bbc--2020-04-16--White House defends Ivanka Trump's personal travel amid lockdown

The White House has defended Ivanka Trump 's personal trip to New Jersey last week even as federal guidelines advise Americans to remain at home .
The president 's eldest daughter and her family travelled from Washington DC to the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster to celebrate Passover .
`` Her travel was not commercial , '' the White House said .
`` She chose to spend a holiday in private with her family . ''
Both the nation 's capital and New Jersey are under stay-at-home orders .
Ms Trump , her husband and fellow administration adviser Jared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` a closed-down facility considered to be a family home '' , the statement to US media said .
The White House added that the `` travel was no different than had she been traveling to/from work '' , and `` the location was less populated than the surrounding area near her home '' in Washington .
According to current federal coronavirus guidelines , people should `` avoid discretionary travel , shopping trips and social visits '' .
There are currently 653,825 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the nation , with nearly 31,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Washington DC has been under a stay-at-home order since 1 April , with residents told to leave home for `` essential '' travel only .
New Jersey has been a hotspot for the outbreak , with over 71,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,100 deaths - second to its neighbour , New York , which is the epicentre of the pandemic in the US .
• Police find 17 bodies at US nursing home after tip • Why is NYC reporting sudden surge in virus deaths ?
Shortly ahead of her trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior adviser to the president , had told her Twitter followers : `` Those lucky enough to be in a position to stay at home , please , please do so . ''
The day before Passover , 7 April , she also shared a tweet by New Jersey 's Governor Phil Murphy that asked residents to celebrate health workers by `` by staying home for them '' .
Last month , Governor Murphy called on residents with second homes in the state to avoid travelling until restrictions eased .
The Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey , New York and Connecticut region also urges residents to `` refrain from non-essential domestic travel '' .
Last week , Scotland 's chief medical officer resigned after similar travel during the pandemic .
Dr Catherine Calderwood had apologised for taking two trips to her second home and initially said she planned to continue in the role , but quit on Sunday .
She had earlier been given a police warning for breaking the lockdown rules after photographs emerged of Dr Calderwood and her family visiting Earlsferry in Fife - more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family home in Edinburgh .
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New Jersey has been a hotspot for the outbreak, with over 71,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,100 deaths - second to its neighbour, New York, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in the US.


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: UK lockdown extended for 'at least' three weeks

Lockdown restrictions in the UK will continue for `` at least '' another three weeks as it tackles the coronavirus outbreak , Dominic Raab has said .
The foreign secretary told the daily No 10 briefing that a review had concluded relaxing the measures now would risk harming public health and the economy .
`` We still do n't have the infection rate down as far as we need to , '' he said .
It comes as the UK recorded another 861 coronavirus deaths in hospital , taking the total to 13,729 .
Strict limits on daily life - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , shutting many businesses and preventing gatherings of more than two people - were introduced on 23 March , as the government tried to limit the spread of coronavirus .
• Six ways lockdown has changed the UK • Are we getting closer to a coronavirus vaccine or drug ?
• When am I allowed to go out ?
Ministers are required by law to assess whether the rules are working , based on expert advice , every three weeks .
Mr Raab , deputising for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There is light at the end of the tunnel but we are now at both a delicate and a dangerous stage in this pandemic .
`` If we rush to relax the measures that we have in place we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress that has been made .
`` That would risk a quick return to another lockdown with all the threat to life that a second peak to the virus would bring and all the economic damage that a second lockdown would carry . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the measures were working , but there was evidence the infection was spreading in hospitals and care homes .
He said five conditions needed to be met before the lockdown was eased : • Making sure the NHS could cope • A `` sustained and consistent '' fall in the daily death rate • Reliable data showing the rate of infection was decreasing to `` manageable levels '' • Ensuring the supply of tests and Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) could meet future demand • Being confident any adjustments would not risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not provide a definitive timeline , but said the prime minister 's warning at the outset of the epidemic that it would take about three months to come through the peak still applied .
`` We know it is rough going .
Every time I come to this lectern and read out the grim toll , I walk away and think of their sons and daughters going through this right now , their brothers , sisters , grandchildren , all those left behind , '' Mr Raab said .
`` It makes this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must do and I know together , united , we must keep up this national effort . ''
'Way out is staggered , gradual and cautious' It is n't a surprise .
But it is hugely significant for every single person in this country .
The lockdown measures will go on for at least another three weeks .
Ministers from devolved administrations across the UK have agreed that as a united way forward .
The PM 's deputy , Dominic Raab , said that we 've sacrificed too much to ease up now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been very reluctant to talk about a future exit strategy - for fear it could distract from its core `` stay at home '' message - the foreign secretary did nod to how we could , in future , see measures relaxed in some areas while potentially strengthening them in others .
That may not sound like a lot of detail but it is possible to start tentatively piecing this exit strategy puzzle together .
It 's important to say things could change as more information comes to light .
But , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ route out of this will be staggered , gradual and cautious .
The government 's clear and ongoing priority will be to avoid overwhelming the NHS .
Increased testing will be an essential part of tackling the infection .
And meanwhile the country , and indeed the world , waits for what appears to be the ultimate way out - a vaccine .
With Labour calling on the government to publish plans for easing the lockdown , Mr Raab said they were being as `` open as we responsibly can '' but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their scientific advisers would consider at the next review in three weeks ' time .
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said `` the government is right '' to extend the restrictions but he said any exit strategy would require mass testing in the community and it was `` struggling '' to reach its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April .
The UK now has the capacity to carry out 35,000 tests for coronavirus a day , Downing Street said , although the most recent figures showed they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24-hour period .
Sir Keir also told the BBC 's podcast Coronavirus Newscast that he suspected Mr Raab was `` reluctant '' to sign off an exit strategy without the prime minister in office .
Also speaking at the briefing , Sir Patrick Vallance , the government 's chief scientific adviser , played down suggestions that vulnerable groups such as the elderly could be kept under lockdown conditions for longer .
He said the aim was for `` everything to start moving more towards normal , not to segregate certain groups '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's announcement in the UK comes after a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee , involving the first ministers of Northern Ireland , Wales and Scotland .
In Scotland , a further 80 people have died in hospitals .
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the lockdown should continue because `` we are not confident enough that the virus has been suppressed sufficiently '' .
Wales recorded another 32 deaths , with First Minister Mark Drakeford saying it was `` still too early to change course '' .
Northern Ireland saw its highest daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hospitals , and England recorded another 740 deaths .
The tallies for individual nations can differ from the UK-wide total , because they are calculated on a different timeframe .
At 20:00 BST for the fourth week running , people across the country gathered on doorsteps , balconies or in gardens to applaud workers in the NHS , care services and others helping during the crisis .
`` It got really big , eh ? ''
said Annemarie Plas , a Dutch woman living in London who began the weekly Clap for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say British people do n't have passion and spirit . ''
Downing Street said Boris Johnson , who continues to recover from Covid-19 , joined in the applause to thank the `` incredible efforts '' of NHS and care workers .
During the No 10 briefing , Prof Chris Whitty , the UK 's chief medical adviser , urged people to continue to attend hospital if they needed to for other emergencies , saying the NHS `` is open for business '' .
It comes after figures showed that visits to accident and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak began .
Prof Whitty also said the government was reviewing whether there were any circumstances in which it should recommend people wear masks in public to prevent the virus spreading , but said `` the evidence is weak '' and it would be a `` very bad thing '' if increased demand created shortages for healthcare workers .
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC he wanted people in the capital to wear masks or face coverings whenever they leave the house .
`` The evidence around the world is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbying our government , our advisers to change their advice , and I want us to do that sooner rather than later , '' he said .
• 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 Following reports that black , Asian and minority ethnic people were critically ill in disproportionately high numbers , Downing Street said the NHS and Public Health England would carry out a review into whether some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Prof Whitty said that it was `` absolutely critical '' to determine which groups were most at risk , but said the evidence on ethnicity was `` less clear '' at the moment than other factors , such as age , sex and underlying illnesses .
Some countries across Europe which introduced lockdown measures before the UK are now beginning to ease them , including Austria , Italy and Germany .
However , they continue to require some social distancing measures , which reduce close contact between people and prevent large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on `` reasonable excuses '' to be out in the lockdown , which warn against long rests on park benches or buying paint supplies to redecorate the house • Captain Tom Moore , the 99-year-old war veteran and fundraiser for NHS charities , has raised a total of more than £16m • Coronavirus-related scams have cost people more than £2m , with experts warning they are spreading as fast as the virus itself • Plans to allow some Parliamentary business to take place via Zoom video-conferencing have been approved • Firefighters in Wales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much chaos as possible '' by starting forest fires during the pandemic

"We know it is rough going. Every time I come to this lectern and read out the grim toll, I walk away and think of their sons and daughters going through this right now, their brothers, sisters, grandchildren, all those left behind," Mr Raab said.


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Lions nap on road during South African lockdown

Sooner or later animals were going to notice that the humans had disappeared and in South Africa 's Kruger National Park lions have been taking advantage .
Park ranger Richard Sowry was out on patrol on Wednesday when he snapped a pride sleeping on a road which would normally be busy with tourists .
But Kruger , like other wildlife parks , has been shut since 25 March as part of the coronavirus lockdown .
Big cats would usually only be seen by rangers on the roads by night .
• Why lockdowns may not be the answer in Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing Africa How were the pictures taken ?
As a ranger in one of Africa 's largest game reserves , Mr Sowry performs an essential service and continues to work during the lockdown , checking on the wildlife and guarding against poachers .
While driving near Orpen Rest Camp on Wednesday afternoon , he spotted the lions on the road ahead and pulled up just five metres ( 5.5 yards ) away to look at the unusual phenomenon .
As he took photos with his mobile phone , the lions did not seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asleep .
`` Lions are used to people in vehicles , '' he explained .
`` All animals have much more of an instinctive fear of people on foot , so if I had walked up they would never have allowed me to get so close . ''
The oldest lioness in the pride is about 14 , `` which is very old for a lioness '' , so they are used to seeing vehicles .
Normally Mr Sowry would only see lions sleeping on the park 's roads on colder nights in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite a lot of heat .
• Goats take over empty streets of Welsh town What rangers do not want , however , is for lions to start thinking that roads are a safe place just because they are now so still .
How is the lockdown affecting the park ?
These quiet times have also seen lions as well as wild dogs venturing on to a golf course in the park but otherwise Mr Sowry does not think that the lockdown has had any major effect on the animals ' behaviour yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , '' he says .
`` It has been wild and it is still wild . ''
He is just happy to share his photos with people who can not visit the park right now because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` These are difficult times for everyone and the intention was to bring people joy , '' he says .
To date , South Africa has recorded 34 deaths of people with Covid-19 and registered 2,506 cases of infection , making it the most affected country in Africa .
Its lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Everybody realises the importance of the lockdown and the rangers are there to do their normal duties , '' says media officer Isaac Phaala .
`` To maintain the infrastructure takes quite a bit of work so that when the park opens , you do n't start from scratch . ''
As for the lions , he adds , `` normally they would be in the bushes because of the traffic but they are very smart and now they are enjoying the freedom of the park without us '' .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would lions prefer tarmac to the softness of grass ?
Probably for the simple reason that it had been raining on Tuesday night and , as Mr Phaala explained , `` The tar was drier than the grass at the time - big cats and water do n't mix . ''
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bbc--2020-04-16--World Press Photo 2020: Image from Sudan uprising wins

An image from last year 's popular uprising in Sudan has won the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year Award .
The photo , titled `` Straight Voice '' , was taken by AFP photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba .
It shows a demonstrator reciting protest poetry , while a crowd of fellow protesters illuminate him with the light from their phones .
Judges said Chiba 's `` poetic '' photo showed the power of youth and art .
Longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown last April , leading to a violent struggle between the military and the pro-democracy movement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This moment was the only peaceful group protest I encountered during my stay .
I felt their undefeated solidarity like burning embers that remain to flare up again . ''
Jury chair Lekgetho Makola said that despite being taken during a time of conflict , the photo `` inspires people '' .
`` We see this young person , who is not shooting , who is not throwing a stone , but reciting a poem , '' he said .
`` It 's acknowledging , but also voicing a sense of hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as finalists in the contest .
On 10 March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed after taking off from Addis Ababa , killing 157 people .
It was the second crash involving a Boeing 737 Max airliner in just five months .
Shortly afterwards , Boeing grounded all of its 737 Max planes , and eventually suspended production of the aircraft .
In this image , Mulugeta Ayene photographed the relative of a victim throwing dirt in her face at the accident site , just days after the crash .
Clash with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farouk Batiche Algeria was embroiled in protests from February last year - an uprising predominantly led by the country 's younger generation , which led to the ousting of longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika in April .
Mr Bouteflika was an 81-year-old veteran of the Algerian independence struggle , but he was in very poor health and had not been seen in public for a long time .
When he resigned he handed power to a military-backed caretaker government , but protesters continued to call for a return to a civilian democracy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associated with the Bouteflika administration .
In this photo by Tomek Kaczor , a 15-year-old Armenian girl called Ewa had just woken from a catatonic state brought on by a condition known as Resignation Syndrome ( RS ) .
She was photographed in a refugee reception centre in Podkowa Lesna , Poland , last June .
RS leaves patients immobile , mute , unable to eat and drink and incapable of responding to physical stimulus .
It affects traumatised children caught in lengthy asylum processes , and is common in Roma and Yazidi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while her family were applying for asylum in Sweden .
Their application was denied and they were deported to Poland .
Eight months later , Ewa recovered .
Ahmed Ibrahim , an 18-year-old fighter with the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) , was photographed in hospital in Hassakeh on 20 October last year .
He had been badly burned in conflict with Turkish forces .
His girlfriend was reluctant at first to enter the room , as she was horrified by his injuries .
But after some encouragement from a nurse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand and had a short conversation with him .
Nothing Personal - the Back Office of War , by Nikita Teryoshin After a day at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference ( Idex ) in Abu Dhabi last February , Nikita Teryoshin photographed this businessman locking away a pair of anti-tank grenade launchers .
Idex is one of the biggest arms trade-fairs in the world , and the largest defence exhibition and conference in the Middle East .

His girlfriend was reluctant at first to enter the room, as she was horrified by his injuries. But after some encouragement from a nurse, she went in, held Ahmed's hand and had a short conversation with him.


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Macron questions China's handling of outbreak

French President Emmanuel Macron has questioned China 's handling of the coronavirus outbreak , saying things `` happened that we do n't know about '' .
Mr Macron told the Financial Times it was `` naive '' to suggest that China had dealt better with the crisis .
It follows a row sparked by an article on the Chinese embassy 's website that said Western countries had left the elderly to die in care homes .
China dismissed the row as a `` misunderstanding '' .
Government spokesman Zhao Lijian said China had never made any negative comments about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has no intention of making any '' .
• French care home fights to keep virus at bay • Are EU divisions banished after the coronavirus deal ?
France has seen 141,000 cases of Covid-19 and nearly 18,000 deaths while China has recorded 83,400 infections and just over 3,300 deaths .
China recently lifted the months-long lockdown in the city of Wuhan , in Hubei province , where the pandemic started .
Other countries including the US and UK have also questioned China 's transparency over the outbreak .
What did Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to bring the outbreak under control had exposed the weakness of Western democracies , Mr Macron told the FT that there was no comparison between open societies and those where truth was suppressed .
`` Given these differences , the choices made and what China is today , which I respect , let 's not be so naive as to say it 's been much better at handling this , '' he said .
`` We do n't know .
There are clearly things that have happened that we do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedoms to fight the pandemic would threaten Western democracies .
`` We ca n't accept that .
You ca n't abandon your fundamental DNA on the grounds that there is a health crisis . ''
What other response has there been ?
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told a news conference on Thursday that `` hard questions '' would have be asked about how the outbreak started `` and how it could n't have been stopped earlier '' .
He said there would have to be a `` deep dive '' into how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and said it could not be `` business as usual '' after the crisis .
US President Donald Trump has also taken a hard line against China .
On Wednesday , asked why the US accounted for such a high proportion of the global death toll of more than 137,000 , he accused other countries of lying about their mortality rates '' Does anybody really believe the numbers of some of these countries ? ''
he said , naming China .
He said the US was looking into unverified reports that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wuhan rather than in a market in the city , as has been widely reported .
`` I will tell you more and more we 're hearing the story and we 'll see , '' Mr Trump said at his daily briefing .
• Can we trust China claims of virus success ?
• Is there any evidence for coronavirus lab release theory ?
Fox News , attributing unnamed sources , has suggested that the coronavirus accidentally leaked from a Wuhan facility because of lax safety protocols , infecting an intern , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
US media have previously reported that the US embassy in Beijing had raised concerns about safety at two laboratories in Wuhan in recent years .
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He said there would have to be a "deep dive" into how the virus was able to spread from China and said it could not be "business as usual" after the crisis.


bbc--2020-04-16--Climate change: US megadrought 'already under way'

A drought , equal to the worst to have hit the western US in recorded history , is already under way , say scientists .
Researchers say the megadrought is a naturally occurring event that started in the year 2000 and is still ongoing .
Climate change , though , is having a major impact with rising temperatures making the drought more severe .
Some researchers are more cautious , saying that it is too early to say if the region really is seeing a true megadrought .
• US 'at risk of mega-drought future' • California 's drought is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly is a megadrought ?
According to the authors of this new paper , a megadrought in North America refers to a multi-decade event , that contains periods of very high severity that last longer than anything observed during the 19th or 20th centuries .
The authors say there have been around 40 drought events over the period from 800-2018 in the western US .
Of these , only four meet the criteria for a megadrought .
These were in the late 800s , the mid-1100s , the 1200s and the late 1500s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions were like in the past ?
The key to this new study is the use of tree ring records to reconstruct soil moisture data for the past 1200 years .
The team were also able to use supporting evidence such as medieval tree stumps growing in normally wet river beds , the abandonment of settlements by indigenous civilisations at the peak of the 13th century drought , plus evidence from lake deposits indicating wildfire activity was enhanced during these drought periods .
What did the study find ?
The researchers discovered that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events in the past to soil moisture records from 2000-2018 , the current period is already worse than three of the four megadroughts recorded .
The fourth one , which ran from 1575 to 1603 was likely the worst one of all , but the difference with the present event is slight .
`` The first two decades of this drought look just like the first two decades of all of the mega droughts , '' said lead author Dr Park Williams , from Columbia University in New York .
`` In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst two decades of the worst of the mega droughts . ''
Is the current megadrought a natural event or was it caused by climate change ?
The authors say that undoubtedly the current drought situation is a natural event but is being made much worse by climate change .
The key event seems to have been the El Niño/La Niña weather phenomenon .
`` We know from , from many lines of evidence that when you have La Niña type conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean , then the southwestern US and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's what we 've seen over the last two decades , '' said Dr Williams .
But climate change has super-charged the current drought .
The authors say that in the western US , temperatures have gone up by 1.2C since 2000 .
Hotter air holds more moisture and that moisture is being pulled out of the ground .
They believe that climate change is responsible for about half of of the pace and severity of the current event .
`` It does n't matter if this is exactly the worst drought ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is affiliated with Columbia University and Nasa 's Goddard Institute for Space Studies .
`` What matters is that it has been made much worse than it would have been because of climate change . ''
What have been the impacts of the megadrought ?
The authors say the two most important water reservoirs in the region , Lake Powell and Lake Mead have both shrunk dramatically during the drought .
Wildfires across the region are growing in area .
`` At any given year , there 's over ten times more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected in a given year , 40 years ago , '' said Dr Williams .
What has helped to mitigate the impact of the drought has been groundwater - the water held underground in aquifers .
This has increasingly been used to bolster supplies for agriculture .
The longer the drought goes on , the deeper into these reserves that people are digging , and they take a long time to replenish .
Is there full agreement among scientists that a megadrought is taking place right now ?
No .
This new study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what exactly a megadrought means is still being argued over .
Some say that it is also way too early to declare that a megadrought is ongoing .
But even those who disagree with the idea , acknowledge there is water stress in the region and this is likely to get worse in the future .
`` Whether or not the western US has crossed a threshold into an event that goes by any specific label , what 's been clear this century is that water is an essential resource in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precarious one , because the region can have long spells with little precipitation , '' said Dr Angeline Pendergrass , a scientist with the US National Center for Atmospheric Research ( NCAR ) .
`` And it looks like climate change wo n't make it better - indeed , it will likely make it worse . ''
The study has been published in the journal Science .

Climate change: US megadrought 'already under way' Published 16 April 2020
Image source, Getty Images
A drought, equal to the worst to have hit the western US in recorded history, is already under way, say scientists.
Researchers say the megadrought is a naturally occurring event that started in the year 2000 and is still ongoing.
Climate change, though, is having a major impact with rising temperatures making the drought more severe.
Some researchers are more cautious, saying that it is too early to say if the region really is seeing a true megadrought.
So what exactly is a megadrought?
Image source, Williams/Science
According to the authors of this new paper, a megadrought in North America refers to a multi-decade event, that contains periods of very high severity that last longer than anything observed during the 19th or 20th centuries.
The authors say there have been around 40 drought events over the period from 800-2018 in the western US.
Of these, only four meet the criteria for a megadrought.
These were in the late 800s, the mid-1100s, the 1200s and the late 1500s.
How do researchers know what drought conditions were like in the past?
The key to this new study is the use of tree ring records to reconstruct soil moisture data for the past 1200 years.
The team were also able to use supporting evidence such as medieval tree stumps growing in normally wet river beds, the abandonment of settlements by indigenous civilisations at the peak of the 13th century drought, plus evidence from lake deposits indicating wildfire activity was enhanced during these drought periods.
What did the study find?
Image source, Williams/Science Image caption, A graphic showing soil moisture across the centuries in the western US. The blue line at the bottom shows mean soil moisture 2000-2018
The researchers discovered that when they compared the worst 19-year drought events in the past to soil moisture records from 2000-2018, the current period is already worse than three of the four megadroughts recorded.
The fourth one, which ran from 1575 to 1603 was likely the worst one of all, but the difference with the present event is slight.
"The first two decades of this drought look just like the first two decades of all of the mega droughts," said lead author Dr Park Williams, from Columbia University in New York.
"In fact, it is essentially tied with the worst two decades of the worst of the mega droughts."
Is the current megadrought a natural event or was it caused by climate change?
The authors say that undoubtedly the current drought situation is a natural event but is being made much worse by climate change.
The key event seems to have been the El Niño/La Niña weather phenomenon.
"We know from, from many lines of evidence that when you have La Niña type conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean, then the southwestern US and northern Mexico get dry. And that's what we've seen over the last two decades," said Dr Williams.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lake Mead saw huge drop in water levels during the recent drought
But climate change has super-charged the current drought.
The authors say that in the western US, temperatures have gone up by 1.2C since 2000. Hotter air holds more moisture and that moisture is being pulled out of the ground.
They believe that climate change is responsible for about half of of the pace and severity of the current event.
"It doesn't matter if this is exactly the worst drought ever," said co-author Benjamin Cook, who is affiliated with Columbia University and Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
"What matters is that it has been made much worse than it would have been because of climate change."
What have been the impacts of the megadrought?
The authors say the two most important water reservoirs in the region, Lake Powell and Lake Mead have both shrunk dramatically during the drought. Wildfires across the region are growing in area.
"At any given year, there's over ten times more forest area burns than we would have expected in a given year, 40 years ago," said Dr Williams.
What has helped to mitigate the impact of the drought has been groundwater - the water held underground in aquifers.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The amount of land impacted by wildfire in recent years in the US has increased
This has increasingly been used to bolster supplies for agriculture.
The longer the drought goes on, the deeper into these reserves that people are digging, and they take a long time to replenish.
Is there full agreement among scientists that a megadrought is taking place right now?
No. This new study is contentious, especially as the definition of what exactly a megadrought means is still being argued over.
Some say that it is also way too early to declare that a megadrought is ongoing.
But even those who disagree with the idea, acknowledge there is water stress in the region and this is likely to get worse in the future.
"Whether or not the western US has crossed a threshold into an event that goes by any specific label, what's been clear this century is that water is an essential resource in the western US, and it's a precarious one, because the region can have long spells with little precipitation," said Dr Angeline Pendergrass, a scientist with the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
"And it looks like climate change won't make it better - indeed, it will likely make it worse."
The study has been published in the journal Science.


bbc--2020-04-16--Saudi princess 'appeals to king for release from detention'

An appeal has been posted on a prominent Saudi princess 's verified Twitter account , asking her uncle King Salman to free her from detention .
One tweet apparently from Princess Basma bint Saud says she is `` being arbitrarily held at al-Hair prison '' and that her `` health is deteriorating '' .
Another asks the king and his son Crown Prince Mohammed to `` review my case , and to release me as I have done no wrong '' .
There was no immediate comment from the Saudi authorities .
However , a number of high-profile Saudi royals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Saudi princess : What I 'd change about my country Princess Basma , 56 , is the youngest daughter of King Saud , who ruled Saudi Arabia between 1953 and 1964 .
She has established herself over the years as a prominent advocate within the Saudi royal family for humanitarian issues and constitutional reform .
Last year , there were unconfirmed reports that she had been placed under house arrest along with one of daughters .
German broadcaster Deutsche Welle cited a source close to her as saying she had been held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
The princess has also not been seen or heard from in many months .
`` As you may be aware ( ? )
I am currently being arbitrarily held at Al-Ha'ir prison without criminal , or otherwise any charges against my person , '' said one of the tweets addressed to the king that were posted on her account late on Wednesday .
`` My health is deteriorating to an extent that is severe , and that could lead to my death .
I have not received medical care or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail to the Royal Court .
I was abducted without an explanation together with one my daughters , and thrown into prison . ''
The appeal was retweeted by the princess 's verified media office account , along with links to several articles about her alleged detention last year .

"My health is deteriorating to an extent that is severe, and that could lead to my death. I have not received medical care or even response to the letters I dispatched from jail to the Royal Court. I was abducted without an explanation together with one my daughters, and thrown into prison."


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Security forces kill more Nigerians than Covid-19

Security forces enforcing the lockdown in parts of Nigeria have killed more people than coronavirus itself , a local rights group says .
Evidence of the killings comes from members of the public who rang their hotline or sent in videos , the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC ) adds .
It says law enforcers have killed 18 people in Nigeria since lockdowns began on 30 March .
Coronavirus has killed 12 people , according to health ministry data .
Nigeria , which has a population of about 200 million people , has reported 407 cases of coronavirus but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in overcrowded parts of the country .
• Africa Live : More on this and other stories • Why lockdowns may not be the answer in Africa At least 1,476 people were killed by state actors in the country over the past year , says the Council on Foreign Relations .
In its report about Nigeria 's coronavirus lockdown period , the NHRC , a government agency , said it had found `` 8 separate incidents of extrajudicial killings leading to 18 deaths ” .
In total the group said it received more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 36 states - including Lagos , Ogun and Abuja .
Those three parts of the country this week had their two-week lock down extended .
Other areas have set a variety of restrictions , which have seen the police and army called out to enforce them .
Nigerian security forces have not responded to the NHRC 's report .
But earlier this month , Nigeria 's police force encouraged citizens to report officers who violate rules on conduct adding “ the rights of Nigerians are not infringed upon under any pretext @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many Nigerians as much of a surprise .
Nigeria 's police have a bad reputation for brutality , extortion and harassment even before the current coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown imposed to contain the virus .
What is more interesting is however , the fact that the latest damning report did not first come from their usual fierce critics like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International .
Instead it came from a Nigerian government agency .
The Nigerian police authorities say they are doing their best in bringing erring officers to justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police in Lagos arrested an officer who was seen in a video extorting about $ 110 ( £90 ) from a motorist .
The police spokesperson for Lagos told me the officer was being tried , while the money has been returned to the victim .
Another officer was demoted in Akwa Ibom state for assaulting a medical doctor during the restriction period .
While addressing Nigerians on the lockdown measures on Monday , President Muhammadu Buhari sent a mixed message on the role of the security forces , saying : `` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posed by this situation with gallantry and I commend them .
I urge them to continue to maintain utmost vigilance , firmness as well as restraint in enforcing the restrictions orders , while not neglecting statutory security responsibilities . ''
As the lockdowns and other security issues continue , many Nigerians have little confidence that the attitude of the security forces will improve soon despite assurances by the authorities .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• STRESS : How to look after your mental health

While addressing Nigerians on the lockdown measures on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari sent a mixed message on the role of the security forces, saying: ''The security agencies have risen to the challenges posed by this situation with gallantry and I commend them. I urge them to continue to maintain utmost vigilance, firmness as well as restraint in enforcing the restrictions orders, while not neglecting statutory security responsibilities."


bbc--2020-04-16--Brian Dennehy: All-round American actor dies at 81

US actor Brian Dennehy , whose chiselled jaw and towering figure featured in some 40 films , has died at the age of 81 , of natural causes in Connecticut .
On screen he played macho roles like the sheriff who jails Rambo in First Blood and portrayed the serial killer John Wayne Gacy in To Catch A Killer .
His work brought him a Golden Globe and six Emmy nominations .
But Dennehy was equally at home playing the classics on stage , and won two Tony Awards .
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda paid tribute to the man on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to see Brian Dennehy twice on stage , masterful in Love Letters , and monumentally heartbreaking in Death Of A Salesman .
A colossus .
What a loss . ''
Fellow American actor James Woods , who starred alongside him in Bestseller , mourned a `` beloved friend and colleague '' , tweeting : `` I 've never laughed so hard as we did every day on the set or off . ''
Born on 9 July 1938 in Bridgeport , Connecticut , he took up acting at the age of 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a high school in Brooklyn .
He played the title role in a production of Macbeth .
A scholarship at Columbia University followed and then five years of service in the US Marines .
Physically , Dennehy was an imposing man , standing at 6ft 3in ( 1.9m ) .
To fund his acting career in the 1960s he worked as a truck driver , a bartender and a salesman .
`` I had to make a life inside those jobs , not just pretend , '' he told The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film in 1977 with Semi-Tough , which starred Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson .
He was paid $ 10,000 a week for 10 weeks ' work and it `` looked like it was all the money in the world '' , he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press .
In 1991 came the TV movie To Catch A Killer for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special .
`` I try to play villains as if they 're good guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villains , '' he said in an interview the following year .
There were numerous roles in TV dramas including Dallas and Dynasty .
In 2007 he voiced the character of a rat called Django in the hit Pixar animation Ratatouille , delivering lines like `` Now shut up and eat your garbage '' .
Dennehy 's theatre work ranged from Shakespeare and Chekhov to the American greats like Miller and O'Neill : he won Tony Awards for Death Of A Salesman ( 1999 ) and Long Day 's Journey Into Night ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adaptation of Death of a Salesman earned him a Golden Globe .
He died from natural causes not related to coronavirus at his Connecticut home on Wednesday evening , with his wife Jennifer and son Cormac by his side , his agent told AFP news agency .
Brian Dennehy is also survived by four other children , three of them from a previous marriage .


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus: Bolsonaro fires health minister over pandemic response

Brazil 's health minister has been fired by the country 's right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro for his response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Luiz Henrique Mandetta tweeted that Mr Bolsonaro had handed him his notice .
President Bolsonaro had publicly criticised Mr Mandetta for urging people to observe social distancing and stay indoors .
The Brazilian leader disagreed with these measures , instead downplaying the virus as `` a little flu '' .
In the tweet , Mr Mandetta wrote : `` I thank the entire team that was with me at the Ministry of Health , and I wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health .
I pray God and Our Lady of Aparecida to bless our country . ''
The two have been at odds for weeks .
Where the president has made light of the outbreak and promoted unproven treatments , Mr Mandetta has largely urged people to follow guidelines that are being brought in all over the world .
While regional governors who enforced lockdown orders were praised by Mr Mandetta , they were attacked by Mr Bolsonaro .
Tensions then escalated on Sunday , when the health minister gave a television interview in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a unified voice on the crisis , effectively a criticism of President Bolsonaro 's response .
The news of Mr Mandetta 's firing was greeted with panelaços - pot-banging on the balconies of self-isolated Brazilians angry with the way Jair Bolsonaro has handled this crisis .
With Luiz Henrique Mandetta now gone , it ends a stand-off between the two politicians that has threatened to overshadow the challenges of fighting the pandemic .
But it opens up a new chapter - one of concern as to how Brazil will handle this urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the helm .
Mr Mandetta had been widely praised for his daily briefings and leadership - a man who said his method was one based on science and global health advice .
His approval ratings have soared in recent weeks but Bolsonaro , who called the firing a `` consensual divorce '' has seen his ratings take a dive .
He has publicly jeered at the measures , insisting on going out in public and meeting people , even shaking their hands .
Firing a health minister in the middle of a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals are warning of an impending collapse of the health system - is n't exactly Bolsonaro 's finest hour .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• STRESS : How to look after your mental health • WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE BODY ?
Doctors on the front line explain Earlier on Thursday he had told a group of healthcare industry officials that he expected to be out of a job by Friday .
`` Our focus is on the virus and will be very careful to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not make any sudden movements , '' he said in the live webcast .
Mr Mandetta also said he had acknowledged his differences with Mr Bolsonaro , and had discussed finding a replacement with the presidential chief of staff .
He had also told his aides on Tuesday that he was going to be fired this week , Reuters news agency earlier reported .
A health official , who had designed Brazil 's social isolation plan , offered to resign in protest - however Mr Mandetta refused .
A total of 1,764 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the country has had 29,165 confirmed cases , according to the Johns Hopkins University tally .

Mr Mandetta had been widely praised for his daily briefings and leadership - a man who said his method was one based on science and global health advice. His approval ratings have soared in recent weeks but Bolsonaro, who called the firing a "consensual divorce" has seen his ratings take a dive. He has publicly jeered at the measures, insisting on going out in public and meeting people, even shaking their hands.


bbc--2020-04-17--Quiz of the week: What did 'Captain Tom' set out to do?

It 's the weekly news quiz - how closely have you been paying attention to what 's been going on @ @ @ @ @ past seven days ?
If you can not see the quiz , follow this link @ @ @ @ @ quiz via this link .

It's the weekly news quiz - how closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world during the past seven days?


bbc--2020-04-16--Giant pumpkin rivalry brings growers together in Australia

Garry Smith and Dale Oliver grow Atlantic Giant pumpkins which can weigh up to 740kg ( 1,630lb ) .
They @ @ @ @ @ weigh-in at Kyogle in New South Wales , Australia .
Upcoming weigh-ins are being cancelled @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions , but the pair are focused on next season and their rival attempts @ @ @ @ @ .

Garry Smith and Dale Oliver grow Atlantic Giant pumpkins which can weigh up to 740kg (1,630lb). They compete annually in their local weigh-in at Kyogle in New South Wales, Australia.
Upcoming weigh-ins are being cancelled around the country due to coronavirus restrictions, but the pair are focused on next season and their rival attempts to grow the heaviest pumpkin.


bbc--2020-04-17--Africa's week in pictures: 10-16 April 2020

Get set , go ... People exercise in Nigeria 's capital , Abuja , where the highway is devoid of @ @ @ @ @ a lockdown in the state to halt the spread of coronavirus .

Image caption,
Get set, go... People exercise in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, where the highway is devoid of traffic on Monday because of a lockdown in the state to halt the spread of coronavirus.


bbc--2020-04-15--Coronavirus: Walsall mum on life in lockdown with eight kids

Finding ways to entertain children , especially during the coronavirus pandemic , can be difficult .
For one mum in @ @ @ @ @ proving a bit more challenging .
Care worker Caroline Wilkinson lives in Walsall with her @ @ @ @ @ children aged between eight months and 18 .
See more personal stories during the coronavirus @ @ @

Finding ways to entertain children, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, can be difficult.
For one mum in the West Midlands it is proving a bit more challenging.
Care worker Caroline Wilkinson lives in Walsall with her partner Kevin Worton and eight children aged between eight months and 18.
A film by Catherine Mackie
See more personal stories during the coronavirus outbreak: bbc.in/YourCoronavirusStories


bbc--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: 'My housemate refuses to social distance'

`` My housemate came back to the flat at midnight , during lockdown , with two women . ''
Having difficult housemates is something a lot of us have probably experienced at some point .
But with the government telling us to stay inside because of coronavirus , it 's not the best time to have a housemate who breaks the rules .
`` He does n't seem to think having people over is a problem , '' Helen* tells Radio 1 Newsbeat about the man she lives with , who 's also her landlord .
She says he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules regarding social distancing and staying inside during lockdown .
`` He 's been bringing multiple women over and there 's no such thing as social distancing for him , '' she says .
Because of the number of people visiting her home , Helen is worried about the risk to her health .
`` We know the virus lives on surfaces for a long time .
So if they 've used something and not washed it properly , it exposes the entire apartment to the virus . ''
She now stays isolated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's become `` impossible '' to live in the rest of her flat .
`` I 've deep-cleaned my entire room .
I rarely go to the kitchen - only when it 's absolutely essential , '' she says .
Helen spends half of her salary on rent and says it 's `` pretty sad '' that she 's stuck in just one room while her housemate does n't even follow the two-metre distance rule .
'He does n't even wash his hands' Nathan , 23 , knows how difficult it can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was in Morocco four weeks ago and returned to the UK on an emergency flight , which meant he had to self-isolate for two weeks .
`` It was an absolute nightmare .
So the thought of getting sick , or having to isolate again worries me , '' he tells Newsbeat .
He says his flatmate has been leaving the house most nights to visit his girlfriend who works at a hospital .
`` He 's got a bigger chance of getting the virus and passing it on , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a lot and brings lots of people back to the flat .
Their flat is quite small , so it 's tough for Nathan to keep a distance from the people who come over .
`` He 's got no regard for others or even himself , and does n't even wash his hands after coming from outside .
It 's not good and a major threat . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Both Helen and Nathan have tried to persuade their housemates to change their behaviour .
But they say their flatmates feel nothing bad will happen to them because they are young and healthy .
`` I explained to him there are plenty of young and seemingly healthy people who have struggled with this , some who have even lost their lives , '' Helen says .
`` He refuses to think about it . ''
Nathan says his flatmate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't care '' .
'Willing to put lives in danger' Charlotte 's flatmate travelled about five hours to visit her boyfriend , and stayed with him for a week and a half .
The 22-year-old says she asked her to stay where she was because coming back could pose a risk .
`` She ignored that and came back with her boyfriend , who does n't even live with us , '' Charlotte says .
`` I 've seen her on Snapchat , partying with other people .
She 's not following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuses to believe she 's a risk to anybody and does n't see an issue with her behaviour . ''
When confronted about her behaviour , Charlotte says her flatmate became `` argumentative and refused to listen . ''
She 's shown her housemate statistics on infection and deaths and `` explained in every way possible '' .
`` She just does n't think she 's in the wrong and there 's no getting through to her - in any way shape or form . ''
`` The fact she 's willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she says .
Some forces have launched dedicated information pages encouraging people to tell officers about breaches of coronavirus restrictions .
So should you report your flatmate to the police ?
The Home Office tells Newsbeat they expect people to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel - and that police will be using their `` professional judgement '' to enforce lockdown rules .
`` We urge everyone to stay at home to help protect the NHS and save lives , '' says a government spokesperson .
`` Individuals breaching these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notices by the police . ''
What can you do ?
People facing problems with their housemates should try to address the problem directly , according to psychologist Dr Elena Touroni .
She says it 's important to highlight `` the consequences of their behaviour '' and try to set limits on what 's acceptable .
`` The person has to emphasise that they are feeling unsafe , '' she says , adding that this should be done in a calm and serious conversation .
`` And if the person gets angry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's important to hear all sides of the story , and actually validate their feelings .
Maybe they feel genuinely frustrated by social distancing .
She says by listening , there 's more chance to get something in return - such as a change in behaviour .
Elena adds that it 's important to make your housemate care about what is happening and put them in your shoes .
`` You can turn the tables and ask them what they would feel if the roles were reversed - and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them feel unsafe . ''
She says the only way to motivate somebody to change is to emotionally connect them to the problem , not just give information and statistics .
'That could be you' Nathan says trying to persuade your housemates might has been hard for him , but it has to be done .
`` I think the way to do it is show them the personal stories of people who did n't know it was going to happen to them , '' he says .
`` Lots of families have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to emphasise 'that could be you ' . ''
He says it 's vital to make people realise social distancing is a small price for potentially saving lives .
*Name has been changed Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"I think the way to do it is show them the personal stories of people who didn't know it was going to happen to them," he says.


bbc--2020-04-16--Uefa planning for Champions League final on 29 August

Uefa is working to plans that would see the Champions League final end the 2019-20 season on 29 August .
European football 's governing body will meet on 23 April for more discussions about how to complete a campaign which has been disrupted by coronavirus .
It is likely one decision will be to agree that leagues could finish early , although only with Uefa 's approval .
But the idea is still to finish the season as a whole at the end of August , with all outstanding games played .
That would mean the Champions League final taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Europa League final in Gdansk three days earlier .
Two scenarios for getting to that situation are under consideration .
The first is to play the quarter-finals and semi-finals as two-legged matches as normal , in July and August .
The second would be for the games to be played as one-off fixtures after the end of the domestic seasons , potentially condensing the end of the competition into a week-long mini tournament .
Four of the eight Champions League quarter-finalists are already known , with Manchester City 's high-profile encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still to be concluded .
In the Europa League , scheduling is more complicated because all eight last-16 second-leg ties are still to be played , with two matches , involving Spanish and Italian teams , yet to play the first legs .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Liverpool, the Champions League holders, were knocked out of this season's competition by Atletico Madrid
Uefa is working to plans that would see the Champions League final end the 2019-20 season on 29 August.
European football's governing body will meet on 23 April for more discussions about how to complete a campaign which has been disrupted by coronavirus.
It is likely one decision will be to agree that leagues could finish early, although only with Uefa's approval.
But the idea is still to finish the season as a whole at the end of August, with all outstanding games played.
That would mean the Champions League final taking place in Istanbul on 29 August, with the Europa League final in Gdansk three days earlier.
Two scenarios for getting to that situation are under consideration.
The first is to play the quarter-finals and semi-finals as two-legged matches as normal, in July and August.
The second would be for the games to be played as one-off fixtures after the end of the domestic seasons, potentially condensing the end of the competition into a week-long mini tournament.
Four of the eight Champions League quarter-finalists are already known, with Manchester City's high-profile encounter with Real Madrid one of the ties still to be concluded.
In the Europa League, scheduling is more complicated because all eight last-16 second-leg ties are still to be played, with two matches, involving Spanish and Italian teams, yet to play the first legs.


bbc--2020-04-16--US Open decision 'in June' but 'unlikely' to be played without fans

The fate of this year 's US Open will not be decided until June , but it is `` highly unlikely '' to be staged behind closed doors .
The US Tennis Association ( USTA ) has set up a medical advisory group to help them determine whether it will be safe to play the tournament .
The US Open is due to begin at Flushing Meadows in New York on 31 August .
More than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in the city and lockdown measures have been extended to 15 May .
Nearly three quarters of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open , and when asked if they would play without fans , USTA chief executive Mike Dowse said : `` We 're not taking anything off the table right now , but to be honest and open , I think that 's highly unlikely .
`` That 's not really in the spirit of the celebration of tennis , and it also goes back to the health and wellbeing of our players and support staff that help run the tournament .
`` Unless the medical experts come up with a solution that truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't see that as an option . ''
A tournament behind closed doors still involves several thousand people .
The USTA would be able to fulfil its commitment to broadcasters , but would still have to pay the players while missing out on vast revenue from ticket sales , food and drink , and merchandise .
The USTA is still aiming to run the tournament as scheduled , but has previously indicated it may explore the possibility of pushing it back into the autumn .
The French Tennis Federation has already rescheduled Roland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 October , pushing the tournament back four months from its original date of 24 May to 7 June .
While Wimbledon , due to be played between 29 June and 12 July , has been cancelled .
`` In one sense we 're very fortunate that we are the fourth Grand Slam to go , so time is on our side at this point , '' Dowse continued .
`` The driving factor will be the health and wellbeing of the players , the fans and our staff .
And to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information if we can run the tournament safely .
`` We 've set a time frame around June to make that decision , and the way we are approaching it is through a medical advisory group .
`` We have five or six doctors consulting with us on a regular basis , and based on that information we will ultimately make the decision if it 's safe to play the tournament or not . ''
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre , which stages the US Open every year , is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of New York .
Dowse says they are also making 25,000 meals a day for health care professionals , and for children who are missing out on school lunches .

Rafael Nadal won the men's US Open title last year
The fate of this year's US Open will not be decided until June, but it is "highly unlikely" to be staged behind closed doors.
The US Tennis Association (USTA) has set up a medical advisory group to help them determine whether it will be safe to play the tournament.
The US Open is due to begin at Flushing Meadows in New York on 31 August.
More than 10,000 people have died from coronavirus in the city and lockdown measures have been extended to 15 May.
Nearly three quarters of a million people attended last year's US Open, and when asked if they would play without fans, USTA chief executive Mike Dowse said: "We're not taking anything off the table right now, but to be honest and open, I think that's highly unlikely.
"That's not really in the spirit of the celebration of tennis, and it also goes back to the health and wellbeing of our players and support staff that help run the tournament.
"Unless the medical experts come up with a solution that truly is foolproof and safe, we don't see that as an option."
A tournament behind closed doors still involves several thousand people. The USTA would be able to fulfil its commitment to broadcasters, but would still have to pay the players while missing out on vast revenue from ticket sales, food and drink, and merchandise.
The USTA is still aiming to run the tournament as scheduled, but has previously indicated it may explore the possibility of pushing it back into the autumn.
The French Tennis Federation has already rescheduled Roland Garros to run from 20 September to 4 October, pushing the tournament back four months from its original date of 24 May to 7 June.
While Wimbledon, due to be played between 29 June and 12 July, has been cancelled.
"In one sense we're very fortunate that we are the fourth Grand Slam to go, so time is on our side at this point," Dowse continued.
"The driving factor will be the health and wellbeing of the players, the fans and our staff. And to that, we just don't have enough information if we can run the tournament safely.
"We've set a time frame around June to make that decision, and the way we are approaching it is through a medical advisory group.
"We have five or six doctors consulting with us on a regular basis, and based on that information we will ultimately make the decision if it's safe to play the tournament or not."
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, which stages the US Open every year, is currently operating as a 450-bed hospital for the people of New York.
Dowse says they are also making 25,000 meals a day for health care professionals, and for children who are missing out on school lunches.


bbc--2020-04-16--F1 discusses Austria season start & two races at Silverstone

Formula 1 's latest plan to get the 2020 season off the ground is to hold the Austrian Grand Prix as scheduled followed by two races at Silverstone .
The first nine races have all been postponed as a result of the global coronavirus crisis and F1 is facing a moving target as it seeks a start date .
But the easing of lockdown restrictions in Austria might mean its race could go ahead on 3-5 July behind closed doors .
It could be followed by two races at Silverstone , also without spectators .
The tentative plan was outlined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting on Thursday at which proposals to reduce the sport 's budget cap to $ 130m ( £104.6m ) by 2022 were also discussed .
The proposal to run multiple races at Silverstone is not new - the circuit discussed it with F1 bosses earlier this month .
And any proposal on the calendar depends on external factors , particularly the situation with the spread of coronavirus in each individual country .
F1 bosses have said they do not want to start the season if they can not carry it on .
Austria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European counties to loosen restrictions , allowing thousands of shops to open , although people are still being advised to work from home if possible .
Meanwhile , the UK government announced on Thursday a three-week extension on its social distancing guidelines , as the virus spread has not yet peaked , while France has banned mass gatherings until mid-July .
What about the budget cap talks ?
The meeting broke up without agreement on where to set the budget cap for the next two seasons and beyond , but all sides in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constructive .
The main thrust of discussion was a plan to set a cap of $ 145m ( £116.6m ) next year and lower it to $ 130m in 2022 .
Other proposals on the rules included a sliding scale of allowance for aerodynamic research , with less successful teams allowed more .
That was an idea put forward by the top teams , who presented it as an elegant way to level the field , in a similar fashion to the draft in American football in the US .
In the NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the league are given the first pick of players being promoted from the college game each year .
The idea in F1 would be that the team who finished first in the championship would be allowed to do the least aerodynamic research the following year and the team who finished last the most .
Mercedes , Ferrari and Red Bull had proposed that this should also be linked to the budget cap - so they could spend more money but would be allowed less aerodynamic research .
F1 bosses rejected that idea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but want to push forward with the aerodynamic handicapping system .
Insiders say that it is likely to take several more weeks to come to a final agreement on the level of the budget cap for the next two seasons and beyond .
The discussions have arisen out of an acceptance within F1 that the coronavirus crisis has put the sport in a vulnerable position .
The lack of racing means an inevitable drop in revenue because of the disruption of the sport 's main income streams of race-hosting fees , broadcasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures have already been adopted , including postponing a major regulation change by a year to 2022 and forcing teams to race the same cars next year as this .
Teams have agreed informally to lower the budget cap to $ 150m .
A cap of $ 175m ( £137.9m ) was agreed last autumn and is already in the regulations to be introduced from next season .
Now there is a drive to lower the cap even further , with McLaren arguing that the sport is in `` a very fragile state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could pull out if major changes are not made .
However , Ferrari remain the strongest opponents of lowering of the budget cap below $ 150m .
They say that Italian law imposes strict restrictions on companies making redundancies , that they will already be forced into significant job losses at $ 150m and that to go any lower would be a major problem for them .
They also question the wisdom of lowering the cap further for 2022 , when the new rules mean that there can be no carryover of parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An insider from one of the independent teams said they felt the talks were `` going in the right direction '' and were optimistic of their position prevailing .
But Ferrari continue to emphasise the need to think carefully before taking what they would consider as drastic steps and believe considerably more time should be spent discussion the potential impact of the proposals .

More than 140,000 fans came to Silverstone to watch the British Grand Prix last year
Formula 1's latest plan to get the 2020 season off the ground is to hold the Austrian Grand Prix as scheduled followed by two races at Silverstone.
The first nine races have all been postponed as a result of the global coronavirus crisis and F1 is facing a moving target as it seeks a start date.
But the easing of lockdown restrictions in Austria might mean its race could go ahead on 3-5 July behind closed doors.
It could be followed by two races at Silverstone, also without spectators.
The tentative plan was outlined to teams by F1 bosses at a meeting on Thursday at which proposals to reduce the sport's budget cap to $130m (£104.6m) by 2022 were also discussed.
The proposal to run multiple races at Silverstone is not new - the circuit discussed it with F1 bosses earlier this month.
And any proposal on the calendar depends on external factors, particularly the situation with the spread of coronavirus in each individual country.
F1 bosses have said they do not want to start the season if they cannot carry it on.
Austria this week became one of the first European counties to loosen restrictions, allowing thousands of shops to open, although people are still being advised to work from home if possible.
Meanwhile, the UK government announced on Thursday a three-week extension on its social distancing guidelines, as the virus spread has not yet peaked, while France has banned mass gatherings until mid-July.
Mattia Binotto, left, took over as Ferrari team principal at the start of 2019
What about the budget cap talks?
The meeting broke up without agreement on where to set the budget cap for the next two seasons and beyond, but all sides in the debate described it as positive and constructive.
The main thrust of discussion was a plan to set a cap of $145m (£116.6m) next year and lower it to $130m in 2022.
Other proposals on the rules included a sliding scale of allowance for aerodynamic research, with less successful teams allowed more.
That was an idea put forward by the top teams, who presented it as an elegant way to level the field, in a similar fashion to the draft in American football in the US.
In the NFL, the teams at the bottom of the league are given the first pick of players being promoted from the college game each year.
The idea in F1 would be that the team who finished first in the championship would be allowed to do the least aerodynamic research the following year and the team who finished last the most.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull had proposed that this should also be linked to the budget cap - so they could spend more money but would be allowed less aerodynamic research.
F1 bosses rejected that idea, preferring a single cap for all teams, but want to push forward with the aerodynamic handicapping system.
Insiders say that it is likely to take several more weeks to come to a final agreement on the level of the budget cap for the next two seasons and beyond.
The discussions have arisen out of an acceptance within F1 that the coronavirus crisis has put the sport in a vulnerable position.
The lack of racing means an inevitable drop in revenue because of the disruption of the sport's main income streams of race-hosting fees, broadcasting rights and sponsorship.
A number of measures have already been adopted, including postponing a major regulation change by a year to 2022 and forcing teams to race the same cars next year as this.
Teams have agreed informally to lower the budget cap to $150m. A cap of $175m (£137.9m) was agreed last autumn and is already in the regulations to be introduced from next season.
Now there is a drive to lower the cap even further, with McLaren arguing that the sport is in "a very fragile state" and that up to four teams could pull out if major changes are not made.
However, Ferrari remain the strongest opponents of lowering of the budget cap below $150m.
They say that Italian law imposes strict restrictions on companies making redundancies, that they will already be forced into significant job losses at $150m and that to go any lower would be a major problem for them.
They also question the wisdom of lowering the cap further for 2022, when the new rules mean that there can be no carryover of parts, so costs will inevitably rise.
An insider from one of the independent teams said they felt the talks were "going in the right direction" and were optimistic of their position prevailing.
But Ferrari continue to emphasise the need to think carefully before taking what they would consider as drastic steps and believe considerably more time should be spent discussion the potential impact of the proposals.


bbc--2020-04-16--PGA Tour plans to resume behind closed doors in June

The PGA Tour has announced plans to resume in June with the first four tournaments played behind closed doors .
The Tour has been suspended since 12 March because of the global coronavirus pandemic that has halted all golf .
The Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas is scheduled to be the first tournament back on 11-14 June .
“ Our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world ’ s return to enjoying the things we love , ” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan .
• The Open cancelled ; Masters , US Open & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been severely disrupted because of the Covid-19 outbreak , with The Open Championship cancelled and the three other men 's majors rescheduled .
The RBC Heritage is due to be the second tournament back from 18-21 June - the original dates for the US Open , which has been moved to September .
The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands is next from 25-28 June , followed by the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit GC from 2-5 July .
The Memorial Tournament , originally scheduled for 4-7 June , will now take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the 149th Open Championship was due to be held at Royal St George 's in Kent .
The PGA Tour statement added : `` At this time , the Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market .
`` As such , the Tour will continually review available Covid-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all involved . ''
In what could be a confusing summer and autumn , the PGA Tour will end its 2019-20 season and start the next one , with two of this year 's men 's majors still to be played .
The reorganised calendar will see the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational take place at the end of July , a week before the first men 's major of the year , the PGA Championship ( 6-9 August ) .
The final two weeks in August will see the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup Play-offs , with the season-ending Tour Championship taking place from 4-7 September .
The 2020-21 season starts the following week , but the US Open slots in from 17-20 September with the biennial Ryder Cup between the US and Europe the following week as originally scheduled , and the delayed Masters slated for 12-15 November .
Despite the announcement , Monahan insists the tournaments will only go ahead if it is deemed safe to do so by the authorities .
“ Today ’ s announcement is another positive step for our fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future , '' he said .
`` But as we ’ ve stressed on several occasions , we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments , partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities .
”

The PGA Tour was suspended after day one of the Players Championship on 12 March because of the coronavirus pandemic
The PGA Tour has announced plans to resume in June with the first four tournaments played behind closed doors.
The Tour has been suspended since 12 March because of the global coronavirus pandemic that has halted all golf.
The Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas is scheduled to be the first tournament back on 11-14 June.
“Our hope is to play a role – responsibly – in the world’s return to enjoying the things we love,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
The golfing calendar has been severely disrupted because of the Covid-19 outbreak, with The Open Championship cancelled and the three other men's majors rescheduled.
The RBC Heritage is due to be the second tournament back from 18-21 June - the original dates for the US Open, which has been moved to September.
The Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands is next from 25-28 June, followed by the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit GC from 2-5 July.
The Memorial Tournament, originally scheduled for 4-7 June, will now take place from 16-19 July, which is when the 149th Open Championship was due to be held at Royal St George's in Kent.
The PGA Tour statement added: "At this time, the Tour plans to resume play with the first four events closed to the general public but will continue to monitor the situation and follow the recommendations of local and state authorities in order to determine the most appropriate on-site access in each market.
"As such, the Tour will continually review available Covid-19-related protocols that could be implemented at PGA Tour events to ensure the health and well-being for all involved."
In what could be a confusing summer and autumn, the PGA Tour will end its 2019-20 season and start the next one, with two of this year's men's majors still to be played.
The reorganised calendar will see the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational take place at the end of July, a week before the first men's major of the year, the PGA Championship (6-9 August).
The final two weeks in August will see the start of the three events that make up the FedEx Cup Play-offs, with the season-ending Tour Championship taking place from 4-7 September.
The 2020-21 season starts the following week, but the US Open slots in from 17-20 September with the biennial Ryder Cup between the US and Europe the following week as originally scheduled, and the delayed Masters slated for 12-15 November.
Despite the announcement, Monahan insists the tournaments will only go ahead if it is deemed safe to do so by the authorities.
“Today’s announcement is another positive step for our fans and players as we look toward the future," he said.
"But as we’ve stressed on several occasions, we will resume competition only when – working closely with our tournaments, partners and communities – it is considered safe to do so under the guidance of the leading public health authorities.”


bbc--2020-04-16--No fair-minded person can take SPFL season-ending vote seriously, say Rangers

Rangers say `` no fair-minded person '' can take the SPFL 's vote to curtail the lower leagues in Scotland seriously .
The Ibrox club voted against the plans , and tabled their own resolution , which was dismissed by the league .
Rangers repeated their call for an independent investigation and the suspension of the SPFL 's chief executive Neil Doncaster .
`` The SPFL has conducted a process which has been misleading and deeply flawed , '' a statement said .
`` No fair-minded person can take the outcome of this vote seriously . ''
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The league 's plans were passed when Dundee belatedly changed their decisive vote to back an early end to the lower divisions .
It means Dundee United , Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have all been named champions of the Championship , League One and League Two , respectively .
Partick Thistle , bottom of the Championship by two points but with a game in hand and Stranraer , League One 's bottom side by eight points , have dropped down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of the top flight , four points behind Hamilton Academical , are in danger of relegation too , should the Premiership season also be called with eight rounds of fixtures remaining .
The resolution - which was backed by 81 % of the 42 clubs - gave the SPFL board the power to `` call '' the top flight if it deemed the season could not be completed .
Celtic are 13 points ahead of Rangers , who have a game in hand , while Motherwell are third , 21 points further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled out legal action , but Rangers say they `` continue to examine all legal options available '' .
`` It is imperative that constructive engagement begins immediately with members to evaluate all options for completing the 2019-20 Premiership season , including on the field of play , '' Rangers added .
`` The SPFL must allow every opportunity to do so .
There is precedent within Scottish football that a league must not be compromised by changing the rules during the course of the competition . ''
Rangers have repeated their concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of clubs into back the proposal and again called for Doncaster and the league 's legal adviser Rod McKenzie to be removed while an investigation was launched .
Earlier on Thursday , manager Steven Gerrard described the situation as `` a mess '' and the club say the league chose to `` obstruct '' their proposal to forward money to struggling clubs without curtailing the season .
`` The fact that this solution was not afforded sufficient consideration defies belief and further underlines the view held by many clubs that the processes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the subject of forensic examination , '' the club added .
In response , the SPFL says Rangers are yet to produce evidence to back up their claims , and believes it has acted `` wholly properly '' at every stage of the process .

Last updated on .From the section Rangers
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson is one of the club representatives on the SPFL
Rangers say "no fair-minded person" can take the SPFL's vote to curtail the lower leagues in Scotland seriously.
The Ibrox club voted against the plans, and tabled their own resolution, which was dismissed by the league.
Rangers repeated their call for an independent investigation and the suspension of the SPFL's chief executive Neil Doncaster.
"The SPFL has conducted a process which has been misleading and deeply flawed," a statement said. external-link
"No fair-minded person can take the outcome of this vote seriously."
The league's plans were passed when Dundee belatedly changed their decisive vote to back an early end to the lower divisions.
It means Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have all been named champions of the Championship, League One and League Two, respectively.
Partick Thistle, bottom of the Championship by two points but with a game in hand and Stranraer, League One's bottom side by eight points, have dropped down a division.
'Examine all legal options available'
Hearts, who sit bottom of the top flight, four points behind Hamilton Academical, are in danger of relegation too, should the Premiership season also be called with eight rounds of fixtures remaining.
The resolution - which was backed by 81% of the 42 clubs - gave the SPFL board the power to "call" the top flight if it deemed the season could not be completed. Celtic are 13 points ahead of Rangers, who have a game in hand, while Motherwell are third, 21 points further back.
Partick Thistle and Stranraer have ruled out legal action, but Rangers say they "continue to examine all legal options available".
"It is imperative that constructive engagement begins immediately with members to evaluate all options for completing the 2019-20 Premiership season, including on the field of play," Rangers added.
"The SPFL must allow every opportunity to do so. There is precedent within Scottish football that a league must not be compromised by changing the rules during the course of the competition."
Rangers have called for SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster to be suspended
Rangers have repeated their concerns about "bullying" and "coercion" of clubs into back the proposal and again called for Doncaster and the league's legal adviser Rod McKenzie to be removed while an investigation was launched.
Earlier on Thursday, manager Steven Gerrard described the situation as "a mess" and the club say the league chose to "obstruct" their proposal to forward money to struggling clubs without curtailing the season.
"The fact that this solution was not afforded sufficient consideration defies belief and further underlines the view held by many clubs that the processes and behaviours of certain individuals must now be the subject of forensic examination," the club added.
In response, the SPFL says Rangers are yet to produce evidence to back up their claims, and believes it has acted "wholly properly" at every stage of the process.


bbc--2020-04-16--Gossip: Man Utd lead chase for Bellingham, Everton consider Grealish move

Manchester United are the leading contenders to sign Birmingham 's 16-year-old English midfielder Jude Bellingham in a deal worth an initial£35m .
Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund are also chasing Bellingham .
( Sun ) The agent of Real Madrid and Colombia forward James Rodriguez , 28 , has contacted Manchester United over a possible move in the summer .
( Sport via Metro ) Everton could move for Aston Villa 's English midfielder Jack Grealish , 24 , but only if they secure a number of top targets .
The Blues are primarily interested in Gremio and Brazil forward Everton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Everton have also made progress in their pursuit of Lille 's Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes .
Chelsea and Arsenal were also interested in the 22-year-old .
( Guardian ) Additionally , Everton want to sign Lazio and Italy striker Ciro Immobile , 30 - and have offered his compatriot , 20-year-old Moise Kean , as part of a swap deal ( Teamtalk ) Liverpool are in talks to bring Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic , 27 , to the club .
( Libero via Express ) Real Madrid are set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the club .
The Serb striker , 22 , has played just one full match for Real this season .
( Sport via Sun ) Celtic have approached Manchester City about re-signing English winger Patrick Roberts for £3m .
The 23-year-old , on loan at Middlesbrough , previously spent two seasons on loan at Celtic .
( Teamtalk ) Barcelona are counting on Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho for next season , says coach Quique Setien .
The 27-year-old , on loan at Bayern Munich , has been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chiesa could leave Fiorentina for the right price , says the club president .
Manchester United , Juventus and Inter Milan are all interested in the 22-year-old .
( Sky Italia - in Italian ) RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano has been urged to remain at the club by German legend Lothar Matthaus .
The Frenchman , 21 , is a target for Arsenal and Manchester United .
( Evening Standard ) Barcelona right-back Nelsom Semedo has halted talks with the club over a new contract .
The Portuguese , 26 , wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing .
( Sport - in Spanish ) Arsenal players are close to agreeing pay cuts of up to 12.5 % a month to help cover the cost of the coronavirus pandemic .
( The Athletic - subscription required ) Amazon are interested in becoming the main sponsors of Tottenham ’ s new stadium .
( Mail ) Goalkeeper Loris Karius says he received death threats after his mistakes for Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2018 .
The German , 26 , is on loan from Anfield to Besiktas until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - in German ) Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has returned to the club in an informal ambassadorial role .
( Manchester Evening News )

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Real Madrid are best placed to sign Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland, 19, from Borussia Dortmund, but the Bundesliga side do not want to sell him until 2022. (AS - in Spanish) external-link
Tottenham Hotspur have approached former manager Mauricio Pochettino to take a wage reduction on his £8.5m salary to help ease the club's financial concerns. The Argentine was sacked in November and is currently on gardening leave. (Mail) external-link
Manchester United are the leading contenders to sign Birmingham's 16-year-old English midfielder Jude Bellingham in a deal worth an initial £35m. Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund are also chasing Bellingham. (Sun) external-link
The agent of Real Madrid and Colombia forward James Rodriguez, 28, has contacted Manchester United over a possible move in the summer. (Sport via Metro) external-link
Bayern Munich are hoping to sign Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, 24, for £61m this summer. The Germany international is approaching the last 12 months of his contract at the Premier League side. (Sun) external-link
A new book about Jose Mourinho reveals that the Portuguese had an agreement to join Liverpool from Porto in 2004 only for Chelsea to come in with a bigger offer. (ESPN) external-link
Everton could move for Aston Villa's English midfielder Jack Grealish, 24, but only if they secure a number of top targets. The Blues are primarily interested in Gremio and Brazil forward Everton Soares, 24. (Sky Sports) external-link
Take our bumper football quiz Name all Premier League players in a PFA team of the year...
Everton have also made progress in their pursuit of Lille's Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes. Chelsea and Arsenal were also interested in the 22-year-old. (Guardian) external-link
Everton want to sign Lazio and Italy striker Ciro Immobile, 30, and have offered compatriot Moise Kean 20, as part of a swap deal (Teamtalk) external-link
Liverpool are in talks to bring Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 27, to the club. (Libero via Express) external-link
Real Madrid are set to keep Arsenal target Luka Jovic at the club. The Serbia striker, 22, has played only one full game for Real this season. (Sport via Sun) external-link
Celtic have approached Manchester City about re-signing English winger Patrick Roberts for £3m. The 23-year-old, on loan at Middlesbrough, previously spent two seasons on loan at Celtic. (Teamtalk) external-link
Barcelona are counting on Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho for next season, says coach Quique Setien. The 27-year-old, on loan at Bayern Munich, has been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham. (Evening Standard) external-link
Italy winger Federico Chiesa could leave Fiorentina for the right price, says the club president. Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan are interested in the 22-year-old. (Sky Italia - in Italian) external-link
RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano has been urged to remain at the club by Germany legend Lothar Matthaus. The Frenchman, 21, is a target for Arsenal and Manchester United. (Evening Standard) external-link
Barcelona right-back Nelsom Semedo has halted talks with the club over a new contract. The Portugal international, 26, wants a guarantee of regular playing time before signing. (Sport - in Spanish) external-link
Arsenal players are close to agreeing pay cuts of up to 12.5% a month to help cover the cost of the coronavirus pandemic. (The Athletic - subscription required) external-link
Amazon are interested in becoming the main sponsors of Tottenham's new stadium. (Mail) external-link
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius says he received death threats after his mistakes in the Champions League final in 2018. The German, 26, is on loan at Turkish side Besiktas until the end of the season. (Bild - in German) external-link


bbc--2020-04-16--Coronavirus lockdown: Lessons from Hokkaido's second wave of infections

It was once seen as something of a success story - a region that worked to contain , trace and isolate the virus - leading to a huge drop in numbers .
But Hokkaido is in the spotlight again as it struggles to deal with a second wave of infections .
In late February , Hokkaido became the first place in Japan to declare a state of emergency due to Covid-19 .
Schools were closed , large-scale gatherings cancelled and people `` encouraged '' to stay at home .
The local government pursued the virus with determination - aggressively tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with victims .
The policy worked and by mid-March the number of new cases had fallen back to one or two a day .
On 19 March the state of emergency was lifted , and at the beginning of April , schools re-opened .
But now , just 26 days after the state of emergency was lifted , a new one has had to be imposed .
Hokkaido has acted independently of the central government , which placed Tokyo , Osaka and five other prefectures under a state of emergency last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday .
In the last week , Hokkaido has recorded 135 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 .
Unlike the first outbreak in February , there is no evidence the virus has been re-imported from outside Japan .
None of the new cases are foreigners , nor have any of those infected travelled outside Japan in the last month .
What does this tell us about how the virus outbreak was handled in Hokkaido ?
Firstly , if you get on top of it really early , you can get it under control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackle clusters , to contact trace and isolate , '' says Professor Kenji Shibuya of King 's College London .
`` The authorities were quite successful in their cluster control approach .
Japan was in the very early phase of the outbreak back then .
It was localised and it was a success story . ''
In this respect , Hokkaido has some similarity to what happened in the South Korean city of Daegu .
There , a large outbreak in a religious cult was aggressively traced .
Those infected were isolated and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second lesson from Hokkaido is much less reassuring .
After the Daegu outbreak , the South Korean government began a massive testing program to try and track the epidemic .
Japan has done the opposite .
Even now , more than three months after Japan recorded its first case , it is still only testing a tiny percentage of the population .
Initially , the government said it was because large-scale testing was a `` waste of resources '' .
It 's now had to change its tune a bit and says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons appear to have slowed it down .
Firstly , Japan 's health ministry fears that hospitals will be overwhelmed by people who test positive - but only have minor symptoms .
And on a wider scale , the testing is the responsibility of local health centres and not on a national government level .
Some of these local centres are simply not equipped with the staff or the equipment to deal with testing on a major scale .
Local hotlines have been overwhelmed and even getting a referral from a doctor is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons mean authorities in Japan do n't have a clear idea of how the virus is moving through the population , says Prof Shibuya .
`` We are in the middle of an explosive phase of the outbreak , '' he said .
`` The major lesson to take from Hokkaido is that even if you are successful in the containment the first time around , it 's difficult to isolate and maintain the containment for a long period .
Unless you expand the testing capacity , it 's difficult to identify community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third lesson is that this `` new reality '' is going to go on a lot longer than most people expect .
Hokkaido has now had to re-impose the restrictions , though Japan 's version of a Covid-19 `` lockdown '' is a rather softer than those imposed elsewhere .
Most people are still going to work .
Schools may be closed , but shops and even bars remain open .
Prof Shibuya thinks without tougher measures Japan has little hope of controlling this so called `` second wave '' of infections now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but across the country .
`` The key lesson '' he says `` is even if you are successful in containment locally but there is transmission going on in other parts of the country , as long as people are moving around , it 's difficult to maintain a virus-free status '' .
Even so , the economy in Hokkaido is already hurting badly .
The island is hugely dependent on tourism , and Japan has banned travel from the US and Europe and most countries in Asia .
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• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health A friend who owns a bar in the city of Chitose has been forced to shut it down and lay off his staff .
Further north in the city of Asahikawa , Naoki Tamura told us his bar is still open but there are now almost no customers .
`` One or two come by each night , '' he says .
`` There used to be many tourists from China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone .
We do n't hear any foreign language spoken on the street now .
Smaller lodging places are having to shut down .
Tourism businesses are really struggling . ''
The new state of emergency is officially due to finish on 6 May , the end of Japan 's `` Golden Week '' holiday .
But one local government official working on epidemic suppression in Hokkaido told us they may now have to keep measures in place for much longer .
`` We feel we have to keep on doing the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The goal is to minimise contact between people to stop the spread of the virus . ''
So how long does that mean ?
`` Till we find a vaccine , '' he says .
`` We have to keep on trying to stop the expansion . ''

"The major lesson to take from Hokkaido is that even if you are successful in the containment the first time around, it's difficult to isolate and maintain the containment for a long period. Unless you expand the testing capacity, it's difficult to identify community transmission and hospital transmission."