bbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus: Wuhan to ease lockdown as world battles pandemic

The lockdown in Wuhan , the Chinese city where the global coronavirus outbreak began , will be partially lifted on 8 April , officials say .
Travel restrictions in the rest of Hubei province , where Wuhan is located , will be lifted from midnight on Tuesday - for residents who are healthy .
A single new case of the virus was reported in Wuhan on Tuesday following almost a week of no new cases .
Countries around the world have gone into lockdown or imposed severe curbs .
The UK is getting to grips with sweeping new measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ban on public gatherings of more than two people and the immediate closure of shops selling non-essential goods .
Meanwhile , health experts say Americans must limit their social interactions or the number of infections will overwhelm the health care system there .
Spanish soldiers helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic have found elderly patients in retirement homes abandoned and , in some cases , dead in their beds , the defence ministry has said .
An ice rink in Madrid is to be used as a temporary mortuary for Covid-19 victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) has warned that the pandemic is accelerating , with more than 300,000 cases now confirmed .
It is urging countries to adopt rigorous testing and contact-tracing strategies .
Wuhan has been shut off from the rest of the world since the middle of January .
But officials now say anyone who has a `` green '' code on a widely used smartphone health app will be allowed to leave the city from 8 April .
Earlier , the authorities reported a new case of coronavirus in Wuhan , ending a five-day run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It comes after health officials there confirmed that they were not counting cases of people who were positive but had not been admitted to hospital or did not show any symptoms of the disease .
Official government figures say there have been 78 new cases reported on the Chinese mainland in the last 24 hours .
All but four of them were caused by infected travellers arriving from abroad .
This so-called `` second wave '' of imported infections is also affecting countries like South Korea and Singapore , which had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
• South Korea 's 'trace , test and treat ' may be saving lives • The detectives racing to contain the virus in Singapore South Korea has been seeing a drop in its daily tally of new cases .
On Tuesday it reported its lowest number since 29 February .
China looks to repair its reputation China considers itself to be - very nearly - a `` post corona '' country .
In the last week we 've heard Wuhan medics warning the UK and others that they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , citing the mistakes they made early on when some treated patients without wearing proper protective clothing .
But there 's also been reporting in state media of the reported death toll in Italy surpassing that in China .
This has been combined with some commentary from prominent media figures that has appeared distasteful , almost triumphalist .
At the same time there is a panic about the threat of a second wave from imported cases ; travellers arriving from abroad .
This has fuelled the view - right or wrong - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat seriously because they are n't doing what China did .
( Almost all the cases in Beijing that have been made public are of Chinese nationals returning home ) .
Meanwhile , well away from senior leaders , there are some high profile diplomatic figures using international-facing social media to spread theories that the US may have weaponised and dumped the virus in China .
Or that Italy had cases that may have been Covid-19 earlier than China .
China is sowing seeds of doubt and questioning assumed truths as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak What 's the latest from around Asia ?
• Almost all of India with its 1.3bn people is under lockdown .
Buses , trains and other forms of public transport are suspended .
On Monday , the authorities said domestic flights would also stopped .
The country has reported 485 cases and nine people have died - Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neighbouring Pakistan has almost twice as many confirmed cases - 878 as of Monday evening .
Sweeping restrictions are in place although the government stopped short of imposing a nationwide lockdown .
However , several provinces have announced them independently .
The army is being brought in to help enforce the restrictions .
• Bangladesh , which has reported 33 cases and three deaths , is also deploying its armed forces to help maintain social distancing and boost Covid-19 preventive measures .
The soldiers will also monitor thousands of quarantined expatriate returnees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real number of cases could be much higher .
• Indonesia , which has 49 confirmed Covid-19 deaths - the highest in South-East Asia - has converted an athlete 's village built for the 2018 Asian Games into a makeshift hospital for coronavirus patients .
A state of emergency was declared in Jakarta on Monday .
• In Thailand a month-long state of emergency will start on Thursday , which will include curfews and checkpoints .
The government has been criticised for failing to take strong action so far .
Four people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Talks between the Japanese PM and the International Olympic Committee are expected this evening .
• The most populous country without a case until now - Myanmar - has announced two cases .
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday night that , with immediate effect , `` people will only be allowed to leave their home ... for very limited purposes '' .
They include shopping for basic necessities , taking one form of exercise per day , fulfilling any medical need , or travelling to work if working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people who have died in the UK rose to 335 on Monday .
• PM announces strict new curbs on life in UK In Italy , the worst-hit country in the world , the authorities said 602 people with Covid-19 had died in the past 24 hours , bringing the total death toll there to 6,077 .
But the daily increase was the smallest since Thursday , raising hope that the stringent restrictions imposed by the government were starting to have an effect .
Spain , however , said its death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 27 % increase .

At the same time there is a panic about the threat of a second wave from imported cases - travellers arriving from abroad. This has fuelled the view - right or wrong - that some other countries aren't taking the threat seriously because they aren't doing what China did. (Almost all the cases in Beijing that have been made public are of Chinese nationals returning home).


bbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus: Spanish army finds care home residents 'dead and abandoned'

Spanish soldiers helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic have found elderly patients in retirement homes abandoned and , in some cases , dead in their beds , the defence ministry has said .
Spanish prosecutors said an investigation had been launched .
The military has been brought in to help disinfect care homes in Spain , one of Europe 's worst hit countries .
Meanwhile , an ice rink in Madrid is to be used as a temporary mortuary for Covid-19 victims , officials said .
On Monday Spain recorded its highest daily death toll - 462 - bringing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margarita Robles told the private TV channel Telecinco that the government was `` going to be strict and inflexible when dealing with the way older people are treated '' in retirement homes .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak '' The army , during certain visits , found some older people completely abandoned , sometimes even dead in their beds , '' she said .
The defence ministry said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the coronavirus was detected .
Health officials have said that in normal circumstances the bodies of deceased residents are put in cold storage until they are collected by the funeral services .
But when the cause of death is suspected to be linked to coronavirus they are left in their beds until they can be retrieved by properly equipped funeral staff .
In the capital Madrid , which has seen the highest number of cases and deaths , that could take up to 24 hours , officials said .
Spanish Health Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retirement homes were `` an absolute priority for the government '' .
`` We will exercise the most intensive monitoring of these centres , '' she added .
As the crisis in Madrid worsened , the city 's municipal funeral home said it would stop the collection of Covid-19 victims from Tuesday because of a lack of protective equipment .
The city is to use a major ice rink , the Palacio de Hielo ( Ice Palace ) , as a temporary mortuary where bodies will be stored until funeral homes can collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Palacio de Hielo complex , which also includes shops , restaurants , a bowling alley and cinemas , is not far from the Ifema congress centre where a field hospital has been set up for coronavirus patients .
Spain is the second worst affected country in Europe after Italy , which now has the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in the world .
Italian authorities said on Monday that 602 people with Covid-19 had died in the past 24 hours , bringing the total to 6,077 .
But the daily increase was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stringent restrictions imposed by the government were starting to have an effect .

But when the cause of death is suspected to be linked to coronavirus they are left in their beds until they can be retrieved by properly equipped funeral staff. In the capital Madrid, which has seen the highest number of cases and deaths, that could take up to 24 hours, officials said.


bbc--2020-03-24--Antarctic seal photo wins top prize

Antarctic seal photo wins top prize

The winners of a new wildlife photography competition have been announced , with a drone image of seals on an ice float earning the top prize .
French photographer Florian Ledoux took the winning photo , entitled Above the Crabeater Seals , in Antarctica .
`` For me , it is very important to show the state of the Arctic and Antarctic regions , '' he said .
`` It is also important that anyone inspired by this style of drone image understands the importance of wildlife , and being ethical in your approach .
`` Ensure that your drone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and always conduct yourself within accordance of local regulations . ''
Mr Ledoux beat 7,000 other entries from 117 different countries to win Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2020 .
Here are other category winners and runners-up in the competition , with descriptions by the photographers .
Landscape category winner : Shadow Game , by Marek Biegalski , taken in Italy '' An aerial image taken in Tuscany in autumn light .
A flock of sheep was hiding in the shade from the sun under the shadow of a tree .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by Minghui Yuan , taken in China '' I was wearing waterproof overalls in the stream of Dabie Mountain , waiting to observe this Matrona basilaris ( damselfly ) .
`` Matrona basilaris is the king of the stream here , there is a male every three metres .
`` Against the background of the sky , I discovered the connection between the lines of the grass and the subject .
Nature itself is a simple painting . ''
Youth category : Pheonix , by Saptarshi Gayen , taken in India '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have seen that at the end of every winter , farmers burn the grass and reeds to clean the land for upcoming crops .
`` When the fire spreads across the land , small insects start coming out .
Then the brave Black Drongo starts capitalising on such a moment , by eating them and flying above the live fire . ''
People 's Choice Award : I 'm not going easy , by Robert Ferguson , taken in Singapore '' This is the great white pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotalus ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonderful birds are free to roam , but have established a large colony on one of the artificial islands in the Old Jurong Park in Singapore .
`` I noticed one particular bird had caught one of the big fish from the pond .
I watched as the bird swam in circles , dipping its bill , taking water , then raising its beak to attempt to swallow its large prey .
`` But every time the fish extended its sharp spines on its fins - you can see it hooked on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This went on for over 20 minutes , with no sign of either party tiring .
I was fascinated to see the intricate veins in the bird 's throat pouch , as the overcast day backlit the thin skin , and I had to move and crouch low to the ground to get the shot . ''
Wildlife category , highly commended : Badger Blues , by Dave Hudson , taken in the UK '' I had been putting in the hours watching a number of setts in the area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , due to the abundance of bluebells .
`` After a good couple of hours , I began to hear movement .
`` An adult badger came towards me first , sniffing the air as they often do .
It drifted out of shot and into the bluebells , but much to my delight behind it was a cub .
He seemed comfortable enough , so I clicked the shutter and got a couple of shots . ''
Wildlife category , highly commended : Sleeping the fall off , by Terje Kolaas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dove in a garden in Norway takes a break from feeding during a heavy snowfall .
A remote street light in the background creates a halo around the bird . ''
Wildlife category , highly commended : Breathing , by Bence Mate , taken in Romania '' A brown bear growls a warning of its presence to an interloper , his breath vanishing slowly in the windless forest . ''
Landscape category , runner-up : Viking Rainbows , by Alessandro Cantarell , taken in Iceland '' I have found myself in Iceland dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to witness incredible conditions on the Vestrahorn mountain .
`` Seeing such a powerful sunrise on the right was already magical , and the very intense rain made things difficult for me but it gave me a great gift - a double rainbow on the left that perfectly compensated the strong light on the right . ''
Landscape category , highly commended : Flower Power , by Brandon Yoshizawa , taken in USA '' An incredible display of man and nature .
The exhaust plume of a SpaceX rocket is lit by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plume takes on the shape of a flower with the trail almost looking like a broken stem , as it shoots out from behind the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains . ''
Landscape category , highly commended : Coexistence , by Dipanjan Pal , taken in Iceland '' While flying my drone close to a mountain , I suddenly noticed this beautiful landscape with the blue river perfectly highlighted against the black sand . ''
Landscape category , highly commended : Valley of the Scheldt , by Bart Heirweg , taken in Belgium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Scheldt is often filled with a thick layer of fog on clear and windless mornings .
`` When the sun starts to rise the fog slowly disappears , revealing the landscape underneath . ''
Macro category , runner-up : Mating red-eyed damselflies , by Robert Page , taken in the UK '' I have observed and photographed damselflies on the ponds in my local park in London for years . ''
Macro category , highly commended : Nothing here but this tree , by Caitlin Henderson , taken in Australia '' The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incredible species of tree-dwelling spider from Australia 's tropical north .
Its astounding camouflage enables it to blend perfectly with tree bark and lichens , and it 's nearly impossible to spot by day .
`` At night , I went searching for these spiders with a torch , using their reflective eye-shine to discover their hiding places in plain sight . ''
Under-16 category , highly commended : Fox , by Matej Borjancic , taken in Slovenia '' My grandfather took me on a tour of the quarry to see if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were lucky ; I photographed a young fox as she looked out of her hiding place . ''

Antarctic seal photo wins top prize Published 24 March 2020
The winners of a new wildlife photography competition have been announced, with a drone image of seals on an ice floe earning the top prize.
Image source, Nature TTL / Florian Ledoux
French photographer Florian Ledoux took the winning photo, entitled Above the Crabeater Seals, in Antarctica.
"For me, it is very important to show the state of the Arctic and Antarctic regions," he said.
"It is also important that anyone inspired by this style of drone image understands the importance of wildlife, and being ethical in your approach.
"Ensure that your drone does not spook animals or disturb them, and always conduct yourself within accordance of local regulations."
Mr Ledoux beat 7,000 other entries from 117 different countries to win Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2020.
Here are other category winners and runners-up in the competition, with descriptions by the photographers.
Landscape category winner: Shadow Game, by Marek Biegalski, taken in Italy
Image source, Nature TTL / Marek Biegalski
"An aerial image taken in Tuscany in autumn light. A flock of sheep was hiding in the shade from the sun under the shadow of a tree."
Macro category winner: Chinese Painting, by Minghui Yuan, taken in China
Image source, Nature TTL / Minghui Yuan
"I was wearing waterproof overalls in the stream of Dabie Mountain, waiting to observe this Matrona basilaris (damselfly).
"Matrona basilaris is the king of the stream here, there is a male every three metres.
"Against the background of the sky, I discovered the connection between the lines of the grass and the subject. Nature itself is a simple painting."
Youth category: Phoenix, by Saptarshi Gayen, taken in India
Image source, Nature TTL / Saptarshi Gayen
"For the last four to five years I have seen that at the end of every winter, farmers burn the grass and reeds to clean the land for upcoming crops.
"When the fire spreads across the land, small insects start coming out. Then the brave Black Drongo starts capitalising on such a moment, by eating them and flying above the live fire."
People's Choice Award: I'm not going easy, by Robert Ferguson, taken in Singapore
Image source, Nature TTL / Robert Ferguson
"This is the great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), struggling with a non-native fish. These wonderful birds are free to roam, but have established a large colony on one of the artificial islands in the Old Jurong Park in Singapore.
"I noticed one particular bird had caught one of the big fish from the pond. I watched as the bird swam in circles, dipping its bill, taking water, then raising its beak to attempt to swallow its large prey.
"But every time the fish extended its sharp spines on its fins - you can see it hooked on the beak here - it lodged itself firmly.
"This went on for over 20 minutes, with no sign of either party tiring. I was fascinated to see the intricate veins in the bird's throat pouch, as the overcast day backlit the thin skin, and I had to move and crouch low to the ground to get the shot."
Wildlife category, highly commended: Badger Blues, by Dave Hudson, taken in the UK
Image source, Nature TTL / Dave Hudson
"I had been putting in the hours watching a number of setts in the area, but decided to focus on this particular one, due to the abundance of bluebells.
"After a good couple of hours, I began to hear movement.
"An adult badger came towards me first, sniffing the air as they often do. It drifted out of shot and into the bluebells, but much to my delight behind it was a cub. He seemed comfortable enough, so I clicked the shutter and got a couple of shots."
Wildlife category, highly commended: Sleeping the fall off, by Terje Kolaas, taken in Norway
Image source, Nature TTL / Terje Kolaas
"A collared dove in a garden in Norway takes a break from feeding during a heavy snowfall. A remote street light in the background creates a halo around the bird."
Wildlife category, highly commended: Breathing, by Bence Mate, taken in Romania
Image source, Nature TTL / Bence Mate
"A brown bear growls a warning of its presence to an interloper, his breath vanishing slowly in the windless forest."
Landscape category, runner-up: Viking Rainbows, by Alessandro Cantarell, taken in Iceland
Image source, Nature TTL / Alessandro Cantarell
"I have found myself in Iceland dozens of times, and have been lucky enough to witness incredible conditions on the Vestrahorn mountain.
"Seeing such a powerful sunrise on the right was already magical, and the very intense rain made things difficult for me but it gave me a great gift - a double rainbow on the left that perfectly compensated the strong light on the right."
Landscape category, highly commended: Flower Power, by Brandon Yoshizawa, taken in USA
Image source, Nature TTL / Brandon Yoshizawa
"An incredible display of man and nature. The exhaust plume of a SpaceX rocket is lit by the low sun at twilight.
"The plume takes on the shape of a flower with the trail almost looking like a broken stem, as it shoots out from behind the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains."
Landscape category, highly commended: Coexistence, by Dipanjan Pal, taken in Iceland
Image source, Nature TTL / Dipanjan Pal
"While flying my drone close to a mountain, I suddenly noticed this beautiful landscape with the blue river perfectly highlighted against the black sand."
Landscape category, highly commended: Valley of the Scheldt, by Bart Heirweg, taken in Belgium
Image source, Nature TTL / Bart Heirweg
"In early autumn the Valley of the Scheldt is often filled with a thick layer of fog on clear and windless mornings.
"When the sun starts to rise the fog slowly disappears, revealing the landscape underneath."
Macro category, runner-up: Mating red-eyed damselflies, by Robert Page, taken in the UK
Image source, Nature TTL / Robert Page
"I have observed and photographed damselflies on the ponds in my local park in London for years."
Macro category, highly commended: Nothing here but this tree, by Caitlin Henderson, taken in Australia
Image source, Nature TTL / Caitlin Henderson
"The lichen huntsman (Pandercetes gracilis) is an incredible species of tree-dwelling spider from Australia's tropical north. Its astounding camouflage enables it to blend perfectly with tree bark and lichens, and it's nearly impossible to spot by day.
"At night, I went searching for these spiders with a torch, using their reflective eye-shine to discover their hiding places in plain sight."
Under-16 category, highly commended: Fox, by Matej Borjancic, taken in Slovenia
Image source, Nature TTL / Matej Borjancic
"My grandfather took me on a tour of the quarry to see if there were any animals there.
"We were lucky; I photographed a young fox as she looked out of her hiding place."


bbc--2020-03-24--African saxophone legend dies of coronavirus

The African saxophone legend Manu Dibango has died in Paris after catching coronavirus .
Dibango – best known for his 1972 song Soul Makossa – is one of the first global stars to die from Covid-19 .
The 86-year-old fused jazz and funk music with traditional sounds from his home country , Cameroon .
“ It is with deep sadness that we announce you the loss of Manu Dibango , our Papy Groove , ” a statement on his official Facebook page read .
His funeral will take place in “ strict privacy ” , the statement read , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email and adding that a tribute will be arranged “ when possible ” .
Born in the Cameroonian city of Douala in 1933 , which at the time was under French colonial rule , Dibango ’ s musical career spanned across more than six decades .
He worked with such notable stars as South Africa 's Ladysmith Black Mambazo and American Herbie Hancock .
In 2009 , the saxophonist filed a lawsuit claiming that Michael Jackson stole a hook from his song , Soul Makossa , for two songs on the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled the case out of court .

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bbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus: Carmakers answer pleas to make medical supplies

Car firms are answering calls from governments to help make more ventilators and face masks to help out during the coronavirus pandemic .
On Monday , Fiat began converting one of its car plants in China to start making about one million masks a month .
The carmaker wants to start production in the coming weeks , wrote its chief executive Mike Manley in an email .
Other major car firms are looking at ways they can shift manufacturing towards ventilators .
General Motors , Ford and Tesla in the US have all pledged their support to offer resources to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carmaker Nissan and Formula 1 teams in the UK .
Major car plants in the US , Europe and Asia have halted production to try to help prevent the spread of coronavirus .
But they are still pledging to help make ventilators and other vital medical equipment .
US President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday : `` Ford , General Motors and Tesla are being given the go ahead to make ventilators and other metal products , FAST !
Go for it auto execs , let 's see how good you are ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators • How easy is it to make more ventilators ?
It came after the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) announced that it had reduced barriers in the medical device approval process to help speed up the production of ventilators .
`` Medical device makers can more easily make changes to existing products , such as changes to suppliers or materials , to help address current manufacturing limitations or supply shortages , '' US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement .
`` Other manufacturers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily repurpose production lines to help increase supply . ''
However , some experts have warned that carmakers may not find it easy to switch production .
Jens Hallek , head of ventilator manufacturer Hamilton Medical , told Wired the materials and the components needed to build a ventilatorare `` highly specific '' and require `` specialised know-how '' .
`` These are extremely sensitive machines with not only a lot of hardware , but also a lot of software .
If one of the components does not work correctly , the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used any more , '' he said .
Former US Defense Department officialstold the Washington Post that it could take more than a yearfor carmakers or aerospace factories to start making ventilators .
Meanwhile , Tesla boss Elon Musk said he had bought 1,255 ventilators from China and had them shipped to Los Angeles .
Last week , Formula 1 teams in the UK said they hoped to find `` a tangible outcome in the next few days '' to help increase the supply of medical equipment .
Working with the government and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts in design , technology and production capabilities who could help out .
Nissan is part of a consortium , including sports car firm McLaren and aerospace company Meggitt , looking to develop a new medical ventilator .
`` We are fully focused on the project , '' McLaren said in a statement , but warned of the `` limited time and scale of the challenge '' .
Indian billionaire Anand Mahindra said his company , The Mahindra Group , would begin work immediately to explore how its factories could make ventilators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tractor maker and India 's biggest electric vehicle manufacturer , according its its website .

"These are extremely sensitive machines with not only a lot of hardware, but also a lot of software. If one of the components does not work correctly, the whole machine shuts down and cannot be used any more," he said.


bbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus: Giuseppe Berardelli among 50 priests killed

An Italian priest who gave a respirator to a younger coronavirus patient he did not know has died of the disease .
Father Giuseppe Berardelli , 72 , died in hospital in Lovere , Bergamo - one of the worst-hit cities in Italy .
At least 50 priests have reportedly been killed by coronavirus in Italy .
The world 's worst affected country with 6,077 deaths so far , Italy has been under prolonged lockdown as it tries to stop the spread of infections from the worst-hit northern region of Lombardy .
Coronavirus has been spreading rapidly across the globe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming more than 16,000 lives .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak There are more than 360,000 confirmed cases worldwide .
Europe is now at the epicentre of the crisis and the US is facing a surge in cases .
Giuseppe Berardelli , the main priest in the town of Casnigo , died last week in Lovere hospital .
According to the hospital , he refused to use a respirator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing to give it to a younger patient , instead .
Residents of Casnigo were reported to have applauded from their windows and balconies as the coffin was taken for burial .
There was no funeral .
On Tuesday , Pope Francis led a prayer for the deceased doctors and priests , `` thanking God for their heroic example in serving those who were sick '' .
What is the situation in Italy ?
Italy shut down most businesses and banned public gatherings nationwide on 12 March as it tried to halt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and most shops have closed , as have schools and universities .
The lockdown has been extended , and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said it has helped prevent `` the collapse of the system '' .
On Tuesday , it reported a slight slowdown in the rate of infection for a third day in a row .
But at more than 600 deaths a day , it is far from bringing the pandemic under control .
Italy has 63,927 people with Covid-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7,432 people who have been discharged from hospital after recovering .
But the number infected could be far higher .
Angelo Borrelli , Italy 's civil protection chief , told newspaper La Repubblica on Tuesday it was `` credible '' to estimate the numbers are 10 times higher in reality .
`` In the next few hours… we will see if the growth curve is really flattening , '' he told the paper .
What is the situation worldwide ?
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned that the coronavirus disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 300,000 cases now confirmed .
It took 67 days from the first reported of Covid-19 to reach 100,000 cases , 11 days for the second 100,000 , and just four days for the third 100,000 .
But WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was still possible to `` change the trajectory '' .
He urged countries to adopt rigorous testing and contact-tracing strategies .
In the UK , Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday night that , with immediate effect , `` people will only be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purposes '' .
The number of people who have died in the UK rose to 335 on Monday .


bbc--2020-03-24--Mammal study explains 'why females live longer'

A new study that looks at lifespan in wild mammals shows that females live substantially longer than males .
The research finds that , on average , females live 18.6 % longer than males from the same species .
This is much larger than the well-studied difference between men and women , which is around 8 % .
The scientists say the differences in these other mammals are due to a combination of sex-specific traits and local environmental factors .
• New rules could spell end of 'throwaway culture' In every human population , women live longer than men , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 people who live to be 110 years old are female .
This pattern , researchers say , has been consistent since the first accurate birth records became available in the 18th Century .
While the same assumption has been held about animal species , large-scale data on mammals in the wild has been lacking , Now , an international team of researchers has examined age-specific mortality estimates for a widely diverse group of 101 species .
In 60 % of the analysed populations , the scientists found that females outlived the males @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifespan that 's 18.6 % longer than males .
`` The magnitude of lifespan and ageing across species is probably an interaction between environmental conditions and sex-specific genetic variations , '' said lead author Dr Jean-Francois Lemaître , from the University of Lyon , France .
He gives the example of bighorn sheep for which the researchers had access to good data on different populations .
Where natural resources were consistently available there was little difference in lifespan .
However , in one location where winters were particularly severe , the males lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheep use lots of resources towards sexual competition , towards the growth of a large body mass , and they might be more sensitive to environmental conditions , '' said Dr Lemaître .
`` So clearly the magnitude of the difference in lifespan is due to the interaction of these sex-specific genetics , the fact that males devote more resources towards specific functions compared with females , and to the local environmental conditions . ''
Even if females lived longer than males , the team found that it did not mean that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ males than females as they get older .
The expected male mortality is always higher , but the rate of mortality is about the same in both genders as they age .
One recent study in this field suggested that the genetic differences between males and females were key .
In humans , our cells contain different chromosomes , depending on gender .
Females have two X chromosomes while males have an X and a Y .
The theory is that the extra X in women has a protective effect against harmful mutations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species .
The author of the new study on mammals says that both pieces of research are complementary .
`` They show that in XX or XY systems , the XX , or the female , lives longer , so clearly there is an effect of sex chromosomes , '' said Dr Lemaître .
`` What we show in our paper is that the difference is very variable across species , meaning there are other factors that need to be considered to explain this variability . ''
The study has been published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Even if females lived longer than males, the team found that it did not mean that the risks of dying are increasing more in males than females as they get older. The expected male mortality is always higher, but the rate of mortality is about the same in both sexes as they age.


bbc--2020-03-24--Albert Uderzo: Asterix co-creator and illustrator dies aged 92

Albert Uderzo , who drew the Asterix comic books , has died at the age of 92 .
The books , about the adventures of Gaulish warriors fighting against the Roman Empire , first appeared in the Franco-Belgian magazine Pilote in 1959 .
Urderzo took over the writing following the death of his friend and original author René Goscinny in 1977 .
The series continues to this day under new ownership , with the most recent book , Asterix and the Chieftain 's Daughter , released last October .
`` Albert Uderzo died in his sleep at his home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not linked to the coronavirus , '' his son-in-law Bernard de Choisy told the AFP news agency .
In 2011 , the Italian-born illustrator handed over the reins to a younger artist after 52 years drawing the famous comic book hero .
A few years later , Uderzo ended a seven-year legal battle with his daughter Sylvie - amicably - about the family estate .
A signed original illustration for an early Asterix comic book cover sold for more than 1.4m Euros ( £1.25m ) at a Paris auction in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 's Desert Island Discs , screenwriter Russell T Davies chose to take `` the finest book ever made '' , Asterix and the Roman Agent , to the fictional island .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"At the time it was important to try to set yourself apart from the American superheroes, or certain reporters one could mention [Tintin].


bbc--2020-03-23--'Uh oh' - Trump backs away as official says she had fever

President Trump said that over the next 15 days , Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 @ @

'Uh oh' - Trump backs away as official says she had fever. Video, 00:00:36'Uh oh' - Trump backs away as official says she had fever


bbc--2020-03-24--A visual guide to the pandemic

A visual guide to the pandemic

Coronavirus has been spreading rapidly across the world , affecting more than 160 countries and claiming more than 16,000 lives .
There are more than 380,000 confirmed cases worldwide .
Europe is now at the epicentre of the crisis and the US is facing a surge in cases .
This series of maps and charts will help you understand what is going on .
The virus is spreading rapidly in many countries , with more than 300,000 confirmed cases outside China , according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University .
The true figure for the number of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted .
Italy has the highest death toll of any single country in the world with more than 6,000 deaths , many in the worst-hit region of Lombardy .
The US , Spain , France and Germany also have a large number of confirmed cases .
The US now has the third highest figure globally , and more than 100 deaths have been recorded in New York City , according to John Hopkins data .
President Donald Trump has declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban on European countries , including the UK and Ireland , as well as China and Iran .
Mr Trump has also ordered the deployment of National Guard troops in New York , California and Washington - the three states hardest hit by the virus outbreak .
They will help deliver medical aid and set up medical stations as the number of infections and deaths continues to rise .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described his country as being `` at war '' as the number of cases there also escalates .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 11 March .
This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
The WHO said it took more than three months to reach the first 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide , but only 12 days to reach the next 100,000 .
More than 80,000 people in China were diagnosed with the infection after its emergence in the city of Wuhan , Hubei province , in December .
China says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the disease , and that all new recorded cases are imported infections from other countries .
It is planning to partially lift the lockdown in Wuhan on 8 April .
Other countries around the world are ramping up measures to try to slow the virus down .
Governments have halted flights , locked down towns and cities and urged people to stay at home .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health 2 .
The virus has killed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has the most confirmed cases outside China , where the virus originated .
While Italy has about 64,000 confirmed cases compared with China 's 81,000 , its death toll of 6,077 far exceeds China 's official toll of 3,281 deaths .
However , Italy 's daily confirmed deaths from the virus have dropped for two consecutive days .
The majority of Italy 's deaths have occurred in the northern Lombardy region , which contains the city of Milan .
Hospitals there are reportedly at breaking point and retired doctors and nurses have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities have imposed stringent restrictions , closing nearly all shops , bars , hairdressers , restaurants and cafes .
Schools , gyms , museums , nightclubs and other venues have been shut , and people have been ordered to stay at home and seek permission for essential travel in a bid to slow the virus 's spread .
The lockdown , imposed on 12 March , has now been extended beyond the original 25 March end date .
A number of airlines , including British Airways , EasyJet and Ryanair , have cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other European countries have seen steep rises in infections and deaths , and the region has become the new epicentre of the crisis .
As well as Italy , Spain , France , Germany and the UK now have thousands of confirmed cases each .
Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70 % of its population - some 58 million people - could contract coronavirus .
However , some German virologists dispute the high figure , suggesting a worst-case scenario of 40,000 cases .
Spain , which now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside China , after Italy and the US , brought in a state of emergency on 14 March .
In the UK , confirmed cases stand at 6,650 and 335 people have died .
On Monday 23 March Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a further clampdown in the UK , urging people to stay at home to avoid unnecessary transmission of the disease .
He said the tightening of restrictions would last for an initial period of three weeks .
UK outbreak in graphics : How many cases are in your area ?

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This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.
** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.
Source: Johns Hopkins University and national public health agencies


bbc--2020-03-24--Teen figure skater's Special Olympics dream

Figure skater Ornela is training to compete in the Special Olympics World Games next year .
The 13-year-old Latvian has @ @ @ @ @ skating ability has already won her trophies .

Figure skater Ornela is training to compete in the Special Olympics World Games next year.
The 13-year-old Latvian has Down's syndrome and her skating ability has already won her trophies.
She spoke to BBC Russian's Alexey Gusev.


bbc--2020-03-23--Coronavirus: The best and worst celebrity isolation videos

Just like the rest of us , the world 's top celebrities have all been told to stay at home during these strangest of times .
Being natural-born entertainers and creatives , though , many musicians , actors and artists have been keen to share their experiences of self-isolation .
Some of their videos have captured the collective mood of the online community , while others have landed a little wide of the mark .
We 'll let you decide which is which ... To fight the spread of Covid-19 , we are all being advised to wash our hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this regard is rock ' n ' roll star Liam Gallagher .
The former Oasis frontman treated his followers to a series of kitchen sink re-workings of his old band 's songs , such as Soap-ersonic and Champagne Soap-ernova .
He really ought to wash his mouth out too , as most of them come with a language warning .
That said , Wonderwash ( above ) is good clean fun .
2 .
Madonna 's ray of light in the bath Everywhere is pretty much closed now , right ?
So if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better time to enjoy a long soak in the bath .
The Queen of Pop , Madonna , was quick to realise this and she had another revelation in the tub too , about just how democratising a worldwide pandemic is .
`` That 's the thing about Covid-19 .
It does n't care about how rich you are , how famous you are , how funny you are , how smart you are , where you live , how old you are , what amazing stories you can tell , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naked in a milky bath full of rose petals , as you do .
`` It 's the great equaliser and what 's terrible about it is what 's great about it . ''
Looking after our mental health will be a key component to getting through this crisis and with that in mind another US singer , Lizzo , invited fans to indulge in a spot of musical meditation .
The session began with the signature sound of the Grammy-winner 's flute before she delivered her soothing mantra .
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fear can spread so much negative energy and fear can spread the disease even quicker than the disease can , '' she said .
`` When I got back to LA I noticed that the fear was heightened here .
So I wanted to empower everybody and I wanted to let you guys know that we have power , you have power .
You have power to eliminate fear . ''
OK , so bedtime might be an especially tricky time for parents over the coming weeks and months , what with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've already used up all of your best sleep-inducing material in week one of isolation then do not fear , as some movie stars have got your back .
US actress and activist Jennifer Garner teamed up with fellow actor Amy Adams , to tell some tales to get kids off to sleep and raise some money for charity in the process .
The above edition of Save With Stories sees their Oscar-winning friend Reese Witherspoon bring Uni the Unicorn to life ( no spoilers ) .
Aside from providing bedtime stories , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out some cooking classes too .
So assuming you can find the right ingredients at the supermarket , why not have a go at bettering the American 's English muffins .
5 .
Cardi B is as angry , scared and confused as we 've all been The hip-hop sensation was raging to her 60 million plus followers , about what she felt was a lack of information and action from the US government , when compared with China - where the virus originated and now appears to be under better control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayors and citizens were working with `` urgency and speed '' in what he described as a `` war against the virus '' .
During an explosive Instagram Live session at the weekend ( so explosive we ca n't show it here I 'm afraid ) Cardi went looking for answers and , as usual , was taking no prisoners .
`` When they put Wuhan , China , in quarantine… they were spraying [ stuff ] in the streets .
They were knocking on each door taking people 's temperature , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I have the coronavirus right now , OK ?
How am I supposed to know I got it ? ''
The best advice the BBC can offer at the moment can be found here .
While we are all self-isolating - and , in many cases , working from home - we are still encouraged to take a responsible stroll outside each day , to blow away the cobwebs .
Comic actor and musician Steve Martin did precisely that and took his banjo with him .
Look how he manages to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metres from all the other potentially banjo-wielding walkers lurking in the shrubbery .
Inspired by scenes of quarantined Italians singing to each other on balconies , Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot shared a star-studded sing-along to John Lennon 's Imagine .
Will Ferrell , Amy Adams , Kristen Wiig , Sia and Cara Delevingne all took part and clearly they all meant well .
But the rich and famous collaborators were soon mocked mercilessly online by people questioning their choice of song , which imagines a utopia with `` no possessions '' ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in handy for them round about now .
Elton John once levelled similar accusations of hypocrisy at Lennon , sending him a cover of the song with new lyrics : `` Imagine six apartments , it is n't hard to do , one is full of fur coats , another 's full of shoes , '' he paraphrased .
Thankfully , Matthew Fearon 's humorous alternative version of the track , Imagine ( There 's No Bog Roll ) - relating to the unexplained and widespread panic-buying of toilet paper - soon began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
8 .
Kevin Bacon stays home for his wife ( pass it on ) In the parlour game Six Degrees of Separation contestants are challenged to find the shortest path between an arbitary actor and Kevin Bacon .
The US actor was once described as being at `` the centre of the Hollywood universe '' , as he 's apparently in contact with anyone who is anyone .
Obviously we are now trying to avoid contact with people , so as a result Bacon challenged us all to name who we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
He kicked things off by choosing his wife Kyra Sedgwick .
`` It 's now so important to stay home and keep our distance from others if you are able , '' said Bacon .
`` It 's one way we can help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and save lives .
The more of us who can , make it safer for those who ca n't . ''
In lieu of any actual concerts , singers like Coldplay 's Chris Martin , Christine and the Queens , Yungblud and L @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
None of them , however , quite drummed home the health and safety message in song form as well as Neil Diamond .
The US crooner kindly offered up his karaoke classic , Sweet Caroline , as a memorable and potentially life-saving guide .
`` Hands / Washing hands / Reaching out / Do n't touch me / I wo n't touch you '' sang Diamond , curled up next to an electric fire with his furry friend .
`` I know we 're going through a rough time right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said beforehand .
`` I think maybe if we sing together , we 'll feel just a little bit better . ''
Sing along at home if you know the new words - which , of course , you now do .
10 .
Kate Nash rocks out on the recorder Last but by no means least , singer-turned-actor Kate Nash took the time out to show that , when all of this is hopefully over , she could at the very least earn some decent dosh as a busker .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover you 've ever heard played on a penny whistle , but we reckon it must at least be in the top one .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

Coronavirus: The best and worst celebrity isolation videos Published 23 March 2020
Image caption, Stars have been filming and streaming videos from self-isolation
Just like the rest of us, the world's top celebrities have all been told to stay at home during these strangest of times.
Being natural-born entertainers and creatives, though, many musicians, actors and artists have been keen to share their experiences of self-isolation.
Some of their videos have captured the collective mood of the online community, while others have landed a little wide of the mark.
We'll let you decide which is which...
1. Liam Gallagher is feeling Soap-ersonic
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To fight the spread of Covid-19, we are all being advised to wash our hands thoroughly, and leading the way in this regard is rock 'n' roll star Liam Gallagher.
The former Oasis frontman treated his followers to a series of kitchen sink re-workings of his old band's songs, such as Soap-ersonic and Champagne Soap-ernova.
He really ought to wash his mouth out too, as most of them come with a language warning. That said, Wonderwash (above) is good clean fun.
2. Madonna's ray of light in the bath
Image source, Madonna
Everywhere is pretty much closed now, right? So if you can, there's never been a better time to enjoy a long soak in the bath.
The Queen of Pop, Madonna, was quick to realise this and she had another revelation in the tub too, about just how democratising a worldwide pandemic is.
"That's the thing about Covid-19. It doesn't care about how rich you are, how famous you are, how funny you are, how smart you are, where you live, how old you are, what amazing stories you can tell," the star pontificated, while filming herself naked in a milky bath full of rose petals, as you do.
"It's the great equaliser and what's terrible about it is what's great about it."
3. Mindfulness with Lizzo
This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Instagram The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip instagram post by lizzobeeating Allow Instagram content? This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. End of instagram post by lizzobeeating
Looking after our mental health will be a key component to getting through this crisis and with that in mind another US singer, Lizzo, invited fans to indulge in a spot of musical meditation.
The session began with the signature sound of the Grammy-winner's flute before she delivered her soothing mantra.
"I think that fear can spread so much hatred and fear can spread so much negative energy and fear can spread the disease even quicker than the disease can," she said.
"When I got back to LA I noticed that the fear was heightened here. So I wanted to empower everybody and I wanted to let you guys know that we have power, you have power. You have power to eliminate fear."
Amen to that.
4. Hollywood stars have bedtime boxed off
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OK, so bedtime might be an especially tricky time for parents over the coming weeks and months, what with all the pent-up energy.
If you've already used up all of your best sleep-inducing material in week one of isolation then do not fear, as some movie stars have got your back.
US actress and activist Jennifer Garner teamed up with fellow actor Amy Adams, to tell some tales to get kids off to sleep and raise some money for charity in the process. The above edition of Save With Stories sees their Oscar-winning friend Reese Witherspoon bring Uni the Unicorn to life (no spoilers).
Aside from providing bedtime stories, domestic goddess Garner has also been dishing out some cooking classes too. So assuming you can find the right ingredients at the supermarket, why not have a go at bettering the American's English muffins.
5. Cardi B is as angry, scared and confused as we've all been
Image source, Cardi B / Instagram
The hip-hop sensation was raging to her 60 million plus followers, about what she felt was a lack of information and action from the US government, when compared with China - where the virus originated and now appears to be under better control.
President Donald Trump has said governors, mayors and citizens were working with "urgency and speed" in what he described as a "war against the virus".
During an explosive Instagram Live session at the weekend (so explosive we can't show it here I'm afraid) Cardi went looking for answers and, as usual, was taking no prisoners.
"When they put Wuhan, China, in quarantine… they were spraying [stuff] in the streets. They were knocking on each door taking people's temperature," she noted.
"Let's say that I have the coronavirus right now, OK? How am I supposed to know I got it?"
The best advice the BBC can offer at the moment can be found here.
6. Steve Martin takes a break with his banjo
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While we are all self-isolating - and, in many cases, working from home - we are still encouraged to take a responsible stroll outside each day, to blow away the cobwebs.
Comic actor and musician Steve Martin did precisely that and took his banjo with him.
Look how he manages to keep a safe distance of at least two metres from all the other potentially banjo-wielding walkers lurking in the shrubbery.
7. Imagine no cringe covers
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Inspired by scenes of quarantined Italians singing to each other on balconies, Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot shared a star-studded sing-along to John Lennon's Imagine.
Will Ferrell, Amy Adams, Kristen Wiig, Sia and Cara Delevingne all took part and clearly they all meant well. But the rich and famous collaborators were soon mocked mercilessly online by people questioning their choice of song, which imagines a utopia with "no possessions"... the type of which might be coming in handy for them round about now.
Elton John once levelled similar accusations of hypocrisy at Lennon, sending him a cover of the song with new lyrics: "Imagine six apartments, it isn't hard to do, one is full of fur coats, another's full of shoes," he paraphrased.
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Thankfully, Matthew Fearon's humorous alternative version of the track, Imagine (There's No Bog Roll) - relating to the unexplained and widespread panic-buying of toilet paper - soon began doing the rounds on platforms like WhatsApp.
8. Kevin Bacon stays home for his wife (pass it on)
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In the parlour game Six Degrees of Separation contestants are challenged to find the shortest path between an arbitary actor and Kevin Bacon.
The US actor was once described as being at "the centre of the Hollywood universe", as he's apparently in contact with anyone who is anyone.
Obviously we are now trying to avoid contact with people, so as a result Bacon challenged us all to name who we were staying home for and then challenge six others.
He kicked things off by choosing his wife Kyra Sedgwick.
"It's now so important to stay home and keep our distance from others if you are able," said Bacon.
"It's one way we can help prevent the spread of Coronavirus and save lives. The more of us who can, make it safer for those who can't."
9. 'Hands... Washing hands'
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In lieu of any actual concerts, singers like Coldplay's Chris Martin, U2's Bono, Christine and the Queens, Yungblud and L Devine have been uploading performances (in some cases live and interactive) for their fans. None of them, however, have quite drummed home the health and safety message in song form as well as Neil Diamond.
The US crooner kindly offered up his karaoke classic, Sweet Caroline, as a memorable and potentially life-saving guide.
"Hands / Washing hands / Reaching out / Don't touch me / I won't touch you" sang Diamond, curled up next to an electric fire with his furry friend.
"I know we're going through a rough time right now, but I love ya," he said beforehand. "I think maybe if we sing together, we'll feel just a little bit better."
Sing along at home if you know the new words - which, of course, you now do.
10. Kate Nash rocks out on the recorder
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Last but by no means least, singer-turned-actor Kate Nash took the time out to show that, when all of this is hopefully over, she could at the very least earn some decent dosh as a busker.
We're not saying this is the best Metallica cover you've ever heard played on a penny whistle, but we reckon it must at least be in the top one.


bbc--2020-03-24--Ukraine's missing people amid ongoing conflict

Since the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014 , the Red Cross has documented about 2,000 people @ @ @ @ @ of them still have n't been found .
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a @ @ @ @ @ part of peace negotiations and the families of many of the missing hope this will @ @ @ @ @ many have heard nothing of their loved ones since they disappeared .
The BBC ’ @ @ @ @ @ one family waiting for news .

Since the start of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, the Red Cross has documented about 2,000 people who went missing. Many of them still haven't been found.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a new prisoner exchange scheme as part of peace negotiations and the families of many of the missing hope this will bring them home.
But many have heard nothing of their loved ones since they disappeared.
The BBC’s Abdujalil Abdurasulov spoke to one family waiting for news.


bbc--2020-03-24--Remote working: Seven tips for successful video meetings

Many people are working from home for the first time , since governments have called for remote working to help @ @ @ @ @ Teams that traditionally met in the office are turning to video software instead .
Guenaelle @ @ @ @ @ consultancy gives seven tips for holding better video meetings .
Produced , filmed and edited @ @ @ @ @

Many people are working from home for the first time, since governments have called for remote working to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Teams that traditionally met in the office are turning to video software instead. Guenaelle Watson of the 360 Workplace consultancy gives seven tips for holding better video meetings.
Produced, filmed and edited at home by Dougal Shaw


bbc--2020-03-24--Coronavirus: How did Australia's Ruby Princess cruise debacle happen?

On Thursday , the Ruby Princess cruise ship docked in Sydney with dozens of undiagnosed coronavirus cases onboard .
Almost 2,700 passengers - some coughing and spluttering - were allowed to leave the ship at Sydney Harbour , catching trains , buses and even overseas flights to get home .
More than 130 people from the cruise have now tested positive , making it the biggest single source of infections in Australia .
One passenger died in hospital on Tuesday .
The saga has caused much anger : why was the ship allowed to dock and unload people ?
Passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation was handled by ship operator Princess Cruises and Australian authorities .
Elisa McCafferty , an Australian woman who flew home to London with her husband immediately after disembarking , told the BBC : `` Nothing was said at anytime about anyone being sick onboard .
It was a distinct lack of information coming through from Princess the entire time . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?
• STRESS : How to protect your mental health • MAPS AND CHARTS : Visual guide to the outbreak She only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bags at Heathrow Airport .
`` I turned on my phone and I started getting all these notifications from people back in Australia saying 'there 's been confirmed cases on the Ruby , ' '' she said .
`` And I was just absolutely petrified .
We had just been on two full flights - what if we had infected someone ? ''
She said she now had a dry cough , fever , body aches and fatigue - and they were self-isolating at home .
They were also concerned about their elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip too .
Other passengers recalled coming into contact with sick people on the boat and said there were no warnings .
`` I think that they let us down , '' said Bill Beerens , a Sydney man who tested positive for the virus in hospital on the day he disembarked .
`` I do honestly believe that they [ cruise ship management ] knew what was going on and they just wanted us off the boat , '' he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
Elderly couple Rona and Michael Doubrin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cruise but had not been concerned , because they had not been told to practice social distancing .
`` People were going down to the pool , we were lying in the sun , eating in the dining room , dancing , seeing shows , '' Ms Doubrin told Daily Mail Australia .
`` We would have isolated ourselves in the cabin if we 'd known .
We 're not spring chickens - we 're high risk . ''
After an 11-day voyage , the ship returned to the city before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand leg as the nation announced a travel ban .
At the time , according to NSW Health , about a dozen passengers reported feeling unwell and they had swabs taken for Covid-19 .
An ambulance took a passenger to hospital .
( The woman , aged in her 70s , died on Tuesday , authorities said . )
But other passengers on board were n't told of this .
Instead , thousands streamed off the boat at Circular Quay , just across from the Sydney Opera House .
The bustling area leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transit links to the airport and outer suburbs .
Five days earlier , Australia began ordering anyone returning from overseas to self-isolate for 14 days - a directive which applied to the cruise passengers .
But the Ruby Princess passengers were n't screened and were unmonitored when they left the ship .
About a third were international passengers - they were told they could travel overseas immediately or self-isolate in Sydney for a fortnight .
`` They even said , you can get a train home , '' said Ms McCafferty .
New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed national guidelines which allow passengers to disembark if the route is considered `` low risk '' .
The Ruby Princess was given that status because it had been to New Zealand only .
One day after the ship docked , officials revealed the first cases of Covid-19 confirmed in three people who had been on board - two passengers and a crew member .
It prompted a scramble to track down everyone else who had been on board .
And at least 21 of the 48 people who had tested positive by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By Tuesday , the total number of cases linked to the ship had climbed to 133 .
How did this happen ?
It is hardly the first cruise ship to see infections - the Diamond Princess , also operated by Princess Cruises , drew global focus in February .
Its passengers were quarantined for almost a month off the coast of Japan before being repatriated .
More than 600 cases were linked to the ship .
Governments at Australia 's state and federal level have pointed blame at each other .
Princess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Saturday , The Australian newspaper reported that the ship had logged 158 ill passengers on its previous voyage to New Zealand .
Nine people were tested upon arrival in Sydney on 8 March - and their tests results came back negative .
However , two passengers from that journey were found to have tested positive after flying home to Darwin .
NSW port and health authorities declined to reply to BBC questions about these reports .
What have authorities said ?
On Monday , Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the mistake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters on Saturday : `` With the benefit of what we now know ...
I 'd have said 'yeah , maybe we should hold them on the ship . '
'' But he rejected Canberra 's accusations that state officials had not properly checked cruise ships upon entry .
`` New South Wales is actually going over and above what the national guidelines are , '' said Mr Hazzard .
State health officials stressed they had run assessments `` well beyond federal requirements '' for 63 ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others noted that while Canberra had enacted a ban on cruise ships arriving , it had allowed four including the Ruby Princess to be exempt .
Four other cruise ships into Sydney have been linked to confirmed Covid-19 cases .
The Ovation of the Seas ship , which docked in Sydney a day before the Ruby Princess , has seen five positive tests .
Health officials say infected patients are in self-isolation or in hospital .
All passengers have been told to quarantine themselves .
In the wake of the Ruby Princess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it would allow a cruise ship to dock there .
The European ship Magnifica is carrying 1,700 passengers - about 250 of whom are reported to have respiratory illnesses .
It was allowed to dock on Tuesday to refuel , but all on board were banned from disembarking .
Premier Mark McGowan had stressed : `` I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here . ''

On Saturday, The Australian newspaper reported that the ship had logged 158 ill passengers on its previous voyage to New Zealand. Nine people were tested upon arrival in Sydney on 8 March - and their tests results came back negative. However, two passengers from that journey were found to have tested positive after flying home to Darwin.


bbc--2020-03-24--Could synthetic fish be a better catch of the day?

Overfishing has depleted numbers of wild fish , and fish farms meet much of the growing demand .
Could we one day be eating `` fish '' grown from cells in a factory , as a number of start-ups are planning ?
`` Caviar is no longer a luxury good , '' says David Shenson who owns four fish farms in Sacramento , California , raising sturgeon for their eggs , better known as caviar .
Business is booming says Mr Shenson and he 's not just being self-promotional : The global caviar market reached £670m ( $ 854m ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by close to 10 % by 2025 , according to market research firm Androit Market .
But the caviar market might have to rely more and more on farmed fish , the number of wild sturgeon in major river basins has declined by 70 % over the last century , according to figures from the World Wildlife Fund .
Overfishing and global warming have long wreacked havoc on fish stocks , and a third of marine fish stocks are still being fished at biologically unsustainable levels , according to the UN .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fish , '' says Daniel Pauly , a professor of fisheries at the Institute of Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia .
`` And the situation , the trend line , is getting worse every year . ''
`` Maybe centuries ago we could live off hunting for our food but we ca n't live off hunting today and fishing is hunting .
The notion of hunting in the 21st century to feed 10 billion people is absurd . ''
A handful of start-up firms think they might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing fish `` meat '' in the lab .
Mainly based in Silicon Valley with a couple in Europe and Asia , they have developed techniques to extract fish stem cells and grow them into commercial quantities of edible flesh .
Stem cells are a type of cell , found in embryos or adult creatures - which can grow into a number of different specialised cells .
They can grow into the muscle cells which make up most the parts of fish people like to eat .
`` Picture it like 3D printing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' explains Michael Selden , chief executive and co-founder of lab-grown fish start-up Finless Foods .
His company 's faux fish will come out as ground fish as opposed to whole fillets because developing , from scratch , skin and bone and blood is n't yet feasible .
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Finless Foods and similar start-ups have n't yet commercialised their products and they still require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might not be on the market for two or three years .
Wild Type , based in San Francisco , has similar ambitions , but it is focused on Pacific salmon .
Making fish in a lab sounds like it could be pricey for both producer and consumer , but chief executive Justin Kolbeck hopes to make the fish affordable at some point .
`` Our goal is to eventually drive down the price of our salmon to have its price run lower than conventionally-harvested salmon . ''
Shiok Meats in Singapore has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as shrimp .
It creates lab-grown fish by taking a small sample of stem cells from a real shrimp and growing them in large quantities in a large bioreactor chamber , similar to the huge stainless steel tanks brewers use to manufacture beer .
The tanks maintain a constant pressure and temperature and bathe the cells in gases and a nutrient-rich liquid .
After a couple weeks the meat is ready .
`` [ It 's ] the same meat that would have come from a slaughtered animal but with no animal slaughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sriram , chief executive and co-founder of Shiok Meats .
The company plans to launch its minced shrimp product in 2021 , distributing it first in Singapore and then across East Asia .
He is excited about dubbing his firm 's product `` clean meat '' due to the lack of antibiotics and lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions , compared to traditional farming .
However , the environmental claims have yet to be fully verified .
While cell-based meats have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional protein sources , they will still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says Simon Somogyi , a professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario , Canada .
`` Where is that energy is coming from ?
Are they using carbonized or renewable energy ? ''
he asks .
Still , Mr Somogyi thinks lab-grown fish is perhaps an even more promising market than lab-grown beef .
`` Fish has a better business case going forward than red meat because much of the volume of finned fish is turned into minced fish , and put into food such as fish fingers and fish burgers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category . ''
Wild Type 's Mr Kolbeck envisions a future where fish lovers will have similar options to meat ( and meat-alternative ) eaters .
`` From real meat to plant-based substitutes to cell-based meat ... one company wo n't be the winner , but rather the winner will be increased choice and transparency in our food systems . ''

Sturgeon is one of the fish that has come under pressure in the wild, the number of wild sturgeon in major river basins has declined by 70% over the last century, according to figures from the World Wildlife Fund.


bbc--2020-03-24--England '66, Man Utd '99, Arsenal '04 - the iconic starting XIs who rarely played together

Liverpool 's first-choice starting XI are already on their way to iconic status courtesy of performances over the past two seasons , including a stunning run of form to go more than a year unbeaten and lead the Premier League by a massive 25 points in 2019-20 .
Would it surprise you , then , to learn that the 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in February was the first time this side had started a game together ?
It is not such a unique phenomenon , though .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history barely ever began a game together .
Injuries , suspensions and , more recently , squad rotation , along with perhaps a bit of misremembering on our part , all contribute to make some of football 's most revered sides no more than a myth .
The Premier League era is awash with them .
There are , of course , also notable examples from pre-1992 in England .
One such case is the one which inspired this piece - that the iconic Don Revie Leeds side of the late 1960s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But before we have a look at the more recent examples - and seeing as we are in what was supposed to be an international break - let 's have a look at arguably England 's most iconic XI .
Some people are on the pitch ...
Beating West Germany 4-2 to win the 1966 World Cup earned this line-up legendary status but they actually only played together six times .
One of the chief reasons they started so few games together is Jimmy Greaves - the forgotten man of that World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hat-trick in the final but he probably would not have featured in the game at all had Greaves - the country 's all-time leading scorer at the time - not been injured in the last of the group games , against France .
This opened the door to Hurst , who scored the only goal in the quarter-final win over Argentina , kept his place for the semi-final with Portugal and got the nod from boss Alf Ramsey for the final , despite Greaves being fit .
That final XI would play three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greaves was restored and players like Alan Mullery and Brian Labone came to greater prominence .
They were undefeated as a side and went out in style with a 5-1 win over Wales in a qualifier for the 1968 European Championship .
How about a more recent , famous incarnation of the England side - the country 's supposed `` Golden Generation '' ?
They never once started an international together .
This is mainly due to Rio Ferdinand 's suspension in 2004 for missing a drugs test , which kept him out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Portugal , followed by Paul Scholes ' retirement from international football immediately after that tournament .
But even if you replace Ferdinand with Sol Campbell , this XI only started four games .
Moving on to the Premier League and we 'll start with the side that dominated the newly-branded division 's initial seasons - Sir Alex Ferguson 's early-1990s Manchester United .
Solid at the back , with grit in the middle , pace and trickery out wide and a mixture of flair and finishing up top , this iteration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years , one forming part of a Double in 1993-94 .
But the above XI would start just six league games - winning them all .
Extended to cup games , this becomes 12 matches .
Unsurprisingly and no doubt part of the reason behind their status , they did not lose a single game , only drawing one - the 1993 Community Shield with Arsenal , which they won on penalties .
The likes of Bryan Robson , Brian McClair and Lee Sharpe played a significant role during that time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fan at Crystal Palace disrupting the side before Andrew Cole 's arrival and Mark Hughes ' departure signalled the end of it .
Interestingly , the side that preceded this , which has McClair in place of Roy Keane and Sharpe on the right instead of Andrei Kanchelskis , is the XI that has started the most games in Premier League history .
They played together 19 times in total .
Another United side of the Premier League era is arguably even more iconic and also more of a myth - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who remarkably started just one single league game together ( a 1-0 win at Coventry on 20 February 1999 ) and two matches in total , the other being the Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Inter Milan .
Injuries meant Giggs was in and out of the side that season , with Jesper Blomqvist his regular deputy , while the squad was replete with alternate talent in the likes of Phil Neville , Henning Berg , Nicky Butt , Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer .
The Arsenal side that went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most iconic of the Premier League era .
Would it surprise you to learn that this side started only two league games together for the Gunners ?
The two matches in question give us just a small glimpse of the potency that side possessed - both wins , one to put a major rival to the sword , the other to seal that undefeated season .
It is easy to forget that Ray Parlour played a prominent role that season , starting 16 of their league games , as did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the likes of Sylvain Wiltord , Pascal Cygan and Jose Antonio Reyes chipped in .
The following season saw Gilberto Silva sidelined for seven months because of injury and the early rise to prominence of a young Cesc Fabregas .
It is harder to nail down iconic starting XIs the more recent you look , with managers increasingly rotating their sides to cope with the demands of the modern game .
Jose Mourinho had the luxury of a large , expensively assembled and talented squad at his disposal during his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the XI that probably springs to mind , particularly from that 95-point season in 2004-05 .
Well , this XI never started a competitive game together .
You can replace Bridge with Gallas at left-back or fast-forward a year and bring Michael Essien into midfield and push Cole into Duff 's spot and it still does n't have a match under its belt .
Before you know it you are swapping in and out Eidar Gudjohnsen , Tiago , Alexei Smertin , Geremi and Mateja Kezman and only succeeding in making the side @ @ @ @ @

Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid was notable for being a rare defeat - but also for being the first time this XI had started a game together
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Salah.
Liverpool's first-choice starting XI are already on their way to iconic status courtesy of performances over the past two seasons, including a stunning run of form to go more than a year unbeaten and lead the Premier League by a massive 25 points in 2019-20.
Would it surprise you, then, to learn that the 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in February was the first time this side had started a game together?
It is not such a unique phenomenon, though. Some of the most iconic starting XIs in football history barely ever began a game together.
Injuries, suspensions and, more recently, squad rotation, along with perhaps a bit of misremembering on our part, all contribute to make some of football's most revered sides no more than a myth.
The Premier League era is awash with them. There are, of course, also notable examples from pre-1992 in England.
One such case is the one which inspired this piece - that the iconic Don Revie Leeds side of the late 1960s and early 70s started just one game together.
But before we have a look at the more recent examples - and seeing as we are in what was supposed to be an international break - let's have a look at arguably England's most iconic XI.
Some people are on the pitch...
Beating West Germany 4-2 to win the 1966 World Cup earned this line-up legendary status but they actually only played together six times.
One of the chief reasons they started so few games together is Jimmy Greaves - the forgotten man of that World Cup triumph.
Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the final but he probably would not have featured in the game at all had Greaves - the country's all-time leading scorer at the time - not been injured in the last of the group games, against France.
This opened the door to Hurst, who scored the only goal in the quarter-final win over Argentina, kept his place for the semi-final with Portugal and got the nod from boss Alf Ramsey for the final, despite Greaves being fit.
That final XI would play three more games after the World Cup before Greaves was restored and players like Alan Mullery and Brian Labone came to greater prominence.
They were undefeated as a side and went out in style with a 5-1 win over Wales in a qualifier for the 1968 European Championship.
England 1966 World Cup-winners games together Opponents Competition Venue Score Argentina 1966 World Cup QF Wembley 1-0 Portugal 1966 World Cup SF Wembley 2-1 West Germany 1966 World Cup F Wembley 4-2 Northern Ireland 1968 Euro qualifier Windsor Park 2-0 Czechoslovakia Friendly Wembley 0-0 Wales 1968 Euro qualifier Wembley 5-1
Golden boys?
How about a more recent, famous incarnation of the England side - the country's supposed "Golden Generation"?
They never once started an international together.
This is mainly due to Rio Ferdinand's suspension in 2004 for missing a drugs test, which kept him out of that year's European Championship finals in Portugal, followed by Paul Scholes' retirement from international football immediately after that tournament.
But even if you replace Ferdinand with Sol Campbell, this XI only started four games.
Fergie time
Moving on to the Premier League and we'll start with the side that dominated the newly-branded division's initial seasons - Sir Alex Ferguson's early-1990s Manchester United.
Solid at the back, with grit in the middle, pace and trickery out wide and a mixture of flair and finishing up top, this iteration of United won two Premier League titles in three years, one forming part of a Double in 1993-94. But the above XI would start just six league games - winning them all.
Man Utd XI 1993-95 league games together Opponents Date Venue Score Tottenham 15/01/1994 White Hart Lane 1-0 Everton 22/01/1994 Old Trafford 1-0 QPR 05/02/1994 Loftus Road 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday 16/03/1994 Old Trafford 5-0 Leeds 27/04/1994 Elland Road 2-0 Ipswich 01/04/1994 Portman Road 2-1
Extended to cup games, this becomes 12 matches. Unsurprisingly and no doubt part of the reason behind their status, they did not lose a single game, only drawing one - the 1993 Community Shield with Arsenal, which they won on penalties.
The likes of Bryan Robson, Brian McClair and Lee Sharpe played a significant role during that time, with Eric Cantona's suspension for attacking a fan at Crystal Palace disrupting the side before Andrew Cole's arrival and Mark Hughes' departure signalled the end of it.
Interestingly, the side that preceded this, which has McClair in place of Roy Keane and Sharpe on the right instead of Andrei Kanchelskis, is the XI that has started the most games in Premier League history.
They played together 19 times in total.
Another United side of the Premier League era is arguably even more iconic and also more of a myth - the club's revered Treble winners of 1998-99, who remarkably started just one single league game together (a 1-0 win at Coventry on 20 February 1999) and two matches in total, the other being the Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Inter Milan.
Injuries meant Giggs was in and out of the side that season, with Jesper Blomqvist his regular deputy, while the squad was replete with alternate talent in the likes of Phil Neville, Henning Berg, Nicky Butt, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Invincibles?
The Arsenal side that went a whole season unbeaten in 2003-04 is one of the most iconic of the Premier League era.
Would it surprise you to learn that this side started only two league games together for the Gunners?
The two matches in question give us just a small glimpse of the potency that side possessed - both wins, one to put a major rival to the sword, the other to seal that undefeated season.
Arsenal 'Invincibles' league games together Opponents Date Venue Score Liverpool 09/04/2004 Highbury 4-2 Leicester 15/05/2004 Highbury 2-1
It is easy to forget that Ray Parlour played a prominent role that season, starting 16 of their league games, as did Edu, who began 13 of them, while the likes of Sylvain Wiltord, Pascal Cygan and Jose Antonio Reyes chipped in.
The following season saw Gilberto Silva sidelined for seven months because of injury and the early rise to prominence of a young Cesc Fabregas.
Special ones?
It is harder to nail down iconic starting XIs the more recent you look, with managers increasingly rotating their sides to cope with the demands of the modern game.
Jose Mourinho had the luxury of a large, expensively assembled and talented squad at his disposal during his first spell at Chelsea, but this is the XI that probably springs to mind, particularly from that 95-point season in 2004-05.
Well, this XI never started a competitive game together. You can replace Bridge with Gallas at left-back or fast-forward a year and bring Michael Essien into midfield and push Cole into Duff's spot and it still doesn't have a match under its belt.
Before you know it you are swapping in and out Eidar Gudjohnsen, Tiago, Alexei Smertin, Geremi and Mateja Kezman and only succeeding in making the side less and less iconic.
City's 'Centurions'
Only one side has amassed 100 points in a single Premier League season - Pep Guardiola's Manchester City of 2017-18.
Much like Chelsea under Mourinho, nailing down an iconic City XI for this season is tricky as a result of the rotation enabled by a vastly talented squad, with the added complication of a significant injury or two. But maybe this is the one that first springs to mind?
It is not ideal. Fabian Delph is included largely because he operated the most at left-back after Benjamin Mendy suffered a season-ending injury.
Even so, this XI started just three matches together, all of which City won, scoring three times in each (3-0 against Burnley and 3-1 each against Arsenal and Watford).
You may feel it necessary to get Vincent Kompany into this XI, but even with him replacing either of the two centre-backs, such an XI only started twice together.


bbc--2020-03-24--Champions and Challenge Cups postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

Rugby union 's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals and finals have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The finals of both competitions had been scheduled for the weekend of 22-23 May in Marseille .
European rugby chiefs say they remain committed to completing the campaigns this season .
`` It is planned to reschedule the quarter-finals , semi-finals and Marseille finals , '' a statement said .
The quarter-finals of both competitions , scheduled for the first weekend of April , had already been called off , with all rugby union across the continent on hold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland , Italy , Scotland , South Africa and Wales - has been indefinitely suspended , but the English Premiership still hope to resume their campaign , even if matches need to be played behind closed doors .
European rugby organisers say they will work with the leagues in order to `` restructure a conclusion to its season as part of a wider rescheduling of the remainder of the season in Europe '' .
A statement added : `` All contingencies are underpinned by the requirement to protect the health and welfare of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supporters and the wider rugby community .
`` It is planned to reschedule the quarter-final and semi-final matches , as well as the Marseille finals , in line with fixtures in the professional league competitions , subject to advice from government and local authorities . ''
The Rugby Football Union ( RFU ) ended the season for all levels below the top division on Friday .
There has been no professional sport in England since 15 March , and there has been no top-flight rugby union in England since the weekend before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested multiple matches could be played behind closed doors at one venue to get the campaign finished .
Many of the Premiership 's 12 clubs have asked their players and staff to take 25 % pay cuts because of the impact of the outbreak .

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Saracens won their third European Champions Cup in 2019
Rugby union's Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals and finals have been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The finals of both competitions had been scheduled for the weekend of 22-23 May in Marseille.
European rugby chiefs say they remain committed to completing the campaigns this season.
"It is planned to reschedule the quarter-finals, semi-finals and Marseille finals," a statement said.
The quarter-finals of both competitions, scheduled for the first weekend of April, had already been called off, with all rugby union across the continent on hold.
The Pro 14 - featuring sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales - has been indefinitely suspended, but the English Premiership still hope to resume their campaign, even if matches need to be played behind closed doors.
European rugby organisers say they will work with the leagues in order to "restructure a conclusion to its season as part of a wider rescheduling of the remainder of the season in Europe".
A statement added: "All contingencies are underpinned by the requirement to protect the health and welfare of players, club staff, match officials, supporters and the wider rugby community.
"It is planned to reschedule the quarter-final and semi-final matches, as well as the Marseille finals, in line with fixtures in the professional league competitions, subject to advice from government and local authorities."
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) ended the season for all levels below the top division on Friday.
There has been no professional sport in England since 15 March, and there has been no top-flight rugby union in England since the weekend before.
Premiership chief executive Darren Childs has suggested multiple matches could be played behind closed doors at one venue to get the campaign finished.
Many of the Premiership's 12 clubs have asked their players and staff to take 25% pay cuts because of the impact of the outbreak.