bbc--2020-08-23--Coronavirus in South Africa: Whistleblower questions winter tent deaths

Suspected Covid-19 patients were routinely left for hours in an open tent , in sub-zero temperatures , outside a South African hospital during the mid-winter peak of the pandemic , leading to `` many '' people dying of suspected hypothermia , according to an exclusive investigation by BBC News .
The revelations have emerged as South Africa 's government has acknowledged and condemned widespread corruption and mismanagement during its response to the pandemic .
`` It was freezing in that tent .
As soon as night falls it 's horrible , you can see the patients declining .
Hypothermia is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
Especially in that tent , '' said a doctor at Sebokeng Hospital - a whistleblower who spoke to us on condition of anonymity .
The doctor said 14 people had reportedly died in the tent over one 48-hour period - though not all of hypothermia .
`` We 're tired and sad and fearful for our patients .
I ask myself how many people need to die unnecessarily for there to be an adequate investigation , '' she said .
The doctor described `` horrific '' scenes in the marquee-sized tent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by the hospital as a makeshift triage and waiting room - over the course of several cold and hectic weeks in July , with elderly patients collapsing after being left for two days or more without sanitation , food or proper heating .
She said sick people were forced to crowd around three small electric heaters that frequently broke .
`` I felt very stressed , angry , [ and ] hopeless .
The lack of resources in that tent is an absolute joke… disorganised havoc .
`` We do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was PPE lying all over the place , waiting to infect more people , '' said the doctor , who complained that a number of medical staff had caught the virus as a result of the conditions .
`` It 's corruption and carelessness , '' said Jeanette Mlombo , whose son , Martin , died last month at Sebokeng Hospital , at the age of 30 .
She said he had not been tested for Covid-19 and had initially complained of swollen legs , but had been left for a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was freezing .
He was shivering , starving .
He said : ' I slept the whole night here without any blanket .
I 'm going to die .
Nobody 's taking care of me , ' '' Ms Mlombo recalled .
You may also be interested in : • Deciding who lives and dies in a Cape Town township • Why Africans should take part in Covid-19 vaccine trials Leaked messages have revealed that the decision to use tents provoked an angry backlash from experts in the provincial health department .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen by the BBC , show that medical advisers urged management not to use the tents , precisely because of the risk to patients .
• `` Tents are very cold at present . ''
• `` I have never been in favour of tents ...
I find making our people sleep in cold tents inhuman . ''
• `` Tents are a no-go area for me . ''
Responding to the whistleblower 's allegations about Sebokeng Hospital , a spokesman for Gauteng Department of Health , Kwara Kekana , rejected the suggestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the cold , writing in an email that `` death statistics based on the hospital report does not reflect death diagnosed by hypothermia '' .
The spokeswoman also denied claims of a shortage of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and a lack of proper donning and doffing areas , sharing documents that showed the hospital 's stocks of hand sanitiser , gowns , and other relevant equipment in August .
In recent weeks , the situation at Sebokeng has reportedly improved significantly , in part because of steps taken by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem , because the number of infected cases has begun to drop dramatically .
Overall , South Africa appears to have weathered the first surge of the pandemic with some success .
Some provinces and hospitals have been widely praised for their response .
The government 's early and aggressive lockdown regime has also won praise - as well as fierce criticism from some quarters .
But the pandemic has also exposed deep institutional weaknesses , including a widespread culture of corruption and apparent nepotism , and the dangers of a system of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key departments led by allegedly incompetent political appointees from the governing African National Congress ( ANC ) .
President Cyril Ramaphosa has angrily condemned the corruption , citing examples of price hikes of 900 % , and lashing out at `` hyenas '' seeking to profit from disaster .
A number of senior officials and ministers have been criticised for instances where their relatives have secured large contracts from government .
The South African authorities say they are now investigating government departments over irregularities in coronavirus-related tenders worth 5bn rand ( $ 290m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sebokeng told us that she and other staff had repeatedly complained about conditions , and inquired about how special Covid-19 relief funds were being disbursed .
`` We have n't seen that money .
I do know management is aware of our struggles .
We 've tried multiple times as doctors and nurses to try to ask management where the money is being allocated , '' the doctor said .
`` Are we going to get more staff , more resources ?
And we do n't really get answers , and that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's communication department declined our request for an interview , saying all Covid-19 queries should be directed to the provincial health department .
In response to these complaints raised by the medics , Ms Kekana said the hospital held regular staff meetings , and had a compliance officer and a dedicated team to ensure standards were met .
The local government minister in charge of health in Gauteng Province , Bandile Masuku , was recently forced to take a leave of absence following corruption allegations against him .
Mr Masuku has denied the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , nor did he influence , the department 's procurement processes .
Investigators are examining more than 100 Covid-19-related contracts in the province .
`` This pandemic has exposed a lot of our system 's flaws .
But hopefully we can do something about it , '' said the whistleblower .
`` We need to learn from this pandemic so we are better equipped to deal with other illnesses in the future . ''
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?

"It was freezing in that tent. As soon as night falls it's horrible, you can see the patients declining. Hypothermia is one of the major causes of death here. Especially in that tent," said a doctor at Sebokeng Hospital - a whistleblower who spoke to us on condition of anonymity.


bbc--2020-08-23--Q&A: What is GolfGate and why is it causing Ireland problems?

On Thursday night , a story broke about a dinner at a hotel in the west of Ireland that has thrown the country 's government into turmoil .
First reported in the Irish Examiner , it emerged that more than 80 people had attended an Irish parliamentary golf society event in Clifden , County Galway .
Included on the guest list were a host of high-profile figures from Irish political life .
But the event came just one day after Irish authorities tightened Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings .
Gardaí ( Irish police ) are investigating the event for possible breaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days since then , two politicians , including a minister , have resigned their positions , and Ireland 's EU Commissioner Phil Hogan - the man who would be leading the EU 's post-Brexit free trade negotiations with the UK - has faced calls to quit .
In addition to this , one of Ireland 's most senior judges has been called on to explain his attendance .
Now , in the wake of # GolfGate , as it has become known , the Dáil ( Irish parliament ) will return early from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going on ?
And how did one gathering cause this much disruption ?
The Oireachtas [ Irish parliament ] Golf Society 's dinner , which took place on Wednesday at the Station House Hotel in Clifden , was attended by a host of senior politicians and notable public figures .
The timing of the event has been of particular interest .
It took place the day after the Irish government changed its guidelines in the face of an increasing number of Covid-19 cases .
With the tightening restrictions , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced from 50 to six , with some exceptions .
That will be a matter for An Garda Síochána ( Irish police ) to decide .
It has launched an investigation .
James Sweeney , from the Station House Hotel where the event was held , told Irish state broadcaster RTÉ he had checked with the Irish Hotels Federation to ensure the event complied with regulations .
He said he was told it would be , if the guests were in two separate rooms , with fewer than 50 people in each .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 people had been able to gather for an indoor event .
In addition to this , there is also an issue about how many were seated to a table .
Under the old rules , a maximum number of six people were allowed to sit at a table .
The Irish Examiner reported that the table plan listed 10 people to each table .
A number of Irish politicians and high-profile figures find themselves on shaky ground due to their attendance .
The first casualty was Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hours of the story breaking on Thursday .
After this , pressure mounted , with reports that Mr Calleary had met with Taoiseach ( Irish Prime Minister ) Micheál Martin .
He had initially been pencilled in for an appearance on RTÉ 's flagship news programme Morning Ireland on Friday morning - but this was cancelled and before the programme was finished , Mr Calleary had resigned .
Since the event Jerry Buttimer , the leas-chathaoirleach ( deputy chairman ) of the Irish senate , has also resigned .
Supreme Court judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to his role in giving legal advice to the government , has also apologised for his attendance .
The other person facing calls to quit is EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan .
While not currently in government , Mr Hogan was put forward by Enda Kenny 's Fine Gael-led government for a position with the EU - then as the commissioner for agriculture and rural development .
His role as trade commissioner , which he has held since last year , means this controversy could have ramifications that go beyond Ireland 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade negotiations with the UK post-Brexit .
On Sunday morning , Mr Hogan issued a `` fulsome and profound '' apology for attending the event - but has not indicated that he will step down .
A spokesperson for the trade commissioner confirmed to RTÉ on Sunday he would not be resigning .
However , it has also emerged that the commissioner was stopped by gardaí ( Irish police ) for using his mobile phone while driving in County Kildare on 17 August , before he travelled to Galway for the golf dinner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions that prevent people from travelling in and out except in exceptional circumstances .
A spokesperson for Mr Hogan said : `` The lockdown guidelines for Kildare provide for exceptional travel outside the county 'to travel to work and home again ' . ''
In addition to these individuals , a number of other politicians and local councillors were in attendance and have apologised .
Why is this a big deal ?
The event has come at a time when the Republic of Ireland has seen an increase in coronavirus cases .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the controversy , it reported 200 new cases in one day - the largest number for a single day since May .
The numbers were described by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as `` deeply concerning '' , while Ireland 's acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the phased reopening has resulted in some people `` acting recklessly '' .
In addition to this , provisional dates for lifting certain lockdown measures have been pushed back as case numbers have worsened .
Plans to open pubs , which had been pencilled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be reviewed again next week .
What will happen now ?
An investigation into the event will be carried out by gardaí ( Irish police ) and the political fallout looks likely to continue .
On Sunday , the Irish government issued a statement confirming parliament would be returning early from its summer break .
While it did not say this was explicitly down to the controversy around the event , opposition parties have said the action is necessary to bolster confidence in the government response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was `` not acceptable '' for there to be a delay in government returning .
`` Why ca n't the Dáil be sitting on Tuesday ?
We need a new agriculture minister to deal with the outbreaks in meat plants , '' he said .
`` We also need to deal with all the confusion regarding restrictions and obviously we need to deal with the events that have gone on over the last week . ''
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Dáil needed to `` begin the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catherine Murphy TD , co-leader of the Social Democrats , said there was `` too much at stake for the government to be waiting around '' .

"We also need to deal with all the confusion regarding restrictions and obviously we need to deal with the events that have gone on over the last week."


bbc--2020-08-23--The Iranian immigrant who conquered online video tech

The BBC 's weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world .
This week we speak to Shahrzad Rafati , founder and boss of internet video technology firm BroadbandTV ( BBTV ) .
Shahrzad Rafati was only 13 when she decided she would one day build a global business .
She also knew that she would n't be able to achieve her dream if she stayed in her native Iran .
So at the age of 17 her drive and confidence managed to persuade her parents , Iranian authorities and Canadian immigration officials to let her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to university .
Shahrzad arrived in the city on Canada 's Pacific coast in 1996 with just one suitcase , and only a limited grasp of English .
`` I could n't communicate what I wanted to say [ when I arrived ] , and I think that was probably the biggest challenge , '' she says .
`` But I was determined to make a success out of my life . ''
Today the 40-year-old continues to run BBTV , a company that helps firms around the world secure advertising revenues from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites and apps .
Launched by Shahrzad in 2005 , its high-profile clients include everyone from the National Basketball Association , to Sony , Warner Bros and Disney .
Canadian newspapers have speculated that the business is worth more than $ 1bn ( £760m ) .
`` It 's important for entrepreneurs to think as big as possible , '' she says .
Shahrzad was born into a family of business leaders in Tehran in 1979 , the year of the Iranian revolution .
Her mother ran a textiles firm and her dad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iranian capital became increasingly difficult for her family following the revolution and the Iran-Iraq War that raged from 1980 to 1988 .
To escape the bombings by the Iraqi Air Force , Shahrzad and her family moved out of the city to a small village .
`` Iran was at war for eight years , and a lot of my family 's success had been taken from them , '' she says .
`` I knew that I needed a different future , and a life where I could make a difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' So when she became a teenager she was determined to move abroad .
In Vancouver she enrolled at the University of British Columbia to study computer science .
She did n't know much about computers , nor did she have one to begin with , but she was passionate about maths and technology .
Graduating in 2000 , Shahrzad then studied French at the Université Paris-Sorbonne , and leadership at Oxford University 's Said Business School .
Looking back , she says that she was interested in how Apple was disrupting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumed music , with its then iPod player and iTunes service .
She realised that video would inevitably follow suit , and be streamed over the internet .
`` The shift in the music consumption trend was a clear indication of where video content was heading , '' she says .
`` Audio was at the start of the evolution , and it was clear to me that video was going to be next . ''
So in 2005 , at the age of 25 , and the same year that YouTube was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a hardware company making a set-top box that enabled users to watch internet videos on their televisions .
But not popular with buyers - people are happy to watch online videos on their computers - within just three months Shahrzad decided to change the company 's focus .
`` You need to fail fast , and learn from your mistakes quickly , '' she says .
To pivot the company , Shahrzad says she noticed that internet users were pirating videos and uploading them to online platforms , such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movie or TV companies , would then move to rapidly get the videos removed .
That 's when she had her big idea - to create software that would allow these firms to profit from advertisements put on all that content , rather than seek to take it down .
BBTV 's software tracks uploaded video content , such as the highlights of sports games , or clips from films .
It does this through audio and video recognition technology , and adverts are then placed on the videos .
The advertising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sporting bodies affected , with BBTV taking a percentage .
Only two years after its creation , BBTV landed one of its first major clients - the NBA - with whom it continues to work to this day .
`` I was in my 20s and I was very nervous , but I really believed in our solutions , '' says Shahrzad .
To help grow the business , she gained a number of investors , including Canadian tech businessman Hamed Shahbazi .
Then in 2013 European entertainment group RTL purchased a 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has subsequently increased its stake to 57.3 % , but Shahrzad continues to have one of the largest individual shareholdings .
RTL does not release separate financial data for BBTV , but its `` digital activities '' division , which includes the Canadian firm and two other businesses , had revenues of €452m ( $ 539m ; £408m ) last year .
BBTV now also produces software to help make online videos , and its services are available to individuals as well as companies .
It claims that videos connected to its various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Stephania Varalli , chief executive of Women Of Influence , a Canadian organisation that promotes businesswomen and other female leaders , says that Shahrzad 's secret is her ability to evolve with the industry .
`` She has constantly pivoted , which has kept her ahead of the game , '' says Ms Varalli .
• The two students who took on Coke and Pepsi • 'People told me my plans for a skincare firm were crazy' • The boss who bounced her way to £3m from just £200 As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shahrzad says she has had to work harder than her male counterparts .
`` I have less room for error , '' she says .
In BBTV she has fulfilled her ambition to create a global business , The 400 employees are spread across four main centres , its headquarters in Vancouver , and offices in New York , Los Angeles and Mumbai .
Shahrzad says that there is no pay gap between her male and female staff , and that women make up 43 % of the total workforce , and 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a technology company .
`` It gives me great pride , '' she says .
`` This is a key factor in the reason why we are so successful at BBTV . ''

"Iran was at war for eight years, and a lot of my family's success had been taken from them," she says. "I knew that I needed a different future, and a life where I could make a difference, and where equal was equal." So when she became a teenager she was determined to move abroad.


bbc--2020-08-23--The books for young adults 'fighting Islamophobia'

A girl being groomed to become a suicide bomber might not sound like the most child-friendly novel .
But fiction books about terrorism and radicalisation have been helping children and young adults `` resist extremism and Islamophobia '' since the 9/11 terror attacks , new research suggests .
Nearly 3,000 people were killed and thousands more injured on 11 September 2001 .
The following month , US forces launched military action in Afghanistan and the `` War on Terror '' began .
A consequence of that , according to Cambridge University 's Dr Blanka Grzegorczyk , was Muslim and immigrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as posing a threat to the core of British culture , nationhood and identity '' .
British authors have been `` writing back '' against that portrayal , suggests her Cambridge study - the first to examine the wave of books commissioned after 9/11 and 7/7 by children 's publishers that deal with those themes .
Dr Grzegorczyk looked at 28 books published since 2001 , like one by Noughts and Crosses author Malorie Blackman .
Many of the books `` depict the ramped-up security measures adopted by the British state '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tandem with the media 's cultivation of a certain paranoia '' helped promote a `` constant fear '' of Muslims .
She says books like Run , Riot by Nikesh Shukla - about a group of teenagers pursued by the police after one of them films the politically-sanctioned murder of an ethnic minority youth - `` communicate across the tribal divide that young people have grown up with '' .
`` They are offering young audiences a counter-narrative to that anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric , '' Dr Grzegorczyk tells Radio 1 Newsbeat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a British Asian girl whose marginalisation leaves her vulnerable to radicalisation - also featured in the study .
`` The way we often talk about those things in the media and our everyday lives feels quite simplistic , '' says Reuben Thomas .
Reading I Am Thunder gave the 27-year-old a different perspective on radicalisation and Islam , he says .
The portrayal of the main character suggests there are various factors - such as prejudice and bullying - that can lead to someone being radicalised .
`` This book does a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and complexity , without it being a victim narrative . ''
Reuben says he has a clearer understanding of `` the insidious nature of radicalisation '' because the book `` humanised the people involved and encouraged some empathy '' .
He says there are `` horrendous narratives '' in the media about young people being in gangs and religion being a negative thing - particularly for Muslims and British Asians - but the book `` dispelled so many of the myths '' .
`` It stripped all that away and looked at people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than differences . ''
You might also be interested in : • Will the 'War on Terror ' ever end ?
• 'Children may have been radicalised in lockdown' These books feature characters who form bonds beyond racial , cultural , religious or national divides .
The study suggests this can help readers imagine a future based on shared values .
The 27-year-old says the ethnic minority characters in Run , Riot are shown to be individuals `` with hopes and dreams '' .
`` They are shown as human and presented in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She says fiction can help deal with issues like Islamophobia because you get to see details from people 's lives `` and realise they 're connected to you '' .
`` They love their family , might have a similar taste in music or have visited similar places .
I think that can help people connect in different ways with issues . ''
Siobhan 's also started questioning the `` narrative around gentrification making things better '' since reading the book .
Gentrification is when areas change as richer businesses and people begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorer ethnic minority groups who get impacted by this kind of politics , '' she says .
`` And for me it challenges the idea that having these new things is always progress - when actually it 's disturbing people 's way of life . ''
The books in the study , and others like them , are inspiring `` a new wave of youth activism '' , Dr Grzegorczyk says , pointing to Black Lives Matter , Fridays for Future , and US campaigns against gun violence .
`` These books are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connectedness across cultures that moves us on from previous generations ' fixation with 'us against them ' . ''
Siobhan says books have changed her political views and `` make me want to act on those ideals '' .
`` They give you a different way of looking at the world . ''
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

She says books like Run, Riot by Nikesh Shukla - about a group of teenagers pursued by the police after one of them films the politically-sanctioned murder of an ethnic minority youth - "communicate across the tribal divide that young people have grown up with".


bbc--2020-08-23--Anderson is England's 'GOAT' - Bess salutes seamer after 598th Test wicket

Last updated on .From the section Cricket James Anderson is English cricket 's `` GOAT '' ( greatest of all time ) , according to team-mate Dom Bess .
`` It 's phenomenal to stand at point and watch him nick people off , hit people on the shins and take as many poles as he does , so consistently . ''
Only three other bowlers have taken more than 600 Test wickets - spinners Muttiah Muralitharan , Shane Warne and Anil Kumble .
Anderson will have the chance to join them on Tuesday 's fourth day when Pakistan follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reply to England 's 583-8 declared .
It comes after a difficult start to the series for the Lancashire man .
Following a return of 1-97 in the first Test , he dismissed talk of retirement , saying he was still `` hungry '' to play for England .
`` There was chat about a potential retirement , then he comes back and absolutely tears it up , '' said Bess , who is playing in his 10th Test .
`` It just shows how good he is . ''
• None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer The 23-year-old , who was aged five when Anderson made his Test debut in May 2003 , added : `` Myself , Dom Sibley , Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have grown up watching him do it . ''
Anderson , in his 156th Test , would have possibly reached or been closer to the milestone had England not dropped three catches in 10 deliveries off his bowling as the light faded late in the day .
`` He 's very frustrated , '' said Bess .
`` No-one means to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excuse , but it was really dark out there . ''
In the previous Test - a draw that was heavily affected by the weather - there was debate over how much play was lost to bad light .
In response , regulations were changed to allow play to start 30 minutes earlier if time had been lost to the weather on a previous day .
However , with rain again interrupting Sunday 's action , play would have continued until 19:30 BST had it not been deemed too dark shortly after 19:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to think a little about the players ' well-being , '' said Somerset 's Bess .
`` Their numbers 10 and 11 facing Jofra Archer in those conditions is seriously dangerous .
`` We all want to get cricket on , but there has to be a little more common sense in terms of when it is too dark . ''
The light meant England did not have the opportunity to bowl at Pakistan at the beginning of the tourists ' second innings , which will now commence on Monday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , so that may put extra pressure on England to wrap up victory inside four days .
`` We 're in a great position , '' said Bess .
`` We 've got two days to bowl them out .
`` There 's a little bit of weather about , but you 'd like to think with the bowling attack we have , we can produce the goods . ''

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
James Anderson is English cricket's "GOAT" (greatest of all time), according to team-mate Dom Bess.
Anderson, 38, completed a five-wicket haul in the third Test against Pakistan to move within two of becoming the first paceman to claim 600 victims.
"He's England's greatest," said off-spinner Bess.
"It's phenomenal to stand at point and watch him nick people off, hit people on the shins and take as many poles as he does, so consistently."
Only three other bowlers have taken more than 600 Test wickets - spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble.
Anderson will have the chance to join them on Monday's fourth day when Pakistan follow on after being bowled out for 273 in reply to England's 583-8 declared.
It comes after a difficult start to the series for the Lancashire man. Following a return of 1-97 in the first Test, he dismissed talk of retirement, saying he was still "hungry" to play for England.
"There was chat about a potential retirement, then he comes back and absolutely tears it up," said Bess, who is playing in his 10th Test. "It just shows how good he is."
The 23-year-old, who was aged five when Anderson made his Test debut in May 2003, added: "Myself, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have grown up watching him do it."
Anderson, in his 156th Test, would have possibly reached or been closer to the milestone had England not dropped three catches in 10 deliveries off his bowling as the light faded late in the day.
"He's very frustrated," said Bess. "No-one means to drop a catch. It's no excuse, but it was really dark out there."
In the previous Test - a draw that was heavily affected by the weather - there was debate over how much play was lost to bad light.
In response, regulations were changed to allow play to start 30 minutes earlier if time had been lost to the weather on a previous day.
However, with rain again interrupting Sunday's action, play would have continued until 19:30 BST had it not been deemed too dark shortly after 19:00.
"Playing in those conditions, we have to think a little about the players' well-being," said Somerset's Bess. "Their numbers 10 and 11 facing Jofra Archer in those conditions is seriously dangerous.
"We all want to get cricket on, but there has to be a little more common sense in terms of when it is too dark."
The light meant England did not have the opportunity to bowl at Pakistan at the beginning of the tourists' second innings, which will now commence on Monday morning.
There is poor weather forecast for Tuesday, so that may put extra pressure on England to wrap up victory inside four days.
"We're in a great position," said Bess. "We've got two days to bowl them out.
"There's a little bit of weather about, but you'd like to think with the bowling attack we have, we can produce the goods."


bbc--2020-08-23--Pogba will stay at Man Utd this summer - Raiola

Paul Pogba will not be sold by Manchester United this summer and new contract discussions will start soon , says @ @ @ @ @ .
The 27-year-old - an £89m signing from Juventus in 2016 - suffered from injuries @ @ @ @ @ patches on his return as United finished third in the Premier League .
His agent @ @ @ @ @ United will not accept any bid this summer .
`` We 're going to speak @ @ @ @ @ , no stress . ''
Raiola also told Sky Sports : `` He is key @ @ @ @ @ They 've an important project and he 's 100 % included . ''
Pogba , @ @ @ @ @ summer , made only eight appearances in all competitions before English football was suspended in @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
After recovering from his ankle injury , the World Cup winner played 14 @ @ @ @ @ helped United reach the last four of the FA Cup and Europa League and qualify @ @ @ @ @ League .

Last updated on .From the section Man Utd
Paul Pogba scored one goal in 22 appearances last season
Paul Pogba will not be sold by Manchester United this summer and new contract discussions will start soon, says the France midfielder's agent.
The 27-year-old - an £89m signing from Juventus in 2016 - suffered from injuries last season but impressed in patches on his return as United finished third in the Premier League.
His agent Mino Raiola said: "United will not accept any bid this summer.
"We're going to speak about a new contract soon, no stress."
Raiola also told Sky Sports: "He is key player for Man Utd. They've an important project and he's 100% included."
Pogba, whose deal runs until next summer, made only eight appearances in all competitions before English football was suspended in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
After recovering from his ankle injury, the World Cup winner played 14 games following the resumption and helped United reach the last four of the FA Cup and Europa League and qualify for next season's Champions League.


bbc--2020-08-23--Ex-Formula 1 driver Sato wins Indy 500 for second time

Last updated on .From the section Motorsport Japanese ex-Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 as Fernando Alonso 's hopes faded not long after half distance .
Sato was leading from Scott Dixon when a crash with three laps left forced the race to finish behind the safety car .
Dixon led 111 of the 200 laps but Sato passed him after the final pit stops .
It was the 43-year-old 's second Indy 500 win , after his maiden victory in 2017 .
Dixon , a five-time Indycar champion who won Indy in 2008 , was second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham Rahal .
Alonso 's hopes of becoming only the second man after Graham Hill to win motorsport 's 'triple crown ' of Monaco Grand Prix , Le Mans 24 Hours and Indy 500 will now have to be put on hold for at least the next two years .
The 39-year-old Spaniard is returning to F1 with Renault in 2021 and 2022 and his contract with the French team forbids him racing at Indy .
Alonso qualified in 26th place for the Indy 500 , his fortunes affected by a crash late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he lost control at Turn Four after running too low on the banked superspeedway oval .
He had been running competitively during the first two days of practice up to that point but his McLaren SP car lost pace after the accident , through the final day of practice , two days of qualifying and the final day 's preparation on Friday .
This is a common phenomenon experienced by drivers at Indianapolis , and one of the well-known mysteries of the historic track , when a theoretically identical rebuilt car simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the crash .
Despite that , Alonso was running less than 10 seconds off the lead when a clutch problem immediately after a pit stop during one of the race 's seven safety-car periods required a second stop immediately afterwards and put him a lap behind , effectively ending his already slim hopes .
Out front , Dixon was in imperious form in his Ganassi car in the first half of the race , taking the lead at the start around the outside of the pole-sitter Marco Andretti and controlling the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andretti driver Alexander Rossi had appeared his closest challenger , but Sato was always in the frame and stepped up his challenge as the race entered its final third .
Rossi , who made five F1 starts for the now-defunct Marussia team in 2014 and 2015 , was taken out of the reckoning when he was given a penalty for an unsafe release in the pits and forced to go to the back of the field .
The American then crashed while trying to make his way back to the front .
Sato @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period .
He passed Dixon shortly afterwards , and the New Zealander did not have an answer to his pace .
Briton Jack Harvey finished ninth , British former F1 driver Max Chilton 17th and another Briton , Ben Hanley came 23rd .
Former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson , who transferred to Indycar last season , crashed before half distance .

Sato started the race on the front row, from third position
Japanese ex-Formula 1 driver Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 as Fernando Alonso's hopes faded not long after half distance.
Alonso was 15th when he lost a lap to a car problem with 75 laps to go. The double world champion, who returns to F1 in 2021, finished 21st.
Sato was leading from Scott Dixon when a crash with three laps left forced the race to finish behind the safety car.
Dixon led 111 of the 200 laps but Sato passed him after the final pit stops.
It was the 43-year-old's second Indy 500 win, after his maiden victory in 2017.
Dixon, a five-time Indycar champion who won Indy in 2008, was second, from Sato's Rahal Letterman team-mate Graham Rahal.
Alonso's hopes of becoming only the second man after Graham Hill to win motorsport's 'triple crown' of Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 Hours and Indy 500 will now have to be put on hold for at least the next two years.
The 39-year-old Spaniard is returning to F1 with Renault in 2021 and 2022 and his contract with the French team forbids him racing at Indy.
"First Indy 500 completed. This is one of the biggest experiences for any driver," Alonso said on Instagram.
"We wanted to be be fighting for the win today but we did not have the pace and I still [do] not have the experience needed.
"We probably could fight for top 10 but we did not have the luck either (or clutch...). But those 200 laps are so intense that you enjoy every second behind the wheel.
"Being one of the cars out there already has to be a privilege, doing what we love to do. This is the craziest race in the world."
Alonso qualified in 26th place for the Indy 500, his fortunes affected by a crash late on the penultimate day of practice, when he lost control at Turn Four after running too low on the banked superspeedway oval.
He had been running competitively during the first two days of practice up to that point but his McLaren SP car lost pace after the accident, through the final day of practice, two days of qualifying and the final day's preparation on Friday.
This is a common phenomenon experienced by drivers at Indianapolis, and one of the well-known mysteries of the historic track, when a theoretically identical rebuilt car simply does not have the performance it had before the crash.
Despite that, Alonso was running less than 10 seconds off the lead when a clutch problem immediately after a pit stop during one of the race's seven safety-car periods required a second stop immediately afterwards and put him a lap behind, effectively ending his already slim hopes.
Out front, Dixon was in imperious form in his Ganassi car in the first half of the race, taking the lead at the start around the outside of the pole-sitter Marco Andretti and controlling the race from there.
For a time, Andretti driver Alexander Rossi had appeared his closest challenger, but Sato was always in the frame and stepped up his challenge as the race entered its final third.
Rossi, who made five F1 starts for the now-defunct Marussia team in 2014 and 2015, was taken out of the reckoning when he was given a penalty for an unsafe release in the pits and forced to go to the back of the field. The American then crashed while trying to make his way back to the front.
Sato was second before the penultimate safety car period. He passed Dixon shortly afterwards, and the New Zealander did not have an answer to his pace.
Briton Jack Harvey finished ninth, British former F1 driver Max Chilton 17th and another Briton, Ben Hanley, came 23rd.
Former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson, who transferred to Indycar last season, crashed before half distance.


bbc--2020-08-23--Meet 'The King' - the unlikely hero who put the superstars in the shade

All the talk in the build-up to the Champions League final was understandably about superstar forwards Robert Lewandowski , Kylian Mbappe and Neymar - but in the end it was 'The King ' who was the match-winner .
Kingsley Coman - a man who has won a league title in all eight seasons as a first-team player - headed the only goal for Bayern Munich to leave him as the only Parisian celebrating in Lisbon .
`` This is an extraordinary feeling , '' he said .
`` I feel a lot of joy , but also sadness for Paris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though I am 100 % Bayern . ''
The 24-year-old was a surprise starter against Paris St-Germain , replacing Ivan Perisic on the left wing in the only change Hansi Flick made to his Champions League starting XI since football restarted .
`` They call him the king around the training ground and he was the king today , '' former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport .
Coman only had 38 touches of the ball but he caused PSG right-back Thilo Kehrer plenty of problems with a clever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His key moment was to come after the break as he became the fifth Frenchman to score in a Champions League final - and the first to do it against a French team .
He got an average rating of 8.09 from BBC Sport website readers as he scored his eighth goal of an injury-hit campaign .
Flick said : `` Perhaps he 's finally stepped out of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben 's shadow this season .
Kingsley has incredible talent and he showed tonight he can also score goals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite wing , said : `` He helped us extremely .
He came in and one-against-one we knew it would be difficult for the opponent .
`` For him to score that goal after being out injured for a couple of games and to come back into the team was incredible . ''
There was a symmetry to Coman 's career that his greatest moment came against the club he grew up supporting and where he is still the youngest first-team player ( 16 years , eight months , four days ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titles with a combined 39 minutes on the pitch - making two substitute appearances for PSG across the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons .
From there he went on to Juve , where he won the 2015-16 Serie A title .
He played one league match the next season ( not enough to get a medal ) before moving to Bayern , where he has won five consecutive Bundesliga titles .
He also has three German 'Doubles ' , one 'Treble ' and an Italian 'Double ' in his trophy cabinet .
To repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flick has found all the right decisions at the key moment and today that decision was Kingsley Coman , '' said Hargreaves .
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel even admitted the decision surprised him .
`` We had two changes in mind [ that Bayern may make ] but it was a bit of a surprise [ that Coman started ] , '' the German said .
`` Perisic did very well in the last matches .
It was a lot of speed to defend . ''
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing him in out of the cold like that , and he was magnificent . ''
It was the latest moment in a long line of astute decisions made by Flick , who stepped up from Bayern assistant manager to replace the sacked Niko Kovac as caretaker in November .
`` What a transformation one man has made to that club , '' said former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton , a BBC Radio 5 Live pundit .
Flick - a former lower-league manager and Germany assistant boss - was barely known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany 's most famous club .
They had just lost 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt and sat fourth in the table .
Bayern started winning under his guidance , so his caretaker reign was extended .
When they kept winning , it got extended again .
And when they could n't stop winning , he got the job permanently .
Still they kept winning .
From his 36 games in charge , Bayern won 33 .
They have won their past 21 matches - a run which has seen them win the Bundesliga ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup final and now the Champions League .
`` It 's massive for Hansi Flick , '' said Sutton .
`` The job he has done - there 's an argument he would n't have been expected to even win the Bundesliga from the position from which he took over and he 's won the Champions League .
`` You look at next season , how can Hansi Flick better this ?
This has been stunning , the way he has come in and transformed the club . ''
BBC pundit Chris Waddle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final with Marseille , said : `` You have to give Bayern all the credit they 'll get , and they will get a lot .
`` They changed the manager and Flick knows the players inside out .
It 's like he 's friends with them .
That 's modern management .
`` They have so many big players who can handle the big occasions .
It is a team with big egos but they have a work ethic , a desire . ''
Flick 's impact on this team has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemingly ripe for dismantling little over a year ago after defeat by Liverpool now looks set to be one of Europe 's powerhouses for the foreseeable future .
Hargreaves , who was part of Bayern 's 2001 Champions League-winning team , added : `` This is one of the greatest Bayern teams ever .
`` Flick 's turned this team into an absolute machine .
Everyone in Germany is blown away , the football has blown everyone away .
`` Last year Liverpool outplayed them and we thought it was the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of an era .
Leroy Sane is still to come into this team . ''

Kingsley Coman has won the German 'Treble', an Italian 'Double' and the title in France
All the talk in the build-up to Bayern Munich's meeting with Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final was understandably about the superstar forwards on opposing sides.
As it turned out though, it wasn't Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe or Neymar who was the match-winner, it was 'The King' .
Kingsley Coman - a man who has won a league title in all eight seasons as a first-team player - headed the only goal for Bayern to leave him as the only Parisian celebrating in Lisbon.
"This is an extraordinary feeling," he said. "I feel a lot of joy, but also sadness for Paris. It hurts my heart a bit even though I am 100% Bayern."
The 24-year-old was a surprise starter against PSG, replacing Ivan Perisic on the left wing in the only change Hansi Flick made to his Champions League starting XI since football restarted.
"They call him the king around the training ground and he was the king today," former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport.
Coman only had 38 touches of the ball but he caused PSG right-back Thilo Kehrer plenty of problems with a clever nutmeg the highlight of his first-half exploits. His key moment was to come after the break as he became the fifth Frenchman to score in a Champions League final - and the first to do it against a French team.
He got an average rating of 8.09 from BBC Sport website readers as he scored his eighth goal of an injury-hit campaign.
Flick said: "Perhaps he's finally stepped out of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben's shadow this season. Kingsley has incredible talent and he showed tonight he can also score goals."
Kingsley Coman's touch map in the Champions League final
Serge Gnabry, who played on the opposite wing, said: "He helped us extremely. He came in and one-against-one we knew it would be difficult for the opponent.
"For him to score that goal after being out injured for a couple of games and to come back into the team was incredible."
There was a symmetry to Coman's career that his greatest moment came against the club he grew up supporting and where he is still the youngest first-team player (16 years, eight months, four days).
He won two French Ligue 1 titles with a combined 39 minutes on the pitch - making two substitute appearances for PSG across the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
From there he went on to Juve, where he won the 2015-16 Serie A title. He played one league match the next season (not enough to get a medal) before moving to Bayern, where he has won five consecutive Bundesliga titles.
He also has three German 'Doubles', one 'Treble' and an Italian 'Double' in his trophy cabinet. To repeat, he is 24.
"Hansi Flick has found all the right decisions at the key moment and today that decision was Kingsley Coman," said Hargreaves.
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel even admitted the decision surprised him.
"We had two changes in mind [that Bayern may make] but it was a bit of a surprise [that Coman started]," the German said. "Perisic did very well in the last matches. It was a lot of speed to defend."
BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand said: "Kingsley Coman was a big decision, bringing him in out of the cold like that, and he was magnificent."
Hansi Flick is the fourth oldest manager to win the Champions League - at the age of 55 - despite his newcomer status
It was the latest moment in a long line of astute decisions made by Flick, who stepped up from Bayern assistant manager to replace the sacked Niko Kovac as caretaker in November.
"What a transformation one man has made to that club," said former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton, a BBC Radio 5 Live pundit.
Flick - a former lower-league manager and Germany assistant boss - was barely known outside his homeland when he took over Germany's most famous club.
They had just lost 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt and sat fourth in the table.
Bayern started winning under his guidance, so his caretaker reign was extended. When they kept winning, it got extended again. And when they couldn't stop winning, he got the job permanently. Still they kept winning.
From his 36 games in charge, Bayern won 33. They have won their past 21 matches - a run which has seen them win the Bundesliga (by 13 points), the German Cup final and now the Champions League.
"It's massive for Hansi Flick," said Sutton. "The job he has done - there's an argument he wouldn't have been expected to even win the Bundesliga from the position from which he took over and he's won the Champions League.
"You look at next season, how can Hansi Flick better this? This has been stunning, the way he has come in and transformed the club."
BBC pundit Chris Waddle, who lost the 1991 European Cup final with Marseille, said: "You have to give Bayern all the credit they'll get, and they will get a lot.
"They changed the manager and Flick knows the players inside out. It's like he's friends with them. That's modern management.
"They have so many big players who can handle the big occasions. It is a team with big egos but they have a work ethic, a desire."
Flick's impact on this team has been so marked that a side outplayed and seemingly ripe for dismantling little over a year ago after defeat by Liverpool now looks set to be one of Europe's powerhouses for the foreseeable future.
Hargreaves, who was part of Bayern's 2001 Champions League-winning team, added: "This is one of the greatest Bayern teams ever.
"Flick's turned this team into an absolute machine. Everyone in Germany is blown away, the football has blown everyone away.
"Last year Liverpool outplayed them and we thought it was the end of an era and now it's the start of an era. Leroy Sane is still to come into this team."


bbc--2020-08-23--New Barcelona signing Pjanic tests positive for Covid-19

Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has tested positive for Covid-19 , the Spanish club announced on Sunday .
The Bosnian , @ @ @ @ @ well '' , self-isolating at home and will travel to Barcelona in 15 days ' @ @ @ @ @ Barcelona from Serie A champions Juventus in a swap deal with Brazil international Arthur .
@ @ @ @ @ 2019-20 season without a trophy for the first time in 12 years , begin their @ @ @ @ @ 12 September .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Pjanic, right, celebrated winning his fourth Serie A title with Juventus in August
Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has tested positive for Covid-19, the Spanish club announced on Sunday.
The Bosnian, 30, is "feeling well", self-isolating at home and will travel to Barcelona in 15 days' time.
Pjanic is joining Barcelona from Serie A champions Juventus in a swap deal with Brazil international Arthur.
Barca, who finished the 2019-20 season without a trophy for the first time in 12 years, begin their 2020-21 La Liga campaign on 12 September.


bbc--2020-08-24--Christchurch shooting: Gunman Tarrant wanted to kill 'as many as possible'

The man who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019 had plans to target a third mosque , his sentencing hearing has heard .
Brenton Tarrant also planned to burn down the mosques , wanting to `` inflict as many fatalities as possible '' .
The Australian has pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder , 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism .
Tarrant , 29 , faces life in prison , possibly without parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand .
He was confronted by survivors and relatives of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You gave yourself the authority to take the souls of 51 innocent people , their only crime - in your eyes - being Muslims , '' said Maysoon Salama , whose son Atta Elayyan was killed .
`` You transgress beyond comprehension , I can not forgive you . ''
The attacks , parts of which the gunman streamed live online , saw him open fire at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March last year .
He first drove to the Al Noor mosque , firing on people taking part in Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 3 miles ) to the Linwood mosque and killed more people .
The attack sent shockwaves around the world and prompted New Zealand to make swift changes to its gun laws .
How did the attack unfold ?
The sentencing hearing , which will last four days , began on Monday morning in Christchurch .
Covid-19 restrictions mean the main court room is relatively empty .
Hundreds will watch the proceedings on video feeds from other courtrooms in the city to allow for social distancing measures .
Dressed in grey prison clothes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers , the gunman reportedly remained silent , occasionally looking around the room where survivors and relatives of the victims were sitting .
Crown prosecutor Barnaby Hawes told the court that the gunman had began formulating a plan years earlier , and his goal was to `` inflict as many fatalities as possible '' .
He gathered information about mosques in New Zealand - studying floor plans , locations and further details - with the aim of targeting them at the time they would be busiest .
In the months before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flew a drone over his primary target , the Al Noor mosque .
He also planned to target the Ashburton Mosque in addition to the Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre , but was detained while on his way to the third mosque .
On the day of the attack , he shot people on the street as they tried to escape the Al Noor mosque , the court heard .
This included one victim , Ansi Alibava , whose body he drove over as he left the mosque .
As he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he stopped and shot at men of African origin who were able to escape .
He briefly pointed his gun at a Caucasian man , the court heard , but then `` smiled and then drove off '' .
• Who were the victims ?
He told police after his arrest that his plan was to burn down the mosques after his attack , and that he wished he had done so .
Tarrant is representing himself in court .
He had previously denied the charges and was due to face trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He faces a minimum sentence of 17 years , but Justice Cameron Mander , the High Court judge presiding over the case , has the power to sentence him to a full life term with no parole - a sentence never before imposed in New Zealand .
Who were some of the victims ?
More than 60 people will give victim impact statements over the course of the next few days .
The imam of Al-Noor Mosque , Gamal Fouda - who was the first to speak - addressed Tarrant , calling him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he saw the `` hate in the eyes of a brainwashed terrorist '' as he was standing in the pulpit , telling Tarrant : `` Your hatred is unnecessary . ''
The son of victim Ashraf Ali , said he still suffered trauma , saying : `` I have flashbacks , seeing dead bodies all around me .
Blood everywhere . ''
Among the other victims were : • Three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim , who was shot directly while clinging to his father 's leg • Naeem Rashid , originally from Pakistan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gunman • Hosne Ara , killed while searching for her husband who uses a wheelchair - he survived .
Some relatives of victims travelled from overseas and had undergone a two-week coronavirus quarantine in order to take part .
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said it will be a difficult week for survivors and families of the victims .
`` I do n't think there 's anything I can say that is going to ease how traumatic that period is going to be , '' she said last week .
She has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , saying soon after the attack : `` He sought many things from his act of terror - but one was notoriety . ''
Less than a month after the shootings , New Zealand 's parliament voted by 119 to 1 on reforms banning military-style semi-automatic weapons as well as parts that could be used to build prohibited firearms .
The government offered to compensate owners of newly-illegal weapons in a buy-back scheme .

As he drove towards the Linwood Islamic Centre, he stopped and shot at men of African origin who were able to escape. He briefly pointed his gun at a Caucasian man, the court heard, but then "smiled and then drove off".


bbc--2020-08-24--US allows emergency use of blood plasma treatment for coronavirus patients

The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has given emergency authorisation to use plasma to treat Covid patients .
The technique uses antibody-rich blood plasma from people who 've recovered from the disease and has already been applied to 70,000 people in the US - in trials or for the gravely ill .
The FDA says initial trials indicate it is safe , although more are needed to prove effectiveness .
Several experts have questioned the robustness of studies into its use .
The announcement came a day after President Donald Trump accused the FDA of impeding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons , and on the eve of the Republican National Convention , where Mr Trump will launch his campaign to win a second term in the White House .
• Does the US have the world 's worst coronavirus death rate ?
• How close are we to finding a treatment to coronavirus ?
`` This is what I 've been looking forward to doing for a long time , '' the president told reporters on Sunday .
`` I 'm pleased to make a truly historic announcement in our battle against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mr Trump described the procedure as a powerful therapy , as he appealed to Americans to come forward to donate plasma if they had recovered from Covid-19 .
More than 176,000 people have died from coronavirus since the start of the outbreak in the United States , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Nearly 5.7 million cases have also been confirmed nationwide .
The country has had more confirmed cases and deaths than anywhere else in the world .
The FDA had already approved the use of plasma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has now given the treatment `` emergency use authorisation '' , rather than full approval , saying that early research suggests blood plasma can decrease mortality and improve patient health if it is administered within the first three days of admittance to hospital .
However , more trials are needed to prove its effectiveness .
The agency said it had concluded it was safe after reviewing the results of 20,000 patients who had received the treatment so far .
The FDA said people under the age of 80 who were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high levels of antibodies had a 35 % better survival rate a month after the treatment than those who had received plasma with a low level of antibodies .
`` It appeared that the product is safe and we 're comfortable with that and we continue to see no concerning safety signals , '' said Peter Marks , director of the FDA 's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research .
In his own comments , Mr Trump removed the FDA 's nuanced language , saying the plasma treatment had been `` proven to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Several experts , including Dr Anthony Fauci , a member of the White House 's coronavirus task force , have expressed reservations about the robustness of studies so far .
Many countries are using plasma as a coronavirus therapy , but it 's not yet clear how effective the treatment is .
The decision by the US FDA to grant emergency use is a balance of risks .
It says , based on the evidence so far , convalescent plasma may lessen the severity or shorten the length of Covid-19 illness .
Certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems are struggling to fight off the pandemic virus might get protection from a transfusion of antibody-rich plasma from someone who has successfully recovered from Covid-19 .
Convalescent plasma has been used to successfully treat other diseases , including Ebola .
It is generally well-tolerated , but unwanted effects can occur , including harmful allergic reactions .
A recent UK analysis said it remained `` very uncertain '' whether plasma was beneficial for people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 .
Trials are ongoing to understand precisely which patients might benefit and by how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' evidence to inform treatment decisions and gathering that data will take time .
In a statement , the Infectious Diseases Society of America said that while there were `` some positive signals that convalescent plasma can be helpful in treating individuals with Covid-19 ... .
we lack the randomised controlled trial data we need to better understand its utility in Covid-19 treatment '' .
Jonathan Reiner , a professor of medicine at George Washington University , called it `` a political stunt '' .
`` Convalescent plasma may have some efficacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he wrote on Twitter .
The World Health Organization last month said that `` Covid-19 convalescent plasma can be made available on an experimental basis through local production provided that ethical and safety criteria are met for its preparation and use '' .
In a tweet on Saturday , President Trump said `` the deep state , or whoever , at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people in order to test the vaccines and therapeutics .
`` Obviously , they are hoping to delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election ] , '' he added .
Earlier this year , US regulators gave emergency authorisation to Gilead Science Inc 's remdesivir as a therapeutic treatment for coronavirus .
Meanwhile , a report by the Financial Times suggests the White House is considering granting emergency authorisation for a vaccine being developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca , ahead of the US presidential election on 3 November .
The White House has not commented on the story , but a spokesperson for AstraZeneca told Reuters that efficacy results for its trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • ENDGAME : How do we get out of this mess ?
• WITHOUT SYMPTOMS : The mystery of 'silent spreaders '

More than 176,000 people have died from coronavirus since the start of the outbreak in the United States, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 5.7 million cases have also been confirmed nationwide. The country has had more confirmed cases and deaths than anywhere else in the world.


bbc--2020-08-24--Kellyanne Conway resigns as senior White House adviser

Kellyanne Conway has announced that she is resigning from her post as senior adviser to US President Donald Trump .
In a statement , Mrs Conway , 53 , said she was stepping down at the end of August to focus on her children , giving them `` less drama , more mama '' .
Her husband , George , an outspoken critic of the president , will also be stepping back from political activism .
She added that her decision was `` completely my choice '' , and that she would announce future plans `` in time '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs Conway 's daughters , Claudia , 15 , tweeted that her mother 's job had `` ruined [ her ] life '' .
Mrs Conway , who is still scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday , informed Mr Trump on Sunday night .
• Is the Conway marriage a lesson for America ?
A Republican strategist and veteran pollster , she was the first woman to manage a successful US presidential campaign , spearheading Mr Trump 's effort in 2016 .
As senior counsellor at the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to President Trump and maintained a highly influential position in the administration .
In contrast , her husband George is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project - a Republican political action committee working to prevent the re-election of President Trump in 2020 .
`` The past four years have allowed me blessings beyond compare , '' she said in a statement .
`` [ George and I ] disagree about plenty but we are united on what matters most : the kids , '' she added .
`` Our four children are teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in middle school and high school , remotely from home for at least a few months , '' continued Mrs Conway .
`` As millions of parents nationwide know , kids 'doing school from home ' requires a level of attention and vigilance that is as unusual as these times . ''
Claudia Conway 's tweet about her mother went viral over the weekend .
She later tweeted that she was taking a `` mental health break '' from social media , saying `` this is becoming way too much '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most ardent supporters , but has long been a controversial figure .
She has become well known for sparring with journalists in defence of the president .
One of her most famous lines was `` alternative facts '' , the phrase she used to describe then White House press secretary Sean Spicer 's highly questioned figures about the number of people attending Mr Trump 's inauguration .
In a 2017 interview , she cited a non-existent `` massacre '' to defend the administration 's immigration restrictions .
That same year , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she should be investigated after she urged people , during a live interview , to buy clothing developed by the president 's daughter Ivanka .
More recently , the government 's oversight agency advised last year that she should be fired for engaging in banned political activities while in office .
She has often found herself caught between her husband and the president .
Mr Conway has publicly disparaged the president , describing him as `` incompetent '' .
The president , in response , has called him a `` stone cold LOSER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down Mr Conway for a job in the justice department .

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bbc--2020-08-24--Republican National Convention: What is happening this year?

The Republican National Convention starts on Monday and we now have a better idea of what will be happening .
But let 's back up first .
What IS the Republican National Convention ?
Party conventions take place once every four years - they are the ceremonial crowning of the party 's presidential candidate as they prepare for the final phase of campaigning .
Last time around , we saw the Trump family take centre stage to a backdrop of fireworks and a sea of red , white and blue balloons .
It 's also where party officials wrap up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political platform and adopting rules .
As the sitting president , Mr Trump is the de facto nominee , but it 's not official until the party anoints him at the convention .
This year , that will happen at the end of four days of convention events this week , ending on Thursday with the president 's big speech .
How will the Republican National Convention work this year ?
Even Republicans have been trying to figure this out .
The conventions of years past have been glitzy affairs , bringing together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists and celebrities for receptions , speeches and general hyping up of the presidential candidate .
But the pandemic has upended all that .
Unlike its Democratic counterpart , the Republican Convention still plans on hosting some in-person business .
But people will need to wear masks and social distance .
Those attending will also be given a self-swab Covid-19 test before travelling and entering their hotels .
OK , so where will Trump be ?
He will accept the nomination in a `` real speech on Thursday '' , live from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely well-received - with critics arguing using federal property for a campaign speech is unethical .
Who are the speakers this year ?
The headliners , apart from Mr Trump himself , will be First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday , followed by Vice-President Mike Pence on Wednesday .
Members of the Trump family are scheduled to speak each night .
• Andrew Pollack , whose daughter was killed in Parkland school shooting • Nicholas Sandmann , who featured in a viral video last year in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal justice reform advocate whose life sentence was commuted by the president after a campaign led by Kim Kardashian • Parents of Kayla Mueller , an American aid worker who was taken hostage and killed in Syria Mr Pence will accept his running mate role from Fort McHenry in Baltimore .
It 's a place heavy with historical significance , because it is where US soldiers withstood the might of the British in 1814 , inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem .
Like its Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a mix of pre-recorded and live speeches , based in Washington DC .
Each day will follow themes of America as the land of promise , opportunity , heroes and - in a nod to Trump 's slogan - greatness .
What time is the Republican National Convention ?
The convention is expected to last 2.5 hours each night , Monday to Thursday , from 2030 EST ( 0130 BST ) to 2200 EST ( 0300 BST ) .
You can follow the latest news , including live pages on the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bbc.com/news And you can watch on the Republican National Convention website .
Three things to watch out for Few incumbent presidents of the modern era have faced a challenge as great as the one before Donald Trump in the final months of their re-election campaign .
He has consistently trailed Joe Biden in the polls by a modest but significant margin for months .
The Republican Convention is one of his last , best opportunities to turn the tide .
The coronavirus pandemic has made a traditional convention format impractical , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to replicating the feel of one .
Unlike the Democrats , they will have audiences for many of their speeches , including Donald Trump 's Thursday night address , which will be held from the South Lawn of the White House .
That speech will be a good guide for how the Republicans hope to conduct their campaign over the final months .
Will he focus on tearing down Joe Biden or on accomplishments from early in his presidency ?
Or will he try to convince the public that the worst days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats during their convention turned to voices from `` ordinary '' Americans - immigrants , workers and minorities - who said they had been harmed by the president 's policies .
The Republicans will counter with ones who will recount how they 've been helped - or who are worried about what the Democrats would do in power .
Will they make a compelling case ?
The rest of the week will be filled with Republican officeholders of various levels .
Some , including Vice-President Mike Pence , will be vying for position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office - either next year or in 2024 .
Four years ago , Trump defied conventional practices and wisdom to win the presidency .
He 's remade the Republican Party in his image , with an emphasis on conservative populism and sometimes brash rhetoric .
That new party , his party , will be on full display this week If the battle to be Trump 's political heirs is one potential theme of the convention , another will be the dynamic among his actual heirs .
The president 's wife , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don Jr and Tiffany - are all scheduled set to speak .
The Trump family has had more than its share of drama - most recently with secret recordings of sister Maryanne Barry disparaging the president .
Will this week be more like the Brady Bunch or King Lear ?
How does the voting work ?
There 's a roll call when delegates from states and territories across the US say which candidate they are backing .
This time , that 's the president .
State delegates vote in line with the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the case of Republicans , they are bound to do so .
There are also unpledged delegates who can vote freely - these are two national committee members and the party chairperson from each state .
With Trump as the incumbent , some states opted out of hosting primary elections this year and automatically gave their delegates to him .
If you need a refresher on all things primary and caucus , check out our explainer here .
What happens next ?
Now we watch as campaigning heats up before the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set a reminder for the debates too , where we 'll see Biden and Trump battle to win over voters .
The first presidential debate is scheduled for 29 September with two more in October .

RNC 2020: The speakers and schedule for day four Published 27 August 2020
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Melania Trump: "Look at things from all perspectives"
The Republican National Convention is nearing its conclusion, with Donald Trump set to close the event with a speech making the case for his re-election.
What's been happening at the four-day event?
Let's back up first.
There's an obvious question...
What is the Republican National Convention?
OK, good question.
Party conventions take place once every four years - they are the ceremonial crowning of the party's presidential candidate as they prepare for the final phase of campaigning.
Last time around, we saw the Trump family take centre stage to a backdrop of fireworks and a sea of red, white and blue balloons.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, "I would crawl through broken glass to vote for Trump in this election"
It's also where party officials wrap up other less glamorous business, like unveiling the political platform and adopting rules. This time - for the first time - no new platform is being adopted. The party will continue to support Mr Trump's 2016 manifesto.
As the sitting president, Mr Trump is the de facto nominee but the convention has formally nominated him with a roll call, nonetheless.
On Thursday, the president will formally accept the nomination with a big speech.
How is the Republican National Convention being held this year?
The conventions of years past have been glitzy affairs, bringing together thousands of delegates, party leaders, activists and celebrities for receptions, speeches and general hyping up of the presidential candidate.
But the pandemic has upended all that.
Unlike its Democratic counterpart, the Republican Convention is hosting some in-person events at venues in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Washington DC, along with speeches delivered remotely.
Each day will follow themes of America as the land of promise, opportunity, heroes and - in a nod to Trump's slogan - greatness.
Image source, Getty Images
People are being told they need to wear masks and social distance. Those attending events are given a self-swab Covid-19 test before travelling and entering their hotels.
OK, so where will Trump be?
Trump has been involved in some regard each day of the convention, either in person or in recorded videos. He will accept the nomination in a "real speech on Thursday", live from the White House.
This hasn't been entirely well received - with critics arguing using federal property for a campaign speech is unethical.
Who else will speak on the final day?
In addition to President Trump, the following will be speaking on Thursday:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a senior White House adviser
Alice Johnson, a criminal justice reform advocate whose life sentence was commuted by the president after a campaign led by Kim Kardashian
The parents of Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker who was taken hostage and killed in Syria
Who spoke on Wednesday night?
Vice-President Pence addressed the convention remotely from Baltimore's Fort McHenry, where the city was defended against the British in the War of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the US national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Francis Scott Key saw the flag at the fort and wrote the words that later became the national anthem
The former Indiana governor argued that Joe Biden would set the country on to "a path of socialism and decline".
As pitchman for Mr Trump's re-election, he said voters need "a president who believes in America".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Pence: Stakes in this election never higher
On a night with the theme "Land of Heroes", his wife Karen Pence also addressed the convention, paying tribute to "military spouses".
White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, who is leaving the White House next week, said of Mr Trump: "He has stood by me, and he will stand up for you."
Image source, EPA Image caption, Kellyanne Conway said she had made the decision in order to focus on her children
The 53-year-old announced this week that she was resigning from her post as senior adviser to Mr Trump at the end of August to focus on her children, giving them "less drama, more mama".
Two black speakers on Wednesday spoke in support of President Trump. Clarence Henderson, a civil rights activist from the 1960s, spoke about the power of peaceful protest and the Republican Party's record on civil rights.
Burgess Owens, a former NFL player and Fox News commentator, who is running for office in Utah, pushed Mr Trump's law-and-order message.
Several military veterans also addressed the convention as well as four of the party's rising female stars: Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, New York Representative Elise Stefanik, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump.
Who has already spoken?
US First Lady Melania Trump made a heartfelt plea for racial unity when she delivered a live speech from the White House on Tuesday.
The day also saw two of the president's children, Eric and Tiffany Trump, making fierce attacks on the Democrats while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a pre-recorded speech from Israel, praising the president's "America First vision".
Normally, the nation's top diplomat does not attend political conventions, and critics called his participation unethical.
Monday, the convention's opening day, was dominated by a speech by President Trump himself in which he warned Republicans their opponents might "steal" November's election.
His claim that postal voting could lead to voter fraud has been dismissed by experts and election officials as a conspiracy theory.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Donald Trump: "This is the greatest scam in the history of politics"
His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, described Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden as "basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp".
What time is the Republican National Convention?
The convention is expected to last 2.5 hours each night, Monday to Thursday, from 20:30 EST (00:30 GMT) to 23:00 EST (03:00 GMT).
You can follow the latest news, including a live page on Thursday, at bbc.com/news. BBC World News and the BBC News Channel (available globally and in the UK, respectively) will broadcast Mr Trump's speech live and bring you reaction and analysis afterwards.
And you can also watch on the Republican National Convention website.
What to watch out for
Few incumbent presidents of the modern era have faced a challenge as great as the one before Donald Trump in the final months of their re-election campaign. He has consistently trailed Joe Biden in the polls by a modest but significant margin for months. The Republican Convention is one of his last, best opportunities to turn the tide.
The president's speech will be a good guide for how the Republicans hope to conduct their campaign over the final months. Will he focus on tearing down Joe Biden or on accomplishments from early in his presidency? Or will he try to convince the public that the worst days of the pandemic are over?
The Democrats during their convention turned to voices from "ordinary" Americans - immigrants, workers and minorities - who said they had been harmed by the president's policies. The Republicans have countered with ones who will recount how they've been helped - or who are worried about what the Democrats would do in power. Have they made a compelling case?
The rest of the week has been be filled with Republican officeholders of various levels. Some, including Vice-President Mike Pence, will be vying for position to lead the partyonce Trump leaves office - either next year or in 2024.
Four years ago, Trump defied conventional practices and wisdom to win the presidency. He's remade the Republican Party in his image, with an emphasis on conservative populism and sometimes brash rhetoric. That new party, his party, has been on full display this week.
What happens next?
Now we watch as campaigning heats up before the general election on 3 November.
Be sure to set a reminder for the debates too, where we'll see Biden and Trump battle to win over voters. The first presidential debate is scheduled for 29 September with two more in October.


bbc--2020-08-24--Kenosha shooting: Protests erupt after US police shoot black man

Protests have erupted in the US state of Wisconsin after police shot a black man many times while responding to what they said was a domestic incident .
The man , identified as Jacob Blake , is in a serious condition in hospital .
Video posted online appears to show Mr Blake being shot in the back as he tries to get into a car in the city of Kenosha .
Authorities in Kenosha declared an emergency overnight curfew after unrest broke out following the shooting .
Hundreds of people marched on police headquarters on Sunday night .
Vehicles were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We wo n't back down '' .
In a public safety alert , police urged 24-hour businesses to consider closing because of `` numerous '' calls about armed robberies and shots being fired .
Officers used tear gas to try to disperse hundreds of protesters who defied the county-wide curfew , which is in place until 07:00 on Monday ( 12:00 GMT ) .
• How are African Americans treated under the law ?
• What 's next after flood of racial equity donations ?
• Five pieces of context to understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting of Mr Blake , who was reportedly unarmed .
`` While we do not have all of the details yet , what we know for certain is that he is not the first black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country , '' he said in a statement .
`` I have said all along that although we must offer our empathy , equally important is our action .
In the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of elected officials in our state who have failed to recognise the racism in our state and our country for far too long . ''
Jacob Blake 's name was trending on social media and thousands signed a petition calling for the officers involved to be charged .
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in the US over racism and police brutality following the death of African-American man George Floyd earlier this year .
Kenosha Police Department said the `` officer involved shooting '' happened shortly after 17:00 on Sunday .
It added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to Mr Blake , who was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee .
It said police had been responding to a `` domestic incident '' but gave no details about what led to the shooting .
The Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating the incident .
It said the officers involved had been placed on administrative leave .
In video footage shared on social media , three officers can be seen pointing their weapons at a man identified as Mr Blake as he walks around a parked SUV .
As he opens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one officer can be seen grabbing his shirt and opening fire .
Seven shots can be heard in the video , as witnesses shout and scream .
The officers involved have not been officially named .
Prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump told CNN that Mr Blake 's family had reached out to him for assistance .
In a tweet , he said Mr Blake 's three sons were in the car he was getting into when he was shot .
`` They saw a cop shoot their father .
They will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let officers violate their duty to PROTECT us , '' he wrote .
He said the shooting happened after Mr Blake tried to break up a fight .
Witnesses also told local news site Kenosha News that Mr Blake had tried to break up a fight between two women and that police had attempted to use a Taser on him prior to the shooting .
Clyde McLemore , a spokesman with a nearby chapter of Black Lives Matter , told reporters `` the frustration is boiling to the top and we 're sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests were held across the US and around the world after African-American man George Floyd was killed in police custody in Wisconsin 's neighbouring state of Minnesota in May .
A white police officer knelt on Mr Floyd 's neck for almost nine minutes before he died .
The officer , Derek Chauvin , has been charged with murder .

"While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country," he said in a statement.


bbc--2020-08-24--Rio Tinto bosses lose bonuses over Aboriginal cave destruction

Mining giant Rio Tinto has cut the bonuses of three executives over the destruction of two ancient caves in Australia .
In May , the world 's biggest iron ore miner destroyed the sacred Aboriginal sites in Pilbara , Western Australia .
The company went ahead with the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters despite the opposition of Aboriginal traditional owners .
They were among the oldest historic sites in Australia .
Chris Salisbury , chief executive of iron ore , and Simone Niven , group executive of corporate relations , will lose payouts of more than half a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose shares are listed in both London and Sydney , said it would provide more details on the bonus cuts in its 2020 remuneration report .
All three will remain in their roles .
`` It is clear that no single individual or error was responsible for the destruction of the Juukan rockshelters , '' said Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson .
`` But there were numerous missed opportunities over almost a decade and the company failed to uphold one of Rio Tinto 's core values - respect for local communities and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above about eight-million tonnes of high-grade iron ore , with an estimated value at the time of £75m .
`` We will implement important new measures and governance to ensure we do not repeat what happened at Juukan Gorge and we will continue our work to rebuild trust with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people , '' said Mr Thompson .
The review found that while the company had obtained legal authority for the blasts , the decision fell short of the standards and internal guidance Rio Tinto had set for itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had failed to properly engage with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama people , the traditional owners of the site .
After the caves were destroyed , a PKKP representative , John Ashburton , said losing the site was a `` devastating blow '' .
`` There are less than a handful of known Aboriginal sites in Australia that are as old as this one ... its importance can not be underestimated , '' Reuters news agency quoted him as saying .
`` Our people are deeply troubled and saddened by the destruction of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of connection to our ancestors as well as our land . ''
Mr Salisbury apologised for the company 's actions at the time : `` We are sorry for the distress we have caused . ''
`` We pay our respects to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura People , '' he added .
The BBC has contacted the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation for comment .

"There are less than a handful of known Aboriginal sites in Australia that are as old as this one... its importance cannot be underestimated," he said, according to the news agency Reuters.


bbc--2020-08-24--Deadly storms Marco and Laura plough through Caribbean killing 12

At least 12 people have been killed as two storms tore through the Caribbean on Sunday .
Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura brought high winds and rough seas leaving at least nine people dead in Haiti and another three in the Dominican Republic .
Heavy rains have also battered Cuba and the US territory of Puerto Rico .
Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana on Monday , with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday .
The US National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) said that Laura was expected to strengthen into a hurricane by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laura may swing east towards Louisiana , and it could be the first time in recorded history that the state has been hit by two back-to-back hurricanes .
The positions for Marco and Laura are at 0300 GMT Monday .
Source : National Hurricane Centre What 's known about the victims ?
Nine people were killed in Haiti .
Two more , a mother and her child , are missing after being swept away by flood waters , according to Civil Protection Director Jerry Chandler .
Local media say the missing woman works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capital , Port-au-Prince .
Among those killed is a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a falling branch in Anse-à-Pitres , on Haiti 's southern coast near the border with the Dominican Republic .
A woman died in floodwaters in Jacmel , also on the southern coast , while a man and two more women died in and around Port-au-Prince .
Footage shared on social media showed Haitians trying to get to safety as the flood waters were rising quickly .
No details of the other Haitian victims have so far been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his condolences to the families of the bereaved on Twitter .
In neighbouring Dominican Republic , a 37-year-old woman and her nine-year-old son died when a wall in their home west of the capital , Santo Domingo , collapsed during heavy rains .
A 22-year-old man died when his home collapsed under the weight of a falling tree .
In total , 200 homes were damaged in the Dominican Republic and 1,000 people had to be evacuated .
Meanwhile in Cuba , many residents in the country 's eastern regions have been evacuated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on higher ground .
Where are the storms headed ?
Marco strengthened to a hurricane on Sunday , with sustained winds of up to 75mph ( 120km/h ) , and is moving north between Cuba and Mexico 's Yucatan Peninsula .
Laura is predicted to head northwest towards Houston , America 's fourth-largest city .
The US National Hurricane Centre has warned that back-to-back hurricanes arriving in the US within days of one another could result in prolonged periods of hazardous weather .
The US Coast Guard has issued a warning for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ships to make plans to evacuate some areas .
US President Donald Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Louisiana , ordering federal assistance to coordinate relief efforts .
On Saturday , a similar declaration was made for Puerto Rico .


bbc--2020-08-24--Police make 148 arrests after clashes following PSG Champions League defeat

French police say they have made 148 arrests following riots in the capital after Paris St-Germain 's 1-0 defeat by @ @ @ @ @ League final on Sunday .
The clashes occurred on the Champs-Elysees and around the Parc @ @ @ @ @ fans had gathered to watch the game on a big screen .
Cars were set @ @ @ @ @ were smashed , police said .
PSG were bidding to win the Champions League for @ @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Thousands of fans had gathered outside the Parc des Princes stadium to watch the Champions League final on a big screen
French police say they have made 148 arrests following riots in the capital after Paris St-Germain's 1-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Sunday.
The clashes occurred on the Champs-Elysees and around the Parc des Princes stadium, where fans had gathered to watch the game on a big screen.
Cars were set on fire and shop windows were smashed, police said. external-link
PSG were bidding to win the Champions League for the first time.


bbc--2020-08-24--BTS's Dynamite smashes YouTube records and heads for UK number one

Dynamite , the latest single by Korean boy band BTS , has smashed YouTube records - and looks set to be the UK 's number one single this Friday .
The pastel-coloured , dance-heavy video was watched 101.1 million times in 24 hours after its release last Friday .
That surpasses the previous record , set by fellow K-Pop band Blackpink , whose song How You Like That racked up 86.3 million views in 24 hours in June .
Dynamite is also the first video to achieve 100 million views in one day .
More than three million fans also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live premiere - almost double the previous record , also held by Blackpink 's How You Like That .
Dynamite is the first single from BTS to be sung entirely in English , and the band said they wanted it to convey `` positive vibes , energy , hope , love , the purity , everything '' .
The septet first teased the video in July , explaining that they were currently preparing an album for the second half of the year .
`` [ We ] decided to first release a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as possible .
Due to Covid-19 , people around the world have been going through tough times and we wanted to share some positive energy with our fans , '' they said .
• BTS ask fans to avoid shows over coronavirus fears The shimmery , pop-disco track was written by David Stewart and Jessica Agombar , who most recently teamed up for the Jonas Brothers ' hit , What a Man Got ta Do .
It has already topped the iTunes download chart in 104 countries , and could give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single this Friday .
However , the song has so far failed to break Spotify 's UK Top 10 , which means the band 's streaming numbers could count against them when the final figures are compiled .
Dynamite comes six months after BTS 's last studio album Map of the Soul : 7 , which was released in February ; and the band are due to perform it live at the MTV VMAs on 30 August .
Meanwhile , Blackpink are poised to challenge the band 's YouTube record this Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ice Cream , with US superstar Selena Gomez .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

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bbc--2020-08-24--Belarus detains opposition figures after Minsk mass rally

Police in Belarus have detained two senior opposition figures a day after more than 100,000 people rallied against President Alexander Lukashenko .
Olga Kovalkova and Sergei Dylevsky were picked up outside the Minsk Tractor Factory , where staff are involved in an anti-Lukashenko strike .
The pair are on a co-ordination council set up by exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
She is in Lithuania , which is now in a diplomatic row with Belarus .
Lithuania 's foreign ministry says it summoned the Belarus ambassador on Monday to protest over a violation of its airspace .
It alleges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border on Sunday evening in order to burst eight balloons .
An image posted on Twitter shows a big red-and-white balloon - the colours of the flags paraded at opposition demonstrations .
According to the Belarusian defence ministry , the balloons were `` anti-state symbols '' and `` thanks to the crews of Mi-24 helicopters the balloons ' flight was intercepted without recourse to weapons '' .
The `` provocation '' happened at about 19:30 ( 16:30 GMT ) in Ashmyany district .
In solidarity with the Belarus opposition on Sunday people linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain from the capital , Vilnius , to the Belarusian border .
Tensions remain high in Minsk , amid widespread anger over Mr Lukashenko 's landslide 9 August re-election , which the opposition and many governments denounced as fraudulent .
There is also fury over police brutality - many protesters accuse the police of unprovoked beatings and torture during the crackdown .
On Sunday , Mr Lukashenko was filmed in combat gear and carrying an assault rifle , praising his security forces near the presidential palace .
He has denounced protesters as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The opposition now says a strike leader at a potash fertiliser plant , Anatoly Bokan , has also been detained .
Last week the chief prosecutor launched a criminal investigation into the 35-member co-ordination council , accusing it of trying to seize power .
Several members of the council are reported to have resigned as a result .
Not all council members are in Belarus .
Where is Belarus ?
It has Russia - the former dominant power - to the east and Ukraine to the south .
To the north and west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lithuania and Poland .
Why does it matter ?
Like Ukraine , this nation of 9.5 million is caught in rivalry between the West and Russia .
President Lukashenko , an ally of Russia , has been referred to as `` Europe 's last dictator '' .
He has been in power for 26 years , keeping much of the economy in state hands , and using censorship and police crackdowns against opponents .
What 's going on there ?
Now there is a huge opposition movement , demanding new , democratic leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters say his toughness has kept the country stable .

Why does it matter? Like Ukraine, this nation of 9.5 million is caught in rivalry between the West and Russia. President Lukashenko, an ally of Russia, has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". He has been in power for 26 years, keeping much of the economy in state hands, and using censorship and police crackdowns against opponents.