bbc--2020-07-22--West Brom promoted to Premier League with draw against QPR

West Bromwich Albion won promotion back to the Premier League despite failing to beat QPR in their final Championship game of the season .
A point at The Hawthorns was enough for Slaven Bilic 's Baggies to go up in second place behind Leeds United , thanks to Brentford 's home defeat by Barnsley .
Albion 's draw would have been enough anyway , but Barnsley 's winner gave the Baggies a two-point cushion .
Ryan Manning put QPR ahead before Albion turned it round with goals either side of the break from Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson .
Eberechi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point but was not enough to deny Albion a record fifth promotion to the Premier League .
• What happened on the final night of the Championship season ?
• 'Nothing worth having in life is going to come easy ' - West Brom win promotion the hard way Albion promoted on nervy night near the top The Baggies feared their automatic promotion hopes may have disappeared after losing their penultimate game at Huddersfield on Friday , but Brentford 's slip-up at Stoke the following day meant Bilic 's side had their fate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone close through Romaine Sawyers and a Matheus Pereira shot over the bar before QPR went ahead .
Manning 's shot was blocked by a combination of Kyle Bartley and Jake Livermore , but his second attempt from just outside the box flew to Sam Johnstone 's left into the bottom corner .
The hosts were level when Robinson slipped a short pass into the inside-left channel and Diangana expertly scored his eighth goal of the season , firing through Lumley 's legs .
Robinson had a chance to put his team ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he made up for it almost straight after the restart by putting Albion in front .
Diangana showed mesmeric skill down the left to get away from Luke Amos and Osman Kakay before crossing for an unattended Robinson to slide the ball past the exposed Lumley .
Robinson missed when through one-on-one but shot wide , and Rangers made Albion pay .
Yoann Barbet 's raking pass over the top put Eze in behind Dara O'Shea down the right , his first touch took him clear of the Albion full-back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-footed shot into the top corner .
Albion came close to a winner when Filip Krovinovic 's low right-foot shot was turned onto the post by Lumley and Semi Ajayi headed wide , but Barnsley 's late winner at Griffin Park spared the Baggies an even more anxious finish .
The only disappointment for Albion was that their latest promotion came behind closed doors , with no supporters allowed inside The Hawthorns because of the coronavirus pandemic .
But , while Albion 's players celebrated on the pitch and showered Bilic with champagne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were determined not to be left out .
Despite warnings from both the club and Sandwell Council to stay away and follow social distancing guidelines , a large gathering of supporters were soon showing their glee as car horns blew and blue smoke gusted outside the Jeff Astle gates .
Albion have truly put their fans through an emotional wringer since the Championship season resumed in mid-June .
At the end of February , just two games before the season was suspended , Albion were briefly seven points clear of eventual champions Leeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brentford .
The Bees ' eight-match winning run , including a victory over Albion , put the pressure on and they won just three of their last 11 games , nine of which came after the restart .
But Brentford 's back-to-back defeats in their final two games helped take top-flight football back to The Hawthorns , 14 months after being knocked out of last season 's play-offs by neighbours Aston Villa .
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic : `` ( Promotion ) is at the top ( of his achievements ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was this season .
You ca n't imagine how proud and happy I am .
`` I managed my country for six years and I said no matter which club I manage nothing will compare when you are manager of your national team .
I ca n't say it 's the same but I feel as proud as I felt then .
`` We 've got work to do but I have n't thought about it because of this crazy situation .
We did a bit of work during the lockdown .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day after and we 'll see next week . ''
QPR boss Mark Warburton : `` Watching West Brom celebrate on the pitch , it 's going to burn into your soul .
I want that .
`` The players have been asked and challenged every game , it 's a very high level .
`` It was important we came here and showed the appropriate level of commitment .
The players deserve a lot of credit .
`` We 're happy , teams have come here and if you 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The players have worked hard on the training ground and got the result they deserve to . ''

Last updated on .From the section Championship
West Bromwich Albion players showered boss Slaven Bilic with champagne at full-time, the Croatian having guided the Baggies to promotion in his first season in charge
West Bromwich Albion won promotion back to the Premier League despite failing to beat QPR in their final Championship game of the season.
A point at The Hawthorns was enough for Slaven Bilic's Baggies to go up in second place behind Leeds United, thanks to Brentford's home defeat by Barnsley.
Albion's draw would have been enough anyway, but Barnsley's winner gave the Baggies a two-point cushion.
Ryan Manning put QPR ahead before Albion turned it round with goals either side of the break from Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson.
Eberechi Eze's stunning equaliser earned Rangers a point but was not enough to deny Albion a record fifth promotion to the Premier League.
Albion promoted on nervy night near the top
The Baggies feared their automatic promotion hopes may have disappeared after losing their penultimate game at Huddersfield on Friday, but Brentford's slip-up at Stoke the following day meant Bilic's side had their fate in their own hands.
They had gone close through Romaine Sawyers and a Matheus Pereira shot over the bar before QPR went ahead.
Manning's shot was blocked by a combination of Kyle Bartley and Jake Livermore, but his second attempt from just outside the box flew to Sam Johnstone's left into the bottom corner.
The hosts were level when Robinson slipped a short pass into the inside-left channel and Diangana expertly scored his eighth goal of the season, firing through Lumley's legs.
Robinson had a chance to put his team ahead, only to put his attempt wide, but he made up for it almost straight after the restart by putting Albion in front.
On-loan forward Callum Robinson tapped in West Bromwich Albion's second goal to help the Baggies on their way to promotion
Diangana showed mesmeric skill down the left to get away from Luke Amos and Osman Kakay before crossing for an unattended Robinson to slide the ball past the exposed Lumley.
Robinson missed when through one-on-one but shot wide, and Rangers made Albion pay.
Yoann Barbet's raking pass over the top put Eze in behind Dara O'Shea down the right, his first touch took him clear of the Albion full-back and he ran on to send a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner.
Albion came close to a winner when Filip Krovinovic's low right-foot shot was turned onto the post by Lumley and Semi Ajayi headed wide, but Barnsley's late winner at Griffin Park spared the Baggies an even more anxious finish.
Celebrations start at The Hawthorns
The only disappointment for Albion was that their latest promotion came behind closed doors, with no supporters allowed inside The Hawthorns because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But, while Albion's players celebrated on the pitch and showered Bilic with champagne, a group of Baggies' fans were determined not to be left out.
Despite warnings from both the club and Sandwell Council to stay away and follow social distancing guidelines, a large gathering of supporters were soon showing their glee as car horns blew and blue smoke gusted outside the Jeff Astle gates.
Albion have truly put their fans through an emotional wringer since the Championship season resumed in mid-June.
At the end of February, just two games before the season was suspended, Albion were briefly seven points clear of eventual champions Leeds at the top and 13 ahead of Brentford.
The Bees' eight-match winning run, including a victory over Albion, put the pressure on and they won just three of their last 11 games, nine of which came after the restart.
But Brentford's back-to-back defeats in their final two games helped take top-flight football back to The Hawthorns, 14 months after being knocked out of last season's play-offs by neighbours Aston Villa.
Reaction
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic: "(Promotion) is at the top (of his achievements). You don't know how exhausting it was this season. You can't imagine how proud and happy I am.
"I managed my country for six years and I said no matter which club I manage nothing will compare when you are manager of your national team. I can't say it's the same but I feel as proud as I felt then.
"We've got work to do but I haven't thought about it because of this crazy situation. We did a bit of work during the lockdown. Now, not today, not tomorrow or the day after and we'll see next week."
QPR boss Mark Warburton: "Watching West Brom celebrate on the pitch, it's going to burn into your soul. I want that.
"The players have been asked and challenged every game, it's a very high level.
"It was important we came here and showed the appropriate level of commitment. The players deserve a lot of credit.
"We're happy, teams have come here and if you're not careful you can get badly hurt. The players have worked hard on the training ground and got the result they deserve to."


bbc--2020-07-22--Man Utd need point to reach Champions League after draw with West Ham

Manchester United need a point from their final game of the season to clinch a Champions League place after coming from behind to draw against West Ham , who confirmed their Premier League survival .
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side moved third , a point ahead of Leicester , who they face at the King Power Stadium on Sunday .
But victory for Brendan Rodgers ' team will deny the Red Devils a spot in Europe 's elite club competition next season - unless fourth-placed Chelsea lose to Wolves .
Michail Antonio put the Hammers ahead in first-half stoppage time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Paul Pogba gave away a penalty when he raised his hands to block a Declan Rice free-kick .
Eighteen-year-old Mason Greenwood levelled with his 17th goal of a stellar first season as a senior player .
Both sides had chances to win it , with under-pressure David de Gea producing a fingertip save to repel a deflected Jarrod Bowen effort and substitute Odion Ighalo turning a near-post effort wide at the other end .
Manchester United already knew their efforts to secure a top-four berth would go down to the last day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , after being in fifth since February , Solskjaer 's side have moved back into the top four for the first time since 14 September .
• Relive the draw between Manchester United and West Ham Although Solskjaer said during his side 's pre-season tour of Australia he rated Greenwood as the best finisher at the club , it was not until December that he gave the Yorkshireman his first Premier League start of the season .
Twenty-two games on , it is hard to imagine the line-up for an important game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical effort was his 10th in the league this term .
Michael Owen 's astonishing effort in 1997-98 , when he scored 18 , is the only time a teenager has done better since the Premier League was formed in 1992 .
The intricate close passing with Anthony Martial which created the shooting opportunity underlined that Greenwood is much more than a goalscorer .
It felt like he was taking responsibility when other , more experienced , team-mates had not .
Owen went to a World Cup after his stellar season .
Greenwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will still be a teenager when the European Championship begins next summer , on this evidence it would be no surprise to see him in Gareth Southgate 's squad .
The goal was vital for Manchester United , who have failed to win successive home games for the first time in nearly six months , but have the advantage at just the right time as Solskjaer looks to return the club back to something like its former self .
After going on a 19-match unbeaten run the team have flagged in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an FA Cup semi-final before this draw with the Hammers .
But Solskjaer knows the importance of qualifying for the Champions League .
After 22 years of never finishing below third under Sir Alex Ferguson , they have managed only two top-four finishes in the years since his retirement .
And Champions League qualification will increase their chances of signing England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for a start .
And , in a year when their finances have been badly affected like all their rivals because of the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a £22.5m rebate on their 10-year shirt deal .
At half-time , Moyes marched towards the dressing rooms with a look of determination on his face .
He must also have been feeling of immense satisfaction .
Moyes was sacked as Manchester United boss in April 2014 , less than a season into a six-year contract as Ferguson 's successor .
In the build-up to the game , Moyes said the only difference between him and Solskjaer was that the Norwegian was given time .
The statistics suggest Moyes has a point .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ games are broadly similar to the Scot , who won two games more , but lost an extra one as well .
The obvious difference is Moyes was not a legendary figure at Old Trafford and never scored an injury-time goal to win a Champions League final .
It means no-one will ever know if he could have turned around a dismal first season .
However , thanks to Antonio , who has scored more goals in the past 22 days than he has managed in either of the two previous seasons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Ham clear of a perilous situation in a relegation fight .
Unlike two years ago , when they ditched the Scot in favour of Manuel Pellegrini , West Ham seem certain to stick with Moyes , who has already told the club he wants them to start promising less and delivering more .
Manchester United end the season with a crunch game at Leicester while West Ham host Aston Villa .
All of the final games kick-off at 16:00 BST on Sunday .
Greenwood keeps on growing - the stats • Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home league games this season ( D7 L2 ) ; only in 2016-17 ( eight ) and 2013-14 ( nine ) have they earned fewer home victories in a Premier League campaign .
• West Ham have collected eight points in their last five Premier League games against United ( W2 D2 L1 ) , more than they managed in their previous 18 league encounters ( seven points - W1 D4 L13 ) between May 2008 and August 2017 .
• Solskjaer 's side are unbeaten in 13 Premier League games ( W8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norwegian 's best run in the competition with the Red Devils and his best league run in his managerial career with a single club .
• West Ham have dropped 26 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season , more than any other team in the competition in 2019-20 .
• Man Utd 's Greenwood has become the first player to score 10 Premier League goals in a season as a teenager since Romelu Lukaku in 2012-13 ( 14 ) , and the first English player to do so since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• No teenager has ever scored more goals in a single season in all competitions for United than Greenwood ( 17 - level with George Best in 1965-66 , Brian Kidd in 1967-68 and Rooney in 2004-05 ) .
• West Ham 's Antonio has scored eight goals in the Premier League since the restart , the joint-most of any player alongside Raheem Sterling .
He now has 10 Premier League goals this season - his best tally in a single campaign in the competition .
• Mark Noble has created 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two away league outings ( 8 v Norwich , 6 v Man Utd ) , one more than his previous 18 away league appearances combined beforehand .
• Brave conversations : The black experience in the UK • The great escape : Will Villa stay up ?

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Mason Greenwood scored his 17th goal of the season for Manchester United
Manchester United need a point from their final game of the season to clinch a Champions League place after coming from behind to draw against West Ham, who confirmed their Premier League survival.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side moved third, a point ahead of Leicester, who they face at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
But victory for Brendan Rodgers' team will deny the Red Devils a spot in Europe's elite club competition next season - unless fourth-placed Chelsea lose to Wolves.
Michail Antonio put the Hammers ahead in first-half stoppage time with his eighth goal in six games after Paul Pogba gave away a penalty when he raised his hands to block a Declan Rice free-kick.
Eighteen-year-old Mason Greenwood levelled with his 17th goal of a stellar first season as a senior player.
Both sides had chances to win it, with under-pressure David de Gea producing a fingertip save to repel a deflected Jarrod Bowen effort and substitute Odion Ighalo turning a near-post effort wide at the other end.
Manchester United already knew their efforts to secure a top-four berth would go down to the last day at Leicester. However the point means that, after being in fifth since February, Solskjaer's side have moved back into the top four for the first time since 14 September.
Greenwood the United star
Although Solskjaer said during his side's pre-season tour of Australia he rated Greenwood as the best finisher at the club, it was not until December that he gave the Yorkshireman his first Premier League start of the season.
Twenty-two games on, it is hard to imagine the line-up for an important game being picked without him.
His latest clinical effort was his 10th in the league this term. Michael Owen's astonishing effort in 1997-98, when he scored 18, is the only time a teenager has done better since the Premier League was formed in 1992.
The intricate close passing with Anthony Martial which created the shooting opportunity underlined that Greenwood is much more than a goalscorer. It felt like he was taking responsibility when other, more experienced, team-mates had not.
Owen went to a World Cup after his stellar season. Greenwood has more time and, although he will still be a teenager when the European Championship begins next summer, on this evidence it would be no surprise to see him in Gareth Southgate's squad.
The goal was vital for Manchester United, who have failed to win successive home games for the first time in nearly six months, but have the advantage at just the right time as Solskjaer looks to return the club back to something like its former self.
Man Utd 1-1 West Ham: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pleased with point against Hammers
After going on a 19-match unbeaten run the team have flagged in the last week, being beaten by Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final before this draw with the Hammers.
But Solskjaer knows the importance of qualifying for the Champions League.
After 22 years of never finishing below third under Sir Alex Ferguson, they have managed only two top-four finishes in the years since his retirement. And Champions League qualification will increase their chances of signing England winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for a start.
And, in a year when their finances have been badly affected like all their rivals because of the coronavirus pandemic, it would mean they avoid giving Adidas a £22.5m rebate on their 10-year shirt deal.
Man Utd 1-1 West Ham: It feels really good to be safe - David Moyes
Moyes on a mission
At half-time, Moyes marched towards the dressing rooms with a look of determination on his face. He must also have been feeling of immense satisfaction.
Moyes was sacked as Manchester United boss in April 2014, less than a season into a six-year contract as Ferguson's successor.
In the build-up to the game, Moyes said the only difference between him and Solskjaer was that the Norwegian was given time.
The statistics suggest Moyes has a point. Solskjaer's results in his first 51 games are broadly similar to the Scot, who won two games more, but lost an extra one as well.
The obvious difference is Moyes was not a legendary figure at Old Trafford and never scored an injury-time goal to win a Champions League final. It means no-one will ever know if he could have turned around a dismal first season.
However, thanks to Antonio, who has scored more goals in the past 22 days than he has managed in either of the two previous seasons, we do know Moyes has twice dragged West Ham clear of a perilous situation in a relegation fight.
Unlike two years ago, when they ditched the Scot in favour of Manuel Pellegrini, West Ham seem certain to stick with Moyes, who has already told the club he wants them to start promising less and delivering more.
Man of the match - Mason Greenwood (Man Utd)
Greenwood scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season for Manchester United
What next?
Manchester United end the season with a crunch game at Leicester while West Ham host Aston Villa. All of the final games kick-off at 16:00 BST on Sunday.
Greenwood keeps on growing - the stats
Manchester United have won 10 of their 19 home league games this season (D7 L2); only in 2016-17 (eight) and 2013-14 (nine) have they earned fewer home victories in a Premier League campaign.
West Ham have collected eight points in their last five Premier League games against United (W2 D2 L1), more than they managed in their previous 18 league encounters (seven points - W1 D4 L13) between May 2008 and August 2017.
Solskjaer's side are unbeaten in 13 Premier League games (W8 D5), which is now the Norwegian's best run in the competition with the Red Devils and his best league run in his managerial career with a single club.
West Ham have dropped 26 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other team in the competition in 2019-20.
Man Utd's Greenwood has become the first player to score 10 Premier League goals in a season as a teenager since Romelu Lukaku in 2012-13 (14), and the first English player to do so since Wayne Rooney in 2004-05 (11).
No teenager has ever scored more goals in a single season in all competitions for United than Greenwood (17 - level with George Best in 1965-66, Brian Kidd in 1967-68 and Rooney in 2004-05).
West Ham's Antonio has scored eight goals in the Premier League since the restart, the joint-most of any player alongside Raheem Sterling. He now has 10 Premier League goals this season - his best tally in a single campaign in the competition.
Mark Noble has created 14 goalscoring chances in West Ham's last two away league outings (8 v Norwich, 6 v Man Utd), one more than his previous 18 away league appearances combined beforehand.


bbc--2020-07-22--What happened in the Championship on the final day?

With something riding on all but one of the final 12 matches of the Championship season , it was always likely to be a rollercoaster ride to the finish .
But what happened over the course of a remarkable couple of hours on Wednesday will live long in the memory .
Here 's a round-up of how things went ... Three teams remained in the race to join champions Leeds in the automatic promotion places .
In the end it was second-placed West Bromwich Albion who had the mettle and stamina to hold off Brentford and Fulham .
The equation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a one-point lead over Brentford and two over Fulham with a superior goal difference .
The pressure was on the two west London clubs to better West Brom 's result and hope each other 's result went their way .
As it happened , all three sides went a goal down .
First Wigan netted to go 1-0 up against Fulham , then QPR went in front against West Brom at The Hawthorns .
• Relive the final round of the 2019-20 Championship season Brentford , who at that point were still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , were unable to take advantage .
The Bees went behind to Callum Styles ' opener for the Tykes , and Grady Diangana levelled for West Brom in their game just before the break .
Advantage Baggies .
Callum Robinson scored to put Slaven Bilic 's Albion ahead after half-time , but Eberechi Eze 's spectacular strike levelled for Rangers .
At Wigan , Neeskens Kebano was levelling things up for Fulham .
Thomas Frank 's Brentford were the form team in recent weeks , winning eight games to propel themselves into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday , and Josh Dasilva 's equaliser again handed them the initiative with 17 minutes to go .
At this stage , all three promotion hopefuls were level , but it was still West Brom in second .
The crucial goal came at Griffin Park , but it was not for Brentford .
Instead , in stoppage time Kenyan Clarke Oduor turned in Patrick Schmidt 's cross to stun the hosts , save Barnsley and make sure West Brom went back up to the Premier League after two seasons away .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the play-offs was probably , beforehand , the least exciting facet of the final round .
One to keep half an eye on .
Nottingham Forest and Cardiff were pretty much there .
Swansea were the rank outsiders .
Or so we thought .
Steve Cooper 's side needed a victory and a six-goal swing to wrestle their way into the top six and were counting on already safe Stoke giving them a hand against Forest .
The Potters did just that .
Forest began three points ahead of Swansea , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swans ' own 4-1 win against Reading meant Forest dropped from fifth to seventh .
What began as an unlikely pursuit of a top-six place ended with that position assured and with a goal to spare as well .
Swansea finished sixth and will now meet Brentford in the play-off semi-finals , starting with the first leg at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday .
Meanwhile , Cardiff will welcome west London opposition themselves on Monday when they take on Fulham .
The Bluebirds beat Hull comfortably , who finished bottom , to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's slim chances of automatic promotion were ended after a 1-1 draw with Wigan , a result which also relegated their opponents by virtue of their 12-point deduction for going into administration .
Barnsley 's late , late winner at Brentford saw them pull off a miraculous escape and meant Hull City and Charlton Athletic were joined in the bottom three by Wigan .
That 's barring a successful appeal against their 12-point deduction for entering administration .
The Latics would still have avoided the drop had they managed to beat Fulham , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner despite creating numerous chances in a 1-1 draw .
Hull 's hopes of securing their survival were always slimmer than slim and they will be playing League One football next season for the first time since 2005 following their defeat at play-off bound Cardiff City , which left them bottom of the pile .
The fact even a victory would not have saved them from going down will be of little consolation .
Charlton 's final-day defeat was perhaps the most predictable as they were soundly beaten by champions Leeds United .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have seen them well clear of the bottom three , but that was never likely as they were outshone on their way to a 4-0 mauling at Elland Road .
There were welcome final-day reprieves for Luton Town and Middlesbrough , who beat Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday respectively , as well as Birmingham , who lost at home to Derby County .
Remarkably , none of the teams in the bottom five on 2 July ended up being relegated .
Luton , Barnsley , Stoke , Huddersfield and Middlesbrough all managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six games remaining .

Gerhard Struber led Barnsley to two wins from their final two games and survival
With something riding on all but one of the final 12 matches of the Championship season, it was always likely to be a rollercoaster ride to the finish.
But what happened over the course of a remarkable couple of hours on Wednesday will live long in the memory.
Here's a round-up of how things went...
Promoted
Leeds & West Brom
Baggies boss Slaven Bilic was drenched in fizz at full-time
Three teams remained in the race to join champions Leeds in the automatic promotion places. In the end it was second-placed West Bromwich Albion who had the mettle and stamina to hold off Brentford and Fulham.
The equation was a simple one - the Baggies had a one-point lead over Brentford and two over Fulham with a superior goal difference. The pressure was on the two west London clubs to better West Brom's result and hope each other's result went their way.
As it happened, all three sides went a goal down. First Wigan netted to go 1-0 up against Fulham, then QPR went in front against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Brentford, who at that point were still goalless against relegation-threatened Barnsley and up to second, were unable to take advantage.
The Bees went behind to Callum Styles' opener for the Tykes, and Grady Diangana levelled for West Brom in their game just before the break. Advantage Baggies.
Callum Robinson scored to put Slaven Bilic's Albion ahead after half-time, but Eberechi Eze's spectacular strike levelled for Rangers. At Wigan, Neeskens Kebano was levelling things up for Fulham.
Thomas Frank's Brentford were the form team in recent weeks, winning eight games to propel themselves into the automatic mix before losing to Stoke on Saturday, and Josh Dasilva's equaliser again handed them the initiative with 17 minutes to go. At this stage, all three promotion hopefuls were level, but it was still West Brom in second.
The crucial goal came at Griffin Park, but it was not for Brentford. Instead, in stoppage time Kenyan Clarke Oduor turned in Patrick Schmidt's cross to stun the hosts, save Barnsley and make sure West Brom went back up to the Premier League after two seasons away.
Play-offs
Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff & Swansea
Swansea managed a six-goal swing to climb into the play-offs and dump Forest out
The race for the final couple of places in the play-offs was probably, beforehand, the least exciting facet of the final round. One to keep half an eye on. Nottingham Forest and Cardiff were pretty much there. Swansea were the rank outsiders. Or so we thought.
Steve Cooper's side needed a victory and a six-goal swing to wrestle their way into the top six and were counting on already safe Stoke giving them a hand against Forest. The Potters did just that.
Forest began three points ahead of Swansea, but their 4-1 defeat by Stoke and the Swans' own 4-1 win against Reading meant Forest dropped from fifth to seventh.
What began as an unlikely pursuit of a top-six place ended with that position assured and with a goal to spare as well.
Swansea finished sixth and will now meet Brentford in the play-off semi-finals, starting with the first leg at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Cardiff will welcome west London opposition themselves on Monday when they take on Fulham.
The Bluebirds beat Hull comfortably, who finished bottom, to ensure a place in the play-offs while Fulham's slim chances of automatic promotion were ended after a 1-1 draw with Wigan, a result which also relegated their opponents by virtue of their 12-point deduction for going into administration.
Relegated
Charlton, Wigan & Hull
Wigan goalkeeper David Marshall was distraught at full-time
Barnsley's late, late winner at Brentford saw them pull off a miraculous escape and meant Hull City and Charlton Athletic were joined in the bottom three by Wigan. That's barring a successful appeal against their 12-point deduction for entering administration.
The Latics would still have avoided the drop had they managed to beat Fulham, but they were unable to find a winner despite creating numerous chances in a 1-1 draw.
Hull's hopes of securing their survival were always slimmer than slim and they will be playing League One football next season for the first time since 2005 following their defeat at play-off bound Cardiff City, which left them bottom of the pile.
The fact even a victory would not have saved them from going down will be of little consolation.
Charlton's final-day defeat was perhaps the most predictable as they were soundly beaten by champions Leeds United.
As things turned out, a win would have seen them well clear of the bottom three, but that was never likely as they were outshone on their way to a 4-0 mauling at Elland Road.
There were welcome final-day reprieves for Luton Town and Middlesbrough, who beat Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, as well as Birmingham, who lost at home to Derby County.
Remarkably, none of the teams in the bottom five on 2 July ended up being relegated. Luton, Barnsley, Stoke, Huddersfield and Middlesbrough all managed to pull clear when in trouble with six games remaining.
Leeds crowned champions
Leeds eased to a 4-0 win over Charlton...
celebrated their title with the boss...
and picked up the Championship trophy
Play-off schedule (all times BST)
Semi-final first legs
Sunday, 26 July - Swansea v Brentford - 18:30
Monday, 27 July - Cardiff v Fulham - 19:45
Semi-final second legs
Wednesday, 29 July - Brentford v Swansea - 19:45
Thursday, 30 July - Fulham v Cardiff - 19:45
Final (Wembley Stadium)


bbc--2020-07-23--Trump to send 'surge' of hundreds of federal agents to cities

President Donald Trump is to send `` a surge '' of federal security forces to US cities in a crackdown on crime .
Chicago and two other Democratic-run cities are being targeted in the Republican president 's move , amid a spike in violence .
But federal deployments in Portland , Oregon , have proved controversial .
Local officials say they have raised tensions amid ongoing protests .
Law and order has become a key plank of Mr Trump 's re-election bid in November .
Since the death on 25 May of an unarmed black man , George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there have been protests - sometimes descending into civil disorder - in scores of US cities .
Meanwhile , gun violence has spiked in metropolitan areas including New York City , Philadelphia , Los Angeles , Chicago and Milwaukee .
In Portland , which has seen more than 50 days of demonstrations , Mayor Ted Wheeler was tear-gassed by federal agents while attending the city 's protest on Wednesday night .
Speaking to a New York Times reporter , he said the tear-gassing was `` an egregious overreaction '' by federal officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing that provoked this response '' .
The operation announced by President Trump is named after a four-year-old boy , LeGend Taliferro , who was shot dead while sleeping in his family home in Kansas City in June .
The boy 's mother joined the president at Wednesday 's announcement .
The operation will see agents from the FBI , Marshals Service and other federal agencies work with local law enforcement , according to the US Department of Justice .
Mr Trump - whose opinion poll numbers have been slumping amid a coronavirus-crippled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rampage of violence shocks the conscience of our nation . ''
• Does Trump have the right to send in federal forces ?
The president , who accuses Democrats of being weak on crime , said : `` In recent weeks there has been a radical movement to defend , dismantle and dissolve our police departments . ''
He blamed this for `` a shocking explosion of shootings , killings , murders and heinous crimes of violence '' .
He added : `` This bloodshed will end . ''
US Attorney General William @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said they had sent about 200 federal agents to Kansas City , Missouri .
They would send a `` comparable '' number to Chicago and about 35 others to Albuquerque , New Mexico .
Mr Barr said the officers would be involved in `` classic crime fighting '' , unlike the deployment of Department of Homeland Security agents which were sent to `` defend against riots and mob violence '' in Portland .
However policing in the US is the responsibility of states , and governors and local officials have resisted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kate Brown has called it `` a blatant abuse of power , '' and Mayor Ted Wheeler `` an attack on our democracy . ''
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Tuesday : `` We welcome actual partnership , but we do not welcome dictatorship . ''
What is going on in those cities ?
In Portland protests have been held every night since Floyd 's death in May .
In recent days demonstrators have clashed with federal officers sent earlier this month to the city to guard a court .
The agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles around Oregon 's biggest city while wearing military fatigues and arbitrarily arresting a handful of demonstrators .
In the latest incident in Chicago , at least 14 people were shot outside a funeral home in a suspected gang-related attack .
The city has seen 34 % more homicides than last year , according to the Chicago Sun-Times .
A 2018 FBI survey found the violent crime rate in Albuquerque was 3.7 times the national average .
The rates of murder and rape were more than double the national average that year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ track to record its most homicides ever in 2020 , according to the Kansas City Star .
Defending the intervention of federal troops on Monday , President Trump blamed the violence in those Democrat-controlled cities to the fact that they are `` all run , really , by the radical left '' .
Many people in Kansas City say the president 's plan is not what this place needs .
Kansas City leans Democratic , and many are opposed to the president 's policies and object to his aggressive law-and-order mandate .
Traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and critics of the president say this initiative is directed more at his conservative supporters in the rural heartland than those who live in Kansas City and other urban areas .
Mr Trump 's critics say the initiative is not really an effort to fight urban crime , claiming it is simply a way to drum up enthusiasm among the president 's base of supporters before the election .
Criminal justice experts note the crime wave has struck in the middle of a coronavirus epidemic that has ushered in mass unemployment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law-enforcement nonprofit , told ABC News that one factor behind the uptick was various jurisdictions granting early release to inmates to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in prisons .
New York City police have blamed the spike there on a bail reform law that requires judges to release defendants awaiting trial on serious crimes .
Stay-at-home orders have made it difficult for officers to conduct community outreach , while Floyd 's killing has fuelled distrust of law enforcement in the areas they serve , say criminal justice experts .
NYPD Chief Terence Monahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last couple of months had emboldened some people who believed `` that cops ca n't do anything anymore '' .
There is also a suggestion that some law enforcement could be taking a step back in frustration over anti-police rhetoric .
According to CBS News , members of Chicago 's police union recently encouraged officers in a text message not to volunteer for overtime , to limit arrests and to call in sick to make a point to city hall about the need for law enforcement .

According to CBS News, members of Chicago's police union recently encouraged officers in a text message not to volunteer for overtime, to limit arrests and to call in sick to make a point to city hall about the need for law enforcement.


bbc--2020-07-23--China's Tianwen-1 Mars rover rockets away from Earth

China has launched its first rover mission to Mars .
The six-wheeled robot , encapsulated in a protective probe , was lifted off Earth by a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island at 12:40 local time ( 04:40 GMT ) .
It should arrive in orbit around the Red Planet in February .
Called Tianwen-1 , or `` Questions to Heaven '' , the rover wo n't actually try to land on the surface for a further two to three months .
This wait-and-see strategy was used successfully by the American Viking landers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assess the atmospheric conditions on Mars before attempting what will be a hazardous descent .
Tianwen-1 is one of three missions setting off to Mars in the space of 11 days .
On Monday , the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) launched its Hope satellite towards the Red Planet .
And in a week from now , the US space agency ( Nasa ) aims to despatch its next-generation rover , Perseverance .
Zhang Xueyu , the Hainan base commander , told jubilant mission technicians that the launch had proceeded entirely according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aerospace control centre , the Long March 5 Y-4 rocket is in normal flight , and the probe to Mars has accurately entered the preset orbit .
I now declare the launch of China 's first Mars exploration mission a complete success , '' he said .
The targeted touchdown location for the Chinese mission will be a flat plain within the Utopia impact basin just north of Mars ' equator .
The rover will study the region 's geology - at , and just below , the surface .
Tianwen-1 looks a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rovers from the 2000s .
It weighs some 240kg and is powered by fold-out solar panels .
A tall mast carries cameras to take pictures and aid navigation ; five additional instruments will help assess the mineralogy of local rocks and look for any water-ice .
This surface investigation is really only half the mission , however , because the cruise ship that is shepherding the rover to Mars will also study the planet from orbit , using a suite of seven remote-sensing instruments .
The historic statistics for the exploration of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half of all ventures have failed .
Indeed , China 's first effort to send a satellite , Yinghuo-1 , to the dusty world stalled in Earth orbit when its Russian carrier stage failed and fell back towards the Pacific Ocean .
So far , only the Americans have managed to run long-lived operations on Mars ( the Soviets ' Mars-3 and Europe 's Beagle-2 missions got down but failed shortly after ) .
China , however , can take confidence from the successes of its two recent Chang ' e Yutu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the first ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon last year .
The country 's engineers will believe they are now ready to tackle the infamous `` seven minutes of terror '' - the time it takes for a spacecraft to make the perilous trip from the top of Mars ' atmosphere to the ground .
`` Entering , deceleration and landing ( EDL ) is a very difficult ( process ) .
We believe China 's EDL process can still be successful , and the spacecraft can land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quoted as saying ahead of launch by the Reuters news agency .
Tianwen-1 will use a combination of a capsule , parachute and a retro-rocket to burn off entry speed and slow itself to a stop right at the surface .
If all goes well , the landing mechanism will then deploy a ramp to enable the rover to begin its traverse across the Martian plain .
Chinese scientists would like to get at least 90 Martian days of service out of the robot .
A day , or Sol , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr Rain Irshad is autonomous systems leader at RAL Space in the UK and is involved in Nasa 's Insight lander on Mars .
`` It 's incredibly exciting to see what China is doing , '' she commented .
`` Their space agency was only formed in 1993 , and yet here they are , less than 30 years later , sending an orbiter , a lander and a rover to Mars .
`` But they put themselves through a training programme with their Chang ' e missions at the Moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way they 've been banging out the lunar missions one after the other , '' she told BBC News .
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter : @ BBCAmos

Tianwen-1 will use a combination of a capsule, parachute and a retro-rocket to burn off entry speed and slow itself to a stop right at the surface. If all goes well, the landing mechanism will then deploy a ramp to enable the rover to begin its traverse across the Martian plain.


bbc--2020-07-23--China-US row: Fugitive researcher 'hiding in San Francisco consulate'

A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China 's consulate in San Francisco , the US says .
Prosecutors allege that the case is part of a Chinese programme to send undercover army scientists to the US .
On Wednesday the Trump administration ordered the closure of China 's mission in Houston , saying it was involved in stealing intellectual property .
China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US .
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the administration of using excuses to limit , harass or crack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Following the row over the Houston consulate , President Donald Trump threatened to close down more Chinese missions .
In recent months he has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade , the coronavirus pandemic and China 's imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong .
What are the allegations about the San Francisco mission ?
Court filings by prosecutors in a federal court in San Francisco say the defendant , named as Juan Tang , was a biology researcher at the University of California , Davis .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI agents last month she said she had not served in the Chinese military .
However , the document says , an open-source investigation uncovered photos of her wearing military uniform and a search of her home found further evidence of her affiliation with China 's People 's Liberation Army ( PLA ) .
`` At some point following the search and interview of Tang on June 20 , 2020 , Tang went to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco , where the FBI assesses she has remained , '' the filing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site , reads .
It adds : `` As the Tang case demonstrates , the Chinese consulate in San Francisco provides a potential safe harbor for a PLA official intent on avoiding prosecution in the United States . ''
Prosecutors say that this is not an isolated case but `` appears to be part of a program conducted by the PLA '' to send military scientists to the US on false pretences .
The document also highlights the cases of two other researchers arrested in California in recent weeks for lying about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is happening at China 's consulates ?
The Houston consulate came under scrutiny on Tuesday when people overlooking the building 's courtyard noticed several bins on fire .
Footage showed people throwing what appeared to be paper into the bins .
Emergency services were called to the building but Houston police say they were not granted access .
On Wednesday , the administration gave China 72 hours to close the consulate `` to protect American intellectual property and Americans ' private information '' .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave .
And when they do n't , we 're going to take actions that protect the American people , protect ... our national security , and also protect our economy and jobs . ''
The consulate is one of five in the US , not counting the embassy in Washington .
China described the closure as a `` political provocation '' .
What is stoking tensions between China and the US ?
There are a number of flashpoints between Beijing and Washington .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : President Trump has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the `` China virus '' .
and alleged it originated from a Chinese laboratory , despite his own intelligence officers saying it `` was not manmade '' .
In response , Chinese officials have suggested , without evidence , that Covid-19 might have originated in the US • Trade : Mr Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft .
The US and China have engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war since 2018 as a result of the dispute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a sweeping new national security law in Hong Kong in June led the US to revoke the region 's preferential economic treatment .
Beijing has accused the US of `` gross interference '' in its domestic affairs , promising it will retaliate • South China Sea : The two countries have also clashed over Beijing 's pursuit of offshore resources in disputed waters , with Mr Pompeo calling it a `` campaign of bullying '' .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: "We are setting out clear expectations for how the Chinese Communist Party is going to behave. And when they don't, we're going to take actions that protect the American people, protect... our national security, and also protect our economy and jobs."


bbc--2020-07-23--India's diamond-studded response to the virus

Given the state of the pandemic raging across the world , masks have become indispensable .
So it 's no @ @ @ @ @ into 2020 's biggest fashion accessory .
Those who want to stock up on them @ @ @ @ @ from handloom ones to chic designer options .
And in the western Indian state of @ @ @ @ @ add bejeweled masks to the mix if they are willing to pay up - they @ @ @ @ @ And these are not even the most unique options out there - try a solid @ @ @ @ @ one made out of flat bread !

Given the state of the pandemic raging across the world, masks have become indispensable. So it's no surprise that they have turned into 2020's biggest fashion accessory.
Those who want to stock up on them are spoiled for choice, from handloom ones to chic designer options.
And in the western Indian state of Gujarat,, they can add bejeweled masks to the mix if they are willing to pay up - they start at $2,000.
And these are not even the most unique options out there - try a solid gold mask, or even one made out of flat bread!
Additional footage by BBC Gujarati.


bbc--2020-07-23--Unilever: Ice cream in, personal hygiene out in lockdown

People working from home have been eating more ice cream but neglecting their grooming habits , consumer goods giant Unilever has suggested .
The firm said ice cream sales leapt 26 % in the three months to June , but demand for shampoo and deodorant fell .
It said it had seen strong `` growth in home consumption of foods , ice cream and tea '' during lockdown .
But there had been `` fewer personal care occasions from going to work or socialising '' .
However , it said sales of some cleaning products , such as hand sanitiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to battle Covid-19 .
The firm 's Magnum and Ben and Jerry 's brands benefited the most as people bought more ice cream to eat at home .
The company - which makes the deodorant Lynx and Dove soap - had warned about shrinking personal care sales at its last trading update in April .
It said that as more people worked from home , they were washing their hair less often , putting off shaving and even ditching deodorant .
Four months on , it said personal care sales had continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand for household cleaning products , such as Cif surface cleaners and Domestos , which campaigned to educate consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Unilever - which owns brands such as Marmite and PG Tips tea - posted a 4 % climb in first-half pre-tax profits to €4.5bn ( £3.5bn ) after people stockpiled toilet rolls and other consumer goods at the start of the coronavirus crisis .
`` In North America and parts of Europe , there was a positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' it said .
`` Consumption patterns then normalised in the second quarter with heightened levels of demand for hygiene and in-home food products . ''
Boss Alan Jope said the results `` demonstrated the resilience of the business '' , as demand from the hospitality industry for its products slumped after hotels , restaurants , cafes and bars closed .
But with people buying more food to eat at home , the company saw double-digit growth in its retail foods business , with Knorr soups and Hellmann 's sauces performing strongly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its tea business , which includes other household brands such as Lipton and Brooke Bond .
It said it would retain its tea businesses in India and Indonesia and partnership interests in ready-to-drink tea joint ventures .
`` The balance of Unilever 's tea brands and geographies and all tea estates have an exciting future , and this potential can best be achieved as a separate entity , '' it said .
`` A process will now begin to implement the separation , which is expected to conclude by the end of 2021 @ @

But it reported increased demand for household cleaning products, such as Cif surface cleaners and Domestos, which campaigned to educate consumers about targeted cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.


bbc--2020-07-23--Twitter says hackers viewed 36 accounts' private messages

Twitter has revealed that hackers viewed private direct messages ( DMs ) from 36 of the accounts involved in last week 's hack .
It has not disclosed who they belonged to beyond saying one was owned by an elected official in the Netherlands .
Twitter added that it does not believe any other former or current politicians had their DMs accessed .
It is not clear how many of the accounts overlap with the 45 that tweeted a Bitcoin scam .
Although Twitter has not named the Dutch official affected , local reports have indicated it is likely the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his profile image was replaced with that of a cartoon of a black man , and his account 's background image was changed to that of the Moroccan flag .
On 16 July , the accounts of several high profile business leaders , celebrities and politicians accounts posted a bogus get-rich-quick scheme , including : It is believed victims sent about $ 120,000 ( £93,600 ) in Bitcoin to the perpetrators , and the sum would have been larger if a crypto-currency exchange had not blocked further transfers .
Twitter has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the attack , which exposed personal information including email addresses and telephone numbers .
It previously revealed that eight non-verified accounts had all of their Twitter data downloaded , including DMs .
The firm has not said if any of these coincide with the ones whose DM inboxes were looked at .
The social network may reveal more about the incident when it posts its latest financial results before the bell this Thursday .
The US Senate Commerce Committee has also demanded Twitter brief it about the wider incident by 23 July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Representatives ' Judiciary committee has also called on its chair to ask Twitter 's chief executive Jack Dorsey to attend a separate hearing on Monday , at which Facebook , Apple , Google and Amazon 's chief executives are already scheduled to give testimony .
However , political watchers say it is unlikely that a formal invitation will be made as the focus of that event is anti-competitive behaviour , and Twitter is a much smaller company than the others .

"I was informed by Twitter last night... that my Twitter account was not only hacked for some days and the hacker also posted tweets on my account and sent DMs in my name, but indeed also got full access to my DMs, which of course is totally unacceptable in many ways," Mr Wilders said.


bbc--2020-07-23--Israel: 'Gay conversion' therapy ban bill passed by MPs

Israeli MPs have taken steps to outlaw the practice of `` gay conversion '' therapy by psychologists - the first Middle East country to do so .
A bill passed its first stage in parliament , after two parties in the coalition government joined the opposition to vote in favour .
Last year , Israel 's then-education minister endorsed the therapy , triggering a backlash .
The bill risks a political crisis , with religious parties unhappy at the move .
After the vote , the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism ( UTJ ) , which is part of the fragile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bills which the centrist Blue and White - also a member of the government - would find objectionable .
The bill must still pass two more readings before it becomes law .
• ' I was given electric shocks for being gay' The term `` conversion therapy '' refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person 's sexual orientation or to suppress a person 's gender identity .
The practice is widely opposed on logical , ethical and moral grounds .
Earlier this week , UK PM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely abhorrent '' , saying that plans to ban it in the UK would be brought forward .
Opposition Meretz party leader Nitzan Horowitz , who co-authored the bill , said its preliminary passage marked `` historic change '' in Israel .
Blue and White leader and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz welcomed the result .
`` Conversion therapy was born in sin and its place is outside of the law and the public norm , '' he tweeted .
`` We will make sure that everyone , from every background and sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and security over their identity . ''
Last year , then-Education Minister Rafi Peretz sparked outrage when he publicly condoned `` gay conversion '' therapy .
Israel has the most progressive attitude towards LGBTQ people in the Middle East , despite opposition from some conservative sections of society .
They are protected by anti-discrimination laws , have adoption and same-sex inheritance rights , and have been allowed to serve in the military since 1993 .
The country has a record number of openly gay MPs and last year appointed its first openly gay @ @

After the vote, the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism (UTJ), which is part of the fragile national unity government, threatened to introduce bills which the centrist Blue and White - also a member of the government - would find objectionable.


bbc--2020-07-23--NIgeria's Boko Haram crisis: Aid workers 'killed' in Borno state

Five aid workers abducted last month in north-east Nigeria 's Borno State have been killed , reportedly by jihadists .
The men were working for Action Against Hunger , the International Rescue Committee , Rich International and the country 's State Emergency Management Agency , Nigeria 's president confirmed .
Muhammadu Buhari blamed Boko Haram and vowed to bring the killers to justice .
He also pledged to `` wipe out the remaining vestiges '' of the Islamist group , which has dominated the region .
The group 's decade-long insurgency has left thousands dead , displaced many more and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nigeria .
Aid workers have frequently been targeted , especially by a Boko Haram splinter group affiliated to the so-called Islamic State group .
• Get the latest updates on this and other stories across Africa The Nigerian online newspaper Premium Times says the killers belong to a sect of Boko Haram and posted a 35-second video of the executions .
According to the newspaper , five hooded armed men stand with the blindfolded hostages .
An unidentified voice delivers a speech to `` the infidels '' telling them to `` repeat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gunmen orders the others to shoot their captives .
In strongly worded statements both Action Against Hunger and the International Rescue Committee paid tribute to the workers who were killed .
Action Against Hunger said it deeply regretted that its calls for their release had not been answered .
International Rescue Committee condemned the killings as `` senseless '' and `` barbaric '' .
Paying tribute to its staff member Luka Filibus who , it said , had been `` forced to flee his home and was still compelled to alleviate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the return of his body .
UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon said `` it is unacceptable that those who are trying to help are being attacked and killed '' .
`` This incident will not deter the international community from providing aid to millions of Nigerians who desperately need assistance in the north-east , '' he said in a statement .

Paying tribute to its staff member Luka Filibus who, it said, had been "forced to flee his home and was still compelled to alleviate the suffering of children", they demanded the return of his body.


bbc--2020-07-23--Bruno Dey: Former Nazi guard found guilty over mass murder at Stutthof Camp

A 93-year-old former Nazi SS concentration camp guard has been found guilty of complicity in the murder of more than 5,000 prisoners .
Bruno Dey was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence by a court in the German city of Hamburg .
Dey had manned a tower at the Stutthof Camp in what was then occupied Poland .
It is expected to be one of the last Nazi-era trials , as both survivors and perpetrators are now very old , and in some cases their memories are failing .
Dey was tried in a juvenile court because he was 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , between August 1944 and April 1945 , according to the indictment .
Apology for 'the hell of this madness' During the nine-month trial , Dey listened to witness statements but maintained he had been forced into his role as guard at the camp and had not been involved in the killings .
In his last statement to the court , he said he had been `` shaken '' by the witness accounts and apologised to `` those who went through the hell of this madness '' but added that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the atrocities '' until the trial .
Sentencing Dey , the judge acknowledged his willingness to take part in the trial but said he had refused to acknowledge his own complicity in what was going on .
`` You saw yourself as an observer , '' the judge said .
The trial in January heard from a historian who testified that Dey had been sent to the camp initially as a Wehrmacht soldier and had not joined the SS until September 1944 .
So , it is argued , he could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before becoming part of the SS mass murder machine .
Although Dey acknowledged knowing of the Stutthof gas chambers and admitted seeing `` emaciated figures , people who had suffered '' , his defence team argued that he was a relatively unimportant figure in the camp and was not directly involved in the 5,230 deaths .
But prosecutors argued he had known what was happening , had had contact with the prisoners and had actively prevented their escape .
`` When you are a part of mass-murder machinery , it is not enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mahnke said in his closing arguments .
Stutthof , located near modern day Gdansk , was officially designated a concentration camp in 1942 .
It was the first such camp built outside German borders in the war and the last to be liberated , by the Soviet army on 9 May 1945 .
Guards began using gas chambers there in June 1944 .
More than 65,000 people are thought to have died in the camp , from illness and malnutrition as well as from the gas chambers and other executions .
Dey 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were considered by the German authorities after a landmark 2011 ruling against former Sobibor camp guard John Demjanjuk .
He was given a jail term as an accessory to mass murder but died pending an appeal .
Previously , courts had required evidence of former SS guards ' direct involvement in atrocities .

In his last statement to the court, he said he had been "shaken" by the witness accounts and apologised to "those who went through the hell of this madness". However, he added that he had not been aware of the "extent of the atrocities" until the trial.


bbc--2020-07-23--Cutting screen time lowers risk of death, study finds

Restricting television viewing to two hours a day could prevent or delay poor health , according to a new study .
Health risks associated with screen time , such as cancer and cardiovascular disease , were at their lowest when daily TV time was two hours or less .
The study from the University of Glasgow , followed almost 500,000 participants aged 37-73 over a 12 year period between 2006 and 2018 .
Researchers said the findings mean adults should minimize exposure .
If all participants limited television time to two hours a day , potentially 5.62 % of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cardiovascular disease could have been prevented or delayed .
It was not just the traditional television screen that was included in the study , watching videos on a mobile phone counted too .
Dr Hamish Foster from the University of Glasgow 's Institute of Health and Wellbeing led the study .
He said that the latest research backed the current evidence that watching too much TV - and living a sedentary lifestyle more generally - could lead to poor heath .
`` Our study suggests limiting TV time could delay or prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Foster said .
`` However , there is still more work to be done before we can make firm TV time recommendations .
`` Further research is needed to understand all these factors and inform future advice and guidelines . ''
He added that unhealthy snacking and lower socioeconomic status are linked to both TV time and poor health .
Researchers also looked at the potential benefits of substituting television time with healthier activities such as walking .
They found people who would benefit most from replacing longer periods at a screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only spend very small amounts of their day doing those healthier activities .

They found people who would benefit most from replacing longer periods at a screen with more time exercising are those who only spend very small amounts of their day doing those healthier activities.


bbc--2020-07-22--Premier League club almost lost £1m to hackers - report

A Premier League club came close to losing £1m during a transfer deal because of cyber hackers .
The National Cyber Security Centre ( NCSC ) said it was only the intervention of the unnamed club 's bank that stopped the theft .
It was one of several incidents highlighted as evidence that sport needed to improve its cybersecurity .
`` The impact of cybercriminals cashing in on this industry is very real , '' said the NCSC 's Paul Chichester .
A new report from the NCSC says the email address of a Premier League club 's managing director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading to the attempt to steal the £1m .
The report also says that a Football League club was targeted by hackers who cut off its security systems , blocking turnstiles and almost resulting in a fixture postponement .
And it added that in one incident a member of staff at a racecourse lost £15,000 after attempting to buy groundskeeping equipment from a fake version of eBay .
Sir Hugh Robertson , chair of the British Olympic Association , said in the report : `` This report is a crucial first step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat and highlighting practical steps that organisation should take to improve cybersecurity practices . ''

Last updated on .From the section Sport
NCSC said its report found hackers were trying to compromise sporting organisations on a daily basis, often by targeting business email
A Premier League club came close to losing £1m during a transfer deal because of cyber hackers.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said it was only the intervention of the unnamed club's bank that stopped the theft.
It was one of several incidents highlighted as evidence that sport needed to improve its cybersecurity.
"The impact of cybercriminals cashing in on this industry is very real," said the NCSC's Paul Chichester.
A new report from the NCSC says the email address of a Premier League club's managing director had been hacked during a transfer negotiation, leading to the attempt to steal the £1m.
The report also says that a Football League club was targeted by hackers who cut off its security systems, blocking turnstiles and almost resulting in a fixture postponement.
And it added that in one incident a member of staff at a racecourse lost £15,000 after attempting to buy groundskeeping equipment from a fake version of eBay.
Sir Hugh Robertson, chair of the British Olympic Association, said in the report: "This report is a crucial first step, helping sports organisations to better understand the threat and highlighting practical steps that organisation should take to improve cybersecurity practices."


bbc--2020-07-23--Roman jars found in Spanish seafood shop

Authorities conducting a routine inspection of a frozen seafood shop in Spain were surprised to find ancient artefacts decorating the premises .
The owner 's son found the objects while fishing , according to local media .
Thirteen jars ( amphoras ) are believed to date back to the 1st Century AD , while an 18th Century anchor and a limestone plaque were also found .
Both the owner of the business in Alicante and his son are now being investigated .
• Baiae : A Roman settlement at the bottom of the sea '' The amphoras could come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be protected as objects of underwater archaeology , a statement by the Civil Guard said on Wednesday .
The artefacts were moved to the Museum of the Sea in Santa Pola , where they underwent preliminary dating .
The amphoras would have been used to transport oil , wine or fish sauce , and one jar is believed to be particularly rare and valuable .
The limestone plaque was inscribed with the word `` este '' , meaning `` east '' in Spanish .
The two men could face charges of `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as acquiring or possessing objects of doubtful or illegal origin .
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"The amphoras could come from the looting of shipwrecks," which would be protected as objects of underwater archaeology, a statement by the Civil Guard said on Wednesday.


bbc--2020-07-23--Germany's Ritter Sport wins square chocolate battle against Milka

For decades , Ritter Sport has marketed its chocolate bars on their unique , square shape .
So when Swiss brand Milka challenged its German monopoly on square chocolate , the battle lines were drawn .
Milka achieved an initial victory in 2016 by getting the patent deleted but that ruling was overturned .
Finally , the case ended up in the Federal Court of Justice , where judges have now thrown out Milka 's complaint and ruled in favour of Ritter Sport .
The square bar dates back to 1932 , when Clara Ritter came up with the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let 's make a chocolate bar that fits in everyone 's jacket pocket without breaking and weighs the same as a normal long bar , '' she is supposed to have said ( although in German ) .
By 1970 it had come up with the slogan `` Quadratisch , praktisch , gut '' - quality , chocolate , squared , as the company likes to translate it .
The family company patented the shape in 1993 , so when Milka began marketing a square bar in 2010 , the case went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mondelez , won round one in the federal patent court but that ruling was later thrown out and the patent court decided the following year that Ritter could keep its three-dimensional monopoly .
Milka 's final challenge in the Federal Court of Justice has now also failed .
• No break for Kit Kat in trademark case What the judges said Normally a brand can not claim protection in Germany if its shape gives the product `` an essential value '' .
But the judges in this case said Ritter Sport was different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chocolate bar as an indication of both where the chocolate came from and its quality , they concluded .
They said there was no artistic value to the shape and it did not lead to differences in price .
Their ruling means that the incumbent bar can remain the only top-brand square chocolate bar on the shelves in German shops .

The square bar dates back to 1932, when Clara Ritter came up with the idea, according to company legend. "Let's make a chocolate bar that fits in everyone's jacket pocket without breaking and weighs the same as a normal long bar," she is supposed to have said (although in German).


bbc--2020-07-22--Taking on the 'boys' club' of the music business

`` I 've made it into the industry , so why not hold the door open for someone else ? ''
It 's a safe bet that at some point in your life , you or one of your friends has harboured dreams of working in music .
Lots of us spent our maths lessons in the back of the classroom writing lyrics , counting down the minutes until we could get home and load up Fruity Loops in preparation of a life producing music for our favourite artists .
But chances are , unless you come from a high-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry would likely hit a brick wall at some point .
Young people from higher income backgrounds are significantly more likely to be earning from music than people from lower income backgrounds , even if they studied music at school or university , according to a report from national charity Youth Music .
For low-income women the gap is even greater .
But Youth Music 's research suggests that people with ambitions of forging a career in music are finding their own ways in .
Promoter Alexandra Ampofo says she 's never got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who 's already at the company '' .
`` It 's an old boys ' club .
It 's a gentlemen 's club - and that needs to change , '' the 26-year-old tells Radio 1 Newsbeat .
The promoter has pulled together tours for huge musicians like SiR and Goldlink in the past year in her job at Metropolis Music , part of Live Nation .
But `` if it was n't for my friend who was already at the company I work at now reaching out to me , I might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , '' she says .
That 's why Alex , who started making contacts in the industry via bar work at music venues , co-founded Women Connect .
She hopes it can bridge the gap by helping young women from marginalised groups and lower-income backgrounds to connect with industry figures and learn about the jobs that can lead to sustainable careers .
They link people up with work experience and Alex says she 's applied for jobs on behalf of hundreds of people .
`` Rarely you get a call back - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already but legally they have to advertise it , '' she says .
Alex says there 's a `` lack of information '' about jobs that are available in the music industry - something backed up by the report .
Most people wanting to work in music are hoping to make it as artists , according to Youth Music - jobs that are few and far between .
But there 's `` a wide range of new roles which did n't exist two decades ago '' beyond performing , thanks to growth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Its report suggests that schools are `` unaware of the breadth of career paths available '' in the UK music industries , meaning school leavers are too .
Alex says she had no idea how to access a career in music , something she says is the one thing that `` feeds her soul '' .
`` There was a real lack of education , '' she says . '
I see them experience a show I put together' Music promotion is her perfect career - the job involves figuring out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , booking the venues , sorting out the ticket prices and getting a guestlist together .
`` You 're going to get to meet the person and get to know the person and they 're gon na know that you 're the person that brought their dream to life as well , '' she says .
A big pull is how much of the work is behind the scenes .
`` How you can be at Shepherds Bush Empire walking around and this is something that you put together but you do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ?
I just think that 's really nice .
`` I 'm able to see first-hand people 's faces and how they 're experiencing the show that I put together .
And they have no idea it 's me .
I love that . ''
Imogen Storey and James Duckworth , two members of the band Novustory , are a bit more used to being centre stage .
They 've had festival slots , they 're being played on local and some national radio , and they 're involved in a campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're doing behind the scenes is maybe more important .
When we speak to them in early July they 're sitting in a converted ballroom in the centre of Blackburn .
It 's a building they 've been renting since the start of March .
And despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down normal life in the UK just a few weeks later , they 're surrounded by new equipment and speakers , wearing matching hoodies bearing their company 's logo .
The recording studio they 've been dreaming about and working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who are 25 and 23 , make up Esche Haus Audio - a recording studio in the north of England set up to help combat the `` many stone walls that you come up against '' when you 've got ambitions of working in the music industry .
`` We 've encountered so many sharks along the way in music , we wanted to be able to almost offer a safe place where you get in what you put out , '' says Imogen .
But they offer more than just somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much money to go into the studio .
`` We have one lad who 's 15 .
He goes out busking and as soon as he makes enough money , he records so he can sell it while he 's busking , to make more money so he can come back to the studio .
`` He 's not got a pot of money to waste… so we want people to have the full package .
`` You come under our wing and you get a really good quality recording , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can sort you with people who can do your graphic design for your logos , we can sort you with band merch , we can help with your social media . ''
`` We can organise a package that brings the cost down , '' James adds .
They 're the kind of business eligible to apply for Youth Music 's £2m incubator fund of up to £30,000 , designed to help open up sustainable careers in music for 18 to 25 year olds .
The creative industries are at risk due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected - but the charity 's CEO Matt Griffiths says in the wake of the virus the music industry has a `` real opportunity '' to make change .
`` We must use the upheaval and challenges of 2020 as a springboard to hit reset on the music industry and fling open the doors , '' he says .
`` The existing music industry model is broken and there 's a new one up for grabs . ''
He 's calling on the industry 's biggest companies to overhaul their recruitment policy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end unpaid internships and form better relationships with the music education sector .
`` This seminal moment presents us with a real opportunity to not only reflect but to act .
`` We know there 's a deep desire for transformation across the grassroots of the music industries .
`` By working together , individually and collectively , we can create the change that 's being loudly called for . ''
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here .

"You come under our wing and you get a really good quality recording, we can sort you with music videos, we can sort you with people who can do your graphic design for your logos, we can sort you with band merch, we can help with your social media."


bbc--2020-07-22--In pictures: 10 years of One Direction

In pictures: 10 years of One Direction

Dormant pop beasts One Direction are marking their 10th anniversary on Thursday by launching a new website containing a series of celebration videos , archived behind-the-scenes footage and interactive playlists for fans to enjoy .
The much-loved boy band , who have been on hiatus since 2015 , broke their two-year Twitter silence on Wednesday , to announce : `` Tomorrow !
You and me got a whole lot of history # 10YearsOf1D . ''
The pop act first appeared on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2010 and went on to make the Best Song Ever ( quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horan , Liam Payne , Louis Tomlinson and former bandmate Zayn Malik have stolen plenty of hearts along the way too .
With rumours of a 2020 reunion rife , check out their story of their music life below , and remind yourselves of exactly what makes them beautiful .
The five-piece were formed as a group on The X Factor after having entered as individual performers , and soon signed to Simon Cowell 's Syco Records company .
They ended up having huge chart success with four UK number one albums and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ band 's prowess was recognised with multiple Teen Choice Awards , Brit Awards , and MTV Video Music Awards .
They have had global hits with songs like Best Song Ever , Little Things , Steal My Girl , Story Of My Life and What Makes You Beautiful - the latter being the most-played One Direction track ever in the UK , according to music licensers PPL .
1D , as they are affectionately known , have also won America Music Awards , MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world , and also worked with charities like Children in Need .
In 2015 , the band of five became four , when Malik quit in the middle of a world tour , citing stress .
As he went it alone , the departing member later called One Direction 's music `` generic '' and said it did n't suit his tastes .
One Direction went on as a four-piece , but later that year announced they were to go on hiatus ... where they have remained until now .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have forged careers as solo artists , yet always left the door open for a reunion .
Payne ( second left ) hinted in April this year that the group might reunite in 2020 to mark their 10th anniversary .
`` I 'm not allowed to say too much obviously , because I 'd be giving it away , '' he told presenter James Corden .
`` But we 've been speaking a lot more at the moment , '' he added .
`` I think that we 're all feeling that that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very special moment . ''
Follow us on Facebook , or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

They have had global hits with songs like Best Song Ever, Little Things, Steal My Girl, Story Of My Life and What Makes You Beautiful - the latter being the most-played One Direction track ever in the UK, according to music licensers PPL.


bbc--2020-07-23--'I have this deep desire to be out of reach' - 400m world record holder Van Niekerk keen to break 43

'I have this deep desire to be out of reach' - 400m world record holder Van Niekerk keen to break 43-second barrier

Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk wants to set an `` untouchable '' 400m world record as his legacy .
Athletics legend Michael Johnson held the record for 17 years before Van Niekerk beat it in the Rio 2016 final .
From the highs of becoming Olympic and world champion in 2017 , the South African has missed most of the past three seasons with injury - but now wants to run under 43 seconds .
`` I have this deep desire to be out of reach , '' the 28-year-old told BBC Sport .
`` And after coming out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes me more hungry . ''
Thursday marks a year to go to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021 .
And in a wide-ranging interview with Johnson for the Olympic Secrets series on BBC iPlayer , Van Niekerk also revealed : • His talent for the 400m event helped give him confidence to beat the school bullies ; • He was in tears prior to his Rio Olympic triumph as he feared his body would break down ; • Usain Bolt had predicted to him that he would break the 400m world record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Van Niekerk ran 43.03 on his way to winning 400m Olympic gold , surpassing American Johnson 's mark of 43.18 , set at the World Championships in 1999 .
However , in October 2017 , weeks after retaining his world title in London , Van Niekerk ruptured knee ligaments in a celebrity touch rugby match in his homeland .
Van Niekerk has accepted it was `` the worst decision to make '' after four years of success on the track .
`` I knew how to play rugby but I had n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` My body was conditioned for running straight - not zig-zags .
`` That was the last thing I was thinking of but later on you sit back and realise that the decision was obviously silly . ''
He admitted to struggling with his mental health after the injury .
`` The first two weeks were very difficult and showed signs of me climbing into a dark space , '' he said .
`` So I had to bounce back because I ca n't be dwelling in this dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scratch ; I had to tell myself from the beginning that I need to take responsibility for the decision I 've made . ''
Having had to sit out 2018 and most of 2019 , Van Niekerk 's 2020 has also been on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Now he is keen to resume racing in order to work towards becoming the first man to break the 43-second barrier for 400m .
`` It 's definitely a priority for me , because why am I still here if I 'm not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Growth should be improving my times within the 42-second range .
That 's where my mind is at ; that 's where my heart is at .
`` Seeing you [ Johnson ] set a standard of setting a record of 17 years - I want to double that .
`` That 's just the competitor in me and for me to settle for anything less than that would mean I 'm doing an injustice to myself and the team working for me . ''

Last updated on .From the section Olympics
Olympic Secrets: Wayde van Niekerk on how Liverpool inspired him to Olympic 400m gold
Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk wants to set an "untouchable" 400m world record as his legacy.
Athletics legend Michael Johnson held the record for 17 years before Van Niekerk beat it in the Rio 2016 final.
From the highs of becoming Olympic and world champion in 2017, the South African has missed most of the past three seasons with injury - but now wants to run under 43 seconds.
"I have this deep desire to be out of reach," the 28-year-old told BBC Sport.
"And after coming out of a period of somewhat suffering, it makes me more hungry."
Thursday marks a year to go to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
And in a wide-ranging interview with Johnson for the Olympic Secrets series on BBC iPlayer, Van Niekerk also revealed:
His talent for the 400m event helped give him confidence to beat the school bullies;
He was in tears prior to his Rio Olympic triumph as he feared his body would break down;
Usain Bolt had predicted to him that he would break the 400m world record in Rio.
At the Rio Games, Van Niekerk ran 43.03 on his way to winning 400m Olympic gold, surpassing American Johnson's mark of 43.18, set at the World Championships in 1999.
However, in October 2017, weeks after retaining his world title in London, Van Niekerk ruptured knee ligaments in a celebrity touch rugby match in his homeland.
Van Niekerk has accepted it was "the worst decision to make" after four years of success on the track.
"I knew how to play rugby but I hadn't touched a ball for eight years," he said. "My body was conditioned for running straight - not zig-zags.
"That was the last thing I was thinking of but later on you sit back and realise that the decision was obviously silly."
Wayde van Niekerk wants to break the 43-second barrier for 400m
He admitted to struggling with his mental health after the injury.
"The first two weeks were very difficult and showed signs of me climbing into a dark space," he said.
"So I had to bounce back because I can't be dwelling in this dark space. I had to start from scratch; I had to tell myself from the beginning that I need to take responsibility for the decision I've made."
Having had to sit out 2018 and most of 2019, Van Niekerk's 2020 has also been on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now he is keen to resume racing in order to work towards becoming the first man to break the 43-second barrier for 400m.
"It's definitely a priority for me, because why am I still here if I'm not seeking growth?" said Van Niekerk.
"Growth should be improving my times within the 42-second range. That's where my mind is at; that's where my heart is at.
"Seeing you [Johnson] set a standard of setting a record of 17 years - I want to double that.
"That's just the competitor in me and for me to settle for anything less than that would mean I'm doing an injustice to myself and the team working for me."


bbc--2020-07-23--Australian ex-gymnasts speak out on 'abuse' culture

Dozens of Australia 's former top gymnasts have spoken out to allege instances of mental and physical abuse within the nation 's elite programme .
In stories shared online , many argued that coaches normalised a `` toxic '' environment .
Gymnastics Australia has acknowledged the allegations , saying it wishes to improve the sport 's culture .
It follows a similar reckoning for the sport in the US and UK , where an inquiry has been launched .
Many of the Australian gymnasts said they had been motivated to speak up following the release of a Netflix documentary about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA Gymnastics team .
• Athlete A - the questions explored in new Nassar scandal documentary The case of Larry Nassar , the US team doctor , gained global attention following accusations from top Olympians .
He was jailed in 2018 for molesting hundreds of young gymnasts .
What are the allegations in Australia ?
Though none have alleged sexual abuse , generations of former gymnasts have posted publicly about damaging experiences .
Their allegations include : • Pressure over their weight and incidents of food deprivation ; some detailed experiences with bulimia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries such as broken bones • Being coerced to perform stunts beyond their ability Chloe Gilliland , a gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games , said she had felt depressed and anxious at her `` peak '' , and left the sport for her own wellbeing when she was 17 .
She said was regularly insulted by her coaches , called stupid and overweight , and isolated from her teammates .
She added she had suicidal thoughts .
Olivia Vivian , who began in the sport when she was nine , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences from her parents .
She represented Australia at the 2008 Olympics but after reaching that level became `` a broken athlete and a broken person , '' she wrote on Instagram .
She said she only rebuilt her love for the sport after moving to the US , where she found a `` positive and supportive environment '' .
Why have they spoken out ?
Many said they wished to change the environment for other children and teenagers currently in the sport .
`` I am scared to share my story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand up for the athletes , '' said Mary-Anne Monckton , who won two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games .
`` The abuse ( physical , mental and emotional ) needs to stop , or at least be stamped out of our sport , '' she said .
Many also alleged that some adults in the programme were complicit in their silence .
What has Gymnastics Australia said ?
The sport 's local governing body said it had `` zero tolerance to any form of abuse in our sport '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chief executive Kitty Chiller said in a statement : `` We acknowledge and applaud those who have spoken up - their courage and their voice . ''
She did not respond to specific allegations , but said a complaints procedure had been established .
There were also `` listening groups '' to hear general concerns , she added .
`` I want you to know that we are here to listen .
And we are here to act , '' she said .

Many of the Australian gymnasts said they had been motivated to speak up following the release of a Netflix documentary about the cover-up of sexual abuse within the USA Gymnastics team.