bbc--2020-08-20--Africa's week in pictures: 14-20 August 2020

On Tuesday South African farmers stage a protest about attacks on farms .
The two in the picture , Alwyn @ @ @ @ @ wife Pauline , were attacked in March .
She survived but he died .

Image caption,
On Tuesday South African farmers stage a protest about attacks on farms. The two in the picture, Alwyn van Zyl, and his wife Pauline, were attacked in March. She survived but he died.


bbc--2020-08-20--When a young reporter met Angelina Jolie to chat all things film

It 's not every day you get to meet your heroes .
Especially when they 're one of the biggest @ @ @ @ @ .
Newsround viewer and aspiring actress Sofia got the chance to do just that when @ @ @ @ @ Sofia was speaking to Angelina ahead of the release of Disney 's The One and @ @ @ @ @ , which was originally meant to be in cinemas , is being released straight onto @ @ @ @ @ One and Only Ivan is released on Disney + on 21 August .

It's not every day you get to meet your heroes... especially when that hero is one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
Newsround viewer and aspiring actress Sofia got the chance to do just that when she interviewed Angelina Jolie.
Sofia was speaking to Angelina ahead of the release of Disney's The One and Only Ivan.
The film, which was originally meant to be in cinemas, is being released straight onto streaming platform Disney+.
The One and Only Ivan is released on Disney+ on 21 August.


bbc--2020-08-20--The downfall of Steve Bannon

The downfall of Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon - the driving force behind the right-wing Breitbart News website who later became Donald Trump 's chief strategist - has been charged with fraud three years after leaving the White House .
He is alleged to have been part of a group who defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors who thought they were contributing money to build a wall on the US-Mexico border to block illegal immigration .
During the 2016 presidential campaign and in the White House , Mr Bannon had a direct line to President Trump - who seemed to be his ideological soulmate .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left his post in August 2017 as their relationship began to cool .
Since then the former Hollywood producer has campaigned for a privately-funded wall on the border - making Mr Trump 's signature 2016 campaign promise his personal mission .
But in August 2020 , less than three months before an election deciding whether Mr Trump gets a second term , prosecutors in New York indicted and arrested him .
He pleaded not guilty .
Mr Bannon left the White House in August 2017 after months of reported power struggles with Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jared Kushner , as well as other high-level Trump advisors .
Mr Trump had also reportedly grown weary of press leaks and of Mr Bannon taking credit for his election victory .
Mr Bannon headed back to Breitbart , vowing to wage war on the president 's opponents , saying : `` I 've got my hands back on my weapons ...
It 's Bannon the Barbarian . ''
But the schisms soon started to show .
Mr Bannon said Mr Trump 's firing of the FBI 's director had been the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also defied the president by championing a controversial Alabama Senate candidate who crashed to a humiliating defeat against a Democrat .
The divide grew when Mr Bannon was quoted in a book as describing a meeting between Mr Trump 's son and a group of Russians - an encounter that featured prominently in Mr Trump 's impeachment trial - as `` treasonous '' .
`` Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency .
When he was fired , he not only lost his job , he lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
Mr Bannon swiftly recanted , but the damage was done .
One of Breitbart News 's major financial backers , Rebekah Mercer , cut him loose and days later he stepped down .
In January 2018 , Mr Trump took to Twitter to cheer the decision with a new moniker for his old ally .
`` The Mercer Family recently dumped the leaker known as Sloppy Steve Bannon .
Smart ! ''
Mr Trump wrote .
But by August 2019 , wounds appeared to have healed .
Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` one of my best pupils '' and `` still a giant Trump fan '' .
In August 2020 , Mr Bannon , 66 , was indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering along with three other alleged co-conspirators .
The `` We Build the Wall '' project `` defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors , capitalising on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars , under the false pretence that all of that money would be spent on construction '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney for the Southern District of New York .
Mr Bannon had received more than $ 1m through a non-profit organisation he controlled , at least some of which he used to `` cover hundreds of thousands of dollars '' worth of personal expenses , she alleged .
Meanwhile , Brian Kolfage - founder of `` We Build the Wall '' - `` covertly took '' $ 350,000 for his personal use , prosecutors alleged .
From the beginning , the project had been mired in controversy with critics saying the three miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped construct was too close to the Rio Grande river .
As a result , it quickly suffered from severe erosion that threatened its stability .
The project had been sparked by a 2018 online campaign after Congress refused to approve funds requested by Mr Trump to build a border wall .
After experts found evidence of severe erosion , Mr Trump condemned the group , tweeting in July 2020 : `` I disagreed with doing this very small ( tiny ) section of wall , in a tricky area , by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was only done to make me look bad , and perhsps [ sic ] it now does n't even work . ''
Born in Virginia in 1953 , Mr Bannon spent four years in the navy before completing an MBA at Harvard .
He went into investment banking and after a spell with Goldman Sachs moved into media financing , helping to get the comedy show Seinfeld , among others , off the ground .
He shifted into film production , working in Hollywood before branching out into independent political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Ronald Reagan , former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement .
Through this work he met Andrew Breitbart , a staunchly conservative media entrepreneur who wanted to create a site that challenged what he saw as liberal-dominated mainstream media .
When Breitbart died of a heart attack in 2012 , Mr Bannon took over as head of Breitbart News and drove it forward .
The site positioned itself as a populist , bellicose , conspiracy-tinged outlet for right-wing Americans disillusioned with mainstream politicians .
During the 2016 election campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of Donald Trump .
At the same time , Democrats and civil rights groups were accusing Mr Bannon and his media outlet of allying themselves with white nationalists .
Mr Trump had appointed Mr Bannon as his campaign CEO in August 2016 and , following his victory , handed him the key White House role .
Mr Bannon 's troubles in 2017 and 2018 delighted the Republican mainstream , which had been repeatedly assailed by Breitbart .
But the banishing of the conservative , bare-knuckle fighter then raised a big question : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have expected a return to the headlines ahead of the 2020 vote .
But few will have predicted Mr Bannon 's arrest .

During the 2016 presidential campaign and in the White House, Mr Bannon had a direct line to Mr Trump - who seemed to be his ideological soulmate. But that came to an end when he left his post in August 2017 as their relationship began to cool.


bbc--2020-08-20--Coronavirus: What are the risks of catching it from food packaging?

This has again raised questions about whether coronavirus can be transmitted via food packaging .
What are the chances ?
In theory , it may be possible to catch Covid-19 from packaging material .
However , some scientists have questioned whether these results could be replicated outside the lab .
Dr Julian Tang , associate professor of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester , says that in the outside world , environmental conditions change rapidly , meaning that the virus ca n't survive as long .
And Emanuel Goldman , professor of microbiology at Rutgers University , has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples of up to 10 million viral particles , whereas the number of viral particles in - for example - an aerosol droplet sneezed on to a surface , was likely to be only about 100 .
How could the virus be transmitted ?
The transmission risk is generally based on the assumption that workers in food packaging plants might touch contaminated surfaces , then touch their eyes , nose and mouth .
Scientists do not now think this is the main route of transmission for most Covid-19 cases .
`` It may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it , '' says the US health agency , the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) on its website .
However , it adds that `` this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads '' .
Dr Tang says that proving someone had picked up the virus through packaging would also be difficult .
It would be necessary to `` exclude any recent exposure from any other source '' - including asymptomatic social contacts - to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the true cause of an infection .
The World Health Organization says `` There is currently no confirmed case of Covid-19 transmitted through food or food packaging '' .
But it does list a number of precautions you can take to avoid cross-contamination .
It says there is no need to disinfect food packaging , but `` hands should be properly washed after handling food packages and before eating '' .
If you 're shopping for groceries , use hand sanitiser before entering the shop if possible , and wash your hands thoroughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storing your purchased products .
It should also be safe to have groceries delivered if the delivery worker follows good personal and food hygiene practices .
You should also wash your hands after accepting food and grocery deliveries .
Some experts also recommend only using plastic bags once .

Writing in The Lancet in July, he said: "In my opinion, the chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is very small, and only in instances where an infected person coughs or sneezes on the surface, and someone else touches that surface soon after the cough or sneeze (within one to two hours)."


bbc--2020-08-20--Coronavirus: Why Spain is seeing second wave

Spain saw one of the most draconian Covid-19 lockdowns in Europe , but two months after it was lifted , the virus is spreading faster than in any neighbouring nation .
It now has Europe 's fastest-rising caseload , with 142 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the past two weeks .
By the time the state of emergency ended on 21 June , Spain was registering 100 to 150 cases per day .
That number has risen to more than 3,000 .
But the number of deaths over the past week stood at 122 on Thursday , a far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April alone , the blackest day in Europe 's deadliest per capita coronavirus epidemic .
Is it just the young ?
Most of the transmission is now between young people , and around three-quarters of positives are in patients who show no symptoms .
Spain 's government admits the numbers are `` not what we want to see '' , but points to key differences compared to the spring .
Only around 3 % of current cases require hospital treatment , less than 0.5 % need intensive care and the current death rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Mortality is very low , as is the hospitalisation rate .
Something has changed big time , although the rise is still worrying , '' says Ildefonso Hernández , a professor in public health from Miguel Hernández University in Alicante .
`` As long as cases are rising , we have to think that a second wave is on the way .
We do n't have much time to react before September 's return to routines . ''
Spain 's tourism season has ended up as little more than a damp squib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this key destination within weeks of the country opening up at the end of June .
That means beach areas have so far avoided the highest rates of infection , although Catalonia 's infection rate is slightly above the national average on 145 cases per 100,000 inhabitants .
Why one region has been hit hard Healthcare is a competence of Spain 's 17 regions , and some are looking much better prepared than others .
At the good end of the scale , the northern region of Asturias has an infection rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is topping 500 .
Aragón 's capital , Zaragoza , has become a hotspot for community transmission over recent weeks , but the problems began in the early summer when thousands of seasonal workers , many of them wandering migrants , began to travel to orchards in the region .
Growers and packing companies have been criticised for not providing accommodation for migrant workers , leading them to travel between shelters and fields or subsist in insanitary shanties .
`` Everything happening in Aragón is very much connected to outbreaks among the seasonal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipation of the problems that could arise due to the accommodation situation of these workers , '' explains Juan González Armengol , president of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine ( Semes ) .
Worst of all , more than 55 care homes for the elderly in Aragón have registered cases since the end of the state of emergency .
There is a risk that areas that escaped the worst ravages of the spring pandemic could be hit by a second wave as autumn nears .
In June , Aragón estimated around 760 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in Madrid .
How poisonous politics is putting Madrid at risk Spanish politics has lacked any consensus or spirit of collaboration in managing the coronavirus crisis .
While the national government of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has faced accusations from rivals of lying about death rates , the regional government in Madrid run by the conservative Popular Party has attracted equally fierce criticism .
Despite a shocking collapse of Madrid 's public hospital system in the spring , and with 50 % more deaths than the more populous region of Catalonia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double week after week .
• Madrid ’ s medical heroes in fight of their lives Madrid had fewer than 200 contact tracers by the end of July .
Double that number had been promised , and even that was half the figure recommended by the medical community .
`` Among the factors for the high infection numbers we are seeing , the quality of Spain 's democracy is playing a part .
Were accountability stricter , it would not be acceptable that some regions - and not just Madrid - are taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' says Prof Hernández .
• Officially , 28,813 have died from Covid-19 - Spain 's health ministry counts only those who tested positive for the virus • According to excess death statistics , close to 44,596 are believed to have died from the illness • The Spanish government says more than 19,000 elderly people have died in care homes , although only around half have been included in the official death toll • As infections surged , hospitals in many areas stopped sending ambulances to care homes , so residents died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • `` Never again can we leave our old people to die alone and afraid , '' said Ximena Di Lollo of Doctors Without Borders , which has criticised a lack of preparation and poor staffing levels .
For three months , Spaniards were under lockdown .
That meant many young people were stuck in their family homes .
Perhaps unsurprisingly , street parties and night life are now being signalled as the biggest catalysts of new outbreaks along with family gatherings .
Town and city festivals have all been cancelled .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's capital of Pamplona for the 7 July start date of the world-famous San Fermín bull-running fiesta .
Last Friday 400 young revellers paraded the streets of nearby Tafalla , marking the town 's `` non-festival '' .
In the neighbouring Basque Country , which is just ahead of Navarre as Spain 's third worst-affected region this month , youthful gatherings have also been linked to outbreaks .
Of the 350 people called to turn up for testing after a busy night at Bilbao 's Back & Stage nightclub last month , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of result that has prompted an agreement between Spain 's authorities to close down all nightlife after 01:00 .
`` It was like any other night at the club and many people were not wearing a face mask even when dancing .
I was among the first to take mine off , '' 18-year-old Arkaitz Serrano told newspaper El País .
`` Spaniards were extremely fastidious about following the rules during the lockdown , but there has been a massive relaxation now we have returned to a kind of normality , '' notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Basque government this week banned so-called botellón parties , alcohol-fuelled outdoor gatherings of young people .
But the botellón is a national problem .
In Madrid the regional government has asked for police reinforcements to seek out and break up such parties , whose numbers are rising as restrictions on nightclubs and bars take effect .

"Among the factors for the high infection numbers we are seeing, the quality of Spain's democracy is playing a part. Were accountability stricter, it would not be acceptable that some regions - and not just Madrid - are taking so long to put measures in place," says Prof Hernández.


bbc--2020-08-20--Coronavirus: Youthful Pakistan appears to avoid worst of pandemic

With a weak healthcare system , large population and many poorer families living in crowded living conditions , Pakistan seemed in danger from the outset of a catastrophic toll from coronavirus .
The danger appeared to increase in June , when doctors in major cities reported that their hospitals were overwhelmed with patients .
Intensive care units in the largest hospitals filled up , and families were forced to shuttle relatives around in the search for a bed .
But just a few weeks later , hospital admissions appeared to fall drastically .
Many doctors were initially sceptical , wondering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poisoned '' by medics had led to a rise in families `` self-treating '' at home .
But the decrease has been sustained .
Now , life in Pakistan is getting largely back to normal , and the last vestiges of partial lockdown restrictions are being lifted .
Restaurants have reopened .
Only schools and universities , along with marriage halls , remain shut until next month .
With around 6,000 coronavirus deaths in a population of approximately 230 million people , Pakistan appears to have fared far better than most Western countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recorded more than 41,000 deaths in a population of around 67 million .
Cities in neighbouring India , such as Delhi and Mumbai , seem to have been worse affected .
And Pakistan 's apparent success seems to come in spite of Prime Minister Imran Khan 's repeated opposition to lockdown measures , which he warned would lead to `` starvation '' in the country .
The question is , can the data from Pakistan be trusted ?
Testing has been relatively low , and numbers are in fact decreasing .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roughly 290,000 officially recorded , but the recorded drop in infections is substantiated by the fact that the proportion of tests that come back as positive has also been decreasing , as have hospital admissions .
Data obtained by the BBC from officials in the country 's two largest cities , Karachi and Lahore , show that there was a significant rise in graveyard burials in June that ca n't be explained by coronavirus deaths alone .
For example , in Miani Sahib graveyard , the largest in Lahore , in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to 696 in June last year .
Only 48 of the burials this June were of officially recorded coronavirus patients .
The rise is likely to be a combination of undetected coronavirus deaths , and patients suffering from other illnesses not getting treatment as hospitals were under such pressure .
• Is low testing hiding scale of the outbreak in South Asia ?
• The British-Pakistani doctors saving lives in both countries Similarly , in Karachi , June 2020 saw significantly more burials than at any other time during the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities burial figures appear to be returning to more normal rates .
Even if some of the `` excess deaths '' are assumed to be the result of coronavirus , by international standards the mortality rate in Pakistan appears to be relatively low , though not quite as low as official data would suggest .
For leading Pakistani epidemiologist Dr Rana Jawad Asghar , the principal reason for this is Pakistan 's young population .
The average age in Pakistan is 22 years , compared to about 41 in the UK .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus have been of elderly patients .
Dr Asghar told the BBC that less than 4 % of Pakistan 's population is aged 65 and above , whereas in more developed countries the proportion is around 20-25 % .
`` That is why we have n't seen that many deaths in Pakistan , '' he said .
Another factor , Dr Asghar said , was that social circles in developing world countries are smaller than the West .
`` Once a virus has run out of those social circles which are intermixing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
As yet , theories that hotter climates , or prior exposure to other diseases , have contributed to coronavirus being less deadly remain unproven .
In Pakistan , the decrease in coronavirus cases began around the same time the government began implementing `` smart '' or targeted lockdowns , in areas where localised outbreaks had occurred .
But residents reported that these lockdowns were not particularly strict , nor the compliance with them .
Dr Mishal Khan , a social epidemiologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` greater awareness '' in Pakistani society , but added , `` that is n't likely to be the whole picture '' .
While differences in population demographics and social behaviour patterns might explain why Pakistan has fared better than the West , it 's less clear why the situation has n't been more similar to that across the border in India .
There , although the number of deaths per million across the country is comparable to the rate in Pakistan , hospitals have come under even greater pressure and cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that there are more large , densely populated cities in India .
Professor K Srinath Reddy , of the Public Health Foundation of India , noted that infections had levelled off in both Mumbai and Delhi , but were increasing in other parts of the country .
Dr Asghar warned that it was too early to make comprehensive comparisons , given concerns about mortality data .
In Pakistan , the dangers of a new surge in cases still exist .
According to a study in the country 's worst affected city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Getz Pharma , around 17.5 % of the population is estimated to have been exposed to coronavirus .
That means significant swathes could still contract it .
With large numbers of domestic tourists leaving Pakistan 's major cities , heading for rural areas , following the lifting of restrictions , there are particular concerns the virus could spread to less developed areas , where there is even less healthcare and surveillance .
Dr Asghar told the BBC that tracking systems needed to be improved in order to detect new spikes in cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ done better than feared `` does not mean we are out of danger '' , he said .

While differences in population demographics and social behaviour patterns might explain why Pakistan has fared better than the West, it's less clear why the situation hasn't been more similar to that across the border in India. There, although the number of deaths per million across the country is comparable to the rate in Pakistan, hospitals have come under even greater pressure and cases are continuing to rise.


bbc--2020-08-20--Lili Reinhart: Being bisexual is not just 'a phase'

Actress Lili Reinhart has welcomed Disney creating its first bisexual lead character in the animated series The Owl House , saying that `` too often people have told me it 's a phase '' .
The Riverdale actress , who came out as bisexual in June , says she 's glad the character of Luz Noceda in The Owl House now exists , `` as I 've been met with comments of 'you 'll grow out of it ' but I know that 's not true '' .
`` I think it 's important to make it more normal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the characters are usually gay or straight , there 's not a lot of bisexual characters - but it should be normalised , '' she adds .
`` There are a lot of bisexual people , including me .
Before , I felt that people were going to invalidate what I was saying by telling me I was going through a phase . ''
Reinhart plays Grace in the new Amazon film Chemical Hearts , an aloof teenage girl who wears androgynous clothing and walks with a cane .
She captures the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Walking Dead 's Austin Abrams , but he discovers she 's weighed down by trauma and grief .
It 's based on the best-selling young adult novel , Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland , but Reinhart , who also produced it , believes that `` it 's not another teen romance '' .
Since finding fame in Riverdale , Reinhart went on to star in 2019 's critically acclaimed all-female drama , Hustlers , and explains that `` at this point I 'm trying not to play too many teenage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play something creatively different from Riverdale , so I was a little bit nervous of another teen character .
But when this came along , I thought those characters could be in any setting , not just high school . ''
It 's also important , she believes , to show teenage heartbreak from a male point of view , `` because normally we 're following the girl and the girl 's heartbreak '' .
`` But this is written from the guy 's viewpoint , he 's trying to get her attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's something a lot of people do n't explore in the young adult space , '' she adds .
The actress , who was born in Ohio and moved to LA as a teenager , has spoken openly about her struggle with anxiety and depression , and says she wishes there had been more resources available to help her during her schooldays . '
I was n't fully aware of the resources out there when I was younger , '' she explains .
`` If only someone had told me I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or watch a TED talk about how to live life to its fullest .
`` It should be implemented into a class at school where you could talk about what you do to take care of your mental health .
I 'd have loved someone normalising the anxiety I suffered , because when I had my first panic attack in eighth grade , I did not know what was happening to me , I did n't understand it .
None of my friends had experienced it and it was so scary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand how many options we do have in this day and age '' .
`` Times are changing , and at school , there was one gay kid who was out and comfortable with it , but some people were hiding their sexuality because they were afraid to come out .
`` I hope people know they have outlets and communities who are now so willing to support young people facing decisions about this .
There 's a lot of open arms out there . ''
But Reinhart says she still suffers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more intense as she 's got older , '' I do try to combat it .
I do therapy weekly and I practise meditation , I try to be present and enjoy the present .
I do n't want to look back and think I wasted my life , '' she says .
`` In this film , you see a lot of anxiety .
With Henry 's character especially , a lot of times in your life when you 're in love with someone , you get an idea of who you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding out for them to change .
`` That 's something that everyone who 's been in a relationship or in love can relate to - I know I can .
You 're waiting for someone to evolve into the person that they 'll be , but that 's a really unrealistic expectation and it 's a selfish way of looking at love , because it benefits you .
Henry wants Grace to change on his timeline . ''
The actress is reported to have broken up with her Riverdale co-star Cole Sprouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on getting through heartbreak .
`` Hoping solid ground wo n't shift is very unrealistic .
Heartbreak and trauma are truly part of life and it 's unfortunate , but also going through life trying to avoid heartbreak is impossible .
`` If you set yourself up with that expectation , you 're going to be disappointed .
It should n't stop you from pursuing love .
I 've never let the fear of heartbreak stop me . ''
Chemical Hearts is released on Amazon Prime Video on 21 August .
Follow us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"It should be implemented into a class at school where you could talk about what you do to take care of your mental health. I'd have loved someone normalising the anxiety I suffered, because when I had my first panic attack in eighth grade, I did not know what was happening to me, I didn't understand it. None of my friends had experienced it and it was so scary."


bbc--2020-08-20--'Mummified' plants give glimpse of Earth's future

Fossil leaves from the remains of a 23 million-year-old forest suggest some plants may adapt to grow more quickly as CO2 levels rise , a study says .
Scientists recovered the very well-preserved leaves from an ancient lake on New Zealand 's South Island .
They have enabled the scientists to link for the first time the high temperatures of the period with high levels of atmospheric CO2 .
The results have been published in the journal Climate of the Past .
In their scientific paper , the team shows that some plants were able to harvest carbon dioxide more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that harnesses light from the Sun to produce food for the plant .
They say their findings may hold clues for how the dynamics of plant life could shift as current CO2 levels rise to meet those of the distant past .
• Will millions more trees really stop climate change ?
What can we learn from these ancient leaves ?
The team drilled 100m down to near the bottom of the now-dry lake bed , located in the crater of a long-extinct volcano .
The crater is about a kilometre across .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the remains of plants , algae , spiders , beetle , flies , fungi and other living things from a warm period known as the early Miocene Epoch .
Average global temperatures are thought to have been between 3C and 7C higher than today , and ice largely disappeared from the poles .
There is debate among scientists about levels of CO2 in the period , which is one reason this study is so interesting .
`` The amazing thing is that these leaves are basically mummified , so we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see all their fine features under a microscope , '' said lead author Tammo Reichgelt , from the University of Connecticut in Storrs , US .
He says they are preserved so perfectly that microscopic veins and stomata - the pores which allow leaves to take in air and release water during photosynthesis - are visible .
The scientists analysed the different chemical forms of carbon - or carbon isotopes - within leaves from a half-dozen tree species found at various levels in the deposit .
This helped them estimate the carbon content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They concluded it was around 450 parts per million ( ppm ) .
Previous studies - mainly using marine organisms - have suggested it was significantly lower , around 300 ppm .
That is similar to those in pre-industrial times , and not enough to account for the much higher temperatures of the early Miocene .
Human emissions have now pushed CO2 levels to about 415 ppm .
They are expected to reach 450 ppm in the next few decades - the same level experienced by those forests in New Zealand 23 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the geometry of the leaves ' stomata and other anatomical features , and compared them with those of modern leaves .
They showed that the trees were unusually efficient at sucking in carbon through the stomata , without leaking much water through the same route - a key challenge for all plants .
This allowed the trees to grow in marginal areas that otherwise would have been too dry for forests .
The researchers say this higher efficiency was very likely mirrored in forests across the northern temperate latitudes , where more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What does this tell us about today ?
When CO2 levels rise , many plants increase their rate of photosynthesis , because they can more efficiently remove carbon from the air , and conserve water while doing so .
Data from Nasa satellites shows a `` global greening '' effect mainly due to rising levels of CO2 released by human activities over recent decades .
It has been estimated that a quarter to a half of the planet 's vegetated lands have seen increases in leaf volume on trees and plants since about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue as CO2 levels rise .
But the authors of the new report say we should n't assume this is necessarily good news .
Increased CO2 absorption will not come close to compensating for what humans are pouring into the air .
And , because much of today 's plant life evolved in a temperate , low-CO2 world , some natural and agricultural ecosystems could be seriously disrupted by higher CO2 levels , along with the rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation they bring .
Not all plants can take advantage , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can vary depending on temperature and availability of water or nutrients .
There is evidence that when some major crops photosynthesise more rapidly , they absorb relatively less calcium , iron , zinc and other minerals vital for human nutrition .
`` How it plays out is anyone 's guess , '' said Dr Reichgelt .
`` It 's another layer of stress for plants .
It might be great for some , and horrible for others . ''
How are the leaves so well-preserved ?
The deposit is located on a farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dunedin .
In the ancient crater lake , successive layers of sediment built up from the surrounding environment over tens of millions of years .
The lake was deep and had low oxygen levels at its bottom , which means that any prehistoric leaves that sank down there stayed relatively well-preserved , despite being 23 million years old .
The deposit has a layered structure with blackish organic matter alternating with bands of white-ish silica-rich material laid down by algae that bloomed each spring .
The feature was recognised only within about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foulden Maar .
It is the only known deposit of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere , and far better preserved than the few similar ones known from the north .
What was it like working with such ancient material ?
Tammo Reichgelt said he felt a big responsibility and `` a strange sort of reverence '' working with fossils of this quality that have lain undisturbed for so long .
He described excavating the fossil material from a pit dug into deposits in the crater .
It was exposed to the elements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saturated with rain '' .
That made the work very challenging .
`` The largest leaf I ever found was on a wet day and the brittle rock crumbled in my hand with the leaf on it '' , he told the BBC .
`` There was no saving it .
When this sort of thing happens , your stomach drops and you feel like you 've just destroyed a pharaoh 's tomb . ''

'Mummified' plants give glimpse of Earth's future Published 20 August 2020
Image source, Jennifer Bannister / Uni Otago Image caption, A 23-million-year-old leaf: still visible are veins, holes gnawed by insects and scar tissue
Fossil leaves from the remains of a 23 million-year-old forest suggest some plants may adapt to grow more quickly as CO2 levels rise, a study says.
Scientists recovered the very well-preserved leaves from an ancient lake on New Zealand's South Island.
They have enabled the scientists to link for the first time the high temperatures of the period with high levels of atmospheric CO2.
The results have been published in the journal Climate of the Past.
In their scientific paper, the team shows that some plants were able to harvest carbon dioxide more efficiently for photosynthesis - the biological process that harnesses light from the Sun to produce food for the plant.
They say their findings may hold clues for how the dynamics of plant life could shift as current CO2 levels rise to meet those of the distant past.
What can we learn from these ancient leaves?
The team drilled 100m down to near the bottom of the now-dry lake bed, located in the crater of a long-extinct volcano. The crater is about a kilometre across.
Here, biological material has been fossilised, including the remains of plants, algae, spiders, beetle, flies, fungi and other living things from a warm period known as the early Miocene Epoch.
Image source, Daphne Lee / Uni Otago Image caption, The deposit is located on a farm near the southern New Zealand city of Dunedin
Average global temperatures are thought to have been between 3C and 7C higher than today, and ice largely disappeared from the poles.
There is debate among scientists about levels of CO2 in the period, which is one reason this study is so interesting.
"The amazing thing is that these leaves are basically mummified, so we have their original chemical compositions, and can see all their fine features under a microscope," said lead author Tammo Reichgelt, from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, US.
He says they are preserved so perfectly that microscopic veins and stomata - the pores which allow leaves to take in air and release water during photosynthesis - are visible.
The scientists analysed the different chemical forms of carbon - or carbon isotopes - within leaves from a half-dozen tree species found at various levels in the deposit.
Image source, Jennifer Bannister / Uni Otago Image caption, Low oxygen levels at the bottom of the lake helped preserve the leaves
This helped them estimate the carbon content of the atmosphere at the time.
They concluded it was around 450 parts per million (ppm).
Previous studies - mainly using marine organisms - have suggested it was significantly lower, around 300 ppm.
That is similar to those in pre-industrial times, and not enough to account for the much higher temperatures of the early Miocene.
Human emissions have now pushed CO2 levels to about 415 ppm.
They are expected to reach 450 ppm in the next few decades - the same level experienced by those forests in New Zealand 23 million years ago.
Image source, William D'Andrea Image caption, Scientists surveying the site for fossils
The researchers also analysed the geometry of the leaves' stomata and other anatomical features, and compared them with those of modern leaves.
They showed that the trees were unusually efficient at sucking in carbon through the stomata, without leaking much water through the same route - a key challenge for all plants.
This allowed the trees to grow in marginal areas that otherwise would have been too dry for forests.
The researchers say this higher efficiency was very likely mirrored in forests across the northern temperate latitudes, where more of the Earth's landmass is located.
What does this tell us about today?
When CO2 levels rise, many plants increase their rate of photosynthesis, because they can more efficiently remove carbon from the air, and conserve water while doing so.
Data from Nasa satellites shows a "global greening" effect mainly due to rising levels of CO2 released by human activities over recent decades.
It has been estimated that a quarter to a half of the planet's vegetated lands have seen increases in leaf volume on trees and plants since about 1980.
Image source, Tammo Reichgelt Image caption, Part of a mummified leaf, highly magnified. Among the features that can be seen are individual epidermal cells and mouth-shaped stomata, openings through which the leaf took in carbon dioxide and released water
The effect is expected to continue as CO2 levels rise.
But the authors of the new report say we shouldn't assume this is necessarily good news.
Increased CO2 absorption will not come close to compensating for what humans are pouring into the air.
And, because much of today's plant life evolved in a temperate, low-CO2 world, some natural and agricultural ecosystems could be seriously disrupted by higher CO2 levels, along with the rising temperatures and shifts in precipitation they bring.
Not all plants can take advantage, and among those that do, the results can vary depending on temperature and availability of water or nutrients.
There is evidence that when some major crops photosynthesise more rapidly, they absorb relatively less calcium, iron, zinc and other minerals vital for human nutrition.
"How it plays out is anyone's guess," said Dr Reichgelt. "It's another layer of stress for plants. It might be great for some, and horrible for others."
How are the leaves so well-preserved?
The deposit is located on a farm near the southern New Zealand city of Dunedin.
In the ancient crater lake, successive layers of sediment built up from the surrounding environment over tens of millions of years.
The lake was deep and had low oxygen levels at its bottom, which means that any prehistoric leaves that sank down there stayed relatively well-preserved, despite being 23 million years old.
Image source, Jennifer Bannister / Uni Otago Image caption, Circular structures visible on this specimen are the leaf's reaction tissue to some form of insect feeding or parasitism
These include countless leaves from a sub-tropical evergreen forest.
The deposit has a layered structure with blackish organic matter alternating with bands of white-ish silica-rich material laid down by algae that bloomed each spring.
The feature was recognised only within about the last 15 years; scientists dubbed it Foulden Maar.
It is the only known deposit of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and far better preserved than the few similar ones known from the north.
What was it like working with such ancient material?
Tammo Reichgelt said he felt a big responsibility and "a strange sort of reverence" working with fossils of this quality that have lain undisturbed for so long.
He described excavating the fossil material from a pit dug into deposits in the crater.
It was exposed to the elements, "very windy, sunny and saturated with rain".
That made the work very challenging.
"The largest leaf I ever found was on a wet day and the brittle rock crumbled in my hand with the leaf on it", he told the BBC.
"There was no saving it. When this sort of thing happens, your stomach drops and you feel like you've just destroyed a pharaoh's tomb."


bbc--2020-08-20--'My team needed Europa League' - Sevilla stand in way of Inter's first trophy for nine years

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte says he `` sees the glass as half full '' after their Champions League group-stage elimination resulted in them reaching Friday 's Europa League final .
Inter face five-time winners Sevilla in Cologne ( 20:00 BST ) , looking to win a first trophy in nine years .
Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has yet to win a trophy as a manager .
`` It 's been a positive season .
We 've done important things and have made major improvements , '' said Conte .
`` We 've managed to get to the Europa League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not getting through the Champions League group stage .
`` It has allowed us to have a much more successful journey in the Europa League than we would have had in the Champions League .
I think this team - with a lot of young , inexperienced players - needed that . ''
Inter finished third in their Champions League group , behind Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund , but have won all five Europa League matches , including a 5-0 demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals .
• Quiz : Can you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos and Inter forward Alexis Sanchez are both injury doubts for the game .
Three-time Uefa Cup winners Inter were second in Serie A , their best finish since 2011 - which was also the year they last won a trophy , the Coppa Italia .
Conte took charge last summer and brought in five players from the Premier League , including 33-goal top scorer Romelu Lukaku , who has netted in a record 10 consecutive Europa League matches .
`` It will be a tough game , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're playing the team with the most experience and who have won the most titles over the past decade of this competition .
`` We have to be attentive but also play our own game with great enthusiasm and courage , like we have done so far .
`` It 's a final and only the best teams get to the final .
It 's always important to be able to say to the lads , at the end of the game , that we do n't have any regrets . ''
Sevilla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tournament 's history , winning all five of their Uefa Cup or Europa League finals .
Lopetegui , like Conte , is in his first season in charge .
He has yet to win silverware in spells as head coach of Rayo Vallecano , Porto , Spain and Real Madrid .
The La Liga club are on their longest unbeaten run , with 11 wins and nine draws in their 20 games since 9 February - including wins over Premier League sides Wolves and Manchester United in the previous two rounds .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irrelevant to Friday 's result .
`` This is a completely new and different team , with different players and a different manager , '' said Lopetegui .
`` It helps that the club have reached this stage before , but I do n't think it 's an advantage for anybody .
`` Two totally different teams are playing , and we are up against a great team .
`` Inter are a team equipped to compete in the Champions League , given the calibre of players they have , which is extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has coached many top teams .
`` What I expect is a top-quality match which will demand the best of us .
`` We will try to prepare well for it and have the answers for such a daunting challenge . ''
Inter Milan will become the second most successful side in Uefa Cup/Europa League history if they win .
They have come out on top in three of their four previous finals .
They are the first Italian side to reach the final since 1999 - when Parma beat Marseille 3-0 - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run of only Spanish and English sides winning the competition .
• This is the first European meeting between Sevilla and Inter Milan - the sixth time in 11 seasons of the Europa League that has been the case for the teams in the final .
• Inter have reached their 10th major European final ( the ninth team to achieve that ) and their first since the 2010 Champions League final , when they won 2-0 against Bayern Munich .
• Only Liverpool ( six between 1973 and 1984 ) and Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have won more consecutive European finals than Sevilla 's five .
• Inter have won all five of their Europa League matches this season and are looking to win six major European matches in a row for only the second time ( six between December 2009 and April 2010 ) .
• Sevilla have never lost a one-off knockout match in Uefa Cup/Europa League history ( P8 W6 D2 - winning the two draws on penalties ) .
• Antonio Conte and Julen Lopetegui are both managing in their first major European final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managers to have managed at least 10 games in the Europa League with a win ratio of 70 % or more .
• In the semi-finals , Suso and Luuk de Jong became the 10th and 11th different scorers for Sevilla in this season 's Europa League - only Manchester United ( 12 ) have had more .
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Last updated on .From the section European Football
Sevilla have won all six Uefa Cup or Europa League finals they have played in
Europa League kings Sevilla won the tournament for a record sixth time thanks to victory over Inter Milan in a thrilling final in Cologne.
The drama started when Sevilla defender Diego Carlos fouled Romelu Lukaku for an Inter penalty - and ended when Lukaku deflected Carlos' bicycle kick into his own net.
It means Inter Milan's wait for a trophy will tick over into a 10th year at least.
Lukaku gave the Italian side an early lead from the penalty spot for his 34th goal of the season, extending his record of scoring in consecutive Europa League games to 11.
Luuk de Jong scored two headers - from Jesus Navas and Ever Banega crosses - to put Sevilla into the lead.
Inter were level when Diego Godin nodded in to make it 2-2 in the 35th minute.
The game could not continue at that high tempo, but with extra-time on the cards, there was a twist to come.
Carlos flew into the air to meet a high ball with an overhead kick which was going wide until Lukaku stuck out a leg and diverted it past his own goalkeeper.
It was a first trophy in the managerial career of Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui, whose side are unbeaten since February, a run of 21 games.
"This is a magnificent club," said the former Spain and Real Madrid boss. "I hope all the fans can celebrate it but with caution.
"This squad are great. They believe in it, what they work on and what they transmit. Even if we hadn't won I'd still love these guys, but today we take home the prize. We always believed."
The last nine Europa Leagues all have been won by Spanish or English teams - Sevilla have won four, Chelsea two and Atletico Madrid and Manchester United one each. The last Italian team to win were Parma in 1999.
De Jong is the hero as Sevilla continue Europa dominance
Diego Carlos (r) has scored two goals for Sevilla since joining last summer. The winner was initially awarded to him but later became a Romelu Lukaku own goal
Sevilla's excellent record of never losing a Uefa Cup or Europa League final continues - six finals, six victories.
But this was a new Sevilla team - with barely anybody left since their three wins in a row from 2014 to 2016.
Lopetegui took over last summer and built a new-look team. Nine of the starting XI in Cologne were in their first season at the club.
They were cheered on by two fans, with Sevilla giving two of their 25 tickets for officials to supporters with membership numbers 2108 and 2020 (to make the date of this game).
Carlos looked as if he was going to the villain of the run as he lost Lukaku and then fouled the Belgian striker on the corner of the box after five minutes.
That was the third Europa League game in a row that he conceded a spot-kick, doing the same in wins over Wolves and Manchester United in the previous two rounds.
But their unlikely hero was De Jong, a man who had scored only eight goals since joining last summer - and had a goalless spell with Newcastle in 2014.
His first header was a diving one from a Navas cross and his second was a wonderful looping effort into the top corner from Banega's free-kick.
Carlos' redemption was complete when his audacious effort led to Lukaku's own goal.
Conte's ex-Premier League men fall just short
Romelu Lukaku's deflection helped Sevilla score the winner
Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte - who has brought in five Premier League players since taking over last summer - led Inter Milan to second place in Serie A this season.
That was their best finish since 2010-11, which was also the last time they won a trophy - the Coppa Italia.
Left wing-back Ashley Young became the first Englishman to start a European final for a non-British club since Owen Hargreaves in the 2001 Champions League final for Bayern Munich.
And it was his former United team-mate Lukaku who had a quick impact when he was fouled for a penalty which he fired home excellently.
The plaudits rolled in at that moment. He is the first player to score 34 goals in his first season with Inter since Ronaldo in 1997-98 and his nine European goals is a joint record for an Inter player in a season.
But he was not the story of the game - in the way he would have wanted anyway - as Sevilla came back.
Inter's confidence rose again when Godin, another big-name signing last summer, headed in.
But Lukaku missed a one-on-one and substitute Alexis Sanchez had a shot cleared off the line, either side of the own-goal winner.
Conte's future is in doubt after disagreements with the club's owners. A trophy would have helped.
"We'll take a few days off and then meet [with the president] with cool heads," he said.
"I don't have many regrets now, my players gave really everything they had against a team used to playing these kind of games.
"Many young players earned a great dose of valuable experience this season. They can continue on this path with great confidence."
Uefa Cup/Europa League finals Sevilla Inter Milan 2006 - 4-0 win over Middlesbrough 1991 - beat Roma 2-1 on aggregate 2007 - penalty shootout win over Espanyol after 2-2 draw 1994 - beat Austria Salzburg 2-0 on aggregate 2014 - penalty shootout win over Benfica after 0-0 draw 1997 - lost to Schalke on penalties after 1-1 aggregate draw 2015 - 3-2 win over Dnipro 1998 - beat Lazio 3-0 2016 - 3-1 win over Liverpool 2020 - 3-2 defeat by Sevilla 2020 - 3-2 win over Inter Milan
Match stats - Godin joins select group
Inter lost in a major European final for the first time since the 1997 Uefa Cup, when they lost on penalties to Schalke.
Since 2009-10, the Europa League has been won by a Spanish manager in six of the 11 finals (Unai Emery x3, Quique Sanchez Flores, Rafael Benitez, Julen Lopetegui).
Sevilla have either progressed to the next round or won the competition in 21 of their last 22 Europa League knockout ties.
Inter defender Diego Godin became the sixth player to score in a European Cup/Champions League and Uefa Cup/Europa League final, after Steven Gerrard, Hernan Crespo, Dmitri Alenichev, Allan Simonsen and Pedro.
Romelu Lukaku's goal in the fifth minute for Inter was the earliest in a Uefa Cup/Europa League final since 2001, when Liverpool's Markus Babbel scored in the third minute against Alaves.
Sevilla's Diego Carlos conceded three penalties in the 2019-20 Europa League, the first player to concede that many in a single campaign since Casar Azpilicueta in 2012-13 for Chelsea.


bbc--2020-08-20--Scotland's Matthew four shots off lead in Women's Open at Troon

Last updated on .From the section Golf Scotland 's Catriona Matthew is four shots off leader Amy Olson after round one of the AIG Women 's Open at Royal Troon .
Germany 's Sophia Popov and American Marina Alex are one under par .
`` Obviously a day like today , the conditions probably helped me that it 's not going to be super low [ scoring ] , '' said Matthew .
Matthew , who will captain Team Europe again at next year 's Solheim Cup , was two over par with four holes remaining but made birdies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a bogey .
`` No reason why I ca n't go on from here , '' she added .
`` Obviously there 's still a huge way to go , but just need to keep plugging away . ''
England 's Georgia Hall , who won the event in 2018 , and Jodi Ewart Shadoff both finished on two over while Scotland 's Gemma Dryburgh is one shot further back .
Olson , 28 , carded five birdies and one bogey as she finished with a fine four-under 67 , despite high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davies , who hit the opening tee shot to mark her 40th appearance in the event , birdied three of the last six holes but could still only return a nine-over-par 80 .
Hall , who was three over par after five holes in the gusty conditions on the Ayrshire coast , believes her cautious approach paid off .
`` Some holes I could barely stand up .
It was so windy all the way round but especially at the start , '' Hall told Sky Sports .
`` I 'm pretty happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played quite conservatively with my approach .
`` I 've got to keep going and keep grinding because you never know what 's going to happen . ''
• None What 's new as the Premiership returns ?

Last updated on .From the section Golf
AIG Women's Open first-round leaderboard -4 A Olson (US); -1 M Alex (US), S Popov (Ger); E T Suwannapura (Tha), A Nordqvist (Swe), A Sharp (Can), C Matthew (Sco), L-A Pace (Rsa), E Pedersen (Den), N Iturrios (Spa), D Holmqvist (Swe), L Weaver (US), G Lopez (Mex) Selected others: +1 N Korda (US); +2 M Thomson (Sco), G Hall (Eng), J Ewart Shadoff (Eng); +3 E Givens (Eng), G Dryburgh (Sco), B Morgan (Wal); +4 S Meadow (NI) Full leaderboard
Scotland's Catriona Matthew is four shots off leader Amy Olson after round one of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Troon.
The 50-year-old, the 2009 Open winner, is in a tie for fourth with nine others on level par after a 71.
Germany's Sophia Popov and American Marina Alex are one under par.
"Obviously a day like today, the conditions probably helped me that it's not going to be super low [scoring]," said Matthew.
Matthew, who will captain Team Europe again at next year's Solheim Cup, was two over par with four holes remaining but made birdies from the 15th to the 17th before finishing with a bogey.
"No reason why I can't go on from here," she added. "Obviously there's still a huge way to go, but just need to keep plugging away."
England's Georgia Hall, who won the event in 2018, and Jodi Ewart Shadoff both finished on two over while Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh is one shot further back.
Olson, 28, carded five birdies and one bogey as she finished with a fine four-under 67, despite high winds making scoring difficult.
Dame Laura Davies, who hit the opening tee shot to mark her 40th appearance in the event, birdied three of the last six holes but could still only return a nine-over-par 80.
Hall, who was three over par after five holes in the gusty conditions on the Ayrshire coast, believes her cautious approach paid off.
"Some holes I could barely stand up. It was so windy all the way round but especially at the start," Hall told Sky Sports. "I'm pretty happy with how I played.
"I played quite conservatively with my approach.
"I've got to keep going and keep grinding because you never know what's going to happen."


bbc--2020-08-20--Root calls for final push to seal series win against Pakistan

Last updated on .From the section Cricket Captain Joe Root has asked his England team for `` one big push '' in the third and final Test against Pakistan .
`` We have one more week of really hard graft , '' Root told BBC Sport .
`` We have to give everything to the badge , the team and each other . ''
England , looking for a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years , lead 1-0 .
The coronavirus pandemic forced a rejig to the international summer , with England defeating West Indies 2-1 in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A different England side beat Ireland 2-1 in three one-day internationals in between the Test series , and though more limited-overs against Pakistan and Australia will complete the summer , the Test players are not set to feature .
The T20 World Cup that was due to be played in Australia in October and November has been postponed , and no dates for any of England 's proposed winter tours of India , Sri Lanka and South Africa have been confirmed .
`` My message to the guys has been quite simple , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know the next time we will play Test cricket , so let 's throw everything into this week .
`` We 've not got Test cricket until next year .
We 've got no excuses , every opportunity to go out there and throw everything into this last game . ''
England have named an unchanged 14-man squad from the drawn second Test which was ruined by bad weather .
With Ben Stokes again missing after travelling to New Zealand for personal reasons , the hosts ' top six is likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowling attack to be made on Friday morning .
More rain in Southampton has kept the pitch under cover , so England must decide whether to retain off-spinner Dom Bess , who has played in every Test this summer , but barely bowled .
Whether they field four or five frontline fast bowlers , at least two from the 14 will miss out .
Jofra Archer was rested for the second Test , with Sam Curran offering batting depth in the absence of Stokes .
After so much time was lost to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing conditions for the third have been altered to allow earlier starts if required .
If time is lost on a particular day , play on the following day may now begin at 10:30 BST , rather than the usual 11:00 .
Previously , Tests in England have only made up time at the end of a day , when the light can become an issue .
`` It 's a sensible idea , '' said Root .
`` This will enable us to play a little bit more cricket .
It seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours of play . ''
England squad for third Test against Pakistan : Joe Root ( Yorkshire ) Captain , James Anderson ( Lancashire ) , Jofra Archer ( Sussex ) , Dominic Bess ( Somerset ) , Stuart Broad ( Nottinghamshire ) , Rory Burns ( Surrey ) , Jos Buttler ( Lancashire ) , Zak Crawley ( Kent ) , Sam Curran ( Surrey ) , Ollie Pope ( Surrey ) , Ollie Robinson ( Sussex ) , Dom Sibley ( Warwickshire ) , Chris Woakes ( Warwickshire ) , Mark @ @ @ @ @

Joe Root (left) has won six and drawn one of his last seven Tests as England captain
England v Pakistan, third Test Venue: Ageas Bowl Dates: 21-25 August Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Highlights on BBC Two at 19:00 BST. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.
Captain Joe Root has asked his England team for "one big push" in the third and final Test against Pakistan.
The match in Southampton will be England's sixth bio-secure Test in seven weeks, but Root's men have no more scheduled this year.
"We have one more week of really hard graft," Root told BBC Sport. "We have to give everything to the badge, the team and each other."
England, looking for a first series win over Pakistan in 10 years, lead 1-0.
The coronavirus pandemic forced a rejig to the international summer, with England defeating West Indies 2-1 in July before the matches against Pakistan began.
A different England side beat Ireland 2-1 in three one-day internationals in between the Test series, and though more limited-overs against Pakistan and Australia will complete the summer, the Test players are not set to feature.
The T20 World Cup that was due to be played in Australia in October and November has been postponed, and no dates for any of England's proposed winter tours of India, Sri Lanka and South Africa have been confirmed.
"My message to the guys has been quite simple," said Root. "We don't know the next time we will play Test cricket, so let's throw everything into this week.
"We've not got Test cricket until next year. We've got no excuses, every opportunity to go out there and throw everything into this last game."
England have named an unchanged 14-man squad from the drawn second Test which was ruined by bad weather.
With Ben Stokes again missing after travelling to New Zealand for personal reasons, the hosts' top six is likely to be unchanged, with decisions over the bowling attack to be made on Friday morning.
More rain in Southampton has kept the pitch under cover, so England must decide whether to retain off-spinner Dom Bess, who has played in every Test this summer, but barely bowled.
Whether they field four or five frontline fast bowlers, at least two from the 14 will miss out. Jofra Archer was rested for the second Test, with Sam Curran offering batting depth in the absence of Stokes.
After so much time was lost to the elements during the second Test, the playing conditions for the third have been altered to allow earlier starts if required.
If time is lost on a particular day, play on the following day may now begin at 10:30 BST, rather than the usual 11:00. Previously, Tests in England have only made up time at the end of a day, when the light can become an issue.
"It's a sensible idea," said Root. "This will enable us to play a little bit more cricket. It seems a really good way of maximising the hours of play."
England squad for third Test against Pakistan: Joe Root (Yorkshire) Captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Dominic Bess (Somerset), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).


bbc--2020-08-20--Liverpool's Wijnaldum a top target for Barca - gossip

Last updated on .From the section Gossip New Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman wants to bring Liverpool and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum , 29 , to the Nou Camp .
( Algemeen Dagblad , via Express ) Manchester United have cooled their interest in a loan deal for Juventus and Brazil winger Douglas Costa , 29 , and will instead consider a move for Bournemouth and Wales winger David Brooks , 23 .
( Manchester Evening News ) United have been told they must pay Bournemouth £40m to sign Brooks .
( Sun ) Paris St-Germain are monitoring Manchester United and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( O Jogo - in Portuguese ) Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling , 30 , is keen to rejoin Roma on loan after spending last season with the Serie A side .
( La Gazzetta dello Sport , via Mirror ) New contract talks between United and English goalkeeper Dean Henderson , 23 , are at an advanced stage .
The deal will reportedly be worth more than £100,000-a-week .
( Sky Sports ) Liverpool are considering signing Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara with the 29-year-old Spain international available for £30m .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 , wants to stay with the Hornets , despite their relegation to the Championship .
( Talksport ) Tottenham are planning a move for Arsenal 's Ainsley Maitland-Niles - the versatile 22-year-old played in defence and midfield for Arsenal last season .
( Mail ) Brighton will not accept Leeds ' third bid for English defender Ben White , 22 , reiterating that he is not for sale .
( Argus ) Aston Villa are poised to make an opening bid of £18m for Brentford 's English striker Ollie Watkins , 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for £25m .
( Mail ) Real Betis are in talks with Brighton over a move for Spanish right-back Martin Montoya , 29 .
( Sky Sports ) • None What 's new as the Premiership returns ?

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
New Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman wants to bring Liverpool and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 29, to the Nou Camp. (Algemeen Dagblad - in Dutch) external-link
Lille and Brazil centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, 22, has delayed making a final decision on a move to Arsenal after a potential late bid by Manchester United. (Telegraph - subscription required) external-link
United have backed away from a loan deal for Juventus and Brazil winger Douglas Costa, 29, and will instead consider a move for Bournemouth's 23-year-old Wales forward David Brooks. (Manchester Evening News) external-link
United have been told they must pay Bournemouth £40m to sign Brooks. (Sun) external-link
Gossip: Can Arsenal seal deals for Partey, Coutinho & Aubameyang?
Tottenham Hotspur are planning a move for Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles - the versatile 22-year-old Englishman played in defence and midfield for the Gunners last season. (Mail) external-link
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is weighing up whether to sign Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who is available for about £30m and keen on a move. Finance is not the key consideration, with the Reds needing to move other midfielders on first. (Independent) external-link
Paris St-Germain are monitoring Manchester United and Portugal full-back Diogo Dalot, 21. (O Jogo - in Portuguese) external-link
Brighton will not accept Leeds United's third bid for English defender Ben White and have reiterated that the 22-year-old is not for sale. (Argus) external-link
Aston Villa are poised to make an opening bid of £18m for Brentford's English striker Ollie Watkins, 24, but the Championship side are holding out for £25m. (Mail) external-link
Brazil attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson, 27, is considering leaving West Ham United. (Sun) external-link
How has it turned out for your side? Club-by-club Premier League fixture list
Contract talks between Manchester United and English goalkeeper Dean Henderson, 23, are at an advanced stage. The deal will be worth more than £100,000 a week. (Sky Sports) external-link
United centre-back Chris Smalling, 30, is keen to rejoin Roma on loan after spending last season with the Serie A side. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Mirror) external-link
Watford's English striker Troy Deeney, 32, wants to stay with the Hornets, despite their relegation to the Championship. (Talksport) external-link
Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle is set to see out his contract at the club, despite interest from other Premier League sides in the 29-year-old Englishman. (Telegraph - subscription required) external-link
Real Betis are in talks with Brighton over a move for Spanish right-back Martin Montoya, 29. (Sky Sports) external-link


bbc--2020-08-20--'For her it's a bigger risk than me' - Persoon surprised by Taylor taking rematch

Delfine Persoon says she is surprised Katie Taylor has taken on the `` risk '' of their highly anticipated rematch for all four world lightweight titles .
Persoon - a police officer - says she has `` nothing to lose '' on Saturday .
`` If she loses I do n't know how it will be for her in her career of boxing , '' Persoon , 35 , told BBC Sport .
`` For her it 's a bigger risk than me .
We did n't think she would take this risk .
`` For me it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use the money to build a new boxing gym where we live but it 's not about money .
`` I have money from my job so there 's no problem .
The honour is important for me rather than the money .
If you said I had to box for free and win , I 'd say no problem . ''
BBC Sport boxing commentator Mike Costello described Taylor 's first fight with Persoon as `` the best women 's fight I 've seen from ringside '' but added the result left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the champion 's record .
Taylor 's win meant she secured all four of the women 's world titles at 135lbs but the exciting nature of the fight and controversy about the result meant talk of a rematch was intense .
And the postponement of the champion 's bout against Amanda Serrano in May created a window of opportunity for a second meeting , in which Persoon hopes to put the upset of their first bout behind her .
`` The first days after the fight you think it was possible to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history for our country , '' she added .
`` After a few days you go back to work and life goes back .
Everybody comes up and says 'for us you won this fight ' .
`` There are moments where you 're on Facebook and people show it back to you and you think about it again .
There are a lot of things in life where you need a bit of luck also . ''
Taylor looking to be 'smarter ' and 'more disciplined' Taylor , 34 , has emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globally and can move to 16 wins from 16 fights with victory in a bout which will be broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live .
The Bray fighter says she hopes to box rather than being drawn into a fight , and that her performance level will be much improved from their first meeting .
`` It was n't my best performance and that is what I want to clear up on Saturday , '' Taylor told the 5 Live Boxing Podcast .
`` I 'd love to clear any doubt on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to go in and produce a smarter performance .
It 's in my character too much to stand there and fight .
I hope to be a bit more disciplined .
`` She has a big engine .
I have to be smart and clever and that 's the way to beat her . ''
' A re-run of the greatest ' and predictions ... Redemption , glory , justice , failure , heartbreak , I think we will get elements of all of those on Saturday .
For me , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all time that we saw at Madison Square Garden last year .
We thought Taylor had surrendered her titles and not taken Persoon 's title on the night .
We never believed we would see a rematch .
It 's fantastic .
It is stand alone brilliant .
At some point they will have the fight they had last year and I will be stunned if we do n't go the whole 10 rounds and it 's not a tight decision .
I think Taylor wins .
I think we might see something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor .
I think she will be more pin-point this time .
I think it will be competitive all the way but that she wins more emphatically than last time .

Costello will commentate on the fight for BBC Radio 5 Live
Whyte v Povetkin and Taylor v Persoon Venue: Matchroom Boxing Fight Camp Date: Saturday, 22 August BBC coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
Delfine Persoon says she is surprised Katie Taylor has taken on the "risk" of their highly anticipated rematch for all four world lightweight titles.
Ireland's Taylor won their initial bout in 2019, and Belgium's Persoon left the arena crying after what her team and some pundits felt was a harsh decision.
Persoon - a police officer - says she has "nothing to lose" on Saturday.
"If she loses I don't know how it will be for her in her career of boxing," Persoon, 35, told BBC Sport.
"For her it's a bigger risk than me. We didn't think she would take this risk.
I would love to clear any doubt on Saturday - Taylor
"For me it's not about money. I am going to use the money to build a new boxing gym where we live but it's not about money.
"I have money from my job so there's no problem. The honour is important for me rather than the money. If you said I had to box for free and win, I'd say no problem."
BBC Sport boxing commentator Mike Costello described Taylor's first fight with Persoon as "the best women's fight I've seen from ringside" but added the result left "a blemish" for some on the champion's record.
Taylor's win meant she secured all four of the women's world titles at 135lbs but the exciting nature of the fight and controversy about the result meant talk of a rematch was intense.
And the postponement of the champion's bout against Amanda Serrano in May created a window of opportunity for a second meeting, in which Persoon hopes to put the upset of their first bout behind her.
"The first days after the fight you think it was possible to be the first boxer from Belgium to write history for our country," she added.
"After a few days you go back to work and life goes back. Everybody comes up and says 'for us you won this fight'.
"There are moments where you're on Facebook and people show it back to you and you think about it again. There are a lot of things in life where you need a bit of luck also."
Taylor looking to be 'smarter' and 'more disciplined'
Taylor (left) faces Persoon behind closed doors in the garden of promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing headquarters in Essex
Taylor, 34, has emerged as the face of women's boxing globally and can move to 16 wins from 16 fights with victory in a bout which will be broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Bray fighter says she hopes to box rather than being drawn into a fight, and that her performance level will be much improved from their first meeting.
"It wasn't my best performance and that is what I want to clear up on Saturday," Taylor told the 5 Live Boxing Podcast.
"I'd love to clear any doubt on Saturday and win more convincingly.
"I want to go in and produce a smarter performance. It's in my character too much to stand there and fight. I hope to be a bit more disciplined.
"She has a big engine. I have to be smart and clever and that's the way to beat her."
'A re-run of the greatest' and predictions...
BBC Radio 5 Live boxing analyst Steve Bunce:
Redemption, glory, justice, failure, heartbreak, I think we will get elements of all of those on Saturday.
For me, it is the greatest women's fight of all time that we saw at Madison Square Garden last year. We thought Taylor had surrendered her titles and not taken Persoon's title on the night. We never believed we would see a rematch. It's fantastic. It is stand alone brilliant.
At some point they will have the fight they had last year and I will be stunned if we don't go the whole 10 rounds and it's not a tight decision. I think Taylor wins.
BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello:
I think we might see something if not different but more consistent from Taylor. I think she will be more pin-point this time. I think it will be competitive all the way but that she wins more emphatically than last time.


bbc--2020-08-21--DNC 2020: Biden vows to end Trump's 'season of darkness'

Newly minted Democratic White House nominee Joe Biden said US President Donald Trump has `` cloaked America in darkness for much too long '' .
The former US vice-president said his rival has unleashed `` too much anger , too much fear , too much division '' .
His impassioned speech was the capstone of a political career spanning nearly half a century .
Mr Biden , 77 , heads into the general election campaign with a clear lead in opinion polls over Mr Trump , 74 .
But with 75 days to go until the election the Republican president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gap .
• What Biden wants to do What did Biden say ?
Mr Biden 's live speech marked the grand finale of the four-night Democratic party conference .
But there was no balloon drop , cheering throngs , or any of the other fanfare and razzamatazz of the typical American party conference , because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Organisers opted instead for a virtual set piece of mostly pre-recorded speeches crunched into two hours of highly produced programming each evening .
In his address from his hometown of Wilmington , Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now , I give you my word , if you entrust me with the presidency , I will draw on the best of us , not the worst .
`` I 'll be an ally of the light , not the darkness .
`` It 's time for us , for we the people , to come together .
And make no mistake , united we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America .
`` We 'll choose hope over fear , facts over fiction , fairness over privilege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on the ballot '' this November .
`` We can choose a path of becoming angrier , less hopeful , more divided , a path of shadow and suspicion , '' he said .
`` Or , or , we can choose a different path and together take this chance to heal , to reform , to unite .
A path of hope and light .
`` This is a life-changing election .
This will determine what America is going to look like for a long , long time . ''
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a deadly pandemic and economic catastrophe and riven by a reckoning on race .
He continued : `` What we know about this president is that if he 's given four more years , he 'll be what he 's been for the last four years .
`` A president who takes no responsibility , refuses to lead , blames others , cosies up to dictators and fan the flames of hate and division .
`` He 'll wake up every day believing the job is all about him , never about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want for you , your family and your children ? ''
• Joe Biden and the boy with the stutter Referring to America 's coronavirus death toll , Mr Biden said : `` Our current president has failed in his most basic duty to the nation : he has failed to protect us . ''
Paraphrasing the Irish poet Seamus Heaney , he concluded : `` This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme . ''
That was Warren G Harding 's campaign slogan when he ran for president in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healing and calming Americans after the trauma of World War One .
In his winning presidential bid , he preached healing , serenity and restoration .
To put it in modern terms , an end to all the drama .
Mr Biden bills his campaign as a `` battle for the soul of this nation '' , but his message on Thursday night - the message of many of the Democratic speakers this week - was not so different from Harding 's .
There was a lot of pressure on Mr Biden to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have suggested the 77-year-old was in decline or `` diminished '' .
At least for one night , the former vice-president , who has given rousing stemwinders in the past , hit all his marks .
He was angry when he had to be , and reassuring when needed to be .
Mr Biden gave a powerful speech , delivered powerfully .
If he loses in November , it wo n't be because of anything that happened on Thursday night or at the convention this entire week - which is exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants .
• Did Joe Biden succeed in making his case ?
What else happened at the convention ?
Thursday night 's climax was hosted by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus , the star of US political satire Veep and a vocal critic of Mr Trump .
Throughout the evening , Democrats who had challenged Mr Biden for the nomination praised his leadership in a taped messages .
Some of those former rivals - US Senators Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker ; former congressman Beto O'Rourke , former South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and entrepreneur Andrew Yang - could be in line for jobs in a Biden administration .
Speakers at the convention over the past three nights have depicted Mr Trump as incompetent , selfish and a danger to democracy , imploring Americans to vote him out of office - a tone that Mr Biden echoed .
• What does Kamala Harris believe ?
On Wednesday his running mate , California Senator Kamala Harris , became the first black woman to accept a major party 's vice-presidential nomination .
The daughter of Indian and Jamaican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of leadership '' and amplified the cries for racial justice that have convulsed the nation .
`` There is no vaccine for racism .
We have got to do the work , '' the 55-year-old said , adding : `` None of us are free until all of us are free . ''
Earlier on Thursday , Mr Trump - who has nicknamed his challenger `` slow Joe '' and `` sleepy Joe '' - visited Mr Biden 's birthplace of Scranton in the presidential swing-voting state of Pennsylvania .
`` Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said , accusing his opponent of destroying American jobs through global trade deals , the Paris climate accord and clean energy plans .
He said : `` If you want a vision of your life under a Biden presidency , think of the smouldering ruins in Minneapolis , the violent anarchy of Portland , the blood-stained sidewalks of Chicago and imagine the mayhem coming to our town and every single town in America . ''
As the Democratic nominee was still speaking on Thursday , the Trump 2020 campaign issued a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pawn of the radical leftists '' .
Spokesman Tim Murtaugh said : `` His name is on the campaign logo , but the ideas come from the socialist extremists . ''
Next week , Mr Trump is expected to accept his nomination as the Republican candidate from the White House lawn during his party 's convention , which has been drastically scaled down because of the pandemic .
Mr Biden became a US senator from Delaware in 1973 , working his way up to the chairmanship of the chamber 's judiciary and foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House campaigns , in 1988 and 2008 , he became vice-president to Barack Obama , the nation 's first black president , serving as his deputy from 2009-17 .
Only in February this year , Mr Biden 's third run to become the Democratic White House nominee seemed on the verge of collapse .
Then black voters in South Carolina 's primary rewarded him with a victory that made his candidacy seem all but inevitable virtually overnight .
Mr Biden has faced questions about his age - he would be the oldest president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record has come under heavy scrutiny in a party that has been gravitating leftwards .
But he was able to rally the unruly progressive and moderate wings of his party to his banner by persuading Democratic voters that he has the best chance of defeating Mr Trump .
• A simple guide to the US election • How is Donald Trump doing in the polls ?
• How you can be US president without winning most votes

In his address from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, Mr Biden said: "Here and now, I give you my word, if you entrust me with the presidency, I will draw on the best of us, not the worst.


bbc--2020-08-21--Voters react: 'Lots of sweetness and light'

What happens at the US conventions ?
It 's convention season in the US election , but this year wo @ @ @ @ @ .

'Lots of sweetness and light - but little policy' Video, 00:03:12'Lots of sweetness and light - but little policy'


bbc--2020-08-21--Alexei Navalny: Doctors say Putin critic can't be moved to Germany

Russian doctors say leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny - who supporters say was poisoned - remains too ill to be moved to Germany for treatment .
Mr Navalny has been in a coma since Thursday when he fell ill on a flight and his supporters called the doctors ' decision `` a direct threat to his life '' .
They cited one report of `` a deadly substance '' dangerous not only to Mr Navalny but to all around him .
However , a doctor now says `` no poisons have been detected '' by the tests .
His team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his tea at an airport cafe in Tomsk .
Activists in Germany have sent a plane to bring Mr Navalny to Berlin for treatment .
The head doctor at the hospital in Omsk in Siberia where he is being treated said Mr Navalny 's condition had improved a little , but that he was still unstable .
Alexander Murakhovsky said legal questions would need to be resolved before Mr Navalny could be moved .
But Mr Navalny 's team said it was `` deadly '' for him to remain in the hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny is an attempt on his life , '' his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter .
What 's happening with efforts to move him ?
The Berlin-based Cinema for Peace Foundation said it had organised a plane to pick up Mr Navalny and bring him back to Berlin , where the Charite hospital was ready to treat him .
It said the aircraft had medical equipment and a team specialised in treating coma patients on board .
The Cinema for Peace Foundation was founded by activist and filmmaker Jaka Bizilj .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pyotr Verzilov - an activist with Russian protest group Pussy Riot - who had symptoms of poisoning .
The air ambulance for Mr Navalny arrived in Omsk on Friday morning , according to flight tracking data .
The hospital said it would not hand Mr Navalny over , arguing that it would be too dangerous to transport him in his current condition .
But Mr Navalny 's wife , Yulia Navalnaya , told reporters she believed the doctors were seeking to cover up her husband 's poisoning .
`` We certainly believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a chemical substance which is in Alexei 's body will dissolve , '' she said .
`` We certainly can not trust this hospital '' .
The governments of Germany and France have said they are happy to help with treatment .
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also said he supported `` efforts to provide Mr Navalny with the best available treatment '' .
The US Embassy in Russia said that , `` if true '' , the suspected poisoning of Mr Navalny `` represents a grave moment for Russia '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday that the Kremlin would help move Mr Navalny abroad if necessary and wished him a `` speedy recovery '' .
How did he end up in hospital ?
Mr Navalny fell ill during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow and his plane made an emergency landing in Omsk .
Video footage on social media showed Mr Navalny being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance on the airport runway .
Other disturbing video appeared to show a stricken Mr Navalny in pain on the flight .
Passenger Pavel Lebedev said he heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another photograph on social media purported to show Mr Navalny drinking from a cup at a Tomsk airport cafe .
What 's the latest on his condition ?
Dr Murakhovsky declined to answer questions about whether the opposition figure had been poisoned , saying only that there were five possible diagnoses and that test results would be available in two days .
But in comments later on Friday morning , deputy head doctor Anatoly Kalinichenko said no traces of poison had been found in tests .
He added that the hospital already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his family , but could not yet publicly disclose .
`` Poisoning as a diagnosis remains on the back burner , but we do n't believe that the patient suffered from poisoning , '' he said .
Ivan Zhdanov , an associate of Mr Navalny , said earlier on Friday he had been told by a transport police official that a `` deadly '' substance had been used , which posed a threat not only to the opposition figure 's life , but also those around him , meaning that protective suits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tass cited a police officer saying : `` We ca n't rule out that he drank or took something himself '' .
Ms Yasmysh dismissed this as `` complete rubbish '' .
He is a prominent critic of Mr Putin who made a name for himself by exposing official corruption .
He has served multiple jail terms .
He was taken ill while imprisoned in 2019 for calling for unauthorised protests .
Doctors diagnosed him with `` contact dermatitis '' but he said he had never had any acute allergic reactions and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposed to `` some toxic agent '' .
Mr Navalny also said he thought he may have been poisoned .
Mr Navalny also suffered a serious chemical burn to his right eye in 2017 when he was assaulted with green , antiseptic dye .
Last year his Anti-Corruption Foundation was officially declared a `` foreign agent '' , enabling the authorities to subject it to more checks .

July 2019: He was sentenced to 30 days in prison after calling for unauthorised protests. He fell ill in jail and doctors said he had suffered an acute allergic reaction, diagnosing him with "contact dermatitis". His own doctor suggested he might have been exposed to "some toxic agent" and Mr Navalny said he thought he might have been poisoned.


bbc--2020-08-21--Libya crisis: Rival authorities announce ceasefire

Libya 's rival authorities have announced an immediate ceasefire .
The Tripoli-based and internationally recognised Government of National Accord published a statement that also calls for elections in March next year .
It has been battling against the forces of Gen Khalifa Haftar , which control large parts of the east and south of Libya .
Libya has been riven by violence since Col Muammar Gaddafi was deposed by Nato-backed forces in 2011 .
The oil-rich nation is a key transit point for migrants heading to Europe from Africa .
• Russia and Turkey risk turning Libya into another Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Libya peace efforts The conflict has caused a split within Nato .
Last month , France temporarily pulled out of the Nato security operation Sea Guardian , accusing Turkey of violating an arms embargo against Libya .
It comes weeks after Turkish ships allegedly targeted a French warship in the Mediterranean - something Ankara strongly denies .
Both sides in Libya 's civil war have international support .
Turkey , Italy and Qatar are among those siding with the GNA in Tripoli , while Russia , Egypt and the United Arab Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought to back Gen Haftar , although leaders in Paris have repeatedly denied this .
A UN arms embargo is in place to stop men and materiel flowing into the country , but it has had little effect .
Turkey agreed a military co-operation deal with the GNA in 2019 , and deployed troops to the country in January .
• Why Egypt 's troops might get caught up in Libya conflict • Russia and Turkey risk turning Libya into another Syria • Why is Libya so lawless ?
In June , GNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks to greater help from Turkey .
Gen Haftar has reportedly withdrawn his forces from the city 's suburbs .
A UN report leaked in May said that hundreds of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group - run by Yevgeny Prigozhin , a close associate of President Vladimir Putin - were operating in Libya in support of Gen Haftar .
There are reports the Wagner Group is evacuating from the country , although these have not been confirmed .

There's been hardly any military combat in Libya since June, but what appears to be a coordinated ceasefire declaration by Libya's rival political blocs sets the stage for a new phase in the stalemate.


bbc--2020-08-21--Belarus strikes must continue and grow, opposition leader says

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has urged her supporters to step up their strikes despite `` intimidation '' from the authorities , as prosecutors question her allies .
In a new video address from exile in neighbouring Lithuania , she said : `` I ask you , continue and expand strikes ... do n't be fooled by intimidation . ''
She says the 9 August election was `` stolen '' by President Alexander Lukashenko and must be re-run fairly .
Many workers have gone on strike .
However , President Lukashenko shows no sign of backing down and activists report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to join the strikes .
• 'If you croak we do n't care ' : Brutality in Belarus • 'There 's no way back .
The people will not forgive this' Last weekend an estimated 200,000 anti-Lukashenko protesters filled central Minsk , furious at a brutal police crackdown on the opposition .
In her latest message , Ms Tikhanovskaya said : `` It 's time to unite ... you have intimidated the dictatorship .
`` It trembles with fear of you , your strength and courage .
That is why today you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms Tikhanovskaya on the new opposition Co-ordination Council have been summoned to the Belarus Investigative Committee ( SK ) , as they are now accused of an illegal power grab .
The BBC 's Will Vernon in Minsk reports that a lawyer for the council , Maxim Znak , arrived for questioning on Friday , and Sergei Dylevsky , organiser of strikes at the Minsk Tractor Factory , is also to be questioned .
The council , which also includes prominent Belarusian cultural figures , was launched to organise a peaceful transition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election .
But on Thursday the chief prosecutor launched a criminal case against the council , calling it unconstitutional .
President Lukashenko has called some of the protesters `` Nazis '' .
Maxim Znak told the BBC he was concerned he could be arrested on Friday .
Traditionally loyal factory workers at state enterprises joined the strike action , in an unprecedented show of defiance towards Mr Lukashenko .
But reports say the number of strikers has fallen because of the official pressure on them .
For example , those who walked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not get their jobs back .
Police intervened in a demonstration outside the Minsk Tractor Factory , arresting protesters .
Police also blocked the entrance to the National Academy Theatre in Minsk after staff resigned en masse over the forced removal of director and former culture minister , Pavel Latushko , who publicly called for new elections .
Ms Tikhanovskaya has appealed to European leaders to help establish a dialogue with the authorities .
The EU has already announced sanctions against Mr Lukashenko .
The nation of 9.5 million has long had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus president has been in power for 26 years , and remains an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin , though he has resisted Russian pressure for deeper integration .
On Thursday , President Putin discussed the Belarus crisis with European Council President Charles Michel by phone .
The Kremlin says Mr Putin `` emphasised that any pressure on the leadership of the sovereign Belarusian state and any outside interference in the internal processes taking place there would be counterproductive '' .
Mr Lukashenko 's victory has been rejected by major international powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already in jail or , in the case of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , in exile out of the country .
So the opening of this criminal case could pave the way for the arrest of many of those who remained .
Appointed by Ms Tikhanovskaya , the Co-ordination Council members are a mix of artists , civil society figures , journalists and business people .
Thoughts here in Minsk have already started to turn towards the weekend .
Last Sunday a huge demonstration of several hundred thousand people galvanised the opposition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears that President Lukashenko is determined to avoid a repeat .
After a period in which the Omon riot police largely withdrew from view , they have now been ordered back on the streets .
The thuggery of the first few days after the election has n't returned but understandably people are cautious .
The heady optimism of just a few days ago has quickly receded .

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