bbc--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: Trial begins to see if dogs can 'sniff out' virus

A UK trial to see whether specialist medical sniffer dogs can detect coronavirus in humans is set to begin .
The dogs are already trained to detect odours of certain cancers , malaria and Parkinson 's disease by the charity Medical Detection Dogs .
The first phase of the trial will be led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , along with the charity and Durham University .
It has been backed with £500,000 of government funding .
Innovation minister Lord Bethell said he hoped the dogs could provide `` speedy results '' as part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dogs could help 'sniff out ' coronavirus • Who is being tested in the UK ?
The trial will explore whether the `` Covid dogs '' - made up of Labradors and cocker spaniels - can spot the virus in humans from odour samples before symptoms appear .
It will establish whether so-called bio-detection dogs , which could each screen up to 250 people per hour , could be used as a new early warning measure to detect Covid-19 in the future .
The first phase will involve NHS staff in London hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and those who are uninfected .
Samples of breath and body odour could come from a number of sources , including used face masks .
Six dogs - Norman , Digby , Storm , Star , Jasper and Asher - will then go through training to identify the virus from the samples .
The charity said the training could take as little as six to eight weeks .
After an initial trial phase of three months , the government will decide where it believes the dogs will be most useful .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at points of entry into the country , such as airports , to detect potential carriers of the virus .
The dogs could also be used at testing centres , as another form of screening alongside swab tests .
More than 10 years of research gathered by Medical Detection Dogs has shown the dogs can be trained to sniff out the odour of disease at the equivalent dilution of one teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic-sized swimming pools of water .
Dr Claire Guest , the charity 's co-founder and chief executive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to find the odour of Covid-19 '' .
If that proves to be the case , the dogs will then move into a `` second phase to test them in live situations , following which we hope to work with other agencies to train more dogs for deployment '' , she said .
Dogs have previously been trained to detect malaria from `` foot odour samples '' - in this case , nylon socks worn by apparently healthy children in the Gambia .
Prof James Logan , from the London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` Our previous work has shown that malaria has a distinctive odour , and with medical detection dogs , we successfully trained dogs to accurately detect malaria .
`` This , combined with the knowledge that respiratory disease can change body odour , makes us hopeful that the dogs can also detect Covid-19 . ''
The researchers have also successfully trained dogs to detect cancer and Parkinson 's disease in humans .
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• SCHOOLS : When will children be returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines on getting out ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • LOOK-UP TOOL : How many cases in your area ?

One possibility is that they could be used at points of entry into the country, such as airports, to detect potential carriers of the virus. The dogs could also be used at testing centres, as another form of screening alongside swab tests.


bbc--2020-05-14--Cardboard cutout fans, a title race & some of the world's best - Bundesliga set for return

The German Bundesliga becomes the world 's first major football league to get back under way during the coronavirus pandemic this Saturday .
While countries like Belarus and Nicaragua have never stopped and others like South Korea and the Faroe Islands have recently restarted , the eyes of the world will be on Germany this weekend to watch elite teams in action for the first time in over two months .
As well as regular Bundesliga fans , there will be plenty of new watchers with the Premier League not commencing for another few weeks at least .
So what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're sure even German football fans will need a reminder since it has been so long .
One of the joys of watching German football is the excellent fans ' culture .
The Bundesliga has the highest average attendance of any football league in the world .
But the stadiums will be completely empty for the rest of the season , although there will still be home and away teams with no neutral venues .
Borussia Monchengladbach are going to have cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands , with supporters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves for a €19 ( £16.60 ) fee .
Every Bundesliga team has been in quarantine , just going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to these games , and players will be regularly tested for coronavirus .
There will be a total of 213 people allowed in the stadium - 98 around the pitch ( including players , coaches , ball boys and photographers ) and another 115 in the stands ( including officials and media ) .
There will be less than 100 other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons .
On the pitch , handshakes are banned , there will be no team photos and there will be no child mascots .
Clubs will decide on Thursday - two days before the season restarts - whether to allow five substitutions per team in each game as permitted by the International Football Association Board .
The final nine rounds of games will run over six weeks with the aim of finishing the season before 30 June .
Bayern Munich are four points clear at the top with nine games to go as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eighth consecutive season .
Back-to-back defeats in late November/early December left Bayern in seventh , seven points off top - but 10 wins and a draw in their past 11 league games under manager Hansi Flick have seen them soar to the top .
But could this two-month break disrupt their momentum ?
Borussia Dortmund , RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach are all within six points of the champions .
Data company Gracenote give Bayern an 84 % chance of winning the league , with Dortmund - who face rivals Schalke on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 7 % .
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann - one of the world 's most promising young managers - hopes his side can use that break to their advantage and treat the final nine games like a standalone tournament .
`` The whole situation is like before a tournament .
We all had a short break , then a relaxed phase and now an intense preparation , '' he told magazine Kicker .
`` We 're going to try to win this nine-game tournament - with the theoretical possibility of finishing first .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top four , are the only other team with a realistic chance of a Champions League place .
Schalke , Wolfsburg , Freiburg , Hoffenheim and Cologne are all in the race for Europa League spots .
Werder Bremen have spent a record 56 seasons in the Bundesliga but their status is under major threat as they sit in the relegation zone , four points behind the promotion-relegation play-off spot and eight points off safety - although they do have a game in hand .
With 11 defeats in their past 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will give them an opportunity to reset and start again .
With one point in their past six games , and six points below that play-off spot , Paderborn will need a remarkable turnaround to stay up .
Fortuna Dusseldorf are in that play-off spot - four points away from the teams either side of them .
Mainz , Augsburg , Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt are all within six points of them so can not feel safe yet .
Gracenote give Paderborn a 97 % chance of automatic relegation , with Werder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Union Berlin are arguably the only team in the Bundesliga with nothing on the line - sitting more than six points away from relegation and European places .
Jadon Sancho is one of seven British footballers in the Bundesliga , although some of those are unlikely to feature .
Borussia Dortmund and England winger Sancho , 20 , is one of the league 's best players - of any age .
He is the top-scoring teenager in the history of the Bundesliga with 27 goals in his teens , all coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 15 assists in the Bundesliga this season , only two players have had a direct role in more goals in Europe 's top five leagues this season .
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has 27 goals and seven assists and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals and set up 12 more .
In this season and last season combined , only Messi , PSG forward Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski have had more goals and assists combined than Sancho 's 55 in the league .
Leipzig and Schalke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between them , including two senior Wales internationals .
Wales international Ethan Ampadu , 19 , can play in defence or midfield .
He has failed to start a single domestic match during his season-long loan spell at Leipzig from Chelsea , although impressed in their 'recent ' Champions League win at Tottenham Hotspur .
England Under-21 forward Ademola Lookman has also struggled for minutes since his £22.5m switch from Everton to Leipzig , with two starts and six substitute appearances .
Schalke have Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny , 23 , on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been their first choice , featuring in 23 of their 25 league games - scoring once .
The Royal Blues also have Wales winger Rabbi Matondo .
The 19-year-old , a 2019 signing from Manchester City , has only played sporadically , with eight league starts and another four substitute appearances .
Former West Ham and England Under-20 defender or midfielder Reece Oxford , 21 , has not played for Augsburg since November , having made eight appearances before then .
Paderborn and Borussia Monchengladbach both have English 21-year-old attacking midfielders waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined Paderborn in January , while Keanan Bennetts left Tottenham Hotspur for Gladbach in 2018 .
The chance to watch some of the world 's best stars The Bundesliga has an array of world-class talent , with a lot of exciting young players on show .
The top scorer in the league is the world 's best number nine - Robert Lewandowski .
The Bayern Munich and Poland forward has scored a remarkable 39 goals in 33 appearances for his club this season .
Bayern 's team is full of other household names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on is 19-year-old Canada left-back Alphonso Davies , who was in sensational form before the break .
Lewandowski 's minutes-per-goal ratio in the Bundesliga ( 82 ) pales in comparison to Erling Braut Haaland of Borussia Dortmund ( 57 ) .
Haaland , 19 , has scored nine goals in five Bundesliga starts and three substitute appearances since his January move from Red Bull Salzburg .
The second top scorer in the Bundesliga , RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner , has been continually linked to Liverpool - and has done nothing to dampen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leverkusen is another who is being linked to England 's top clubs .
The 20-year-old Germany attacking midfielder has scored 30 Bundesliga goals in his career so far .
Follow live text commentary of the Bundesliga on the BBC Sport website this Saturday and Sunday .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Robert Lewandowski, Jadon Sancho, Julian Nagelsmann and cardboard cuouts of Borussia Monchengladbach fans - just four of the things to watch out for in the Bundesliga
The German Bundesliga becomes the world's first major football league to get back under way during the coronavirus pandemic this Saturday.
While countries like Belarus and Nicaragua have never stopped and others like South Korea and the Faroe Islands have recently restarted, the eyes of the world will be on Germany this weekend to watch elite teams in action for the first time in over two months.
As well as regular Bundesliga fans, there will be plenty of new watchers with the Premier League not commencing for another few weeks at least.
So what do Bundesliga rookies need to know? We're sure even German football fans will need a reminder since it has been so long.
You will be able to follow live text commentary from the Bundesliga's return on the BBC Sport website from 14:00 BST.
Empty grounds
Borussia Monchengladbach are filling their stands with cardboard cutouts of fans
One of the joys of watching German football is the excellent fans' culture. The Bundesliga has the highest average attendance of any football league in the world.
But the stadiums will be completely empty for the rest of the season, although there will still be home and away teams with no neutral venues.
Borussia Monchengladbach are going to have cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands, with supporters of any team able to have one of themselves for a €19 (£16.60) fee.
Every Bundesliga team has been in quarantine, just going from a hotel to their training ground for the week leading up to these games, and players will be regularly tested for coronavirus.
There will be a total of 213 people allowed in the stadium - 98 around the pitch (including players, coaches, ball boys and photographers) and another 115 in the stands (including officials and media). There will be less than 100 other people allowed just outside the stadium for occupational reasons.
On the pitch, handshakes are banned, there will be no team photos and there will be no child mascots.
Clubs will decide on Thursday - two days before the season restarts - whether to allow five substitutions per team in each game as permitted by the International Football Association Board.
The final nine rounds of games will run over six weeks with the aim of finishing the season before 30 June.
The title race
The top four places earn a Champions League spot, with fifth and sixth going into the Europa League
Bayern Munich are four points clear at the top with nine games to go as they look to win the Bundesliga for an eighth consecutive season.
Back-to-back defeats in late November/early December left Bayern in seventh, seven points off top - but 10 wins and a draw in their past 11 league games under manager Hansi Flick have seen them soar to the top.
But could this two-month break disrupt their momentum?
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach are all within six points of the champions.
Data company Gracenote give Bayern an 84% chance of winning the league, with Dortmund - who face rivals Schalke on Saturday - on 8% and Leipzig on 7%.
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann - one of the world's most promising young managers - hopes his side can use that break to their advantage and treat the final nine games like a standalone tournament.
"The whole situation is like before a tournament. We all had a short break, then a relaxed phase and now an intense preparation," he told magazine Kicker.
"We're going to try to win this nine-game tournament - with the theoretical possibility of finishing first."
Bayer Leverkusen, one point behind the top four, are the only other team with a realistic chance of a Champions League place.
Schalke, Wolfsburg, Freiburg, Hoffenheim and Cologne are all in the race for Europa League spots.
Relegation battle
The bottom two sides get relegated while the team which finishes 16th face the team which finishes third in Bundesliga 2 in a play-off
Werder Bremen have spent a record 56 seasons in the Bundesliga but their status is under major threat as they sit in the relegation zone, four points behind the promotion-relegation play-off spot and eight points off safety - although they do have a game in hand.
With 11 defeats in their past 14 games, they will hope this break will give them an opportunity to reset and start again.
With one point in their past six games, and six points below that play-off spot, Paderborn will need a remarkable turnaround to stay up.
Fortuna Dusseldorf are in that play-off spot - four points away from the teams either side of them. Mainz, Augsburg, Hertha Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt are all within six points of them so cannot feel safe yet.
Gracenote give Paderborn a 97% chance of automatic relegation, with Werder at 49% and Dusseldorf on 40%.
Union Berlin are arguably the only team in the Bundesliga with nothing on the line - sitting more than six points away from relegation and European places.
The British players
Jadon Sancho turned 20 during the break from football
Jadon Sancho is one of seven British footballers in the Bundesliga, although some of those are unlikely to feature.
Borussia Dortmund and England winger Sancho, 20, is one of the league's best players - of any age.
He is the top-scoring teenager in the history of the Bundesliga with 27 goals in his teens, all coming since April 2018.
With 14 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga this season, only two players have had a direct role in more goals in Europe's top five leagues this season. Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has 27 goals and seven assists and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has scored 19 goals and set up 12 more.
In this season and last season combined, only Messi, PSG forward Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski have had more goals and assists combined than Sancho's 55 in the league.
Leipzig and Schalke have over half the British Bundesliga contingent between them, including two senior Wales internationals.
Wales international Ethan Ampadu, 19, can play in defence or midfield. He has failed to start a single domestic match during his season-long loan spell at Leipzig from Chelsea, although impressed in their 'recent' Champions League win at Tottenham Hotspur.
England Under-21 forward Ademola Lookman has also struggled for minutes since his £22.5m switch from Everton to Leipzig, with two starts and six substitute appearances.
Schalke have Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny, 23, on a season-long loan. The England U21 international has been their first choice, featuring in 23 of their 25 league games - scoring once.
The Royal Blues also have Wales winger Rabbi Matondo. The 19-year-old, a 2019 signing from Manchester City, has only played sporadically, with eight league starts and another four substitute appearances.
Former West Ham and England Under-20 defender or midfielder Reece Oxford, 21, has not played for Augsburg since November, having made eight appearances before then.
Paderborn and Borussia Monchengladbach both have English 21-year-old attacking midfielders waiting to make their debuts.
Antony Evans joined Paderborn in January, while Keanan Bennetts left Tottenham Hotspur for Gladbach in 2018.
The chance to watch some of the world's best stars
The Bundesliga has an array of world-class talent, with a lot of exciting young players on show.
The top scorer in the league is the world's best number nine - Robert Lewandowski. The Bayern Munich and Poland forward has scored a remarkable 39 goals in 33 appearances for his club this season.
Bayern's team is full of other household names but one player to keep an eye on is 19-year-old Canada left-back Alphonso Davies, who was in sensational form before the break.
BBC Sport profiles Norwegian striking sensation Erling Haaland
Lewandowski's minutes-per-goal ratio in the Bundesliga (82) pales in comparison to Erling Braut Haaland of Borussia Dortmund (57).
Haaland, 19, has scored nine goals in five Bundesliga starts and three substitute appearances since his January move from Red Bull Salzburg.
The second top scorer in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, has been continually linked to Liverpool - and has done nothing to dampen that speculation.
Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen is another who is being linked to England's top clubs. The 20-year-old Germany attacking midfielder has scored 30 Bundesliga goals in his career so far.
Archive: Alphonso Davies - the Bayern Munich player who was a refugee
Follow live text commentary of the Bundesliga on the BBC Sport website this Saturday and Sunday.


bbc--2020-05-16--Tracking the outbreak in maps and charts

Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world , with more than 4.5 million confirmed cases in 188 countries .
More than 300,000 people have lost their lives .
This series of maps and charts tracks the global outbreak of the virus since it emerged in China in December last year .
How many cases and deaths have there been ?
The virus , which causes the respiratory infection Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
Note : The map and table in this page use a different source for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johns Hopkins University , which results in a slightly lower overall total .
The US has by far the largest number of cases , according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University .
With more than 85,000 fatalities , it also has the world 's highest death toll .
France , Italy , Spain and the UK - the worst-hit European countries - have all recorded more than 25,000 deaths .
In China , the official death toll is some 4,600 from about 84,000 confirmed cases , although critics have questioned whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on 11 March .
This is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
The true number of cases is thought to be much higher than the reported figures , as many of those with milder symptoms have not been tested and counted .
Globally , more than 4.5 billion people - half the world 's population - have been living under social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news agency 's estimates .
Those restrictions have had a big impact on the global economy , with the International Monetary Fund warning the world faces the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
The United Nations World Food Programme has also warned that the pandemic could almost double the number of people suffering acute hunger .
• RISK AT WORK : How exposed is your job ?
• THE R NUMBER : What it means and why it matters • COMPARING COUNTRIES : The pitfalls of doing so • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak • RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
Where are coronavirus cases still rising ?
While some countries are starting to see confirmed cases and deaths fall , following the introduction of strict lockdown restrictions , others are only now seeing them rise .
Lesotho confirmed its first cases on 13 May , which means coronavirus is now present in all countries in Africa , mainly in urban populations .
Worst-hit on the continent are South Africa , Egypt and Algeria .
Russia 's latest official data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of infections worldwide and has been reporting around 10,000 new cases a day for over a week .
Brazil and Mexico announced their highest daily death tolls in recent days .
These charts show four countries where deaths are on an upward trajectory - as shown by the red lines .
Ecuador saw its health system collapse in April - thousands have died from the virus and other conditions that could not be treated because of the crisis .
The country 's official number of coronavirus deaths is around 2,300 but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher .
The sharp rise in cases in Latin America has led the WHO to say the Americas are currently at the centre of the coronavirus pandemic .
In March , the WHO had labelled Europe the `` epicentre of the pandemic `` but the region is now slowly beginning to ease restrictions brought in to slow the spread of the virus .
In Europe , the UK became the first country to record more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths on 6 May .
Italy , which was the first European country to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that marker .
Differences in population size and how countries report their figures , with some including deaths in care homes , or deaths of those suspected but not confirmed of having the virus , means international comparisons are complicated .
However , the UK , Italy , Spain , France and many other European countries appear to have passed through the peak of the virus and the number of new reported cases and deaths is falling .
Germany and Belgium have also recorded a relatively high number of daily deaths and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries have varied in their plans to ease lockdowns , but the WHO has urged all nations to adopt a `` slow , steady '' approach .
You can read more about how lockdowns are being eased across Europe here .
• What are the new lockdown rules in the UK ?
New York the worst-hit in US outbreak With more than 1.4 million cases , the US has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world .
It has also recorded more than 85,000 deaths .
The state of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 27,000 deaths , but the number of new cases there has been on a downward trend in recent weeks .
At one point , more than 90 % of the US population was under mandatory lockdown orders , but many states have now begun to loosen their stay-at-home restrictions and allowed some businesses to reopen - a move health officials fear could further spread the virus .
• Are US states reopening too soon ?
The top US infectious diseases doctor Anthony Fauci has cautioned against opening up public life too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spikes '' which would become outbreaks .
President Trump , who disagrees with Dr Fauci 's advice , has made it clear he is keen to reopen the US economy `` vaccine or no vaccine '' .
He was speaking on Friday at the launch of a project aiming to deliver a coronavirus jab by the end of the year .
The latest figures show more than 36 million people have lost their jobs since the outbreak hit the US .
That 's nearly a quarter of the American workforce .
The rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than at any time since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
The data used on this page comes from a variety of sources .
It includes figures collated by Johns Hopkins University , data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , national governments and health agencies , as well as UN data on populations .
When comparing figures from different countries it is important to bear in mind that not all governments are recording coronavirus cases and deaths in the same way .
This makes like for like comparisons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider include : different population sizes , the size of the a country 's elderly population or whether a particular country has a large amount of its people living in densely populated areas .
In addition , countries may be in different stages of the pandemic .

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


bbc--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Why 'shark attacks' won’t go down as Covid deaths

Online videos and social media posts with fake and misleading information about the coronavirus pandemic are often watched by hundreds of thousands of people around the world .
We 've been fact-checking some of those most widely shared this week .
First up , a video featuring the right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones calling America 's coronavirus data `` fake '' .
It 's being used , he suggests , to keep the country in lockdown and to scupper President Trump 's bid for re-election .
He argues that the Covid-19 death figures are wrong , but in doing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Jones says anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 at the time of their death - be it due to `` cancer '' , `` sky-diving accidents '' or `` shark attacks '' - is being recorded as a death due to coronavirus .
Covid-19 is only listed on the death certificate in the United States if the disease played a role in that person dying , so deaths by misadventure such as shark attacks and sky-diving falls would certainly not be included .
Experts say that , if anything , Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lack of testing in the community , and deaths at home which are n't counted .
Calculating death rates is certainly not an exact science and is open to interpretation .
We 've written extensively about how these figures are worked out in the UK : • Coronavirus : How to understand the death toll • Why the UK death count is an inexact science Mr Jones also claims that anyone who has ever had any coronavirus infection , or the common cold , will produce a positive test .
The tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and elsewhere are to find out whether you are infected with the novel coronavirus responsible for the pandemic .
`` The diagnostic tests for Covid-19 are specific for the SARS-CoV-2 virus ( which causes it ) , '' says Dr Jeremy Rossman , Honorary Senior Lecturer in Virology at the University of Kent .
`` They do not detect other coronaviruses nor do they detect the common cold virus ( rhinovirus ) or the flu virus . ''
These tests do not identify previous infections from which you have recovered - although scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable test for this too .
The video has been shared many thousands of times but was not posted on Alex Jones ' main account or his Infowars Facebook page , because both of them have been banned by Facebook .
A viral video claiming an elderly woman with coronavirus was put in a body bag while still alive has been exposed as misleading .
The video originated in Brazil and went viral on WhatsApp and Facebook .
Various versions have been shared hundreds of thousands of times , including in large English-language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly patient on top of plastic sheeting struggling to breathe .
The caption claims the woman 's family was told she was dead .
The truth is less dramatic .
The director of the Abelardo Santos Hospital in northern Brazil told BBC News Brasil that the protective sheeting she is lying on is indeed a body bag , but it was used to transfer her to another bed .
`` It 's a common practice in hospitals , '' he said , `` especially during a pandemic or an epidemic , which force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are looking into who leaked the video and who is responsible for the spread of fake news related to it .
Since the footage was recorded , the woman has sadly died .
Some of the posts in Portuguese on Facebook feature a warning message that they are misleading .
However , we 've spotted some in English which have not been flagged by Facebook .
No , this scientist did not say US and China created coronavirus A fake quote attributed to a prominent French scientist went viral this week .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a specialist in infectious diseases ) said Covid-19 was created by the United States and China to kill millions of Africans .
We spoke to the hospital in Marseille where Prof Raoult works and they confirmed it 's not genuine .
Prof Raoult has become well-known for promoting an anti-Malarial drug to treat coronavirus .
The original post , which can be traced back to an account in the Democratic Republic of Congo , has been shared more than 150,000 times in a number of African countries , including Madagascar and Cameroon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story .
Another fake story we reported on linked to the same Instagram account .
That one contained a fake message attributed to Jeff Bezos - claiming Bill Gates had a plan to destabilise Africa .
Anger at how African countries are being treated during the pandemic has repeatedly surfaced online .
Two French doctors have been accused of racism after suggesting vaccine trials in Africa .
Forced quarantine is not coming to America Lastly , we 've taken a look at a video which contains false information about powers being introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected individuals from their home and into quarantine .
In the video , Dr Rashid Buttar , know for holding anti-vaccination views , says a new bill being introduced in the US Congress will give authorities these powers .
However , this is false - the bill does no such thing .
It is a request for funds to help contain the spread of the virus and boost testing , particularly in areas with poorer health services .
As part of this process , some of the funds would be used for contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who might have come into contact with someone with coronavirus .
Dr Buttar suggests that under the bill authorities would be allowed into your house if you show coronavirus symptoms .
This clip has had more than three million views on Facebook .
The bill does mention that where necessary people could be tested in their homes , but makes it clear that existing federal privacy or confidentiality laws would not be superseded .
Despite various claims by Dr Buttar about relatives being taken away , there is nothing in the proposal about @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus: Why 'shark attacks' won’t go down as Covid deaths Published 16 May 2020
Online videos and social media posts with fake and misleading information about the coronavirus pandemic are often watched by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
We've been fact-checking some of those most widely shared this week.
"Fake" death figures?
First up, a video featuring the right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones calling America's coronavirus data "fake". It's being used, he suggests, to keep the country in lockdown and to scupper President Trump's bid for re-election.
He argues that the Covid-19 death figures are wrong, but in doing so he misinterprets how the information is recorded.
Mr Jones says anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 at the time of their death - be it due to "cancer", "sky-diving accidents" or "shark attacks" - is being recorded as a death due to coronavirus.
Covid-19 is only listed on the death certificate in the United States if the disease played a role in that person dying, so deaths by misadventure such as shark attacks and sky-diving falls would certainly not be included.
Experts say that, if anything, Covid-19 deaths have been under-reported, because of a lack of testing in the community, and deaths at home which aren't counted.
Calculating death rates is certainly not an exact science and is open to interpretation. We've written extensively about how these figures are worked out in the UK:
Mr Jones also claims that anyone who has ever had any coronavirus infection, or the common cold, will produce a positive test.
The tests currently being widely used across the US and elsewhere are to find out whether you are infected with the novel coronavirus responsible for the pandemic.
"The diagnostic tests for Covid-19 are specific for the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes it)," says Dr Jeremy Rossman, Honorary Senior Lecturer in Virology at the University of Kent. "They do not detect other coronaviruses nor do they detect the common cold virus (rhinovirus) or the flu virus."
These tests do not identify previous infections from which you have recovered - although scientists are working hard to roll out a reliable test for this too.
The video has been shared many thousands of times but was not posted on Alex Jones' main account or his Infowars Facebook page, because both of them have been banned by Facebook.
The sad story behind a body bag video
A viral video claiming an elderly woman with coronavirus was put in a body bag while still alive has been exposed as misleading.
The video originated in Brazil and went viral on WhatsApp and Facebook. Various versions have been shared hundreds of thousands of times, including in large English-language conspiracy groups.
The video shows an elderly patient on top of plastic sheeting struggling to breathe. The caption claims the woman's family was told she was dead.
The truth is less dramatic. The director of the Abelardo Santos Hospital in northern Brazil told BBC News Brasil that the protective sheeting she is lying on is indeed a body bag, but it was used to transfer her to another bed.
"It's a common practice in hospitals," he said, "especially during a pandemic or an epidemic, which force us to adapt".
The police are looking into who leaked the video and who is responsible for the spread of fake news related to it.
Since the footage was recorded, the woman has sadly died.
Some of the posts in Portuguese on Facebook feature a warning message that they are misleading. However, we've spotted some in English which have not been flagged by Facebook.
No, this scientist did not say US and China created coronavirus
A fake quote attributed to a prominent French scientist went viral this week.
The Facebook post claims Professor Didier Raoult (a specialist in infectious diseases) said Covid-19 was created by the United States and China to kill millions of Africans.
We spoke to the hospital in Marseille where Prof Raoult works and they confirmed it's not genuine.
Prof Raoult has become well-known for promoting an anti-Malarial drug to treat coronavirus.
The original post, which can be traced back to an account in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been shared more than 150,000 times in a number of African countries, including Madagascar and Cameroon.
And there's an intriguing twist to this story. Another fake story we reported on linked to the same Instagram account.
Anger at how African countries are being treated during the pandemic has repeatedly surfaced online. Two French doctors have been accused of racism after suggesting vaccine trials in Africa.
Forced quarantine is not coming to America
Lastly, we've taken a look at a video which contains false information about powers being introduced in the United States to forcibly remove infected individuals from their home and into quarantine.
In the video, Dr Rashid Buttar, know for holding anti-vaccination views, says a new bill being introduced in the US Congress will give authorities these powers.
However, this is false - the bill does no such thing. It is a request for funds to help contain the spread of the virus and boost testing, particularly in areas with poorer health services.
As part of this process, some of the funds would be used for contact tracing, which means tracking people down who might have come into contact with someone with coronavirus.
Dr Buttar suggests that under the bill authorities would be allowed into your house if you show coronavirus symptoms. This clip has had more than three million views on Facebook.
The bill does mention that where necessary people could be tested in their homes, but makes it clear that existing federal privacy or confidentiality laws would not be superseded.
Despite various claims by Dr Buttar about relatives being taken away, there is nothing in the proposal about people being removed from their homes.


bbc--2020-05-16--#LastNormalPhoto: Thousands share last images before lockdown

It all started with a little request we made earlier this month .
We asked you to send us the last `` normal '' photo you had on your phone before coronavirus changed your life .
Hundreds of you responded .
We were overwhelmed .
On Saturday , we brought you 13 of those stories - from major sporting events to family gatherings to a wedding .
We then invited more of you to share your photos online using the hashtag # lastnormalphoto .
Thanks largely to a tweet by journalist Robyn Vinter , it quickly became one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among the tens of thousands of photos shared online , there are some common themes .
Food , friendships , the utterly random events that make up our lives .
Many people 's photos showed the last time they were with relatives , after lockdowns forced families apart .
Sue Clark 's last `` normal '' photo was at her daughter 's baby shower on 7 March .
Her grandson Theo was born in late April .
The lockdown meant Sue was unable to see or support her daughter during the final weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close during what was a difficult birth .
`` Luckily all turned out fine but this is a situation where as a mother your instinct is to be there - but unfortunately I felt I had to follow the rules , '' she told the BBC .
Sue and her daughter are now arranging to meet at a distance in a park next week .
Social distancing rules mean group events may now feel like a distant memory , but lots of you shared photos of crowds in close proximity only a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we mean a lot ) of the photos also showed people eating in restaurants and bars , or going to clubs or theatres - places that have been inaccessible for many of us for at least two months , and may remain so for some time .
Some found a photo of their workplace or university , looking back at a time before remote working was introduced to reduce the spread of the virus .
Olivia Simpson 's last `` normal '' photo was taken on a commute to university on 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the library so they could work together , but like thousands of students across the UK , she is now continuing her studies alone at home .
Others had been anticipating big events before the new rules took effect .
Several people shared photos of the dresses they bought for a prom that could not go ahead .
One of them was Emma Canzanese , 18 .
She chose her prom dress on 5 March - it made her feel confident in herself .
But the prom was later cancelled because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm happy I still bought it for any future occasion , '' she said , `` but it would have been amazing to roll up to prom and show off . ''
Some joked about how abnormal their last `` normal '' photo was .
Dr Dani Rabaiotti , a scientist with the Zoological Society of London posed with a meerkat at London Zoo for her last photo .
The zoo has been closed to visitors since late March due to the coronavirus lockdown and staff say it now faces an uncertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as abnormal , however , as a meal of fried chicken and donuts .
If you could go back to the start of the year and give yourself some pre-lockdown advice , knowing what was about to happen , what advice would that be ?
We will use a selection of your responses in a future article .
Your name , age and location would be included unless you state otherwise but your contact details will never be published .
Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy .

We will use a selection of your responses in a future article. Your name, age and location would be included unless you state otherwise but your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.


bbc--2020-05-16--Polish archbishop refers child sex abuse case to Vatican

The head of Poland 's Roman Catholic Church has said he is asking the Vatican to investigate the cover-up of child sexual abuse by priests .
Archbishop Wojciech Polak called on the Church hierarchy to `` launch proceedings '' following the release of a documentary on the subject on Saturday .
The film tells the story of two brothers who seek to confront a priest who allegedly abused them as children .
The Vatican is expected to assign an investigator to the case .
The film - `` Hide and Seek '' - has been viewed more than 1.9 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second documentary on the subject by brothers Marek and Tomasz Sekielski .
• Pope makes it mandatory for clergy to report abuse It follows two victims as they attempt to bring to account those in the Church who were responsible for covering up their abuse .
It alleges that a senior bishop knew about the allegations for years but failed to take any action .
`` The film ... shows that protection standards for children and adolescents in the Church were not respected , '' Archbishop Polak said in a video released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ask priests , nuns , parents and educators to not be led by the false logic of shielding the Church , effectively hiding sexual abusers , '' he said .
`` We do not allow for the hiding of these crimes . ''
Archbishop Polak added that he had asked the Vatican to investigate the allegations raised in the film under the auspices of an Apostolic letter that was issued by Pope Francis last year .
The letter made it mandatory for Roman Catholic clergy to report cases of clerical sexual abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the series - `` Tell No One '' - was released by the Sekielski brothers in May 2019 and has been viewed more than 23 million times .
It sparked widespread outrage and a national discussion about sexual abuse in the Church .
It includes secret camera footage of victims confronting priests about their alleged abuse .
Some of the priests in the film admit to the abuse .
The documentary prompted the government to announce plans to double jail terms for paedophiles .
It also promised to set up a commission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet happened .
In March last year , the Polish Church admitted that almost 400 clergy had sexually abused minors over the past 30 years .

When the Sekielski brothers' first documentary became a subject of national debate last May, it agreed that a state commission should be set up. But it said it must not solely focus on the sexual abuse of children by priests, but also by members of other professions. The law to create the commission took effect in September, but since then, nothing has happened.


bbc--2020-05-16--NFL's Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar surrender after robbery charge

NFL players Deandre Baker and Quinton Dunbar turned themselves in to police after being charged with armed robbery in Florida .
New York Giants ' cornerback Baker , aged 22 , who is also charged with aggravated assault , surrendered on Saturday morning , his lawyer said .
Dunbar , a 27-year-old Seattle Seahawks cornerback , later also turned himself in , Miramar Police confirmed .
They are suspected of robbing guests at gunpoint at a house party this week .
About $ 12,000 ( £9,850 ) in cash and watches worth up to $ 25,000 are believed to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Miramar on Wednesday .
Defence lawyers for both players said witnesses had signed affidavits maintaining that the sportsmen took no part in the alleged robbery .
What allegedly happened at the house party ?
According to the police arrest warrant , the incident occurred after an argument broke out at the house party , where guests were playing cards and video games .
Baker allegedly took out a gun before he , Dunbar and another man - described as wearing a red mask - started taking valuables and cash from people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not fully identified in the reports .
Baker allegedly asked this person to shoot one witness , but the red masked man did not do so .
All three then made off in separate vehicles - a Mercedes Benz , a Lamborghini and a BMW .
The police affidavit said one witness was `` under the impression this was planned out '' , as the three getaway vehicles `` were later pre-positioned to expedite an immediate departure from the area '' .
Baker is facing eight charges in total , four for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a firearm .
Dunbar has been charged with four counts of armed robbery .
The NFL says it is aware of the incident but has not commented .
A statement issued by the New York Giants said they had been in touch with Deandre Baker and they had no further comment .
The Seattle Seahawks said they are `` aware of the situation '' and are `` still gathering information '' .

The police affidavit said one witness was "under the impression this was planned out", as the three getaway vehicles "were later pre-positioned to expedite an immediate departure from the area".


bbc--2020-05-16--JC Penney: US department store files for bankruptcy

American department store JC Penney has filed for bankruptcy becoming the latest company to be hit by Covid-19 .
The 118-year-old store sells clothing , cosmetics and jewellery at over 850 locations across the country .
It employs more than 80,000 people .
It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday allowing it to restructure even though it can no longer pay its debts .
JC Penney 's announcement comes after J Crew filed for bankruptcy last month .
There had been rumours of an impending bankruptcy after JC Penney missed interest payments in April .
A statement from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £400m ) in cash and has received financing commitments of $ 900m from lenders .
It said some stores would close as a result .
• Fed warns of slow recovery without more virus aid '' The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our families , our loved ones , our communities , and our country , '' chief executive officer Jill Soltau said in a statement .
JC Penney was founded in Wyoming by James Cash Penney in 1902 .
His belief was that prices should be low , set and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haggling that was commonplace at the time .
It survived the Great Depression and grew during the 20th Century .
But with the introduction of online shopping the company began to struggle .
It has closed hundreds of stores and thousands of jobs in recent years .
Last year it reported sales of $ 10.7bn , a decrease of more than $ 7bn in 10 years .
Many people have shared their memories of the store on social media .
Jade Jurek wrote on Twitter : `` Be honest - JC Penney was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I have been a big fan because I actually bought my wedding dress from the store in 1987 . ''
Former employees and their relatives have also shared their memories of the store .
Jennifer Grimes wrote on the company 's Facebook page : `` Love you guys .
You were my high school and college job .
I just placed a huge towel and sheets order this week and then heard of the bankruptcy today .
Please do all you can to stay in business .
I 'm so sorry how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas said : `` Personally sad for me and have been dreading this for years .
My dad was a JCP store manager , retired in the late 90s , and this was a wonderful profession for him .
Those were good times and I am sad for those who have lost jobs with this news . ''

Jennifer Grimes wrote on the company's Facebook page: "Love you guys. You were my high school and college job. I just placed a huge towel and sheets order this week and then heard of the bankruptcy today. Please do all you can to stay in business. I'm so sorry how e-commerce has hurt you."


bbc--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: Italy takes 'calculated risk' in easing restrictions - PM

Italy is taking a `` calculated risk '' as it moves to further ease its coronavirus lockdown measures , PM Giuseppe Conte has admitted .
He said `` the contagion curve '' could rise again , but the country could not afford to wait for a vaccine .
Mr Conte announced that travel to and from Italy , and between the country 's regions would be allowed from 3 June .
Gyms , swimming pools and sports centres will reopen on 25 May , and cinemas and theatres on 15 June .
Travellers from EU countries will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .
The announced measures are a major step in the country 's efforts to restart its economy after more than two months of lockdown .
Italian officials say 31,763 people have now died with the virus in the country , the third highest figure behind the US and UK .
But Italy 's infection rate has fallen sharply in recent days .
• Are Italians losing faith in the EU ?
• How is lockdown being lifted across Europe ?
• Fast on coronavirus , now they need to save summer It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose nationwide restrictions when coronavirus cases began to surface in northern regions in February .
But it began to relax those measures earlier this month , when it allowed factories and parks to reopen on 4 May .
What did PM Conte say ?
`` We 're facing a calculated risk in the knowledge that the contagion curve may rise again , '' Mr Conte said in a televised address late on Saturday .
`` We have to accept it otherwise we will never be able to start up again . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not afford to wait until a vaccine was found , because `` we would end up with a strongly damaged economic and social structure '' .
Some Italian regions had called for a swifter easing of restrictions , but the prime minister said they would be relaxed gradually to avoid a second wave of cases .
Shops and restaurants are also due to reopen from 18 May providing social distancing is enforced .
Catholic churches are preparing for the resumption of Mass on the same day , but there will be strict social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other faiths will also be allowed to hold religious services .
Mr Conte 's announcement came shortly after the country , which was once the global epicentre of the pandemic , reported a further decline in its daily death toll .
It reported more than 900 deaths on 27 March , but the authorities said there were 153 in the past 24 hours .
Earlier this week , the government approved a €55bn ( £48bn ; $ 59bn ) stimulus package designed to offset the economic impact of the pandemic on businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : What it means and why it matters • RECOVERY : How long does it take to get better ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : What are the symptoms ?

Catholic churches are preparing for the resumption of Mass on the same day, but there will be strict social distancing and worshippers must wear face masks. Other faiths will also be allowed to hold religious services.


bbc--2020-05-16--How coronavirus is driving a revolution in travel

Barriers closed a stretch of Deansgate , Manchester 's main thoroughfare , to motor vehicles on Saturday .
Elsewhere in the city , new pedestrian walkways and pop-up bike lanes have appeared .
It is part of a nationwide effort to create more space for social distancing as the country gradually begins to lift the coronavirus restrictions .
Glasgow , Leicester , York and Brighton have also created new space for walking or cycling this week .
And dozens more UK towns and cities plan to do so .
On Friday , the Mayor of London , Sadiq Khan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the busiest roads in the city .
He said his plan to close large swathes of London to cars and vans would create one of the largest car-free areas of any city in the world .
`` Many Londoners have rediscovered the joys of walking and cycling during lockdown '' , Mr Khan said .
`` By quickly and cheaply widening pavements , creating temporary cycle lanes and closing roads to through traffic we will enable millions more people to change the way they get around our city . ''
He acknowledged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Londoners but said he had no choice but to rapidly repurpose London 's streets for people .
`` By ensuring our city 's recovery is green , we will also tackle our toxic air , which is vital to make sure we do n't replace one public health crisis with another . ''
Most of the changes being brought in around the country are a temporary response to the coronavirus crisis , but many local authorities say that - following consultation with local communities - they would like to make them permanent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will reclaim the streets of this city '' , councillor Angeliki Stogia , Manchester 's lead member for Transport and Environment , told the BBC .
The coronavirus crisis has allowed many projects to be fast-tracked .
`` Some of the projects Manchester is introducing have been in the planning process for years , '' she said .
The government has acknowledged that resolving how we can travel while maintaining social distancing is one of the biggest challenges it faces as it starts to lift the lockdown .
The current message is : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can avoid it , yet if people take to their cars , our streets will be choked with traffic .
Last week , the government announced what it called a `` once in a generation '' investment to change the way Britain gets around .
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordered English local authorities to make `` significant changes '' to give more space to pedestrians and cyclists .
He said he would be setting up a £250 million emergency fund to encourage what he called `` active travel '' .
Mr Shapps said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a £2bn package for cycling and walking , part of a £5bn investment announced in February .
Councils can already use temporary traffic orders to widen pavements , install cycle lanes , create new zebra crossings and close entire streets to traffic , and Mr Shapps has said he will enhance their powers .
It means local authorities have the ability to completely alter the way traffic moves through a town or city .
But most of the new measures involve restricting car and other motor vehicle access .
Some motorists see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted under the cover of covid and designed to create `` new facts on the ground '' .
`` What is worrying about this is that it feels anti-motorist , anti-cars , anti-lorries , anti-vans '' , says Rod McKenzie of the Road Haulage Association .
`` All those methods of transport are essential for economic recovery , so do n't punish one group at the expense of the other '' , he urges .
Manchester has dubbed its campaign to encourage walking and cycling `` Safe Streets Save Lives '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency funding to introduce changes where they are most needed , so outside shops , transport hubs or on routes to hospitals .
The aim is that these initiatives will help achieve the authority 's goal of making the city carbon-neutral by 2038 as well as creating a healthier , more pleasant city .
The focus is not just on the city centre .
Levenshulme in south-east Manchester will see some of the most dramatic traffic calming measures in the entire region .
The plan is that 30 traffic filters made of heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the neighbourhood to through traffic over the next few weeks .
`` We have consulted with the community and they say want to make this area a nicer place to live '' , says Levenshulme resident Pauline Johnson .
She said the response from local people has been overwhelmingly positive .
`` They say they want this to be somewhere where children can play safely in the streets . ''
Greater Manchester 's cycling commissioner Chris Boardman , says cycling has increased by more than 70 % on some days since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What coronavirus has shown is that if you give people safe , traffic free streets they will walk more and ride bikes '' , he told the BBC .
`` If we do n't take steps to enable people to keep traveling actively , we risk a huge spike in car use as measures are eased '' , the Olympic gold winner said .
`` Not only is it the right thing to do to protect people now , but it 's vital to meet our clean air goals and protect our NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a boom in bike sales .
At one point this week shares in Halfords , the country 's biggest chain of cycle shops , had jumped 17 % .
The company said sales of some cycling equipment had risen 500 % since the government ordered us all to stay at home on March 23rd .
Ken Foster says his bike shop , Foster 's Cycles , in the Manchester suburb of Chorlton-cum-Hardy , is the busiest it has been since his grandfather opened it back in 1954 .
But it has been exceptionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rains ?
`` There is no such thing as bad weather , only inappropriate clothing '' , says Ken Foster with a laugh .

"Many Londoners have rediscovered the joys of walking and cycling during lockdown", Mr Khan said. "By quickly and cheaply widening pavements, creating temporary cycle lanes and closing roads to through traffic we will enable millions more people to change the way they get around our city."


bbc--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: Beach crowds as countries ease lockdowns

Beaches are reopening around the world in countries that are easing their lockdowns .
Ticketed entry and temperature checks are @ @ @ @ @ place to help maintain social distancing .

Beaches are reopening around the world in countries that are easing their lockdowns.
Ticketed entry and temperature checks are some of the controls in place to help maintain social distancing.


bbc--2020-05-16--One every eight minutes: India's missing children

It is estimated that a child goes missing in India every eight minutes .
Many are trafficked as part of @ @ @ @ @ separating children from their families .
Millions end up in forced labour , domestic slavery @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s become a lucrative industry .
But despite this , it rarely dominates @ @ @ @ @ little public outrage , or political will to end it .
The BBC 's Rajini @ @ @ @ @ trafficking networks , and speaks to some of the victims .

It is estimated that a child goes missing in India every eight minutes. Many are trafficked as part of a nationwide trade which is separating children from their families.
Millions end up in forced labour, domestic slavery and sex work, in what’s become a lucrative industry.
But despite this, it rarely dominates headlines, there’s little public outrage, or political will to end it.
The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan investigates India's child trafficking networks, and speaks to some of the victims.
Producer/Director: Imogen Anderson, Nick Sturdee. Camera: Sanjay Ganguly, Varun Nayar.


bbc--2020-05-16--Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Schalke: Haaland scores in Dortmund win on Bundesliga return

Erling Braut Haaland scored for Borussia Dortmund as they marked the return of the Bundesliga during the coronavirus outbreak with a convincing derby win over Schalke .
The game will mostly be remembered for the surreal circumstances in which it was played , as Germany became the first major league in Europe to resume action behind closed doors .
There was an eerie atmosphere at Dortmund 's iconic Signal Iduna Park stadium , with every shout by players or coaches audible , and social distancing protocol followed by substitutes and during goal celebrations .
Haaland opened the scoring with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hazard 's cross to continue his sensational season , albeit after an enforced break of almost 10 weeks .
Raphael Guerreiro added two more goals and Hazard also found the net as Dortmund went on to claim a comfortable win over their near neighbours and move within a point of leaders Bayern Munich , who play on Sunday .
• Relive Germany 's return to football as Dortmund hit four Elite-level football might be back in Europe , but it certainly has a different feel about it than it did two months ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Schalke players arrive on multiple buses , use several changing rooms and then enter the pitch by different routes .
Warm-ups were staggered and the coaching staff and substitutes wore masks and were all separated by two metres as they took their place on the sidelines .
Once the balls had been disinfected by the ball-boys , the game began in total silence , only pierced by the referee 's whistle for kick-off , before being played out to the sound of echoed applause or yelled instructions from the dug-outs .
Fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that did not stop the Dortmund players performing their trademark salute to the empty stands at the final whistle - standing apart rather than holding hands of course .
The backdrop to the game made for a strange spectacle , but it did nothing to disrupt Haaland 's fine form even if it was 70 days on from his last Bundesliga appearance .
With the rest of Europe watching on , Dortmund 's 19-year-old Norwegian wonderkid reminded everyone of his precocious talent as he scored one goal , and helped make another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his first nine Bundesliga appearances - and 13 in 12 games in all competitions - since his January move from Red Bull Salzburg and his prolific scoring rate shows no sign of slowing up .
Another of Dortmund 's highly-rated young talents , England forward Jadon Sancho , was restricted to an 11-minute cameo off the bench , because of a calf injury .
On-loan Everton full-back Jonjoe Kenny started for Schalke , who brought on Wales winger Rabbi Matondo as one of their five substitutes - two more than usual are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bundesliga 's restart .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Dortmund players observed social distancing protocol as they celebrated Haaland's goal
Erling Braut Haaland scored for Borussia Dortmund as they marked the return of the Bundesliga during the coronavirus outbreak with a convincing derby win over Schalke.
The game will mostly be remembered for the surreal circumstances in which it was played, as Germany became the first major league in Europe to resume action behind closed doors.
There was an eerie atmosphere at Dortmund's iconic Signal Iduna Park stadium, with every shout by players or coaches audible, and social distancing protocol followed by substitutes and during goal celebrations.
Haaland opened the scoring with a trademark cool finish, flicking home Thorgen Hazard's cross to continue his sensational season, albeit after an enforced break of almost 10 weeks.
Raphael Guerreiro added two more goals and Hazard also found the net as Dortmund went on to claim a comfortable win over their near neighbours and move within a point of leaders Bayern Munich, who play on Sunday.
A strange feeling as football resumes
The Schalke substitutes were all separated by two metres
Elite-level football might be back in Europe, but it certainly has a different feel about it than it did two months ago.
Strict hygiene protocols saw the Dortmund and Schalke players arrive on multiple buses, use several changing rooms and then enter the pitch by different routes.
Warm-ups were staggered and the coaching staff and substitutes wore masks and were all separated by two metres as they took their place on the sidelines.
Once the balls had been disinfected by the ball-boys, the game began in total silence, only pierced by the referee's whistle for kick-off, before being played out to the sound of echoed applause or yelled instructions from the dug-outs.
Fans were completely absent from the 80,000-capacity stadium but that did not stop the Dortmund players performing their trademark salute to the empty stands at the final whistle - standing apart rather than holding hands of course.
Dortmund's players applauded their absent fans at the final whistle
Haaland reminds Europe of his talent
The backdrop to the game made for a strange spectacle, but it did nothing to disrupt Haaland's fine form even if it was 70 days on from his last Bundesliga appearance.
With the rest of Europe watching on, Dortmund's 19-year-old Norwegian wonderkid reminded everyone of his precocious talent as he scored one goal, and helped make another.
Haaland's goal means he now has a total of 37 in club competition for the season - before joining Dortmund he scored 14 goals in Austra's top division for Red Bull Salzburg, and eight more in the Champions League
Haaland now has hit 10 goals in his first nine Bundesliga appearances - and 13 in 12 games in all competitions - since his January move from Red Bull Salzburg and his prolific scoring rate shows no sign of slowing up.
Another of Dortmund's highly-rated young talents, England forward Jadon Sancho, was restricted to an 11-minute cameo off the bench, because of a calf injury.
On-loan Everton full-back Jonjoe Kenny started for Schalke, who brought on Wales winger Rabbi Matondo as one of their five substitutes - two more than usual are permitted under the new regulations for the Bundesliga's restart.
There were 30 match balls placed around the stadium, each of them disinfected by ball-boys who placed them on special spots rather than giving them directly to the players
The South Stand at Signal Iduna Park holds 25,000 fans and is the biggest free-standing grandstand in Europe. It is famed for its 'Yellow Wall' of Dortmund supporters, but was completely empty on Saturday
Some journalists were permitted to attend, but counting players, staff and officials, there were only about 300 people in and around the stadium


bbc--2020-05-16--Eurovision: Abba's Waterloo voted best song of all time

Abba 's Waterloo has been named the greatest Eurovision song of all time by BBC viewers .
Eurovision : Come Together saw the public vote for their favourites , on the night that this year 's song contest was due to take place .
The 2020 competition was cancelled in March amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The Swedish foursome won it in 1974 in Brighton .
The track , which topped the UK charts and set them on their way to fame , went on to sell nearly 6m copies .
Speaking later on the night , Bjorn Ulvaeus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to believe '' that was where it began for them all those years ago .
The shortlist for the programme included Eurovision classics from the likes of Netta , Bucks Fizz , Conchita Wurst and Gina G. But it was Agnetha , Anni-Frid , Benny and Bjorn who ultimately triumphed , with their musical metaphor about the joys of surrendering to love .
The 19-strong song list was compiled by Eurovision experts and broadcasters , including Rylan Clark-Neal , Scott Mills , Ken Bruce , Adele Roberts and Mel Giedroyc , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicki French .
Presenter Graham Norton upheld the tradition of raising a glass to the late Sir Terry Wogan , who hosted the contest for nearly 30 years .
`` We could n't deny you your Eurovision fix , '' he declared .
The programme also showcased what would have been the UK entry this year - James Newman 's My Last Breath - and Norton spoke to the singer via video link .
Newman said he was `` pretty gutted '' and `` had to have a few minutes to myself '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been cancelled .
He said the staging had already been planned and showed an image of an underwater scene leading down from some steps .
Newman added that his favourite Eurovision entry this year was Iceland 's - it was one of the favourites to win had the competition gone ahead , according to recent Spotify streaming figures .
Later on , the BBC also joined with other European broadcasters for Eurovision : Europe Shine A Light , to honour all 41 songs which would have competed this year .
Some of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the semi-finals , where the entrants are normally whittled down to 26 but the semis were also cancelled .
Saturday night 's event was hosted from Rotterdam in the Netherlands , where the contest was due to take place , while Norton popped up again as the UK 's commentator , and acts appeared in various forms online from across the continent .
Eight highlights from Rotterdam , and everywhere 1 .
Sweden 's Måns Zelmerlöw sang an acoustic version of his winning song from 2015 , in tribute to health workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Double Eurovision winner , Ireland 's Johnny Logan , was joined by scores of fans via videolink for a rendition of his most relevant Eurovision track , What 's Another Year.. 3 .
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra joined forces ( via the wonders of modern technology ) to perform an instrumental version of the UK 's 1997-winning Love Shine a Light , by Katrina and the Waves , as iconic music venues around the world lit up .
This was certainly a high point for another former UK contestant SuRie , who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the performance… in a good way .
The track got another airing for the show 's finale , but this time with the words , as performers from all countries sang along in unison .
4 .
Iceland 's Daði Freyr Pétursson urged us all to `` stay healthy '' and `` stay fabulous '' with the help of a barbershop quartet , comprised of different digital versions of himself , all wearing the same sweater bearing an image of , yep , you guessed it ... him again .
TV critic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
5 .
Michael Schulte , Germany 's entrant in 2018 , and 2014 Dutch act The Common Linnets came together for a socially-distanced grand church service rendition of Nicole 's 1982 winning song Ein Bisschen Frieden .
6 .
The Austrian singer and drag act Conchita Wurst , who won in 2014 , confessed that the `` most beautiful '' part of the coronavirus lockdown was the fact , `` I hardly wear any underwear and I love it so much '' .
7 .
Graham Norton admitted , `` there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odd programme '' - referring to the lack of an actual competition this year , for the first time since the contest began in 1956 .
It got even odder as he had to take part in a live two-way chat with the Dutch hosts , with a bit of a delay .
`` That was awkward , '' he joked , but he also said the show as a whole had `` real emotion '' .
8 .
Abba were the winners who took it all in the earlier BBC poll , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the aforementioned Bjorn in the Shine A Light show .
After recounting a sweet tale about the time his grandson Albert first realised his grandad was a Euro pop star , he described Eurovision as one of the most `` genuinely joyous events of the TV year '' which `` allows you to escape and be happy and even forget about the coronavirus for a little while '' .
The show featured messages of love and support from all of the acts who would have featured in the competition .
Some viewers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferred more action and less well-wishing .
`` I miss when Eurovision was fun , '' wrote one Twitter user .
`` A chance to escape everything else .
Yes the world is in a terrible place but the title is Shine a Light , not doom . ''
`` They have badly judged what we all wanted , '' offered another .
`` We wanted a party , even a Zoom party would have done , but this is a bit depressing .
Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the right notes .
`` Do n't know about anyone else but I 'm pretty emotional watching this , '' she posted .
None of the 2020 songs will be carried over to next year .
Instead , countries will select new entrants for the 2021 contest .
Several countries - including Greece , Spain and Bulgaria - have confirmed they will send the same acts next year to give the artists a second chance , but they will have to perform different songs .
Currently , there 's no word on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newman will be chosen for the 2021 contest , although he has said he `` absolutely '' wants to represent his country again .
It was confirmed that Rotterdam , which missed out this year , would indeed be allowed to host the show in 2021 instead .
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If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

After recounting a sweet tale about the time his grandson Albert first realised his grandad was a Eurovision pop star, he described the contest as one of the most "genuinely joyous events of the TV year" which "allows you to escape and be happy and even forget about the coronavirus for a little while".


bbc--2020-05-15--First wild white stork chick 'in centuries' hatches in UK

A wild white stork chick has hatched in the UK for the first time in what is believed to be hundreds of years .
Three nests containing eggs were being monitored at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex .
In one nest , five eggs were laid and the parents were seen incubating them before removing eggshell from the nest .
The parents , which were thought to have attempted to breed last year , have been seen regurgitating food for their offspring .
The project to breed wild white storks in the UK is a partnership of private landowners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restore a population of at least 50 breeding pairs across the south of England by 2030 .
About 250 birds are being released in Sussex after a successful breeding programme at the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford , Oxfordshire .
Lucy Groves , project officer for the White Stork Project , said : `` After waiting 33 days for these eggs to hatch , it was extremely exciting to see signs that the first egg had hatched on 6 May .
`` The parents have been working hard and are doing a fantastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year . ''
She said the nest would be inspected more closely over the next few days to determine how many of the five eggs had hatched successfully .
Isabella Tree , owner of the Knepp Estate , said she was looking forward to the storks `` bill-clattering '' on their nests .
`` It feels like a sound from the Middle Ages has come back to life . ''
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Lucy Groves, project officer for the White Stork Project, said: "After waiting 33 days for these eggs to hatch, it was extremely exciting to see signs that the first egg had hatched on 6 May.


bbc--2020-05-16--Actor Leslie Jordan on his lockdown Instagram fame

Emmy Award-winning actor Leslie Jordan has become a lockdown Instagram hit , with more than four million followers .
The @ @ @ @ @ of working alongside Lady Gaga , Dylan McDermott and a host of other stars .
@ @ @ @ @ his roles in Will and Grace , American Horror Story and The Cool Kids .
@ @ @ @ @ Call Me Kat , based on the British sitcom Miranda .
Leslie told the BBC @ @ @ @ @ enjoying all the attention .

Emmy Award-winning actor Leslie Jordan has become a lockdown Instagram hit, with more than four million followers.
The actor started posting funny stories of working alongside Lady Gaga, Dylan McDermott and a host of other stars.
He is best known for his roles in Will and Grace, American Horror Story and The Cool Kids. He is currently working on Call Me Kat, based on the British sitcom Miranda.
Leslie told the BBC's Claudia Redmond he was enjoying all the attention.


bbc--2020-05-16--Eurovision 2020: Highlights from celebration show, Europe Shine A Light

Eurovision stars past and present have come together for a celebration show , on the night that this year 's @ @ @ @ @ place .
The annual song contest was due to take place in Rotterdam in the @ @ @ @ @ off amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The live show honoured all 41 songs that would @ @ @ @ @ and ended on a singalong of Love Shine A Light , the UK 's winning @ @ @ @

Eurovision stars past and present have come together for a celebration show, on the night that this year's cancelled contest would have taken place.
The annual song contest was due to take place in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, but was called off amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The live show honoured all 41 songs that would have competed this year, and ended on a singalong of Love Shine A Light, the UK's winning song from 1997.


bbc--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: How face masks are becoming fashionable

Face masks have become a necessity during the coronavirus outbreak and now the fashion world is ensuring that they become trendy .
And with masks advised for the foreseeable future , people are finding ways to incorporate them into their outfits .
`` Everyone is on it right now including designers .
It is a necessary fashion statement right now , '' says Angel Obasi who runs the Instagram account Styleconnaisseur .
Ms Obasi posted images of a matching mask and suit outfit she wore to a Zoom wedding when the pandemic began .
More than 100,000 people liked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She told the BBC that she has worn the mask several times as it is `` best for my style and obviously for keeping safe '' .
Ms Obasi is n't the only person ensuring she remains safe and fashionable .
High-profile figures have also started to match their masks to their outfits .
Speaker of the House of Representatives , Nancy Pelosi , was dubbed `` Leader of the House Majority , and of mask-to-pantsuit colour coordination '' by Hillary Clinton on Thursday .
Ms Pelosi has sported a number of matching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova received praise online for her matching mask ensemble which was dubbed by one social media user as `` modern day corona '' .
With the trend rising , many fashion designers are taking note and now creating their own matching outfits .
Givenchy even released their own mask and cap combo .
However it will set you back £425 ( £514 ) .
One designer in Italy hit the headlines this month when she created the trikini - a matching bikini and face mask set .
Tiziana Scaramuzzo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created the trikini as a joke but after she posted images of the set to social media , she was inundated with orders .
Room Shop Vintage in the US started selling matching mask and top sets when their seamstress sent over images of a sample .
`` Seeing the samples really sparked something in me and that is when we went forward with the idea , '' Shelly Horst co-founder of Room Shop Vintage told the BBC .
`` The reception to our matching top/mask set has been really great .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask that matches their top makes the mask more fun and whimsical to wear , something that is important in such as serious , scary time . ''
She said she expected the trend to continue .
`` Going forward people will need multiple masks in rotation especially as things begin to open back up .
Having a mask that matches exactly is a fun fashion move , but matching through colour stories will start to happen as well .
Considering what mask to wear will become a part of planning an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matching sets that are becoming popular .
Other designers are making masks as glamorous as possible , rhinestones and all .
Sefiya Sjejomaoh told Reuters news agency that the pandemic should not get in the way of her sense of style .
`` When you come out in a stylish mask or with an accessory such as this , it does n't seem as though we 're fighting a war .
`` It seems more fun , '' she said .

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bbc--2020-05-16--Coronavirus: Capturing isolation on New Zealand's Stewart Island

On the far southern tip of New Zealand , sparsely populated Stewart Island has been closed off from the world @ @ @ @ @ As the country emerges from lockdown , photographer Laire Purik has documented how locals coped @

On the far southern tip of New Zealand, sparsely populated Stewart Island has been closed off from the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
As the country emerges from lockdown, photographer Laire Purik has documented how locals coped.
Video by Isabelle Rodd


bbc--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Your pictures of working at home

We asked our readers to send in their pictures on the theme of `` working at home '' during lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus .
Here are some of the pictures sent to us from around the world .
Usha Venkat : `` I work in my study at home .
I use the ironing board as a make-shift stand-up desk to stretch while working .
I took a selfie while I was multi-tasking , with the backdrop of an antique telephone booth , and enjoying the outside . ''
Gemma Lawrence : `` I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home but this one shows all the equipment I need .
Do n't ask why I need two set of headphones and two mice !
Also note the coffee mug is usually full . ''
Sue Searle : `` This is my current place of work during lockdown - caring for , entertaining and generally trying to keep happy my 96-year-old mother , Florence .
Before lockdown , we had carers but currently , no-one can visit us as it 's too risky .
Therefore , I have undertaken the task of looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'm happy to do it if it means keeping Mum safe . ''
Clare Lawson : `` One of the many Minions who is working from home .
with our cat helping me to not get stressed by the new way of working - and excellent company .
I have to add there was no desk - or video calls , thank goodness . ''
The next theme is `` The view from my window '' and the deadline for entries is 21 May 2020 .
Send pictures to yourpics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Upload your pictures here '' below .
Further details and terms can be found by following the link to `` We set the theme , you take the pictures , '' at the bottom of the page .

Image caption,
Sue Searle: "This is my current place of work during lockdown - caring for, entertaining and generally trying to keep happy my 96-year-old mother, Florence. Before lockdown, we had carers but currently, no-one can visit us as it's too risky. Therefore, I have undertaken the task of looking after Mum 24/7. Not a problem and I'm happy to do it if it means keeping Mum safe."


bbc--2020-05-16--Plinofficial: The downfall of a Russian rapper who loved dollars

This week , a court in Pennsylvania took up the case against a 29-year-old Russian rapper , known as Plinofficial , accused of cybercrimes .
He once dreamt of becoming the biggest rap artist on the planet .
Where did it go wrong ?
`` Married to cash , high as a kite '' - this is how Maksim Boiko , a rapper originally from Siberia , formulated his credo in 2015 .
His track The Money is Flying came out in a collection called Killa Verse .
Plinofficial was never a household name .
MTV Russia fans voted him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performed in public .
But the redhead from northern Russia wanted to stand out among his fellow rappers .
Although he could n't have come from a more different world , Boiko identified with black hip-hop culture in the US and tried to emulate it in his own lifestyle , writing on social media that he lived and rapped like an African-American man .
Boiko learnt about the lives of American rappers during a trip to the US .
He adopted their habit of photographing himself with a stack of cash next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone '' meme to resemble the `` brick '' mobile of the 1980s .
Boiko published a photo of the fat bricks of cash , held together tightly with elastic bands on Instagram .
Awash with red bills portraying Chairman Mao , he made them into pyramids .
Greenbacks with US presidents looked good against a backdrop of luxury handbags .
Red and brown notes were only any use for `` phone calls '' inside Russia .
Boiko drove a white Mercedes , sported an expensive Hublot wristwatch and drank Moët champagne .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen playing crazy games with cash/you 'll blow off the roof with such a stash '' , and `` We youngsters are making huge loads/we 're making our 'Louis ' bags explode . ''
`` Clearly I 'm sick and addicted to the money/ since 16 I 'm independent from my papa and mommy . ''
`` I live in Russia , I 'm having a great time , I 'm confident , calm , I sleep well and do n't worry , '' the rapper said in an interview on TheMostRussia Youtube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't matter how much you earn ; the important thing is to sleep well at night . ''
Two and a half years later , still calm and confident , Boiko and his pregnant wife flew to the US .
He expected to become a father and release an album there .
In February 2020 the couple 's baby girl was born .
A few weeks later , on 28 March , just days before his album launch , Boiko fell into the hands of the FBI who had been studying his work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russian trap Born in an oil-drilling town of Muravlenko , in the Yamal-Nenets district in the very north of Siberia , close to the Arctic circle , Boiko has not always been able to afford his extravagant lifestyle .
In an interview for a Russian music website , Boiko talked about his parents as ordinary working-class people .
The BBC has learnt that Boiko 's father went from being an electrician to a production manager at a Gazprom subsidiary in the north of Russia .
Before he left school , Boiko set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his breakdancing friends started performing at festivals in Muravlenko and the neighbouring town of Noyabrsk .
The tickets cost around 30 roubles ( $ 0.40 ) and sometimes the gigs were cancelled because of bad weather .
The average winter temperature in this part of Russia is -13F ( -25C ) below zero .
`` The beer keg would get cold while you carried it to the apartment block entrance , where you 'd be hanging out in the hallway with the lads , '' Boiko told TheMostRussia .
Aged 17 , Boiko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city in Western Siberia , to study journalism .
During his second year at university he wrote on VKontakte : `` Studying is light and not studying - loads of free time , alcohol and chicks . ''
Boiko spent the summer of 2010 in New York on a tourist visa .
After spending all his money in a week , he found a job as a porter , first for $ 12 , then $ 17-an-hour .
When he returned home , he quit his course and moved to St Petersburg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had visited several times and now began to call home .
He joined the Swagga Music collective , and the local Trap scene .
Trap is a genre of hip-hop which started in the US in the 1990s , but acquired a newer sound - with a deep echo and multilayered synthesizers - in the first half of the 2010s .
Swagga Music was one of the first to perform Trap in Russia - long before it was popular .
Boiko called Lev Twice ( Levon Papyan ) who founded the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moves '' .
But in summer 2012 Papyan died .
The city rap-scene was dead for several months .
Many think that it still has n't recovered from the loss .
That autumn , Boiko headed for Paris with a friend and after that his life changed completely .
`` Two , strapping lads ( 21 & 22 years old ) in search of work in the European Union .
Currently we are in France but we 're prepared to go wherever there is a reasonable offer .
No bad habits .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Boiko wrote on job search websites .
A few months later Boiko showed up in Guangzhou , China 's light industry and financial services centre .
It was here he began to publish his still life compositions with the Renminbi - Chinese people 's currency on Instagram .
`` Lots of people ask me , what am I doing in China and where does all the money come from , '' Boiko wrote on VKontakte .
He explained he had become a trading rep for Bizazia , a company which for 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Boiko assured his readers these commissions were the source of his limitless and legal `` hustle '' - slang for making a profit .
The company was founded by a Russian couple - Igor Tolokonnikov and Kristina Glukhovskaya - who Boiko had met in Guangzhou .
The rapper asked their permission to use their company 's legal status for negotiations .
They did n't oppose it although officially they had no formal relationship with Boiko .
`` He worked with his own clients but used our company '' , Igor explains .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling , '' says Kristina .
`` For example , someone in Russia wanted wall plugs .
He would find a Chinese factory producing them , agreed a price and shipped the order . ''
The couple had difficulty answering just how profitable this business was for Boiko .
`` He did n't have to do a lot of work [ supplying the goods ] , it was pretty minimal , '' Igor recalls .
`` But he sharpened up his business acumen in China . ''
Nevertheless , it was in China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - after he had `` messed about in Paris , messed about in New York , messed about in Russia , messed about in Siberia '' ( these are lines from his track , From The Very Bottom ) .
That was when he could afford a beautiful gesture which Boiko called , his `` first manly act '' .
He asked his father who was staying in St Petersburg to meet an acquaintance and receive a package from him .
In the package was 1.5m roubles ( £30,000 , $ 48,400 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astonished .
`` I just had some working moves , nothing criminal , '' Boiko told TheMostRussia .
`` I told my parents they could keep the cash and clear their debts . ''
Two years later Boiko went back to St Petersburg and stopped trying to find clients for Chinese goods .
But the hustle continued .
On 25 July , 2017 Plinofficial announced the release of his debut album Goldy .
Up until then Boiko had only recorded collections with other artists .
The rapper made a music video with night-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hacker steals a BMW from an underground carpark by putting a couple of commands into his notebook .
According to the FBI , shortly after his return to St Petersburg Boiko took up computer and banking fraud .
They believe the rapper , who complained on social media that he kept forgetting to log out of his accounts on other people 's computers , was turning into a significant cybercriminal .
A chain of events lead up to it .
The July day when Boiko announced his long-awaited solo album , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Vinnik .
American law-enforcement consider him one of the founders and administrators of the crypto-currency exchange BTC-e. Vinnik was the `` brain '' behind the illegal operations of a gang which is believed to have laundered some $ 4bn ( £3bn ) over several years .
That same day , the FBI removed the servers with information about BTC-e clients from a data centre in New Jersey .
The exchange went offline and soon re-opened under a new name - Wex .
Besides the USA , Russia and France were also demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him over to the French authorities .
Vinnik claimed he was only a consultant to BTC-e , nothing more .
• Cryptoqueen : How this woman scammed the world , then ran The FBI says it found Boiko 's email on BTC-e 's client list .
Another account , for 'gangass ' was connected to it .
In the record of grounds for his arrest , it says gangass invested $ 388,000 and withdrew 136 bitcoins .
He could be called a major client .
The most incriminating evidence against Boiko was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone : access to his Gmail and iCloud accounts have been sanctioned by an American court .
FBI Special agent Samantha Shelnick led the investigation into Boiko 's case .
The Western Pennsylvania district court published her evidence with the order for his arrest .
Shelnick is convinced from studying Boiko 's accounts that although he often experimented filming himself posing with large amounts of cash , he certainly did n't reveal all on Instagram .
In an unpublished photo of Boiko in a leopardskin hoody driving a BMW , a five-storey tower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steering wheel , holding the whole structure from collapse .
The court studied all the evidence in taking the decision to arrest Boiko .
Maybe the money did n't belong to Boiko : the FBI believes the Russian was an intermediary in chains used in the legalisation of money stolen from banks all around the world .
Without revealing how they got access to it , they presented Boiko 's correspondence in the encrypted messaging service Jabber as proof .
The prosecution found photos in his email with one of the leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI refer to him as `` Conspirator A '' .
With access to QQAAZZ 's iCloud they discovered a fragment of Conspirator A 's messaging where he mentions Boiko , his phone number and address .
Cybersecurity experts at Positive Technologies estimate QQAAZZ 's commission for servicing stolen money reached 50 % although an average rate on the market was 20 % in 2017 .
The FBI said that one of QQAAZZ 's clients was recently convicted in a Pittsburgh court .
Even though the investigators did not name them , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the leaders of an extended international hacking group GozNym which was exposed in 2016 , having stolen around $ 100m from 41,000 victims .
The members of the group were tried in Germany , Georgia , Moldova and Ukraine and five Russians are on the internationally wanted list .
As well as Conspirator A , the FBI asserts that Boiko had another regular business partner - a 24-year-old Alexei Trofimovich from the small Latvian town of Kraslava .
On 15 January a Latvian court decided to extradite Trofimovich to the USA where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's financial fraud .
He has since appeared in court in Pittsburgh .
According to the FBI , hackers tried to send thousands of US dollars to Trofimovich 's account between 2017 and 2018 , though some transfers failed .
The FBI also says Boiko and Trofimovich may have known one another as gangass and Atrofi95 in the messenger accounts .
Atrofi95 valued gangass ' services highly and called him a wizard , though it 's not known whether the two ever met offline .
Trofimovich 's appointed lawyer did n't want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC .
Boiko 's lawyer is Arkady Bukh who specialises in hackers extradited to the US .
He says his rapper client denies the charges .
`` Of course , my client says he is innocent .
Have you ever seen a rapper who did n't throw money around ?
It 's rap PR . ''
Bukh has n't yet received all the prosecution 's documents in this case - at the moment he is trying to improve the Boiko 's conditions in prison .
`` The municipal prison in Miami was appalling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreadful .
We 've managed to get him transferred to Pennsylvania where food and conditions are much better . ''
The trial was conducted by videoconferencing because of the coronavirus epidemic .
The fact-finding session was held on 11 May and the next hearing has n't been set .
Boiko 's brother Daniil told the BBC the rapper did n't do the things he is charged with but refused to answer any other questions .
Boiko 's wife was not available for comment and the BBC has not been able to determine her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracks have begun to appear on social media with the hashtag # freeplinofficial .
Pavel , a flashmob participant says , `` His music helps me understand in times of trouble when everything 's bad , that you must n't give up , that you have to try to find a way out of the situation . ''
His friend Igor Tolokonnikov says , `` I never saw Maksim downhearted .
He had something inside which stopped him from losing hope . ''
Although there are extensive grounds for arrest , the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is actually Boiko , says his lawyer .
`` In these situations , there 's no DNA to follow and rarely any video recordings .
It 's not an armed bank robbery , '' says Bukh .
Additional reporting by Andrey Zakharov , edited by Jessy Kaner and Kateryna Khinkulova

But the redhead from northern Russia wanted to stand out among his fellow rappers. Although he couldn't have come from a more different world, Boiko identified with black hip-hop culture in the US and tried to emulate it in his own lifestyle, writing on social media that he lived and rapped like an African-American man.