bbc--2020-08-11--'A Hinge date saved my life' and other cancer dating stories

Dating in 2020 is hard enough during a global pandemic - but how do you go about it if you 've got cancer to contend with too ?
BBC journalist Keiligh Baker explores the challenges as she sets out to find love .
'We 'd been catfishing each other' Emily Frost , 29 , from Surrey , was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 , which spread to her lymph nodes .
It was caught early , but four years on she is dealing with the side-effects and mental and physical ramifications of her treatment , including medical menopause , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're stuck inside and you 're so poorly with no sense of normality , you want to talk to new people , '' she says .
`` I downloaded some dating apps and I used pictures from when I had hair . ''
She chatted to one guy who asked her out .
Emily accepted , then panicked about her lack of hair .
While she stressed about what to do , he texted her .
`` How do you tell someone 'by the way , I had breast cancer at 25 ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's really daunting .
I 'm not looking to date right now .
But it 's lonely . ''
`` I got loads of practical tips like not travelling all over London for a date but keeping it close .
Not getting all dressed up but instead treating every date as practice . ''
Neil says he learned to tell someone he has cancer on the first date , then change the subject with a question - in turn , the date would often open up to him .
If they met for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit more .
'It filters out the dross' Kirsty Hopgood , 31 , from Oxfordshire was diagnosed with osteosarcoma - bone cancer - last August and will finish treatment in October .
She was worried no-one would be interested in her after she got her diagnosis .
What 's next for me.. ?
But it can be wonderful .
It can feel good to get that match , to know someone finds you attractive or interesting and it gives you the chance to dip into normality .
Inspired by Emily , Kirsty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell one of my virtual lockdown dates about my condition on our first video chat .
Listen to more top-tips and dating horror stories from Keiligh on the BBC Ouch podcast ...

Neil says he learned to tell someone he has cancer on the first date, then change the subject with a question - in turn, the date would often open up to him. If they met for a second time, he'd reveal a bit more.


bbc--2020-08-11--Coronavirus and South Africa's toxic relationship with alcohol

South Africa 's ban on alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic has prompted the BBC 's Vumani Mkhize to reflect on why he and his country have such a toxic relationship with drink .
I was a 17-year-old in my penultimate year at school when I had my first blind-drunk experience , which led to my expulsion in 2002 .
I was returning to Ixopo High School in KwaZulu-Natal province , which is surrounded by undulating green hills so famously described by anti-apartheid writer Alan Paton in the seminal novel Cry , the Beloved Country .
Paton was actually a teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page of his novel hung in the school library .
It made me want to emulate him - to have pages from a book I would write on the library 's walls .
But that was before I got distracted .
Disembarking from the minibus taxi after the school holidays , my best friend and I took off our ties and blazers and headed straight to the town 's nearest bottle store where we bought two quarts of beer and a half-bottle of vodka .
The shop assistant had no qualms about selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says a lot about how negligent some establishments can be when it comes to serving underage children .
We drank behind an abandoned building - and I loved the feeling immediately , even if I was n't so enamoured with the taste .
By the time we dragged ourselves up the hill to the boarding school , it was dark and the gates were closed .
The headmaster was summoned ; our fate sealed .
I wish this had been the last such incident , but in the years to come I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I felt no shame - I wore the blackouts as a misguided badge of honour , shared amongst friends while boasting how many cases of beer I drank in a weekend .
In the broader South African context my experience is not unique and I 'm sure countless people will have more harrowing stories to tell .
The paradox when it comes to South Africa 's drinking culture is that while the majority of adults abstain , those that drink , do so heavily .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country as binge drinkers .
This means around 59 % of alcohol consumers drink more than 60g of pure alcohol on at least one occasion a month - that is six alcoholic drinks , four more than the daily recommended amount for men .
South African Medical Research Council 's Charles Parry , who has spent more than two decades researching the country 's fraught relationship with alcohol , believes there 's an inextricable link between our drinking culture and our past .
`` There was a period of time when alcohol was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Prof Parry tells me about the days before white-minority rule ended in 1994 .
This led to drinkers going to illegal bars , with many black people seeing it as an act of defiance against the apartheid regime .
In the Cape Winelands , coloured ( mixed-race ) labourers were often paid in alcohol in what was called `` the dop system '' .
Although long since abolished , the harmful legacy of that system is still pervasive in many coloured communities across the Western Cape .
While restrictions on alcohol in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , current restrictions are a matter of life and death .
Our unhealthy relationship with alcohol prompted the government to institute a very unpopular nationwide ban from the early days of the pandemic , in March .
On 1 June , the sale of alcohol for home consumption was allowed again , only for the ban to be reinstituted just over a month later .
South Africa is currently battling the world 's fifth largest Covid-19 outbreak , with more 500,000 confirmed cases .
The rationale behind the prohibition was to free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country - action vindicated by what doctors saw at our public hospitals .
`` Our modelling found that we have a very high level of alcohol-related trauma in South Africa , which we calculated at over 42,000 presentations per week , and that [ trauma cases ] dropped by 60 % to 70 % in 'Level 5 ' [ when the first ban was imposed ] , '' Prof Parry told the BBC .
`` What happened with the unbanning of alcohol on 1 June , was suddenly a huge resurgence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban has clearly alleviated pressure on the fragile health system , but from an economic perspective it has been catastrophic .
The alcohol industry supports more than a million jobs , and contributes around 3 % to GDP .
The continent 's largest brewer , South African Breweries ( SAB ) , says it is halting 5bn rand ( $ 285m , £215m ) of planned investment because of the ban .
`` The cancellation of this planned expenditure is a direct consequence of having lost 12 full trading weeks , which effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SAB 's annual production , '' Andrew Murray , the brewer 's vice-president of finance , said in a statement last week .
Heineken , South Africa 's second-largest brewer , has also announced that it will shelve plans to build a new 6bn-rand brewery in the port city of Durban - along with the creation of around 400 posts in an industry that has haemorrhaged more than 100,000 jobs since the end of March .
Restaurants have also lamented the ban - around 60 % of their revenue comes from selling alcohol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors for good .
Township taverns , or shebeens , are also battling for survival .
Mojela 's Place in Tembisa , a vibrant township north of Johannesburg , is one of more than 34,000 registered taverns nationwide .
It is run by Kagiso Mojela and his father , who have converted a section of their home into a place where locals can drink beer while watching football .
They also have a shipping container to store the alcohol and the rumbling fridges .
It is stacked with boxes of unsold beer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expires it will make me go and look for a loan from the bank so I can restock again .
So I would have lost stock of over 160,000 rand , '' Mr Mojela says .
`` I feel like the bread has been taken from our mouths . ''
It is a view echoed by Lucky Ntimane of the South African Liquor Traders Association , which represents licensed taverns .
He says more than 150,000 people rely on selling alcohol in order to feed their families and feels the government 's attitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shows `` the total disdain in which they hold the entire industry '' .
In the lives vs livelihoods debate , a growing cacophony of voices is calling on government to end the alcohol ban .
Even medical experts like Prof Glenda Gray , the president of South African Medical Research Council and an adviser to the government on its Covid-19 response , agrees .
`` We have achieved impact by having a curfew and prohibition on alcohol .
We have achieved the lives and now we need to look at livelihoods .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ around $ 635m a month on taxes and the country faces a deep recession , with the central bank projecting a contraction of more than 7 % this year .
The unemployment rate - already at 30 % - is expected to rise significantly by December , with some economists suggesting it could hit 50 % .
Experts like Prof Parry also say poverty , depression and a sense of hopelessness drive a culture of drinking .
And the ban has given way to a thriving black market , a throwback to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up five years ago - more than a decade after my first schoolboy binge .
However , if I was still a drinker , I would have found a way to get my hands on it somehow - the ban would have been unlikely to get me to give up .
I may have turned off my tap , but there are more than a million people who are begging the government to turn the tap back on again - with so many jobs at stake .
• GLOBAL TRENDS : Where are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : What are the symptoms of the coronavirus ?

I finally sobered up five years ago - more than a decade after my first schoolboy binge. However, if I was still a drinker, I would have found a way to get my hands on it somehow - the ban would have been unlikely to get me to give up.


bbc--2020-08-10--Fernandes' extra-time penalty sends Man Utd into Europa semi-finals

Manchester United needed an extra-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes to finally see off a spirited FC Copenhagen and set up a potential Europa League semi-final against Wolves .
United were poor for much of the first half in the heat of Cologne but still had a penalty overturned and a goal ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side improved and dominated the second half but could find no way past inspired goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson , with Fernandes and Mason Greenwood also each hitting the post and Marcus Rashford having another effort disallowed .
Fernandes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping cool to drive in United 's 21st spot-kick of the season at the start of the extra period to extend their marathon season by another week .
Johnsson was magnificent between the posts for Copenhagen - ending the night with 13 saves as United rained down 26 efforts on goal all told - while the Danish runners-up failed to have a single shot on target .
United - who won this competition four seasons ago - will now face either Premier League rivals Wolves or Europa League specialists Sevilla in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Europa League 'final eight ' begins - all you need to know No way past for United Three hundred and sixty-four days after Solskjaer started his first full season in charge of United , he is now two games away from a possible first trophy .
The January signing of Fernandes has already delivered a third-placed finish and Champions League football and the Portuguese midfielder was again the eventual difference maker on a draining night in scorching heat .
The temperature was still 32C at kick-off at 9pm local time and United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error almost letting in Mohammed Daramy , before Brandon Williams had to head away from the goal-line .
But despite their lethargy , United always carried a threat and were briefly awarded a penalty for a shove at a set-piece before VAR flagged an offside in the build-up .
Greenwood finished brilliantly off the far post but the strike was correctly called back for another offside before Solskjaer witnessed a far better second half .
Greenwood fired against the post again , with his left foot this time , Rashford tapping in but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thundered a shot against the opposite post from range .
Johnsson 's individual showreel then threatened to throw a spanner in the works .
Perhaps the Swedish keeper 's best save denied Anthony Martial , who eventually won the decisive penalty thanks to a push from former Brentford defender Andreas Bjelland .
Fernandes fired into the corner without his trademark hop on approach to ensure a 17th European semi-final for United .
• Food and mood : The link between what we eat and mental health • Young shielders : What has isolation @ @ @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Manchester United have won 21 penalties in all competitions this season - the most for any side in Europe's top five leagues
Manchester United needed an extra-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes to finally see off a spirited FC Copenhagen and set up a potential Europa League semi-final against Wolves.
United were poor for much of the first half in the heat of Cologne but still had a penalty overturned and a goal ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side improved and dominated the second half but could find no way past inspired goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson, with Fernandes and Mason Greenwood also each hitting the post and Marcus Rashford having another effort disallowed.
Fernandes finally broke through in familiar style, keeping cool to drive in United's 21st spot-kick of the season at the start of the extra period to extend their marathon season by another week.
Johnsson was magnificent between the posts for Copenhagen - ending the night with 13 saves as United rained down 26 efforts on goal all told - while the Danish runners-up failed to have a single shot on target.
United - who won this competition four seasons ago - will now face either Premier League rivals Wolves or Europa League specialists Sevilla in the last four in Dusseldorf on Sunday night.
No way past for United
Three hundred and sixty-four days after Solskjaer started his first full season in charge of United, he is now two games away from a possible first trophy.
The January signing of Fernandes has already delivered a third-placed finish and Champions League football and the Portuguese midfielder was again the eventual difference maker on a draining night in scorching heat.
The temperature was still 32C at kick-off at 9pm local time and United made a poor start - Fred's error almost letting in Mohammed Daramy, before Brandon Williams had to head away from the goal-line.
But despite their lethargy, United always carried a threat and were briefly awarded a penalty for a shove at a set-piece before VAR flagged an offside in the build-up.
Greenwood finished brilliantly off the far post but the strike was correctly called back for another offside before Solskjaer witnessed a far better second half.
Greenwood fired against the post again, with his left foot this time, Rashford tapping in but again from an offside position before Fernandes thundered a shot against the opposite post from range.
Johnsson's individual showreel then threatened to throw a spanner in the works.
Perhaps the Swedish keeper's best save denied Anthony Martial, who eventually won the decisive penalty thanks to a push from former Brentford defender Andreas Bjelland.
Fernandes fired into the corner without his trademark hop on approach to ensure a 17th European semi-final for United.
Man of the match - Karl-Johan Johnsson (FC Copenhagen)
Karl-Johan Johnsson made 13 saves this evening, the joint-most by a goalkeeper in a single Europa League game since the competition's re-branding in 2009-10.


bbc--2020-08-10--Liverpool sign left-back Tsimikas from Olympiakos

Kostas Tsimikas believes he has joined `` the biggest club in the world '' after completing a move to Liverpool from Olympiakos .
The 24-year-old has joined the Premier League champions for about £11.7m on a five-year contract and is expected to provide competition for Andy Robertson .
`` I 'm very happy , I 'm very proud to be here , '' Tsimikas said .
`` It 's an honour to be here and I will give my best .
For me , [ it 's ] the biggest club in the world . ''
Tsimikas , who says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child , becomes the club 's first signing of the summer .
The Reds had moved for Norwich defender Jamal Lewis but chose not to meet the Championship club 's valuation of the Northern Ireland left-back .
Tsimikas , who has three caps for Greece , made his debut for Olympiakos in 2015 and went on to make 86 appearances in all competitions .
He played 27 times in the league last season , securing his first major silverware as Olympiakos won the Greek title .
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time and are really happy that he has joined us .
It 's the perfect news before we come back together very soon .
`` He is a very good footballer with an attitude to win and to compete , and I really like his mentality .
It fits perfectly with the mood and the desire we have in our dressing room already .
`` Kostas knows from personal experience what is required to challenge and succeed domestically and in the Champions League , and he is ambitious for more - just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus to Tsimikas after having a £10m offer , with a substantial sell-on clause , for Jamal Lewis rejected by Norwich .
However , the Reds had held a long-term interest in Tsimikas .
They started doing character checks on the Greece defender towards the end of 2018 and watched him on a regular basis during the 2018-19 season .
Nice and Napoli are understood to have then been close to signing him , but Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards moved Tsimikas high on his list of left-back options at the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coaching department .
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was also impressed by the 24-year-old , who played for Olympiakos in the Champions League group stages earlier this season and against Arsenal and Wolves in the Europa League .
• Big names or squad men - who should Jurgen Klopp buy ?

Last updated on .From the section Liverpool
Kostas Tsimikas will wear the number 21 shirt at Liverpool
Kostas Tsimikas believes he has joined "the biggest club in the world" after completing a move to Liverpool from Olympiakos.
The 24-year-old has joined the Premier League champions for about £11.7m on a five-year contract and is expected to provide competition for Andy Robertson.
"I'm very happy, I'm very proud to be here," Tsimikas said.
"It's an honour to be here and I will give my best. For me, [it's] the biggest club in the world."
Tsimikas, who says his brother made him support Liverpool as a child, becomes the club's first signing of the summer.
The Reds had moved for Norwich defender Jamal Lewis but chose not to meet the Championship club's valuation of the Northern Ireland left-back.
'A perfect fit' - Klopp
Tsimikas, who has three caps for Greece, made his debut for Olympiakos in 2015 and went on to make 86 appearances in all competitions.
He played 27 times in the league last season, securing his first major silverware as Olympiakos won the Greek title.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "We have watched Kostas for a long time and are really happy that he has joined us. It's the perfect news before we come back together very soon.
"He is a very good footballer with an attitude to win and to compete, and I really like his mentality. It fits perfectly with the mood and the desire we have in our dressing room already.
"Kostas knows from personal experience what is required to challenge and succeed domestically and in the Champions League, and he is ambitious for more - just like us."
Analysis
Mandeep Sanghera, BBC Sport
Liverpool switched their focus to Tsimikas after having a £10m offer, with a substantial sell-on clause, for Jamal Lewis rejected by Norwich.
However, the Reds had held a long-term interest in Tsimikas.
They started doing character checks on the Greece defender towards the end of 2018 and watched him on a regular basis during the 2018-19 season.
Nice and Napoli are understood to have then been close to signing him, but Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards moved Tsimikas high on his list of left-back options at the start of this year after talks with the Reds coaching department.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was also impressed by the 24-year-old, who played for Olympiakos in the Champions League group stages earlier this season and against Arsenal and Wolves in the Europa League.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


bbc--2020-08-10--O'Sullivan and Trump face battles to reach Crucible semi-finals

Last updated on .From the section Snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump both face a battle to stay in the World Championship after falling behind in their quarter-final matches .
In the final last-eight tie , Anthony McGill has established a commanding 7-1 lead over Norway 's Kurt Maflin .
Trump went into Monday evening 's session trailing 5-3 and searching for his best form .
And it proved to be a frustrating experience for the world number one , who twice reduced his deficit to a single frame but lost the chance to level the match by missing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The trend continued as Wilson , who won his first ranking title at Trump 's expense in the 2015 Shanghai Masters , grew in confidence .
A superb break of 94 - the highest in the contest so far - and another of 80 , helped the eighth seed construct a notable lead as he reeled off the last three frames .
Trump now faces an uphill task when the best-of-25 encounter against Wilson concludes on Tuesday afternoon .
No first-time snooker world champion has retained the title since the tournament moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-time winner O'Sullivan has already demolished Thailand 's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and beaten China 's Ding Junhui , facing Wales ' three-time champion Williams was a step up in class .
A high-scoring start saw the former champions , who both turned professional in 1992 , trade frames with breaks of 70 and 101 .
But after the Englishman briefly edged 2-1 ahead Williams assumed control , compiling breaks of 72 , 56 and 130 as he won five frames in a row .
Selby holds holds the upper hand in his quarter-final with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's sessions .
The Englishman is now just two frames away from reaching the single-table format for the first time since winning his third world title in 2017 .
Selby , who edged a marathon 58-minute opening frame , the longest in this year 's tournament , established a 5-0 lead before the Australian hauled himself back into the match with breaks of 83 , 66 and 65 .
However , Selby maintained his fine form on Monday evening , winning the session 6-2 .
In the battle of the qualifiers , Scotland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a first Crucible semi-final after taking charge of his opening session with Norway 's Kurt Maflin .
McGill had moved into the quarter-finals after staging a remarkable comeback to beat fellow qualifier Jamie Clarke 13-12 in a bad-tempered encounter .
Meanwhile the second and final round of coronavirus tests at tournament has returned no positive results .
There were 120 tests on players , officials and staff before play started on Monday .

Last updated on .From the section Snooker
Betfred World Championship Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 31 July-16 August Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and Red Button, with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app. Full details and times.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump both face a battle to stay in the World Championship after falling behind in their quarter-final matches.
Five-time winner O'Sullivan trails Mark Williams 6-2, with defending champion Trump 10-6 down against Kyren Wilson.
Meanwhile, three-time winner Mark Selby leads Australia's 2010 champion Neil Robertson 11-5.
In the final best-of-25 tie, Anthony McGill has established a commanding 7-1 lead over Norway's Kurt Maflin.
Trump's troubles
Trump went into Monday evening's session trailing 5-3 and searching for his best form.
And it proved to be a frustrating experience for the world number one, who twice reduced his deficit to a single frame but lost the chance to level the match by missing the final black in the 12th frame.
The trend continued as Wilson, who won his first ranking title at Trump's expense in the 2015 Shanghai Masters, grew in confidence.
A superb break of 94 - the highest in the contest so far - and another of 80, helped the eighth seed construct a notable lead as he reeled off the last three frames.
Trump now faces an uphill task when his encounter against Wilson concludes on Tuesday afternoon.
No first-time snooker world champion has retained the title since the tournament moved to its current venue in 1977.
O'Sullivan struggles against vintage Williams
Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan last met at the Crucible in 2012
While five-time winner O'Sullivan has already demolished Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and beaten China's Ding Junhui, facing Wales' three-time champion Williams was a step up in class.
A high-scoring start saw the former champions, who both turned professional in 1992, trade frames with breaks of 70 and 101.
But after the Englishman briefly edged 2-1 ahead Williams assumed control, compiling breaks of 72, 56 and 130 as he won five frames in a row.
Selby and McGill dominate
Selby holds holds the upper hand in his quarter-final with Robertson, after dominating both of Monday's sessions.
The Englishman is now just two frames away from reaching the single-table format for the first time since winning his third world title in 2017.
Selby, who edged a marathon 58-minute opening frame, the longest in this year's tournament, established a 5-0 lead before the Australian hauled himself back into the match with breaks of 83, 66 and 65.
However, Selby maintained his fine form on Monday evening, winning the session 6-2.
In the battle of the qualifiers, Scotland's Anthony McGill already looks on course for a first Crucible semi-final after taking charge of his opening session with Norway's Kurt Maflin.
McGill had moved into the quarter-finals after staging a remarkable comeback to beat fellow qualifier Jamie Clarke 13-12 in a bad-tempered encounter.
Meanwhile the second and final round of coronavirus tests at tournament has returned no positive results.
There were 120 tests on players, officials and staff before play started on Monday.


bbc--2020-08-10--Man Utd target Sancho to stay at Dortmund, say German club

England forward Jadon Sancho will remain a Borussia Dortmund player next season , says the club 's sporting director Michael Zorc .
The 20-year-old has been named in the Bundesliga club 's squad for this week 's training camp in Switzerland .
It comes on the day of the deadline set by Dortmund for any deal to be agreed for Sancho , who is Manchester United 's top summer target .
`` We plan on having Jadon Sancho in our team this season , '' said Zorc .
`` The decision is final .
I think that answers all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jadon 's salary to match the development of his performances .
So in context , we had already extended his contract until 2023 back then . ''
Dortmund want about £100m for Sancho , who they signed from Manchester City for £10m in 2017 .
Sancho and England Under-17 midfielder Jude Bellingham are among 31 players to travel to Bad Ragaz .
Dortmund have two matches during their training camp , against Austrian sides SCR Altach on Wednesday and Austria Vienna on Sunday .
They set the deadline for Sancho , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they want undisturbed preparation for the 2020-21 Bundesliga season .
The new campaign starts on 18 September , with the transfer deadline for international deals on 5 October .
It will be interesting to see what happens now .
I mentioned to someone at Dortmund there is a feeling around United that the Bundesliga side have to sell Sancho for financial reasons .
The answer was fairly quick in coming back - `` they will see '' .
Time will tell on that one .
The truth is , before we even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change within the current negotiations .
The news about Sancho 's contract running to 2023 underlines why Dortmund have been sticking to their guns when it came to that £100m fee , which United believe to be unrealistic .
But it 's not just the fee that is too high .
Wages and agents fees are also a sticking point it seems .
United simply do not believe , in the Covid-affected world football finds itself in , that either are realistic .
There is also an element of frustration in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dortmund 's claims not to have had any contact with United when they asked for negotiations to be conducted through intermediaries .
Discussions , it is being suggested , have been too slow .
United have been threatening to look at alternative targets .
Now we might find out if they have any .
Today was an artificial deadline - the real one is on 5 October - but the positions do appear entrenched .
It will be fascinating to see who moves first .
• Food and mood : The link between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Young shielders : What has isolation been like for them ?

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Borussia Dortmund want a fee of about £100m for winger Jadon Sancho
England forward Jadon Sancho will remain a Borussia Dortmund player next season, says the club's sporting director Michael Zorc.
The 20-year-old has been named in the Bundesliga club's squad for this week's training camp in Switzerland.
It comes on the day of the deadline set by Dortmund for any deal to be agreed for Sancho, who is Manchester United's top summer target.
"We plan on having Jadon Sancho in our team this season," said Zorc.
"The decision is final. I think that answers all our questions.
"Last summer we adjusted Jadon's salary to match the development of his performances. So in context, we had already extended his contract until 2023 back then."
Dortmund want about £100m for Sancho, who they signed from Manchester City for £10m in 2017.
Sancho and England Under-17 midfielder Jude Bellingham are among 31 players to travel to Bad Ragaz.
Bellingham, 17, joined Dortmund from Championship side Birmingham City in July.
Dortmund have two matches during their training camp, against Austrian sides SCR Altach on Wednesday and Austria Vienna on Sunday.
They set the deadline for Sancho, who is under contract with them until 2022, because they want undisturbed preparation for the 2020-21 Bundesliga season.
The new campaign starts on 18 September, with the transfer deadline for international deals on 5 October.
Analysis
BBC Sport's Simon Stone
It will be interesting to see what happens now.
I mentioned to someone at Dortmund there is a feeling around United that the Bundesliga side have to sell Sancho for financial reasons.
The answer was fairly quick in coming back - "they will see". Time will tell on that one.
The truth is, before we even get to that point, something has to change within the current negotiations.
The news about Sancho's contract running to 2023 underlines why Dortmund have been sticking to their guns when it came to that £100m fee, which United believe to be unrealistic.
But it's not just the fee that is too high. Wages and agents fees are also a sticking point it seems. United simply do not believe, in the Covid-affected world football finds itself in, that either are realistic.
There is also an element of frustration in the corridors of power at Old Trafford around Dortmund's claims not to have had any contact with United when they asked for negotiations to be conducted through intermediaries. Discussions, it is being suggested, have been too slow.
United have been threatening to look at alternative targets. Now we might find out if they have any.
Today was an artificial deadline - the real one is on 5 October - but the positions do appear entrenched. It will be fascinating to see who moves first.


bbc--2020-08-10--Lukaku sets Europa League scoring record as Inter reach semi-finals

Romelu Lukaku scored for a record ninth consecutive Europa League game as Inter Milan beat Bayer Leverkusen in Dusseldorf to reach the semi-finals .
Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give Inter the lead .
Lukaku controlled Ashley Young 's pass , turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season .
Kai Havertz smashed home from six yards out to give Leverkusen hope but they could not find a leveller to force extra time in the one-off tie .
Antonio Conte 's side will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk v Basel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also in Dusseldorf .
Lukaku is the first player to ever score in nine Uefa Cup or Europa League matches in a row , although that run includes five games for Everton in 2014-15 .
He twice prepared to take a penalty - in the first half and in injury time at the end - but both times the decisions were overturned by the video assistant referee .
The Italian side could have beaten Leverkusen by more with Lukaku forcing Lukas Hradecky into a good save and former Premier League players Christian Eriksen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close after coming off the bench .
`` We are growing but we have to learn to kill games off when we have the chances to do it , and we did n't tonight , '' said Lukaku , who is now Inter 's top scorer in a season since Samuel Eto ' o in 2010-11 .
`` Now we have time to recover physically and prepare for another great game .
We will have to be ready . ''
Inter are now only two games away from winning their first trophy since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers have failed to lead them to silverware in between Leonardo and Conte , who took charge last summer .
They have already enjoyed their best Serie A season in that time , finishing second , one point behind champions Juventus .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Romelu Lukaku scored eight goals in his final five Europa League matches for Everton and has netted four in four for Inter
Romelu Lukaku scored for a record ninth consecutive Europa League game as Inter Milan beat Bayer Leverkusen in Dusseldorf to reach the semi-finals.
Nicolo Barella fired home an excellent 20-yard strike to give Inter the lead.
Lukaku controlled Ashley Young's pass, turned a defender and slotted home for his 31st goal of the season.
Kai Havertz smashed home from six yards out to give Leverkusen hope but they could not find a leveller to force extra time in the one-off tie.
Antonio Conte's side will face the winner of Shakhtar Donetsk v Basel in the semi-final on 17 August, also in Dusseldorf.
Lukaku is the first player to ever score in nine Uefa Cup or Europa League matches in a row, although that run includes five games for Everton in 2014-15.
He twice prepared to take a penalty - in the first half and in injury time at the end - but both times the decisions were overturned by the video assistant referee.
The Italian side could have beaten Leverkusen by more with Lukaku forcing Lukas Hradecky into a good save and former Premier League players Christian Eriksen, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses going close after coming off the bench.
"We are growing but we have to learn to kill games off when we have the chances to do it, and we didn't tonight," said Lukaku, who is now Inter's top scorer in a season since Samuel Eto'o in 2010-11.
"Now we have time to recover physically and prepare for another great game. We will have to be ready."
Lukaku's Europa League goalscoring run 10 August 2020: Inter Milan 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen 12 March 2015: Everton 2-1 Dynamo Kiev 5 August 2020: Inter Milan 2-0 Getafe 26 February 2015: Everton 3-1 Young Boys (two goals) 27 February 2020: Inter Milan 2-1 Ludogorets 19 February 2015: Young Boys 1-4 Everton (three goals) 20 February 2020: Ludogorets 0-2 Inter Milan 27 November 2014: Wolfsburg 0-2 Everton 19 March 2015: Dynamo Kiev 5-2 Everton
Inter are now only two games away from winning their first trophy since the Coppa Italia in 2011.
Eight managers have failed to lead them to silverware in between Leonardo and Conte, who took charge last summer.
They have already enjoyed their best Serie A season in that time, finishing second, one point behind champions Juventus.


bbc--2020-08-10--British pair Konta and Watson beaten on return to action

Last updated on .From the section Tennis British pair Johanna Konta and Heather Watson both made losing returns to the WTA Tour with straight-set defeats at the Lexington Open in Kentucky .
The Briton needed medical attention early on but , after having her blood pressure and pulse checked and consulting the doctor , was able to return to court .
Watson struggled in her 6-2 6-1 loss at the hands of American Jennifer Brady .
Konta had also lost to her Czech Republic rival in Mexico in March in her final match before the tour was suspended because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four hours because of a rain storm and after surviving a break-point scare in the opening game of the match , which was played in extreme humidity , Konta appeared to be struggling with the conditions .
The 29-year-old has suffered similar issues in the past , notably at the 2016 US Open and at the Fed Cup last year .
She recovered to win both matches .
After the treatment , she gradually found her rhythm but was broken in the seventh game of the set as Bouzkova , 22 , went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the set .
Konta took an early 2-0 lead in the second set but Bouzkova broke back straight away .
The world number 15 started to struggle on her serve and her opponent eventually took advantage to go 5-4 up and serve out the match .
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Konta was only playing Bouzkova for the second time
Johanna Konta says she felt "lightheaded" after suffering from heart palpitations during her straight-set defeat at the Lexington Open.
Konta, seeded third on her WTA Tour return, was beaten 6-4 6-4 by world number 48 Marie Bouzkova in Kentucky.
The Briton needed medical attention early on but, after consultation with a doctor, was able to return to court.
"My heart rate shoots up for no reason," Konta, 29, said. "I wasn't gassing in any way in my lungs."
She continued: "It actually goes up and stays there so it makes me a bit lightheaded - I just needed to see the doctor and the physio.
"It was very high when they came out. I was having all the checks. I am as fit as a fiddle but it can happen. It took a while to settle down but then it did and I was able to concentrate on the tennis."
Konta had also lost to the Czech Republic's Bouzkova in Mexico in March in her final match before the tour was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
After play was delayed by four hours because of a rain storm and after surviving a break-point scare in the opening game of the match, which was played in extreme humidity, Konta appeared to be struggling with the conditions.
She has suffered similar issues in the past, notably at the 2016 US Open and at the Fed Cup last year. She recovered to win both matches.
"We don't know why it happens: it's been under stressful situations, in no-stress situations. We just don't know. It's been sporadic," Konta said.
"It's not ideal. I am going to have another ECG and see what protocols we can take. It's probably not going to happen again for another year or something. I'm not too worried, no."
British compatriot Heather Watson also made a losing return to the WTA Tour in Kentucky, beaten 6-2 6-1 by American Jennifer Brady.


bbc--2020-08-11--Belarus election: Opposition leader Tikhanovskaya fled 'for sake of her children'

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has said she had taken a `` very difficult decision '' to leave the country , after disputing an election she claimed was rigged .
Ms Tikhanovskaya said she did it for her children as protests continued for a second night .
One person has died .
She was `` safe '' now in Lithuania , the country 's foreign minister said .
Poll results gave President Alexander Lukashenko 80 % of the vote , but there have been numerous claims of fraud .
Violent clashes between police and protesters have broken out over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and there have been numerous reports of police brutality .
Ms Tikhanovskaya has galvanised the opposition , which presented a stronger than ever challenge to the autocratic Mr Lukashenko .
The 37-year-old announced her candidacy after her husband was arrested and blocked from registering for the vote .
But the 65-year-old president , who has ruled the former Soviet country since 1994 , has described opposition supporters as `` sheep '' controlled from abroad .
• Five things you might not know about Belarus • How protests shook up the election What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional video address to supporters ( in Russian ) recorded before her departure for Lithuania and posted on YouTube , Ms Tikhanovskaya said she had overestimated her own strength .
`` I thought that this campaign had really steeled me and given me so much strength that I could cope with anything , '' she said .
`` But I guess I 'm still the same weak woman that I was . ''
She said her decision to leave was taken `` completely independently '' and not influenced by anyone around her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' or `` hate '' her for it .
`` Not one life is worth what is happening now , '' she added .
`` Children are the most important things in our lives . ''
Ms Tikhanovskaya sent her children to Lithuania for safety before the election .
Earlier Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius tweeted about Ms Tikhanovskaya 's whereabouts after rumours that she had disappeared .
There had been concern for her on Monday but her campaign later said she was `` safe '' , without saying where .
Mr Linkevicius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained for seven hours in Belarus .
`` It appears she visited the electoral committee , submitted a complaint ... but she stayed , '' he said .
`` To [ say ] that she was visiting the electoral committee with a friendly visit would be too good .
She was detained .
`` The option to leave the country was found as the only rational [ one ] , I understand . ''
An associate of the opposition leader said she had been escorted from the country by the authorities as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her campaign manager , Maria Moroz , who was arrested on Friday evening .
Mr Linkevicius confirmed that the two women left the country together .
The election campaign saw the rise of Ms Tikhanovskaya , 37 , a former teacher who was a stay-at-home mother until she was thrust into the political spotlight .
President Lukashenko has dismissed Ms Tikhanovskaya as a `` poor little girl '' , manipulated by foreign `` puppet masters '' .
After the vote took place , her campaign said the results - which gave her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` did not correspond to reality '' and vowed to challenge `` numerous falsifications '' .
Ms Tikhanovskaya told reporters that she had in fact won the election , and called on the authorities to relinquish power peacefully .
Protests began as soon as polls closed .
However , Mr Lukashenko said he would respond robustly to the protests and not allow the country to be torn apart .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya went missing after lodging an official complaint about the election result .
She was quoted as saying `` I 've made my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whereabouts for many hours .
Now the foreign minister of neighbouring Lithuania says she is there - and safe .
How that happened is not clear yet .
On Monday , the KGB security service in Belarus claimed it foiled a plot to assassinate the opposition candidate - and make her a `` sacrificial lamb '' , for protesters .
At a news conference in Minsk , she seemed nervous , slightly unsure ; the same day she told the BBC she was scared .
The fact Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has fled , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests that have rocked Belarus for a second night - crowds clashing with riot police .
They are organised through social media - mainly Telegram - not by her campaign team and the candidate had not joined them in person .
She only ran for president after her activist husband was arrested - and for voters , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has always been a symbol of change , a route to that , rather than a leader .
Riot police fired rubber bullets , tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crackdown has shocked observers as many of these weapons had not been used in Belarus before the weekend .
Polish-based broadcaster Belsat TV aired footage of the police charging into the crowds .
Reports say some of the demonstrators fought back , throwing petrol bombs .
Protesters also tried to build barricades .
Officials say one demonstrator died when an explosive device went off in his hands - the first confirmed fatality since the clashes began .
A number of people were arrested .
One journalist was injured , her colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abdujalil Abdurasulov in Minsk says protesters were put in police vans , and the sound of beatings could be heard as the officers entered , and the people inside cried for help .
The scale of the protests and the violence used to disperse the crowds is unprecedented , and protesters are struggling to learn the whereabouts of missing friends and relatives , our correspondent adds .
Protests were also being held in other Belarusian cities .
The internet , which was `` significantly disrupted '' on election day , continued to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to online monitor NetBlocks .
In the last presidential election in 2015 , Mr Lukashenko was declared winner with 83.5 % of the vote .
There were no serious challengers and election observers reported problems in the counting and tabulation of votes .
Anger towards Mr Lukashenko 's government this time has been in part fuelled by its response to coronavirus .
The president has downplayed the outbreak , advising citizens to drink vodka and use saunas to fight the disease .
Belarus , which has a population of 9.5 million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 600 deaths .

After the 2010 election, state TV ran "confessions" from detained opposition activists that looked similar to what we saw on Tuesday. Many people I have spoken to in Minsk back Ms Tikhanovskaya all the way, saying she had no choice but to flee in order to protect her children, as her husband is in prison.


bbc--2020-08-11--Trump escorted out of briefing as man shot near White House

US President Donald Trump was escorted out of a news conference after Secret Service agents shot and wounded a man who claimed to be armed outside the White House .
The Secret Service said the incident happened one block from the compound , when an officer fired on the suspect who had run `` aggressively '' towards him .
An agent then walked on stage as Mr Trump was speaking and led him away .
The president returned minutes later to say the situation was under control .
The US Secret Service said the incident happened on Monday on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - outside the White House perimeter .
It said a 51-year-old man , who has not been identified , approached the officer , told him he had weapons and assumed a `` shooter 's stance '' , whereupon the officer shot him in the torso .
The Secret Service did not say whether the man was armed .
It added that `` both the officer and the suspect were then taken to hospital '' , and that `` at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached '' .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors to the briefing room were locked with the journalists inside .
When the president returned nine minutes later , he said : `` Law enforcement shot someone , it seems to be the suspect . ''
He said he did not know if the person harboured any ill intentions towards him .
`` It might not have had anything to do with me , '' the president said .
A journalist asked Mr Trump if he was rattled by the events .
He replied : `` Do I seem rattled ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunate that this is the world , but the world 's always been a dangerous place .
It 's not something that 's unique . ''
The District of Columbia fire department said a man suffered serious or possibly critical injuries , according to the Associated Press .
The news agency also reported that authorities were looking into whether the individual has a background of mental illness .

The Secret Service did not say whether the man was armed. It added that "both the officer and the suspect were then taken to hospital", and that "at no time during this incident was the White House complex breached".


bbc--2020-08-11--Beirut explosion: Protests continue despite government's resignation

Protests have taken place for a third consecutive night in Lebanon 's capital , Beirut , amid mounting anger over the devastating explosion a week ago that reportedly killed more than 200 people .
Clashes broke out near the parliament building , with demonstrators throwing fireworks and police firing tear gas .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab blamed the blast on years of endemic corruption but avoided taking responsibility .
A fire is believed to have caused the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored for six years without safety measures at Beirut 's port .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensive damage over much of the rest of the city , leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless .
Lebanon was already struggling with an unprecedented economic crisis before the disaster , with families pushed into poverty and hunger .
Since October , protesters have been demanding the complete overhaul of the political system , which they blame for government corruption and mismanagement .
More on the explosion in Beirut • The inferno and the mystery ship • 'We do n't have dreams any more' • What we know about the blast Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office in January with the support of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies following the resignation of the previous government , blamed last week 's blast on the entrenched political elite .
`` Their corruption created this tragedy , '' he said in a speech on Monday night .
`` Between us and change stands a thick wall protected by their dirty tactics . ''
Mr Diab said that his caretaker administration would `` follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beirut says it is unlikely the mass resignation of the government will remove much heat from the protests , as Lebanon 's problems are only deepening .
A new prime minister will have to be chosen using the same system of sectarian politics at the root of many people 's complaints , our correspondent adds .
Meanwhile , the recovery operation is continuing on the ground in Beirut .
The UN said on Tuesday that the World Food Programme would be sending 50,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Beirut to `` stabilise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food shortage in the country '' , with 17,500 tonnes arriving within two weeks .
The head of the agency , David Beasley , warned on Monday that he was very concerned that Lebanon could run out of bread in about two-and-a-half weeks because 85 % of the country 's grain was usually delivered through Beirut 's port .
Mr Beasley said it was urgent to get the port up and running , and that he believed it could be temporarily operational in two to three weeks .
A port official noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and that on Monday night a ship docked there for the first time since the explosion .

The UN said on Tuesday that the World Food Programme would be sending 50,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Beirut to "stabilise the national supply and ensure there is no food shortage in the country", with 17,500 tonnes arriving within two weeks.


bbc--2020-08-11--Stunning 'reverse waterfall' filmed near Sydney

High winds and torrential rain on the New South Wales south coast in Australia have resulted in a spectacular sight @ @ @ @ @ National Park being blown in reverse .

High winds and torrential rain on the New South Wales south coast in Australia have resulted in a spectacular sight - waterfalls in the Royal National Park being blown in reverse.


bbc--2020-08-11--Beirut explosion: 'Who could replace her?'

Sahar Fares , a firefighter medic , was called to the scene of a fire in Beirut .
She died @ @ @ @ @ followed .
The BBC 's Quentin Sommerville spoke to her fiancé Gilbert Karaan , who @ @ @ @ @ .

Sahar Fares, a firefighter medic, was called to the scene of a fire in Beirut. She died in the massive explosion that followed.
The BBC spoke to her fiancé Gilbert Karaan, who is now calling for answers.
Video by Ghassan Ibraheem, Colm O'Molloy and Larissa Kennelly


bbc--2020-08-11--Coronavirus: Putin says vaccine has been approved for use

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a locally developed vaccine for Covid-19 has been given regulatory approval after less than two months of testing on humans .
Mr Putin said the vaccine had passed all the required checks , adding that his daughter had already been given it .
Officials have said they have plans to start a mass vaccination in October .
Experts have raised concerns about the speed of Russia 's work , suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners .
Amid fears that safety could have been compromised , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for producing a vaccine against Covid-19 .
The Russian vaccine is not among the WHO 's list of six vaccines that have reached phase three clinical trials , which involve more widespread testing in humans .
• Coronavirus vaccine : When will we have one ?
Calling it a world first , President Putin said the vaccine , developed by Moscow 's Gamaleya Institute , offered `` sustainable immunity '' against the coronavirus .
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said the vaccine had `` proven to be highly effective and safe '' , hailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humankind 's victory '' over Covid-19 .
Last week , the Russian government announced it was preparing to begin mass vaccinations after saying it had carried out successful trials of the vaccine .
More than 100 vaccines around the world are in early development , with some of those being tested on people in clinical trials .
Despite rapid progress , most experts think a vaccine will not become widely available until mid-2021 .
`` Sometimes individual researchers claim they have found something , which is of course , as such , great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters on 4 August .
`` But between finding or having a clue of maybe having a vaccine that works , and having gone through all the stages , is a big difference . ''

Coronavirus: Putin says vaccine has been approved for use Published 11 August 2020
Image source, Reuters Image caption, President Putin said one of his daughters had been vaccinated against the virus
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a locally developed vaccine for Covid-19 has been given regulatory approval after less than two months of testing on humans.
Mr Putin said the vaccine had passed all the required checks, adding that his daughter had already been given it.
Officials have said they plan to start mass vaccination in October.
Experts have raised concerns about the speed of Russia's work, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners.
Amid fears that safety could have been compromised, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged Russia last week to follow international guidelines for producing a vaccine against Covid-19.
On Tuesday, the WHO said it had been in talks with Russian authorities about undertaking a review of the vaccine, which has been named Sputnik-V.
Currently, the Russian vaccine is not among the WHO's list of six vaccines that have reached phase three clinical trials, which involve more widespread testing in humans.
More than 100 vaccines around the world are in early development, with some of those being tested on people in clinical trials.
Despite rapid progress, most experts think any vaccine would not become widely available until mid-2021.
What did President Putin say about the vaccine?
Calling it a world first, President Putin said the vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, offered "sustainable immunity" against the coronavirus.
He said he knew the vaccine was "quite effective", without giving further details, and stressed that it had passed "all needed checks".
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Coronavirus vaccine: How close are you to getting one?
Mr Putin also said the vaccine had been given to one of his daughters, who was feeling fine despite a brief temperature increase.
"I think in this sense she took part in the experiment," Mr Putin said, without specifying which of his two daughters had received the vaccine.
"After the first injection her temperature was 38 degrees, the next day 37.5, and that was it. After the second injection her temperature went up slightly, then back to normal."
It is rare for President Putin to talk publicly about his daughters - named Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova in media reports - and their lives have been shrouded in secrecy.
What do we know about the vaccine?
Russian scientists said early-stage trials of the vaccine had been completed and the results were a success.
The Russian vaccine uses adapted strains of the adenovirus, a virus that usually causes the common cold, to trigger an immune response.
Image source, EPA Image caption, In July Russian scientists announced that early-stage trials of a vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute had been completed
But the vaccine's approval by Russian regulators comes before the completion of a larger study involving thousands of people, known as a phase-three trial.
Experts consider these trials an essential part of the testing process.
Despite this, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Tuesday the vaccine had "proven to be highly effective and safe", hailing it as a big step towards "humankind's victory" over Covid-19.
Russian officials said the vaccine had been named Sputnik-V, in honour of the world's first satellite. Sputnik is the Russian word for satellite.
They have likened the search for a vaccine to the space race contested by the Soviet Union and the US during the Cold War.
Russia has previously been accused by the UK, US and Canada of seeking to steal research related to Covid-19.
Russia's vaccine data cannot be verified
Russia is fast-tracking its Covid-19 vaccine at an extraordinary pace. It began the first clinical trials on 17 June, months after teams in China, the US and Europe.
Unlike other groups, the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow has not released any safety or immunity data from its studies. This makes it impossible for independent scientists to make an assessment.
President Putin is keen to send a clear message to the world regarding the prowess of Russian science. But simply being first is not enough.
No Covid-19 vaccine being developed has yet been shown to offer protection against coronavirus. That central question remains unanswered.
What reaction has there been to Russia's vaccine efforts?
The progress Russia says it has made on a coronavirus vaccine has been met with scepticism by health officials and media outlets in the US and Europe.
Last month, America's leading infectious diseases expert Dr Anthony Fauci expressed doubts about the rigour of the testing process in fast-track vaccine efforts in Russia and China.
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier has echoed those sentiments, telling reporters on 4 August: "Sometimes individual researchers claim they have found something, which is of course, as such, great news.
"But between finding or having a clue of maybe having a vaccine that works, and having gone through all the stages, is a big difference."
Meanwhile the Moscow-based Association of Clinical Trials Organizations (Acto), which represents the world's top drug companies in Russia, urged the health ministry to postpone approval until after phase-three trials.


bbc--2020-08-11--Hong Kong paper Apple Daily defiant after arrest

Hong Kong 's Apple Daily newspaper has vowed to `` fight on '' after the arrest of owner Jimmy Lai under a controversial security law imposed by Beijing .
In extraordinary scenes streamed by the paper on Monday a handcuffed Mr Lai was led through his newsroom as nearly 200 police officers raided the building .
The pro-democracy activist was among 10 people arrested on charges including colluding with foreign forces .
The move sparked global condemnation of the escalating crackdown on dissent .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China had `` eviscerated Hong Kong ’ s freedoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's front page showed an image of Mr Lai in handcuffs with the headline : `` Apple Daily must fight on . ''
In some parts of the city Hong Kongers were seen queuing for a copy as early as 02:30 as vendors reported selling out of the popular tabloid founded by Mr Lai .
The paper , which offers a rare and unvarnished take on Hong Kong and China 's leadership , said more than 500,000 copies were printed , up from the usual 100,000 .
Mr Lai , who is viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong for his direct criticism of Beijing ’ s top leadership , is the highest-profile detainee under use of the new legislation so far .
But on the mainland , he has long been labelled a traitor .
Hours after his arrest prominent youth activist Agnes Chow and Wilson Li , a freelance journalist , were also arrested under the same law .
The arrests renewed criticism from Washington , London and the United Nations about heightened attacks on the city ’ s freedoms .
`` I ’ m deeply troubled by reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong ’ s draconian National Security Law , '' tweeted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
“ Further proof that the CCP has eviscerated Hong Kong ’ s freedoms and eroded the rights of its people , ” he wrote .
Similar sentiments were expressed in Britain , which has already said it will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and offer a pathway to citizenship for many of the city 's residents , in the light of the new law .
`` This is further evidence that the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretext to silence opposition , '' a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Reuters .
`` The Hong Kong authorities must uphold the rights and freedoms of its people . ''
The controversial security law introduced to Hong Kong in June had already prompted some of the city ’ s highest-profile activists to flee overseas in anticipation of a broader clampdown on the city ’ s freedoms .
Speaking from London , pro-democracy activist Nathan Law told the BBC the arrests were `` definitely a retaliation towards the sanctioning from the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US had earlier sanctioned 11 Chinese officials and allies in Hong Kong - including Hong Kong 's Chief Executive Carrie Lam - for curtailing political freedoms .
Days later Beijing responded with sanctions against 11 US citizens .
Mr Law also described it as the latest step `` to quash the freedom of Hong Kong '' , silence Hong Kongers and create a larger `` politics of fear '' .
In another sign of the growing curbs on Hong Kong 's media , Chinese officials issued a stark warning to the city 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemning Monday 's raids and arrests .
• China 's new law : Why is Hong Kong worried ?
The Office of the Commissioners of the Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong told the FCC to `` stop defaming the implementation '' of the new law `` under the pretext of the freedom of the press '' , state media Xinhua reported .
`` The FCC hastily jumped out to exonerate Lai , which is to help and collaborate with anti-China forces to mess up Hong Kong '' , it said , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the authorities to monitor the operation of the law and `` amend it if necessary to ensure there is no scope for its misuse to restrict human rights guaranteed by international law and the Basic Law of Hong Kong '' .
Human Rights Watch said the attack on Apple Daily may also be an attempt to limit the paper 's circulation .
`` Under Xi Jinping , the Communist Party has long shown itself afraid of public opinion on the mainland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security law to try to smash Hong Kong 's independent voices and settle scores with longtime critics , '' said HRW Asia director Brad Adams .
Pro-democracy protest flared in Hong Kong last year over plans to allow extradition from the territory to mainland China .
While this proposal was eventually withdrawn , the demonstrations carried on , to reflect widespread demands for democratic reforms .

Similar sentiments were expressed in Britain, which has already said it will suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and offer a pathway to citizenship for many of the city's residents, in the light of the new law.


bbc--2020-08-11--Apple boss Tim Cook joins the billionaires club

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has moved into the billionaire club as the tech firm 's share price continues to soar .
Apple 's market value has been on the rise following strong results and the upbeat outlook for tech giants .
Mr Cook owns 847,969 shares directly and took home more than $ 125m ( £96m ) last year as part of his pay package .
Last week , Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg saw his personal wealth hit $ 100bn ( £76bn ) .
Technology companies including Apple , Facebook and Amazon have seen their profits grow during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Silicon-Valley based Apple is now closing in on the milestone of being the first company to be valued at $ 2tn .
Two years ago it become the first company to be valued at $ 1tn .
Mr Cook took over from Apple founder Steve Jobs nine years ago .
His billionaire status is based on the shares he owns and the compensation he has been paid at Apple , and calculated by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index .
In 2015 , he said he planned to give most of his fortune away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth of Apple shares .
Facebook 's Zuckerberg has made a similar pledge to give away the majority of his shares .
Mr Zuckerberg , along with Amazon 's Jeff Bezos and Tesla 's Elon Musk , accrued their wealth from the huge stakes in the companies they founded .
In comparison , Mr Cook 's stake in Apple is miniscule at about 0.02 % .
Based on US federal and state taxes for California , Mr Cook would face a tax rate of just over 50 % , as a top-bracket earner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new products as groundbreaking as its iPhone , the company has still thrived since Mr Cook took over the reins .
He has overseen the development of devices such as the iPhone X and Apple Watch , along with new services like Apple Music .

Silicon-Valley based Apple is now closing in on the milestone of being the first company to be valued at $2tn. Two years ago it become the first company to be valued at $1tn.


bbc--2020-08-11--Trump: Tech giants challenge US foreign worker crackdown

Some of America 's biggest tech firms on Monday backed a challenge to President Donald Trump 's restrictions on foreign workers .
Amazon , Apple and Facebook are among the companies arguing that the temporary visa bans will damage US firms .
Mr Trump imposed restrictions on some foreign workers to safeguard jobs for Americans during the virus pandemic .
Many of those affected by the measures are technology workers from India .
Microsoft , Netflix , Twitter and other big technology companies also backed the lawsuit , which was filed last month by major US business associations .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurt India most Those industry groups included the National Association of Manufacturers , which represents 14,000 firms , and America 's biggest business association , the US Chamber of Commerce .
The brief argued that the visa restrictions , which were announced in June , will hurt US businesses .
The companies said Mr Trump ’ s proclamation was based on a “ false assumption ” that it would protect American jobs as it would mean they may now have to employ people in other countries .
The brief said : “ Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India , among others , are pouncing at the opportunity to attract well-trained , innovative individuals .
“ And American businesses are scrambling to adjust , hiring needed talent to work in locations outside our nation ’ s borders , ” it continued .
They also contended that it could do irreparable damage to American businesses , workers and further hurt the already struggling US economy .
Mr Trump 's proclamation suspended the entry of a range of foreign workers until the end of this year .
Shortly after the announcement in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemned the move .
Facebook said the order `` uses the Covid-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration '' and warned : `` In reality , the move to keep highly skilled talent out of the US will make our country 's recovery even more difficult '' .
Apple boss Tim Cook wrote on Twitter that he was `` deeply disappointed '' by the new proclamation , while Sundar Pichai , head of Alphabet - the parent company of Google and YouTube - said immigration was critical to the success of his company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received more than 3,000 H-1B visas last year - more than any other firm - called the order `` short-sighted '' .
The Trump administration said the freeze would impact about 525,000 people .
That included an estimated 170,000 people blocked by the decision to extend a ban on some new green cards - which grants permanent residence to foreigners .
The White House first announced it was halting those visas in April .
Existing visa holders are not expected to be affected under the new restrictions .
The order also applies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted to Indian technology workers .
Critics say those visas have allowed Silicon Valley companies to outsource American jobs to lower-paid foreign employees .
Last year , there were about 225,000 applications competing for 85,000 spots available through the H1-B visa programme .

Apple boss Tim Cook wrote on Twitter that he was "deeply disappointed" by the new proclamation, while Sundar Pichai, head of Alphabet - the parent company of Google and YouTube - said immigration was critical to the success of his company and the country.


bbc--2020-08-11--French activist who worked with Guatemala indigenous people shot dead

A French human rights worker who helped indigenous people in Guatemala has been shot dead .
Benoît Maria , who headed a farming NGO , was killed while driving though an indigenous area about 160km ( 100 miles ) north-west of Guatemala city on Monday .
It is unclear who killed him or why .
His group , Agronomes et Veterinaires Sans Frontieres ( AVSF ) , said it was a `` cowardly '' attack .
The French embassy urged officials to ensure `` justice can be done quickly '' .
`` It is with great sadness that we confirm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benoit Maria , '' AVSF said in a statement .
`` He was murdered ... while on his way to his workplace in indigenous communities .
For more than 20 years [ he ] had been in charge of ... defending the rights of peasants and indigenous communities . ''
Mr Maria was driving a van near the indigenous village of San Antonio Ilotenango when he was attacked .
In a statement , the French embassy in Guatemala said : it was in contact with local authorities to `` ensure that this crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the French embassy , Mr Maria worked to improve the lot of the most disadvantaged people in the west of the country , '' the statement added .
Indigenous Maya people make up about half of Guatemala 's population , but rights campaigners say they face enduring inequality and discrimination .

"He was murdered... while on his way to his workplace in indigenous communities. For more than 20 years [he] had been in charge of... defending the rights of peasants and indigenous communities."


bbc--2020-08-11--Black-ish episode airs two years after being pulled for being 'partisan'

An episode of hit US sitcom Black-ish , which was pulled by ABC over concerns that it was too anti-Trump , has become available to watch for the first time .
The network dropped Please , Baby , Please in 2018 because it was worried about the script 's `` partisanship '' , creator Kenya Barris said at the time .
Barris has now said he went back to ABC in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests to ask it to reconsider .
`` We hope it inspires some much-needed conversation , '' Barris said .
`` [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were grappling with then or how it led to where we are now , but conversations about where we want our country to go moving forward and , most importantly , how we get there together . ''
The Golden Globe-winning Black-ish follows the lives of an upper-middle-class African-American family led by Andre `` Dre '' Johnson , played by Anthony Anderson , and Rainbow Johnson , played by Tracee Ellis Ross .
It 's known for tackling social issues alongside personal ones .
However , Please , Baby , Please supposedly contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackled before , at a time when ABC was courting more conservative viewers .
The episode sees Dre improvising a bedtime story to his young son , in which he expresses many of his concerns about the state of the US a year after Donald Trump - whom he calls `` the Shady King '' - was elected .
Another scene finds Dre and his eldest son arguing over the rights of NFL players to take a knee during the national anthem .
At the time , Barris and ABC said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to be seen .
`` One of the things that has always made Black-ish so special is how it deftly examines delicate social issues in a way that simultaneously entertains and educates , '' ABC said in a statement at the time .
`` However , on this episode there were creative differences we were unable to resolve . ''
In a statement on Instagram on Monday , Barris gave his own explanation of the story and the decision 's reversal .
'Grappling with the state of our country' '' We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of a year that left us , like many Americans , grappling with the state of our country and anxious about its future , '' he wrote .
`` Those feelings poured onto the page , becoming 22 minutes of television that I was , and still am , incredibly proud of .
Please , Baby , Please did n't make it to air that season and , while much has been speculated about its contents , the episode has never been seen publicly… until now . ''
The episode has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , like ABC , is owned by Disney .
Barris said Disney TV accommodated his request to make the episode available following the re-airing of episodes titled Juneteenth and Hope in the wake of renewed Black Lives Matter protests .
The dispute over Please , Baby , Please led Barris to leave ABC Studios and sign a new deal with Netflix .
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If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"[Conversation] not only about what we were grappling with then or how it led to where we are now, but conversations about where we want our country to go moving forward and, most importantly, how we get there together."


bbc--2020-08-11--UK employment falls by biggest amount in over a decade

Employment in the UK fell by the largest amount in over a decade between April and June , official figures show .
The number of people in work decreased by 220,000 on the quarter , said the Office for National Statistics .
This was the largest quarterly decrease since May to July 2009 , the depths of the financial crisis .
The youngest workers , oldest workers and those in manual occupations were the worst hit during the pandemic , the ONS added .
The figures do not include the millions of people who are furloughed , those on zero-hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on temporary unpaid leave from a job , as they still count as employed .
As such , they do not capture the full impact of the pandemic .
Similarly , the UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9 % , largely unchanged on the year and the previous quarter .
Jonathan Athow , deputy national statistician at the ONS , said : `` The groups of people most affected are younger workers , 24 and under , or older workers and those in more routine or less skilled jobs .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder for these groups to find a new job or get into a job as easily as other workers . ''
How bad is this likely to get ?
The UK economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic , but unemployment has not surged as much as feared because large numbers of firms have furloughed staff .
However , analysts said unemployment was set to worsen in coming months as the scheme wound down , warning of a looming `` cliff-edge '' and a `` lull before the storm '' .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already planning job cuts with 140,000 redundancies announced in June alone .
According to the ONS , the number of average hours worked continued to fall in April-June , reaching record lows both on the year and on the quarter .
The number of people claiming universal credit - a benefit for those on low pay as well as unemployed people - rose to 2.7 million in July , up by 117 % since March .
Theatre technician Charlotte Baker , 29 , is out of work as a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in September last year and was furloughed in March .
In June , she was made redundant , even though she could have been kept on furlough .
Now management at the Fairfield Halls has said the venue will not reopen until April next year , forcing her to contemplate a possible career change .
`` It 's definitely an uphill struggle and it 's proving harder than previous ones , '' she told the BBC .
`` It 's hard to have a positive outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing a carpentry course , but to obtain the necessary City and Guilds qualification would require her to spend £5,000 on training .
`` It 's a mountain to climb .
I would n't mind climbing that mountain if it 's something that I 'm passionate about , but I 'm not sure , '' she says .
`` I 'm hoping to make a decision by the end of August . ''
• Jobless in the pandemic : 'It 's hard to stay positive' How is this affecting people who still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were falls in pay for those still working , with regular pay levels down 0.2 % compared with a year earlier - the first negative pay growth since records began in 2001 .
The number of people on zero-hours contracts also increased to more than one million .
`` Early indicators for July 2020 suggest that the number of employees in the UK on payrolls is down around 730,000 compared with March 2020 , '' said the ONS .
It believes the main reason this is more extreme than the fall in employment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job but are not doing any paid work at the moment .
• What is redundancy and what are my rights ?
• Which sectors are hiring and which are cutting back ?
It added that a large number of people were estimated to be temporarily away from work , including furloughed workers - approximately 7.5 million in June 2020 , with more than three million of these being away for three months or more .
The number of workers covered by the furlough scheme has since risen to almost 10 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sharp fall in the number of self-employed people between April and June .
It said there were 4.76 million self-employed people , 14.5 % of all people in employment , a record 238,000 fewer than the previous quarter .
Is it all bad news ?
If you 're a glass-half-full sort of person , there is some less than awful news in the latest labour market figures .
The number of vacancies , for example , rose from its record low by 10 % in May to July as lockdown restrictions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a record drop in the second quarter from April to June , but in July it was down by only 3 % , less than half the fall in May and June .
However , there are some less jolly signs .
The number on employer payrolls had only dropped marginally in the previous two months , but saw a much bigger drop in July , down 114,000 , in spite of the reopening of many shops , restaurants and pubs .
And employers are increasingly making employees bear the risk that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do , with the number of zero-hours contracts rising above one million for the first time .
And then there 's the record drop in self-employment .
And all this in spite of the government spending more than £40bn trying to protect employment through furlough and self-employed income support .
Unemployment tends to peak well after economic shocks have been and gone : this time will be no different .
What are economists saying ?
Ruth Gregory , senior UK economist at Capital Economics , said the latest employment figures were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She added : `` The cracks evident in the latest batch of labour market data are likely to soon turn into a chasm , with the unemployment rate rising from 3.9 % to around 7 % by mid-2021 . ''
She said further rises in unemployment in the coming months were `` all but inevitable as the furlough scheme unwinds '' .
Capital Economics forecasts that the unemployment rate will peak at 7 % in mid-2021 and remain above its pre-pandemic level of 4 % until the end of 2022 .
Ms Gregory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be `` slow going '' .
Jeremy Thomson-Cook , chief economist at Equals Money , said the figures showed the true level of those out of work had been `` very effectively lowered by the government 's furlough scheme '' and that the worst lay ahead .
`` Unfortunately , the end of the furlough scheme will present a cliff-edge , statistically and economically , for those currently relying on government support to make up their wages . ''
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said : `` Today 's labour market stats make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the furlough and self-employed support schemes , are working to safeguard millions of jobs and livelihoods that could otherwise have been lost . ''
He said the government could not protect every job , but it did have `` a clear plan to protect , support and create jobs to ensure that nobody is left without hope '' .
Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said it was `` extremely worrying '' that older workers , the self-employed and part-time workers had been hit hardest .
`` Labour has repeatedly warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to job losses .
These figures confirm what we feared - Britain is in the midst of a jobs crisis . ''
Have you lost your job because of the pandemic ?
Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
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Boris Johnson warns 'long, long way to go' for UK economy Published 11 August 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Boris Johnson has warned the UK has a "long, long way to go" before the economy improves, after official figures showed the largest drop in employment in over a decade.
"Clearly there are going to be bumpy months ahead and a long, long way to go," the Prime Minister said.
However, he said parts of the economy were "showing great resilience".
Between April and June, the number of people in work fell by 220,000, the Office for National Statistics said.
The drop in the number of people employed was the largest quarterly decrease since May to July 2009, the depths of the financial crisis.
Mr Johnson said he had "absolutely no doubt" that government schemes would "help this country get through it", adding: "it will get through it stronger than ever before".
The youngest workers, oldest workers and those in manual occupations were the worst hit during the pandemic, the ONS added.
The figures do not include the millions of people who are furloughed, those on zero-hours contracts but not getting shifts, or people on temporary unpaid leave from a job, as they still count as employed.
As such, they do not capture the full impact of the pandemic. Similarly, the UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, largely unchanged on the year and the previous quarter.
Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at the ONS, said: "The groups of people most affected are younger workers, 24 and under, or older workers and those in more routine or less skilled jobs.
"This is concerning, as it's harder for these groups to find a new job or get into a job as easily as other workers."
How bad is this likely to get?
The UK economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, but unemployment has not surged as much as feared because large numbers of firms have furloughed staff.
However, analysts said unemployment was set to worsen in coming months as the scheme wound down, warning of a looming "cliff-edge" and a "lull before the storm".
From restaurants to retailers, many UK businesses are already planning job cuts with 140,000 redundancies announced in June alone.
According to the ONS, the number of average hours worked continued to fall in April-June, reaching record lows both on the year and on the quarter.
The number of people claiming universal credit - a benefit for those on low pay as well as unemployed people - rose to 2.7 million in July, up by 117% since March.
Ask me
How are ordinary people coping?
Theatre technician Charlotte Baker, 29, is out of work as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
She started a new job at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in September last year and was furloughed in March.
In June, she was made redundant, even though she could have been kept on furlough.
Now management at the Fairfield Halls has said the venue will not reopen until April next year, forcing her to contemplate a possible career change.
"It's definitely an uphill struggle and it's proving harder than previous ones," she told the BBC. "It's hard to have a positive outlook."
Charlotte has been looking into doing a carpentry course, but to obtain the necessary City and Guilds qualification would require her to spend £5,000 on training.
"It's a mountain to climb. I wouldn't mind climbing that mountain if it's something that I'm passionate about, but I'm not sure," she says.
"I'm hoping to make a decision by the end of August."
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Julie Morris explains what it is like to be job hunting in your late 50s during coronavirus
How is this affecting people who still have jobs?
Between April and June there were falls in pay for those still working, with regular pay levels down 0.2% compared with a year earlier - the first negative pay growth since records began in 2001.
The number of people on zero-hours contracts also increased to more than one million.
"Early indicators for July 2020 suggest that the number of employees in the UK on payrolls is down around 730,000 compared with March 2020," said the ONS.
It believes the main reason this is more extreme than the fall in employment is because of workers who have a job but are not doing any paid work at the moment.
It added that a large number of people were estimated to be temporarily away from work, including furloughed workers - approximately 7.5 million in June 2020, with more than three million of these being away for three months or more.
The number of workers covered by the furlough scheme has since risen to 9.6 million by 9 August, and has yet to record a fall in any week since it began, separate statistics published on Tuesday by HM Revenue and Customs show.
The ONS said there had also been a sharp fall in the number of self-employed people between April and June.
It said there were 4.76 million self-employed people, 14.5% of all people in employment, a record 238,000 fewer than the previous quarter.
Is it all bad news?
If you're a glass-half-full sort of person, there is some less than awful news in the latest labour market figures.
The number of vacancies, for example, rose from its record low by 10% in May to July as lockdown restrictions were eased. The number of hours worked saw a record drop in the second quarter from April to June, but in July it was down by only 3%, less than half the fall in May and June.
However, there are some less jolly signs. The number on employer payrolls had only dropped marginally in the previous two months, but saw a much bigger drop in July, down 114,000, in spite of the reopening of many shops, restaurants and pubs.
And employers are increasingly making employees bear the risk that there isn't enough work for them to do, with the number of zero-hours contracts rising above one million for the first time.
And then there's the record drop in self-employment. And all this in spite of the government spending more than £40bn trying to protect employment through furlough and self-employed income support.
Unemployment tends to peak well after economic shocks have been and gone: this time will be no different.
What are economists saying?
Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at Capital Economics, said the latest employment figures were "the lull before the storm".
She added: "The cracks evident in the latest batch of labour market data are likely to soon turn into a chasm, with the unemployment rate rising from 3.9% to around 7% by mid-2021."
She said further rises in unemployment in the coming months were "all but inevitable as the furlough scheme unwinds".
Capital Economics forecasts that the unemployment rate will peak at 7% in mid-2021 and remain above its pre-pandemic level of 4% until the end of 2022.
Ms Gregory said this suggested that the economic recovery would be "slow going".
Jeremy Thomson-Cook, chief economist at Equals Money, said the figures showed the true level of those out of work had been "very effectively lowered by the government's furlough scheme" and that the worst lay ahead.
"Unfortunately, the end of the furlough scheme will present a cliff-edge, statistically and economically, for those currently relying on government support to make up their wages."
What's the political reaction?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the figures showed that the government's "unprecedented support measures" were working to "safeguard millions of jobs and livelihoods that could otherwise have been lost".
Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said it was "extremely worrying" that older workers, the self-employed and part-time workers had been hit hardest.
"Labour has repeatedly warned the government their one-size-fits-all approach will lead to job losses. These figures confirm what we feared - Britain is in the midst of a jobs crisis."
Have you lost your job because of the pandemic? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.


bbc--2020-08-11--South Africa: Gabola church 'connects with God by drinking alcohol'

There are many different churches around the world but there are few like South Africa 's Gabola church .
Gabola @ @ @ @ @ South Africa ’ s SeTswana language .
Gabola church believes its congregation connects with God @ @ @ @ @ alcohol during services .
South Africa is currently enduring its second period of a Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ to ease the burden on hospitals during coronavirus .
So how is the church coping @ @ @ @ @ BBC visited the church and spoke to its founder , Pope Tsietsi Makiti .

There are many different churches around the world but there are few like South Africa's Gabola church.
Gabola means ‘drinking’ in South Africa’s SeTswana language. Gabola church believes its congregation connects with God through consuming large amounts of alcohol during services.
South Africa is currently enduring its second period of a Covid-19 alcohol ban in an effort to ease the burden on hospitals during coronavirus. So how is the church coping during these dry days?
BBC visited the church and spoke to its founder, Pope Tsietsi Makiti.
Produced by Kyla Herrmannsen
Filmed and edited by Christian Parkinson


bbc--2020-08-11--Apple Daily: The Hong Kong newspaper that pushed the boundary

It started off as a local Hong Kong tabloid , known for its sometimes sensational headlines and paparazzi photographs .
But over its 25 years in print , the Apple Daily has become something rarer - a newspaper unafraid to be openly critical of the Chinese state and a standard bearer for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong .
And now , a little over a month since China imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong , the Apple Daily has become a target .
Police raided the paper 's offices on Monday and arrested its owner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges including colluding with foreign forces .
The raid on the newspaper has raised fears of a broader crackdown on media freedom in Hong Kong - and for the future of one of the few papers unafraid to push the boundaries .
Apple Daily was established in 1995 by Mr Lai , reportedly named after the forbidden fruit in the Bible .
`` If Eve had n't bitten the forbidden fruit , there would be no sin , no right and wrong , and of course - no news , '' Mr Lai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an earlier interview .
The paper established itself as a tabloid and became known for its sensationalist articles and bold catchy headlines , focusing on crime and entertainment news .
It strayed sometimes into unethical territory .
In 1998 it published a report about a Hong Kong man who was photographed soliciting prostitutes on the Chinese mainland shortly after his wife committed suicide .
It was later revealed that a reporter from Apple Daily had paid the man money to pose for the photograph .
But over the years the paper evolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hong Kong began experiencing a series of social movements in the early 2000s which saw people resisting integration with the mainland .
That resistance opened up the market of political news for Apple Daily , according to Dr Joyce Nip , a senior lecturer in Chinese media studies at the University of Sydney , and gave the paper a unique advantage when other mainstream news outlets began `` toeing the line of [ one country , two systems ] '' .
`` Apple Daily generally disapproves of the Beijing political system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong , both in its news agenda and in its [ framing ] of the news , '' said Dr Nip .
And while the paper continued to cover soft news and entertainment , it increasingly produced political pieces and cemented its position as an unapologetically pro-democracy paper .
On 1 July 2003 , the anniversary of Hong Kong 's return to China from British rule , a large-scale rally had been organised against the administration of the then Chief Executive , Tung Chee-hwa .
Apple Daily was vocal in its support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` No to Tung Chee-hwa '' in its headline .
The paper 's reporters are typically barred from covering news in mainland China and none were permitted to cover the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games .
In 2011 , when Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei was arrested by Beijing authorities , Apple Daily 's headline declared : `` Beijing politics rapes Ai Weiwei . ''
• China 's new law : Why is Hong Kong worried ?
• It spells the death knell for Hong Kong : Jimmy Lai In 2019 , Apple Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Award for its reporting on Liu Xia , the wife of the prominent Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo , who died while serving an 11-year sentence for `` subversion '' .
The paper 's criticism of the Chinese government and pro-establishment figures in Hong Kong reportedly resulted in frequent advertising boycotts .
'Kill the chicken to scare the monkey' And then , this week , the paper saw the arrest of its own founder , Mr Lai , and a handful of other media figures and activists , under the sweeping new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The sight of more than a hundred police men raiding the newsroom was really shocking , '' said Professor Keith Richburg , the director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong .
`` I think it was entirely intended to scare [ other media outlets ] .
In Chinese there 's a saying , 'Kill the chicken to scare the monkey ' .
Apple Daily in this case was the chicken and we are the monkeys .
It was a very dramatic show of force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the paper is not holding back .
In Tuesday 's edition it doubled down on its criticism , accusing the police of `` blatantly bypass [ ing ] the law and abusing their power '' during the raid of its offices .
It is not clear now what lies ahead for the paper .
Mr Lai 's arrest , together with that of the paper 's senior editors , `` takes away leadership of the paper , which will create difficulty for its operation '' , said Dr Nip .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to operate .
It is certainly not backing down yet .
`` Hong Kong 's press freedom is now hanging by a thread , but our staff will remain fully committed to our duty to defend the freedom of the press , '' the paper said in a statement .

In an interview with the BBC before he was jailed, Lai said he would not give in to intimidation."If they can induce fear in you, that's the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way and they know it," he said.