bbc--2020-03-31--Sajid Hussain: Fears for Pakistan journalist missing in Sweden

A Pakistani journalist who fled the country to escape death threats has gone missing in Sweden where he was granted political asylum .
Sajid Hussain was last seen boarding a train in Stockholm on his way to Uppsala on 2 March , according to the group Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) .
The group said it was possible he had been abducted `` at the behest of a Pakistani intelligence agency '' .
Hussain , 39 , fled to Sweden in 2012 after writing about crime .
• Why a media mogul was arrested in Pakistan He had reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan , relatives said .
Why might he have been a target ?
Online newspaper the Balochistan Times , for which Hussain was chief editor , said it had reported his disappearance to Swedish police on 3 March .
`` As of today [ 28 March ] , there is no clue about his whereabouts and wellbeing , '' it said in an editorial .
`` The police have not shared any progress in the investigations with his family and friends . ''
Relatives told the Pakistani newspaper Dawn they had waited two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had gone into isolation because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Hussain 's wife , Shehnaz , told Dawn that before going into self-imposed exile , her husband had sensed he was being followed .
As well as writing about forced disappearances he had exposed a drug kingpin in Pakistan .
“ Then some people broke into his house in Quetta when he was out investigating a story , '' she said .
`` They took away his laptop and other papers too .
After that he left Pakistan in September 2012 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the west of Pakistan , has been the scene of a long-running nationalist insurgency .
The Pakistani military has been accused of torturing and `` disappearing '' dissidents .
Insurgent groups have also killed members of non-Baloch ethnic groups .
RSF , which campaigns for press freedom , said Hussain had vanished after boarding a train in Stockholm at around 11:30 on 2 March to go to Uppsala where he was to collect the keys to a new flat .
He did not alight in Uppsala , RSF said , quoting police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforced disappearance , ” said the head of RSF ’ s Asia-Pacific desk , Daniel Bastard .
`` If you ask yourself who would have an interest in silencing a dissident journalist , the first response would have to be the Pakistani intelligence services . ''
Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist .It ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in the 2019 RSF Press Freedom Index .

“Then some people broke into his house in Quetta when he was out investigating a story," she said. "They took away his laptop and other papers too. After that he left Pakistan in September 2012 and never came back.”


bbc--2020-03-30--Huge crowds as Indian lockdown sparks migration

Streets around the Indian capital Delhi have been filled with people walking to reach their villages in neighbouring states .
@ @ @ @ @ workers who are now out of work after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete @ @ @ @ @ 24 March to halt the spread of coronavirus .
In the absence of money and @ @ @ @ @ to reach their villages .
Some found government-run buses to reach home and others just @ @ @ @ @ BBC 's Vikas Pandey finds out more .

Streets around the Indian capital Delhi have been filled with people walking to reach their villages in neighbouring states.
Most of them are daily-wage workers who are now out of work after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown of the country on 24 March to halt the spread of coronavirus.
In the absence of money and jobs, they are desperate to reach their villages. Some found government-run buses to reach home and others just continued to walk.
The BBC's Vikas Pandey finds out more.
Video edited by Anshul Verma


bbc--2020-03-31--NFL team owners vote to extend play-offs from 2020 season

NFL team owners have voted to add two extra teams to the play-offs , starting from the 2020 season .
@ @ @ @ @ will add a seventh team for the post-season , but only the top seed in @ @ @ @ @ first-round bye instead of the top two .
The new format had needed approval from @ @ @ @ @ owners during a conference call .
It means there will be six matches across wildcard @ @ @ @ @ of four in the previous format .
The second seed will host the seventh seed @ @ @ @ @ host the sixth seed and the fourth seed will host the fifth seed .
It @ @ @ @ @ agreement between the NFL and its players ' union allowed for the play-off expansion to @ @ @ @ @ .
The Kansas City Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champions , after beating the @ @ @ @ @ Miami in February .

Last updated on .From the section American football
NFL team owners have voted to add two extra teams to the play-offs, starting from the 2020 season.
Both the AFC and NFC will add a seventh team for the post-season, but only the top seed in each conference will get a first-round bye instead of the top two.
The new format had needed approval from three-quarters of the 32 NFL owners during a conference call.
It means there will be six matches across wildcard weekend in January 2021 instead of four in the previous format.
The second seed will host the seventh seed, the third seed will host the sixth seed and the fourth seed will host the fifth seed.
It is understood a collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and its players' union allowed for the play-off expansion to be put to a vote.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the reigning Super Bowl champions, after beating the San Fransisco 49ers 31-20 in Miami in February.


bbc--2020-03-31--Paine would 'fully support' Smith captaincy return

Australia Test captain Tim Paine says he would “ fully support ” Steve Smith if the former skipper were to lead the side again .
Paine , 35 , took over the captaincy in March 2018 after Smith was banned from international cricket for his part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa .
Smith , 30 , returned to the side as Australia retained the Ashes against England last summer and his two-year ban on leadership roles within the national side is now over .
“ He ’ s captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and Welsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s something he loves doing , ” Paine said .
`` If Steve Smith decides that 's the way he wants to go then I 'd fully support him in trying to do so again . ''
Since taking over the captaincy , Paine has won 10 Tests , with six losses and one draw .
This includes the recent back-to-back whitewash wins at home , beating Pakistan 2-0 and New Zealand 3-0 .
Smith led the team for 36 Test matches between 2014 and 2018 , with a record of 18 wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On his return to the team , he was named Australia ’ s player of the series in last year ’ s Ashes , scoring 774 runs at an average of 110.57 .
Paine also added that coach Justin Langer and the selectors are “ developing a number of guys that we can choose from ” for when the Test captaincy does become available again .
He mentioned Travis Head and Pat Cummins , who are currently joint vice-captains , and batsman Marnus Labuschagne as possible candidates .
Australia are scheduled to tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although Paine , who was speaking to journalists on a video call from his home in Hobart , conceded the tour could be cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak .
`` You do n't have to be Einstein to realise that it 's probably unlikely , particularly in June , ” he added .

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
As captain, Paine has won 10 Tests, with six losses and one draw
Australia Test captain Tim Paine says he would “fully support” Steve Smith if the former skipper were to lead the side again.
Paine, 35, took over the captaincy in March 2018 after Smith was banned from international cricket for his part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
Smith, 30, returned to the side as Australia retained the Ashes against England last summer and his two-year ban on leadership roles within the national side is now over.
“He’s captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and Welsh Fire in The Hundred; it’s something he loves doing,” Paine said.
"If Steve Smith decides that's the way he wants to go then I'd fully support him in trying to do so again."
Since taking over the captaincy, Paine has won 10 Tests, with six losses and one draw. This includes the recent back-to-back whitewash wins at home, beating Pakistan 2-0 and New Zealand 3-0.
Smith led the team for 36 Test matches between 2014 and 2018, with a record of 18 wins, 10 defeats and six draws.
On his return to the team, he was named Australia’s player of the series in last year’s Ashes, scoring 774 runs at an average of 110.57.
Paine also added that coach Justin Langer and the selectors are “developing a number of guys that we can choose from” for when the Test captaincy does become available again.
He mentioned Travis Head and Pat Cummins, who are currently joint vice-captains, and batsman Marnus Labuschagne as possible candidates.
Australia are scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a two-Test series in June, although Paine, who was speaking to journalists on a video call from his home in Hobart, conceded the tour could be cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
"You don't have to be Einstein to realise that it's probably unlikely, particularly in June,” he added.


bbc--2020-03-31--Spurs chairman Levy issues warning as non-playing staff take pay cut

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said `` people need to wake up to the enormity '' of the coronavirus pandemic as the club announced 550 non-playing staff will take a 20 % pay cut .
Levy , who earned £7m last year - £4m in wages plus £3m for the completion of Tottenham 's stadium move - is among the non-playing directors and employees at the club who will take a cut in salary , initially for April and May .
The club will also use the government 's furlough scheme in an attempt to `` protect jobs '' .
Spurs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through his investment firm Tavistock .
According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019 , the 83-year-old has a net worth of £4.358bn .
Levy added : `` The crushing devastation on industries in many countries , the interdependence of international trade and travel in every aspect of our daily life is only now beginning to be felt .
`` Every person on this planet will be affected and in my lifetime I can not think of something so impactful .
With over 786,000 infected , nearly 38,000 deaths and large segments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to realise that football can not operate in a bubble .
`` We may be the eighth largest club in the world by revenue , according to the Deloitte survey , but all that historical data is totally irrelevant as this virus has no boundaries . ''
Levy said Spurs would `` continue to review '' their position .
`` We hope the current discussions between the Premier League , PFA and LMA will result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football eco system .
`` I have no doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life will take some time to get back to normal . ''
On Monday , Newcastle United became the first Premier League club to put non-playing staff on leave .
A number of other football clubs have taken steps to reduce their costs .
Hearts were the first Scottish Premiership side to ask staff to take a salary reduction of 50 % and on Tuesday Celtic manager Neil Lennon said wage cuts were a possibility .
Elsewhere in Europe , Barcelona players are taking a 70 % pay cut and will make additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wages .
Juventus players and manager Maurizio Sarri agreed to freeze their pay for four months , while German sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund , have also agreed to take pay cuts .

Last updated on .From the section Football
Tottenham Hotspur opened their new stadium last year
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said "people need to wake up to the enormity" of the coronavirus pandemic as the club announced 550 non-playing staff will take a 20% pay cut.
Levy, who earned £7m last year - £4m in wages plus £3m for the completion of Tottenham's stadium move - is among the non-playing directors and employees at the club who will take a cut in salary, initially for April and May.
The club will also use the government's furlough scheme in an attempt to "protect jobs".
Spurs are owned by billionaire Joe Lewis, through his investment firm Tavistock. According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019 external-link , the 83-year-old has a net worth of £4.358bn.
Levy added: "The crushing devastation on industries in many countries, the interdependence of international trade and travel in every aspect of our daily life is only now beginning to be felt.
"Every person on this planet will be affected and in my lifetime I cannot think of something so impactful. With over 786,000 infected, nearly 38,000 deaths and large segments of the world in lockdown we need to realise that football cannot operate in a bubble.
"We may be the eighth largest club in the world by revenue, according to the Deloitte survey, but all that historical data is totally irrelevant as this virus has no boundaries."
Chair of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee Julian Knight said the decision "exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vacuum at its centre".
"It sticks in the throat that clubs are continuing to pay their stars hundreds of thousands a week while furloughing staff on a few hundred pounds a week."
Levy said Spurs would "continue to review" their position.
"We hope the current discussions between the Premier League, PFA and LMA will result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football eco system.
"I have no doubt we will get through this crisis but life will take some time to get back to normal."
On Monday, Newcastle United became the first Premier League club to put non-playing staff on leave.
A number of other football clubs have taken steps to reduce their costs.
Hearts were the first Scottish Premiership side to ask staff to take a salary reduction of 50% and on Tuesday Celtic manager Neil Lennon said wage cuts were a possibility.
Elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona players are taking a 70% pay cut and will make additional contributions to ensure non-sporting staff receive full wages.
Juventus players and manager Maurizio Sarri agreed to freeze their pay for four months, while German sides Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, have also agreed to take pay cuts.


bbc--2020-03-31--Red Bull boss on ventilators, coronavirus 'camps' & F1 regulations delay to 2023

Formula 1 is on shut down as a result of the coronavirus crisis , but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he 's `` busier than ever - there 's a lot going on at the moment '' .
With the first eight races all called off , and more likely to follow , F1 has brought forward its summer break so as to be in the best state possible whenever racing can start up again .
Meanwhile , the UK-based teams have turned their attentions to helping out with the supply of medical equipment , and team bosses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks about how best to secure the future of the sport in the midst of a crisis that he says is far more critical than the 2008 financial crash .
In a wide-ranging interview , the first by a team boss during the sport 's enforced hiatus , Horner discusses : • The project to supply ventilators to the NHS ; • Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko 's controversial remarks about wanting his drivers to catch coronavirus ; • Plans to postpone the radical 2021 regulations even further ; • Plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engine .
As has been widely reported , the UK-based F1 teams have responded to the government 's call for industries to help boost the supply of critical care equipment to help the NHS deal with the influx of coronavirus patients .
There are three work streams on various types of equipment , and the work is being co-ordinated by F1 under their chief technical officer Pat Symonds .
Horner says the response from engineers and manufacturing staff to help with what is known as 'Project Pitlane ' has been `` overwhelming '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our chief designer , he has done a couple of all-nighters on this coming up with engineering solutions to issues they 've encountered , '' Horner says .
`` The key thing is getting these systems out there as quickly as possible .
`` F1 's ability to problem-solve is second to none and our ability to make rapid prototype parts is again second to none .
`` So not just our team but all the teams have responded in a phenomenal way .
I can only judge what 's going on in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the engineering team and R & D and manufacturing have put into this have been exemplary . ''
The teams are unable to share many details of their work because the project is run by the government but Horner says : `` Basically , we 've been using the engineering skill of the relevant people to problem solve and knock out a few rapid prototypes and get it to the point of sign-off . ''
Helmut Marko caused quite a stir on Monday when comments he had made to Austrian television on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-hand man of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz and the person who picks the drivers across the senior team and junior squad Alpha Tauri , volunteered that he had proposed all Red Bull 's drivers attend a fitness camp where - ideally , in Marko 's view - they would catch coronavirus so they would be fit and healthy whenever the season can re-start .
As Red Bull 's team boss , Horner was , it is fair to say , somewhat caught off guard by Marko 's remarks .
Now , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when he raised it , it was n't received with support from within Red Bull .
It was in many ways a throwaway comment before understanding the seriousness of the pandemic .
`` Red Bull , yes , they have many athletes but the focus regarding all the actions that are going on at the moment is that this can affect young people , old people , vulnerable people .
It is not a limited sector this applies to .
So things like the ventilator project we are working on demonstrate how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much effort 's going behind it .
`` Helmut 's comments were made before understanding the severity .
It has never been discussed or tabled as a serious suggestion . ''
How teams are handling the virus lockdown Other than those working on the ventilator projects , all F1 staff whose work relates to car performance are on an enforced break at the moment .
This normally happens in the summer , but the teams agreed with governing body the FIA to do it now so that F1 is able to cram in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on global travel are eased .
The 2020 season could well , as a result , extend into January next year , before the 2021 championship starts up again in March .
Teams can choose when , before the end of April , to take their three-week shut down , and Red Bull 's began on Friday .
In theory , it ends on 20 April , but Horner says he expects that to change .
`` There will be a discussion during the break weekly , and I can only see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I can see it being extended to the end of April , beginning of May and then reviewed again .
There will be a discussion among the team principals , FIA and FOM in the next few days . ''
In this period , the teams are also not doing any design and development work on their cars , and this , too , is likely to continue .
`` It 's the only fair way of dealing with it , '' Horner says .
`` It 's a competition at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right and logical at the moment is everybody abide by the same rules and the shut down , incorporate FIA conditions to it , until the teams are in a position to go back to work . ''
As for paying staff , Horner says : `` Obviously , we 're looking at what the government have communicated .
All the teams again , all the HR managers between the teams are talking so there is as much consistency as possible .
`` It 's very positive the teams are communicating in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me very much of the 2008 financial crisis but this goes way beyond that . ''
No races means reduced income , although exactly how much teams will lose ca n't be known because of the huge uncertainties involved .
F1 's three main income streams of race-hosting fees , broadcast rights and sponsorship are all going to take a hit , so it 's easy to look at this crisis and be pessimistic about the future of the sport .
But Horner believes F1 will pull through .
`` F1 is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous heritage , '' he says .
`` F1 will survive this .
Whether all the teams survive this is another matter , and it is the responsibility of all the team principals to act with the interests of the sport and all its participants ( in mind ) , to do our best to ensure all 10 teams come out the other side .
`` The difference in 2008 was we were still racing , there was still a calendar , there were still events .
You could see the issue more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blind , '' Horner says .
`` When will we start racing again ?
It 's a different scenario .
2008 had its pressures and the people in the room at that time - Ron Dennis , Flavio Briatore and so on - were thinking about the interests of the sport and it is crucial we do that collectively at this time .
`` The world is a different place at the moment .
Of course revenue is hit very hard .
We do n't know how hard it will hit F1 yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacting responsibly and collectively .
Obviously some teams are more exposed than others , particularly the small ones , and it 's important that we try our best to protect the F1 community as best we can . ''
F1 has been owned since early 2017 by US group Liberty Media and as a business is leveraged quite extensively with debt , but Horner says he believes this is not a major concern .
`` To be honest , the Liberty structure is quite complicated and you can only imagine that Live Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hit on the events business , '' he says .
`` But they have deep pockets as well .
And they have always taken a long-term view on this .
I think they will do whatever is needed to ensure the sport continues . ''
More rule changes on the way Back in 2008 , F1 responded to the financial crash by introducing a series of measures that controlled costs .
The same is going on now .
It has already been agreed to delay the major rule changes that were planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of making the racing closer , until 2022 , and racing in 2021 with this season 's cars .
And Horner says the new rules are now likely be deferred by a further year until 2023 .
`` The most fundamental and important thing is taking away the necessity to spend in order to be competitive , '' he says .
`` So , freezing parts of the car .
The monocoque 's already agreed .
We 're looking at front suspension , uprights , wheels , all the associated parts for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the car other than its aerodynamic surfaces and that being frozen for this year and next year .
`` We 're also talking about pushing back a further year the new regulations , because in my mind it would be totally irresponsible to have the burden of development costs in 2021 .
`` There seems to be reasonable agreement but it needs ratifying by the FIA to push back those development costs into 2022 for introduction in the '23 season .
`` The most important thing we need now is stability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that whenever you introduce change you introduce cost , and stability right now and locking down as much of the car as possible is the most responsible way to drive those cost drivers down . ''
There is also talk of lowering the budget cap that is due to come into force next year at $ 150m , but Horner says he believes this is not as important as other issues .
`` There is positive and healthy discussion going on among all the teams to be responsible .
And it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cap is a ceiling .
It is almost secondary as far as I 'm concerned , it is reducing the cost in order to go racing .
With , let 's say , 60 % of the chassis frozen for the next 18 months , that will have a dramatic effect on reducing the operational costs of a Grand Prix team , whether that be for Red Bull or Williams . ''
Getting through the coronavirus crisis has become the overwhelming priority for everyone in F1 , but that does not mean people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been put on the back burner for now is the controversy over the confidential settlement reached by Ferrari and the FIA after an investigation into the Italian team 's engine last year .
Mercedes have backed away from that topic , leaving Red Bull leading the group of teams demanding more clarity over what was in that settlement .
Horner says that once the coronavirus situation is under control , he will be going back to FIA president Jean Todt looking for answers .
`` At the moment that is secondary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horner says .
`` We want to deal with everything I 've just discussed and then that will be picked up and addressed at a later date .
`` We have raised some questions to the FIA .
What I would say is that a confidential agreement regarding the technical compliance of a competitor 's car is obviously something that raises questions .
And I 'm sure at the relevant time we will have a conversation with Jean to try to understand why and what that agreement consists of . ''

Christian Horner has been Red Bull team principal since 2005
Formula 1 is on shut down as a result of the coronavirus crisis, but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he's "busier than ever - there's a lot going on at the moment".
With the first eight races all called off, and more likely to follow, F1 has brought forward its summer break so as to be in the best state possible whenever racing can start up again.
Meanwhile, the UK-based teams have turned their attentions to helping out with the supply of medical equipment, and team bosses such as Horner are engaged in serious talks about how best to secure the future of the sport in the midst of a crisis that he says is far more critical than the 2008 financial crash.
In a wide-ranging interview, the first by a team boss during the sport's enforced hiatus, Horner discusses:
The project to supply ventilators to the NHS;
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko's controversial remarks about wanting his drivers to catch coronavirus;
Plans to postpone the radical 2021 regulations even further;
Talks on safeguarding F1;
Plans to revisit the controversy over Ferrari's 2019 engine.
F1 teams are working with the UK government to try to develop new and existing ventilators
F1's ventilator plan
As has been widely reported, the UK-based F1 teams have responded to the government's call for industries to help boost the supply of critical care equipment to help the NHS deal with the influx of coronavirus patients.
There are three work streams on various types of equipment, and the work is being co-ordinated by F1 under their chief technical officer Pat Symonds.
Horner says the response from engineers and manufacturing staff to help with what is known as 'Project Pitlane' has been "overwhelming".
"People like Rob Marshall, our chief designer, he has done a couple of all-nighters on this coming up with engineering solutions to issues they've encountered," Horner says.
"The key thing is getting these systems out there as quickly as possible.
"F1's ability to problem-solve is second to none and our ability to make rapid prototype parts is again second to none.
"So not just our team but all the teams have responded in a phenomenal way. I can only judge what's going on in our our facility, and the efforts that the engineering team and R&D and manufacturing have put into this have been exemplary."
The teams are unable to share many details of their work because the project is run by the government but Horner says: "Basically, we've been using the engineering skill of the relevant people to problem solve and knock out a few rapid prototypes and get it to the point of sign-off."
"A coffee shop that only sells tea? Are you sure that's a good idea, Helmut?"
Those Marko comments
Helmut Marko caused quite a stir on Monday when comments he had made to Austrian television on Sunday night emerged.
Marko, the right-hand man of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz and the person who picks the drivers across the senior team and junior squad Alpha Tauri, volunteered that he had proposed all Red Bull's drivers attend a fitness camp where - ideally, in Marko's view - they would catch coronavirus so they would be fit and healthy whenever the season can re-start.
As Red Bull's team boss, Horner was, it is fair to say, somewhat caught off guard by Marko's remarks.
Now, he says: "As Helmut pointed out, when he raised it, it wasn't received with support from within Red Bull. It was in many ways a throwaway comment before understanding the seriousness of the pandemic.
"Red Bull, yes, they have many athletes but the focus regarding all the actions that are going on at the moment is that this can affect young people, old people, vulnerable people. It is not a limited sector this applies to. So things like the ventilator project we are working on demonstrate how seriously we are taking this and how much effort's going behind it.
"Helmut's comments were made before understanding the severity. It has never been discussed or tabled as a serious suggestion."
Working from home: Horner thinks F1 teams' factories will stay closed for longer
How teams are handling the virus lockdown
Other than those working on the ventilator projects, all F1 staff whose work relates to car performance are on an enforced break at the moment.
This normally happens in the summer, but the teams agreed with governing body the FIA to do it now so that F1 is able to cram in as many races as possible once restrictions on global travel are eased. The 2020 season could well, as a result, extend into January next year, before the 2021 championship starts up again in March.
Teams can choose when, before the end of April, to take their three-week shut down, and Red Bull's began on Friday. In theory, it ends on 20 April, but Horner says he expects that to change.
"There will be a discussion during the break weekly, and I can only see it being extended," he says. "I can see it being extended to the end of April, beginning of May and then reviewed again. There will be a discussion among the team principals, FIA and FOM in the next few days."
In this period, the teams are also not doing any design and development work on their cars, and this, too, is likely to continue.
"It's the only fair way of dealing with it," Horner says. "It's a competition at the end of the day. What's right and logical at the moment is everybody abide by the same rules and the shut down, incorporate FIA conditions to it, until the teams are in a position to go back to work."
As for paying staff, Horner says: "Obviously, we're looking at what the government have communicated. All the teams again, all the HR managers between the teams are talking so there is as much consistency as possible.
"It's very positive the teams are communicating in a positive and proactive manner. It reminds me very much of the 2008 financial crisis but this goes way beyond that."
Is F1 under threat?
No races means reduced income, although exactly how much teams will lose can't be known because of the huge uncertainties involved.
F1's three main income streams of race-hosting fees, broadcast rights and sponsorship are all going to take a hit, so it's easy to look at this crisis and be pessimistic about the future of the sport. But Horner believes F1 will pull through.
"F1 is a very strong business and it's got enormous heritage," he says. "F1 will survive this. Whether all the teams survive this is another matter, and it is the responsibility of all the team principals to act with the interests of the sport and all its participants (in mind), to do our best to ensure all 10 teams come out the other side.
"The difference in 2008 was we were still racing, there was still a calendar, there were still events. You could see the issue more clearly, whereas here we are more blind," Horner says.
"When will we start racing again? It's a different scenario. 2008 had its pressures and the people in the room at that time - Ron Dennis, Flavio Briatore and so on - were thinking about the interests of the sport and it is crucial we do that collectively at this time.
"The world is a different place at the moment. Of course revenue is hit very hard. We don't know how hard it will hit F1 yet.
"All the teams have been reacting responsibly and collectively. Obviously some teams are more exposed than others, particularly the small ones, and it's important that we try our best to protect the F1 community as best we can."
F1 has been owned since early 2017 by US group Liberty Media and as a business is leveraged quite extensively with debt, but Horner says he believes this is not a major concern.
"To be honest, the Liberty structure is quite complicated and you can only imagine that Live Nation, the owner, is also taking a hit on the events business," he says.
"But they have deep pockets as well. And they have always taken a long-term view on this. I think they will do whatever is needed to ensure the sport continues."
You might have to wait, gents: Drivers inspect the proposed 2021 - now 2022 - F1 car design changes
More rule changes on the way
Back in 2008, F1 responded to the financial crash by introducing a series of measures that controlled costs.
The same is going on now. It has already been agreed to delay the major rule changes that were planned for next year, with the idea of making the racing closer, until 2022, and racing in 2021 with this season's cars. And Horner says the new rules are now likely be deferred by a further year until 2023.
"The most fundamental and important thing is taking away the necessity to spend in order to be competitive," he says. "So, freezing parts of the car. The monocoque's already agreed. We're looking at front suspension, uprights, wheels, all the associated parts for that, gearbox internals, probably 60% of the car other than its aerodynamic surfaces and that being frozen for this year and next year.
"We're also talking about pushing back a further year the new regulations, because in my mind it would be totally irresponsible to have the burden of development costs in 2021.
"There seems to be reasonable agreement but it needs ratifying by the FIA to push back those development costs into 2022 for introduction in the '23 season.
"The most important thing we need now is stability. Because the one thing we know is that whenever you introduce change you introduce cost, and stability right now and locking down as much of the car as possible is the most responsible way to drive those cost drivers down."
There is also talk of lowering the budget cap that is due to come into force next year at $150m, but Horner says he believes this is not as important as other issues.
"There is positive and healthy discussion going on among all the teams to be responsible. And it's not just about the cap.
"The cap is a ceiling. It is almost secondary as far as I'm concerned, it is reducing the cost in order to go racing. With, let's say, 60% of the chassis frozen for the next 18 months, that will have a dramatic effect on reducing the operational costs of a Grand Prix team, whether that be for Red Bull or Williams."
Ferrari's engine controversy of 2019 will not be forgotten
The Ferrari controversy
Getting through the coronavirus crisis has become the overwhelming priority for everyone in F1, but that does not mean people have forgotten other issues.
One that has been put on the back burner for now is the controversy over the confidential settlement reached by Ferrari and the FIA after an investigation into the Italian team's engine last year.
Mercedes have backed away from that topic, leaving Red Bull leading the group of teams demanding more clarity over what was in that settlement.
Horner says that once the coronavirus situation is under control, he will be going back to FIA president Jean Todt looking for answers.
"At the moment that is secondary to the issues F1 is facing," Horner says. "We want to deal with everything I've just discussed and then that will be picked up and addressed at a later date.
"We have raised some questions to the FIA. What I would say is that a confidential agreement regarding the technical compliance of a competitor's car is obviously something that raises questions. And I'm sure at the relevant time we will have a conversation with Jean to try to understand why and what that agreement consists of."


bbc--2020-03-31--James Corden's Homefest: Star speaks of 'anxiety and sadness' over coronavirus

James Corden says he 's been struggling with `` incredible spikes of anxiety and sadness '' during the Covid-19 outbreak .
`` I 've found it tougher than I ever thought I would , '' he said during a special edition of his Late Late Show .
`` You feel so out of control , '' he said .
`` It feels so beyond our comprehension , all of it , that I 've found I get sort of overwhelmed with sadness in it all . ''
He broadcast live from his garage in LA and was joined via live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dua Lipa and BTS .
The British star , whose US talk show has been on hiatus due to the virus , told viewers his anxiety came about `` when I allowed myself to think about my family back home in England , or my friends , or the people I love '' .
He continued : `` It 's OK to feel anxious .
The best thing we can all do is kind of breathe through that and put our minds in a positive place . ''
Corden also suggested we ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help someone else who might be feeling like this ?
And just me talking to you tonight has made me feel a bit lighter . ''
• Coronavirus : How to protect your mental health He said the purpose of Homefest : A Late Late Show Special was `` to bring some joy and some music into your home at what is without a question one of the strangest and scariest moments in all our lives '' .
He added : `` We absolutely will get through this . ''
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finneas O'Connell performed Everything I Wanted , while Dua Lipa sang her hit single Do n't Start Now from her London flat .
Echoing the thoughts of many fellow parents during lockdown , John Legend said being quarantined had given him a greater appreciation of the job teachers do .
He and wife Chrissy Teigen have two young children .
Actor Will Ferrell also appeared , while opera star Andrea Bocelli paid tribute to his home country , Italy , and performed his song Con Te Partiro .
The broadcast came a night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Elton John from his living room .
The iHeart Living Room Concert For America , which featured Eilish , Dave Grohl and Mariah Carey , has raised $ 8m ( £6.4m ) for Feeding America and the First Responders Children 's Foundation , according to Variety .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

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bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus outbreak: Teddy bear hunt helps distract kids under lockdown

A mass teddy bear hunt is under way around the world to help distract the millions of children locked down because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Stuffed toys are being placed in windows to give children a fun and safe activity while walking around their neighbourhood with parents .
The hunt is inspired by the children ’ s book We ’ re Going on a Bear Hunt , written by UK author Michael Rosen .
Teddies have been spotted around the world , including in the UK and US .
New Zealand ’ s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the window of her family house in Wellington .
Tanya Ha , a resident of Melbourne in Australia , told the BBC she had been inspired to put cuddly toys in her window after hearing about other hunts around the world .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health Her displays change every day and feature humorous and educational notes aimed at adults , not just kids .
“ I ’ ve always felt a sense of my local community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Ha said .
Her two children help with ideas for the displays and Ms Ha says working on them has helped to keep her mind occupied amid the angst of the pandemic .
“ It ’ s just fun , ” said Ms Ha , who works in science communications .
`` There 's a real buzz in sharing [ science ] and the delight in how things work around you . ''

Her two children help with ideas for the displays and Ms Ha says working on them has helped to keep her mind occupied amid the angst of the pandemic.


bbc--2020-03-30--'Phone slipped into the bath': Conference call tales

`` I was on a call last week and a colleague 's half-naked boyfriend walked behind her , '' recalls communications consultant Jason Nisse .
His experience illustrates the pitfalls of videoconferencing , a technology that thousands of workers are getting used to as they attempt to work from home .
Some people really need help .
In one ( genuine ) email doing the rounds , a financial services worker is told : `` Your screen is visible and we can all see you watching porn in between enquiries . ''
Teleconferencing apps like Zoom , Microsoft Teams and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For many of us , this means getting to grips with a whole new way of working .
Can everybody hear me ?
Line quality , technology problems and of course user ineptitude add kerfuffle to meetings .
Making sure everyone understands how the technology works can save a huge amount of time when it comes to the meeting going live .
Some bosses have also realised that conference calls show just how meetings are populated with staff who do n't really need to be there .
Cutting down the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of unwanted noise .
Heavy breathing , sniffing , coughing , dogs and doorbells can all be dispatched by shutting off the microphone with the mute button .
Even without video , conference calls can be revealing .
`` I remember a client was on a call while in the bath , and you could hear splashing and the tap running .
He then realised the microphone was on and the phone slipped into the bath .
Gurgle gurgle gurgle .
He jumped out the bath to get another phone , slid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalls Neil Henderson from Zurich Insurance .
Calls need a host , someone capable of bringing the call back on track , when the discussion turns to securing supplies of toilet paper .
Steve Parks from the digital agency Convivio says that person should treat the call like presenting a radio phone-in .
`` They 're in charge of timing , spreading discussion between 'guests ' , bringing in audience questions , keeping pace and energy , '' he says .
TV and radio producers work to this principle all the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every item has a time attached to it , an aim , and particular issues or questions they want to address .
• Reducing brain damage in sport without losing the thrills • Could female urinals end queues for the loos ?
• Tricks and tools for better working at home Circulating this kind of agenda beforehand and keeping to the allocated time helps to focus the meeting so it does n't become a free-for-all .
`` If more than one person speaks at once , which is very common in normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become unintelligible by video .
This is exacerbated if the internet connection is glitchy - which it often is , '' says Chris Hirst , the chief executive of media company Havas Global , whose teams have been working from home since the coronavirus outbreak started in China .
`` We are social animals , and as so much of our communication is non-verbal , this tends to be lost on video conferences , '' something Mr Hirst says the host needs to bear in mind when leading the call .
Being filmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you 're video conferencing , you 'll need to look presentable , at least from the waist up .
BBC camera operator Tracey Langford recommends putting your laptop on a stack of books so that it is level with your eye line .
`` Looking downwards is not very flattering , '' she points out .
And remember to focus on the top of the screen , where the camera is located , and not into the screen itself .
In terms of lighting , she suggests having a light positioned slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have one side of your face towards the window and the other side lit by indoor light .
Choose one or the other .
It 's also more flattering if you have some kind of diffuser to put over a light .
Try experimenting with a piece of greaseproof paper but do n't put paper right against the hot bulb , '' she advises .
And of course where you sit tells its own story .
Shots of rumpled bedsheets , the clothes horse and the bathroom should be avoided .
But antics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose , says Ben Todd from Rolls Royce .
`` I 'm enjoying hearing the background sounds - and sometimes foreground - of babies , kids TV and dogs .
It 's a useful reminder we 're all human , something which can get lost in a business context , '' he says .
Melinda de Boer , communications director at a global manufacturer agrees : `` On multiple occasions , my colleagues on Skype have witnessed me giving the 'mum eye ' to my two sons , who are mucking about in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work .
They say it 's scary , it 's a shame the kids do n't think so ! ''
The regular Friday night pub session may be out of the window , but many businesses are reporting trying to keep normal daily interaction between colleagues going and capture some of the fun of the workplace .
At Southampton based Etch UK , they host a daily quiz at lunchtime for clients and staff , a virtual cinema club and yoga sessions .
Other companies report eating lunch `` together '' from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't like videoconferences , then bad luck , according to Havas 's Mr Hirst .
You could be doing them for the rest of your career .
`` I think this could lead to a rapid and permanent increase in the everyday adoption of technology allowing us to work remotely , '' he says .

In terms of lighting, she suggests having a light positioned slightly above your face: "Don't have one side of your face towards the window and the other side lit by indoor light. Choose one or the other. It's also more flattering if you have some kind of diffuser to put over a light. Try experimenting with a piece of greaseproof paper but don't put paper right against the hot bulb," she advises.


bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: The grim crisis in Europe's care homes

Deaths can be invisible , coffins are hard to hide .
Outside the Rothschild care home in Paris , a delivery van pulls up to unload its pale wooden cargo , still wrapped in factory plastic .
A delivery man tells one waiting journalist , it is `` non-stop '' .
The gates of the care home are firmly shut .
Sixteen people have died here from suspected coronavirus , another 80 are infected .
Shuttered from the outside world More than a third of care homes in the Paris region alone are thought to have been affected by coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the daily toll of coronavirus , deaths in care homes are not .
Alexandre Sanner works as a doctor for another care home , in Vosges , in the east of France , where at least 20 people have died .
`` There was a cluster of about fifty people with fever , followed by severe pneumonia , '' he said .
`` At the height of the epidemic here , there must have been 25 or 30 patients on oxygen . ''
Few of the cases in France 's retirement homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once an initial outbreak has been confirmed .
But day after day , stories are emerging of double-digit death tolls inside these institutions , now virtually shuttered from the outside world .
As Italy and Spain have so far seen Europe 's biggest and deadliest outbreaks , so have the elderly in care homes borne the most painful brunt , enveloped by twin crises of mass infection and staffing shortages .
In Italy , hundreds of deaths have been reported in residential homes in Bergamo in the north , while 83 elderly residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days in the south because staff had to go into quarantine .
Alarm at runaway death rates in Spain 's care homes was first raised at Madrid 's Monte Hermoso centre , where at least 20 died from coronavirus .
Military units were dispatched to care homes around the country , offering emergency assistance and disinfecting more than 1,300 centres .
The arrival of authorities often comes too late .
Twenty-three people were found dead in another Madrid residence , including two of the nuns who provided care .
In a home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of 130 residents died .
More than 1,600 residents of care homes died in the first four weeks of March , with more than half believed to have fallen victim to Covid-19 .
Relatives express anger at the lack of information about the outbreaks , while workers explain that already insufficient staffing levels and a lack of protective clothing quickly lead to a state of collapse as carers come down with the virus and have to self-isolate .
France is launching a new app to count coronavirus cases inside care homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
France 's most senior health official has said that numbers could spiral as a result .
The speed of this epidemic has left the government racing to catch up .
'There 's nothing we can do' At the beginning of March , President Emmanuel Macron visited a care home to talk about protection from the virus .
He was filmed sitting at a table , surrounded by elderly residents : no face-masks ; no social distancing .
A few days later , all visits to France 's retirement homes were banned .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all residents should be individually isolated in their rooms .
But care workers say that they are now the biggest risk to residents .
We talked to one nurse , who wanted to be known just as `` Carol '' .
She said that some homes had been keeping masks in reserve for a coronavirus outbreak , and not giving them to staff .
You may also want to read : And with many staff off sick or in isolation themselves , she says , the spread of this virus is very hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus enters a care home , it 's all over , '' she told me .
`` There 's nothing we can do .
Since we do n't have enough staff , it 'll be dramatic .
Once the virus enters the home , there 'll be a huge number of deaths . ''
'The fight has only just begun' Space in hospital life-support units in the Paris region is now critically low and there are shortages of some drugs .
The health minister has said France will begin mass testing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion face-masks to protect healthcare staff .
The prime minister Edouard Philippe has extended the national quarantine for another two weeks .
`` The fight has only just begun , '' he said , warning that the first half of April would be `` even more difficult '' than the previous 15 days .
Every night , French residents stand at their open windows to applaud the country 's medical staff .
Solidarity with doctors , nurses and care-home workers is one thing .
But polls suggest that trust in the government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this epidemic has peaked .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak

More than a third of care homes in the Paris region alone are thought to have been affected by coronavirus. But while hospital deaths are recorded in the daily toll of coronavirus, deaths in care homes are not.


bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: The US governor who saw it coming early

As the coronavirus outbreak barrels throughout the US , states have scrambled to get ahead of its spread , often after weeks of inaction .
But one governor imposed sweeping measures days before a single case had been reported in his state .
At the podium for Tuesday 's daily coronavirus press briefing , Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine provides the latest on the virus 's march through his state - 2,199 cases , 55 deaths , 585 hospitalisations .
His announcements are peppered with `` thank yous '' and mild `` just-a-reminders '' , encouraging continued social distancing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ papers occasionally , staring down at them frequently .
He does n't speak in platitudes , but in detail , taking time to dictate every letter and character in the state 's coronavirus web address .
It 's a stark contrast from his New York counterpart Andrew Cuomo , whose own daily briefings have become a staple of the US coronavirus news cycle .
But while the lesser known Mr DeWine , 73 , may lack the media attention of Mr Cuomo , he is drawing praise for his early moves against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the US was still playing catch up .
On 5 March , after resistance from organisers , Mr DeWine got a court order to shut down much of the Arnold Sports Festival - an annual event featuring 20,000 athletes from 80 countries , around 60,000 spectators each day , and an expected $ 53m for Columbus , the state 's largest city .
The state had yet to report a single case .
`` This is a balancing test , '' the first-term governor said at the time , in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr DeWine moved to bar spectators from major sporting events - days before US professional leagues decided to cancel their seasons .
He was first in the nation to declare a state-wide school shutdown .
He invoked an emergency public health order to postpone Ohio 's presidential primary the night before it was scheduled on 17 March .
• Love knows no borders for elderly couple At the time , critics dismissed Mr DeWine 's strict regulations as overblown , largely out of step with Ohio 's neighbouring states .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach put him at odds with fellow Republican Donald Trump , who until mid-March downplayed the threat of the virus , saying it would `` go away '' .
`` On the front end of a pandemic you look a little bit alarmist , you look a little bit like a Chicken Little , the sky is falling , '' said Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton at a briefing this month .
`` At the end of a pandemic , you did n't do enough . ''
To plot his approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , relied heavily on Dr Acton - the last cabinet member selected by the governor when he took office last year .
The selection of Dr Acton marked a change for the department - neither of her two predecessors were medical doctors .
`` Mistakes that I have made throughout my career have generally been because I did n't have enough facts , I did n't dig deep enough , '' Mr DeWine said .
`` So , I made up my mind I was going to have the best information , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily briefings , Mr DeWine is quick to defer to Dr Acton for specific questions on the virus and its spread , reminding Ohioans that the state 's decisions are driven by science .
These policies are `` keeping us safer '' he said on Tuesday .
`` We 've got to stay at it . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• US v ITALY v CHINA : How do death rates compare ?
• EXPLAINER-IN-CHIEF : The face of America 's fight against Covid-19 • ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not this' • REASON TO HOPE : The good that may come out of this crisis For his job today , Mr DeWine has the benefit of experience .
In his nearly 30-year political career , he has held almost every public officer on the way to governor , serving as county prosecutor , state attorney general , and in both the US House and Senate .
He will need all that experience to confront a dire economic picture .
Last week , Ohio reported 187,780 jobless claims - the second highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all of last year .
`` We 've made difficult decisions but we have to get through this , '' he said of the job losses on Tuesday .
`` We ca n't let this monster come up , we need to keep pushing it down . ''
Still , while Ohio 's infection numbers are rising , it has so far managed to avoid the surges seen in states like New York , Washington , and Louisiana , ranking 15th nationwide in terms of reported cases .
`` It has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in war time because we have been invaded , literally .
`` We 've got to stay at it . ''

At the time, critics dismissed Mr DeWine's strict regulations as overblown, largely out of step with Ohio's neighbouring states. And in terms of policy, the governor's approach put him at odds with fellow Republican Donald Trump, who until later in March downplayed the threat of the virus, saying it would "go away".


bbc--2020-04-01--David Hockney shares exclusive art from Normandy, as 'a respite from the news'

David Hockney is in lockdown at his house in Normandy with his dog Ruby and two of his long-standing assistants , JP and Jonathan .
He is in the garden most days , drawing the spring awakening on his iPad .
In a BBC exclusive , he is sharing 10 of his most recent images ( including one animation ) , nine of which have never been published before , for us all to enjoy at this difficult time , along with his thoughts on the role of art in life .
The artist previously visited Normandy in the autumn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stained-glass window in Westminster Abbey .
He thought it would be a good place to draw and paint the arrival of spring , something he 'd done around a decade earlier in East Yorkshire .
Those pictures , paintings , and films were the basis for a successful exhibition in 2012 at the Royal Academy in London .
He was attracted to Normandy because it offered a broader range of blossoms , with apple , cherry , pear and plum trees , as well as the hawthorn and blackthorn he had painted before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a large garden that was cheaper than anything in Sussex '' , he wrote in a letter to me .
They bought it , renovated it and built a small studio ; and have been living there since early March .
`` I began drawing the winter trees on a new iPad , '' he said .
`` Then this virus started… '' I went on drawing the winter trees that eventually burst into blossom .
This is the stage we are right now .
Meanwhile the virus is going mad , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great respite from what was going on . ''
He sent some of his work in progress to friends , which led to him releasing one image of daffodils for publication , which he titled : Do Remember They Ca n't Cancel the Spring .
He is now sharing nine more , all painted in the last few days .
`` Why are my iPad drawings seen as a respite from the news ?
Well , they are obviously made by the hand depicting the renewal that is the spring in this part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being that his images are the product of him looking directly at nature and depicting or representing what he sees by transmitting his sensory reaction through his fingers onto paper via a pencil , rather than mediating the process through a photograph .
His pictures are a record of how he , uniquely , is experiencing reality of his subject and the space in which it exists .
The one-eyed mechanical camera flattens out all this individual nuance .
`` I intend to carry on with my work , which I now see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me .
`` We have lost touch with nature rather foolishly as we are a part of it , not outside it .
This will in time be over and then what ?
What have we learned ?
I am 83 years old , I will die .
The cause of death is birth .
`` The only real things in life are food and love in that order , just like our little dog Ruby .
I really believe this and the source of art is love .
Follow us on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

He is in the garden most days, drawing the spring awakening on his iPad. In a BBC exclusive, he is sharing 10 of his most recent images (including one animation), nine of which have never been published before, for us all to enjoy at this difficult time, along with his thoughts on the role of art in life.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Transforming London's ExCeL centre into Nightingale hospital

Timelapse footage has captured the transformation of London 's ExCeL centre into a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients .
The @ @ @ @ @ be operational by the end of the week .
Five hundred beds are already in @ @ @ @ @ for another 3,500 .

Timelapse footage has captured the transformation of London's ExCeL centre into a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients.
The Nightingale Hospital is expected to be operational by the end of the week.
Five hundred beds are already in place and there is space for another 3,500.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Spain's deaths pass 9,000 as infection rate slows

Spain has recorded another 864 deaths related to coronavirus , the highest in one day , as the total number of deaths across Europe has gone beyond 30,000 .
More than 9,000 people have died in Spain , which is second only to Italy in fatalities caused by the virus .
Confirmed cases in the country have passed 100,000 , but numbers show the infection rate continues to fall .
UN Secretary General António Guterres said the pandemic was the world 's biggest challenge since World War Two .
The warning comes amid dire predictions about the possible economic impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A UN report estimates that up to 25 million jobs could be lost around the world as the result of the outbreak .
The number of confirmed cases around the world is now over 870,000 , with more than 43,000 deaths , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
• Follow our latest updates on the coronavirus crisis Wednesday 's number of deaths in Spain was marginally higher than the 849 announced the day before , and the country has now seen more than 800 deaths for five days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest 12 % increase in daily infections is further evidence that the rate has stabilised .
Spain has been in lockdown for over two weeks , with further restrictions on movement introduced two days ago .
But health services in the hardest-hit areas , including Madrid and Catalonia , are still struggling , with shortages of medical equipment a particular problem .
The number of fatalities in the US has now topped 4,000 , and Iran says Covid-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - has claimed 3,000 lives .
Belgium said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were occupied as it reported a rise of 123 deaths , bringing the country 's death toll to 828 .
Meanwhile the Nato military alliance said it remained in `` a state of operational readiness '' to defend the borders of its members despite the pandemic , although it had cancelled a number of exercises to prevent the spread of infection .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN headquarters in New York at the launch of a report on the potential socioeconomic impact of the outbreak , Mr Guterres said : `` The new coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core , claiming lives and people 's livelihoods '' .
He said it could bring a recession `` that probably has no parallel in the recent past '' .
Countries around the world have imposed a series of measures , including restricting people 's movements and closing most businesses , to curb the spread of the virus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % `` downward pressure '' on global foreign direct investment flows .
`` Covid-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations , '' he said , calling for `` an immediate co-ordinated health response to suppress transmission and end the pandemic '' .
Mr Guterres urged industrialised nations to help those less developed , or potentially `` face the nightmare of the disease spreading like wildfire '' .
On Tuesday , the World Bank warned that `` significant economic pain '' seemed `` unavoidable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that depend on industries particularly vulnerable to the impact of the virus were at `` higher risk '' .
Manufacturing output in the UK in March hit its lowest point since 2012 , however the crisis has not yet filtered through to Italian job levels with employment in February slightly down at 9.7 % .
African finance ministers have appealed for $ 100bn ( £80bn ) in emergency financing , with debt relief from the International Monetary Fund , World Bank and European Union .
What are the latest developments around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died in the past 24 hours and in all more than 189,000 people have been infected , Johns Hopkins reports .
President Donald Trump warned of `` a very , very painful two weeks '' , as modelling by the White House 's coronavirus task force estimated that between 100,000 and 240,000 people could die in the coming months .
Infectious diseases adviser Anthony Fauci said that `` as sobering a number as that is , we should be prepared for it '' , while stressing that authorities were doing their utmost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people in the US are now , or about to be , under some form of lockdown , as more states tighten measures to fight the coronavirus .
• Italy remains the worst affected country in the world but the number of new infections is well down on just a few days ago .
The official death toll rose by 837 deaths to 12,428 , more than the 812 recorded on Monday .
The number of new infections was 2,107 , a 2.8 % rise on the previous day • France has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 24 hours , bringing the total to 3,523 .
This is the highest daily rise in such deaths in France • Switzerland said late on Tuesday it had seen 433 deaths - and a further 12 fatalities were announced in the worst-hit area of Ticino on Wednesday .
• In the UK a 13-year-old boy from London died , as the national toll rose 381 to 1,789 .
A 12-year-old girl who died in Belgium is believed to be the youngest victim of Covid-19 in Europe • In Russia , officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 24 , with infections reaching 2,777 • China says it has taken steps to ensure the quality of its exports of medical supplies , after several European countries complained of defective Chinese-made test kits and masks • In India , the authorities are searching for hundreds of people who attended a religious event in the capital that has set off several Covid-19 clusters How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Wednesday's number of deaths in Spain was marginally higher than the 849 announced the day before, and the country has now seen more than 800 deaths for five days in a row. But health officials believe the latest 12% increase in daily infections is further evidence that the rate has stabilised.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Zoom under increased scrutiny as popularity soars

The videoconferencing app Zoom has come under fresh high-level scrutiny as its popularity soars during the coronavirus pandemic .
New York 's attorney general has written to the firm raising concerns over its ability to cope with the rise in users .
Zoom is now being used by millions of people for work and leisure , as lockdowns are imposed in many countries .
But its data security and privacy measures have been questioned .
The letter from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James asked Zoom whether it had reviewed its security measures since its popularity surged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past the app had been slow to address issues .
In response to a request from the BBC for comment , a company spokesperson said : `` Zoom takes its users ' privacy , security , and trust extremely seriously .
`` During the Covid-19 pandemic , we are working around-the-clock to ensure that hospitals , universities , schools , and other businesses across the world can stay connected and operational .
We appreciate the New York Attorney General 's engagement on these issues and are happy to provide her with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Zoom is in everyone 's living room - how safe is it ?
• Laid off over Zoom : Firms cut staff by conference call Users have flocked to Zoom as governments around the world ordered large parts of their populations to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus .
It is now ranked as the number two and number one app in the UK and US , respectively .
Zoom has had security flaws in the past , including a vulnerability which allowed an attacker to remove attendees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hijack shared screens .
Another saw Mac users forced into calls without their knowledge .
It also does n't offer end-to-end encryption , according to online news publication The Intercept .
This is encryption that should mean no-one other than participants can see a meeting .
Zoom told it : `` Currently , it is not possible to enable E2E encryption for Zoom video meetings . ''
This means Zoom can access the video and audio of meetings , it reported .
Because Zoom uses email domains to identify users who may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service will sometimes allow small internet service providers ' customers to see each others ' private data , reported Vice 's tech website Motherboard .
The company told Motherboard that it regularly updates a list of private email providers to avoid this .
Zoom has also been criticised for its `` attendee tracking '' feature , which , when enabled , lets the host of the Zoom call check if participants are clicking away from the main Zoom window during a call .
More recently , the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Cabinet meeting using Zoom , leading to questions about how secure it was .
The company has pushed back at those concerns , telling the BBC : `` Globally , 2,000 institutions ranging from the world 's largest financial services companies to leading telecommunications providers , government agencies , universities , healthcare and telemedicine practices have done exhaustive security reviews of our user , network and data centre layers confidently selecting Zoom for complete deployment . ''
`` We are in close communication with the UK Ministry of Defence and National Cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the documentation they need . ''

Users have flocked to Zoom as governments around the world ordered large parts of their populations to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. It is now ranked as the number two and number one app in the UK and US, respectively.


bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: 13-year-old boy dies, says London hospital trust

A 13-year-old boy who tested positive for coronavirus has died , a London hospital trust has said .
Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab , from Brixton in south London , died in King 's College Hospital early on Monday .
He is thought to be the youngest person to have died with the virus in the UK .
A spokesman for the trust said the boy 's death had been referred to the coroner , but gave no further details .
As of 17:00 BST on Monday , the number of UK deaths was 1,789 .
The latest figures saw a daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far .
Ismail 's family said they were `` beyond devastated '' by his death , in a statement released by a family friend .
They said he had no apparent underlying health conditions and tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday , a day after he was admitted to hospital .
BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said it was rare for teenagers to become seriously ill after being infected with coronavirus .
`` Just 0.3 % of those who show symptoms require hospital care and 0.006 % die - in other words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among this age group will not survive , '' he said .
`` But it does happen , as this distressing case shows . ''
• Should young people be worried about coronavirus ?
Ismail 's family said he was admitted to the hospital in south London after he had begun showing symptoms and having difficulties breathing .
`` He was put on a ventilator and then put into an induced coma but sadly died yesterday [ Monday ] morning , '' they said .
`` To our knowledge he had no underlying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mark Stephenson , college director at Madinah College , in south-west London , where Ismail 's sister works as a teacher , has set up a fundraiser to raise money for the funeral costs .
A statement on the page said Ismail died `` without any family members close by due to the highly infectious nature of Covid-19 '' .
Analysis : What is the risk to young people ?
Research suggests that children and teenagers are much less likely to die from Covid-19 than adults .
Symptoms tend to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flu , when children are at higher risk of complications .
Scientists have yet to determine why this might be .
It is possible that children 's bodies are more able to cope with the virus .
Children 's immune systems are immature and often tend to overreact to infections .
But the coronavirus appears not to stimulate their immune systems in this way .
One idea is that children might be better off because they have not been exposed to other , milder , types of coronavirus .
Adults have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but because those antibodies are not exactly matched to Covid-19 they might do the body more harm than good .
All this does not mean that young people - particularly those with underlying health conditions - are completely safe from the effects of Covid-19 , as this case tragically shows .
Dr Nathalie MacDermott , clinical lecturer at King 's College London , said Ismail 's death `` highlights the importance of us all taking the precautions we can to reduce the spread of infection in the UK and worldwide '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a coroner assesses whether a post-mortem is necessary to further understand the exact cause of death .
`` While chronic underlying medical conditions are known to result in worse outcomes in Covid-19 infection , we have heard of cases of younger individuals with no known medical problems succumbing to the disease .
`` It is essential that we undertake research to determine why a proportion of deaths occur outside of the groups expected to succumb to infection , as it may indicate an underlying genetic susceptibility of how the immune system interacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak Dr Vanessa Sancho-Shimizu , a research fellow in infectious diseases and virology at Imperial College London , said the case highlighted that `` however exceedingly rare this may be , statistics means nothing when it affects those close to you , and that there is no room for complacency in this pandemic '' .
Dr Simon Clarke , an associate professor in cellular microbiology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Any premature death is tragic news , but the death of any child is particularly sad - and the first death of a child in the UK following a positive test for Covid-19 is particularly significant .
`` The lesson from countries such as China is that while the old are much more likely to die from coronavirus infection , the young are certainly not immune from it .
`` Children can catch the virus , and while they are more likely to have mild symptoms , they can still pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable .
In rare cases , they can also get seriously ill , or die .
`` This is a reminder that we must take the advice of health officials seriously to stay at home , wash hands , and keep well away from all other people .
`` The message so far has seemed to be that by following the guidance , you might save the life of a cherished parent or grandparent .
`` This case could yet remind us that staying home could also save the life of a cherished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove described the latest rise in UK deaths as `` deeply shocking '' during the government 's daily briefing .
`` Now is absolutely not the time for people to imagine there can be any relaxation or slackening '' of lockdown measures , he said .

"Children can catch the virus, and while they are more likely to have mild symptoms, they can still pass it on to others who are more vulnerable. In rare cases, they can also get seriously ill, or die.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Greatest test since World War Two, says UN chief

The current coronavirus outbreak is the biggest challenge for the world since World War Two , UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned .
He said it could bring a recession `` that probably has no parallel in the recent past '' .
His warning comes amid dire predictions about the possible economic impact of measures imposed to fight the virus .
The number of confirmed cases around the world is now nearing 860,000 , with more than 42,000 deaths .
The death toll in the US is now more than 4,000 - higher than the declared number of fatalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year .
Johns Hopkins University said 865 people had died in the past 24 hours in the US and in all more than 189,000 people in the country had been infected .
• Trump extends US virus guidelines to end of April • Trump backs away from New York 'quarantine' About three out of four Americans are now , or about to be , under some form of lockdown , as more US states tighten measures to fight the coronavirus , which causes the Covid-19 disease .
Meanwhile , Spain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of recorded fatalities , has seen 849 deaths in the last 24 hours - the highest number it has had in a single day .
In the UK , a total of 1,789 people have died - a rise of 381 , officials say .
Among the victims was a 13-year-old boy , King 's College Hospital Trust in London said .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN headquarters in New York at the launch of a report on the potential socioeconomic impact of the outbreak , Mr Guterres said : `` The new coronavirus disease is attacking societies at their core , claiming lives and people 's livelihoods '' .
Countries around the world have imposed a series of measures , including restricting people 's movements and closing most businesses , to curb the spread of the virus .
The UN report estimates that up to 25 million jobs could be lost around the world as the result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 40 % `` downward pressure '' on global foreign direct investment flows .
`` Covid-19 is the greatest test that we have faced together since the formation of the United Nations , '' he said , calling for `` an immediate co-ordinated health response to suppress transmission and end the pandemic '' .
Mr Guterres urged the industrialised nations to help those less developed , or potentially `` face the nightmare of the disease spreading like wildfire '' .
On Tuesday , the World Bank warned that `` significant economic pain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , and households that depend on industries particularly vulnerable to the impact of the virus were at `` higher risk '' .
Meanwhile , US President Donald Trump told Americans to prepare themselves for `` a very , very painful two weeks '' , as modelling by the White House 's coronavirus task force estimated that at least 100,000 could die in the coming months .
Infectious diseases adviser Anthony Fauci said that `` as sobering a number as that is , we should be prepared for it '' , while stressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent it .
President Donald Trump had already announced the need to significantly extend social distancing guidelines beyond the two weeks just completed , saying people would need to stay at home as much as they possibly could for another month .
At Tuesday 's White House briefing he turned the microphone over to his medical experts to help him persuade Americans to comply .
They explained that the aim was to bring down the number of new cases in the hotspots , especially New York , and prevent runaway outbreaks in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci said steps taken so far had already begun to have an effect , and now was not the time to take the foot off the accelerator .
But even with strict measures the White House is projecting that between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans will die of the coronavirus pandemic .
New York will be the first to feel the brunt of that .
It 's focused on preparing enough beds and getting enough medical equipment for when the number of cases reaches its peak - in about two weeks ' time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ?
• Italy remains the worst affected country in the world .
Tuesday 's figures show the official death toll rose by 837 deaths to 12,428 , more than the 812 recorded on Monday .
The number of new infections was 2,107 , which was higher than the previous day , but a marked decline on numbers a few days ago .
• France has recorded 499 new hospital deaths in the last 24 hours , bringing the total to 3,523 .
This is the highest daily rise in such deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12-year-old girl has died in Belgium .
She is thought to be the youngest Covid-19 victim in Europe .
In total Belgium has lost 705 people in the outbreak • In the UK a 13-year-old boy from south London died in hospital on Monday • In Russia , lawmakers have passed an `` anti-virus '' package of laws including up to seven years in prison for serious violations of quarantine rules • In India , the authorities are searching for hundreds of people who attended a religious event in the capital that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Middle East , there are warnings that the outbreak is a ticking time-bomb for the unstable region How have you been affected by the issues relating to coronavirus ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

New York will be the first to feel the brunt of that. It's focused on preparing enough beds and getting enough medical equipment for when the number of cases reaches its peak - in about two weeks' time.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings

Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims planning to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage to delay booking amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic .
Hajj Minister Mohammed Banten said the kingdom was concerned about the safety of pilgrims and urged people to `` wait before concluding contracts '' .
Some two million people were expected to travel to Mecca and Medina this July and August for the annual gathering .
Muslims who are physically able must undertake the Hajj once in a lifetime .
The lesser pilgrimage , the Umra , has already been suspended as a precaution to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People are also being prevented from entering Mecca and Medina , as well as the capital Riyadh , as the Saudi authorities attempt to contain an outbreak of Covid-19 that has infected at least 1,563 people and claimed 10 lives in the country .
`` Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and Umra seekers in all circumstances , '' Mr Banten told state TV .
`` But under the current circumstances , as we are talking about the global pandemic , from which we have asked God to save us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health of Muslims and citizens . ''
`` So we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before concluding contracts [ with tour operators ] until the situation is clear . ''
He added that the Hajj and health ministries had been inspecting hotels currently being used to accommodate people who had been undertaking Umra before the suspension and then been told to self-isolate or been unable to return home .
The minister also said that , for the time being , people who had purchased Umra visas and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost .

"Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and Umra seekers in all circumstances," Mr Banten told state TV. "But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic, from which we have asked God to save us, the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens."


bbc--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: Stock markets suffer worst quarter since 1987

Stock markets around the world suffered historic losses in the first three months of the year amid a massive sell-off tied to the coronavirus .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and London 's FTSE 100 saw their biggest quarterly drops since 1987 , plunging 23 % and 25 % respectively .
The S & P 500 lost 20 % during the quarter , its worst since 2008 .
The drops come as authorities order a halt to most activity in an effort to slow the spread of the virus .
Economists have warned the hit to the global economy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , with forecasters for IHS Markit , for example , predicting growth will shrink 2.8 % this year , compared to a 1.7 % drop in 2009 .
No country has been left untouched .
The data firm expects China 's growth to sputter to 2 % , while the UK could see growth drop 4.5 % .
The outlook for countries such as Italy and less developed economies is even worse .
`` We remain very concerned about the negative outlook for global growth in 2020 and in particular about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ markets and low income countries , '' the president of the International Monetary Fund , Kristalina Georgieva , said on Tuesday .
In the US , one central bank analysis suggested the unemployment rate could rise to more than 32 % over the next three months , as more than 47 million people lose their jobs .
Globally , many indexes remain more than 20 % lower than they were at the start of the year .
A steep slide in oil prices , due to a drop in demand and a price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems on financial markets .
Governments have pledged massive rescue funds , which has helped to lift share prices in recent days .
On Tuesday , the FTSE gained almost 2 % , while Germany 's Dax and France 's CAC 40 saw more modest gains .
But the main US indexes stumbled , with the Dow dropping 1.8 % , the S & P 500 down 1.6 % , and the Nasdaq off almost 1 % .
Energy and financial firms were among the worst performers in the quarter .
Retailers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed , suffered some of the biggest losses on Tuesday , with Macy 's down almost 9 % a day after it said it would put the majority of its staff on unpaid leave .
`` Despite monetary and financial stimulus , we expect volatility of equities to remain elevated as long as the duration and impact of Covid-19 remain unknown , oil prices stay depressed and earnings visibility is murky , '' analysts for US Bank Wealth Management wrote .

Energy and financial firms were among the worst performers in the quarter. Retailers, which have seen sales evaporate as stores closed, suffered some of the biggest losses on Tuesday, with Macy's down almost 9% a day after it said it would put the majority of its staff on unpaid leave.


bbc--2020-04-01--Climate change: Warming clips the nightingale's wings

Rising temperatures may be having a profound physical impact on one of the world 's favourite songbirds .
Researchers in Spain found that over a 20-year period , nightingales had evolved smaller wingspans .
The scientists say this is linked to a changing climate in the region which has seen the early onset of spring and increased drought .
They are concerned that this could affect the bird 's ability to migrate in winter .
• Coronavirus : Lockdown 'must become the social norm' Famed for its ability to sing , the nightingale has a very rich repertoire as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds , compared to just 340 by skylarks .
Although common in many parts of Europe and Asia , the bird is mainly seen and heard in southern England .
Numbers here have declined markedly over the last half century , down 90 % , with multiple factors to blame including deer eating their preferred nesting sites , but also because of a changing climate .
The nightingale spends the winter in sub-Saharan Africa , with the small , brown creature clocking up huge distances during migration .
Wing size is critical to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say that ability to migrate may be impeded by climate change .
Scientists in Spain have studied 20 years of data on wing shape in two populations of the birds .
They found that the average wing length of the nightingales relative to their body size has decreased .
They believe this is related to changes in temperatures seen in the Mediterranean region .
`` Our results show that spring is delayed and the intensity of the summer drought is higher , which means a shorter optimal breeding period for the birds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madrid 's Complutense University , who led the study .
`` We find the unique possibility that shorter wings are being favoured . ''
The researchers believe that birds like the nightingale normally adapt to the demands of migration by having longer wings , having a larger clutch size but a shorter lifespan .
However , the changing temperatures are interfering with this and provoking a response from the birds .
Faced with a shorter breeding season , the researchers believe the most successful birds are having smaller families with smaller wings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come at a price .
`` If these changes are the response to the new environment , then obviously the ones that have been selected , the ones with shorter wings , are the optimal nightingales for the new situation , '' said co-author Prof Javier Perez-Tris also from Complutense University .
`` These are not the best wings for migration , but the shorter wings come in the same package . ''
The researchers say that the birds are continuing with the same migration patterns and destinations and therefore their survival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scientists say this `` maladaptation '' is evident in the birds they have studied in Spain where there have been droughts in the summer , it may also be impacting other members of the species in different regions .
`` If the climate is changing in a similar way , and the pressures are similar than you 'd expect similar responses , '' said Dr Perez-Tris .
The research has been published in The Auk : Ornithological Advances .

"If these changes are the response to the new environment, then obviously the ones that have been selected, the ones with shorter wings, are the optimal nightingales for the new situation," said co-author Prof Javier Perez-Tris also from Complutense University.


bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus threatens Myanmar's most vulnerable in displacement camps

An estimated 350,000 displaced people across Myanmar are `` sitting in the path of a public health catastrophe '' , says rights group Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) .
Overcrowding , movement restrictions and poor sanitation have left these groups especially vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak , HRW said .
Myanmar had its first infections last week and its first death on Monday .
A government official had previously claimed the country 's `` lifestyle and diet '' protected its people .
Myanmar , which is home to around 51 million people , has a poor healthcare system .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have access to even basic healthcare , Associate Professor Nehginpao Kipgen of the Jindal School of International Affairs told BBC News - much less those who are displaced .
People living in camps often struggle to get even basic access to clean water and other essential services .
`` Health conditions are already disastrous for displaced people in Rakhine , Kachin , and northern Shan camps , and now Covid-19 is threatening to decimate these vulnerable communities , '' said Brad Adams , Asia director of HRW .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak • STRESS : How to look after your mental health UK-based charity organisation Oxfam shared some insight into the situation at one camp in Rakhine state - and how difficult it would be under normal circumstances to get treatment .
`` If someone falls ill and needs more specialised care , they must seek and receive official permission , which often takes a few days ... [ and ] pay for a security escort to travel with them to the hospital , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waves of communal violence in Myanmar have displaced tens of thousands of people , many from the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority .
According to a report published on Monday by HRW , around 130,000 Muslims in Rakhine state live in open-air detention camps , with extremely restricted access to health facilities , none of which have Covid-19 testing facilities .
The report says that in such camps , one toilet is shared by as many as 40 people , one water access point by as many as 600 - making it easy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds that these people are `` effectively imprisoned ... arbitrarily denied freedom of movement '' and therefore unable to access public health facilities even if they wanted to .
`` Overcrowding in the camps is pervasive , making physical distancing nearly impossible and significantly increasing the risk of transmission , '' said the HRW report .
• What you need to know about the Rohingya crisis The report called on the government to lift restrictions on such camps , and to allocate additional space to people to allow for social distancing to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions of displaced people that have experts worried .
`` The World Health Organization has ranked Myanmar 's healthcare system as one of world 's worst after decades of neglect under the military rule , '' said Prof Kipgen .
`` While cities like Yangon and Mandalay have better facilities , many parts of the country still do n't even have basic healthcare services . ''
For weeks , authorities denied that there were any cases in the country , which shares a border with China .
Hundreds of citizens cross the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often illegally , say local reports .
`` Myanmar shares a border with China [ that is ] over 2,200km long .
It welcomed almost 750,000 Chinese visitors in 2019 - [ its ] largest source of tourism , '' said Prof Kipgen .
Myanmar 's slow response to the outbreak has been heavily criticised .
As of late March , around 300 virus tests had been carried out across the country , according to Reuters news agency .
Government spokesman Zaw Htay had said the absence of cases was due to Myanmar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that because citizens generally paid for purchases with cash instead of credit cards , they were unlikely to spread the virus .
Myanmar now has 14 confirmed cases of the virus , mostly from people who have travelled overseas .
On Monday , it recorded its first virus-related death , a 69-year-old who also suffered from cancer .
He had recently travelled to both Australia and Singapore .
There are currently 859,566 confirmed cases across the world with some 42,332 deaths according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .

"If someone falls ill and needs more specialised care, they must seek and receive official permission, which often takes a few days... [and] pay for a security escort to travel with them to the hospital," said the organisation in a statement.


bbc--2020-04-01--Hungry black hole may be cosmic 'missing link'

A team of astronomers has found what it says is the best evidence yet for an elusive class of black hole .
They say the presumed `` intermediate-mass '' black hole betrayed its existence by tearing apart a wayward star that ventured too close .
These medium-sized objects are a long-sought `` missing link '' in the evolution of black holes .
Researchers used two X-ray observatories , along with the Hubble telescope , to identify the object .
`` Intermediate-mass black holes are very elusive objects , and so it is critical to carefully consider and rule out alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dacheng Lin , from the University of New Hampshire in Durham , US , who led the study .
`` That is what Hubble has allowed us to do for our candidate . ''
In 2006 , Nasa 's orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency 's XMM-Newton satellite spotted a powerful X-ray flare named 3XMM J215022.4−055108 .
The nature of the X-ray flare meant that it could be explained by just two scenarios , according to Dr Lin .
It was `` either a distant ( outside our galaxy ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star or a cooling neutron star in our own galaxy '' , he told BBC News .
Neutron stars are the crushed remnants of an exploded star .
• A black hole is a region of space from which nothing , not even light , can escape • Despite the name , they are not empty but instead consist of a huge amount of matter packed densely into a small area , giving it an immense gravitational pull • There is a region of space beyond the black hole called the event horizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no return '' , beyond which it is impossible to escape the gravitational effects of the black hole In order to distinguish between the two scenarios , the Hubble Space Telescope was pointed at the X-ray source to resolve its precise location .
The telescope provided strong evidence that the X-rays emanated not from an isolated source in the Milky Way , but in a distant , dense star cluster on the outskirts of a different galaxy .
This was just the type of place astronomers expected to find a mid-sized black hole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made this the `` most likely '' explanation .
So-called supermassive black holes are commonly found at the centres of galaxies ; for example , our own Milky Way hosts a massive central black hole called Sagittarius A* .
But intermediate mass black holes have been particularly difficult to find because they are smaller and less active than the massive types .
In addition , they do n't have as much nearby cosmic material to act as fuel , and lack the strong gravitational pull required to draw stars inwards to produce X-ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mid-sized black hole red-handed in the act of gobbling up a star .
Dr Lin and his colleagues had to comb through thousands of XMM-Newton observations to find one candidate .
The X-ray glow from the shredded star allowed astronomers to estimate the black hole 's mass at 50,000 times the mass of the Sun .
This is n't the first candidate for a mid-sized black hole .
But seeing the object tearing a star apart makes this detection the most persuasive yet , according to Dr Lin 's team .
Intermediate-mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about black hole evolution .
For example , does a super-massive black hole grow from a mid-sized one ?
Astronomers also want to understand how mid-sized black holes form and whether they tend to reside in dense star clusters , such as this one .
`` Studying the origin and evolution of the intermediate-mass black holes will finally give an answer as to how the supermassive black holes that we find in the centres of massive galaxies came to exist , '' said team member Dr Natalie Webb , from the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters .

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bbc--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: Mandatory quarantine in a five-star Sydney hotel

Australians who return from overseas are now required to spend 14 days in quarantine in hotels .
The government-funded stays @ @ @ @ @ - but those in isolation say it 's `` not a holiday '' .

Australians who return from overseas are now required to spend 14 days in quarantine in hotels.
The government-funded stays are often in five-star accommodation - but those in isolation say it's "not a holiday".
Produced and edited by Isabelle Rodd