bbc--2020-04-18--'Very difficult to relegate teams if season has not played out'

Brighton owner Tony Bloom says he can not see how clubs can be relegated from the Premier League if the season is not completed .
Friday ’ s meeting of the 20 top-flight clubs went through several scenarios to finish the campaign .
However , uncertainty still hangs over a season that has nine rounds to go .
`` It would be very difficult to relegate somebody , particularly from the Premier League , if the season hasn ’ t played out , '' said Bloom .
In the 'scheduling model ' possibilities looked at on Friday , the earliest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was not discussed as expected at that meeting , there are clubs who think 30 June should be the cut-off date for the season to end for contractual reasons .
It is now almost certain it will not be completed at that point and Bloom , whose side are 15th , two points above the drop zone , feels it would be wrong for clubs to lose their status without playing all 38 games .
European football 's governing body Uefa is expected to confirm leagues will be allowed to end seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although similar decisions have already been taken in some quarters .
Non-league football from tier three and below has been voided and in Scotland promotion and relegation has been decided on current places in leagues below the Premiership .
However , another way of deciding who finishes where would be on points-per-game average , although , in England , that would not change the bottom three and would lead to Bournemouth getting relegated on the slimmest of goal differences .
`` It ’ s unfathomable that a team may lose out on 0.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
Also , it does not take into account the strength of the teams you have played . ''
Some sides , including Brighton , have five home games left while others have four .
Any decision would require 14 of the 20 clubs to vote in favour and Bloom does not see that happening .
`` I really can not see the percent that would be needed voting for it , '' he said .
• Premier League clubs to consult players on 30 % wage cut as resumption delayed • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits have their say • Premier League : The youngsters who have shone in 2019-20 Even when the game restarts , major issues will be hanging over it .
One leading Premier League executive has privately ridiculed stories that have suggested transfers in excess of £100m may take place during what will be a transfer window , potentially of as little as three weeks , feeling it shows an ignorance of the financial issues being wrestled with .
Bloom rubber-stamped a club record £20m deal to buy defender Adam Webster from Bristol City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis Dunk , who was linked with a £45m move to Leicester .
In the current climate , he does not see such deals happening this year .
`` I do n't think the market will be nearly as active as in previous seasons , '' he said .
`` And the total transfers will be a very small percentage of what it has been in previous summers .
`` The actual value of players has gone right down in all squads .
There 's no doubt if you were going to sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and you were expecting to be getting £15m , you ’ re going to get less than that . ''

Brighton owner Tony Bloom (left) took over the club in 2009
Brighton owner Tony Bloom says he cannot see how clubs can be relegated from the Premier League if the season is not completed.
Friday’s meeting of the 20 top-flight clubs went through several scenarios to finish the campaign.
However, uncertainty still hangs over a season that has nine rounds to go.
"It would be very difficult to relegate somebody, particularly from the Premier League, if the season hasn’t played out," said Bloom.
In the 'scheduling model' possibilities looked at on Friday, the earliest would start on 8 June.
While it was not discussed as expected at that meeting, there are clubs who think 30 June should be the cut-off date for the season to end for contractual reasons.
It is now almost certain it will not be completed at that point and Bloom, whose side are 15th, two points above the drop zone, feels it would be wrong for clubs to lose their status without playing all 38 games.
European football's governing body Uefa is expected to confirm leagues will be allowed to end seasons prematurely when it meets on Thursday, although similar decisions have already been taken in some quarters.
Non-league football from tier three and below has been voided and in Scotland promotion and relegation has been decided on current places in leagues below the Premiership.
However, another way of deciding who finishes where would be on points-per-game average, although, in England, that would not change the bottom three and would lead to Bournemouth getting relegated on the slimmest of goal differences.
"It’s unfathomable that a team may lose out on 0.2 of a point based on points per game. Also, it does not take into account the strength of the teams you have played."
Some sides, including Brighton, have five home games left while others have four.
Any decision would require 14 of the 20 clubs to vote in favour and Bloom does not see that happening.
"I really cannot see the percent that would be needed voting for it," he said.
Even when the game restarts, major issues will be hanging over it.
One leading Premier League executive has privately ridiculed stories that have suggested transfers in excess of £100m may take place during what will be a transfer window, potentially of as little as three weeks, feeling it shows an ignorance of the financial issues being wrestled with.
Bloom rubber-stamped a club record £20m deal to buy defender Adam Webster from Bristol City last summer and kept hold of skipper Lewis Dunk, who was linked with a £45m move to Leicester.
In the current climate, he does not see such deals happening this year.
"I don't think the market will be nearly as active as in previous seasons," he said. "And the total transfers will be a very small percentage of what it has been in previous summers.
"The actual value of players has gone right down in all squads. There's no doubt if you were going to sell a player in the transfer window coming up and you were expecting to be getting £15m, you’re going to get less than that."


bbc--2020-04-18--'Football is the punching bag' - Wright rejects Premier League criticism

The Premier League should not be criticised for discussing how the season should be concluded , says former England striker Ian Wright .
Top-flight clubs held a meeting on Friday at which finishing the season in a 40-day window was one of the scenarios discussed .
The Premier League has been criticised for holding the meeting , but Wright said people were wrong to `` have a go '' .
`` It seems like football is the punching bag , '' he told BBC Radio 5 Live .
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play would only resume when `` it is safe and appropriate to do so '' .
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK has since risen to more than 15,000 .
`` Lives come before anything , and the Premier League have always said , and they continue to say , [ football will resume ] when it ’ s safe to do so , '' said Wright .
`` When you hear people having a go at football because the Premier League are having meetings ... they have to have meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start again .
`` Just because football is a game ... it 's still a business , just like other businesses are making plans to try and get themselves going again . ''
Sixteen of the 20 Premier League teams have nine games to play this season , with four having 10 left .
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden spoke to Premier League bosses this week and signalled the government was content for them to start contingency planning .
But nothing will be taken forward without the green light from the government , in @ @ @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus
The Premier League should not be criticised for discussing how the season should be concluded, says former England striker Ian Wright.
Top-flight clubs held a meeting on Friday at which finishing the season in a 40-day window was one of the scenarios discussed.
The Premier League has been criticised for holding the meeting, but Wright said people were wrong to "have a go".
"It seems like football is the punching bag," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of coronavirus.
Earlier this month, it said play would only resume when "it is safe and appropriate to do so". The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK has since risen to more than 15,000.
"Lives come before anything, and the Premier League have always said, and they continue to say, [football will resume] when it’s safe to do so," said Wright.
"When you hear people having a go at football because the Premier League are having meetings... they have to have meetings because at some stage things have to start again.
"Just because football is a game... it's still a business, just like other businesses are making plans to try and get themselves going again."
Sixteen of the 20 Premier League teams have nine games to play this season, with four having 10 left.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden spoke to Premier League bosses this week and signalled the government was content for them to start contingency planning.
But nothing will be taken forward without the green light from the government, in accordance with medical advice.


bbc--2020-04-18--Haney 'rejects discrimination of any kind' after 'white boy' comment

Devin Haney said he is `` not racist '' and rejects `` discrimination of any kind '' after saying during an interview that he would `` never lose to a white boy '' .
American Haney made the initial comment when asked about fighting Ukrainian unified lightweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko .
The 21-year-old , a former WBC champion , was widely criticised on social media .
Haney later said he and WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman had a `` very positive conversation '' .
Responding to a viewer on 78SPORTSTV who said they hoped he would `` end the hype @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'll tell you this .
I will never lose to a white boy in my life .
I do n't care what nobody got to say .
`` Fight a white boy 10 times , I 'm going to beat him 10 times . ''
Fellow American lightweight Ryan Garcia tweeted : `` We should all respect everyone from every race and see who the best man is !
`` I respect Devin Haney and I believe he did n't mean this with racist intent but let 's all respect each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Haney later sent two posts on social media .
The first said : `` I 'm not racist and I never will be a racist .
I 'm chasing greatness . ''
He then posted : `` I just had a very positive conversation with Mauricio Sulaiman , president of the WBC , and confirmed to him directly my commitment to be a role model and my absolute rejection of discrimination of any kind . ''
Haney held the WBC lightweight title last year but was declared 'champion in recess ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fights against Lomachenko and Britain 's Luke Campbell .
In 2008 , American Bernard Hopkins said he would `` never let a white boy beat me '' before facing Joe Calzaghe , but lost a unanimous decision .

Last updated on .From the section Boxing
Devin Haney has won all 24 of his fights as a professional
Devin Haney said he is "not racist" and rejects "discrimination of any kind" after saying during an interview that he would "never lose to a white boy".
American Haney made the initial comment when asked about fighting Ukrainian unified lightweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
The 21-year-old, a former WBC champion, was widely criticised on social media.
Haney later said he and WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman had a "very positive conversation".
Responding to a viewer on 78SPORTSTV who said they hoped he would "end the hype of Loma", Haney said: "I'll tell you this. I will never lose to a white boy in my life. I don't care what nobody got to say.
"Fight a white boy 10 times, I'm going to beat him 10 times."
Fellow American lightweight Ryan Garcia tweeted: "We should all respect everyone from every race and see who the best man is!
"I respect Devin Haney and I believe he didn't mean this with racist intent but let's all respect each other for the love of the sport."
Haney later sent two posts on social media.
The first said: external-link "I'm not racist and I never will be a racist. I'm chasing greatness."
He then posted: external-link "I just had a very positive conversation with Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, and confirmed to him directly my commitment to be a role model and my absolute rejection of discrimination of any kind."
Haney held the WBC lightweight title last year but was declared 'champion in recess' because of injury and has been linked with fights against Lomachenko and Britain's Luke Campbell.
In 2008, American Bernard Hopkins said he would "never let a white boy beat me" before facing Joe Calzaghe, but lost a unanimous decision.


bbc--2020-04-18--Darts player throws perfect nine-darter - in his kitchen

Darts fans were treated to a little slice of history on Saturday - the second night of a new event in which players compete in their own homes .
With the usual tournaments suspended amid a lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic , the Professional Darts Corporation has launched a 'Home Tour ' .
And Englishman Luke Woodhouse threw the competition 's first perfect nine-dart finish as he averaged 114 in a 5-0 victory over Wales ' world number three Gerwyn Price .
Woodhouse later took on Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez , who said he 'heard ' Woodhouse 's achievement while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown restrictions , the Austrian said he needed permission from his neighbours in Vienna to play past 8pm .
Woodhouse hit 177 twice before a 147 checkout sealed the nine-darter , prompting Price to shout 'well done , son ' .
Woodhouse topped the group by winning all three of his matches in the league format .
Each match is broadcast via video calls - filmed on a mobile phone on a tripod - on the PDC 's own TV channel and can be watched free by registered users .
Every player with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature across 32 consecutive nights of the Home Tour .

Last updated on .From the section Darts
Woodhouse threw 177-177-147 for a perfect nine-dart finish
Darts fans were treated to a little slice of history on Saturday - the second night of a new event in which players compete in their own homes.
With the usual tournaments suspended amid a lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Professional Darts Corporation has launched a 'Home Tour'.
And Englishman Luke Woodhouse threw the competition's first perfect nine-dart finish as he averaged 114 in a 5-0 victory over Wales' world number three Gerwyn Price.
Woodhouse later took on Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez, who said he 'heard' Woodhouse's achievement while he was on the toilet.
Amid lockdown restrictions, the Austrian said he needed permission from his neighbours in Vienna to play past 8pm.
Woodhouse hit 177 twice before a 147 checkout sealed the nine-darter, prompting Price to shout 'well done, son'.
Woodhouse topped the group by winning all three of his matches in the league format.
Each match is broadcast via video calls - filmed on a mobile phone on a tripod - on the PDC's own TV channel and can be watched free by registered users.
Every player with a tour card has the chance to feature across 32 consecutive nights of the Home Tour.


bbc--2020-04-18--Coronavirus is a reality check, says World Rugby boss Beaumont

World Rugby boss Sir Bill Beaumont says he is confident a revised Nations Championship will be launched in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic .
Plans for a revolutionary world league were abandoned last year after World Rugby were unable to gain unanimous support from unions .
But Beaumont says the current health crisis has acted as a `` reality check '' for the game .
`` You are pretty foolish if you do n't learn lessons , '' said Beaumont .
Speaking to BBC 5 Live 's Guest List show , he said : `` In the past where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have got , I think what we are looking at now is that this is probably a reality check in the sport [ in terms of ] are we doing things correctly ?
`` There is a real feeling I get now that there will be some variant of the Nations Championship that will come back on the table . ''
A Nations Championship would see the results from regular competitions like the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship count towards a league , as would 'home and away ' cross-hemisphere matches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floated the idea of England touring Japan in October before welcoming sides to Twickenham the following month , and the concept of back-to-back tours could provide a template for the future .
While a revised Nations Championship would be unlikely to include promotion and relegation in the short term - a major sticking point for some Six Nations unions in particular - aligning the northern and southern hemispheres to create a global calendar is a matter of urgency according to Beaumont , who has hailed the `` spirit of collaboration '' across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it 's one of those situations where everyone is in it together , '' he added .
`` We are facing these challenges and the timing is not great but we have to think about people who are really suffering at the moment and our thoughts are with them .
`` When the government tells us we can resume play then that 's what we will be endeavouring to do . ''
' I 've still got the passion for the game' The former England captain is standing for another four-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is up against current World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot , a dynamic personality who has vowed to shake up rugby union 's establishment if he gets the top job .
But Beaumont says he personally has unfinished business in the role and has vowed to deliver on his manifesto promises if re-elected .
He also says plans are taking shape to create a strong second-tier global competition that will involve teams outside the Six Nations and Rugby Championship in order to grow the sport at all levels .
`` I 've got an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are still things I would still like to do , such as getting a better global calendar , '' Beaumont explained .
`` When I look back over the last four years there are plenty of things that I think have been good .
We have over 30 % of our council women , and we have the law changes we have done around the tackle for instance .
`` [ But going forward ] I just think [ the priorities are ] the Nations Cup and the global season , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this game out to areas where we have n't been strong .
`` We have to make our game accessible to anybody . ''

Former England captain Bill Beaumont won 34 caps
World Rugby boss Sir Bill Beaumont says he is confident a revised Nations Championship will be launched in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
Plans for a revolutionary world league were abandoned last year after World Rugby were unable to gain unanimous support from unions.
But Beaumont says the current health crisis has acted as a "reality check" for the game.
"You are pretty foolish if you don't learn lessons," said Beaumont.
Speaking to BBC 5 Live's Guest List show, he said: "In the past where people have been quite protective about what they have got, I think what we are looking at now is that this is probably a reality check in the sport [in terms of] are we doing things correctly?
"There is a real feeling I get now that there will be some variant of the Nations Championship that will come back on the table."
A Nations Championship would see the results from regular competitions like the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship count towards a league, as would 'home and away' cross-hemisphere matches.
RFU boss Bill Sweeney has already floated the idea of England touring Japan in October before welcoming sides to Twickenham the following month, and the concept of back-to-back tours could provide a template for the future.
While a revised Nations Championship would be unlikely to include promotion and relegation in the short term - a major sticking point for some Six Nations unions in particular - aligning the northern and southern hemispheres to create a global calendar is a matter of urgency according to Beaumont, who has hailed the "spirit of collaboration" across the rugby world during the pandemic.
"I think it's one of those situations where everyone is in it together," he added.
"We are facing these challenges and the timing is not great but we have to think about people who are really suffering at the moment and our thoughts are with them.
"When the government tells us we can resume play then that's what we will be endeavouring to do."
'I've still got the passion for the game'
The former England captain is standing for another four-year term in next month's elections and is up against current World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot, a dynamic personality who has vowed to shake up rugby union's establishment if he gets the top job.
But Beaumont says he personally has unfinished business in the role and has vowed to deliver on his manifesto promises if re-elected.
He also says plans are taking shape to create a strong second-tier global competition that will involve teams outside the Six Nations and Rugby Championship in order to grow the sport at all levels.
"I've got an enormous passion for this game and think there are still things I would still like to do, such as getting a better global calendar," Beaumont explained.
"When I look back over the last four years there are plenty of things that I think have been good. We have over 30% of our council women, and we have the law changes we have done around the tackle for instance.
"[But going forward] I just think [the priorities are] the Nations Cup and the global season, but also expanding this game, and taking this game out to areas where we haven't been strong.
"We have to make our game accessible to anybody."


bbc--2020-04-18--Sunday's football gossip: Borussia Dortmund plan Sancho pay rise

Borussia Dortmund will give England winger Jadon Sancho , 20 , a 4m euro ( £3.5m ) pay rise if he turns down a move to the Premier League .
( Bild , via Mirror ) Newcastle could make a bid for Barcelona and Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal .
The 32-year-old is said to be keen on the move if the Magpies replace current boss Steve Bruce with Max Allegri .
( Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish ) Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari , 26 , wants to make his loan deal at Arsenal from Flamengo permanent in the summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ France striker Kylian Mbappe , 21 , will see his value drop to 35-40m euros after the coronavirus pandemic .
( AS ) Arsenal and Everton are interested in signing Celtic ’ s French striker Odsonne Edouard , 22 .
( Le10 Sport - in French ) Arsenal have made contact with Reims over a move for French centre-back Axel Disasi , 22 .
( Goal ) Liverpool have registered their interest in Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic , 27 .
( Libero , via Mirror ) But Liverpool have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany ’ s 24-year-old striker Timo Werner .
( General Anzeiger - in German ) Barcelona want to sell Brazil winger Philippe Coutinho - who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich - and hope a Premier League buyer can be found for the 27-year-old .
( Goal ) Liverpool will lower their asking price for Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri , 28 , because of the coronavirus pandemic .
( Football Insider )

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Borussia Dortmund will give England winger Jadon Sancho, 20, a 4m euro (£3.5m) pay rise if he turns down a move to the Premier League. (Bild, via Mirror) external-link
Newcastle could make a bid for Barcelona and Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal. The 32-year-old is said to be keen on the move if the Magpies replace current boss Steve Bruce with Max Allegri. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) external-link
Paris St-Germain prepare '£640k-a-week contract' to convince Brazil forward Neymar to snub Barcelona return. (Daily Star) external-link
But former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says club stalwart Lionel Messi, 32, wants Neymar to move back to the Nou Camp so they can "win it all". (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish) external-link
Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari, 26, wants to make his loan deal at Arsenal from Flamengo permanent in the summer. (Sky Sports) external-link
Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, 34, has refused to rule out a move to the MLS. (Manchester Evening News) external-link
Who has had the most impact? BBC Sport has picked an XI of up and coming youngsters in the Premier League
Paris St-Germain and France striker Kylian Mbappe, 21, will see his value drop to 35-40m euros after the coronavirus pandemic. (AS) external-link
Arsenal and Everton are interested in signing Celtic’s French striker Odsonne Edouard, 22. (Le10 Sport - in French) external-link
Arsenal have made contact with Reims over a move for French centre-back Axel Disasi, 22. (Goal) external-link
Liverpool have registered their interest in Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 27. (Libero, via Mirror) external-link
But Liverpool have not contacted RB Leipzig over a move for Germany’s 24-year-old striker Timo Werner. (General Anzeiger - in German) external-link
Meanwhile, the Reds' also face an unpaid £35m bill from Barcelona as part of the transfer deal involving the 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho. (Express) external-link
Barcelona want to sell Brazil winger Philippe Coutinho - who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich - and hope a Premier League buyer can be found for the 27-year-old. (Goal) external-link
Liverpool will lower their asking price for Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri, 28, because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Football Insider) external-link


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Madrid’s medical heroes in the fight of their lives

Applause and cheering rings out every night in the huddled streets around 12 Octubre hospital in Madrid , hailing the 6,000 staff who work there as heroes .
`` We 're not heroes ; we 're health workers , '' insists Hernando Trujillo , a doctor tackling the coronavirus emergency in the working-class south of the capital .
The hospital has capacity for 1,300 beds and , at the height of the Covid-19 epidemic , close to 1,000 were being used to treat coronavirus patients .
`` There was almost no transition .
It was really quiet and then suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a day , '' says Laura Andújar , a 37-year-old emergency nurse .
Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths and the Madrid region is at the heart of it : a capital city blighted by this virus .
This city has seen 7,000 deaths , more than other European capitals .
The contagion spread at a remarkable rate through the densely populated city and its cluster of suburbs .
The real death toll could be considerably higher as Madrid 's regional government has revealed only 800 of 4,260 care home residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How health collapse came all at once The first local infection is believed to have been detected on 27 February .
By 15 March , there were 3,544 confirmed cases .
At the peak on 31 March , 3,419 new cases were reported here on a single day .
`` What followed was two weeks of madness , '' says Laura Andújar . '
I avoided Ebola but got this straight away' Another emergency department nurse , Eugenia Cuesta , is no stranger to epidemics .
She has dealt with cholera in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Red Cross volunteer .
`` We collapsed .
On a normal bad winter flu day you might get 100 people waiting .
We had 220 from Covid-19 , and people ended up sleeping in corridors , '' she remembers .
And in this outbreak they were not prepared for the onslaught .
`` Five days in , I got a cough and tested positive . ''
`` The protective equipment arrived late and is still insufficient .
I avoided cholera and Ebola infection , and I got this straight away , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of March she found `` the same degree of disorganisation '' .
Her colleagues had become used to chaos and were too exhausted to consider working in other ways , she believes .
Doctors at the hospital admit they had a lot to learn , and fast .
`` At the start , just as the population is very nervous about coronavirus , so were we as doctors , '' admits Dr Trujillo , a 35-year-old Mexican kidney and intensive care specialist who accepts he is not an expert in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go by and medical publications start coming out , we have learned a lot .
The hospital committee meets every day to discuss different treatments and what to look out for in analysis , '' he adds .
Health workers ' unions have accused hospital authorities of failing to provide the best personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for doctors and nurses .
This could be the main reason why Spain has one of the largest known levels of infection among health professionals in the world , with more than 27,500 catching Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on the issues raised in this article , but staff paint a mixed picture of the availability of PPE .
Enrique Morales , a 52-year-old kidney specialist , says he had full use of plastic protective equipment when visiting Covid-19 patients , but for other work has only had a paper gown as protection .
`` The shortages we had anyway have been brutally exposed , '' he told the BBC .
From the second week of the crisis , PPE became scarce , says Dr Trujillo .
Respirator masks ran out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks as an alternative .
`` We doctors can stand back from patients , so it 's more important for nurses . ''
Because there was not enough protective equipment , nurses said they had to overuse what they had , sometimes wearing it for an entire shift .
Eugenia Cuesta says the risks are far too high .
`` The mortality rate is nothing like Ebola , say , so we end up accepting the lack of security , '' she says .
Like her colleague , Laura Andújar also caught coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typical fever , aching limbs and loss of taste and smell .
She believes they should all have been screened to prevent contagion among the hospital team .
Dr Morales needed hospital treatment after catching Covid-19 and agrees failure to test health workers whether they had symptoms or not has put the system under greater pressure .
Under Spain 's lockdown laws hospital patients can not have visitors , and for some patients that feeling of absolute solitude has aggravated the illness .
`` You 're like a plague victim , with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` stuck between four walls and just the occasional health worker saluting you from afar . ''
For all the health workers , the crisis has posed impossible dilemmas .
Nurse Cuesta speaks of separating elderly couples when one tests positive and the other has to go home alone .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health For Dr Morales it is the decision of who gets the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
`` If you have two 35-year-olds , and one has renal problems , you give the place to the one without renal problems , '' says Dr Morales .
Some of his kidney patients would have had a good chance of survival but died , he believes .
Laura Andújar leaves work crying every day at the thought of people dying alone .
`` There was an old lady , she was so frightened and struggling to breathe , '' says Laura Andújar .
`` I thought the most important thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hold her hand for five minutes . ''
`` In my mask and goggles , she could n't see my mouth but I smiled with my eyes .
She actually got better . ''
That , of course , is not always the case and informing relatives is made all the harder by a lack of physical proximity to the family .
`` When things are going badly with a patient , we would usually talk several times a day with a family , '' explains intensive care doctor Rubén Viejo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now works at another hospital .
Being there prepares both family and doctor for any negative news but now relatives miss that entirely .
`` They do n't even know exactly where the patient is , whether they are dressed properly and if they are clean .
And they can not say goodbye .
`` It 's unlike anything we 've seen before .
The immune system goes haywire and there is major swelling in the lungs , but also clots of blood appear in the lungs and in blood vessels elsewhere that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have begun to improve at the hospital .
Results are getting better as doctors learn about the illness and pressure on resources eases as the rate of new infections in Madrid drops to less than 2 % a day .
`` In bad times , people help out , '' says Ms Andújar .
`` They are creating neighbourly networks and this is supplying things we need .
Well done to so many people for staying at home ; the infernal period is now over . ''
`` We hear the applause and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us with energy .
We all have recordings of it on our phones , '' says Dr Viejo .
But not everyone believes it will last .
`` Today we get applause at 8pm every evening , but I am not sure we will get the same support when we demonstrate for better conditions and support for public health , '' warns Eugenia Cuesta .
`` People forget quickly . ''

"In bad times, people help out," says Ms Andújar. "They are creating neighbourly networks and this is supplying things we need. Well done to so many people for staying at home; the infernal period is now over."


bbc--2020-04-19--Hudeidi: The Somali 'king of oud' who was felled by coronavirus

Ahmed Ismail Hussein Hudeidi , a founding father of modern Somali music , died in London after contracting coronavirus at the age of 91 .
The BBC 's Mary Harper was a friend of his .
Whenever Hudeidi played his oud , it was impossible to keep still .
Bodies swayed , hands clapped and fingers snapped .
His music was transporting and somehow possessed your whole being .
But there was even more to Hudeidi , or the `` king of oud '' as he was popularly known , than his sublime music .
He was a life force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funny .
From the moment I met him , I felt I was part of his family .
I was not the only one .
He welcomed everybody to his London home , preparing strong Yemeni coffee and offering a bed to anyone who needed it .
It was an informal music school , with people coming from all over the world to learn from the maestro .
One student was a Somali woman in her 60s who had never before been allowed to learn music .
Another was a bus driver .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Berbera in 1928 .
He grew up across the Gulf of Aden in Yemen and was attracted to music from a young age .
`` Whenever I saw the police band playing drums , I would run after them , imagining I was beating those instruments .
I would get carried away , losing the sense of time , until a member of the family would find me and take me home , '' he once said .
When Hudeidi was 14 years old , his father took him to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being played and Hudeidi fell in love .
He described his affection for the rounded wooden instrument as an illness ; whenever he saw one , he just had to pick it up and play .
It was around this time that Hudeidi met the legendary Somali composer and oud player , Abdullahi Qarshe .
`` One day I began to touch and caress his oud .
Qarshe noticed this immediately and asked me what kind of things my father bought me to take to school .
`` I said : 'Books and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine but that he should also buy me a basic oud . ''
Hudeidi learned quickly and shone as a player , winning prizes at carnivals and making a name for himself .
He moved back to Somaliland , then on to Djibouti where he was booted out by the French colonisers for singing political songs .
He went back home , where he also got in trouble with the authorities .
At one time they tried to ban his music , describing it as the `` devil 's work '' .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of the National Security Service asking : `` Where is that large vessel brimming with fresh milk and the lush grass they had promised ? ''
He said this angered the man , who `` sent a stern word to me to the effect that if I did not stop such mischief , they would see to it that my high reputation among Somalis would be ruined '' .
His popularity made other performers jealous .
He described how some envious musicians poured ghee into his oud , which led him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not precious to you , Oh Ms Nothing And your succour is no more , I , too , have given up on you Hudeidi eventually settled in London but travelled all over the world , delighting people with his musical mastery .
Age was no issue .
He was still playing concerts in his 90s .
Despite his exalted status , the 'king of oud ' never liked making a fuss .
I remember a prize-giving ceremony in London where he was being presented with a lifetime achievement award .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought a bow tie for him to wear , but he was having none of it .
In the end , we had an amusing tussle with him as we tried to persuade him to wear it , at least for going up to the podium .
He also had a cross-generational appeal .
I went to one of his concerts in the basement of a small bookshop in London .
Somehow , the famous young Somali musician Aar Maanta got wind he was playing there .
He rushed from home with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crowded room , grabbed a chair and started playing with Hudeidi , both men grinning and laughing as they worked their magic .
Sultan Ali Shire is Hudeidi 's official biographer .
He was also a long-time student of his and describes Hudeidi as `` the man who sowed the seeds of Somali music as it is today and the best father anyone could have '' .
Another of his students - and one who sometimes played in public with him - is author Nadifa Mohamed , who was like a daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me , '' she says .
`` He started off as a teacher of music , but taught me history , culture and language too .
Music poured out of him ; even in his kitchen he would start drumming his fingers on the worktops . ''
Hudeidi said it was not always possible to separate music from politics , especially during times of hardship , like the dictatorship of long-serving former President Siad Barre , or the long years of conflict , drought and other difficulties .
`` He was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the US-based Somali professor Ahmed Samatar .
`` An artistic pioneer with bottomless stamina .
He gave us over 70 years of high-octane performances . ''
You may also be interested in : • Mourning my friend , the dry cleaner of Mogadishu Mohamed says Hudeidi was `` always a rebel , supporting people 's right to be individuals '' .
This spirit did not sit well with everybody , including his parents , who were never happy with his musical career , right from the time he was a child .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , '' said Hudeidi .
`` Kick and punch became the medium of our encounters .
It was as if their boy had decided to destroy his life before it even bloomed . ''
Many of Hudeidi 's songs have become part of Somalis ' DNA , no matter where they come from , no matter which clan they belong to .
His favourite song was one he wrote for his brother , Uur Hooyo or Mother 's Womb : That my eyes graze on Do not take me lightly He saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of trying to maintain cultural continuity despite the divisions caused by 30 years of conflict .
`` The hearts of Somali musicians are heavy with sorrow that comes from our broken common history and thus the loss of our rich cultural heritage , '' he said .
He also saw music as a way of making sense of things .
`` The artistic imagination not only sharpens our view of the world .
It also presents us with ways of understanding , speaking about , dreaming about and conducting our lives . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I protect myself ?
• LOCKDOWNS : Why they may not be the answer in Africa • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.


bbc--2020-04-19--We are not prepared at all': Haiti, already impoverished, confronts a pandemic

With barely 60 ventilators for 11 million people , Haiti is the most vulnerable nation in the Americas to the coronavirus .
While many countries would struggle to cope with a serious spread of Covid-19 , Haiti might never recover from one .
The reality inside Haiti 's intensive care units is even bleaker than that number - taken from a 2019 study - suggests .
According to Stephan Dragon , a respiratory therapist in the capital , Port-au-Prince , the true number of ventilators is actually closer to 40 , and maybe 20 of those are n't working .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ very limited group of doctors who know how to operate them , '' Mr Dragon said .
The Haitian government has recently attempted to buy much-needed equipment - from ventilators to PPE , including tens of thousands of facemasks from Cuba - but Haitian healthcare practitioners like Mr Dragon fear it is too little , too late .
`` To tell you the truth , we are not prepared at all , '' he said .
So far , this small impoverished nation has only registered three deaths from the virus and 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be going unreported , especially in remote areas .
Levels of testing are low and enforcement of social distancing is patchy at best .
The Haitian population also suffers high levels of diabetes and other health conditions , and a major coronavirus outbreak would place an unbearable strain on a collapsing healthcare system .
Haiti 's ability to respond is confounded by its economic straits .
Around 60 % of Haitians live below the poverty line and many face a stark choice : either go about your daily business and run the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors , as the government advises , and be unable to put food on the table .
It is little wonder that so many are taking their chances .
That is the dilemma facing Jean Raymond and his family .
He lives in Furcy , a mountainous village outside of Port-au-Prince where most families scratch a meagre living from land .
Jean Raymond , however , is n't a farmer but a motorbike taxi driver , part of Haiti 's vast informal economy .
Rremaining indoors is not an option if he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , he said .
`` It 's impossible for me to not leave the house , '' he said .
`` If I 'm obligated to stay in my home , what would we eat ? ''
Jean Raymond 's wife , Lucienne , criticised the government for failing to show enough support in the village .
`` We want to respect the rules but we ca n't , '' she said .
`` I see what governments are doing in other countries , but here they are n't doing anything .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it has fallen to local grassroots organisations to carry out basic but vital tasks .
Clean water is a precious commodity in Furcy - indeed it is a scarce resource across Haiti - and one environmentalist group called Ekoloji pou Ayiti has prepared dozens of water canisters to make handwashing stations in some of the neediest communities .
Given the deep distrust of NGOs in Haiti , it was crucial to `` make sure the community leaders were part of the project , '' said Max Faublas , co-founder of Ekoloji pou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water stations , the group showed people how to make their own hand-sanitiser using vinegar .
They have also tried to tackle widespread misinformation with a public education campaign on the importance of wearing a facemask , avoiding handshakes and disinfecting shoes and clothes .
Still , although members of the community appreciate the rules in theory , putting them into practice can be hard .
For example , Jean Raymond and his family live with his parents - six people in a tiny home , all living on top of each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rural Furcy , it is almost out of the question for many in Haiti 's sprawling , densely-populated shantytowns .
In Port-au-Prince , market days have been cut back , creating further demand for basic food supplies .
Some are growing desperate .
There have been chaotic scenes outside food distribution points and trucks selling bread .
The government has been distributing food parcels to the most vulnerable households but many are angry at having to jostle and compete in a crowd for food .
`` The way they are distributing food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mesmin Louigene , told the Reuters news agency .
`` People do not respect social distancing .
The government should organise it better .
I 'm very concerned at the sanitary conditions , it 's very worrying . ''
That the looming healthcare crisis is a great threat to Haiti is of little surprise - that is true of most of Latin America and the Caribbean .
What 's especially deadly in the region 's poorest country though is the combination of the pandemic and a crippling economic crisis .
In a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said this week the country 's textile factories would re-open later this month , but the move runs contrary to advice from the Pan American Health Organisation to keep lockdown restrictions in place .
In Furcy , Jean Raymond was under no illusions about what a major COVID-19 outbreak would mean to his village .
`` If Coronavirus comes into my community , it would be a disaster .
We do n't have a hospital or even a good road .
The conditions we live in… '' his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no way .
We will all die if coronavirus comes here . ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

That the looming healthcare crisis is a great threat to Haiti is of little surprise - that is true of most of Latin America and the Caribbean. What's especially deadly in the region's poorest country though is the combination of the pandemic and a crippling economic crisis. In a bid to stave off further economic ruin, the Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe said this week the country's textile factories would re-open later this month, but the move runs contrary to advice from the Pan American Health Organisation to keep lockdown restrictions in place.


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Advice columnists give tips on dating, work and parents

The coronavirus outbreak has changed the way we all live and work - and , as a result , it 's given us a whole new , unprecedented , set of problems .
What if you ca n't stand your partner , now that you 're in lockdown together and can no longer ignore their annoying traits ?
Or worse - what if you broke up just before the order to stay at home , and are now awkwardly stuck under the same roof ?
If you 're lucky enough to work from home , how do you deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likes to micromanage you remotely ?
What if you still have to go in to work - and your boss wo n't let you wear a mask ?
What if your parents are driving you crazy ?
Or what if you just feel really lonely ?
For decades , advice columnists - or `` agony aunts '' - have been the go-to place for people wanting to ask for advice anonymously .
Now , the crisis means some columnists are getting more queries - and the questions have become more serious and urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to know '' The outbreak has dramatically changed the type of mail I 'm getting , '' says Alison Green , who runs the popular Ask A Manager advice column .
`` About 90 % of them are now related to the outbreak . ''
Harriette Cole , who writes the syndicated column Sense and Sensitivity , says `` there is no relationship today that is n't somehow affected '' .
She has had questions ranging from dealing with over-friendly neighbours who wo n't social distance , to staying in touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to use smart phones , to discussing class differences exposed by the pandemic with your child , after they realise all their friends have gone to second homes .
Frankly , this is a time when we could all use some advice and support - so we spoke to some of the US 's favourite agony aunts and uncles , to find out what problems are bothering their readers the most - and what advice they have .
'What if my workplace is n't safe ? '
Ms Green says that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her reader questions were about awkward interactions .
`` There was a lot of inter-personal stuff - like 'my co-worker is really annoying ' , or ' I 'm allergic to my boss ' perfume ' .
I have almost none of those questions now - because that stuff goes away if you 're not physically at work with people , and people 's priorities are different now . ''
Instead , her readers are particularly worried about job security - and whether their work environments are safe .
It 's a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Moneyist , an advice column on the finance media site Marketwatch .
Instead of personal finance queries , he says the `` lion 's share '' of questions are now about workplace safety - such as one from a grocery store worker who was in close proximity to customers , but banned from wearing a face mask .
`` Service workers in essential industries are really at the coal face , '' Mr Fottrell says .
`` People are just grappling with bosses who do n't understand the pandemic . ''
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pharmacies • How safe is takeaway food and grocery shopping ?
• On the front line of the coronavirus clean-up So what should you do if your workplace is unsafe ?
`` It 's really hard , but if your employer is making decisions that jeopardise your health , you can try to push back as a group , because there 's safety in numbers , '' says Ms Green .
`` Depending on the situation , it might also be something you can report to the state authorities . ''
'Should I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not working ? '
One question that struck Mr Fottrell came from someone who had cancelled their housekeeper 's cleaning services due to social distancing - but wondered if they should keep paying them .
His advice ?
That paying would be a `` decent gesture '' if they could afford it .
Since service staff have been hit particularly hard by the outbreak , he also suggests people tip 5 % more than usual .
`` I feel like it 's the lower paid workers who are really taking the brunt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I go to the supermarket , I always say 'thank you for working today ' . ''
'How do I handle working from home ? '
Another common theme Ms Green has seen is about remote working - with managers expecting employees to work around the clock , or workers finding it difficult to be productive at home while also looking after children .
`` Managers are suddenly managing everyone remotely - and some do n't know how to - so they micromanage , or want multiple check-ins every day .
I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay on video all day long '' to prove they 're working , Ms Green says .
For people with anxious bosses , Ms Green suggests that you offer to send them information at the start of each day about what you 're working on , and try to explain that having several check-in meetings daily could actually make you less productive .
• Five ways to work well from home • Zoom is in everyone 's living room - how safe is it ?
• Four out of five jobs affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers that it 's in their own interests to be supportive right now - and understanding of employees who may be less productive than usual .
`` People have long memories ...
If they see you making life harder for your employees - they may not leave right away , but they will eventually . ''
'How do I date during the outbreak ? '
Relationship advice columnists have also seen a drastic change .
Harris O'Malley runs the Dr Nerdlove column - which he describes as giving `` dating advice to geeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many questions were from readers who felt they were unattractive or socially awkward .
Thanks to social distancing , these questions have fallen away - partly , he believes , because `` a lot of my audience feel more secure communicating over text or internet than in person '' .
Instead , the outbreak has `` changed the mechanics '' of dating - and he now has to coach people on how to have good online dates .
`` I 'm having to tell people about how to connect on a more mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships vibrant when you ca n't fall back on the easy outs .
`` When you 're not able to meet up in person , you ca n't say 'let 's have this casual relationship and see if it goes anywhere ' - people are now finding they have to approach relationships with thought , care and attention . ''
'What if I ca n't meet my sex partner anymore ? '
Dan Savage , who runs the popular Savage Love column and podcast , says over 80 % of the queries he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak has forced him to change his advice as `` the very premise of many sex and dating questions has been exploded '' by the outbreak .
Previously , he often advocated for non-monogamous and open relationships .
Now , he finds himself telling readers they should stay monogamous with partners they live with to observe social distancing .
• Sex and dating while on lockdown He also gets questions about `` sexting '' .
`` It 's funny how this crisis has mainstreamed online sex - even a government health department is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer sex , '' he says .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health 'What if I ca n't stand my partner anymore ? '
Beyond online sex , Dan Savage says many readers `` find being forced to spend every moment with their partner is exposing cracks in their relationship '' .
It 's important that couples `` carve out time alone '' even when they are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We interpret someone wanting 'alone time ' as rejection , but studies show one predictor of long-term success in a couple is the ability to spend time apart . ''
Some of the most memorable questions he received came from a reader who broke up just before the shelter-in-place order , and a woman who told her husband she was thinking about leaving , right before the lockdown .
In those cases , he has suggested that readers stay put where possible , and `` acknowledge the awkwardness '' .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave her husband , he suggested signalling some flexibility for now - even if her mind 's made up - to make her temporary living situation more bearable for them both .
'What if I 'm single and feel lonely ? '
All the relationship advice columnists we spoke to said they received more questions from readers who are single and feel particularly lonely right now .
Mr O'Malley says clients `` who are lonely and want to date '' have asked him whether they can flirt with people they see in public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell them : no , you really ca n't - it 's kind of irresponsible to do so right now . ''
• How to cope with living alone in isolation Ms Cole has received a lot of what she describes as `` young love '' questions - from teenagers who like each other and have started communicating on Snapchat , but are unable to hang out at school and get to know each other .
`` Normally by now they would be [ meeting ] each other .
Now all they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her advice ?
To try doing things the old-school way , by `` literally talking on the phone '' , because `` engaging in lengthier conversations will help you to get to know each other better '' .
Mr Savage urges single readers not to assume that couples are happier .
`` Happiness is something we create for ourselves .
We all need to build lives that are rich , as individuals , because there will be times in all our lives when we 're un-partnered .
Work on getting happy now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later . ''
'What if I 'm stuck with my parents ? '
John Paul Brammer writes the ¡Hola Papi !
column , which advises on LGBT issues - particularly for the Latino community .
He says he has seen a dramatic jump in the number of reader queries - and is `` getting a lot of letters from people who 've found they 've had to re-closet themselves '' during the pandemic .
• ' I 'm stuck in isolation with my homophobic parents' Some of his readers are out to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others may be out , but still `` feel more comfortable expressing their full selves outside their homes '' .
`` Now that a lot of people find themselves at home with their parents 24/7 , a lot of anxiety returns - they feel re-closeted or like they 're losing who they are . ''
His advice is to remember that `` this is temporary , and you 're still you '' , and to try and communicate your feelings with a supportive family member or friends .
He also urges people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to be connected right now… pain is what bonds people together '' .
'How do I mentally get through this outbreak ? ''
These may be unprecedented times - but coronavirus is n't the first crisis the world has faced .
Ms Green started the Ask a Manager column in 2007 - shortly before the recession hit - and remembers that `` for years , my mail was very depressing '' .
Similarly , Mr Savage began his column in 1991 , and says his early column was dominated by questions from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He emphasises that things wo n't always be like this .
`` It 's terrifying , I 'm scared , but we will come through this… The crisis is highlighting a lot of social injustices , and hopefully that will stiffen our resolve to do something about it after the crisis ends . ''
Meanwhile , Mr Fottrell says `` one of the most valuable functions of an advice column is it shows people who have n't written in '' that others are experiencing similar problems .
`` You are not alone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and while we are unique as people , if you 're experiencing something , you can be sure many others are too . ''
And finally - it 's OK to take a break from following the crisis .
Agony aunts as well as their readers welcome having the chance to address something different , columnists told BBC .
Mr O'Malley recalls a recent question submitted to the Dr Nerdlove column , where a reader was `` worried about the size and appearance of his genitalia '' .
`` I never thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really appreciated a question that was n't about Covid-19 ! ''

"Normally by now they would be [meeting] each other. Now all they have is social media," she says. Her advice? To try doing things the old-school way, by "literally talking on the phone", because "engaging in lengthier conversations will help you to get to know each other better".


bbc--2020-04-12--Coronavirus: What's the latest with Brexit and other big stories?

Over the past few months , the coronavirus pandemic has absorbed all the energy of the news cycle .
There has n't been an event like it in our lifetimes .
But this is n't to say that it 's the only important thing happening in the world right now .
So what 's going on elsewhere - and what happened to some of the other big news stories of the year ?
For about three years you hardly heard about anything else in the UK .
Now , of course , the focus is on the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment after contracting Covid-19 and the European Union and UK chief negotiators only recently coming out of coronavirus quarantine , Downing Street insists it will stick to its original timetable .
The UK formally left the European Union on 31 January .
But we are now in a transition period up to 31 December , during which the UK is still treated pretty much as an EU member while negotiations continue .
Britain 's government says an EU-UK trade deal must be in place by the last day of the year .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't prolong the transition period beyond that deadline .
The idea behind the transition period was to minimise disruption caused to business and travel between the UK and the EU .
It can be extended by a year or two - which the EU thinks would be a sensible move under the circumstances .
There has only been one round of EU-UK trade negotiations so far .
They restart this week via video conference and both sides say they 'll do their best to make good and speedy progress .
But time is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK and EU businesses - already struggling with the upheaval caused by the coronavirus - need another big change come the end of this year .
But whatever they think , EU leaders wo n't formally ask the UK for an extension .
The tight timetable was decided by Boris Johnson , they say .
A decision to delay - if there is one - must come from London .
• All you need to know about Brexit • Trade talks : What do the UK and EU want ?
A ceasefire few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for now , as the last rebel-held area in northwest Syria braces for the expected onslaught of the deadly coronavirus .
`` People are breathing for the time being , and that can be viewed as a side effect of the pandemic , '' says Hassan Hassan of the Center for Global Policy .
`` The ceasefire is hanging by a thread , but it 's hanging nonetheless . ''
• Why is there a war in Syria ?
The 5 March truce agreed by Russia and Turkey halted a dangerous escalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the border to try to halt a Syrian offensive to retake this last province lost in nine punishing years of war .
But Idlib 's breathing space is also fraught with fear of this new enemy .
The province 's health system has been decimated by fighting , including the blistering air campaign by Russian and Syrian warplanes .
Nearly a million displaced people , sheltering inside flimsy tents , or on open ground , have few defences against the powerful Covid-19 .
`` There 's a humanitarian and political imperative… for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria , '' said UN Special Envoy to Syria , Geir Pedersen , in his recent briefing to the UN Security Council .
Turkey and Russia , who back opposing sides , now call the shots .
`` I do n't think Turkey or Russia believe this ceasefire will hold for a long time , '' says Dareen Khalifa , Senior Analyst with the International Crisis Group .
`` It left key issues unresolved . ''
That includes the future of the jihadist group Hayat Tahir al-Sham ( HTS ) , which dominates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this truce , is said to be regrouping .
The Syrian and Turkish armies are also taking advantage of this pause to reinforce in preparation for the next round of battle .
It may be just a matter of time - but now , it seems , is not the time .
For nearly a month , the race among Democrats to see who would take on US President Donald Trump in the general election was in deep freeze .
Former Vice-President Joe Biden had a commanding lead in the primaries , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered the front-runner - was unwilling to concede .
Meanwhile , state after state postponed their primary votes because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Both candidates cancelled all public events and only issued video statements and conducted interviews from their homes .
That changed on Wednesday , as Sanders suspended his campaign , all but ensuring that in November American voters will choose between Trump and Biden .
Exactly when - and how - the two candidates will be formally nominated by their parties is in some doubt , however .
The Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-July to August in the hope that a gathering of thousands of activists , officials and party faithful will then be possible , both from a health and logistical standpoint .
But that new date , along with the Republican convention set for the end of August , still seems questionable .
• What went wrong for Bernie Sanders ?
As for the race itself , Trump has seen a slight bump in his poll standings since the pandemic began , perhaps due to his ubiquitous television presence in daily afternoon White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slight advantage in head-to-head matchups , however , suggesting the race is destined to be close .
But there 's no telling what the national mood will be in a few weeks , let alone when the November voting day arrives .
The conflict in Yemen , which entered its sixth year in March , has long been labelled the world 's forgotten war .
With the past few weeks seeing yet another spike in the fighting , and as the world 's attention is firmly fixed elsewhere , Yemen 's war has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago , attacks on cities in Saudi Arabia , claimed by Houthi rebels , led to a series of retaliatory airstrikes on Northern Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition .
• Yemen crisis : Why is there a war ?
It is n't just the fighting that Yemen 's civilians are having to endure .
I remember reporting on the cholera epidemic in 2016 , and memories of the country 's inability to respond to the spread of the disease are still fresh in my mind .
It was heart-breaking to watch as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had no hospital to turn to .
That Yemen is now facing the threat of a new ruthless disease , one which requires hospital beds and ventilators the country does n't have , is a terrifying prospect .
The announcement of a ceasefire this week will be welcome news for most Yemenis , but the heavy toll of the past half-decade means that even if the war was to end today , it would take decades for the country to recover .
Six years of bombings and destruction have resulted in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's worst humanitarian crisis '' .
The scale , severity and complexity of the country 's needs are staggering .
The war has deeply fractured Yemen 's economy and reduced its public institutions , its infrastructure and its health system to rubble .
Eighty per cent of the entire population require external aid just to survive .
And yet , the UN announced this week that it was decreasing its operations in the country , citing lack of funding .
As the spectre of Covid-19 looms larger , people across Yemen , fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to cope against the impending threat , are bracing themselves .
In early November , the New South Wales government announced a state of emergency and issued the first catastrophic fire warning since the rating was put in place 10 years ago .
Record-breaking heat , strong winds and the relentless drought - which lasted for at least three years in some areas - fuelled the bushfires .
The blazes left 11 million hectares scorched and more than 2,000 properties destroyed .
Australia 's wildlife was decimated .
One billion animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kangaroos made global headlines .
The controversy and anger towards the prime minister and the way he handled the crisis and his approach to climate change were as much a part of the story as the fires themselves .
Eventually the rain came , flooding some areas while ending years of drought in others .
There was enough rain to put out most of the fires until they were all under control .
It was a huge reprieve for the volunteer firefighters who had not stopped working for months and were exhausted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Wales Rural Fire Service announced the official end of the most destructive bushfire season the state and the country has experienced .
Although the fires are out , the damage is still there .
The bushfires had a catastrophic impact on the economy - especially in the tourism sector .
Many communities have been trying to rebuild , but it 's been a slow and difficult process , now made more difficult by the fact everything is on hold because of Covid-19 .
Many families are worried that with the government now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , their own losses and struggles will be forgotten .

Exactly when - and how - the two candidates will be formally nominated by their parties is in some doubt, however. The Democrats have already moved their national convention from mid-July to August in the hope that a gathering of thousands of activists, officials and party faithful will then be possible, both from a health and logistical standpoint. But that new date, along with the Republican convention set for the end of August, still seems questionable.


bbc--2020-04-19--Together At Home concert: 9 things we spotted

Lady Gaga 's ridiculously star-studded Together At Home concert saw everyone from Paul McCartney to Taylor Swift come together in support of front-line workers during the coronavirus crisis .
The eight-hour broadcast saw more than 100 musicians performing in their living rooms , and broadcast on TV and streaming services around the globe .
Under the circumstances , the quality varied wildly - but there was a voyeuristic thrill to seeing inside the apartments where pop stars are spending the lockdown .
Excerpts of the show will be broadcast on BBC One from 19:15 BST on Sunday , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little Mix , Tom Jones and Rag ' N ' Bone Man .
Until then , here are some of the highlights , lowlights and other things we spotted during the Living Room Live Aid .
Taylor Swift once said she would never play Soon You 'll Get Better live , because the subject matter - her mother 's cancer diagnosis - was too emotionally difficult .
But she powered through it on Sunday night , her eyes clenched firmly shut for most of the performance .
In the context of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God in hospital waiting rooms carried extra emotional heft , as they summoned thoughts of people suffering from the virus , and the worries of their loved ones .
When Swift 's voice caught on the line , `` What am I supposed to do if there 's no you ? ''
more than a few of us choked up with her .
2 ) The Rolling Stones had drums - but no drum kit Never in a million years would we suggest that The Rolling Stones were playing to a backing track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magic armchair , there 's no way those drum sounds were coming from his living room .
3 ) Charlie Puth did n't even bother to make his bed What will his mum say when she sees this ?
( Puth is at his parent 's house , so we half expected her to walk in and yell at him halfway through his performance of See You Again . )
For the most part , though , pop stars made an effort to tidy up - or at least shove all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we were impressed by Delta Goodrem conspicuously positioning her camera to point at her awards cabinet .
`` During hardships like this , we have to lean on each other , '' said Stevie Wonder .
`` My friend , the late Bill Withers , has the perfect song about that , and I want us all to remember him tonight . ''
He gave a stunning performance of the soul classic , mixing in elements of his own Love 's In Need Of Love Today .
It was a perfectly-judged and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was watching at home , summed it up best .
5 ) Some people had better microphones than others Sheryl Crow won easily , performing from the professional studio she installed in her backyard barn in Tennessee .
Let 's just look at that room from another angle ... How many guitars does one multi-platinum-selling recording artist need ?
But Crow was one of the lucky ones .
Other artists were apparently reduced to playing a backing track off CD and singing into their laptop , while The Killers were apparently playing Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems were particularly apparent during the pre-show - but even Paul McCartney managed to record his video contribution in portrait mode instead of landscape .
Rookie error !
( Unless he thought he was going on TikTok instead of a major international simulcast . )
However , organisers Global Citizen said the lack of polish was partially deliberate .
Showing stars struggling with the technology helped reinforce the message of solidarity .
`` We do n't want to make [ it ] more professional , '' CEO Hugh Evans told Variety .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people are ( singing ) from their homes .
We 're not planning to dial up the production , because we want the money to go toward the cause .
Because we really believe that 's what matters most . ''
What , you expected J Lo to turn up in a smock with her hair tied up in a dishrag ?
Let 's face it , that was never going to happen .
Lopez stayed true to form , conjuring up all the the glitz and glamour we 've missed during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of Barbara Streisand 's People while bathed in the warm glow of a hundred fairy lights .
7 ) Christine And The Queens was concerned for our mental health If the lockdown has you feeling low , you 're not alone .
`` It 's really strange , '' said pop star Christine And The Queens .
`` It 's all about screens now and no human contact , and I know it can be draining emotionally .
It 's the fourth week here in France and it 's been quite intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ but ] do n't hesitate to reach out to people virtually if you feel down , '' she added .
The singer , whose real name is Heloise Letissier , went on to play People , I 've Been Sad - a vulnerable and intimate song that shared her own struggles with happiness .
It was one of the night 's most affecting performances .
Not everyone who took part had a home studio or the ability to play with their regular band , which led to some clever video treatments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his wife Nicole Kidman , became his own backing band - with three Keiths all playing simultaneously on a cover of Steve Winwood 's Higher Love .
John Legend put together a colourful clip for his single Bigger Love that featured several dancers interacting with one another , despite being in self-isolation ( with a glorious twist right at the end ) .
One member of the K-Pop band SuperM drew an exclusive artwork for fans live during his band 's performance of With You .
And chat show host Jimmy Fallon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a coronavirus-themed cover of Men Without Hats ' Safety Dance .
`` We can dance , we can dance , everybody 's washing their hands , '' the rewritten lyrics declared .
9 ) Streaming has changed the nature of benefit shows '' Hi guys , I 'm Ellie Goulding and I 'm going to play some songs for you , '' said ( you guessed it ) Ellie Goulding .
But the singer only got to run through one track before the show cut away to Christine And The Queens .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to record a handful of numbers , with the recordings scattered throughout the eight-hour event .
Goulding , nestled amongst some zebra-print cushions , turned up again several hours later to play an acoustic version of Burn .
Presumably organisers they felt that , in the pick-and-mix era of music streaming , people would n't stick around for a full 15-minute , Live Aid-style set from each artist .
But it also lent the show a sense of pace it might have lacked without the multiple camera angles and frenetic editing viewers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape the format of benefit concerts for years to come .
The entire extravaganza can be re-watched on streaming platforms right now .
In the UK , BBC One will be showing a cut-down of the best bits on Sunday night and you can get full details of that programme here .
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"I think right now everyone is understanding that people are (singing) from their homes. We're not planning to dial up the production, because we want the money to go toward the cause. Because we really believe that's what matters most."


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: US protests against and for lockdown restrictions

Protesters have voiced their anger over lockdown restrictions in the US in a series of demonstrations .
Measures brought in @ @ @ @ @ spread of Covid-19 have been criticised as too harsh by some , while others say @ @ @ @ @ .

Protesters have voiced their anger over lockdown restrictions in the US in a series of demonstrations.
Measures brought in to try to stop the spread of Covid-19 have been criticised as too harsh by some, while others say they aren't tough enough.


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Spanish PM promises to ease confinement of children

Spanish children have been kept at home since 14 March , under strict measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 .
Now Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez aims to relax the rule on 27 April so they can `` get some fresh air '' .
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau , who has young children herself , this week pleaded with the government to allow children outside .
Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic and almost 200,000 reported cases .
In a televised briefing on Saturday evening , Mr Sánchez said Spain had left behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the brutal onslaught of the pandemic '' .
But he said he would ask parliament to extend Spain 's state of alarm to 9 May as the achievements made were `` still insufficient and above all fragile '' and could not be jeopardised by `` hasty decisions '' .
Spain 's latest coronavirus figures appear to confirm the virus 's downward curve , given that at one point earlier this month the country was recording nearly 1,000 deaths each day .
Also , the number of daily new infections appears to have stabilised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that weekend figures can be misleading because of a delay by local authorities in reporting data , the apparently improving picture will further encourage calls for the lifting of certain restrictions .
There has been growing social and political pressure on Prime Minister Sánchez to allow children , in particular , to go outside .
Opposition leader Pablo Casado tweeted that `` these little heroes are climbing the walls '' after more than a month of not being allowed out beyond the confines of their homes .
However , a poll published by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of those asked thought that the lockdown should be maintained as it is for the time being .
Another 410 deaths were reported on Sunday - fewer than Saturday .
The latest toll is well down from the peak of the pandemic , and the government allowed some non-essential workers to resume construction and manufacturing last Monday .
However , the main lockdown measures remain in place , with adults only allowed out to visit food shops and pharmacies or work considered essential .
Children have been barred from going outside their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest names in music , including Lady Gaga , Paul McCartney and Billie Eilish , have joined forces to celebrate healthcare workers in a globally televised concert • Donald Trump has chided some Democrat state governors , saying they were getting carried away with imposing too many coronavirus restrictions • The world 's Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter - the most important festival in their calendar - amid a series of restrictions and bans • Israel has announced that it will begin a gradual easing of its strict coronavirus lockdown • Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Muslims are exempted from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan - due to start this week - if they feel it would pose a serious threat to their health Spain 's eight million children have already spent five weeks in confinement and there has been growing unease at the risk to their health .
The Spanish Children 's Rights Coalition has warned of mental and physical health problems for children as a result of such measures and called for boys and girls to be allowed outside to play and do some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get out , '' the Barcelona mayor demanded .
`` Wait no more : Free our children ! ''
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health Other countries such as Denmark have begun opening up schools for under-11s while Norway is set to reopen kindergartens on Monday .
Germany will reopen some schools on 4 May although the most populous state will begin opening up from Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis .
However , none of these countries has been as badly hit by the virus as Spain .
From a week on Monday , the prime minister said , children will be allowed out but he added that he had not yet decided how it would be organised and it would have to be `` limited and subject to conditions to avoid contagion '' .
`` The proposal is that starting from 27 April they have the opportunity to leave their homes and for a while in the day they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , without specifying for how long that would be .
Mr Sánchez said he would discuss the details of easing the restrictions with regional leaders on Sunday and following the advice of paediatricians .
Reports said the relaxation would only apply to under-12s but that has not been confirmed .
He accepted that many children were living in homes of 40-50 sq m ( 430-540 sq ft ) in size and that the youngest would be allowed out in the street .

There has been growing social and political pressure on Prime Minister Sánchez to allow children, in particular, to go outside. Opposition leader Pablo Casado tweeted that "these little heroes are climbing the walls" after more than a month of not being allowed out beyond the confines of their homes.


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Lifting lockdown requires balanced judgement - Gove

The government will make a `` balanced judgement '' when deciding how to relax the coronavirus lockdown , Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has said .
The government does not yet have the information to show it would be safe to lift the restrictions , he told the BBC 's Andrew Marr Show .
It comes after a Sunday Times report said schools could reopen as early as 11 May as part of an exit plan .
Mr Gove dismissed that as `` not true '' , saying no decision had been made .
He also added that hospitality venues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions lifted .
The UK 's lockdown was extended on Thursday for another three weeks .
Strict limits on daily life - such as requiring people to stay at home , shutting many businesses and preventing gatherings of more than two people - were first introduced on 23 March , as the government tried to limit the spread of coronavirus .
The latest figures for the UK show 15,464 people have died in hospitals .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
Calls for the government to provide an exit plan to end the lockdown have intensified , and some other countries have begun to relax their measures .
Mr Gove said the UK government was taking `` a deliberately cautious and measured approach guided by the science '' .
He said : `` When we have the information , when we have the data that allows us confidently to relax those restrictions we will do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is not yet in place . ''
He also said that while the government was investing in trying to get a vaccine as `` quickly as possible '' it could not be certain when it would be ready .
`` I do n't think it 's the case that anybody should automatically assume that a vaccine is a dead cert to come soon . ''
Prof Sarah Gilbert , who is leading a team developing a vaccine at Oxford University , told the BBC 's Andrew Marr that they hoped to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week but nobody could be sure it was possible `` to find a workable vaccine '' .
She said they would need government support to accelerate manufacturing because the UK currently does not have the facilities to make the vaccine on a large scale .
As the trials progress , she said more people would be vaccinated - including the older population - to look at the safety and immune response of the vaccine .
`` That 's important because it 's the older population that we really need to protect with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you get not-so-good immune responses as the immune system ages . ''
She added that other coronaviruses have shown scientists that immunity is not usually very long-lived , but there was a difference between immunity acquired after natural infection and immunity acquired after vaccination .
`` We could find the vaccine-induced immunity lasts a lot longer than infection-induced immunity , '' she said .
Mr Gove was also asked about a wide-ranging report in the Sunday Times which criticised the government 's response to the outbreak .
The report said Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Covid-19 , had missed five meetings of the Cobra emergency committee in the run-up to the outbreak .
Mr Gove said : `` He did n't ( attend ) but then he would n't - because most Cobra meetings do n't have the prime minister attending them . ''
He added that it was `` grotesque '' to portray Mr Johnson `` as though not caring about this '' .
The report also said the government ignored calls to order more personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for healthcare staff , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Gove said the UK had sent protective clothing to help China deal with its outbreak , but said Beijing had generously given far more back .
The UK is due to receive 84 tonnes of PPE for medics and care home workers from Turkey on Sunday .
That follows warnings from the healthcare sector that stock was at a `` critical '' level .
However , on Saturday , Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick did not dispute the suggestion that the 400,000 gowns in the shipment would only last NHS England around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would own up to any errors it had made , Mr Gove said : `` All governments make mistakes , including our own .
We seek to learn and to improve every day .
`` It is the case , I 'm sure , at some point in the future , that there will be an opportunity for us to look back , to reflect and to learn some profound lessons . ''
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said there were `` serious questions about the government 's immediate response to this pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act '' .
`` We knew in February how serious this virus was .
Yet today our NHS and care staff are still lacking adequate PPE , '' he added .

He said: "When we have the information, when we have the data that allows us confidently to relax those restrictions we will do so, but that data, that information, is not yet in place."


bbc--2020-04-18--Coronavirus: Will Covid-19 speed up the use of robots to replace human workers?

As a pandemic grips the world , a person could be forgiven if they had forgotten about another threat to humanity 's way of life - the rise of robots .
For better or worse the robots are going to replace many humans in their jobs , analysts say , and the coronavirus outbreak is speeding up the process .
`` People usually say they want a human element to their interactions but Covid-19 has changed that , '' says Martin Ford , a futurist who has written about the ways robots will be integrated into the economy in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to change consumer preference and really open up new opportunities for automation . ''
Companies large and small are expanding how they use robots to increase social distancing and reduce the number of staff that have to physically come to work .
Robots are also being used to perform roles workers can not do at home .
Walmart , America 's biggest retailer , is using robots to scrub its floors .
Robots in South Korea have been used to measure temperatures and distribute hand sanitiser .
With health experts warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in place through 2021 , robot workers may be in greater demand .
Companies that make cleaning and sanitising products have seen demand soar .
UVD Robots , the Danish manufacture of ultraviolet-light-disinfection robots , shipped hundreds of its machines to hospitals in China and Europe .
Groceries and restaurants offering takeaway are using these machines more too .
Experts say as more businesses re-open we can expect to see further adoption of this technology - you may see robots cleaning your schools or offices .
`` Customers now care more about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of workers , '' says Blake Morgan , author of The Customer of the Future .
`` Moves towards automation can keep them all healthier and customers will reward companies that do this . ''
There are still limitations .
Ms Morgan points out that automated checkouts at groceries should reduce human interactions but because many systems do n't work well or break easily customers avoid them and go to human cashiers instead .
Food service is another area where the use of robots is likely to increase because of health concerns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing robots as cooks and servers .
In warehouses , like those operated by Amazon and Walmart , robots were already used to improve efficiency .
The Covid-19 outbreak has both companies looking to increase the use of robots for sorting , shipping and packing .
This may reduce the number of complaints by warehouse workers who say they can not social-distance from their colleagues under the current conditions .
But , according to technology experts , it would put some of them out of work .
Once a company has invested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's unlikely the firm will ever rehire for that role .
Robots are more expensive to create and integrate into businesses but once they are up and running , robots are typically cheaper than human workers .
According to the futurist Martin Ford , using robots in the post Covid-19 world also presents some marketing advantages .
`` People will prefer to go to a place that has fewer workers and more machines because they feel they can lower overall risk , '' he explains AI that 's as real as humans What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to offer a lesson or guideline ?
Artificial intelligence is being developed that can replace school tutors , fitness trainers and financial advisers .
Big tech companies are expanding the use of artificial intelligence .
Both Facebook and Google are relying on AI to remove more inappropriate posts since the companies ' human content moderators ca n't review certain things from home .
Robot sceptics had believed humans would have an edge in those jobs .
That could be changing as lockdowns have made humans more comfortable with the idea of connecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the screen does n't need to be a real person , it just needs to think and act like one .
A 2017 report by global consultants McKinsey predicted a third of workers in the US would be replaced by automation and robots by 2030 .
But events like pandemics have the potential to change all the timelines and experts say it 's really up to humans to decide how they want to integrate this technology in the world .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise • STRESS : How to look after your mental health

Robot sceptics had believed humans would have an edge in those jobs. That could be changing as lockdowns have made humans more comfortable with the idea of connecting remotely. The instructor or adviser on the screen doesn't need to be a real person, it just needs to think and act like one.


bbc--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Care home deaths 'far higher' than official figures

New data has added to growing evidence that the number of deaths linked to coronavirus in UK care homes may be far higher than those recorded so far .
The National Care Forum ( NCF ) estimates that more than 4,000 elderly and disabled people have died across all residential and nursing homes .
Its report comes amid calls for accurate data on virus-linked deaths .
Only 217 such care home deaths have been officially recorded in England and Wales up to 3 April .
The NCF , which represents not-for-profit care providers , said its findings highlight significant flaws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics .
• How deadly is the coronavirus ?
It collected data from care homes looking after more than 30,000 people in the UK , representing 7.4 % of those people living in one of the country 's thousands of care settings .
It said that , across those specific homes , in the week between 7 April and 13 April , there had been 299 deaths linked to coronavirus .
That was treble the figure for the previous week and double that in the whole of the preceding month .
If that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes , NCF estimated there have been 4,040 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes which are not yet included in official figures .
Meanwhile , Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has denied reports the government has drawn up a graduated plan to start easing the lockdown within weeks .
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sky News , he said : `` It is the case that we are looking at all of the evidence , but we have set some tests which need to be passed before we can think of easing restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Williamson said `` no decision has been made '' on when schools in England , which were closed on 20 March , will reopen .
Responding to a report in the Sunday Times suggesting some pupils could return in early May , he tweeted : `` I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so . ''
But addressing claims in the same paper that ministers had failed to prepare properly for the outbreak , shadow health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious questions about the government 's immediate response to this pandemic and whether they were too slow to act '' .
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : How do I protect myself ?
• AVOIDING CONTACT : The rules on self-isolation and exercise • WHAT WE DO N'T KNOW How to understand the death toll • TESTING : Can I get tested for coronavirus ?
The daily number of UK-wide coronavirus deaths , announced each day by the government , only includes people who died with the virus in hospital in the four nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because the hospital figures can be quickly collated and released , enabling their experts to analyse trends to help them advise on how the UK is coping with the virus .
Virus-related deaths in care homes - and elsewhere in the community , such as in hospices or in people 's own houses - are measured separately and figures covering England and Wales are announced on a weekly basis by the Office for National Statistics every Tuesday .
Because these are based on what doctors write on death certificates - sometimes only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - there is a two-week lag on collecting this data from the thousands of care homes involved .
For that reason , the figures issued last Tuesday only went up to 3 April .
• How big is the problem in care homes ?
• Which regions have been worst hit by coronavirus ?
That official figure of 217 is less than half the figure provided by two of the UK 's largest care home providers which , between them , say they know of 442 coronavirus-related deaths .
The Care Quality Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics of care home deaths , has been accused by some in the residential care sector of `` dragging their heels '' .
The CQC , England 's health and social care regulator , said it was working to `` provide more detailed information about how the pandemic is affecting care homes '' .
Separately , analysis from Care England , which represents large care home providers in England , claims that there have been 7,500 more deaths in care home - from all causes - in the last two weeks than would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And modelling by the health consultancy , Candesic , for the Financial Times , suggested the number of deaths due to the epidemic in UK care homes was at least 6,000 .
The fact the National Care Forum is saying there 's been such a rapid increase in deaths is not surprising - the hospital figures show deaths have been increasing at a similar rate , before beginning to slow more recently .
But it is the scale of the deaths which is shocking .
They are effectively saying the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Office for National Statistics figures suggest .
The NCF has relied on its own staff to say whether they suspect a person has died of coronavirus as well as including the confirmed cases , whereas the official figures rely on cases where doctors have recorded the virus on death certificates .
Since we have not had widespread testing in care homes so far it is very difficult to really judge the true impact .
The government is now promising more testing so it will only be in the coming weeks and months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rayner , the NCF 's executive director , said that as long as residents in care services are omitted from the most widely-quoted statistics , the government will not be able to properly plan how to protect its people or prepare an exit strategy .
She said : `` Our current national debate on how to mitigate and exit this crisis is virtually entirely centred on the management of the peak within hospitals .
`` We are overlooking how this crisis is playing out in other settings , which are there to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of the virus .
`` If we truly believe that every life has value , there can be no meaningful discussions about exit strategies without considering these individuals . ''
A statement from the Department of Health said : `` Every death from this virus is a tragedy and that is why we are working around the clock to give the social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this global pandemic . ''
The statement added that it was particularly focusing on providing tests for care workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to any protective equipment that they required .
Elsewhere , 84 tonnes of personal protective equipment for medics and care home workers is due to arrive in the UK today from Turkey .
It follows warnings from the healthcare sector that stock was at `` critical '' level .
The government has appointed Lord Deighton , who headed the Organising Committee of the London Olympics , to resolve problems with supplies and distribution of PPE .
However , speaking at Saturday 's Downing Street briefing , Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the shipment would only last NHS England around three days .
• Lady Gaga , Paul McCartney and Billie Eilish were among more than 100 artists to perform from their homes in a globally televised concert , organised to celebrate healthcare workers • Front-line NHS staff should receive an extra £29-a-day reward for their service during the pandemic , the Lib Dems have said • Public Health England will start recording coronavirus cases and deaths by ethnicity , after research suggested people from black , Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 • Parks and cemeteries must stay open , Mr Jenrick said , as he announced an extra £1.6bn for local councils in England • Britons in Bangladesh will be able to fly home this week , with up to 850 seats available on four repatriation flights • Rules which have kept Spanish children indoors since 14 March are due to be relaxed later this month so they can `` get some fresh air '' , the country 's prime minister has announced Have you been affected by the issues raised in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
You can also contact us in the following ways : • Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Since we have not had widespread testing in care homes so far it is very difficult to really judge the true impact. The government is now promising more testing so it will only be in the coming weeks and months that we will really know.