bbc--2020-08-02--NBA: Kyle Lowry leads Toronto Raptors to win over LA Lakers

Last updated on .From the section Basketball Kyle Lowry starred in the Toronto Raptors ' 107-92 victory over the Los @ @ @ @ @ LeBron James led the Lakers ' charge with 20 points but could not prevent an @ @ @ @ @ Raptors .
`` Against a couple of great guys , we came in wanting to @ @ @ @ @ a good job , '' Lowry said .
The game was played on the third @ @ @ @ @ the quarantine 'bubble ' at Disney World in Florida , following a four-month shutdown because @ @ @ @ @ • None ' I just say it 's 2020 ' - inside the NBA 'bubble' @ @ @ @ @ the Western Conference at 50-15 while Toronto sit second in the Eastern Conference at 47-18 @ @ @ @ @ the play-offs .

Last updated on .From the section Basketball
Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (right) comes up against LA Lakers' LeBron James in Orlando, Florida
Kyle Lowry starred in the Toronto Raptors' 107-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Orlando.
The 34-year-old finished with 33 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while London-born OG Anunoby contributed 23 points.
LeBron James led the Lakers' charge with 20 points but could not prevent an 11th consecutive loss to the Raptors.
"Against a couple of great guys, we came in wanting to play well and we did a good job," Lowry said.
The game was played on the third day of regular-season games inside the quarantine 'bubble' at Disney World in Florida, following a four-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lakers remain top of the Western Conference at 50-15 while Toronto sit second in the Eastern Conference at 47-18, as the season nears the play-offs.


bbc--2020-07-26--Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'

At the start of the Iraq War in 2003 , over 600 journalists and photographers are given permission by the @ @ @ @ @ conflict as embedded reporters .
Photographer Ashley Gilbertson is working for The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ of Fallujah with a US marine battalion .
Fallujah , 40 miles outside Baghdad , @ @ @ @ @ the marines would fight since the Vietnam War .
Just over a week after entering @ @ @ @ @ group of them is ordered to escort Ashley on a recce of a local minaret @ @ @ @ @ change their lives forever .
UK viewers can watch 'Once Upon a Time in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ Monday 27 July at 21:00 BST on BBC Two and on BBC iPlayer .

At the start of the Iraq War in 2003, over 600 journalists and photographers are given permission by the US government to follow the conflict as embedded reporters.
Photographer Ashley Gilbertson is working for The New York Times when he enters the city of Fallujah with a US marine battalion.
Fallujah, 40 miles outside Baghdad, would be the deadliest battle the marines would fight since the Vietnam War.
Just over a week after entering the city, a small group of them is ordered to escort Ashley on a recce of a local minaret - what happens next will change their lives forever.
UK viewers can watch 'Once Upon a Time in Iraq: Episode 3' on Monday 27 July at 21:00 BST on BBC Two and on BBC iPlayer.


bbc--2020-08-02--Nasa SpaceX crew return: Dragon capsule splashes down

Two American astronauts have splashed down , as the first commercial crewed mission to the International Space Station returned to Earth .
The SpaceX Dragon Capsule carrying Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken came down in the Gulf of Mexico just south of Pensacola on Florida 's Gulf coast .
A recovery vessel moved in to pick up the vehicle and extricate the men .
The touchdown marks the first crewed US water landing since the final outing of an Apollo command module 45 years ago .
Hurley 's and Behnken 's capsule touched the water at about 14:48 EDT ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • What is the SpaceX Crew Dragon ?
`` It 's truly our honour and privilege , '' said Hurley as they arrived home .
`` On behalf of the SpaceX and Nasa teams , welcome back to Planet Earth .
Thanks for flying SpaceX , '' SpaceX mission control responded .
President Donald Trump - who attended the capsule 's launch two months ago - hailed its safe return .
`` Thank you to all ! ''
he tweeted .
`` Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to the crew 's mission initiates a new era for the American space agency .
All its human transport needs just above the Earth will in future be purchased from private companies , such as SpaceX .
The government agency says contracting out to service providers in this way will save it billions of dollars that can be diverted to getting astronauts to the Moon , as part of its Artemis programme , and afterwards to Mars .
The Dragon capsule launched to the space station at the end of May on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by SpaceX .
Hurley 's and Behnken 's mission served as an end-to-end demonstration of the astronaut `` taxi service '' the company , owned by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk , will be selling to Nasa from now on .
The Boeing corporation is also developing a crew capsule solution but has had to delay its introduction after encountering software problems on its Starliner capsule .
The sight of the vehicle 's four main parachutes floating down over the Gulf of Mexico was confirmation the spacecraft had survived its fiery descent through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capsule from about 350mph ( 560km/h ) to just roughly 15mph ( 7m/s ) at splashdown .
Rigging was used to hoist the capsule out of the water and on to the recovery vessel .
Technicians monitored `` remnant vapours '' around the spacecraft before the hatch was opened .
The men were checked over by medical staff before being flown to shore by helicopter .
• Who are Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken ?
• How is Nasa using commercial partners ?
The astronauts ' Dragon capsule launched to the space station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falcon 9 rocket , also supplied by SpaceX .
It will now be refurbished to fly again next year .
Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine lauded the efforts of everyone involved in Hurley 's and Behnken 's mission , and then spoke of his agency 's shift in philosophy .
`` We do n't want to purchase , own and operate the hardware the way we used to , '' he said .
`` We want to be one customer of many customers in a very robust commercial marketplace in low-Earth orbit .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are competing against each other on cost and innovation and safety , and really create this virtuous cycle of economic development and capability . ''
Gwynne Shotwell , the president of SpaceX , added : `` Today is a great day .
We should celebrate what we all accomplished here , bringing Bob and Doug back , but we should also think about this as a springboard to doing even harder things with the Artemis programme .
And then , of course , moving on to Mars . ''
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBCAmos

"What is not common is having passersby approach the vehicle close range with nitrogen tetroxide in the atmosphere; that's not something that is good," he said. "And we need to make sure that we're warning people not to get close to the spacecraft in the future."


bbc--2020-08-02--US election: Republicans dampen reports of convention media ban

The US Republican Party has distanced itself from reports that this month 's party convention - which will formally re-nominate President Donald Trump - will be closed to the press .
On Saturday the AP news agency and other news outlets reported that , because of the coronavirus , media would not be allowed to attend the event .
But on Sunday , a convention official said no final decisions had been made .
The delegates will meet in late August in North Carolina .
Last month President Trump scrapped a Florida convention , blaming the coronavirus `` flare-up '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city of Charlotte .
The Republican National Convention ( RNC ) will be attended by 336 delegates , who will cast proxy votes for some 2,500 official delegates .
Mr Trump is the party 's sole remaining nominee , and his re-nomination will officially launch his re-election bid .
• All you need to know about US election • Does Trump have power to delay election ?
On Saturday , the Associated Press ( AP ) quoted a convention spokeswoman as saying : `` Given the health restrictions and limitations in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are planning for the Charlotte activities to be closed press Friday , August 21 - Monday , August 24 . ''
CNN quoted a Republican official as saying : `` Reporters will not be allowed on site as RNC delegates vote to formally nominate President Donald Trump as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee . ''
But on Sunday an RNC official told CBS News : `` No final decisions have been made and we are still working through logistics and press coverage options . ''
In a tweet , the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be banned from the early part of the convention , but may still be able to cover the main event , between 24 and 27 June .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

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bbc--2020-08-02--Coronavirus: Iran cover-up of deaths revealed by data leak

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Iran is nearly triple what Iran 's government claims , a BBC Persian service investigation has found .
The government 's own records appear to show almost 42,000 people died with Covid-19 symptoms up to 20 July , versus 14,405 reported by its health ministry .
The number of people known to be infected is also almost double official figures : 451,024 as opposed to 278,827 .
Iran has been one of the worst-hit countries outside China .
In recent weeks , it has suffered a second steep rise in the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Covid-19 was recorded on 22 January , according to lists and medical records that have been passed to the BBC .
This was almost a month before the first official case of coronavirus was reported there .
Since the outbreak of the virus in Iran , many observers have doubted the official numbers .
There have been irregularities in data between national and regional levels , which some local authorities have spoken out about , and statisticians have tried to give alternative estimates.. A level of undercounting , largely due to testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the information leaked to the BBC reveals Iranian authorities have reported significantly lower daily numbers despite having a record of all deaths - suggesting they were deliberately suppressed .
The data was sent to the BBC by an anonymous source .
It includes details of daily admissions to hospitals across Iran , including names , age , gender , symptoms , date and length of periods spent in hospital , and underlying conditions patients might have .
The source says they have shared this data with the BBC to `` shed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` political games '' over the epidemic .
The BBC can not verify whether this source works for an Iranian government body , or identify the means by which they gained access to this data .
But the details on lists correspond to those of some living and deceased patients already known to the BBC .
The discrepancy between the official figures and the number of deaths on these records also matches the difference between the official figure and calculations of excess mortality until mid-June .
Excess mortality refers to the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected under `` normal '' conditions .
What does the data reveal ?
Tehran , the capital , has the highest number of deaths with 8,120 people who died with Covid-19 or symptoms similar to it .
The city of Qom , the initial epicentre of the virus in Iran , is worst hit proportionally , with 1,419 deaths - that is one death with Covid-19 for every 1,000 people .
It is notable that , across the country , 1,916 deaths were non-Iranian nationals .
This indicates a disproportionate number of deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly from neighbouring Afghanistan .
The overall trend of cases and deaths in the leaked data is similar to official reports , albeit different in size .
The initial rise of deaths is far steeper than Health Ministry figures and by mid-March it was five times the official figure .
Lockdown measures were imposed over the Nowruz ( Iranian New Year ) holidays at the end of the third week in March , and there was a corresponding decline in cases and deaths .
But as government restrictions were relaxed , the cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late-May .
Crucially the first recorded death on the leaked list occurred on 22 January , a month before the first case of coronavirus was officially reported in Iran .
At the time Health Ministry officials were adamant in acknowledging only a single case of coronavirus in the country , despite reports by journalists inside Iran , and warnings from various medical professionals .
In 28 days until the first official acknowledgement on 19 February , 52 people had already died .
Doctors with direct knowledge of the matter have told the BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under pressure from security and intelligence bodies inside Iran .
Dr Pouladi ( not their real name ) told the BBC that the ministry `` was in denial '' .
`` Initially they did not have testing kits and when they got them , they were n't used widely enough .
The position of the security services was not to admit to the existence of coronavirus in Iran , '' Dr Pouladi said .
It was the persistence of two brothers , both doctors from Qom , which forced the health ministry to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Mohammad Molayi and Dr Ali Molayi lost their brother , they insisted he should still be tested for Covid-19 , which turned out to be positive .
In Kamkar hospital , where their brother died , numerous patients were admitted with similar symptoms to Covid-19 , and they would not respond to the usual treatments .
Nevertheless , none of them were tested for the disease .
Dr Pouladi says : `` They got unlucky .
Someone with both decency and influence lost his brother .
Dr Molayi had access to these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not give up . ''
Dr Molayi released a video of his late brother with a statement .
The health ministry then finally acknowledged the first recorded case .
Nevertheless state TV ran a report criticising him and falsely claiming the video of his brother was months old .
The start of outbreak coincided both with the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and with parliamentary elections .
These were major opportunities for the Islamic Republic to demonstrate its popular support and not risk damaging it because of the virus .
Ayatollah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused some of wanting to use the coronavirus to undermine the election .
In the event , the election had a very low turnout .
Before the global coronavirus pandemic hit , Iran was already experiencing a series of its own crises .
In November 2018 , the government increased the price of petrol overnight and cracked down violently on protests which followed .
Hundreds of protesters were killed in a few days .
In January this year , the Iranian response to the US assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures in Iran after its Supreme Leader , created another problem .
Then Iranian armed forces - on high alert - mistakenly fired missiles at a Ukrainian airliner only minutes after it had taken off from Tehran 's international airport .
All 176 people on board were killed .
The Iranian authorities initially tried to cover up what happened , but after three days they were forced to admit it , resulting in considerable loss of face .
Dr Nouroldin Pirmoazzen , a former MP who also was an official at the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this context , the Iranian government was `` anxious and fearful of the truth '' when coronavirus hit Iran .
He said : `` The government was afraid that the poor and the unemployed would take to the streets . ''
Dr Pirmoazzen points to the fact that Iran stopped international health organisation Médecins Sans Frontières from treating coronavirus cases in the central province of Isfahan as evidence of how security-conscious its approach towards the pandemic is .
Iran was going through tough times even before the military showdown with the US and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump 's withdrawal from the nuclear deal in May 2018 hit the economy hard .
Dr Pouladi says : `` Those who brought the country to this point do n't pay the price .
It is the poor people of the country and my poor patients who pay the price with their lives . ''
`` In the confrontation between the governments of the US and Iran we are getting crushed with pressures from both sides . ''
The health ministry has said that the country 's reports to the World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deaths are `` transparent '' and `` far from any deviations '' .

The first death in Iran from Covid-19 was recorded on 22 January, according to lists and medical records that have been passed to the BBC. This was almost a month before the first official case of coronavirus was reported there.


bbc--2020-08-03--TikTok: Pompeo says Trump to crack down on Chinese software in coming days

US President Donald Trump will take action `` in the coming days '' against Chinese-owned software that he believes pose a national security risk , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said .
Mr Pompeo said popular video app TikTok was among those `` feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party '' .
His comments came days after Mr Trump said he was banning TikTok in the US .
The company has denied accusations that it is controlled by or shares data with the Chinese government .
Speaking to Fox News Channel , Mr Pompeo said the action would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party '' .
• How would the US go about banning TikTok ?
• Should we be worried about TikTok ?
He said there were `` countless '' companies doing business in the US that might be passing information on to the Chinese government .
Data could include facial recognition patterns , addresses , phone numbers and contacts , he said .
`` President Trump has said 'enough ' and we 're going to fix it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters on Friday he planned to sign an executive order to ban TikTok in the US , where it has up to 80 million active monthly users .
The app - mostly used by people under 20 - is owned by Chinese company ByteDance .
Several Republican senators have backed a plan by ByteDance to divest the US operations .
`` What 's the right answer ?
Have an American company like Microsoft take over TikTok .
Win-win .
Keeps competition alive and data out of the hands of the Chinese Communist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
US tech giant Microsoft has confirmed that it is continuing talks to purchase the US operations of TikTok .
Microsoft boss Satya Nadella had a conversation with President Trump about the acquisition on Sunday , the tech firm said .
The threats of action against TikTok and other Chinese-owned software come amid heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Chinese government over numerous issues , including trade disputes and Beijing 's handling of the coronavirus outbreak .

He said there were "countless" companies doing business in the US that might be passing information on to the Chinese government. Data could include facial recognition patterns, addresses, phone numbers and contacts, he said.


bbc--2020-08-02--Amitabh Bachchan: Bollywood star recovers from Covid-19

One of India 's best known film stars , Amitabh Bachchan , has been discharged from hospital after being treated for Covid-19 .
Last month the 77-year-old actor told his millions of Twitter followers that he had tested positive for the coronavirus .
On Sunday , he said he had left hospital after testing negative .
He thanked his fans for their prayers , as well as staff at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai for their `` excellent care '' .
Bachchan was admitted to hospital last month along with his son , Abhishek , who also tested positive .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive tests .
India is currently seeing a surge in coronavirus infections .
On Sunday the country recorded more than 50,000 new cases for the fourth day in a row .
Maharashtra , home to the financial capital , Mumbai , has been the worst affected state but there are rapid rises in other areas including Andhra Pradesh , Telangana and Assam .
In another development on Sunday , Indian home minister Amit Shah said he had tested positive for Covid-19 .
Posting on Twitter , Mr Shah said he felt well but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice of doctors .
Amitabh Bachchan is one of the world 's most prolific film stars having been involved in 200 films in five decades as a star .
With roles in hit movies such as Zanjeer and Sholay he has a huge fan following in India , South Asia and among the Indian diaspora in countries including the UK .
Since rising to fame in the 1970s , he has won numerous accolades including four National Film Awards and 15 Filmfare Awards .
France has also bestowed its highest civilian award on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his contribution to cinema .
Outside acting , Bachchan had a brief stint in politics and was elected as a member of India 's parliament in 1984 at the behest of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi .
But he resigned three years later , disillusioned by a corruption scandal under Mr Gandhi 's government .


bbc--2020-08-02--Eight US service members presumed dead after sea accident

Seven US marines and a sailor , missing since a training accident off the coast of California on Thursday , are presumed dead , the military says .
The announcement came as a 40-hour search and rescue effort was called off .
The service members were on an amphibious assault vehicle ( AAV ) that sank during the exercise .
Eight other marines were rescued after the accident but one later died .
Two others are in a critical condition .
`` It is with a heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( MEU ) .
A search operation involved helicopters and ships over an area of more than 1,000 square nautical miles ( 3,439 sq km ) , the marines said in a statement .
The AAV had been returning to the amphibious warship USS Somerset after operating on San Clemente Island when it began to take on water and sank , military officials said on Friday .
Marines often practise beach assaults in the area .
Col Bronzi said the effort would now shift to one aimed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 15th MEU , based at Camp Pendleton , near San Diego , has about 2,200 personnel and conducts rapid-response , conventional amphibious and other maritime operations .

The AAV had been returning to the amphibious warship USS Somerset after operating on San Clemente Island when it began to take on water and sank, military officials said on Friday.


bbc--2020-08-02--Tropical Storm Isaias moves up coast of virus-hit Florida

Tropical Storm Isaias is moving along Florida 's east coast , bringing strong winds and rain to the US state .
Isaias , the ninth named storm of 2020 , was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm after battering the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Bahamas .
Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to be vigilant , as state authorities opened shelters and closed beaches and parks .
Florida is one of the US states worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic .
In the latest daily count on Sunday , health officials said there had been 7,104 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 487,000 .
This is second only to California , which has double the population .
• How did Florida get so badly hit by Covid-19 ?
How has Florida been affected so far ?
Early bands of heavy rain lashed the state 's Atlantic coast early on Sunday morning .
The storm is now moving slowly offshore along the eastern coast , with winds gusting up to 105km/hour ( 65mph ) .
Isaias is forecast to reach Georgia , South Carolina and North Carolina in the coming days .
Thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida .
Mr De Santis told residents to have a week 's supply of food , water and medicine prepared .
People in affected areas were advised to stay indoors , or to evacuate if living in mobile homes .
Officials said on Sunday that Isais would not have a severe impact on Florida , with the threat of storm surges there waning .
But Lisa DeLaRionda , a spokeswoman for Palm Beach County , told Reuters news agency that Isaias had provided authorities with a `` real-world scenario '' of what extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of a public health crisis .
Among the challenges , officials have been grappling with opening shelters that comply with social distancing regulations .
Coronavirus testing centres have also been temporarily closed .
Isaias uprooted trees , destroyed crops and homes and caused flooding and landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico .
At least two people were killed .

In the latest daily count on Sunday, health officials said there had been 7,104 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to more than 487,000. This is second only to California, which has double the population.


bbc--2020-08-02--Coronavirus: Nancy Pelosi criticises Deborah Birx

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has attacked the White House coronavirus task force 's Deborah Birx , linking her to `` disinformation '' spread by President Donald Trump .
Dr Birx responded that she always based her decisions on scientific data .
She is a leading member of the task force , working alongside infectious diseases chief Anthony Fauci .
Mr Trump has regularly drawn criticism for his claims about Covid-19 , many of which have been proved to be false .
What did Pelosi say ?
Ms Pelosi made the comments on ABC 's This Week programme , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Politico website that she had criticised Dr Birx in a meeting with other administration officials .
`` I think the president has been spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee , so I do n't have confidence there , no , '' Ms Pelosi told ABC .
According to Politico , the House speaker used stronger words in her meeting last week with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows .
`` Deborah Birx is the worst .
Wow , what horrible hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quoted as saying to them .
She also described Dr Fauci as a `` hero '' .
Dr Birx told CNN 's State of the Union she respected Ms Pelosi , and thought the criticism was triggered by a New York Times article which suggested she was too ready to embrace overly optimistic assessments about the pandemic .
`` This was not a pollyannish view .
I 've never been called pollyannish , or non-scientific , or non-data driven , '' she said .
`` I will stake my 40-year career on those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better programmes and save lives . ''
In the same interview , Dr Birx said the US had entered a `` new phase '' in its fight against the pandemic , with the disease being `` extraordinarily widespread '' .
She cautioned people living in rural areas that they were not immune and must take precautions such as wearing face-coverings and social distancing .
She also urged Americans returning from holiday to assume that they were infected and to self-isolate - and she said people living in multi-generational households should consider wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's comments under scrutiny ?
Dr Fauci has clashed with Mr Trump over the use of the drug hydroxychloroquine , which the president has promoted as being effective in fighting the virus .
There is no evidence of this , and regulators warn the drug may cause heart problems .
Mr Trump has also discussed irradiating the bodies of coronavirus patients with ultraviolet light , a concept which Dr Birx said could not be applied as a treatment .
• Why a video promoted by Trump was pulled on social media • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US continues to have the highest number of cases of coronavirus in the world - more than 4.6 million - and more than 150,000 people have died with the virus there , more than in any other country .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• IMPACT : What the virus does to the body • RECOVERY : How long does it take ?
• LOCKDOWN : How can we lift restrictions ?
• ENDGAME : How do we get out of this mess ?

The US continues to have the highest number of cases of coronavirus in the world - more than 4.6 million - and more than 150,000 people have died with the virus there, more than in any other country.


bbc--2020-08-02--Coronavirus: South Africa cases pass half million mark

More than half a million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in South Africa , according to the country 's health minister .
Zweli Mkhize announced 10,107 new cases on Saturday , bringing the tally to 503,290 , along with 8,153 deaths .
South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent and accounts for half of all reported infections in Africa .
It also has the fifth-highest number of cases in the world after the US , Brazil , Russia and India .
Researchers have said the true number of deaths in the country may be far higher .
South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection is increasing rapidly , with cases currently concentrated around the capital , Pretoria .
• Coronavirus in SA : Why things are going both right and wrong • South Africa 's outbreak : Eight lessons for the rest of the continent • How fast is coronavirus spreading in Africa ?
More than a third of all infections have been reported in Gauteng - South Africa 's financial hub , and a province that has quickly become the epicentre of the national outbreak .
Infections are not expected to peak for another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Cyril Ramaphosa called on citizens to remain vigilant .
`` We have to continue to work together to reduce the number of new infections .
As with many other countries across the world , we need to continually adjust the measures we take to prevent new outbreaks or to safeguard our health system '' , he said .
South Africa imposed a strict lockdown in April and May that slowed the spread of the coronavirus .
It began a gradual reopening in June but restrictions - including a ban on alcohol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rates began to rise again .
A state of emergency is also in force until 15 August .
Why has South Africa been hit so hard ?
The president tried to highlight the positive as South Africa reached its grim milestone in the battle against coronavirus .
He pointed to a recovery rate of 68 % and said the number of deaths was `` significantly lower than the global average '' .
But experts warn to be wary of statistics given the different criteria and methods used by different provinces - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low levels of testing .
Mr Ramaphosa said the lockdown had prevented the health system from becoming initially overwhelmed and the suspension of alcohol sales had significantly reduced the number of trauma cases in hospitals Yet even with such strict restrictions - it has been mandatory , for example , to wear face masks in public since May - social distancing is often impossible in South Africa 's densely packed townships , where the virus has been quick to spread during the winter season .
The president 's comments about investigations into allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies - some alleged to implicate his own aides - perhaps underline the crux of the problems facing the country 's health system .
`` It is unconscionable that there are people who may be using this health crisis to unlawfully enrich themselves , '' he said .
The influx of patients has put an incredible strain on South Africa 's hospitals , and a BBC investigation found an array of systematic failures that had exhausted healthcare professionals and brought the health service near to collapse .
President Ramaphosa said last month that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 patients but the country still faced a `` serious '' shortage of doctors and nurses .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Last week the World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned that South Africa 's experience was a likely a precursor to what would happen across the rest of the continent .
So far African countries have generally reported low death rates per capita compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The WHO says this could be partly because of the relatively young population in Africa - more than 60 % are under the age of 25 .
Covid-19 is known to have a higher mortality rate for older age groups .

The president's comments about investigations into allegations of corruption over the procurement of medical supplies - some alleged to implicate his own aides - perhaps underline the crux of the problems facing the country's health system. "It is unconscionable that there are people who may be using this health crisis to unlawfully enrich themselves," he said.


bbc--2020-08-02--Nigeria Boko Haram: Governor says battle against militants being sabotaged

A governor in north-east Nigeria has suggested efforts to defeat jihadist group Boko Haram are being undermined by elements of @ @ @ @ @ State 's Babagana Zulum said President Muhammadu Buhari needed to know sabotage within the system @ @ @ @ @ the insurgency .
Babagana Zulum was speaking bluntly days after his heavily armed convoy suddenly @ @ @ @ @ near Lake Chad because of sustained gunfire .
The governor suggested soldiers were behind it @ @ @ @ @ word sabotage .
Babagana Zulum also questioned why the Nigerian army was stopping thousands of @ @ @ @ @ to their fields whilst soldiers were instead cultivating the land .
Governor Zulum is not @ @ @ @ @ suggest that corruption within the military is prolonging the people 's suffering in north-east Nigeria @

Babagana Zulum also questioned why the Nigerian army was stopping thousands of displaced people from returning home to their fields whilst soldiers were instead cultivating the land.


bbc--2020-08-02--Egypt tells Elon Musk its pyramids were not built by aliens

Egypt has invited billionaire Elon Musk to visit the country and see for himself that its famous pyramids were not built by aliens .
The SpaceX boss had tweeted what appeared to be support for conspiracy theorists who say aliens were involved in the colossal construction effort .
But Egypt 's international co-operation minister does not want them taking any of the credit .
She says seeing the tombs of the pyramid builders would be the proof .
The tombs discovered in the 1990s are definitive evidence , experts say , that the magnificent structures were indeed built by ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life of Elon Musk On Friday , the tech tycoon tweeted : `` Aliens built the pyramids obv '' , which was retweeted more than 84,000 times .
Egypt 's Minister of International Co-operation Rania al-Mashat responded on Twitter , saying she followed and admired Mr Musk 's work .
But she urged him to further explore evidence about the building of the structures built for pharaohs of Egypt .
Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass also responded in a short video in Arabic , posted on social media , saying Mr Musk 's argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I found the tombs of the pyramids builders that tell everyone that the builders of the pyramids are Egyptians and they were not slaves , '' EgyptToday quotes him as saying .
Mr Musk did later tweet a link to a BBC History site about the lives of the pyramid builders , saying : `` This BBC article provides a sensible summary for how it was done . ''
There are more than 100 surviving pyramids but the most famous is the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt - standing at more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them were built as tombs - a final resting places for Egypt 's royalty .
Mr Musk is known for his prolific and at times erratic tweeting .
He once told CNBC : `` Twitter 's a war zone .
If somebody 's gon na jump in the war zone , it 's , like , 'Okay , you 're in the arena .
Let 's go ! '
''


bbc--2020-08-02--Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix after puncture on last lap

Lewis Hamilton took an extraordinary victory in a dramatic finish to the British Grand Prix despite suffering a puncture on the last lap .
Verstappen would have won had he not stopped late for fresh tyres in a successful quest for the point for fastest lap .
Hamilton 's team-mate Valtteri Bottas also punctured , two laps earlier , which dropped him out of the points .
The Finn finished 11th and dropped to 30 points behind Hamilton in the title race , a potentially devastating blow to his hopes so early in a season truncated by the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver to suffer a left-front puncture , his like Hamilton 's on the last lap , and he dropped from fourth place to 13th .
Ferrari 's Charles Leclerc was promoted from fourth to the final podium spot by the late drama .
• None Reaction to a dramatic end to the British Grand Prix It was a remarkable finish to a race that had been soporific until that point , and Hamilton recognised that afterwards , saying over the radio , his voice drenched in relief : `` That was close .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their tyres after making an earlier than expected pit stop because of the second of two safety cars .
They stopped to change from medium to hard tyres on lap 13 , very early to make it to the end of the race on one set of hard tyres .
They were clearly managing their pace from then on , but despite that dark rings appeared on their tyres as the race moved into the closing stages .
But there was no real sign of the drama to come until Bottas ' left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 , with two to go .
The Finn limped around almost an entire lap and was too far back to get into the points .
Hamilton looked then to be cruising to the flag , until he too suffered a puncture , this time heading down the back straight towards Brooklands .
Then it was a question of whether he could get around the remainder of the lap - more than half of it - before Verstappen caught him .
Hamilton said : `` Until the last lap , everything was relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great .
Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard and I was doing some management of that tyre and he looked like he was n't doing any .
`` When ( his ) tyre went , everything seemed fine , so I was thinking maybe it was OK. And then just down the straight it deflated .
`` I noticed the shape of the tyre shifting , and that was heart in the mouth and I did n't know if it had gone down until I braked .
`` Then just driving it - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wing .
I nearly did n't get round the last two corners .
Maybe we should have stopped towards the end when we saw the delaminations ( on the other cars ) . ''
Hamilton said his engineer Peter Bonnington was counting down the gap to Verstappen over the radio as he neared the flag .
`` The car seemed to turn OK through Maggotts and Becketts , '' Hamilton said , `` and then it was a real struggle in the last two corners .
I could hear the gap coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could hear out of the last corner him going , 'Nine , eight , seven , ' and I was just like : 'Get back on the gas . '
'' It was a dramatic finish to a race that could well have an equally substantial impact on the championship fight .
Following Sainz 's late puncture , Renault 's Daniel Ricciardo came out on top in a close midfield battle , passing the other McLaren of Lando Norris late in the race , while the Australian 's team-mate Esteban Ocon took sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong race to seventh , including a brave pass on Ferrari 's Sebastian Vettel around the outside of Stowe and then taking the inside for the tight left-hander at Vale that follows .
And Red Bull 's Alexander Albon recovered to eighth after being penalised - harshly in some eyes - for a collision with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen at Club on the first lap , an incident that brought out the first of two safety cars .
Albon seemed to legitimately go for an opportunity created by the Dane 's error @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Vale and was almost completely alongside the Haas , before backing out to try to avoid a collision when he realised Magnussen was coming across , the cars hitting front wheel to rear .
Albon was at the back when Red Bull pitted him for fresh tyres after the safety car period had ended .
But he stuck with it , and a second stop for tyres later in the race dropped him to last but enabled him to attack in the closing laps .
The second safety car was triggered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gasly 's team-mate Daniil Kvyat at the flat-out Maggotts corner .
The team initially blamed the incident on a driver error , saying he clipped a kerb while making a switch change on his steering wheel .
But Kvyat later said on social media that the team had reviewed the video and they `` saw that something happened out of my control , so we will need to check all the data to understand what exactly caused the failure '' .
Williams ' George Russell took 12th , ahead of Sainz , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's team-mate Nicholas Latifi .
Haas driver Romain Grosjean , who was given a black-and-white warning flag during the race as well as an official warning after the race for dangerous defensive driving , finished 16th while the second Alfa of a struggling Kimi Raikkonen , who also suffered a front-left puncture , finished 17th .
After the race it was confirmed that four people had been arrested after protestors broke into Silverstone and displayed a banner for climate action group Extinction Rebellion .
A joint statement issued by Silverstone and Northamptonshire Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` During the race , Northamptonshire Police were made aware of four people who had been detained by Silverstone security inside the venue perimeter .
`` Officers are working closely with Silverstone Circuit and conducting a full investigation .
Four people have been arrested and are in police custody . ''
What happens next ?
Another race in Britain , this time F1 's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix next weekend .
Can Hamilton make it two wins in a row at home - and four on the trot in the season ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until that last lap everything was relatively smooth sailing .
Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard , I was doing some management of the tyre .
When I heard his went I looked at mine and it seemed fine .
I have definitely never experienced anything like that on the last lap and my heart definitely nearly stopped . ''
Max Verstappen : `` It was lucky and unlucky .
The Mercedes were too quick .
The tyres did n't look great with 10 laps to go , they did n't look pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to stay hydrated !
It was pretty lonely ; I was just managing my pace and looking after the tyres . ''
Charles Leclerc : `` It was a very tricky race .
As soon as I heard Valtteri had a tyre problem I slowed down quite a lot .
Looking at us we have done the best we could have done today .
I am very happy with how I managed the tyres from beginning to the end and I am happy with the balance of the car . ''
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names in dance

Next Sunday's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Lewis Hamilton took an extraordinary victory in a dramatic finish to the British Grand Prix despite suffering a puncture on the last lap.
The Mercedes driver's left-front tyre failed halfway around the last lap but he held on in front of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Verstappen would have won had he not stopped late for fresh tyres in a successful quest for the point for fastest lap.
Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas also punctured, two laps earlier, which dropped him out of the points.
The Finn finished 11th and dropped to 30 points behind Hamilton in the title race, a potentially devastating blow to his hopes so early in a season truncated by the coronavirus.
McLaren's Carlos Sainz was a third driver to suffer a left-front puncture, his like Hamilton's on the last lap, and he dropped from fourth place to 13th.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was promoted from fourth to the final podium spot by the late drama.
Late drama leads to seismic moment
The drama started with Bottas suffering a puncture to his Mercedes with two laps to go
It was a remarkable finish to a race that had been soporific until that point, and Hamilton recognised that afterwards, saying over the radio, his voice drenched in relief: "That was close."
The Mercedes drivers had been nursing their tyres after making an earlier than expected pit stop because of the second of two safety cars.
They stopped to change from medium to hard tyres on lap 13, very early to make it to the end of the race on one set of hard tyres.
They were clearly managing their pace from then on, but despite that dark rings appeared on their tyres as the race moved into the closing stages.
But there was no real sign of the drama to come until Bottas' left front tyre deflated shortly after starting lap 50, with two to go.
The Finn limped around almost an entire lap and was too far back to get into the points.
Hamilton looked then to be cruising to the flag, until he too suffered a puncture, this time heading down the back straight towards Brooklands. Then it was a question of whether he could get around the remainder of the lap - more than half of it - before Verstappen caught him.
Hamilton said: "Until the last lap, everything was relatively smooth sailing.
"The tyres felt great. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard and I was doing some management of that tyre and he looked like he wasn't doing any.
Hamilton is now a seven-time British Grand Prix winner
"When (his) tyre went, everything seemed fine, so I was thinking maybe it was OK. And then just down the straight it deflated.
"I noticed the shape of the tyre shifting, and that was heart in the mouth and I didn't know if it had gone down until I braked.
"Then just driving it - sometimes it will come off and break the wing. I nearly didn't get round the last two corners. Maybe we should have stopped towards the end when we saw the delaminations (on the other cars)."
Hamilton said his engineer Peter Bonnington was counting down the gap to Verstappen over the radio as he neared the flag.
"The car seemed to turn OK through Maggotts and Becketts," Hamilton said, "and then it was a real struggle in the last two corners. I could hear the gap coming down from 19 to 10. I could hear out of the last corner him going, 'Nine, eight, seven,' and I was just like: 'Get back on the gas.'"
It was a dramatic finish to a race that could well have an equally substantial impact on the championship fight.
A frenetic midfield battle
Following Sainz's late puncture, Renault's Daniel Ricciardo came out on top in a close midfield battle, passing the other McLaren of Lando Norris late in the race, while the Australian's team-mate Esteban Ocon took sixth.
Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly drove a strong race to seventh, including a brave pass on Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel around the outside of Stowe and then taking the inside for the tight left-hander at Vale that follows.
And Red Bull's Alexander Albon recovered to eighth after being penalised - harshly in some eyes - for a collision with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen at Club on the first lap, an incident that brought out the first of two safety cars.
Future McLaren team-mates Ricciardo and Norris were wheel-to-wheel in the midfield fight
Albon seemed to legitimately go for an opportunity created by the Dane's error in clipping the kerb on the exit of Vale and was almost completely alongside the Haas, before backing out to try to avoid a collision when he realised Magnussen was coming across, the cars hitting front wheel to rear.
Albon was at the back when Red Bull pitted him for fresh tyres after the safety car period had ended. But he stuck with it, and a second stop for tyres later in the race dropped him to last but enabled him to attack in the closing laps.
The second safety car was triggered on lap 12 by a heavy crash for Gasly's team-mate Daniil Kvyat at the flat-out Maggotts corner.
The team initially blamed the incident on a driver error, saying he clipped a kerb while making a switch change on his steering wheel. But Kvyat later said on social media external-link that the team had reviewed the video and they "saw that something happened out of my control, so we will need to check all the data to understand what exactly caused the failure".
Williams' George Russell took 12th, ahead of Sainz, the Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi and Russell's team-mate Nicholas Latifi.
Haas driver Romain Grosjean, who was given a black-and-white warning flag during the race as well as an official warning after the race for dangerous defensive driving, finished 16th while the second Alfa of a struggling Kimi Raikkonen, who also suffered a front-left puncture, finished 17th.
After the race it was confirmed that four people had been arrested after protestors broke into Silverstone and displayed a banner for climate action group Extinction Rebellion.
A joint statement issued by Silverstone and Northamptonshire Police following Sunday's grand prix read: "During the race, Northamptonshire Police were made aware of four people who had been detained by Silverstone security inside the venue perimeter.
"Officers are working closely with Silverstone Circuit and conducting a full investigation. Four people have been arrested and are in police custody."
Driver of the day
Hamilton was impressive in his consummate control, both of the race and his final lap but Leclerc was perhaps the stand-out performer, taking third in the uncompetitive Ferrari having qualified it fourth, while his team-mate Sebastian Vettel was a long way behind in an uncompetitive 10th, losing out in fights with midfielders
What happens next?
Another race in Britain, this time F1's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix next weekend. Can Hamilton make it two wins in a row at home - and four on the trot in the season?
What they said
Lewis Hamilton: "Up until that last lap everything was relatively smooth sailing. Valtteri was really pushing incredibly hard, I was doing some management of the tyre. When I heard his went I looked at mine and it seemed fine. I have definitely never experienced anything like that on the last lap and my heart definitely nearly stopped."
Max Verstappen: "It was lucky and unlucky. The Mercedes were too quick. The tyres didn't look great with 10 laps to go, they didn't look pretty. I told my engineer to drink and to stay hydrated! It was pretty lonely; I was just managing my pace and looking after the tyres."
Charles Leclerc: "It was a very tricky race. As soon as I heard Valtteri had a tyre problem I slowed down quite a lot. Looking at us we have done the best we could have done today. I am very happy with how I managed the tyres from beginning to the end and I am happy with the balance of the car."
Verstappen and Leclerc shower Hamilton with champagne on the Silverstone podium
Kvyat was unhurt after a nasty crash into the barriers


bbc--2020-08-02--Americans in Africa: Why we left America to live in Africa

Brian , Rukiya and Marcus do n't know each other but all three have decided to leave their home in @ @ @ @ @ Namibia , Tanzania and Uganda respectively .
While some African Americans recently relocated because they @ @ @ @ @ haven from racism , others say they moved for their children .
In 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ inspired by the recent “ Year of Return ” movement initiated by Ghana , 400 @ @ @ @ @ were brought in chains to Jamestown in the US .

Brian, Rukiya and Marcus don't know each other but all three have decided to leave their home in the US and move to Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda respectively.
While some African Americans recently relocated because they see Africa as a safe haven from racism, others say they moved for their children.
In 2019, a number of African Americans were inspired by the recent “Year of Return” movement initiated by Ghana, 400 years after the first Africans were brought in chains to Jamestown in the US.
Produced and edited by Njoroge Muigai.
Executive producer, Marko Zoric


bbc--2020-08-02--Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Women survivors of the atomic bombs

On 6 and 9 August , it will be 75 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki towards the end of World War Two .
The recorded death tolls are estimates , but it is thought that about 140,000 of Hiroshima 's 350,000 population were killed in the blast , and that at least 74,000 people died in Nagasaki .
The bombings brought about an abrupt end to the war in Asia , with Japan surrendering to the Allies on 14 August 1945 .
But critics have said that Japan had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those who survived the bombings are known as hibakusha .
Survivors faced a horrifying aftermath in the cities , including radiation poisoning and psychological trauma .
British photo-journalist Karen Lee Stow specialises in telling the stories of women who have witnessed remarkable events in history .
Lee Stow photographed and interviewed three women who have vivid memories of the bombings 75 years ago .
This article contains details some people may find upsetting .
Teruko was 15 years old when she survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in her second year of nursing school at the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital .
After the bomb hit , the students ' dormitory of the hospital caught fire .
Teruko helped to fight the flames , but many of her fellow students died in the blaze .
Her only memories of the week after the bomb are of working day and night to treat victims with horrific injuries , while she and others had no food and little water .
After graduating , Teruko continued to work at the hospital , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Skin was taken from a patient 's thigh and grafted on to an area that had developed a keloid scar as a result of burns .
She later married Tatsuyuki , another survivor of the atomic bomb .
When Teruko became pregnant with their first child , she was worried about whether the baby would be born healthy and if it would survive .
Her daughter Tomoko was born and thrived , giving Teruko courage in raising her family .
`` I have n't been to Hell , so I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hell is probably like what we went through .
It must never be allowed to happen again , '' says Teruko .
`` There are people making strong efforts to abolish nuclear weapons .
I think the first step is to make the local government leaders take action .
`` And then we must reach out to the leaders of the national government , and to the whole world . ''
`` People said no grass or trees would grow here for 75 years , but Hiroshima revived as a city with beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's daughter Tomoko .
`` [ However ] the hibakusha have continued to suffer from the after-effects of radiation .
`` While the memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are fading from the minds of people … We are standing at a crossroads .
`` The future is in our hands .
Peace is possible only if we have imagination , think about other people , find what we can do , take action , and continue tireless efforts each day to build peace . ''
Kuniko , Teruko 's granddaughter , adds : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the atomic bombing , I only know Hiroshima after it was rebuilt .
I can only imagine .
`` So I listen to what each hibakusha says .
I study the facts of the atomic bombing based on evidence .
`` On that day , everything was burned in the city .
People , birds , dragonflies , grass , trees — everything .
`` Of the people who entered the city after the bomb for rescue activities - and those who came to find their families and friends - many died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from illnesses .
`` I have tried to have closer ties not only with hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also with uranium mine workers , people who live near those mines , people involved in developing and testing nuclear weapons , and downwinders [ those who suffered sickness as a result of nuclear weapon testing ] . ''
Emiko was eight years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima .
Her elder sister , Mieko , and four other relatives were killed .
Many photographs of Emiko and her family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the homes of her relatives survived , including those of her sister .
`` My sister left home that morning , saying , ' I 'll see you later ! '
She was just twelve years old and so full of life , '' says Emiko .
`` But she never returned .
No one knows what became of her .
`` My parents searched for her desperately .
They never found her body , though , so they continued to say that she must still be alive somewhere .
`` My mum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she miscarried .
`` We had nothing to eat .
We did n't know about radiation , so we picked up anything we could find without thinking about whether it was contaminated or not .
`` Because there was nothing to eat , people would steal .
Food was the biggest problem .
Water was delicious !
This was how people had to live at first , but it 's been forgotten .
`` Then my hair started falling out , and my gums started bleeding .
I was constantly exhausted , always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one at the time had any idea what radiation was .
Twelve years later , I was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia .
`` Every year there are a few times when the sky at sunset is deep red .
It 's so red that people 's faces turn red .
`` At those times I ca n't help but think of the sunset on the day of the atomic bombing .
For three days and three nights , the city was burning .
`` I hate sunsets .
Even now , sunsets still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Many hibakusha died without being able to talk about these things , or their bitterness over the bombing .
They could n't speak , so I speak .
`` Many people talk about world peace , but I want people to act .
I want each person to start doing what they can .
`` I myself would like to do something so that our children and grandchildren , who are our future , can live in a world where they can smile every day . ''
Reiko Hada was nine years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her home town of Nagasaki at 11.02 on 9 August , 1945 .
Earlier that morning , there was an air-raid warning , so Reiko stayed home .
After the all-clear was sounded , she went to the nearby temple , where children in her neighbourhood would study instead of going to school , because of frequent air-raid warnings .
After about 40 minutes of study at the temple , the teachers dismissed the class , so Reiko went home .
`` I made it to the entrance of my house , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step inside , '' Reiko explains .
`` Then it happened all of a sudden .
A blazing light shot across my eyes .
The colours were yellow , khaki and orange , all mixed together .
`` I did n't even have time to wonder what it was ...
In no time , everything went completely white .
`` It felt as if I had been left all alone .
The next moment there was a loud roar .
Then I blacked out .
`` After a while , I came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to an air-raid shelter in case of emergency , so I looked for my mother inside the house , and we went to the air-raid shelter in our neighbourhood .
`` I did n't have a single scratch .
I had been saved by Mount Konpira .
But it was different for the people on the other side of the mountain ; they suffered atrocious conditions .
`` Many fled over Mount Konpira to our community .
People with their eyes popped out , their hair dishevelled , almost all naked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` My mother grabbed towels and sheets at home and , with other women in the community , led the fleeing people to the auditorium of a nearby commercial college where they could lie down .
`` They asked for water .
I was asked to give them water , so I found a chipped bowl and went to the nearby river and scooped water to let them drink .
`` After drinking a sip of water , they died .
People died one after another .
`` It was summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smell , the bodies had to be cremated immediately .
They were piled up in the swimming pool at the college and cremated with scrap wood .
`` It was impossible to know who those people were .
They did n't die like human beings .
`` I hope future generations will never have to go through a similar experience .
We must never allow these [ nuclear weapons ] to be used .
`` It is people who create peace .
Even if we live in different countries and speak different languages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same . ''

"After a while, I came to. Our teacher had taught us to go to an air-raid shelter in case of emergency, so I looked for my mother inside the house, and we went to the air-raid shelter in our neighbourhood.


bbc--2020-08-02--Genoa bridge 'like a white vessel crossing the valley'

It is almost two years since Genoa ’ s Morandi Bridge , named after the engineer Riccardo Morandi who designed @ @ @ @ @ 43 people .
The Italian city is preparing to inaugurate its replacement , created by @ @ @ @ @ , a native of Genoa .
He ’ s been speaking to The BBC 's @ @ @ @ @

It is almost two years since Genoa’s Morandi Bridge, named after the engineer Riccardo Morandi who designed it, collapsed, killing 43 people.
The Italian city is preparing to inaugurate its replacement, created by the international architect Renzo Piano, a native of Genoa. He’s been speaking to The BBC's Italy correspondent Mark Lowen.
Camera: Francesco Tosto
Producers: Julian Miglierini, Gillian Hazell


bbc--2020-08-02--Coronavirus: How the travel downturn is sending jet planes to 'boneyards'

Hit by the collapse in demand for flights due to Covid-19 commercial airlines have parked their grounded fleet in some of the most remote locations in the world .
Last week , Australia 's flag carrier Qantas bid a fond farewell to its last Boeing 747 aeroplane and sent it in a final flight to retirement from Sydney to Mojave desert in California .
The fleet , according to a report , had carried more than 250 million people during almost half a century of service , including Queen Elizabeth II and every Australian Olympic team since 1984 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store its fleet of A380 super jumbos at a facility in Mojave desert until at least 2023 .
Qantas said they had planned on retiring the plane in six months but brought forward the date because the coronavirus pandemic had `` decimated international travel globally '' .
The pandemic has forced a large number of commercial airlines to ground their fleets in a handful of vast storage facilities around the world , some located in remote , arid deserts .
These places are variously called airline `` boneyards '' or retirement facilities Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - for long periods and then returned to service , or broken up to sell their parts .
Commercial airlines often find it cheaper to park their aircraft at a storage facility than at an airport .
Aeroplanes can be stored for a long time at these locations .
Experts say airlines would typically incur a monthly cost of around $ 5,000 ( £3,882 ) to maintain the aircraft in a `` long-term storage programme '' .
`` Some aircraft are stored for a long period before finding a new lessee , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some are scrapped , '' Ian Petchenik from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 , told me .
Some of the more popular privately-run storage facilities are located in vast swathes of arid deserts in countries like the US , Spain and Australia .
Alice Springs in central Australia and Mojave in eastern California , for example , are two favoured locations .
Other well-known storage locations are in Marana in Arizona and Roswell in New Mexico .
`` Deserts offer two key components : large areas of open flat land , and climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Mr Petchenik says .
The low humidity along with low aerosol and air particulates in these parts help store aeroplanes for a long time .
American author and former New York Times columnist Joe Sharkey remembers travelling to a former CIA airbase-turned-commercial airpark in Marana , in the desert , some 15 miles ( 24km ) north of Tucson , Arizona .
`` It was somewhat a disconcerting sight to see shiny tails of many commercial airliners glinting in the sun in the distance .
All the planes have sealed off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharkey .
• How Boeing 's 747 became the 'Queen of the Skies' Aviation experts say the pandemic has forced more planes to these `` boneyards '' than any development in recent history .
Long haul airplanes are also being prematurely retired .
Last week British Airways , the world 's largest operator of the jumbo jets , announced it would retire all of its 31 Boeing 747s , 10 % of its total fleet , ahead of a planned phasing out in 2024 .
In April , more than 14,000 passenger aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleet - were grounded around the world , up from less than 1,900 planes at the beginning of the year , according to Cirium , a London-based aviation data and analytics company .
Some 7.5 million flights have been cancelled between January and July and the airline industry has already suffered up to $ 84bn of revenue losses this year , according to the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) '' This is the largest grounding of commercial aircraft ever , precipitated by the virtual shutdown of the global passenger network as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic and the reduction in demand for passenger air travel , '' Rob Morris , head of consultancy at Cirium , told me in an email .
Airlines have faced a sharp decline in traffic triggered by global events in the past .
More than 13 % of the commercial jet fleet were grounded after the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent Gulf War in 2001 , say analysts .
Passenger traffic nosedived after the 2008 global financial crisis , with 11 % of the commercial fleet grounded in storage facilities in mid-2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never got anything close to the ratios we have seen in 2020 , illustrating the scale of crisis on airlines globally , '' Mr Morris said .
Delta Airlines parked its fleet at a `` boneyard '' in Arizona , and American Airlines flew its planes to a former military base-turned storage facility in New Mexico .
Many of the 371 Boeing 737 Max were moved to storage facilities around the world after the plane was grounded last March following safety concerns .
The Singapore Airlines group has parked 29 aircraft in Alice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airline told me .
The Airbus 380 appears to be one of the worst affected fleets .
`` The A380 fleet is entering long-term storage due to unprecedented downturn in passenger demand , '' says Mr Petchenik .
As the pandemic enters its eighth month , many planes have returned to service as airlines begin to fly again .
Nearly 10,000 passenger aircraft were in the skies on 17 July , operating some 34,800 flights .
• How Covid-19 will change air travel as we know it But some 7,600 planes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global fleet , are estimated to be still grounded , according to Cirium .
For evidence of how bleak things are still with air travel consider this : Singapore Airlines , one of world 's top carriers , is operating only 30 of its group fleet of 220 aircraft , while another 30 of its passenger aircrafts are being used to carry only cargo .
The fate of the planes at the facilities remain uncertain .
Some are left to sit there .
The final option is to scrap the plane and sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ element of precious metals in engines which has some value , but in many cases today the scrap value of the aircraft is minimal compared to the cost of scrapping , particularly given environmental laws , '' says Mr Morris .
`` Hence , many obsolete planes may remain in storage for a prolonged period '' .
Others are returned to service .
`` These aircraft require maintenance and usually a series of test flights prior to re-entering service .
The engines and systems are run often to ensure they can be quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Petchenik .
More often than not , however , airline 'boneyards ' conjure up visions of abandoned planes , which will never return to service .
Mr Sharkey met a senior manager at such a facility in Arizona who spoke about his experiences .
`` A 747 came in not long ago with the newspapers and magazines all stacked neatly in the racks , and the pillows and blankets on the seats , '' the manager told him.. '' It was eerie , like a ghost ship . ''

Aviation experts say the pandemic has forced more planes to these "boneyards" than any development in recent history. Long haul airplanes are also being prematurely retired. Last week British Airways, the world's largest operator of the jumbo jets, announced it would retire all of its 31 Boeing 747s, 10% of its total fleet, ahead of a planned phasing out in 2024.


bbc--2020-08-02--The boss who bounced her way to £3m from just £200

The BBC 's weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world .
This week we speak to Kimberlee Perry , founder of trampoline fitness company Bounce .
`` You need to connect with other people , it makes you feel good , '' says Kimberlee Perry .
Before coronavirus hit , her business had never contemplated running virtual sessions .
The whole purpose of its dance classes on trampolines was to physically bring people together , especially new mothers who felt alienated in small towns .
This is what inspired Kimberlee , 35 , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bounce six years ago .
In 2014 , she was on maternity leave , and moved with her husband 30 miles out of London to the Essex town of Harlow .
Suffering from postnatal depression she felt lonely .
`` All my life I 'd really invested in sport , and used it to connect with people , '' she says .
`` It 's a very sporty culture in Australia , so when I originally came to London when I was 18 , I joined a netball club to make friends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt very alienated , I barely knew anyone , and the only sort of clubs I could join were mother and baby ones , '' she says .
Kimberlee found there were no fitness classes where she could take her baby , despite the positive impact exercise has on the mental and physical wellbeing of new mothers .
So she decided to set up her own , investing £200 to launch Bounce later that year .
`` I wanted to feel good about myself - as a new mum you spend hours , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own .
So Bounce became a fusion of everything I needed in my life at the time - fitness , connections and fun . ''
Fast forward to before the start of the coronavirus pandemic , and the company had grown to have 47,000 monthly customers - mostly women - across the UK , Australia and New Zealand .
Another factor behind her setting up the business was that she had missed out on a promotion - which she felt was rightly hers - in her previous job working as a sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Climbing the ladder in my job was a massive priority for me , '' she says looking back .
`` Being in the events industry is tough - you have to be working 24/7 - and I think that my pregnancy contributed to the decision not to take me on for that promotion .
`` I was devastated , I spent a few days in bed crying over it , trying to work out what my identity was without this job . ''
Kimberlee already had a dance background , and started working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualifications .
Soon she was teaching classes at a local gym , where she came up with the specific idea for Bounce .
`` I came across these rebounders , which are mini trampolines , and I said to my husband , ' I 'm going to take £200 out of the joint account and buy eight of them , ' '' she says .
`` I think he thought I was mad .
`` But they 're well known for their low-impact nature , they 're easy on the joints , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] - so I knew they would be perfect for new mums who wanted to work out . ''
To launch her first classes , Kimberlee choreographed a number of dance-based routines , and hired a local community hall in Harlow .
`` Mums would bring their babies and leave them in their prams while they did the class , '' she says .
`` After a few months I started to put on more classes because of demand - people loved the fun nature of the class , and the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45 minutes .
`` I put all the money back into the business - paying my hire fees for the hall , then buying more trampolines .
But it got to the point where I could n't teach all the classes myself - I was doing 12 a week and the weight was falling off me . ''
Hiring other instructors , Kimberlee 's classes started to get more and more attention - and competitors began to set up similar ones .
She knew she wanted to expand the business and protect her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchising .
But Kimberlee is the first to admit that she was n't sure how the process even worked .
`` I did n't have any understanding of it , but I knew I needed legal protection to support my business idea , '' she says .
`` So when a lawyer helped explain the franchise model and the possibilities of how big I could take the company , it was so enlightening . ''
To date , Kimberlee and her team have trained more than 700 instructors , and now have 320 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abroad .
Their franchisees pay an upfront fee to be part of Bounce , which gives them access to the equipment , and a protected geographic area to operate in .
Franchisees then pay a percentage of their revenues as an ongoing management fee .
For this fee they get their business admin managed , all the class routines and choreography , plus branding and marketing .
Marc Mullen , a London-based personal trainer , believes Bounce is popular because it is fun and friendly , and offers its predominantly female customers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular gym can be very intimidating for some women , as unfortunately they can be male-dominated environments , '' he says .
`` And there are high rates of gym dropouts due to the fact that people do n't really have a structure to follow , lack of ideas , or motivation .
`` [ By contrast ] Bounce keeps people engaged with that sense of community .
The workouts have a fun element to them , they are high energy , and with the creation of the franchise it 's become accessible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' • ' I was standing at the wrong end of a machine gun' • 'Someone needs to help parents control their kids ' spending' • 'My chronic acne inspired me to start my own skincare company' With the business enjoying an annual turnover of £3m last year , Kimberlee now oversees a management team of 25 at its Harlow headquarters .
However , the chief executive has n't forgotten her roots .
`` I still teach - five classes a week , and make up every routine , '' she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel , and knowing that I 'm inspiring other women every day ... that 's a feeling you ca n't really beat . ''
In April , in response to Covid-19 , the company moved its classes online , offering eight per day , seven days a week .
`` Franchisees had to shut down their studios , but everyone benefited from us going virtual .
We split the profit from the online classes between the franchisees , which was hugely helpful to them , '' Kimberlee says .
But with gyms now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bounce is excited to once again meet their customers in person .

"Climbing the ladder in my job was a massive priority for me," she says looking back. "Being in the events industry is tough - you have to be working 24/7 - and I think that my pregnancy contributed to the decision not to take me on for that promotion.


bbc--2020-08-02--Coronavirus: The hidden heroes of India’s Covid-19 wards

One morning in June , Deep Chand spotted a distraught family member of a Covid-19 patient standing outside the coronavirus ward in a hospital in India 's capital , Delhi .
The man was desperately trying to speak to a doctor or nurse to find out about the condition of his relative who was a patient in the ward .
But it was a terrible day for doctors - some patients had died , a few others were critical , and new patients were being wheeled in throughout .
So Deep Chand , who worked as a ward boy - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and asked if he could help .
That man was me , and I was trying to find out how my brother-in-law was doing .
It had been three days since he was put on a ventilator .
Doctors usually called every day to update us , but on that day no-one seemed to have time to do that .
When Deep Chand came up to me , I mistook him for a doctor because he was wearing personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and I threw a volley of questions at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy and I ca n't help you with these questions , '' he said .
I must have sounded desperate and even rude , but he responded softly , without irritation .
He told me that my brother-in-law 's blood oxygen level was fine , and there had been no turn for the worse in the last 10 hours .
That 's how I met Deep Chand , 28 .
Ward boys are nearly at the bottom of the hospital 's hierarchy .
They have no professional medical training , and their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as help patients .
This includes everything from taking samples for testing , wheeling patients across the hospital for X-rays , serving them food , and sometimes just talking to them .
And amid the painful chaos of the pandemic , these ward boys have become a source of support not just for patients but also for their families .
I will never forget my reassuring interaction with Deep Chand because it 's just what I needed to hear while I waited for an hour outside the ward , anxious and scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the machines , patients yelling in pain and doctors and nurses shouting instructions at each other .
I also distinctly remember a patient pleading : `` I ca n't breathe , please save me ! ''
Deep Chand 's words cut through my panic and I ran to the car park to update my family - we nervously smiled at each other while standing at a safe distance .
This was the worst part - we could n't hug or even hold hands when we desperately needed comfort .
We had to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to hold each other - while my wife 's brother was breathing through a machine - had become routine .
Even on a day the doctor told us `` the next 12 hours are critical '' , we all broke down in our respective corners of the car park .
In the days that followed , we often relied on Deep Chand and his colleagues whenever doctors were too busy to give us updates .
We spent tense hours at home or in the hospital waiting for news from the ward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks of June saw a massive surge in Delhi 's Covid-19 case numbers .
Most hospitals were overrun , including the one where my brother-in-law was admitted .
In that chaos , ward boys like Deep Chand became messengers for dozens of families like ours .
I would often see them consoling families , supporting them and taking messages to those patients who were too ill even to talk on the phone .
One day when my brother-in-law 's condition deteriorated , I was standing outside the ward and I broke down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We ca n't say anything at the moment , he is not improving . ''
But a ward boy walked up to me and said : `` Do n't worry , I have seen even severely ill patients recover . ''
His hopeful words gave me some relief .
When doctors keep repeating `` anything can happen '' , the mind takes you to dark places .
It made me doubt everything .
Did we pick the right hospital ?
Should we have listened to him instead of convincing him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a tough call - he had been against it , and the doctors kept saying there was n't much time left to waste .
My family kept crying but praying for the `` miracle '' Deep Chand had told us was possible .
It was one of the most difficult times in my life , and Deep Chand 's kind , calming words meant a lot to me - especially when I was n't able to speak to the doctors .
Speaking to me on the phone now , more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pain of the families but there was little that the doctors and nurses could do to improve communication .
`` They were so busy , they somehow managed to speak to the families of serious patients once a day .
It 's nobody 's fault - none of us were prepared for this kind of rush , '' he says .
Instead , it was Deep Chand and other ward boys who would share what information they could about the patient 's progress - they routinely informed me about my brother-in-law 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the oxygen saturation level on the monitor and I do n't mind sharing that information with families , '' Deep Chand says .
I also saw Deep Chand take food and letters for patients from their families .
He says he has been working as a ward boy for five years , but Covid-19 has completely changed the way he works .
He adds that being in protective equipment for 10-12 hours is painful , but it 's nothing `` compared to what patients and their families go through '' .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement , while speaking to me outside the Covid-19 ward one day .
He says that even a little information goes a long way in reassuring families .
`` Sometimes the families feel happy with little things - like when we tell them that the patient ate properly today or he smiled in the morning . ''
Every day , ward boys risk their lives in hospitals across the country .
Hundreds of them have been infected with the virus .
Some have even died .
But their contribution in the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boys I spoke to say this does n't bother them .
Deep Chand says he is not looking for special recognition .
When he was told that he would have to work in the `` corona ward '' at the start of the outbreak in March , he admits was concerned .
`` I was terrified for my safety and that of my family . ''
But then , he adds , he realised that he would not think twice before going into the ward if one of his family members was sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working in the ward in April , and since then he has never considered quitting .
And doctors appreciate this .
`` Ward boys are an important part of any ICU unit , '' says Dr Sushila Kataria , the director of intensive care at Medanta Hospital .
`` They watch our backs , they deal with discarded PPE kits and contagious samples .
No doctor can work without their help , '' she says .
`` They are also heroes in this fight like doctors and nurses . ''
But they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
The situation is worse in smaller towns where they are hired by contractors who lease their services to hospitals .
Sohan Lal works in a government-run hospital in the northern state of Bihar and earns 5,000 rupees ( $ 66 : £52 ) a month .
He says it 's a paltry amount given the risk of working in a Covid-19 ward .
`` But I do n't have any other job , so I will keep doing this .
I also realise the importance of my job . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given medicines to patients after consulting the doctor on the phone .
`` Doctors seldom come for rounds more than once a day .
So , patients rely on ward boys to convey their messages to the doctors . ''
The other tough part of their job is seeing death so closely .
Deep Chand says he feels distraught when a patient he has been caring for dies .
`` Sometimes patients die after spending more than two weeks with us .
They almost become like our family , '' he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't stop `` until we defeat corona or it defeats me '' .
I wanted to specially thank him the day my brother-in-law was discharged after nearly a month in the hospital .
But he disconnected my call , saying `` he was on duty '' .
A text followed : `` You do n't need to thank us '' , he wrote .
`` Pray for us and all medical teams working in Covid-19 wards across the world '' .
And he had a message too : `` Please wear masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't agree with him more , having seen the worst of what this virus can do .

Did we pick the right hospital? Should we have listened to him instead of convincing him to go on the ventilator? It had been a tough call - he had been against it, and the doctors kept saying there wasn't much time left to waste.


bbc--2020-08-02--Nigerians' double blow: Currency woes and Covid-19

Entrepreneurs in oil-rich Nigeria are finding it difficult to weather the economic fallout of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and a plummeting currency .
Amid the lockdown a dispute between Russia and Saudi Arabia sent the price of the fossil fuel tumbling , dragging down the value of the Nigerian currency with it .
With the naira still volatile and a partial lockdown still in place , three business owners in the commercial hub of Lagos explain how they are coping .
Opened a private pre-school two months before Lagos went into lockdown .
Employs 10 staff .
`` We actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Our first priority was keeping the children safe .
`` At the time we had only three children , but it started off very well considering that we opened in the middle of a school year .
We were scouting for parents .
`` When the lockdown happened I started panicking , because just before the we had already started seeing the devaluation of the naira .
`` Today everyone is projecting that it will go up to 500 naira to one US dollar .
It would be a disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay expatriate staff in my establishment .
`` Being a new school , we only have a certain amount of savings to float us for the first and second year until the school becomes successful .
`` At the moment our staff - security , cleaners , nannies and administrative staff - are all on full salary .
I 've told them I will cut their salaries by 50 % to prepare for the worst , but I expect to cut salaries by around 30 % .
`` There were four more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a receptionist - whose three-month probation period ended in April .
We told them that we would come back to them when the school resumes .
If they do , I will have to renegotiate salaries because I can no longer pay them what we agreed .
`` All the parents who have registered for September still aim to come - that 's four more children .
But my biggest fear is that we may not open then .
`` I 've thought about closing the school down .
If the pandemic goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be able to survive .
The rent is very expensive here , on one of the prime commercial streets in Lagos .
I would not be able to make my rent in the third year if we do n't open in September .
`` Today , yes the virus is still here , yes everyone is still scared , but people are a little bit more relaxed .
The economy is my biggest fear in Nigeria . ''
Twenty-five full-time staff working from home .
Architectural and visual arts projects continue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The response from my clients has been to put a lot of things on hold .
`` Everybody 's trying to figure out how it 's going to affect them as individuals and organisations .
Hopefully , the majority of projects will come back .
`` I think that the uncertainty is going to last for quite a while .
I 'm definitely feeling the difficulties .
`` [ If ] you look at the cost of things now compared to months ago it 's in some cases almost double , so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People 's earnings are going down because a lot of businesses are having to scale back because of the pandemic so it 's tough times .
`` We made the conscious decision not to get rid of staff [ to ] keep a great team .
`` But we have to discuss with staff how we can look at off-setting certain expenses and moving them to a later period in the year .
`` I would say we 're operating [ at ] 50 % productivity at best , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nature of the type of work that we do .
`` You ca n't just walk over to someone 's desk to check up on what 's going on .
`` Everybody 's a little bit sick and tired of zoom calls and team calls .
We 're definitely not as efficient . ''
`` My food business is classed as essential , so when lockdown happened we sent letters of exemption to our staff so they could get to work and transport their products .
`` But I have to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of them faced harassment by police for the first two days , which we reported to the government authorities .
`` Some of our staff were even attacked - that was a challenge .
The government was very responsive and the challenges eased over time .
`` To ensure social distancing , we had to reduce the number of people working at any given time .
So we split everyone into A and B teams - who worked one week on , one week off .
`` We had to reduce capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our output , which meant that we could not enjoy the sales .
You may also be interested in : • How the 'Amazon of Africa ' fell from grace • How African firms are adapting to the pandemic • 'No time for half measures in helping Africa 's economy' '' Many of restaurants reduced or shut down operations during the lockdown , so obviously there was reduced demand .
`` Curfews also made it difficult for staff to work full days .
`` Staff members have been on full salary , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation as time goes by , but it never got to that .
`` Now we 're back in full , operational mode with a new layout to ensure social distancing .
Customers are also operational and demand has picked back up .
`` We are seeing an upsurge in retail because the oil shock and Covid-19 have restricted imports , so Nigerians are embracing locally sourced products .
`` We 're well-aware this is a 12- to 18-month battle and many speculate that Nigeria is about to really get the big blow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 'How can we make sure we survive and thrive during this period ? '
`` It means thinking through how we can be more cost-effective and innovative , and also the way we engage with our customers . ''

"I've thought about closing the school down. If the pandemic goes on for another year the school will not be able to survive. The rent is very expensive here, on one of the prime commercial streets in Lagos. I would not be able to make my rent in the third year if we don't open in September.


bbc--2020-08-02--Indian Premier League: Twenty20 tournament to be held in UAE from September

The Indian Premier League ( IPL ) will be played in the UAE from 19 September , tournament organisers have @ @ @ @ @ , including the final on 10 November , will be played across Dubai , Sharjah @ @ @ @ @ will also be a Women 's T20 Challenge , involving three teams , played during @ @ @ @ @ However , some top women 's players , including Australia wicket keeper Alyssa Healy , @ @ @ @ @ the women 's competition .
The dates clash with the scheduled Women 's Big Bash @ @ @ @ @ Australia on 16 October .
The UAE has previously hosted IPL games in 2014 when @ @ @ @ @ moved to the country due to the Indian elections .
• Match of the Day @ @ @ @ @ talks Modric , Seedorf and Del Boy • Radio 1 's Dance Weekend : Listen @ @ @ @ @ names in dance

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Mumbai Indians celebrated with an open-top bus parade after winning the 2019 IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played in the UAE from 19 September, tournament organisers have confirmed.
The 53 matches, including the final on 10 November, will be played across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
There will also be a Women's T20 Challenge, involving three teams, played during the IPL play-off week.
However, some top women's players, including Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy, have criticised the timing of the women's competition.
The dates clash with the scheduled Women's Big Bash League, which starts in Australia on 16 October.
The UAE has previously hosted IPL games in 2014 when roughly half the season was moved to the country due to the Indian elections.


bbc--2020-08-02--'Unfeasible' to re-sign Neymar during Covid-19 pandemic, says Barca president

It is `` unfeasible '' for Barcelona to re-sign Neymar from Paris St-Germain in the current economic climate , says the club 's president Josep Maria Bartomeu .
A move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has also been affected .
Bartomeu told Spanish newspaper Sport that Barca generated 200m Euros less than expected between March and June because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` All the big European clubs are affected , '' he said .
`` This is n't going to last a year , but three or four . ''
Brazilian forward Neymar joined PSG for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 2017 but Barcelona tried to re-sign the player last summer .
`` Neymar ?
In this situation , it 's unfeasible , '' said Bartomeu .
`` Nor does PSG want to sell him .
`` Barca have spoken with Inter about Lautaro , but the talks have stopped .
The situation does n't invite large investments . ''
Bartomeu went on to explain that Barcelona lost 200m euros between March and June .
He added : `` In the 2020-21 season we expected to post 1.1 bn euros , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If the situation of the pandemic does n't improve , there will be no spectators , no museum , no stores open , and money will continue to be lost .
`` It forces us to be very rigorous in management : we must review which investments are essential and which can wait . ''
Bartomeu also confirmed the club opened up disciplinary proceedings against midfielder Arthur , who is joining Juventus as part of a swap deal with Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic , after he failed to return to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agreement that until the Champions League ended , he would continue playing for Barca .
He could help us , '' said Bartomeu , who has been Barca president since 2014 .
`` But he did n't return from his mini-break so we have opened a file on him . ''

Last updated on .From the section La Liga
Barcelona have signed Miralem Pjanic, pictured left with Cristiano Ronaldo, who leaves Juventus after winning his fourth Serie A title
It is "unfeasible" for Barcelona to re-sign Neymar from Paris St-Germain in the current economic climate, says the club's president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
A move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has also been affected.
Bartomeu told Spanish newspaper Sport external-link that Barca generated 200m Euros less than expected between March and June because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"All the big European clubs are affected," he said. "This isn't going to last a year, but three or four."
Brazilian forward Neymar joined PSG for a world record 222m Euros (£199m) in August 2017 but Barcelona tried to re-sign the player last summer.
"Neymar? In this situation, it's unfeasible," said Bartomeu. "Nor does PSG want to sell him.
"Barca have spoken with Inter about Lautaro, but the talks have stopped. The situation doesn't invite large investments."
Bartomeu went on to explain that Barcelona lost 200m euros between March and June. He added: "In the 2020-21 season we expected to post 1.1 bn euros, but we'll have 30% of that.
"If the situation of the pandemic doesn't improve, there will be no spectators, no museum, no stores open, and money will continue to be lost.
"It forces us to be very rigorous in management: we must review which investments are essential and which can wait."
Bartomeu also confirmed the club opened up disciplinary proceedings against midfielder Arthur, who is joining Juventus as part of a swap deal with Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic, after he failed to return to the club from holiday.
"We reached the agreement that until the Champions League ended, he would continue playing for Barca. He could help us," said Bartomeu, who has been Barca president since 2014.
"But he didn't return from his mini-break so we have opened a file on him."