bbc--2020-09-12--Coronavirus: The story of the big U-turn of the summer

A-level results day started terribly for Grace Kirman .
The sixth former in Norwich had been waiting anxiously to hear whether she would get the grades needed for her dream university place .
But it was bad news and a rejection email had arrived .
The grades produced by the exam algorithm had been lower than her teachers predicted - and the offer to study biochemistry at Oxford University was disappearing before her eyes .
`` It was n't my fault and it was really unfair , '' said the student from Notre Dame High School .
She 'd worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been her big ambition , she 'd been on a university outreach scheme for disadvantaged youngsters , and she 'd been quietly confident of getting the A* and two A grades needed .
But this summer 's exams had been cancelled by the Covid-19 pandemic - and England 's exam watchdog Ofqual had produced an alternative way of calculating grades .
Her teachers had expected three A*s - but the algorithm produced results of three As .
It might be a small margin for a statistician , but it was a difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life '' .
`` I was so disappointed , I knew I was equally intelligent , '' she said .
And she was angry too at the way doors suddenly seemed to be closing .
Brian Conway , chief executive of the St John the Baptist academy trust responsible for the school , was beginning to see other inexplicable results arriving .
`` The tragedy of results day was when people you would bet your house on getting a grade C were given a U grade , '' he said .
Something was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to challenge the results , and in Grace 's case , to get in touch with Oxford to try to overturn the rejection .
There were problems with exams across the UK this summer , but in England it 's the Department for Education and Ofqual which will face public scrutiny to explain the confusion , the colossal U-turns and resignations .
The algorithm for replacement grades mostly relied on two key pieces of information - how pupils had been ranked in order of ability and the results of schools and colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were teachers ' predictions and how individual pupils themselves had done in previous exams .
It was designed to stop grade inflation and in effect replicated the results of previous years - but it meant a serious risk of disadvantage for talented individuals in schools that had a history of low results .
It would be like being told you 'd failed a driving test on the grounds that people from where you lived usually failed their driving test .
That might be the case , but it 's hard to take when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But if the aim was to keep grades in line with previous years , the opposite happened .
There were stratospheric increases particularly at A-level - with more than half of students getting A*s and As in some subjects .
While the scrutiny will focus on what went wrong in past weeks , the bigger fallout could be from what it changes in the future .
A major unintended consequence could be a radical shake-up of England 's university admissions , with plans believed to be in the pipeline .
This summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - raising the issue of whether such predictions should still be used for university offers , rather than waiting until students have their actual results .
Schools Minister Nick Gibb this week described as `` compelling '' the argument made by former universities minister Chris Skidmore that the `` entire admissions system to university should now be reformed '' .
Also expect in the forthcoming months to hear some big questions about the future role of Ofqual .
England 's Education Secretary Gavin Williamson , facing calls for his resignation over the exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of the Education Select Committee this week .
The committee 's chairman , Robert Halfon , likened the exam problems to the Charge of the Light Brigade , where no-one , particularly Ofqual , seemed able to heed the warnings to stop .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson , who originally called the results `` robust '' and then blamed a `` mutant algorithm '' , has accused critics of relying on `` Captain Hindsight '' .
But more evidence of foresight in warnings is emerging too .
Barnaby Lenon , chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BBC he had warned in stakeholder meetings with Ofqual about the dangers of attaching so much weight to schools ' previous results , and so little to teachers ' estimates .
`` It was always going to be a hashed job , '' he said .
He thinks Ofqual and the Department for Education had begun to prioritise sounding publicly confident rather than being open about the shortcomings .
Mr Lenon , a former head teacher of Harrow School and former Ofqual board member , had made his concerns public .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higher Education at the University of Buckingham , he predicted unreliability and unfairness in the results and warned Ofqual was being asked to do a `` terrible thing '' in producing these calculated grades .
• SOCIAL DISTANCING : What are the rules now ?
• SUPPORT BUBBLES : What are they and who can be in yours ?
• FACE MASKS : When do I need to wear one ?
• SCHOOLS : What will happen if children catch coronavirus ?
• TESTING : What tests are available ?
Danger signals could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On 26 May , a warning was sent from the New Schools Network , which supports free schools and has strong ties to Conservative education policy .
The group 's director Unity Howard , wrote to Sally Collier , the now resigned head of Ofqual , and to Gavin Williamson : `` It is easy to bury these arrangements in scientific modelling , but the issues here will affect at least a generation of children , but more likely those that come after it too . ''
It included warnings from seven schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group held a meeting with Ofqual .
The Northern Powerhouse , a lobby group for the north of England chaired by former Tory chancellor George Osborne , had also been flagging concerns about BTec vocational exams as well as A-levels and GCSEs .
Frank Norris , working with the Northern Powerhouse on education , told the BBC the `` proposed algorithm design was always going to put the average performance of schools above individual merit '' .
With worries not allayed , the Northern Powerhouse wrote to Sally Collier on 9 August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern about a disproportionate impact on poorer communities .
On 11 July , the Education Select Committee pointed to unanswered questions about the fairness of how grades would be calculated .
Ofqual was not unaware of these worries , not least because the regulator says it was giving its own advice to ministers about the risks - and right to the top .
Julie Swan , Ofqual 's executive director of general qualifications , said 10 Downing Street had been briefed on 7 August , highlighting risks over so-called `` outlier students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be reduced because they were in low-performing schools .
There were also weekly meetings with education minister Nick Gibb .
Kate Green , Labour 's Shadow Education Secretary , said in the House of Commons this week the exam controversy had caused `` huge distress to students and their parents '' - and asked Mr Gibb why he had failed to respond to warnings .
`` These warnings were not ignored , '' said Mr Gibb .
`` Challenges that were made by individuals were raised with Ofqual and we were assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fair , '' he told MPs .
It was only when grades were published that `` anomalies and injustices '' became apparent , said Mr Gibb .
A common thread to the warnings was although the results might work smoothly in terms of national statistics , maintaining a similar pattern to previous years , this would be at the cost of individual unfairness .
The standardisation process , which tended to push down teachers ' grades , would also not apply to subjects with smaller numbers of entries , such as classics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would benefit independent schools .
Grace Kirman was one of these `` anomalies '' - her future hanging in the balance .
But when had this year 's exams really begun to go into tailspin ?
If you wanted to pinpoint a moment , it might be about 36 hours before Grace and hundreds of thousands of young people were finding out their results .
That was the heatwave night of Tuesday 11 August , ahead of A-level results being released on Thursday .
In Scotland there had been a U-turn on grades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response in England .
When it came , it left Ofqual completely wrong-footed and unable to explain how it would work .
The Department for Education had informed them of a major change that would allow schools to appeal over grades on the basis of their mock test results .
It was announced late in the evening as an extra `` safety net '' and `` triple lock '' , but was eventually ditched within the week .
But head teachers , who had been on a low-boil all summer , went into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` panicked and chaotic '' .
This sudden rule change meant a school could appeal for an upgrade if a mock test had been higher than the calculated grade about to be issued .
This infuriated head teachers who said mocks were carried out in many different and inconsistent ways .
Sometimes they had been deliberately marked down as a scare tactic and some schools had not taken them at all .
Therefore , they said , they could not be used to decide such important results .
Heads ' leader Geoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this approach to exams had become `` unsustainable '' .
It had been `` fatally undermined '' by an unworkable decision , which he said represented a `` complete failure of leadership '' .
Mr Halfon said it also raised the fundamental question about who was really in charge - and if Ofqual was n't really acting independently , then what was its purpose ?
Results day on 13 August added to the confusion .
These calculated grades produced the highest results in the history of A-levels - but in the background was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ algorithm reducing 40 % of grades below teachers ' predictions .
MPs saw emails arriving in their in-trays , upset parents took to Twitter , lawyers warned of multiple legal challenges , universities did n't know if grades were going to be changed on appeal and marchers were waving placards demanding a U-turn .
On Saturday 15 August , matters became even more bizarre .
Ofqual published plans for appeals over mock tests - but in the evening Gavin Williamson rang Sally Collier disagreeing with the guidance and it was taken down again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman Roger Taylor , the situation was `` rapidly going out of control '' - and on Sunday the watchdog took the momentous decision to switch to centre assessed grades - the results estimated by schools .
This biggest U-turn of the summer was made public the next day and the education secretary told students he was `` incredibly sorry '' .
Sally Collier , who has talked of her admiration for Edith Cavell , the nurse executed during the First World War , later stepped down as chief regulator and has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Education , it was the senior civil servant , Jonathan Slater , who lost his job , with accusations that he had been `` scapegoated '' .
The blame game had begun almost immediately .
Ofqual 's argument has been they knew the risks of the iceberg ahead , but they had warned ministers and been told not to change direction .
The politicians in turn say they had heard the iceberg warnings , but Ofqual had assured them it would be safe .
`` The finger of blame is pointed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader Mr Barton .
What has baffled school leaders is why , with almost five months between the cancellation of exams and the issuing of calculated grades , there was n't a more thorough attempt to test the reliability of results in advance , including with real schools .
Ofqual 's defence to all of this , according to Mr Halfon , could be summed up as : `` Not me , guv . ''
There are also questions about the delays for results for BTec students - and MP Shabana Mahmood said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` left languishing at the back of the queue '' .
There is another uncomfortable truth from the U-turn , which Barnaby Lenon said will have created a `` different kind of injustice '' .
Schools which were over-generous in their predictions will have got better grades than those which were more painstaking .
Mr Conway , leader of Notre Dame 's academy trust where Grace was at school , said his staff had put a `` huge effort '' into making sure every estimated grade was accurate and evidence based - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard against grade inflation .
But there are persistent rumours of other exam centres which have ended up with implausibly high grades for many of their students .
Pupils could have unfairly been `` bumped off '' university places as a result , said Mr Lenon .
When Mr Williamson faces the select committee this week he is likely to argue that no-one wanted to cancel exams , but the pandemic forced them to find an alternative - and when there were problems his department took swift action .
`` It was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was taken only after serious discussions with a number of parties , including , in particular , the exam regulator , Ofqual , '' he told MPs this week .
`` We have had to respond , often at great speed , to find the best way forward , given what we knew about the virus at the time . ''
Other education ministers around the UK faced similar problems and eventually came up with similar answers , said Mr Williamson .
And Grace got her place back at Oxford .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's been a dream of mine for so long .
`` I wish I could have woken up to an acceptance - but I appreciate it now even more .
`` It was a flawed system , '' she said .
`` And they could have been kinder , especially after everything over the summer . ''

There were also weekly meetings with education minister Nick Gibb. Kate Green, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, said in the House of Commons this week the exam controversy had caused "huge distress to students and their parents" - and asked Mr Gibb why he had failed to respond to warnings. "These warnings were not ignored," said Mr Gibb. "Challenges that were made by individuals were raised with Ofqual and we were assured by the regulator that overall the model was fair," he told MPs. It was only when grades were published that "anomalies and injustices" became apparent, said Mr Gibb.


bbc--2020-09-14--US West Coast fires: Trump fans flames of climate row in California

President Trump has dismissed concerns over climate change on a visit to fire-ravaged California , telling an official there it would `` start getting cooler '' .
Blazes in California , Oregon and Washington state have burned almost 2m hectares ( 5m acres ) of land and killed at least 35 people since early August .
He told an event in Delaware that four more years of his opponent in the White House would see `` more of America ablaze '' .
• Is Trump right about the cause of US wildfires ?
During his visit to the US West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that poor forest management was to blame as he met Californian officials involved in the battle against the wildfires at a stop near Sacramento , in the centre of the state .
Dismissing one official 's plea to not `` ignore the science '' on climate change , Mr Trump said : `` It 'll start getting cooler , you just watch ...
I do n't think science knows actually . ''
At least for one day , climate change is front-and-centre in the US presidential campaign .
While touring fire-ravaged California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planet could have in the devastation , suggesting temperatures will `` start getting cooler '' and that the recent conflagrations were an issue of proper forest management .
Meanwhile , Joe Biden went on the attack , calling the president a `` climate arsonist '' who ignores a `` central crisis '' facing the nation .
Although the environment has typically been a sideline issue , getting scant attention even during the Democratic primaries , the topic is one on which Trump and Biden are sharply divided .
The Trump administration has rolled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of which deal with climate change , while also withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement .
Biden , on the other hand , has moved to the left on the environment in recent months , expanding on his original plan for spending $ 1.7tn infrastructure and green jobs over 10 years to $ 2tn over four years .
Despite Monday 's attention , the environment still ranks behind issues like healthcare and the economy for most Americans .
It is , however , an important topic for younger voters - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is eager to get to the polls in November .
What else did Trump say about the climate ?
When asked by a reporter in California whether climate change was a factor in the massive wildfires , Mr Trump responded : `` I think this is more of a management situation . ''
He claimed that other countries had not dealt with the same level of forest fires , despite major conflagrations in Australia and the Amazon rainforest in recent years that experts attributed to the changing climate .
`` They do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` They have very explosive trees , but they do n't have problems like this . ''
He added : `` When you get into climate change , well is India going to change its ways ?
And is China going to change its ways ?
And Russia ?
Is Russia going to change its ways ? ''
What 's the latest on the ground ?
Authorities in California , where 24 people have died since 15 August , report that firefighters are working to contain 29 major wildfires across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong southerly winds and low humidity forecast for Monday could bring an elevated fire risk , and potentially have an impact on the North Complex Fire , which has scorched 106,000 hectares and is only 26 % contained .
The US National Weather Service also issued a `` red flag warning '' for other areas of the West Coast , including Jackson County , Oregon , where the Almeda Fire has destroyed hundreds of homes .
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management said on Sunday that firefighters in the state were struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest of which was more than 89km ( 55 miles ) wide .
At least 10 people have been killed in Oregon in the past week .
Officials have said dozens of people are missing and warned that the death toll could rise .
One person has died in Washington , where there were five large fires on Sunday .
What are the politicians saying ?
Speaking at a meeting with Mr Trump on Monday , California Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged that `` we have not done justice on our forest management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than half of the land in California was under federal , not state control .
But he echoed his own statement from Friday that the fires showed the debate about climate change was `` over '' .
`` The hots are getting hotter , the dries are getting drier , '' he said .
`` We submit the science is in and observed evidence is self-evident : that climate change is real and that is exacerbating this . ''
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has said her state is facing `` the perfect firestorm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bellwether for climate change on the West Coast .
`` And this is a wake-up call for all of us that we have got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change . ''
Washington Governor Jay Inslee described the situation as `` apocalyptic '' and condemned Mr Trump 's stance on the climate .
At an election campaign event in Nevada on Saturday , President Trump said he was praying for everyone throughout the West Coast affected by the wildfires .
But he insisted the blazes were `` about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinning and brush clearing .
`` They never had anything like this , '' he said .
`` Please remember the words , very simple , forest management . ''
Mr Trump has previously called climate change `` mythical '' , `` non-existent '' , or `` an expensive hoax '' - but has also described it as a `` serious subject '' .
He has decided to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement , which committed the US and 187 other countries to keeping a global temperature rise this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above pre-industrial levels .
BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath says that while natural factors such as strong winds have helped the spread of the West Coast fires , the underlying heating of the climate from human activities is making these conflagrations bigger and more explosive .
Nine of the world 's 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2005 , and the UN warned this week that the five years from 2016 until this year will very likely be the hottest such period yet recorded .
Both Oregon and California have warmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sustained warmth has seen six of the 20 largest fires on record in California all occur this year .
In Oregon , the spate of fires burned almost twice the amount of average annual losses in a week .
In California , a prolonged drought over the past decade has killed millions of trees , turning them into potent fuel for the fires .
Mountain regions that are normally cooler and wetter have dried out more rapidly in the summer , adding to the potential fuel load .
The US election is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer your questions about everything from policies , like addressing climate change , to the voting process .
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bbc--2020-09-14--Trump to wild fire responders: 'It'll start getting cooler'

President Trump sat down with leaders in California for a briefing about the wildfires currently burning across the state .
@ @ @ @ @ forestry management as one way to combat wildfires - but many think climate change is @ @ @ @ @ increased frequency and intensity of recent blazes , including those in California , Washington and @ @ @ @ @ Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot urged the president to consider science and climate change as a @ @ @ @ @ Californians .

President Trump sat down with leaders in California for a briefing about the wildfires currently burning across the state.
California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot urged the president to consider science and climate change as a way to improve lives for Californians.
Meanwhile, his rival in the upcoming presidential election, Joe Biden, has spoken out against what he said was the president's "climate denial".


bbc--2020-09-14--Digital divide: 'My children's classroom is a car park'

During the coronavirus pandemic , life has turned to the internet .
But not everyone has it .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ found herself driving her two children out to a parked school bus on the side @ @ @ @ @ WiFi so they can make it to virtual class .
They spend eight hours of @ @ @ @ @ the family van , with no access to a bathroom and with the car running @ @ @ @ @ the US , about 13 % of households lack access to broadband internet .
But @ @ @ @ @ service is often unavailable or too expensive - it ’ s nearly 25 % .
@ @ @ @ @ million people throughout the country who can ’ t easily get connected .

During the coronavirus pandemic, life has turned to the internet. But not everyone has it.
That’s why Jamie Gould has found herself driving her two children out to a parked school bus on the side of the road to access WiFi so they can make it to virtual class. They spend eight hours of their day working from inside the family van, with no access to a bathroom and with the car running for air conditioning.
In the US, about 13% of households lack access to broadband internet. But in rural America - where service is often unavailable or too expensive - it’s nearly 25%. That’s about 42 million people throughout the country who can’t easily get connected.
Video by Angélica M Casas


bbc--2020-09-14--Is there life floating in the clouds of Venus?

It 's an extraordinary possibility - the idea that living organisms are floating in the clouds of Planet Venus .
But this is what astronomers are now considering after detecting a gas in the atmosphere they ca n't explain .
That gas is phosphine - a molecule made up of one phosphorus atom and three hydrogen atoms .
On Earth , phosphine is associated with life , with microbes living in the guts of animals like penguins , or in oxygen-poor environments such as swamps .
For sure , you can make it industrially , but there are no factories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no penguins .
So why is this gas there , 50km up from the planet 's surface ?
Prof Jane Greaves , from Cardiff University , UK and colleagues are asking just this question .
They 've published a paper in the journal Nature Astronomy detailing their observations of phosphine at Venus , as well as the investigations they 've made to try to show this molecule could have a natural , non-biological origin .
But for the moment , they 're stumped - as they tell the BBC 's Sky At Night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the team .
You can see the show on BBC Four tonight ( Monday ) at 22:30 BST .
Given everything we know about Venus and the conditions that exist there , no-one has yet been able to describe an abiotic pathway to phosphine , not in the quantities that have been detected .
This means a life source deserves consideration .
`` Through my whole career I have been interested in the search for life elsewhere in the Universe , so I 'm just blown away that this is even possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , yes , we are genuinely encouraging other people to tell us what we might have missed .
Our paper and data are open access ; this is how science works . ''
• Will private firms win the race to Venus ?
What exactly has the team detected ?
Prof Greaves ' team first identified phosphine at Venus using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii , and then confirmed its presence using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile .
Phosphine has a distinctive `` absorption line '' that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1mm .
The gas is observed at mid-latitudes on the planet at roughly 50-60km in altitude .
The concentration is small - making up only 10-20 parts in every billion atmospheric molecules - but in this context , that 's a lot .
Why is this so interesting ?
Venus is not at the top of the list when thinking of life elsewhere in our Solar System .
Compared to Earth , it 's a hellhole .
With 96 % of the atmosphere made up of carbon dioxide , it has experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are like those in a pizza oven - over 400C .
Space probes that have landed on the planet have survived just minutes before breaking down .
And yet , go 50km up and it 's actually `` shirtsleeves conditions '' .
So , if there really is life on Venus , this is exactly where we might expect to find it .
Why should we be sceptical ?
The clouds .
They 're thick and they 're mainly composed ( 75-95 % ) of sulphuric acid , which is catastrophic for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Earth .
Dr William Bains , who 's affiliated to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) in the US , is a biochemist on the team .
He 's studied various combinations of different compounds expected to be on Venus ; he 's examined whether volcanoes , lightning and even meteorites could play a role in making PH3 - and all of the chemical reactions he 's investigated , he says , are 10,000 times too weak to produce the amount of phosphine that 's been observed .
To survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , airborne Venusian microbes would either have to use some unknown , radically different biochemistry , or evolve a kind of armour .
`` In principle , a more water-loving life could hide itself away inside a protective shell of some sorts inside the sulphuric acid droplets , '' he told Sky At Night .
`` We 're talking bacteria surrounding themselves by something tougher than Teflon and completely sealing themselves in .
But then how do they eat ?
How do they exchange gases ?
It 's a real paradox . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not claiming to have found life on Venus , only that the idea needs to be further explored as scientists also hunt down any overlooked geological or abiotic chemical pathways to phosphine .
Oxford University 's Dr Colin Wilson worked on the European Space Agency 's Venus Express probe ( 2006-2014 ) , and is a leading figure in the development of a new mission concept called EnVision .
He said Prof Greaves ' observations would spur a new wave of research at the planet .
`` It 's really exciting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the original phosphine detection were to turn out to be a spectroscopic misinterpretation , which I do n't think it will .
I think that life in Venus ' clouds today is so unlikely that we 'll find other chemical pathways of creating phosphine in the atmosphere - but we 'll discover lots of interesting things about Venus in this search , '' he told BBC News .
Prof Lewis Dartnell from the University of Westminster is similarly cautious .
He 's an astrobiologist - someone who studies the possibilities of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moons of Jupiter and Saturn are a better bet to find life .
`` If life can survive in the upper cloud-decks of Venus - that 's very illuminating , because it means maybe life is very common in our galaxy as a whole .
Maybe life does n't need very Earth-like planets and could survive on other , hellishly-hot , Venus-like planets across the Milky Way . ''
How can the question be resolved ?
By sending a probe to investigate specifically the atmosphere of Venus .
The US space agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sketch the design for a potential flagship mission in the 2030s .
Flagships are the most capable - and most expensive - ventures undertaken by Nasa .
This particular concept proposed an aerobot , or instrumented balloon , to travel through the clouds of Venus .
`` The Russians did this with their Vega balloon ( in 1985 ) , '' said team-member Prof Sara Seager from MIT .
`` It was coated with Teflon to protect it from sulphuric acid and floated around for a couple of days , making measurements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-situ measurements .
We could concentrate the droplets and measure their properties .
We could even bring a microscope along and try to look for life itself . ''
The Sky At Night special on this story can be seen at 22:30 on BBC Four , and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer .
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET @ bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter : @ BBCAmos

"Through my whole career I have been interested in the search for life elsewhere in the Universe, so I'm just blown away that this is even possible," Prof Greaves said. "But, yes, we are genuinely encouraging other people to tell us what we might have missed. Our paper and data are open access; this is how science works."


bbc--2020-09-14--Canadian cable car cord severed again in suspected sabotage

Canadian police are investigating after a cable car gondola was apparently sabotaged for a second time in just over a year .
The Sea-to-Sky gondola 's main cable was severed at about 4am local time ( 11:00 GMT ) on Monday , the operator said .
No staff or guests were on the line at the time and no injuries were reported .
In August 2019 , almost 30 cars on the gondola , in Squamish , north of Vancouver , fell to the ground after the cable was deliberately cut .
The gondola ride is now closed until further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website .
The attraction only reopened in February after the initial sabotage caused millions of dollars in damage .
Rebuilding the attraction included the installation of a new 4.4 km ( 2.73 miles ) 55-mm thick main cable and a new security system .
`` Something you 'd never would happen once in a lifetime has happened twice , '' the gondola 's general manager , Kirby Brown , told local radio station Mountain FM .
He said this second incident was the act of `` one bad actor who needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new security system had captured images of a suspect .
He said the company is determined to rebuild the gondola ride again .
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP ) said in a statement that they were working with other agencies to investigate the incident , and asked anyone with information to come forward .
The gondola has 30 cars , each of which can carry eight passengers on the 10-minute ride to the top , 885m ( 2,900ft ) above sea level .

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bbc--2020-09-14--Brexit vote: What just happened and what comes next?

It 's fair to say the coronavirus pandemic has dominated the news cycle this year , so you could be forgiven for wondering what 's happening with Brexit .
Well , the UK 's departure from the European Union is now fully back on the agenda after a big day of developments in London .
What happened in the UK parliament ?
On Monday , Parliament voted on a controversial new bill published by the government .
It 's worth noting that the UK is currently in a period known as the transition , that keeps it bound to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two sides are trying to negotiate a new trade deal that would come into effect once this period ends , but talks have reached a standstill .
So , on a basic level , the government 's new Internal Market Bill seeks to prevent disruption to trade between the four countries of the UK if no deal is reached with the EU .
The government has described it as a `` vital legal safety net '' .
• Brexit : All you need to know • Brexit trade deal : What are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transition period ?
The bill aims to ensure regulations between England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are joined-up because - once the UK leaves the EU - they will have the power to set their own rules on areas like food safety and air quality .
But it has attracted a swathe of criticism ( we 'll explain why later ) .
And after a heated day of debate in Parliament on Monday , the government won a vote on passing the bill to the next stage by 340 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - Prime Minister Boris Johnson has a sizeable majority - but the row is far from over .
Why has the bill been criticised ?
There are a few reasons .
In fact , the bill has even attracted criticism from senior figures in the governing Conservative Party and former prime ministers .
This is because it seeks to overrule parts of the Brexit deal between the UK and the EU that came into effect in January .
That deal , known as the withdrawal agreement , is a fully fledged international treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A key part of that deal is the agreement that Northern Ireland will continue to follow some EU rules even after Brexit happens .
This is designed to prevent a hard border returning between Northern Ireland ( which is in the UK ) and the Republic of Ireland ( which is in the EU ) .
But the latest bill would go against the withdrawal agreement - and therefore international law - by allowing UK ministers to `` disapply '' previously agreed rules relating to Northern Ireland if there is no trade deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one government minister recently admitted that the bill would `` break international law '' in a `` specific and limited way '' , prompting a barrage of criticism and even some resignations .
• How could the Northern Ireland Brexit deal change ?
• What is the row over UK 'internal markets ' all about ?
Critics say backtracking on a legally binding treaty would harm the UK 's reputation and global standing .
And the EU is clear that it wants the proposals to be dropped altogether .
Mr Johnson , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking to avoid disruption and protect the integrity of the UK .
But the bill is also contentious within the UK nations .
Under the proposed law , they would have to accept goods at the standards set in any one country , prompting fears that quality controls for things like food could be dragged down to a lowest common denominator .
Why does it matter ?
The UK and the EU are now in the closing weeks of negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal , with informal talks taking place in Brussels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this bill is threatening to derail the discussions which are already deadlocked , with time is running out .
`` Breaking international law is not acceptable and does not create the confidence we need to build our future relationship , '' the President of the European Council , Charles Michel , said last week .
This matters because Mr Johnson has threatened to walk away from the negotiations if a trade deal is not agreed before 15 October .
And a no-deal exit would have profound consequences on the UK and its relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK would have to apply tariffs to goods coming into the country from the EU and vice versa .
There are also domestic political implications to consider .
The bill split opinion within Mr Johnson 's Conservative Party , and a number of members voted against moving it to the next stage .
Five former prime ministers also voiced opposition to the proposal .
So whether or not this bill becomes law , how this saga develops is likely to have an impact on the prime minister 's standing both within his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the legislation passed in Monday 's vote , it is likely to face more difficulties in its later stages , including when it heads for debate in parliament 's second chamber , the House of Lords .
So for now , watch this space .

A key part of that deal is the agreement that Northern Ireland will continue to follow some EU rules even after Brexit happens. This is designed to prevent a hard border returning between Northern Ireland (which is in the UK) and the Republic of Ireland (which is in the EU).


bbc--2020-09-14--Hurricane Sally forms off US Gulf Coast, threatening southern states

A newly formed hurricane is inching towards the US Gulf Coast , threatening several southern US states including Florida , Mississippi and Alabama .
Tropical Storm Sally was officially declared a hurricane on Monday , and is expected to make landfall on Tuesday .
The hurricane will bring over one foot ( 30cm ) of rain and 85mph ( 135km/h ) winds to some areas , with the potential of deadly storm surges , officials say .
This year 's hurricane season has been particularly active .
For only the second time in recorded history , there are five tropical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time .
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards , whose state is still recovering from Hurricane Laura last month , tweeted on Monday to warn residents to `` be smart and be safe '' .
Alabama and Mississippi each declared states of emergency in anticipation of the category one hurricane , which on Monday was located 175 miles southeast of Biloxi , Mississippi , and moving towards land at a rate of 6mph .
• The busy hurricane season about to 'go Greek' The National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to directly hit Louisiana , but could still cause storm surges that can trigger major floods .
In New Orleans , residents who live outside the city 's levee protection system have been ordered to evacuate their homes .
As of Monday , almost 80,000 homes in Louisiana were without power as a result of Hurricane Laura , which hit three weeks earlier .
In addition to Sally , there are four other tropical cyclones - Paulette , Rene , Teddy and Vicky - swirling in the Atlantic Ocean basin .
If only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilfred has already been chosen - meteorologists will begin naming new storms after the Greek alphabet .
Climate change experts attribute the pace of major hurricane development this year - as well as the severity of wildfires currently sweeping the US West Coast - to the effects of climate change .

The NHC said the storm had shifted and is likely to pass over the coast of south-eastern Louisiana today before making landfall, but could still cause storm surges that could trigger major floods.


bbc--2020-09-14--Coronavirus: Marseille's Covid-19 hospital beds 'close to saturation'

The use of hospital beds by Covid-19 patients in the French city of Marseille is `` close to saturation '' amid a sharp spike in infections .
Surgeries are being reduced to cope with an incidence rate that has risen to 312 per 100,000 since September .
New limits on gatherings are being introduced around Marseille and in the south-western city of Bordeaux .
The figures for Sunday and Monday were lower - as tends to be the case for weekend reporting - but the seven-day rolling average , which smoothes out these irregularities , recorded an increase in infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
France has recorded more than 425,000 infections , and almost 31,000 deaths , in the coronavirus epidemic , Johns Hopkins University research shows .
Why the new measures ?
On Friday , Prime Minister Jean Castex warned of `` worrying developments '' in Marseille and its department of Bouches-du-Rhône , and in Bordeaux .
He called for new measures to be laid out by Monday .
At a briefing on Monday , Philippe de Mester , director general of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur health agency , said the rate of positive tests had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in the Bouches-du-Rhône overall .
Intensive care capacity was close to overload .
Marseille hospitals director Jean-Olivier Arnaud said 31 of 35 resuscitation beds and 129 of 155 dedicated Covid patient beds were in use , adding : `` We are not far from saturation . ''
`` We are at the top of the national ranking of departments whose situation is developing the most unfavourably , '' Mr de Mester said .
Yann Bubien , a Bordeaux hospital director and a member of the government 's Covid scientific advisory council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapid increase over the past 10 days '' in the city .
What are the measures ?
Additional police will be deployed to enforce the measures in Bordeaux , with the situation to be reviewed in `` two or three weeks '' .

The figures for Sunday and Monday were lower - as tends to be the case for weekend reporting - but the seven-day rolling average, which smoothes out these irregularities, recorded an increase in infections for the 28th day in a row.


bbc--2020-09-14--Egypt’s organ traffickers: 'I woke up screaming'

A BBC investigation has spoken to an organ trafficker who said his gang arranges 20-30 illegal kidney transplants every week @ @ @ @ @ sold by African migrants and refugees who are trying to raise money to get from @ @ @ @ @ the senior gang member told BBC Panorama that almost half of the donors don ’ @ @ @ @ @ operation .
Hiba was left with one kidney and no money after she was cheated @ @ @ @ @ .
The Egyptian government says it has won international praise for the way it is @ @ @ @ @ in the UK can watch Panorama : Exposing the Illegal Organ Trade on BBC One @ @ @ @ @ iPlayer afterwards .

A BBC investigation has spoken to an organ trafficker who said his gang arranges 20-30 illegal kidney transplants every week.
The kidneys are mostly sold by African migrants and refugees who are trying to raise money to get from Egypt to Europe.
But the senior gang member told BBC Panorama that almost half of the donors don’t get paid after the operation.
Hiba was left with one kidney and no money after she was cheated by criminals following her operation.
The Egyptian government says it has won international praise for the way it is combatting the crime.
Viewers in the UK can watch Panorama: Exposing the Illegal Organ Trade on BBC One at 1935 or on the iPlayer afterwards.


bbc--2020-09-15--Panama: Mass grave uncovered in area linked to religious sect

Police in Panama say they are investigating a mass grave which they believe contains the remains of people killed by a religious sect .
Investigators are supervising the removal of skeletal remains from the site in the remote north-western indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé region .
The victims were linked to a religious sect which was believed to be carrying out violent exorcisms .
Public prosecutor Azael Tugri said investigators had had to hike for 10 hours through mountains to reach the mass grave , which is in the northern sector of the Ngäbe Buglé region close to a river .
The site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west of the capital , Panama City .
`` At this time it is not possible to determine either the sex or the number of people [ found in the grave ] , '' he told local media .
All the remains were sent to a morgue in the province of Chiriquí where forensic examination will be carried out , the public prosecutor 's office said in a statement ( in Spanish ) .
Earlier this week police arrested the alleged leader of the New Light of God sect in connection with January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The grave - which contained the remains of a pregnant woman , five of her children and a teenager - was discovered after three villagers held by the sect escaped and fled to a hospital , prosecutors said at the time .
Police then raided the community and said that inside a makeshift church they found a naked woman , machetes , knives and a ritually sacrificed goat .
They said that the sect had been preying on local villagers , performing violent exorcisms involving beatings and torture .
Fifteen people being held @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The grave - which contained the remains of a pregnant woman, five of her children and a teenager - was discovered after three villagers held by the sect escaped and fled to a hospital, prosecutors said at the time.


bbc--2020-09-14--Xinjiang: US to block some exports from Chinese region

The US has ordered border officials to block shipments of clothing , computer parts and other products made at select locations in China 's Xinjiang region .
The move is the latest by the Trump administration to put pressure on China over its treatment of Xinjiang 's Uighur Muslims .
The US said the sites use forced or prison labour .
China is believed to have detained more than one million people from Xinjiang , citing security risks .
It has said its programmes , which have included transferring detainees to manufacturing sites , provide job training and education and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats .
Washington and Beijing have repeatedly clashed over the practices , with the US accusing the country of human rights abuses .
The orders on Monday `` send a clear message to the international community that we will not tolerate the illicit , inhumane , and exploitative practices of forced labour in US supply chains , '' Mark A. Morgan , acting commissioner of US Customers and Border Protection agency , said .
`` The Trump administration will not stand idly by and allow foreign companies to subject vulnerable workers to forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights and the rule of law . ''
The orders the US announced on Monday fall short of the region-wide ban that it had considered .
Officials said , however , they were still exploring that possibility .
`` Because of its unique nature , being , applying to a region as opposed to a company or a facility , we are giving that more legal analysis , '' Department of Homeland Security acting secretary Kenneth Cuccinelli said .
`` We want to make sure that once we proceed that it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Who are the Uighurs ?
China produces about 20 % of the world 's cotton with most of it coming from Xinjiang .
The region is also a major source of petrochemicals and other goods that feed into Chinese factories .
This month , US entertainment giant Disney came under fire for shooting parts of its new Mulan film in Xinjiang .
Other firms have faced calls for consumer boycotts due to alleged ties to the region .
The orders issued on Monday apply to : • Products made at Lop County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Training Centre • Clothing made by Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co. Ltd. and Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co. • Cotton produced and processed by Xinjiang Junggar Cotton and Linen Co. , Ltd • Computer parts from Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co. , Ltd. in Anhui , China

The orders on Monday "send a clear message to the international community that we will not tolerate the illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices of forced labour in US supply chains," Mark A. Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customers and Border Protection agency, said.


bbc--2020-09-14--Daimler to pay $1.5bn over emissions cheat claims in US

German carmaker Daimler , which owns Mercedes-Benz , has agreed to pay $ 1.5bn ( £1.2bn ) to resolve US government claims that it designed its diesel vehicles to cheat air pollution tests .
The firm was investigated for installing software to evade emissions laws in 250,000 Mercedes cars and vans .
US officials said they hoped the fine would deter future misbehaviour .
Daimler called the deal an `` important step '' towards resolving diesel proceedings but denied the claims .
`` By resolving these proceedings , Daimler avoids lengthy court actions with respective legal and financial risks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the $ 1.5bn settlement with US authorities , Daimler said it had agreed to pay $ 700m to settle a class action lawsuit brought by owners .
It also disclosed `` further expenses of a mid three-digit-million EUR amount to fulfil requirements of the settlements . ''
The deals , which Daimler had said it was nearing last month , conclude an investigation that the US started in 2016 , after `` defeat devices '' were discovered through testing .
Officials said that an $ 875m fine included in the $ 1.5bn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty the US has ever imposed under its Clear Air Act and the largest if measured on a per-vehicle basis .
Daimler has also agreed to fix the affected cars , which were sold between 2009 and 2016 , at no cost to their owners .
US officials said that commitment was worth about $ 400m .
At a press conference on Monday , Andrew Wheeler , the head of the US Environmental Protection Agency , said : `` The message we are sending today is clear : We will enforce the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system and mislead the public , you will be caught .
Those who violate public trust in pursuit of profits will forfeit both . ''
The penalties are the latest in a wide-ranging scandal that has cast a cloud over the motor industry since 2015 , when Volkswagen admitted to installing secret software on vehicles sold in the US .
The system allowed the cars to emit up to 40 times legally permitted emissions and evade detection during tests .
Volkswagen later admitted the devices affected more than 11 million vehicles globally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resolve claims in the US alone .
But investigations soon widened to other companies , including Ford , Mitsubishi , and Nissan .
In 2018 , Daimler recalled more than 700,000 vehicles in Europe that had `` defeat devices '' installed .
BMW and Porsche have also recalled cars over the issue .
Fiat Chrysler in Europe were raided this summer over the matter .
The firm agreed to an estimated $ 800m settlement to resolve civil claims in the US in January .
Daimler said the US settlement concerned vehicles that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe .

Officials said that an $875m fine included in the $1.5bn settlement with authorities is the second-largest civil penalty the US has ever imposed under its Clear Air Act and the largest if measured on a per-vehicle basis.


bbc--2020-09-14--Taliban talks: US peace envoy 'not happy about' release of prisoners

The US envoy for peace in Afghanistan has told the BBC he was `` not happy about '' a controversial deal to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners in order to secure historic peace talks .
However , speaking to the BBC 's Lyse Doucet , Zalmay Khalilzad added that `` you have to make hard decisions '' .
Asked about reports of ex-prisoners returning to fight , Mr Khalilzad said they `` do not have any evidence '' .
Peace talks between Afghan leaders and the Taliban began in Qatar on Saturday .
This is the first time the Afghan government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamist group .
The aim is to end 19 years of conflict in the country .
• Who are the Taliban ?
The release of 5,000 prisoners was a condition , agreed between the US and the Taliban after their peace talks last year , to begin these negotiations .
The Afghan government was not involved in making the agreement , and had concerns about releasing thousands of militants .
Last month , Afghan President Ashraf Ghani warned that the prisoners ' release was a `` danger '' to the world , AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Until this issue , there was a consensus on the desirability of peace but not on the cost of it , '' Mr Ghani said .
But Mr Khalilzad denied that agreeing to release so many prisoners - some of whom are considered highly dangerous - was `` a mistake '' .
`` I appreciate the challenges the government faced , '' he told the BBC .
`` I applaud them for making the difficult decisions that they did .
That decision made today possible . ''
The Taliban were removed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2001 .
The group has gradually regained its strength to control more territory than at any point since that time .

The Afghan government was not involved in making the agreement, and had concerns about releasing thousands of militants. Last month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani warned that the prisoners' release was a "danger" to the world, AFP news agency reported at the time.


bbc--2020-09-14--Victoria police officer appears to stomp on man's head during arrest

A man is in a coma after he was allegedly hit by a police car and kicked in the head by an officer during an arrest in Melbourne , Australia .
He was being treated for mental health issues at the hospital but left , prompting staff to call the police .
A video of the arrest appears to show one policeman stomp on the man 's head before he and five other officers pin him to the ground .
Victoria Police said its watchdog would investigate the arrest , which one government minister described as `` concerning '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers involved .
Calling for an independent investigation into the arrest , the man 's father accused the officers of using excessive force .
`` Police are not above the law , they should be held accountable .
They were kicking him and he was n't even fighting back .
It was extremely excessive . ''
What does the video show ?
Footage broadcast by the Seven News TV channel shows the man walking in the middle of the road , waving his arms in front of a police car .
The man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before being hit by the police car from behind .
In another video , taken several minutes later , an officer stands over the man and appears to kick his head before wrestling him to the ground with the help of colleagues .
What did authorities say ?
Victoria Police said its officers were called to reports of a man behaving erratically in Epping , a suburb of Melbourne , at about 16:10 ( 06:10 GMT ) on Sunday .
`` During the highly dynamic incident a police officer was assaulted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man was arrested and subsequently taken to hospital for assessment , '' a police spokesperson said .
You may also be interested in : Police Minister Lisa Neville said body-camera footage of the arrest would be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command , which oversees the conduct of Victorian police officers .
Ms Neville said the officers were in `` difficult circumstances '' , but added there were `` concerning aspects of the arrest , particularly at the end '' .
What did the man 's lawyer say ?

In another video, taken several minutes later, an officer stands over the man and appears to kick down on his head to prevent him from getting up. He and five other officers then pin him down.


bbc--2020-09-14--Alexei Navalny: Poisoned Russian opposition figure 'able to leave bed'

The poisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been removed from ventilation and can leave his bed , the Berlin hospital treating him has said .
The Charité hospital gave the update in a tweet on Monday .
It said he continued to improve and was `` currently undergoing mobilisation and is able to leave his bed for short periods of time '' .
What is the latest on the poisoning ?
Germany 's government has said that laboratories in France and Sweden have now reconfirmed German tests showing that the poison used on Mr Navalny was Novichok .
German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not expect his country to be criticised now that the confirmations had been made .
He was referring to the Kremlin 's response to the tests .
Russia has said Germany has not provided it with details .
`` The president expressed his deep concern over the criminal act perpetrated against Alexei Navalny and the imperative that all light be shed , without delay , on the circumstances and responsibilities of this attempted assassination , '' Mr Macron 's office said .
Mr Putin told him it was `` inappropriate '' to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , repeating his call for Germany to hand over full details of the medical tests .
The Kremlin has said it is carrying out its own inquiries into the matter and will not be pressured by other countries .
What is the background to the poisoning ?
Mr Navalny 's supporters believe his tea was spiked at Tomsk airport on 20 August .
He became ill during the flight , and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk .
Russian officials were persuaded to allow him to be airlifted to Germany two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Novichok group was also used to poison ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury , in England .
They both survived , but a local woman , Dawn Sturgess , died after coming into contact with the poison .


bbc--2020-09-14--Breonna Taylor: Lewis Hamilton could face FIA investigation over anti-racism T-shirt

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1 Formula 1 bosses are looking into whether Lewis Hamilton broke rules at the Tuscan Grand Prix by wearing a T-shirt highlighting police brutality .
He said the FIA was a non-political organisation and was considering if Hamilton 's T-shirt broke its statutes .
The T-shirt said : `` Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor '' - a black woman shot eight times in her Louisville , Kentucky home by US police in March .
Hamilton 's shirt , which he wore during the pre-race anti-racism demonstration and on the podium , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
It was not immediately clear which statute from governing body the FIA was at issue .
Asked whether the FIA considered the T-shirt to be bearing a political message , the spokesman said : `` That 's the consideration we are looking into . ''
Taylor was one of a number of victims of incidents involving police violence in the US whose names have become rallying cries for equality and justice .
Hamilton said after winning the race on Sunday : `` I 've been wanting to bring awareness to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street .
`` And someone was killed in her own house and they were in the wrong house and those guys are still walking free . ''
• None Long read : The story of Black Lives Matter in sport F1 and the FIA have mounted an anti-racism and pro-diversity campaign this year , which includes anti-racism demonstrations before every race .
Hamilton has been at the centre of the demonstrations , as the sport 's most high-profile figure and its only black driver .
The spokesman said that the FIA had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme this year .
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said on Saturday that Hamilton had the organisation 's full support in his desire to highlight racial injustice and that it was up to him what T-shirts he wished to wear to demonstrate that .
Wolff said : `` No question - it is entirely his decision .
Whatever he does , we will support .
`` The team is fighting against any kind of racism and discrimination and it is Lewis 's personal fight for Black Lives Matter and with all the support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his call . ''
After the race , Mercedes responded to a Twitter user who asked that Hamilton `` keep politics out of F1 '' , saying : `` We 're not bringing politics into F1 ; these are human rights issues that we 're trying to highlight and raise awareness of . ''
Wolff added : `` Black Lives Matter is something that is important to all of us and we have supported Lewis all the way .
`` The much broader movement is obviously the fight against any kind of racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team and as a corporate have always put an emphasis to fight against that injustice . ''
The only reference to politics in the statutes is a requirement on the FIA to `` refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race , skin colour , gender , sexual orientation , ethnic or social origin , language , religion , philosophical or political opinion , family situation or disability in the course of its activities '' .
The sporting code forbids competitors from `` affixing to their automobiles advertising that is political or religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interests of the FIA '' .

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton wore the T-shirt before and after the Tuscan Grand Prix
Formula 1 bosses are looking into whether Lewis Hamilton broke rules at the Tuscan Grand Prix by wearing a T-shirt highlighting police brutality.
A spokesman for the FIA said the matter was "under active consideration".
He said the FIA was a non-political organisation and was considering if Hamilton's T-shirt broke its statutes.
The T-shirt said: "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" - a black woman shot eight times in her Louisville, Kentucky home by US police in March.
Hamilton's shirt, which he wore during the pre-race anti-racism demonstration and on the podium, also said: "Say her name."
It was not immediately clear which statute from governing body the FIA was at issue.
Asked whether the FIA considered the T-shirt to be bearing a political message, the spokesman said: "That's the consideration we are looking into."
Taylor was one of a number of victims of incidents involving police violence in the US whose names have become rallying cries for equality and justice.
Hamilton said after winning the race on Sunday: "I've been wanting to bring awareness to the fact there are people being killed on the street.
"And someone was killed in her own house and they were in the wrong house and those guys are still walking free."
F1 and the FIA have mounted an anti-racism and pro-diversity campaign this year, which includes anti-racism demonstrations before every race.
Hamilton has been at the centre of the demonstrations, as the sport's most high-profile figure and its only black driver.
The spokesman said that the FIA had been working with Hamilton on its diversity programme this year.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said on Saturday that Hamilton had the organisation's full support in his desire to highlight racial injustice and that it was up to him what T-shirts he wished to wear to demonstrate that.
Wolff said: "No question - it is entirely his decision. Whatever he does, we will support.
"The team is fighting against any kind of racism and discrimination and it is Lewis's personal fight for Black Lives Matter and with all the support we can give him. It's his call."
After the race, Mercedes responded to a Twitter user who asked that Hamilton "keep politics out of F1", saying: "We're not bringing politics into F1; these are human rights issues that we're trying to highlight and raise awareness of."
Wolff added: "Black Lives Matter is something that is important to all of us and we have supported Lewis all the way.
"The much broader movement is obviously the fight against any kind of racism and discrimination - and we as a team and as a corporate have always put an emphasis to fight against that injustice."
The only reference to politics in the statutes is a requirement on the FIA to "refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities".
The sporting code forbids competitors from "affixing to their automobiles advertising that is political or religious in nature or that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA".


bbc--2020-09-14--US West Coast fires: Is Trump right to blame forest management?

With fires raging across California , Oregon and Washington in the US , President Trump has repeatedly criticised the way forests in these states are managed .
`` It is about forest management .
Please remember the words , very simple , forest management , '' he told a campaign rally in Nevada .
So is poor forest management responsible for these worsening fires ?
Firstly , most forest in California , Oregon and Washington is n't the responsibility of the state authorities - in fact , their share of forest land is small .
In California state , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 33 million acres of forest , according to the state governor 's office .
The state itself owns just three per cent , with the rest owned by private individuals or companies or Native American groups .
There 's a similar picture in Oregon , with significant proportions of forest land in federal rather than state hands , as well as under private ownership .
And in Washington state , only 12 % of forest land is in the hands of the state authorities , with 43 % federally-owned and 36 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US Forest Service , the Bureau of Land Management and the National Parks Service are responsible for the upkeep of federally-owned land , and as far as private forest land is concerned , it 's up to the owners to manage these areas .
Could there be better forest management ?
Two years ago , President Trump also criticised California 's forest management .
He pointed to Finland , where he said they raked and cleared the forests to prevent fires .
Finland is not directly comparable to California due to differences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land use .
But experts believe there are issues with forest management practice and land use across California and elsewhere .
Scott Stephens , a leading authority on wildfires , at the University of California , has for some years questioned forest management priorities .
He 's pointed to the large number of dead trees left standing in parts of the state , due to drought and disease , as a serious fire risk that needs to be addressed .
Prof Stefan Doerr , a wildfires expert at Swansea University , points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at the expense of allowing some limited fires to burn and create firebreaks .
`` For centuries , Native American peoples would burn parts of the forest ... and that would thin out more flammable vegetation and make forests less dense .
`` But the emphasis has been on putting out any fires - and with climate change this has now created a tinderbox of vegetation , '' says Prof Doerr .
The US Forest Service has been trying to rectify this in recent years through setting fires in what 's called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning .
However , there are questions about whether enough resources are being devoted to this , and if it 's really come too late in the day to prevent major fires .
The Governor of Washington State , Jay Inslee , has acknowledged that `` there are places where it makes sense that we thin our timber .
And we are doing that . ''
But he also criticised President Trump for highlighting this factor , rather than climate change : `` These are climate [ change ] fires . ''
Drier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and becoming more flammable .
Add to that the fact that winter seasons when it rains or snows are getting shorter by the year .
In terms of loss of life and damage to property , the data shows the worst fires have all been in the past 10 years or so - except for one fire in 1991 in Alameda County .
And this year , there have also been unusually strong winds combined with periods of drought across parts of the western US .
Six of the largest fires recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prof Doerr says a combination of drier , hotter and windy conditions is the key factor in these recent fires .
He adds that even in areas where there have been attempts to reduce flammable material in forests , it 's not clear how much difference this would have made .
`` The bottom line remains that the extreme meteorological conditions are the main drivers for these extreme fires . ''
What else is making these fires worse ?
A key issue is the increasing number of people moving out of urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the wildland-urban interface .
One 2018 study for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the US , estimated about one in three homes were now in such areas .
• more wildfires risk being started accidentally near forested or other areas with flammable material • an increasing likelihood of the destruction of property if a fire starts • it becomes harder to allow controlled fires to burn off excess vegetation A report in 2015 for the US Department of Agriculture warned that the expansion of the wildland-urban interface `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threaten structures and people . ''
This article was originally published in November 2018 .
It has been extensively revised .

Federal agencies like the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Parks Service are responsible for the upkeep of federally-owned land, and as far as private forest land is concerned, it's up to the owners to manage these areas.


bbc--2020-09-14--The Covid 'virus blockers' that do not do anything

As scientists around the world race to find treatments and a vaccine for coronavirus , dozens of unproven cures are @ @ @ @ @ .
Politicians in Nigeria and Sudan , as well as other countries outside Africa , @ @ @ @ @ “ protective badges ” .
They 're being marketed as “ virus blockers ” or @ @ @ @ @ are being sold around the world .
These badges claim to kill kill viruses and @ @ @ @ @ of bleaching agent , but experts say they do not work and could cause real @ @ @ @ @ : Debunking fake coronavirus stories in Africa

As scientists around the world race to find treatments and a vaccine for coronavirus, dozens of unproven cures are being promoted on and offline.
Politicians in Nigeria and Sudan, as well as other countries outside Africa, have been spotted wearing so-called “protective badges”. They're being marketed as “virus blockers” or “virus stoppers" and are being sold around the world.
These badges claim to kill viruses and bacteria by releasing a type of bleaching agent, but experts say they do not work and could cause real harm.
BBC Africa's Yemisi Adegoke explains.
Video producer: Joshua Akinyemi
More like this: Debunking fake coronavirus stories in Africa


bbc--2020-09-14--Ship with no crew to sail across the Atlantic

A full-size , fully-autonomous research ship is to make one of the world 's first autonomous transatlantic voyages .
Promare @ @ @ @ @ organisation , has worked with IBM , the University of Plymouth and other scientific organisations @ @ @ @ @ Ship ( MAS ) .
Launching from Plymouth in the UK on 16 September 2020 @ @ @ @ @ to Plymouth , Massachusetts , after spending six months gathering data about the state of @ @ @ @ @ crew on board , Andy Stanford-Clark , chief technology officer for IBM in the UK @ @ @ @ @ 'captain ' will plot the ship 's course .

A full-size, fully-autonomous research ship is to make one of the world's first autonomous transatlantic voyages.
Promare, a non-profit marine research organisation, has worked with IBM, a global consortium of partners and scientific organisations to build the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS).
Launching from Plymouth in the UK on 16 September 2020, the ship will travel to Plymouth, Massachusetts, after spending six months gathering data about the state of the ocean.
With no crew on board, Andy Stanford-Clark, chief technology officer for IBM in the UK, explains how an AI 'captain' will plot the ship's course.
Video by Jennifer Green, interview by Ania Lichtarowicz and Gareth Mitchell.
Listen to BBC Digital Planet for more on this story.


bbc--2020-09-14--Spot the difference? Reshot ad prompts Boyega apology

British perfume brand Jo Malone London has issued an apology to John Boyega for dropping an ad he made for @ @ @ @ @ a Chinese actor .
The firm reshot the personal video the Star Wars actor made @ @ @ @ @ of London , for the Chinese market .

British perfume brand Jo Malone London has issued an apology to John Boyega for dropping an ad he made for them and replacing him with a Chinese actor.
The firm reshot the personal video the Star Wars actor made, in his home town of London, for the Chinese market.


bbc--2020-09-14--Seal joins in with River Witham paddleboard lesson

A seal was filmed hitching a ride on a paddleboard on the River Witham in Lincolnshire .
The seal , @ @ @ @ @ up to the group before climbing aboard and having a cheeky nibble at the occupant @ @ @ @ @ May , from Yellowbelly SUP School , caught the moment on camera and said he @ @ @ @ @ in the river before .

A seal was filmed hitching a ride on a paddleboard on the River Witham in Lincolnshire.
The seal, known as Dandy, swam up to the group before climbing aboard and having a cheeky nibble at the occupant's toes.
Instructor Phil May, from Yellowbelly SUP School, caught the moment on camera and said he had never seen a seal in the river before.


bbc--2020-09-14--Five reasons why Israel's peace deals with the UAE and Bahrain matter

1 .
The Gulf states see opportunities for trade and more It looks as if the Americans helped seal the deal with the promise of advanced weapons that in the past the UAE has barely been able to window-shop .
They include the F-35 stealth fighter and the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft .
The UAE has used its already well-equipped armed forces in Libya and Yemen .
But its most serious potential enemy is Iran , just on the other side of the Gulf .
Israel and the US share Emirati suspicions of the Iranians .
So does Bahrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bahrain was by rights part of its territory .
Bahrain 's Sunni rulers also regard sections of its restive Shia majority as a potential fifth column for Iran .
Israelis do not like being isolated in the Middle East .
Peace with Egypt and Jordan has never been warm .
They might be more hopeful about future relations with Gulf countries a long way from the cockpit of Jerusalem and the occupied territories .
Strengthening the alliance against Iran is another big plus .
Mr Netanyahu sees Iran as Israel 's number one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Nazis .
He has muted his original complaints about the UAE 's possible arms deal .
Mr Netanyahu is also beleaguered , facing a trial for corruption that might land him in jail .
His handling of the coronavirus pandemic started well and has gone badly wrong .
Opponents stage weekly rallies outside his residence in Jerusalem .
It is a big boost for his strategy of `` maximum pressure '' on Iran .
It is also useful ammunition , especially in an election year , to back his boast that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anything he does that benefits Israel , or more specifically the government of Benjamin Netanyahu , goes down well with American Christian Evangelical voters , an important part of his electoral base .
But the `` Abraham Accords '' , as the Israel-UAE agreement is known , is a significant shift in the balance of power in the Middle East and is being presented by the Trump White House as a major foreign policy coup .
But now Israel is cementing new public relationships with Arab states while the Palestinians still languish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Bank , and in what amounts to an open prison in Gaza .
But Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to have backed away from the idea , for now at least , because of overwhelming international pressure .
The Emiratis offered him a way out of what had become an awkward political cul-de-sac .

Israelis do not like being isolated in the Middle East. Peace with Egypt and Jordan has never been warm. They might be more hopeful about future relations with Gulf countries a long way from the cockpit of Jerusalem and the occupied territories.


bbc--2020-09-15--Kremlin looks to keep protest-torn Belarus in Moscow's orbit

The Kremlin 's immediate priority seems to be in stabilising the situation across the border , trying to keep brotherly Belarus , broadly , in Moscow 's orbit and making sure disgruntled Russians do not get any ideas about the effectiveness of mass protests .
For now , at least , that means public backing for the man those protesters have turned on and who is now busy positioning himself as the most loyal friend Moscow could have .
And , critically , he confirmed that Russia would stand by all commitments to its neighbour including the promise of reinforcements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Lukashenko wants to scare off his opponents , by implying that if they continue to revolt , and things go violent again , they 'll be dealing not just with him , but with Uncle Vladimir , '' explains Artyom Shraibman , a political analyst based in Minsk .
That point was double-underlined by the opening of a week-long joint military exercise in western Belarus on the same day as the talks in Sochi .
Mr Putin then announced that there would be further joint events `` almost every month '' - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Lukashenko to be swept away by `` people power '' .
But behind the scenes , some believe Russian support for the long-time ruler of Belarus is more qualified , even that the Kremlin believes he is now a liability it can no longer trust , fatally weakened by the protests and unable to deliver on any major promises .
`` I suspect they understand that the damage to Lukashenko is beyond repair , and even if he can retain power for a time , he 's a lame duck , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council argues .
`` They should be thinking of a managed transition , to replace the president who lost his support . ''
It is thought the price of Russia 's backing in the meantime could include some plum privatisation deals in Belarus , for example , or progress on less controversial economic integration plans , long on hold .
But after so many political U-turns by Mr Lukashenko in the run-up to elections - most notably a scandal over the arrest of 32 Russian mercenaries - Artyom Shraibman agrees that Moscow 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the time to put a gun to Lukashenko 's head and force him out by New Year .
He is in a very emotional place , he would n't listen , '' Artyom Shraibman argues .
`` But I think Putin will be hinting at a transition . ''
In his public comments , Vladimir Putin referred to Mr Lukashenko 's plan for constitutional reform as `` logical '' and rational , perhaps signalling Moscow 's preferred path out of this crisis .
The Belarusian leader has previously hinted a reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such deal-making ignores the loud and persistent demands of opposition voices who want Alexander Lukashenko to go immediately and for fresh , fair elections to be held with all political prisoners released .
But Moscow may judge that the protesters will ultimately be scared or frustrated into submission .
It treats them like the weather , Artyom Shraibman argues , you just have to wait until the storm has passed .

That point was double-underlined by the opening of a week-long joint military exercise in western Belarus on the same day as the talks in Sochi. Mr Putin then announced that there would be further joint events "almost every month" - another sign that he will not allow Alexander Lukashenko to be swept away by "people power".


bbc--2020-09-14--When changing a light bulb is a really big deal

`` There is something you ca n't replace with an LED , '' says Eileen Peters .
But she 's not talking about the ambience in her home .
Mrs Peters is referring to the 176-year-old St John 's Point lighthouse on the County Down coast in Northern Ireland - which is earmarked to have its old filament light source replaced with a more modern LED .
She and fellow filament enthusiasts argue that , however subtle , any change to the light is an unacceptable assault on heritage .
In recent years , lighthouse authorities in the UK and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ installed in lighthouses .
Part of this work has involved switching filaments over to industrial-sized LEDs , which engineers say use less energy and are easier to maintain .
In most cases , hardly anyone has noticed the change .
But in County Down , a battle has been brewing for five years .
One set of proposals for changes to St John 's Point has already been vetoed by the local council , following protests by campaigners .
`` We just want to preserve a thing of beauty , '' says Mrs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and boat owners who sail from the nearby village harbours of Ardglass and Killough .
`` They actually love that light .
I 'm not exaggerating - they feel very strongly about it . ''
Out of 65 lighthouses around the island of Ireland , there are just a handful left that have not been switched over to LEDs .
One is St John 's Point .
The lighthouse authority responsible for St John 's Point is the Commissioners of Irish Lights ( CIL ) .
Around the rest of the British Isles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board , have also been carrying out upgrades .
• Why are there so few black tech entrepreneurs ?
Some 125 lighthouses and other structures in Scotland and the Isle of Man , out of a total of more than 350 , have had LEDs fitted by the Northern Lighthouse Board .
And about 20 out of 66 lighthouses around England , Wales , the Channel Islands and Gibraltar managed by Trinity House have been modernised so far , according to a spokesman .
Two or three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Engineers have tried to appeal to traditionalists to some degree .
`` I relate to the locals who say that they want to make sure that the new solution looks and feels like their one , '' says Esko Sorva , product manager at Finnish firm Sabik Marine , one of a few companies that manufacture LEDs for lighthouses and similar structures .
`` There 's something magical and emotional about old lighthouses , '' he adds .
A research team working for Trinity House and two other lighthouse authorities developed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is designed to slot into the old Fresnel lens enclosure , a 19th Century invention that creates a far-reaching beam .
The system is intended to replicate as closely as possible the colour and character of the old filament-based light source .
The LED unit has huge fins to disperse heat from the high-powered LEDs at the centre of the structure and costs around €20,000 ( £18,000 ; $ 24,000 ) , depending on configuration , according to Sabik , one of two companies licensed to make and sell the LED units .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ devices in a traditional lighthouse in Helsinki .
`` The locals did n't notice any difference , '' says Mr Sorva .
The CIL 's latest proposals for St John 's Point , shortly to be filed , seek to retain the existing sweeping beam emitted by the lighthouse , says Robert McCabe , the authority 's director of operations and navigational services .
The LED - like the one offered by Sabik - is now to be incorporated into a new rotating mechanism , preserving the beam , he says .
Alas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is anathema .
They say the beam will not project as far out to sea and it will also probably have a slightly different colour and character in various weather conditions .
`` It is a challenge still to convince those people , '' admits Capt McCabe .
One reason for the LED installations is that the old filament light sources are becoming harder to repair and replace .
But some lighthouse authorities are also seeking to rely more heavily on renewables , says Capt McCabe .
The more efficient LEDs can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and use batteries , rather than diesel generators , as back-up power sources .
But could the old technology not be kept in place at one or two lighthouses for the sake of local communities who want to preserve the light the way it is ?
`` The small things do make a difference , '' insists Capt McCabe .
`` Having our aids to navigation powered by renewable energy sources is a really strong message and we 'd be really committed to it for that reason . ''
Another key benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ length of service , says Paul Briggs , programme manager at Trinity House .
From 1,000 hours of operational use with an incandescent light , LEDs offer 50-100,000 hours instead , he explains .
If and when LEDs are installed , Mr Briggs and his colleagues will also carry out a wider modernisation programme at the lighthouse in question - from improving power systems , installing solar panels or servicing mechanical structures in the building .
`` It is true that sometimes we 'll upgrade a lighthouse and the characteristic of the light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the history of Trinity House stretches back more than half a millennium .
For Mr Briggs , changes to lighthouses have come and gone as the tides - if not quite as frequently .
`` You go back to when lighthouses were first thought of and you had a bonfire essentially on a stick and that was your light .
`` LED technology is the next step , if you like , to providing what we think is the very best service… in terms of an aid to navigation for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes suggested by the CIL in County Down do n't have any intention of backing down , however .
Mrs Peters says she and her companions are keen to keep pressure on the local council in order to ensure St John 's Point is left exactly as it is , without an LED in sight .
`` We 're determined to win , '' she says .

One reason for the LED installations is that the old filament light sources are becoming harder to repair and replace. But some lighthouse authorities are also seeking to rely more heavily on renewables, says Capt McCabe. The more efficient LEDs can be powered via solar panels, for instance, and use batteries, rather than diesel generators, as back-up power sources.


bbc--2020-09-14--The Nigerian filmmakers risking jail with lesbian movie Ife

Ife is a story about two women falling in love as they spend three days together .
They `` then @ @ @ @ @ the realities of being in a same-sex relationship in a country like Nigeria '' , @ @ @ @ @ the film .
'It has to be censored' But that has not deterred the producers @ @ @ @ @ will continue as planned , as they believe they have done nothing wrong and do @ @ @ @ @ for an online release .

Ife is a story about two women falling in love as they spend three days together. They "then have their love tested by the realities of being in a same-sex relationship in a country like Nigeria", according to the publicity for the film.