenal over a possible transfer for French striker Alexandre Lacazette , 29 .
( CalcioMercato - in Italian ) Watford are ready to demand a club record fee of over £40m for Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr , 22 , amid interest from Liverpool and clubs around Europe .
( Evening Standard ) Sarr has told media in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to play for Liverpool .
( Sans Limites - via Goal ) Roma could swap 23-year-old Guinea midfielder Amadou Diawara for Arsenal 's Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira , 24 .
( Gazzetta dello Sport - via Mail ) Valencia have alerted Premier League clubs by putting all but one of their players up for sale in a bid to balance the books .
( Marca - in Spanish ) Jack Grealish will hold crunch talks with Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow on his return from holiday , with Manchester United still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Benfica are leading the race to sign former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen and the 33-year-old Belgium international could be joined at the club by former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani , 33 .
( Sun ) Lyon sporting director Juninho has revealed that midfielder Houssem Aouar could leave the French club this summer with Arsenal , Manchester City and Juventus all monitoring the 22-year-old Frenchman .
( Mail ) France midfielder Paul Pogba , 27 , is expecting Manchester United to open contract talks once their Europa League campaign concludes .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to land Sporting Lisbon 17-year-old Joelson Fernandes .
The forward has been dubbed 'the new Cristiano Ronaldo ' and the Gunners could look to offer cash plus players for his signature .
( Mirror ) West Bromwich Albion and Fulham are in the running to sign Peterborough 's English striker Ivan Toney , 24 .
( Football Insider ) Napoli are closing in on the £22m signing of Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes , and are believed to have agreed personal terms for the 22-year-old Lille defender , which could enable Manchester City to prise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Italian club .
( Manchester Evening News ) Tottenham are set to allow 19-year-old English midfielders Oliver Skipp and Jamie Bowden to leave on loan after signing Dane Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg , 25 , from Southampton .
( Football Insider ) Atletico Madrid have made Eibar 's Serbian Marko Dmitrovic , 28 , their top goalkeeping target in the transfer window , to provide back-up for Chelsea-linked Slovenian Jan Oblak , 27 .
( Goal ) Leicester City are one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Bournemouth 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cherries boss Jason Tindall insists there will be no `` fire sale '' of the club 's star players .
( Leicester Mercury ) Velez Sarsfield are interested in Southampton 's Argentine forward Guido Carrillo , 29 .
( TyC Sports - via Daily Echo ) Manchester United Under-23s manager Neil Wood has strongly suggested France U-17 midfielder Hannibal Mejbri , 17 , will remain a part of the youth set-up next season rather than step up to the first team .
( Manchester Evening News ) • None Nine fangtastic facts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way we eat ?

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Manchester City have entered the race for Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara and are believed to be offering more than Liverpool for the 29-year-old. (SportBild - via Star) external-link
Manchester United have put the rest of their transfer business on hold while they try to sign Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho, 20. (Mirror) external-link
Manchester United's move for Sancho is in danger of collapsing with Dortmund bemused by their approach to negotiations, initially offering the winger a pay cut. (Mail) external-link
Juventus have approached Arsenal over a possible transfer for French striker Alexandre Lacazette, 29. (CalcioMercato - in Italian) external-link
Watford are ready to demand a club record fee of more than £40m for Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr, 22, amid interest from Liverpool and clubs around Europe. (Evening Standard) external-link
Sarr has told media in his homeland that "everyone would love" to play for Liverpool. (Sans Limites - via Goal) external-link
10 from 240 in the UK... Why are there so few BAME sporting statues?
Roma could swap 23-year-old Guinea midfielder Amadou Diawara for Arsenal's Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira, 24. (Gazzetta dello Sport - via Mail) external-link
Valencia have alerted Premier League clubs by putting all but one of their players up for sale in a bid to balance the books. (Marca - in Spanish) external-link
Jack Grealish will hold crucial talks with Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow on his return from holiday, with Manchester United still interested in the 24-year-old English midfielder. (Mirror) external-link
Benfica are leading the race to sign former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen - and the 33-year-old Belgium international could be joined at the club by Uruguay and former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, 33. (Sun) external-link
Lyon sporting director Juninho says midfielder Houssem Aouar could leave this summer with Arsenal, Manchester City and Juventus all monitoring the 22-year-old Frenchman. (Mail) external-link
France midfielder Paul Pogba, 27, is expecting Manchester United to open contract talks once their Europa League campaign concludes. (Sky Sports) external-link
Everton could replace Jordan Pickford, 26, as manager Carlo Ancelotti feels the England goalkeeper is not reliable enough. (Star) external-link
Arsenal are really keen to land Sporting Lisbon's 17-year-old Joelson Fernandes. The Portugal Under-17 forward has been dubbed 'the new Cristiano Ronaldo' and the Gunners could look to offer cash plus players for his signature. (Mirror) external-link
West Bromwich Albion and Fulham are in the running to sign Peterborough's English striker Ivan Toney, 24. (Football Insider) external-link
Napoli are close to signing Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes for £22m, and are believed to have agreed personal terms for the 22-year-old Lille defender, which could enable Manchester City to buy Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, from the Italian club. (Manchester Evening News) external-link
Tottenham are set to allow 19-year-old English midfielders Oliver Skipp and Jamie Bowden to leave on loan after signing Dane Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 25, from Southampton. (Football Insider) external-link
Atletico Madrid have made Eibar's Serb Marko Dmitrovic, 28, their top goalkeeping target in the transfer window, to provide back-up for Chelsea-linked Slovenian Jan Oblak, 27. (Goal) external-link
Leicester City are one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Bournemouth's 23-year-old winger David Brooks - but new Cherries boss Jason Tindall insists there will be no "fire sale" of the club's star players. (Leicester Mercury) external-link
Velez Sarsfield are interested in Southampton's Argentine forward Guido Carrillo, 29. (TyC Sports - via Daily Echo) external-link
Watford are expected to name Vladimir Ivic, 43, as their new head coach this week after the Serb left his post at Maccabi Tel-Aviv. (Times) external-link
Manchester United Under-23s manager Neil Wood has strongly suggested France Under-17 midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, 17, will remain a part of the youth set-up next season rather than step up to the first team. (Manchester Evening News) external-link


bbc--2020-08-12--'Very silly to write Jimmy off' - Root backs Anderson before second Test

England bowler James Anderson has been backed by captain Joe Root to return to `` the peak of his powers '' .
Anderson , England 's all-time leading wicket-taker , is set to keep his place for the second Test against Pakistan , which starts on Thursday .
The 38-year-old returned match figures of 1-97 in last week 's first Test and on Monday denied speculation he could retire , calling the suggestion unfair .
Root said you question Anderson 's ability `` at your own peril '' .
• Babar must become match-winner to be compared to Kohli - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Test centuries by now - Sibley • Broad fined for inappropriate language during first Test '' It would be very silly for us to write someone like Jimmy off , '' said Root .
`` He is still as dedicated as ever , is working very hard on his game and is looking very good in practice . ''
Anderson has taken six wickets in three Tests this summer and needs 10 more to become the first fast bowler to take 600 in Tests .
Root said he and Anderson had `` honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Old Trafford about the bowler 's frustrations .
`` To get that off his chest and to talk about it has helped him , '' Root said .
`` With Jimmy we know it wo n't be long until he is back at the peak of his powers .
`` I am very much looking forward to seeing him perform this week . ''
Victory at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton will secure England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years .
The hosts have made one change to their squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 , replacing all-rounder Ben Stokes , who will miss the match and the series finale after flying to New Zealand for family reasons .
Batsman Zak Crawley will likely replace Stokes in the batting order , but Root said he would not confirm his starting XI until the toss .
Robinson , Stuart Broad , Chris Woakes , Jofra Archer , Sam Curran and Mark Wood , plus spinner Dom Bess , are all in contention to join Anderson in the bowling attack .
Root said Stokes ' absence is a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the team to step up .
`` For a long period of time he has been arguably our best player , '' Root said .
`` He offers so much in all departments .
He is a big leader in the group as vice-captain as well .
`` Of course we will miss him dearly , we are all thinking about him , but it is an opportunity for someone to come in and try and full those boots .
`` Whoever gets that responsibility has to try and really step up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford despite conceding a 107-run first-innings lead and being on the back foot for much of the game .
Pakistan assistant coach Waqar Younis said the defeat was a `` tough pill to swallow '' but hopes the tourists can `` cash in '' on Stokes ' absence .
`` If he 's not around it 's unfortunate for cricket but there is no doubt he is a match-winner , '' Younis said .
`` England will probably be a touch light in their middle order , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that and try to cash in . ''
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been put into isolation in the team hotel after he broke the bio-secure protocols .
Hafeez , who is not in the Test squad but is with the team preparing for the Twenty20 series that follows the Tests , posted a picture on social media of himself with a member of the public on the golf course at the Ageas Bowl .
Players are allowed to play or walk around the golf course as it is within the bio-secure bubble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol .
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was an `` inadvertent mistake '' .
Hafeez had a coronavirus test on Wednesday and will isolate until he returns a negative result .

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Anderson has taken 590 wickets in 154 Tests
Second Test: England v Pakistan Venue: Ageas Bowl, Southampton Date: Thursday, 13 August Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio 4 LW, BBC Sounds, and BBC Sport website & app with live text commentary & in-play highlights (UK only). Highlights each evening on BBC TV and iPlayer
England bowler James Anderson has been backed by captain Joe Root to return to "the peak of his powers".
Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, is set to keep his place for the second Test against Pakistan, which starts on Thursday.
The 38-year-old returned match figures of 1-97 in last week's first Test and on Monday denied speculation he could retire, calling the suggestion unfair.
Root said you question Anderson's ability "at your own peril".
"It would be very silly for us to write someone like Jimmy off," he added.
"He is still as dedicated as ever, is working very hard on his game and is looking very good in practice."
Anderson has taken six wickets in three Tests this summer and needs 10 more to become the first fast bowler to take 600 in Tests.
Root said he and Anderson had "honest conversations" during the first Test at Emirates Old Trafford about the bowler's frustrations.
"To get that off his chest and to talk about it has helped him," Root said.
"With Jimmy we know it won't be long until he is back at the peak of his powers.
"I am very much looking forward to seeing him perform this week."
Victory at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton will secure England a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years.
The hosts have made one change to their squad with uncapped Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson, 26, replacing all-rounder Ben Stokes, who will miss the match and the series finale after flying to New Zealand for family reasons.
Batsman Zak Crawley is likely to replace Stokes in the batting order, but Root said he would not confirm his starting XI until the toss.
Robinson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran and Mark Wood, plus spinner Dom Bess, are all in contention to join Anderson in the bowling attack.
Root said Stokes' absence is a "huge loss" but challenged other members of the team to step up.
"For a long period of time he has been arguably our best player," Root said.
"He offers so much in all departments. He is a big leader in the group as vice-captain as well.
"Of course we will miss him dearly, we are all thinking about him, but it is an opportunity for someone to come in and try and full those boots.
"Whoever gets that responsibility has to try and really step up to the plate."
England won the first Test in Manchester despite conceding a 107-run first-innings lead and being on the back foot for much of the game.
Pakistan assistant coach Waqar Younis said the defeat was a "tough pill to swallow" but hopes the tourists can "cash in" on Stokes' absence.
"If he's not around it's unfortunate for cricket but there is no doubt he is a match-winner," Younis said.
"England will probably be a touch light in their middle order, so we're going to talk about that and try to cash in."
Hafeez isolating after photo with golfer
Hafeez posted the picture on Twitter on Wednesday morning
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been put into isolation in the team hotel after he broke the bio-secure protocols.
Hafeez, who is not in the Test squad but is with the team preparing for the Twenty20 series that follows the Tests, posted a picture on social media of himself with a member of the public on the golf course at the Ageas Bowl.
Players are allowed to play or walk around the golf course as it is within the bio-secure bubble, but Hafeez breached the two-metre social-distancing protocol. The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was an "inadvertent mistake".
Hafeez had a coronavirus test on Wednesday and will isolate until he returns a negative result.


bbc--2020-08-12--Rangers ease St Johnstone aside to go top of Scottish Premiership

Rangers moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a clinical win over St Johnstone .
The visitors limited Steven Gerrard 's side to two first-half chances , but both were taken - a Borna Barisic free-kick and Ryan Kent shot on the turn .
Rangers move ahead of Hibernian on goal difference after three straight wins , with both now five points clear of champions Celtic .
With Neil Lennon 's side having their midweek game postponed after Boli Bolingoli 's Covid-19 lockdown indiscretion , their city rivals took full advantage .
• How did the players rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of confidence and frustrated Rangers with five spread across the back .
Not only was the ploy successful , but it gave them a base to probe for openings themselves .
The visitors created the first clear-cut chance as Callum Hendry turned Leon Balogun inside and out , but the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin denied the striker 's low drive .
Rangers were struggling to find space but were presented with a chance when David Wotherspoon tripped Alfredo Morelos 18 yards out and Barisic curled the free-kick away from goalkeeper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were thinking of regrouping at half-time , Rangers extended their lead , Barisic the provider with a low cross that gave Kent the chance to score on the turn .
Two chances created , two goals and Rangers came out with much more freedom after the break .
Morelos had a shot parried wide and Aribo 's head supplied the touch at the resulting corner .
On-loan Millwall striker Isaac Olaofe forced a fine save from McLaughlin , but by then the game was already won .
What did we learn ?
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rangers are not finding it easy to create chances against packed defences , but this time they are being more ruthless with their finishing .
They have signed two strikers amid fears of losing Morelos , but holding on to Barisic might be just as crucial to their title aspirations .
The Croatia full-back 's left foot engineered the breakthrough goal , then supplied the pass for the second , and it is no wonder that he too has admirers at other clubs .
St Johnstone looked a bit bedraggled by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half to suggest that they will again prove to be a difficult side to score against this season .
What did they say ?
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard : `` They were three good goals - a piece of magic from Borna , a great team goal for the second and a good set piece for the third .
But I thought we got really sloppy at 3-0 .
We let the game die instead of maintaining our standards .
So there is still a lot to work on . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Wotherspoon gave away a free-kick for the first goal - you ca n't give away stupid free-kicks at Ibrox .
He knows that himself .
I thought we limited Rangers to very few chances in that first half , but we went in 2-0 down .
The message was to not concede early doors in the second half , but we lost a goal to a set-play and the game was over . ''
Rangers head to Livingston on Sunday knowing a win would move them eight clear of Celtic already .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day earlier , with both sides still seeking their first league win .

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership
Rangers moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a clinical win over St Johnstone but were accused of being "sloppy" by Steven Gerrard.
The manager was pleased with "three good goals", describing Borna Barisic's free-kick opener as "a piece of magic".
Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo scored either side of the break, but Gerrard said: "We never played like a top team at 3-0 - we let the game fizzle out."
Rangers nevertheless now lead Hibernian on goal difference with a 100% record.
Both go five points clear of reigning champions Celtic and could be 11 ahead by the time Neil Lennon's side are back in action after having two games postponed following Boli Bolingoli's Covid-19 lockdown breach.
St Johnstone started like a side full of confidence and frustrated Rangers with five spread across the back. Not only was the ploy successful, but it gave them a base to probe for openings themselves.
The visitors created the first clear-cut chance as Callum Hendry turned centre-half Leon Balogun inside and out, but the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin denied the striker's low drive.
Rangers were struggling to find space but were presented with a chance when David Wotherspoon tripped Alfredo Morelos 18 yards out and Barisic curled the free-kick away from goalkeeper Elliot Parish.
Just when St Johnstone were thinking of regrouping at half-time, Rangers extended their lead, Barisic the provider with a low cross that gave Kent the chance to score on the turn.
Two chances created, two goals and Rangers came out with much more freedom after the break. Morelos had a shot parried wide and Aribo's head supplied the touch at the resulting corner.
On-loan Millwall striker Isaac Olaofe forced a fine save from McLaughlin, but by then the game was already won.
Man of the match - Borna Barisic
Borna Barisic (right) opened the scoring and set up the second goal
What did we learn?
As with the second half of last season, Rangers are not finding it easy to create chances against packed defences, but this time they are being more ruthless with their finishing.
They have signed two strikers amid fears of losing Morelos, but holding on to Barisic might be just as crucial to their title aspirations. The Croatia full-back's left foot engineered the breakthrough goal, then supplied the pass for the second, and it is no wonder that he too has admirers at other clubs.
St Johnstone looked a bit bedraggled by the end, but they did enough in the first half to suggest that they will again prove to be a difficult side to score against this season.
What did they say?
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "You probably think I'm a moaner, but even though we won the game comfortably 3-0, we can still learn a lot collectively and as individuals.
"Tonight was our fourth game in 11 days and I made a lot of subs in the second half, so I'll take my part in the game going flat and sloppy. There are a lot of positives. I'm not complaining, I'm happy."
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "David Wotherspoon gave away a free-kick for the first goal - you can't give away stupid free-kicks at Ibrox. He knows that himself.
"I thought we limited Rangers to very few chances in that first half, but we went in 2-0 down. The message was to not concede early doors in the second half, but we lost a goal to a set-play and the game was over."
What's next?
Rangers head to Livingston on Sunday knowing a win would move them eight clear of Celtic already. Kilmarnock are St Johnstone's hosts a day earlier, with both sides still seeking their first league win.


bbc--2020-08-12--O'Sullivan leads Selby & McGill dominates Wilson in Crucible semi-finals

Last updated on .From the section Snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan earned a 5-3 lead against a battling Mark Selby in the World Championship semi-finals .
But Selby ended Wednesday just two frames down after a strong finish .
Earlier , Scotland 's Anthony McGill took a shock 6-2 lead over Kyren Wilson in his first World Championship semi-final appearance .
World number 39 McGill , 29 , started strongly to take a 3-0 lead and ended the session in similar fashion with a break of 92 .
O'Sullivan and Selby 's semi-final continues from 14:30 BST on Thursday , with Wilson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Five-time champion O'Sullivan , who called his quarter-final performance against Mark Williams `` embarrassing '' , impressed with his long game as he won the first two frames .
Both players struggled with cue-ball contacts , possibly because of increased humidity , and Selby missed an easy blue in the third but the three-time champion claimed his first frame nevertheless .
O'Sullivan hit the highest break of the match , 85 , to go in to the mid-session break with a 3-1 lead .
New balls were brought out after the break to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that did not help Selby as he missed a simple green and O'Sullivan took the fifth frame .
Selby , playing in his first World Championship semi-final since he won the title in 2017 , edged the sixth to make the score a less daunting 4-2 before O'Sullivan extended his lead once more .
Both players struggled to close out the final frame but it was Selby who eventually came back from a 51-point deficit to end the day 5-3 down .
'Selby will feel like he 's almost won ' - Analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost won that session .
Ronnie O'Sullivan might be a bit disappointed .
These players are so experienced .
They know there 's a long way to go .
I think Ronnie would have taken a 5-3 lead before the start of tonight .
It was a disappointing session in terms of the standard .
I would have expected more but there were problems with the balls in the first four frames .
They are two of the best players in the world .
There is pressure out there .
These guys know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably come from this match .
McGill looked comfortable stepping up to the one-table set-up at the Crucible as he took the first three frames , which included breaks of 83 and 78 .
Wilson - who beat defending champion Judd Trump in the quarter-finals and is ranked 31 places higher than McGill - eventually got on the board in the best-of-33 match but the Scot took control again after the mid-session break to go 4-1 up .
The Englishman 's error count increased as the pressure mounted and a break of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After a break of 45 , Wilson gave McGill a chance to win the seventh but he missed a straightforward blue to the middle and the opportunity to take a 6-1 lead .
McGill then came close to his first century break of this year 's tournament and had to settle for a 92 to end the session .
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Last updated on .From the section Snooker
Ronnie O'Sullivan, pictured playing in February's Welsh Open, has won the World Championship five times
Betfred World Championship Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 31 July-16 August Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and Red Button, with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app. Full details and times.
Ronnie O'Sullivan earned a 5-3 lead against a battling Mark Selby in the World Championship semi-finals.
O'Sullivan, 44, looked comfortable as he capitalised on 37-year-old Selby's errors to take a 4-1 lead in the first session of the best-of-33 match.
But Selby ended Wednesday just two frames down after a strong finish.
Earlier, Scotland's Anthony McGill took a shock 6-2 lead over Kyren Wilson in his first World Championship semi-final appearance.
World number 39 McGill, 29, started strongly to take a 3-0 lead and ended the session in similar fashion with a break of 92.
O'Sullivan and Selby's semi-final continues from 14:30 BST on Thursday, with Wilson and McGill starting at 10:00 BST.
Selby rallies to reduce O'Sullivan's lead
Five-time champion O'Sullivan, who called his quarter-final performance against Mark Williams "embarrassing", impressed with his long game as he won the first two frames.
Both players struggled with cue-ball contacts, possibly because of increased humidity, and Selby missed an easy blue in the third but the three-time champion claimed his first frame nevertheless.
O'Sullivan hit the highest break of the match, 85, to go in to the mid-session break with a 3-1 lead.
New balls were brought out after the break to try and counteract the contact issue but that did not help Selby as he missed a simple green and O'Sullivan took the fifth frame.
Selby, playing in his first World Championship semi-final since he won the title in 2017, edged the sixth to make the score a less daunting 4-2 before O'Sullivan extended his lead once more.
Both players struggled to close out the final frame but it was Selby who eventually came back from a 51-point deficit to end the day 5-3 down.
'Selby will feel like he's almost won' - Analysis
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on BBC TV
Mark Selby will feel like he's almost won that session. Ronnie O'Sullivan might be a bit disappointed.
These players are so experienced. They know there's a long way to go.
I think Ronnie would have taken a 5-3 lead before the start of tonight.
It was a disappointing session in terms of the standard. I would have expected more but there were problems with the balls in the first four frames.
They are two of the best players in the world. There is pressure out there. These guys know that the winner of the World Championship will probably come from this match.
Anthony McGill is playing in his first World Championship semi-final
McGill unfazed on semi-final debut
McGill looked comfortable stepping up to the one-table set-up at the Crucible as he took the first three frames, which included breaks of 83 and 78.
Wilson - who beat defending champion Judd Trump in the quarter-finals and is ranked 31 places higher than McGill - eventually got on the board in the best-of-33 match but the Scot took control again after the mid-session break to go 4-1 up.
The Englishman's error count increased as the pressure mounted and a break of 69 helped McGill take the sixth frame.
After a break of 45, Wilson gave McGill a chance to win the seventh but he missed a straightforward blue to the middle and the opportunity to take a 6-1 lead.
McGill then came close to his first century break of this year's tournament and had to settle for a 92 to end the session.
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bbc--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris' childhood home reacts to Biden pick

Will it be third time lucky for Joe Biden ?
The former US vice-president announces that he 's running for @ @ @ @ @ .

Biden - 'She is a first rate candidate' Video, 00:00:25Biden - 'She is a first rate candidate'


bbc--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris: Who is Biden's running mate in 2020 US election?

Months after her own presidential dreams sputtered to a halt , Kamala Harris will now get another shot at the Democratic ticket .
A year ago , the California senator had surged to the front of a crowded field of candidates on the back of a series of strong debate performances - and a searing critique of her rival Joe Biden over race .
By the end of 2019 , however , her campaign was dead .
Now , with Mr Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee , the 55-year-old has been chosen as the vice-presidential pick .
Here 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she faces a different type of run for the White House .
• How could Kamala help - or hurt - Joe Biden The California Democrat was born in Oakland , California , to two immigrant parents : an Indian-born mother and Jamaican-born father .
After her parents ' divorce , Ms Harris was raised primarily by her Hindu single mother , Shyamala Gopalan Harris , a cancer researcher and civil rights activist .
She grew up engaged with her Indian heritage , joining her mother on visits to India , but Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland 's black culture , immersing her two daughters - Kamala and her younger sister Maya - within it .
`` My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters , '' she wrote in her autobiography The Truths We Hold .
`` She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident , proud black women . ''
Senator Harris ' early years also included a brief period in Canada .
When Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McGill University , Ms Harris and her younger sister Maya went with her , attending school in Montreal for five years .
She attended college in the US , spending four years at Howard University , one of the nation 's preeminent historically black colleges and universities , which she has described as among the most formative experiences of her life .
Ms Harris says she 's always been comfortable with her identity and simply describes herself as `` an American '' .
She told the Washington Post in 2019 , that politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of their colour or background .
`` My point was : I am who I am .
I 'm good with it .
You might need to figure it out , but I 'm fine with it , '' she said .
In 2014 , Senator Harris married lawyer Doug Emhoff - now a fixture at her campaign stops - and became stepmother to his two children .
After four years at Howard , Ms Harris went on to earn her law degree at the University of California , Hastings , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Attorney 's Office .
She became the district attorney - the top prosecutor - for San Francisco in 2003 , before being elected the first woman and the first black person to serve as California 's attorney general , the top lawyer and law enforcement official in America 's most populous state .
In her nearly two terms in office as attorney general , Ms Harris gained a reputation as one of the Democratic party 's rising stars , using this momentum to propel her election as California 's junior US senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Senate , the former prosecutor gained favour among progressives for her acerbic questioning of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Attorney General William Barr in key Senate hearings .
When she launched her candidacy for president to a crowd of more than 20,000 in Oakland , California , at the beginning of last year , her 2020 bid was met with initial enthusiasm .
But the senator failed to articulate a clear rationale for her campaign , and gave muddled answers to questions in key policy areas like healthcare .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 • Where did it go wrong for Kamala Harris ?
She was also unable to capitalise on the clear high point of her candidacy : debate performances that showed off her prosecutorial skills , often placing Mr Biden in the line of attack .
A California Democrat with a law enforcement resume , Ms Harris tried to walk the fine line between the progressive and moderate wings of her party , but ended up appealing to neither , ending her candidacy in December before the first Democratic contest in Iowa in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed the former vice-president , saying she would do `` everything in my power to help elect him the next President of the United States '' .
Her record on crime and policing Ms Harris ' 2020 run put her record as California 's top prosecutor under the spotlight .
Despite leftward leanings on issues like gay marriage and the death penalty , she faced repeated attacks from progressives for not being progressive enough , and was the subject of a withering op-ed by University of San Francisco law professor Lara Bazelon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' campaign , Ms Bazelon wrote that Ms Harris has largely dodged progressive fights involving issues like police reform , drug reform and wrongful convictions .
The self-described `` progressive prosecutor '' tried to emphasise more left-leaning parts of her legacy - requiring body cameras for some special agents at the California Department of Justice , the first state agency to adopt them , and launching a database that provided public access to crime statistics - but she still failed to gain traction .
`` Kamala is a cop '' became a common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her attempts to win over the more liberal Democratic base during the primaries .
But those same law enforcement credentials may prove beneficial in the general election when Democrats need to win over more moderate voters and independents .
And now , as the US grapples with an ongoing racial reckoning and there is scrutiny over police brutality , Ms Harris has taken a front row seat , using her sizable microphone to amplify progressive voices .
On talk shows , she calls for changes to police practices across the US , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old African-American woman from Kentucky , and she speaks frequently about the need to dismantle systemic racism .
When it comes to the contested progressive push to `` defund '' the police - the call for police departments ' budgets to be slashed and funds diverted to social programmes - which is opposed by Mr Biden , Ms Harris hedges , calling instead for a `` reimagining '' of public safety .
Ms Harris has often said that her identity makes her uniquely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now that Mr Biden has named her as his running mate , she might get a chance to do just that from inside the White House .

Just over a year ago, as the senator from California hoping to win the Democratic nomination for presidency, she launched a potent attack on Joe Biden over race during a debate. Many thought it inflicted a serious blow on his ambitions. But by the end of the year her campaign was dead and it was Mr Biden who returned the 56-year-old to the national spotlight by putting her on his ticket.


bbc--2020-08-13--Joe Biden and Kamala Harris say Trump has left US 'in tatters'

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris have attacked `` whining '' President Donald Trump as an incompetent leader who has left the US `` in tatters '' .
The pair held their first campaign event together , a day after Mr Biden unveiled Ms Harris as his number two .
President Trump hit back , saying Ms Harris had `` dropped like a rock '' in her own presidential bid .
What did Biden say ?
Wednesday 's event at a school in Wilmington , Delaware , was not open to the public , with Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs .
Both candidates walked on stage wearing masks to address a group of masked journalists .
Mr Biden noted that Ms Harris , a US senator from California , was the first woman of colour to serve as a presidential running mate for a major US party .
Mr Biden said : `` The choice we make this November is going to decide the future of America for a very , very long time . ''
He continued : `` Donald Trump has already started his attacks , calling Kamala , quote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , quote , mean to his appointees .
`` It 's not a surprise because whining is what Donald Trump does best , better than any president in American history .
`` Is anybody surprised that Donald Trump has a problem with a strong woman , or strong women across the board ? ''
He also attacked Mr Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic , climate change , the unemployment rate and `` his politics of racist rhetoric that appeals to division '' .
What did Harris say ?
Coming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` I am ready to get to work . ''
The 55-year-old former prosecutor told reporters : `` Everything we care about , our economy , our health , our children , the kind of country we live in , it 's all on the line . ''
Ms Harris - the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica - continued : `` America is crying out for leadership , yet we have a president who cares more about himself than the people who elected him .
`` He inherited the longest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Joe Biden .
And then , like everything else he inherited , he ran it straight into the ground . ''
Much has been made of the differences between Joe Biden and Kamala Harris since he announced her as his running mate on Tuesday afternoon .
Biden is more than 20 years her senior .
He 's a white man , son of working-class parents in Pennsylvania .
She 's a multiracial woman from California , daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India .
In their first joint appearance on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had in common .
`` Her story is America 's story , '' Mr Biden said .
`` Different from mine in many particulars , but also not so different in the essentials . ''
Ms Harris echoed this , saying that the two candidates are `` cut from the same cloth '' .
It 's the kind of message you 'd imagine would come from a campaign that 's calling for national healing and unity .
Of course , that did n't stop either candidate from going on the attack against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first salvo for this ticket in what is sure to be a bare-knuckle fight for the White House .
• How Kamala Harris could help - or hurt - Joe Biden At a White House news conference , Mr Trump disparaged Ms Harris ' failed bid for the Democratic party 's presidential nomination , during which she fiercely attacked Mr Biden 's record on race .
Mr Trump said : `` I watched her poll numbers go boom , boom , boom , down to almost nothing , and she left angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said horrible things about him , including accusations made about him by a woman , where she , I guess , believed the woman .
`` Now all of a sudden she 's running to be vice-president saying how wonderful he is . ''
Last year Mr Biden was accused by a number of women of unwelcome contact , including touching and kissing .
Mr Biden acknowledged at the time that he must respect personal space .
A more serious allegation surfaced this year from a former aide who accused Mr Biden of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress in 1993 .
He denied the claim .
Ms Harris , who had dropped out of the presidential race at that point , said Tara Reade `` has a right to tell her story '' .
California state records also show Mr Trump donated to Ms Harris when she was a candidate for the state 's attorney general in 2011 and 2013 , while he was still a private citizen .
Shortly before the Biden-Harris event , Mr Trump goaded Mr Biden for remaining at home for much of the campaign so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a White House meeting with teachers who said that children learnt better in class than remotely , the president asked a asked : `` So if you 're a presidential candidate and you 're sitting in a basement and you 're looking at a computer , that 's not a good thing ? ''
He also tweeted an attack on the Biden-Harris ticket , saying they would put Senator Cory Booker , who is black , in charge of low-income housing .
Critics said the tweet was racist .
What happens next ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nomination at next week 's convention , which will largely be a virtual event because of the pandemic .
He became the party 's presumptive nominee in April after Bernie Sanders , his only remaining competitor , ended his own campaign .
Meanwhile Mr Trump will be nominated for a second four-year term in the White House by his fellow Republicans at their party convention a week later .
A 10-week campaign will follow before voters deliver their verdict in the general election on 3 November .
Mr Trump and Mr Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October .
Ms Harris will debate Vice-President Mike Pence in October .

In their first joint appearance on Wednesday, however, they both spoke about what they had in common. "Her story is America's story," Mr Biden said. "Different from mine in many particulars, but also not so different in the essentials."


bbc--2020-08-13--Belarus election: Women form ‘solidarity chains’ to condemn crackdown

Women have formed human chains in Belarus to condemn a crackdown on protests over the disputed election .
Many dressed in white and carried flowers as they called for an end to police brutality , in demonstrations that began on Wednesday .
Unrest erupted after long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko was declared winner of Sunday 's vote , sparking allegations of vote rigging .
Thousands of people have been arrested and at least two have died .
In the latest official figures , the interior ministry said police had detained 700 people during protests on Wednesday , bringing the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protests got under way on Thursday , hundreds of women formed `` solidarity chains '' in the capital Minsk .
Participants told reporters they wanted a peaceful resolution , as they called for all detained protesters to be freed .
• Five things you may not know about Belarus It was the second day in a row they had organised such action .
Similar scenes were also reported elsewhere in the country .
Video footage shared on social media showed opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova joining the female protesters in Minsk on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was one of three women who pooled their resources to spearhead the opposition .
The other two have left the country .
Veronika Tsepkalo fled Belarus on the day of the vote while the main opposition candidate in the election , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , was briefly detained on Monday before fleeing to Lithuania .
An associate said Ms Tikhanovskaya was escorted from the country by the authorities as part of a deal to allow the release of her campaign manager , who was arrested on the eve of the election .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying she made the `` very difficult decision '' to leave because of her children .
The opposition candidate was a stay-at-home mother until she entered the race after her husband was arrested and blocked from registering for the vote .
She became Mr Lukashenko 's toughest opposition challenge in years , leading large opposition rallies in the lead up to the vote .
But Mr Lukashenko dismissed her bid , saying a woman could not lead Belarus .
`` Our constitution is not for women , '' he said earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to vote for a woman .
This is because by constitution the president handles a lot of power . ''
Mr Lukashenko , 65 , has ruled the former Soviet country since 1994 .
He has described opposition supporters as `` sheep '' controlled from abroad .
What else has been happening ?
Protests have broken out across Belarus since Sunday 's disputed presidential election .
Election officials said Mr Lukashenko won 80 % of the vote , but there were widespread allegations of vote rigging .
The result was condemned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor fair '' .
Hundreds of people have been injured in a police crackdown on protests , some seriously .
A BBC crew was attacked by police on Tuesday evening .
Officials have confirmed the deaths of two people .
One demonstrator died during a protest in the capital Minsk on Monday .
The Belarusian interior ministry alleged an explosive device had gone off in his hand .
Also a 25-year-old man died in the south-eastern city of Gomel on Wednesday .
The Belarusian Investigative Committee said he was arrested and sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an illegal protest , but died after being taken to hospital because he was feeling unwell .
The protester 's mother told Radio Free Europe that her son had not taken part in any protests and was arrested as he was going to see his girlfriend .
She said he had heart problems and was kept for hours in a police van .
The United Nations has condemned the use of violence by authorities .
• Challenger fled Belarus 'for sake of her children' Video footage shared on social media has shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bins in disgust at the actions of their former colleagues .
`` I was proud of the unit I served [ in ] .
Now I am ashamed .
Shame on everyone who follows such orders , '' one former officer said .
The protests are unprecedented in their scale as people in dozens of cities , towns and even villages rise up and call for the main opposition figure , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , to be recognised as the winner of Sunday 's presidential election .
I watched as young men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking a break from the clashes and then returning to face the police .
My women neighbours are trying to stop their sons and husbands from joining the nightly protests , worried for their safety .
Some 7,000 people have been detained and you do n't have to be protesting to be arrested .
My friend 's son , a university lecturer , was detained randomly before the elections and spent three days in a cell .
The interior ministry insists its measures are `` adequate '' and points out that more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated in hospital .
There have been deliberate attempts by drivers to run over traffic police and `` law enforcers have used weapons '' to stop them , it says .
People here are angry : with police , authorities and above all President Alexander Lukashenko .
No-one I have spoken to has any support for what police are doing .

Telizhenko's testimony is confirmed by countless posts on social media - photos, videos, stories. I spoke to an American woman who was visiting her Belarusian boyfriend in Minsk - he got detained for no apparent reason. Not only had he not been protesting, but he was asleep in bed when the police came to his flat, kicked down the door and took him away.