bbc--2020-08-17--US election 2020: The 19th amendment and a 100-year milestone for women

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment in the United States , which guaranteed American women the right to vote .
Although the amendment was ratified on 18 August 1920 , it was preceded by decades of organising and protests - spearheaded by leading figures of US women 's suffrage like Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton .
The 19th amendment is considered to be a seminal piece of legislation , but for minority women - particularly African-American , Hispanic and Native-American women - there was a long road ahead to ensure complete access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centennial , the BBC spoke to a number of women running for office - both Republican and Democrat - to see what has been achieved and what is left to do .
'Little by little , those glass ceilings are coming down' '' It 's poetic that we have such a consequential presidential election in the 100th year that women have been able to vote , '' Jennifer Carroll Foy said .
A native of Petersburg , Virginia , she was raised by her grandmother - whose trademark adage was , `` if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give it . ''
It is a truth that Ms Carroll Foy seeks to employ in her politics .
While she is excited about celebrating the centennial of the 19th amendment , she is acutely aware that the amendment was n't wholly inclusive .
Black and brown women faced an arduous journey to achieve equal voting access that was n't conferred until the Voting Rights Act in 1965 .
`` As a black woman there is still work to be done , '' she said .
`` Until all women have full and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for women 's right to vote continues . ''
For Ms Caroll Foy , on the centennial of the 19th amendment , it 's even more important to have a woman of colour on the ballot .
`` When you do n't see women in power , it 's hard to fathom that being a possibility , '' she said .
`` It 's not lost on me that I would be the first black woman governor in our country . ''
Similarly , on this anniversary , Senator Kamala Harris ' spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Ms Carrol Foy , as it paves the way for black and brown girls everywhere to `` see themselves in her '' . '
I 'm hopeful that we have so many more women running for elected office' Beth Van Duyne , Candidate for the US House of Representatives in Texas , District 24 ( Republican ) '' I think about how far we have come , '' Beth Van Duyne said .
`` It 's incredibly humbling to be one of the record number of Republican women running for Congress this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duyne , the 19th amendment 's ratification has heralded decades of advancements for women .
From the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment , to the number of women enrolled in higher education , by way of new businesses founded by women .
`` It 's very gratifying to see that women are empowered , are supported , and are achieving success in greater numbers , '' she said .
But Ms Van Duyne 's 16-year career in politics has been chequered by misogyny at various points .
As the first female mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to overcome an `` old boy network '' of all-male city council members .
`` I approached it from the outside in , '' she recalled .
`` I do n't know how many men get called 'honey ' at a council meeting . ''
Moving forward , Ms Van Duyne is encouraged by the swathes of women entering politics .
`` As you get a more reflective body , you 'll see less division , '' she added . '
I still think we have a long way to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Candidate for US House of Representatives in Texas , District 25 ( Democrat ) As a child , raised in a low-income household by a single parent , Julie Oliver was n't sure how her mother put food on the table .
`` I had no idea how she did it , but she did it , '' Ms Oliver said .
Her mother 's tenacity inspired Ms Oliver 's own run for Congress .
This is her second run for District 25 in Texas , which encompasses Austin and Central Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you imagine what Congress would look like coming from the heart of a mother ? '
'' she told BBC News .
When she initially ran for Congress in 2018 , she joked that her husband should have talked her out of the idea .
Instead , she recalls how he encouraged her to run .
`` I 'm grateful for the enlightened men in my life , '' she added .
As a woman in politics , Ms Oliver believes that greater representation in the House would lead to a more collaborative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women have similar goals when it comes to education , access to healthcare and investing in infrastructure . ''
Although the anniversary of the 19th amendment is cause for celebration for giving `` a certain group of women the right to vote , '' Ms Oliver feels that the centennial is an opportunity to reflect on the work remaining to enfranchise minority women across the country .
`` It includes all women , not just white women , '' she said .
Ensuring that black and brown voices are empowered is integral to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But I hope people call me out when I 'm not doing enough , '' she said .
`` I want to be held accountable . ''
'As a working mother , how do I look after my people ? '
Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee , Candidate for US House of Representatives in Illinois , District 10 ( Republican ) Throughout her career in business and finance , Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee said that she was lucky to not experience gender discrimination , but would often hear from women who did .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
`` How do we get others to experience what I 've experienced ? ''
Ms Ramirez Mukherjee and her brother were the first in their family to attend university , and she recalls that their mother did n't raise them to see any difference between genders .
`` I did n't see that there was a 'role ' of a girl or a boy , '' she said .
`` It was about who had the skill or the interest to get the job done . ''
It was when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , that she was made to feel aware of her gender .
Her two pregnancies were difficult , and she realised that trying to find time for necessary doctor 's appointments during the work day would unsettle her male colleagues .
Now , in her first run for public office , Ms Ramirez Mukherjee is focused on creating transparency for women in the workplace .
`` 100 years later and we 're still having this conversation , '' she said .
`` If a woman decides to start a family , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' When it comes to the state of voting access in the US , Ms Ramirez Mukherjee is `` grateful '' that the mail-in ballot has become a widely discussed option this year .
She believes that this will empower more people , particularly women , to vote .
`` Not everyone has the privilege to go down to the polling station , '' she said .

19th amendment: A 100-year milestone for women... and what comes next Published 18 August 2020
Image source, Jennifer Carroll Foy Image caption, Jennifer Carroll Foy hopes to be the first black woman governor in the US
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment in the United States, which guaranteed American women the right to vote.
Although the amendment was ratified on 18 August 1920, it was preceded by decades of organising and protests - spearheaded by leading figures of US women's suffrage like Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
The 19th amendment is considered to be a seminal piece of legislation, but for minority women - particularly African-American, Hispanic and Native-American women - there was a long road ahead to ensure complete access to the vote.
To mark this year's centennial, the BBC spoke to a number of women running for office - both Republican and Democrat - to see what has been achieved and what is left to do.
'Little by little, those glass ceilings are coming down'
Jennifer Carroll Foy, Gubernatorial Candidate for Virginia (Democrat)
"It's poetic that we have such a consequential presidential election in the 100th year that women have been able to vote," Jennifer Carroll Foy said. A native of Petersburg, Virginia, she was raised by her grandmother - whose trademark adage was, "if you have it, you have to give it."
It is a truth that Ms Carroll Foy seeks to employ in her politics.
While she is excited about celebrating the centennial of the 19th amendment, she is acutely aware that the amendment wasn't wholly inclusive. Black and brown women faced an arduous journey to achieve equal voting access - that wasn't conferred until the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
"As a black woman there is still work to be done," she said. "Until all women have full and unfettered rights to vote, the fight for women's right to vote continues."
For Ms Caroll Foy, on the centennial of the 19th amendment, it's even more important to have a woman of colour on the ballot. "When you don't see women in power, it's hard to fathom that being a possibility," she said. "It's not lost on me that I would be the first black woman governor in our country."
Similarly, on this anniversary, Senator Kamala Harris' spot on the Democratic ticket is particularly auspicious for Ms Carrol Foy, as it paves the way for black and brown girls everywhere to "see themselves in her".
'I don't know how many men get called 'honey' at a council meeting'
Beth Van Duyne, Candidate for the US House of Representatives in Texas, District 24 (Republican)
Image source, Beth Van Duyne
"I think about how far we have come," Beth Van Duyne said. "It's incredibly humbling to be one of the record number of Republican women running for Congress this year."
According to Ms Van Duyne, the 19th amendment's ratification has heralded decades of advancements for women. From the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, to the number of women enrolled in higher education, by way of new businesses founded by women. "It's very gratifying to see that women are empowered, are supported, and are achieving success in greater numbers," she said.
But Ms Van Duyne's 16-year career in politics has been chequered by misogyny at various points. As the first female mayor of Irving, Texas, she remembers having to overcome an "old boy network" of all-male city council members. "I approached it from the outside in," she recalled. "I don't know how many men get called 'honey' at a council meeting."
Moving forward, Ms Van Duyne is encouraged by the swathes of women entering politics. "As you get a more reflective body, you'll see less division," she added.
'I still think we have a long way to go to make everyone able to vote'
Julie Oliver, Candidate for US House of Representatives in Texas, District 25 (Democrat)
Image source, Sidney Hollingsworth/Julie Oliver Image caption, Julie Oliver is making her second run for Congress in Texas
As a child, raised in a low-income household by a single parent, Julie Oliver wasn't sure how her mother put food on the table. "I had no idea how she did it, but she did it," Ms Oliver said. Her mother's tenacity inspired Ms Oliver's own run for Congress. This is her second run for District 25 in Texas, which encompasses Austin and Central Texas.
"I always say, 'can you imagine what Congress would look like coming from the heart of a mother?'" she told BBC News. When she initially ran for Congress in 2018, she joked that her husband should have talked her out of the idea. Instead, she recalls how he encouraged her to run. "I'm grateful for the enlightened men in my life," she added.
As a woman in politics, Ms Oliver believes that greater representation in the House would lead to a more collaborative policy approach across party lines. "Women have similar goals when it comes to education, access to healthcare and investing in infrastructure."
Although the anniversary of the 19th amendment is cause for celebration for giving "a certain group of women the right to vote," Ms Oliver feels that the centennial is an opportunity to reflect on the work remaining to enfranchise minority women across the country.
"It includes all women, not just white women," she said. Ensuring that black and brown voices are empowered is integral to Ms Oliver's run for office.
"But I hope people call me out when I'm not doing enough," she said. "I want to be held accountable."
'As a working mother, how do I look after my people?'
Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee, Candidate for US House of Representatives in Illinois, District 10 (Republican)
Image source, Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee Image caption, Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee sees the push for mail-in voting as a positive for women
Throughout her career in business and finance, Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee said that she was lucky to not experience gender discrimination, but would often hear from women who did. "I want to help solve this," she said. "How do we get others to experience what I've experienced?"
Ms Ramirez Mukherjee and her brother were the first in their family to attend university, and she recalls that their mother didn't raise them to see any difference between genders. "I didn't see that there was a 'role' of a girl or a boy," she said. "It was about who had the skill or the interest to get the job done."
It was when Ms Ramirez Mukherjee wanted to start a family, that she was made to feel aware of her gender. Her two pregnancies were difficult, and she realised that trying to find time for necessary doctor's appointments during the work day would unsettle her male colleagues.
Now, in her first run for public office, Ms Ramirez Mukherjee is focused on creating transparency for women in the workplace. "100 years later and we're still having this conversation," she said. "If a woman decides to start a family, how do we talk about that more?"
When it comes to the state of voting access in the US, Ms Ramirez Mukherjee is "grateful" that the mail-in ballot has become a widely discussed option this year. She believes that this will empower more people, particularly women, to vote.


bbc--2020-08-17--With UAE deal, Israel opens tentative new chapter with Gulf Arabs

`` Historic '' ; `` A breakthrough '' ; `` A game-changer '' ; `` A betrayal '' : there is no shortage of epithets for this month 's sudden announcement - by President Trump - that the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) is to fully normalise its relations with Israel .
After Egypt 's peace treaty with Israel in 1979 , followed by Jordan 's in 1994 , this makes the UAE only the third Arab country to normalise relations .
It is the first of the six Arab Gulf states to do so .
Oman .
Bahrain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow .
Discreet contacts between the UAE and Israel had been under way for years but still , the details and timing of this normalisation deal were kept secret right up to the last minute .
There were no consultations between the UAE foreign ministry in Abu Dhabi and its Arab neighbours .
Almost everyone was taken by surprise , most of all the Palestinians , who called it `` a stab in the back '' since they have yet to come close to getting a state of their own or ending Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is zero upside here , '' comments Emile Hokayem from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies .
For the UAE 's de facto ruler Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed ( known as MBZ ) , this deal is something of a gamble but one with the odds heavily in his favour .
The risk is it could make the UAE leadership highly unpopular in the wider Arab world where some social media postings have been calling it `` a sell-out '' .
Were the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annexation of parts of the West Bank then that would be extremely embarrassing for the Emiratis and possibly see the whole deal unravel .
But such a move would also draw disapproval from the White House and besides , popular street protests are not usually tolerated in the Gulf .
`` In the short term , the pitfalls for the UAE are very limited , '' says Mr Hokayem .
`` This deal is not going to affect the UAE regime 's stability .
It reflects the changing geopolitics of the region and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goodwill in the US , where its image has been tarnished by its involvement in the Yemen war . ''
• What does Trump ’ s Mid-East plan say on key issues ?
So what is behind this deal and what 's in it for this relatively young Gulf nation and former British protectorate that only became a sovereign nation in 1971 ?
In short , it is two things - strategic advantage and technology .
The UAE , along with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia , has a deep mistrust , even a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbour across the water : Iran .
Gulf Arab leaders look at the map of the region and they note how , despite crippling sanctions , Iran 's strategic presence has advanced rapidly across the Middle East ever since the bulwark of Saddam Hussein 's regime was removed in Iraq .
Where once Iran was largely confined to its national borders , today it has proxy militias in Iraq , Syria , Lebanon and Yemen .
Israel shares this concern , especially when it comes to Iran 's secretive nuclear programme .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamism '' or `` political Islam '' , a transnational concept often embodied by the Muslim Brotherhood and one which certain Gulf Arab rulers view as an existential threat to their dynastic monarchies .
No-one dislikes the Muslim Brotherhood more fervently than the UAE crown prince and this has led to the UAE backing anti-Muslim Brotherhood factions as far away as Libya while seeing its interests clash increasingly with those of Turkey 's Islamist government .
In practice , this has led to the formation of an unofficial partnership of conservative Middle Eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Israel , with its formidable intelligence capabilities , is now being admitted as an associate member .
And there is technology , including biotech , healthcare , defence and cyber surveillance .
Here , the UAE already has form , having purchased Israeli-manufactured spyware some years ago to keep an eye on its own citizens .
The UAE has deep pockets - it has vast oil reserves and a per capita GDP of nearly $ 40,000 ( £30,000 ) .
It also has ambitions globally , and beyond , having just become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission to Mars .
Israel is by far the most technologically advanced country in the Middle East , with cutting-edge inventions .
If this alliance works out it could propel the UAE to a new level of prosperity and international prestige , while safeguarding future jobs for its citizens .
Israel 's overtures to the Gulf go back some way .
In 1995 , shortly before Israel 's Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist , he sent his Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on an official visit to Oman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened up in both countries ' capitals .
I remember calling up their office in Muscat for a comment - the Israeli representative inadvertently answered the phone with the Hebrew greeting `` Shalom '' before quickly changing it to the Arabic `` Salaamu aleikum '' .
The trade initiative withered away after Mr Netanyahu became prime minister , Israel intervened in Lebanon and the second Palestinian intifada erupted .
But more recently quiet diplomacy between Israel and the Gulf states has accelerated as a fear of Iranian expansionism has become the prime preoccupation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well follow the UAE if this month 's announcement passes without major incident .
Saudi Arabia may take longer .
But back in 2002 it was the Saudis who launched the Crown Prince Abdullah Peace Plan at the Beirut Arab summit , offering Israel full recognition in exchange for a return to its pre-1967 borders .
The deal briefly put Israeli PM Ariel Sharon on the spot but days later Hamas carried out bombings and all talks were off .
Today the Middle East is a very different place and what was then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guess what were the most searched-for words online in the UAE immediately after the deal was announced ? ''
said an Emirati official .
`` It was 'hotels in Israel ' .
A lot of people ca n't wait to visit ! ''

Then there is what is known as "Islamism" or "political Islam", a transnational concept often embodied by the Muslim Brotherhood and one which certain Gulf Arab rulers view as an existential threat to their dynastic monarchies. No-one dislikes the Muslim Brotherhood more fervently than the UAE crown prince and this has led to the UAE backing anti-Muslim Brotherhood factions as far away as Libya while seeing its interests clash increasingly with those of Turkey's Islamist government.


bbc--2020-08-17--Libya conflict: Why Egypt might send troops to back Gen Haftar

Imagine the house next door is on fire and there is no fire brigade to call on to avert an imminent disaster about to engulf you and your family .
That is how Egypt has viewed Libya since the brutal end of former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his regime in 2011 .
Libya has no properly functioning state institutions , no unified army or security forces to speak of , and , crucially , no border guards on its side of their porous 1,100km ( 685-mile ) long desert border .
Plus the country is awash with weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Libyans failed to agree on a path forward , militias of all kinds proliferated , jihadists resurfaced to pursue their dream of creating an Islamic state in Libya and beyond .
Egypt - whose military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 , and jailed him and other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood - became a prime target : • In 2017 , a group of jihadists crossed into Egyptian territory and attacked a security checkpoint , killing 16 soldiers and wounding 13 others • Inside Libya itself , Egyptian labourers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islamic State group kidnapped and beheaded 21 Egyptian Christians , apparently in retaliation for the removal from power of President Morsi Post-Gaddafi Libya was quickly caught up in the chasm that has polarised and paralysed politics in nearly the whole of the Middle East and North Africa .
It is the struggle between the advocates of political Islam , foremost among which is the transnational Muslim Brotherhood and its many offshoots , and secular or quasi-secular forces and old-fashioned nationalists .
A UN-brokered deal that set up a provisional government in Tripoli failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national reconciliation it was created for .
As Libya fractured between an Islamist-dominated west and anti-Islamist east - it was only natural for Egypt , which had declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation , to throw its weight behind the man who had declared war on the Islamists in Libya , Gen Khalifa Haftar .
He had fought them and cleared Benghazi and other major urban centres in the east and south of Islamist militants .
For the past six years , Egypt 's main goal had been to contain the fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Gen Haftar .
But things took a dramatic turn late last year when Turkey - the biggest supporter of political Islam in the region - decided to throw its weight behind the beleaguered UN-brokered government .
It offered technical and military support which eventually helped it to stop the advance of Gen Haftar 's troops to capture Tripoli .
• Russia and Turkey risk turning Libya into another Syria • Why is Libya so lawless ?
Encouraged by its gains on the battlefield , the Turkish-backed Tripoli administration vowed to march on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and defeat Gen Haftar totally .
Alarmed by reports of Turkey transferring thousands of battle-hardened Syrian mercenaries and jihadists to Tripoli and setting up Turkish bases in western Libya , Cairo felt it had no other option but to respond .
In June , after inspecting rows of tanks and rocket launchers and watching an air force display with his top military brass in a base near the border with Libya , Egypt 's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi made a dramatic announcement .
Striking a pan-Arab chord , he said that given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Egypt , Cairo had a legitimate right to intervene to defend the national interests of the two nations against `` foreign schemes '' .
There was no explicit reference to Turkey , but everyone understood what he was referring to .
A Libyan delegation of tribal leaders in the auditorium cheered him on .
President Sisi had drawn a line in the sand - between Sirte on the Mediterranean and the area around the Jufra airbase in central Libya - as Egypt 's `` red line '' .
Any attempt to cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a direct threat to national security , he said .
A few days later , Egypt 's parliament rubber-stamped a mandate for the president , who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces , to deploy troops as he saw fit .
The Tripoli-based administration reacted angrily to President Sisis 's threat of military intervention , describing it as a `` declaration of war '' .
Is this a serious threat or just sabre rattling ?
Observers outside Egypt were quick to raise questions about the Egyptian army and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussion of the military and its performance is strictly forbidden .
Local media applauded the president and hailed the Egyptian army as one of the strongest in the world , even comparing it to the Turkish military , with the usual dose of vitriol levelled against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Libyan `` stooges '' in Tripoli .
However , a few moderate voices urged caution out of fear that Egypt might get sucked into the Libyan quagmire .
It is reasonable to assume that the Egyptian military is wary of intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long supply lines which would be needed between Egypt and central Libya - the scene of any eventual confrontation There is also concern that what might start as a surgical intervention could quickly develop into a military morass in Libya 's unwinnable civil war .
The observers also noted that the Egyptian military has not had any battlefield experience since 1973 and its last war against Israel along the Suez Canal and the Sinai desert .
Its most recent experience of fighting against Islamist militants in northern Sinai is not particularly impressive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conventional army and a plethora of militias may prove even more difficult .
Yet having made the announcement and drawn its line in the sand , Egypt finds itself with an unenviable dilemma : • To act early to pre-empt any potential attempt to capture Jufra and Sirte , which may provoke the very war the threat of intervention sought to deter • Or wait till the other side crosses that line , which may prove disastrously late for Egypt and its Libyan allies

It is reasonable to assume that the Egyptian military is wary of intervention, not least because of what the long supply lines which would be needed between Egypt and central Libya - the scene of any eventual confrontation


bbc--2020-08-17--Egypt TikTok and Instagram stars pay heavy price for 'indecency'

`` We were left in utter shock .
She did nothing wrong - my sister is not a criminal , '' says Rahma al-Adham , talking of her younger sibling , a social media influencer in Egypt .
Mawada , a 22-year-old university student , was last month sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of violating Egyptian family values .
She was arrested in May after publishing videos on TikTok and Instagram where she lip-synced to famous songs and danced in fashionable clothes .
The prosecutor found her videos indecent .
Mawada has more than three million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Instagram .
`` She only wanted to be famous and popular , '' laments Rahma .
Mawada is one of five young women who were given the same prison sentence , in addition to a fine of nearly $ 20,000 ( £15,300 ; 17,000 euros ) .
The five are known as the `` TikTok girls '' .
Aside from Mawada , the group includes another social media star , Haneen Hossam , and three others who have not been named .
• How did TikTok grow to 800m users ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you money ?
Rahma says her sister was modelling on social media for a number of well-known fashion brands .
`` She was just too ambitious .
She dreamt of being an actress .
`` Why her ?
Some actresses dress in a very explicit way .
Nobody touches them , '' she asks angrily .
According to human rights group Amnesty International , prosecutors used 17 photos of Mawada against her as evidence of `` indecency '' .
Mawada said these images had been leaked from her phone after it was stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four women began an appeal against their convictions on Monday , and the next hearing is scheduled for 14 September .
At the very least , Rahma hopes her sister 's sentence will be reduced .
Mawada fainted when she heard the initial verdict , according to her lawyer , Ahmed Bahkiry .
`` She 's totally devastated - the charges are very vaguely worded . ''
`` Prison can not be a solution , even if some of her videos go against our social norms and traditions , '' he adds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have resorted to rehabilitation instead . ''
There are mixed feelings in Egypt towards the case .
Some in this largely Muslim , conservative country view TikTok videos such as Mawada 's as indecent .
Others say the girls were only having fun and do not deserve prison .
Human rights groups see the girls ' arrests as a further attempt by the authorities to restrict freedom of expression and as a sign of what Amnesty called `` new repressive tactics to control cyberspace '' .
There are , campaigners say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egypt , including liberals , Islamists , journalists and human rights lawyers .
Egypt 's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi insists there are no prisoners of conscience in his country , while the state has questioned the credibility of critical human rights reports .
Among those calling for the girls ' release is the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms , a Cairo-based human rights organisation .
Its executive director , Mohamed Lotfy , says the case shows clear signs of gender discrimination .
`` Women are only allowed to express themselves on social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he says .
`` The girls are accused of breaching Egyptian family values , but no-one has ever defined these values . ''
Even if they were to be released , Mr Lotfy says a warning has already been sent to young girls .
`` The authorities have made it clear : you are not free to say or do whatever you like , even if you are not talking politics at all .
There are lines which are not to be crossed . ''
• How did TikTok grow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the public prosecutor 's office issued statements highlighting what it called the `` potential dangers threatening our youth via digital platforms , which are not subject to any sort of supervision '' .
It called on parents to help stop young people being `` misled into adopting a reckless and licentious lifestyle , in search of worthless fame and success '' .
`` They pursued illegal paths to make money , falsely believing this is a form of freedom of speech , '' it said .
Meanwhile , as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother `` barely leaves her bed now '' .
`` She cries all the time , '' she says .
`` Sometimes she wakes up at night and asks if Mawada is back home . ''
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"The authorities have made it clear: you are not free to say or do whatever you like, even if you are not talking politics at all. There are lines which are not to be crossed."


bbc--2020-08-17--Europe lockdown: New coronavirus rules country by country

Since 10 August , masks have been compulsory outdoors in busy parts of Paris for anyone aged 11 and over @ @ @ @ @ across France have also introduced this rule , including in Toulouse , Nice , Lille @ @ @ @ @ resorts .
From 15 August , people entering the UK from France will have to @ @ @ @ @ The French government has said it will introduce the same rule for anyone arriving from @ @ @ @ @ the rate of infection started to climb and on 6 August new measures were announced @ @ @ @ @ cafes , cinemas , museums and amusement parks for 14 days in case of an @ @ @ @ @ impose curfews and further restrictions .
The government still advises against non-essential travel overseas .
@ @ @ @ @ does not apply to Northern Ireland .
It also includes all travel by cruise ship @

Lockdowns are gradually being eased as the summer tourist season gets under way, and there are plans for an EU-wide digital vaccination certificate to be in place by 1 July.


bbc--2020-08-17--Lukaku double helps Inter thrash Shakhtar to reach Europa final

Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez both scored twice as Inter Milan hammered Shakhtar Donetsk in Dusseldorf to set up a Europa League final showdown with Sevilla .
Martinez struck his first in the 19th minute , heading in from Nicolo Barella 's cross after the midfielder had been gifted possession from a dire attempted clearance by Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov .
Danilo D'Ambrosio rose highest in the area to head home Marcelo Brozovic 's corner just after the hour before Martinez side-footed in his second to seal the win and Lukaku came to the party with two neat finishes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukaku has now scored in 10 straight Europa League games and has 33 goals for the season .
Shakhtar 's only real chance was admittedly a very good one , but Junior Moraes headed straight at Samir Handanovic from just a few yards out for what would have been an equaliser .
Having missed out on the Serie A title by a single point , Inter now have the chance to claim a first trophy since 2011 when they face Julen Lopetegui 's Sevilla on Friday .
• Action and reaction from Inter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League semi-finals Lukaku and Inter proving all the doubters wrong Inter are a rejuvenated club , with a team full of players seeking redemption and a manager looking to restore his reputation .
It has been a barren nine seasons since they claimed the Club World Cup and Coppa Italia in 2010-11 .
But Antonio Conte , who was sacked by Chelsea in July 2018 , has taken a squad containing discarded Manchester United trio Lukaku , Alexis Sanchez and Ashley Young , as well as ex-Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen and on-loan Chelsea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole greater than the sum of its parts .
One of those parts , though , is having a truly stellar campaign to prove all his doubters wrong .
Lukaku was surplus to requirements at the Red Devils but has made himself indispensable with the Nerazzurri with his pace , power and accurate finishing - qualities that have enabled him to be involved in 18 goals in his last 10 Europa League games ( 14 goals and four assists ) .
Another goal in the final and he will match the achievement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all competitions in 1997-98 is the most by an Inter player in their debut season at the club .
What Shakhtar would have given for a striker of Lukaku 's calibre , even if just for one moment in the 63rd minute when somehow Moraes failed to find a way past the Inter keeper with his header .
For all their possession - 63 % of it in the game - Luis Castro 's side often looked bereft of ideas in the final third , despite some neat touches from their predominantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Ukrainian champions had beaten Benfica , Wolfsburg and Basel to reach this stage and were 11 games unbeaten coming into the tie , but limply bow out .
Inter head into their 10th European final unbeaten in 11 games themselves and full of confidence .
'After 10 years we have the possibility to lift a trophy' Inter boss Antonio Conte speaking to BT Sport : `` We played a very good game and I 'm very happy for my players .
They worked very hard every day so to have this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For me , it is great satisfaction .
`` I know very well it 's difficult to forget .
Inter Milan was a fantastic team .
Now , after 10 years , we have the possibility to lift a trophy .
This is a great satisfaction for me and the players .
`` We want to give that to the fans .
We have to play against a strong team .
Sevilla know this competition very well .
We have a lot of players who are playing for the first time in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have strength and we want to give satisfaction to our fans . ''
• Inter Milan 's 5-0 win was the biggest margin of victory ever in a single UEFA Cup/ Europa League semi-final game .
• This was Shakhtar Donetsk 's biggest defeat in Europe since a 0-6 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League in November 2018 .
• Inter Milan have won five consecutive matches in major European competition ( excluding qualifiers ) for the first time since April 2010 ( a run of six starting in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Champions League final ) .
• Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku are the first duo to score 20+ goals each in a single season for Inter Milan since Adriano and Obafemi Martins in the 2004-05 campaign .
• Danilo D'Ambrosio has scored three goals in his last five games for Inter Milan in all competitions , as many as he had netted in his previous 58 appearances .
• Romelu Lukaku became the first Serie A player this season to hit 50 appearances in all competitions while the Belgian is also the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single campaign since Samuel Eto ' o ( 53 ) and Javier Zanetti ( 52 ) in 2010-11 .
• James Acaster 's Perfect Sounds : Why was 2016 the best year for music ?
• Power Out : What happens in a world without electricity ?

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Martinez now has 21 goals in all competitions for Inter this season
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez both scored twice as Inter Milan hammered Shakhtar Donetsk in Dusseldorf to set up a Europa League final showdown with Sevilla.
Martinez struck his first in the 19th minute, heading in from Nicolo Barella's cross after the midfielder had been gifted possession from a dire attempted clearance by Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov.
Danilo D'Ambrosio rose highest in the area to head home Marcelo Brozovic's corner just after the hour before Martinez side-footed in his second to seal the win and Lukaku came to the party with two neat finishes of his own.
Former Manchester United striker Lukaku has now scored in 10 straight Europa League games and has 33 goals for the season.
Shakhtar's only real chance was admittedly a very good one, but Junior Moraes headed straight at Samir Handanovic from just a few yards out for what would have been an equaliser.
Having missed out on the Serie A title by a single point, Inter now have the chance to claim a first trophy since 2011 when they face Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla on Friday.
Lukaku and Inter proving all the doubters wrong
Inter are a rejuvenated club, with a team full of players seeking redemption and a manager looking to restore his reputation.
It has been a barren nine seasons since they claimed the Club World Cup and Coppa Italia in 2010-11.
But Antonio Conte, who was sacked by Chelsea in July 2018, has taken a squad containing discarded Manchester United trio Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Ashley Young, as well as ex-Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen and on-loan Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses, and forged a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
One of those parts, though, is having a truly stellar campaign to prove all his doubters wrong.
Lukaku was surplus to requirements at the Red Devils but has made himself indispensable with the Nerazzurri with his pace, power and accurate finishing - qualities that have enabled him to be involved in 18 goals in his last 10 Europa League games (14 goals and four assists).
Another goal in the final and he will match the achievement of Brazilian striker Ronaldo, whose 34 goals in all competitions in 1997-98 is the most by an Inter player in their debut season at the club.
What Shakhtar would have given for a striker of Lukaku's calibre, even if just for one moment in the 63rd minute when somehow Moraes failed to find a way past the Inter keeper with his header.
For all their possession - 63% of it in the game - Luis Castro's side often looked bereft of ideas in the final third, despite some neat touches from their predominantly Brazilian front quartet to get them there.
The Ukrainian champions had beaten Benfica, Wolfsburg and Basel to reach this stage and were 11 games unbeaten coming into the tie, but limply bow out.
Inter head into their 10th European final unbeaten in 11 games themselves and full of confidence.
'After 10 years we have the possibility to lift a trophy'
Inter boss Antonio Conte speaking to BT Sport: "We played a very good game and I'm very happy for my players. They worked very hard every day so to have this answer from my players is fantastic. For me, it is great satisfaction.
"I know very well it's difficult to forget. Inter Milan was a fantastic team. Now, after 10 years, we have the possibility to lift a trophy. This is a great satisfaction for me and the players.
"We want to give that to the fans. We have to play against a strong team. Sevilla know this competition very well. We have a lot of players who are playing for the first time in this competition. But we have enthusiasm, we have strength and we want to give satisfaction to our fans."
Inter secure biggest winning margin - stats
Inter Milan's 5-0 win was the biggest margin of victory ever in a single UEFA Cup/ Europa League semi-final game.
This was Shakhtar Donetsk's biggest defeat in Europe since a 0-6 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League in November 2018.
Inter Milan have won five consecutive matches in major European competition (excluding qualifiers) for the first time since April 2010 (a run of six starting in December 2009 on their way to the UEFA Champions League final).
Lautaro Martínez and Romelu Lukaku are the first duo to score 20+ goals each in a single season for Inter Milan since Adriano and Obafemi Martins in the 2004-05 campaign.
Danilo D'Ambrosio has scored three goals in his last five games for Inter Milan in all competitions, as many as he had netted in his previous 58 appearances.
Romelu Lukaku became the first Serie A player this season to hit 50 appearances in all competitions while the Belgian is also the first Inter player to reach the milestone in a single campaign since Samuel Eto'o (53) and Javier Zanetti (52) in 2010-11.


bbc--2020-08-17--England and Pakistan draw rain-hit second Test

Last updated on .From the section Cricket England and Pakistan played out a draw in the second Test at the Ageas Bowl .
More rain prevented play starting until 15:20 BST , after which England reached 110-4 in reply to Pakistan 's 236 before the captains agreed to a draw at 18:05 .
Zak Crawley made 53 and Dom Sibley 32 but fell in consecutive Mohammad Abbas overs .
Ollie Pope was out for nine 15 minutes before the close .
• None Watch Today at the Test on iPlayer • None TMS podcast : What we learned from rain-hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 'More cricket was played on the concourse than on the pitch' Only 134.3 overs - less than a day and a half 's play - were possible in the match , the shortest Test in England since 1987 .
England will take a 1-0 lead into the third and final Test , which begins on Friday at the same ground .
The low-key final day 's play was played in perfect , sunny conditions that were a far cry from the previous four .
Frustrations have been voiced that there has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the field on the first two days for bad light when it did not feel overly dangerous , and when the entire third day was lost there was a two-hour period when it felt like there could have been action .
The Test ends with a strong feeling that cricket must do more .
That said , this was only the third draw in the past 43 Tests in the UK .
Sun shines at last as Test drifts to a close Had there been more play , this could have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mere formality but still the action was watchable and the little play there was on previous days was thrilling .
England resumed on 7-1 on day five - in batting conditions greatly improved on the seamer-friendly previous days - and Crawley played with impressive intent given the situation .
The 22-year-old hit seven fours in reaching his third half-century in seven Tests .
The frustration he showed after being trapped lbw playing across the line showed he wanted more runs to secure his place in the team more firmly .
Sibley was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it will be of concern that he was caught down the leg side .
It is a form of dismissal that is becoming common for the opener .
With little to lose , Pakistan pushed for more wickets with attacking fields and caused England 's batsmen problems .
Pope went back to a ball from leg-spinner Yasir Shah that skidded on and trapped him lbw .
What else was learned in short Test ?
Following defeat in the first Test , the tourists showed enough resilience to suggest the series finale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammad Rizwan impressed with 72 in difficult conditions and Babar Azam hinted again at why he is so highly regarded by making 47 .
Abbas showed once again how effective he is in English conditions .
For England the major positive was the return to form of James Anderson .
He was far more penetrative than at Old Trafford and his 3-60 leaves him seven wickets short of 600 in Tests .
Speculation about his retirement should quieten again for now .
Stuart Broad 's incredible summer continued .
Another four wickets mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer at an average of 12.38 .
The situation fell horribly for Rory Burns when he had to face Shaheen Afridi and Abbas in bowler-friendly conditions on the fourth day with little to gain .
He got a fourth-ball duck but has more than enough goodwill in the bank to keep his place .
'Experience in the bank for young batsmen ' - what they said England captain Joe Root : `` It would have been nice to have a result possible at the end of today but on a pitch like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we needed to be professional today and put those partnerships on .
It 's experience in the bank for a young batting line-up .
`` Zak Crawley , in particular , played with great fluency on a wicket that was very difficult to feel in on .
He played extremely well .
`` We 'll go into every game looking to win it and trying to win the series 2-0 .
It 's nice to be in position going into the final game . ''
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Manchester I expected England to blow Pakistan away here .
`` When I saw the ball moving as it did on day one I thought if Pakistan get beyond 150 I 'd be surprised , but they showed a huge amount of skill .
`` Abid Ali played beautifully , Babar Azam is a class act and Mohammad Rizwan is a firecracker .
He 's the kind of cricketer I 'd love to have in my team . ''
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali : `` The best thing out of his Test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowl too much .
It 's a big Test coming up and hopefully we 're fit and ready . ''
Player of the match Mohammad Rizwan : `` I was looking forward to a good contest - we 've worked hard for it - but unfortunately we could n't play the full game . ''
• None Why was 2016 the best year for music ?
• None What happens in a world without electricity ?

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Second Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton (day five of five) Pakistan 236: Rizwan 72, Abid 60, Broad 4-56 England 110-4 dec: Crawley 53, Abbas 2-28 Match drawn; England lead 1-0 in series Scorecard
England and Pakistan played out a draw in the second Test at the Ageas Bowl.
The result was already all but confirmed with bad weather decimating the Test.
More rain prevented play starting until 15:20 BST, after which England reached 110-4 in reply to Pakistan's 236 before the captains agreed to a draw at 18:05.
Zak Crawley made 53 and Dom Sibley 32 but fell in consecutive Mohammad Abbas overs. Ollie Pope was out for nine 15 minutes before the close.
Only 134.3 overs - less than a day and a half's play - were possible in the match, the shortest Test in England since 1987.
England will take a 1-0 lead into the third and final Test, which begins on Friday at the same ground.
The low-key final day's play was played in perfect, sunny conditions that were a far cry from the previous four.
Frustrations have been voiced that there has not been more play - the players left the field on the first two days for bad light when it did not feel overly dangerous, and when the entire third day was lost there was a two-hour period when it felt like there could have been action.
The Test ends with a strong feeling that cricket must do more. That said, this was only the third draw in the past 43 Tests in the UK.
Sun shines at last as Test drifts to a close
Had there been more play, this could have been a fascinating match.
The final day was a mere formality but still the action was watchable and the little play there was on previous days was thrilling.
England resumed on 7-1 on day five - in batting conditions greatly improved on the seamer-friendly previous days - and Crawley played with impressive intent given the situation.
The 22-year-old hit seven fours in reaching his third half-century in seven Tests. The frustration he showed after being trapped lbw playing across the line showed he wanted more runs to secure his place in the team more firmly.
Sibley was more sedate, as is his style, but it will be of concern that he was caught down the leg side. It is a form of dismissal that is becoming common for the opener.
With little to lose, Pakistan pushed for more wickets with attacking fields and caused England's batsmen problems. Pope went back to a ball from leg-spinner Yasir Shah that skidded on and trapped him lbw.
What else was learned in short Test?
Following defeat in the first Test, the tourists showed enough resilience to suggest the series finale will be competitive, weather permitting.
Mohammad Rizwan impressed with 72 in difficult conditions and Babar Azam hinted again at why he is so highly regarded by making 47. Abbas showed once again how effective he is in English conditions.
For England the major positive was the return to form of James Anderson.
He was far more penetrative than at Old Trafford and his 3-60 leaves him seven wickets short of 600 in Tests. Speculation about his retirement should quieten again for now.
Stuart Broad's incredible summer continued. Another four wickets mean he has 26 in four Tests this summer at an average of 12.38.
The situation fell horribly for Rory Burns when he had to face Shaheen Afridi and Abbas in bowler-friendly conditions on the fourth day with little to gain. He got a fourth-ball duck but has more than enough goodwill in the bank to keep his place.
'Experience in the bank for young batsmen' - what they said
England captain Joe Root: "It would have been nice to have a result possible at the end of today but on a pitch like that it was impossible.
"We knew we needed to be professional today and put those partnerships on. It's experience in the bank for a young batting line-up.
"Zak Crawley, in particular, played with great fluency on a wicket that was very difficult to feel in on. He played extremely well.
"We'll go into every game looking to win it and trying to win the series 2-0. It's nice to be in position going into the final game."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan on BBC Test Match Special: "After the disappointment of Manchester I expected England to blow Pakistan away here.
"When I saw the ball moving as it did on day one I thought if Pakistan get beyond 150 I'd be surprised, but they showed a huge amount of skill.
"Abid Ali played beautifully, Babar Azam is a class act and Mohammad Rizwan is a firecracker. He's the kind of cricketer I'd love to have in my team."
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali: "The best thing out of his Test is that we didn't have to bowl too much. It's a big Test coming up and hopefully we're fit and ready."
Player of the match Mohammad Rizwan: "I was looking forward to a good contest - we've worked hard for it - but unfortunately we couldn't play the full game."


bbc--2020-08-17--Man City legend Silva joins Real Sociedad

Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has joined La Liga side Real Sociedad for two seasons .
The Spaniard 's 10-year spell at City came to an end after Saturday 's Champions League defeat by Lyon .
Signed from Valencia in 2010 , the midfielder , 34 , made 436 appearances and helped City win 14 trophies .
Italian side Lazio were reported to have offered former Spain international Silva a three-year contract .
but he joins Real Sociedad on a free transfer .
Sociedad finished sixth in La Liga and were in search of a new playmaker after Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-year loan spell .
Silva made 309 Premier League appearances , scoring 60 goals and playing an instrumental part in City 's four title wins in 2012 , 2014 , 2018 and 2019 .
• Silva to get statue at Etihad Stadium after 10-year City spell In domestic cup competitions , he played 57 times and won two FA Cups , five League Cups and three Community Shields .
Silva holds the record for the most European appearances for City , having played 70 Champions League matches over the past decade .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 .
• James Acaster 's Perfect Sounds : Why was 2016 the best year for music ?
• Power Out : What happens in a world without electricity ?

Last updated on .From the section European Football
David Silva (left) played his last game for Manchester City on Saturday
Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has joined La Liga side Real Sociedad for two seasons.
The Spaniard's 10-year spell at City came to an end after Saturday's Champions League defeat by Lyon.
Signed from Valencia in 2010, the midfielder, 34, made 436 appearances and helped City win 14 trophies.
Italian side Lazio were reported to have offered former Spain international Silva a three-year contract. external-link but he joins Real Sociedad on a free transfer.
Sociedad finished sixth in La Liga and were in search of a new playmaker after Martin Odegaard returned to Real Madrid following a one-year loan spell.
Silva made 309 Premier League appearances, scoring 60 goals and playing an instrumental part in City's four title wins in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019.
In domestic cup competitions, he played 57 times and won two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields.
Silva holds the record for the most European appearances for City, having played 70 Champions League matches over the past decade.
He was also in the Spain squads that won the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
The 2020-21 La Liga season begins on 12 September.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


bbc--2020-08-17--Halep becomes sixth woman in top 10 to pull out of US Open

Last updated on .From the section Tennis World number two Simona Halep is the latest leading women 's player to withdraw from the US Open .
`` I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision , '' she said .
Canada 's defending champion Bianca Andreescu and Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty are among the other big names to have pulled out .
Ukraine 's Elina Svitolina , Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands and Switzerland 's Belinda Bencic have also decided not to play in the tournament amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living , I have decided that I will not travel , '' added reigning Wimbledon champion Halep , 28 .
The two-time Grand Slam winner - who won the Prague Open on Sunday - says she will stay and train in Europe , where the French Open is scheduled to start on 27 September .
American great Serena Williams has committed to play in New York , along with Japanese 2018 champion Naomi Osaka , Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On the men 's side , Serbia 's world number one Novak Djokovic , Britain 's three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray and Russian 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev are competing .
• None Alerts : Get tennis news sent to your phone • None Why was 2016 the best year for music ?
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Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Simona Halep won the Prague Open on Sunday, her first tournament in five months
World number two Simona Halep is the latest leading women's player to withdraw from the US Open.
Romanian Halep is the sixth top 10 player to opt out of the Grand Slam, which will be played behind closed doors in New York from 31 August.
"I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision," she said.
Canada's defending champion Bianca Andreescu and Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty are among the other big names to have pulled out.
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands and Switzerland's Belinda Bencic have also decided not to play in the tournament amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel," added reigning Wimbledon champion Halep, 28.
The two-time Grand Slam winner - who won the Prague Open on Sunday - says she will stay and train in Europe, where the French Open is scheduled to start on 27 September.
American great Serena Williams has committed to play in New York, along with Japanese 2018 champion Naomi Osaka, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the United States and Czech world number three Karolina Pliskova.
On the men's side, Serbia's world number one Novak Djokovic, Britain's three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray and Russian 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev are competing.


bbc--2020-08-17--Washington make Wright NFL's first black team president

Last updated on .From the section American Football The Washington Football Team have appointed Jason Wright as their new president - making him the NFL 's first black team president .
His appointment comes a month after the franchise announced they would drop the team name 'Redskins ' , a term offensive to Native Americans .
`` This team , at this time , is an ideal opportunity for me , '' said Wright .
`` The transformation of the Washington Football Team is happening across all aspects of the organisation - from football to operations to branding to culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern and aspirational franchise .
`` We want to set new standards for the NFL . ''
Major sponsors - including FedEx , Nike , Pepsi and Bank of America - had threatened to pull funding from Washington unless they considered renaming themselves .
Wright becomes the youngest team president in the league and is the fourth former NFL player to take up the role .
Following his retirement from playing in 2011 , he attended business school before working at McKinsey & Company , a global strategy and management consulting firm in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custom design a leader for this important time in our history , it would be Jason , '' said Washington owner Dan Snyder .
`` His experience as a former player , coupled with his business acumen , gives him a perspective that is unrivalled in the league .
We will not rest until we are a championship calibre team , on and off the field .
`` Jason has a proven track record in helping businesses transform culturally , operationally and financially .
He is a proactive and assertive advocate for inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards for our organisation , and for the league .
`` There could not be a better duo than Jason Wright and coach Ron Rivera as we usher in a new era for Washington Football . ''
• None Why was 2016 the best year for music ?
• None What happens in a world without electricity ?

Last updated on .From the section American Football
Wright played for the Cardinals from 2009-2011
The Washington Football Team have appointed Jason Wright as their new president - making him the NFL's first black team president.
Wright, 38, is a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals.
His appointment comes a month after the franchise announced they would drop the team name 'Redskins', a term offensive to Native Americans.
"This team, at this time, is an ideal opportunity for me," said Wright.
"The transformation of the Washington Football Team is happening across all aspects of the organisation - from football to operations to branding to culture - and will make us a truly modern and aspirational franchise.
"We want to set new standards for the NFL."
Major sponsors - including FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America - had threatened to pull funding from Washington unless they considered renaming themselves.
Wright becomes the youngest team president in the league and is the fourth former NFL player to take up the role.
Following his retirement from playing in 2011, he attended business school before working at McKinsey & Company, a global strategy and management consulting firm in Washington DC.
"If I could custom design a leader for this important time in our history, it would be Jason," said Washington owner Dan Snyder.
"His experience as a former player, coupled with his business acumen, gives him a perspective that is unrivalled in the league. We will not rest until we are a championship calibre team, on and off the field.
"Jason has a proven track record in helping businesses transform culturally, operationally and financially. He is a proactive and assertive advocate for inclusion of all people and will set new standards for our organisation, and for the league.
"There could not be a better duo than Jason Wright and coach Ron Rivera as we usher in a new era for Washington Football."


bbc--2020-08-15--US election 2020 polls: Who is ahead - Trump or Biden?

Voters in America will decide on 3 November whether Donald Trump remains in the White House for another four years .
The Republican president is being challenged by Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden , who is best known as Barack Obama 's vice-president but has been in US politics since the 1970s .
As election day approaches , polling companies will be trying to gauge the mood of the nation by asking voters which candidate they prefer .
We 'll be keeping track of those polls here and trying to work out what they can and ca n't tell us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How are the presidential candidates doing nationally ?
National polls are a good guide as to how popular a candidate is across the country as a whole , but they 're not necessarily a good way to predict the result of the election .
In 2016 , for example , Hillary Clinton led in the polls and won nearly three million more votes than Donald Trump , but she still lost - that 's because the US uses an electoral college system , so winning the most votes does n't always win you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Joe Biden has been ahead of Donald Trump in national polls for most of the year .
He has hovered around 50 % in recent weeks and has had a 10-point lead on occasions .
By contrast , in 2016 the polls were far less clear and just a couple of percentage points separated Mr Trump and his then-rival Hillary Clinton at several points as election day neared .
• A really simple guide to the US election Which states will decide this election ?
As Mrs Clinton discovered in 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less important than where you win them .
Most states nearly always vote the same way , meaning that in reality there are just a handful of states where both candidates stand a chance of winning .
These are the places where the election will be won and lost and are known as battleground states .
In the electoral college system the US uses to elect its president , each state is given a number of votes based on its population .
A total of 538 electoral college votes are up for grabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 270 to win .
As the map above shows , some battleground states have a lot more electoral college votes on offer than others so candidates often spend a lot more time campaigning in them .
• What is the electoral college ?
At the moment , polls in the battleground states look good for Joe Biden , but there 's a long way to go and things can change very quickly , especially when Donald Trump 's involved .
The polls suggest Mr Biden has big leads in Michigan , Pennsylvania and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rival won by margins of less than 1 % to clinch victory in 2016 .
But it 's the battleground states where Mr Trump won big in 2016 that his campaign team will be most worried about .
His winning margin in Iowa , Ohio and Texas was between 8-10 % back then but he 's neck-and-neck with Mr Biden in all three at the moment .
Those poll numbers may help explain his decision to replace his re-election campaign manager in July and his regular references to `` fake polls '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not writing Mr Trump off just yet .
The latest odds still give him about a one in three chance of winning on 3 November .
• Does Trump have the power to delay the election ?
The coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines in the US since the start of the year and the response to President Trump 's actions has been split predictably along party lines .
Support for his approach peaked in mid-March after he declared a national emergency and made $ 50 billion available to states to stop the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 55 % of Americans approved of his actions , according to data from Ipsos , a leading polling company .
But any support he had from Democrats disappeared after that , while Republicans continued to back their president .
The most recent data , however , suggests even his own supporters have begun to question his response as states in the south and the west of the country have dealt with renewed outbreaks of the virus .
Republican support had fallen to 78 % by early July .
This may explain why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently , warning that the situation will `` get worse before it gets better '' He also donned a face mask for the first time recently and called on Americans to wear them , saying `` they 'll have an effect '' and show `` patriotism '' .
One leading model produced by experts at the University of Washington predicts the death toll will have passed 250,000 by election day .
• Why are Americans so angry about masks ?
Can we trust the polls ?
It 's easy to dismiss the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and President Trump frequently does exactly that .
But it 's not entirely true .
Most national polls did have Hillary Clinton ahead by a few percentage points , but that does n't mean they were wrong , since she won three million more votes than her rival .
Pollsters did have some problems in 2016 - notably a failure to properly represent voters without a college degree - meaning Mr Trump 's advantage in some key battleground states was n't spotted until late in the race , if at all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But this year there 's even more uncertainty than normal due to the coronavirus pandemic and the effect it 's having on both the economy and how people will vote in November , so all polls should be read with some scepticism , especially this far out from election day .
• What to expect at Biden 's Democratic convention

On his own health, 72% of respondents said that Mr Trump did not take the "risk of contracting the virus seriously enough," while the same number said he failed to take "the appropriate precautions when it came to his personal health".


bbc--2020-08-18--Democratic convention: Michelle Obama blasts Trump

Michelle Obama has launched a stinging attack on US President Donald Trump as Democrats prepared to crown Joe Biden as their White House challenger .
`` Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country , '' said the former US first lady in an emotional recorded message to the Democratic convention .
Disaffected members of Mr Trump 's Republican party also piled in on him at the Democratic party conference .
Because of the coronavirus outbreak , Democrats scrapped plans for a crowded party extravaganza with balloon drops and all the other political razzmatazz in Milwaukee , Wisconsin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtual schedule of pre-recorded speeches with no live audience can generate the same level of enthusiasm as pre-pandemic gatherings of the party faithful .
Republicans will face the same challenge as they make their case for four more years in the White House at a drastically scaled-down convention next week .
• A really simple guide to the US election • What to watch for at the US Democratic convention • How is Donald Trump doing in the polls ?
What did Michelle Obama say ?
Mrs Obama , who recorded her keynote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mate , Senator Kamala Harris , six days ago , launched a blistering attack on Mr Trump .
`` You simply can not fake your way through this job , '' she said in remarks that closed the first night of the convention on Monday .
The headline speaker added : `` Our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long . ''
`` Stating the simple fact that a black life matters is still met with derision from the nation 's highest office , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we look to this White House for some leadership , or consolation or any semblance of steadiness , what we get instead is chaos , division and a total and utter lack of empathy . ''
She said the last four years had been difficult to explain to America 's children .
`` They see our leaders labelling fellow citizens enemies of the state , while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists .
`` They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages , and pepper spray and rubber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a photo op . ''
Mrs Obama continued : `` Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country .
He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job , but he is clearly in over his head .
`` He simply can not be who we need him to be for us .
It is what it is . ''
She described Mr Biden as a `` profoundly decent man '' , touting the Democratic White House candidate 's experience as vice-president under her husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it , '' she said , wearing a necklace that said `` Vote '' .
A lot of politicians spoke at the camera during the `` virtual '' Democratic convention on Monday night .
The only speaker who landed an emotional punch , however , was Michelle Obama .
The truth , she said , was that Donald Trump `` simply can not be who we need him to be for us '' .
`` It is what it is , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president recently used about the coronavirus death toll - a jab that was as subtle as it was devastating .
She was n't trying to convince Republicans to switch sides .
That was the job of John Kasich , the Republican ex-governor of Ohio .
She was n't trying to get left-wing progressives to rally to Biden .
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders handled that .
Mrs Obama was speaking to loyal Democrats , some of whom may have stayed at home or voted for a third party in 2016 , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Her goal was to drive home the gravity of the moment and to give them a call to action .
What else happened on Monday ?
The opening night of the convention , a two-hour programme hosted by former Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria Baston , was titled by party organisers `` We the People '' .
John Kasich , who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination in 2016 , recorded a message calling on Americans to deny the president a second term in office .
Mr Kasich endorsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can all see what 's going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us , and no one person or party has all the answers .
`` But what we do know is that we can do better than what we 've been seeing today , for sure . ''
• What does Kamala Harris believe ?
• Where Joe Biden stands on the key issues Bernie Sanders , the left-wing Vermont senator who was Mr Biden 's fiercest competitor during the Democratic party 's contest to pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded a message .
He said : `` My friends , I say to you , and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election : The future of our democracy is at stake .
The future of our economy is at stake .
The future of our planet is at stake . ''
Along with Mr Kasich , three other high-profile Republicans recorded messages for the convention 's opening night : California businesswoman Meg Whitman , former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York congresswoman Susan Molinari .
While their inclusion left the Biden team claiming a broad coalition , some Democrats grumbled that the Republicans used up precious time that could have benefited progressive speakers or lesser-known rising stars .
But Cedric Richmond , a Louisiana congressman and Biden campaign co-chairman , rejected that idea , saying , `` remember tonight 's theme is 'We the People , ' not 'We the Democrats ' '' .
The opening night also featured pre-recorded messages from everyday Americans , including repentant Trump voters and a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 on the president .
On Tuesday morning , Mr Trump responded to Mrs Obama 's criticism in a series of tweets .
`` [ I ] would not be here , in the beautiful White House , if it were n't for the job done by your husband , '' he wrote .
And on Monday , Mr Trump spoke to the BBC on Air Force One and lashed out at Mr Kasich .
`` He was a loser as a Republican , and he 'll be a loser as a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign speech earlier that day in Mankato , Minnesota , Mr Trump warned that if Mr Biden won in November , news outlets would lose their audiences .
`` Nobody 's going to want to cover sleepy Joe , '' Mr Trump said .
`` We will end up with one very boring socialist country that will go to hell . ''
Mr Trump also confirmed he would accept the Republican nomination for a second term during a live speech at the White House next week .
Democrats and some fellow Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House as a campaign venue .
How will the rest of the Democratic convention play out ?
The four-night jamboree will culminate in Mr Biden 's speech on Thursday in a mostly empty ballroom in his home state of Delaware .
On Wednesday , his vice-presidential pick , Ms Harris , the daughter of immigrant parents from India and Jamaica , will accept her nomination as the first woman of colour to be a running mate on a major party presidential ticket .
Also speaking on Wednesday are former President Obama , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and one of Mr Biden 's former rivals , Senator Elizabeth Warren .
Tuesday will hear speeches from former President Bill Clinton and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
More on Joe Biden and the 2020 election BIDEN ON KEY ISSUES : What the US presidential hopeful wants to do POLLS : Who is ahead - Trump or Biden ?
US ELECTIONS 2020 : A really simple guide to the US election ELECTORAL COLLEGE : What is it ?
ONE-STOP-SHOP : All our US election coverage The US election process can be confusing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense of it .
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He said: "My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake."


bbc--2020-08-18--Democratic National Convention: What you missed on day one

Day one of the Democratic Party convention is over - and we now know a little more about what a @ @ @ @ @ feels like .
Without the passionate crowd to react to speeches , it was left @ @ @ @ @ manufacture some energy and emotion among the audience watching at home .
Cue A-list celebrities @ @ @ @ @ political speeches cut much shorter than in conventions past .

Day one of the Democratic Party convention is over - and we now know a little more about what a virtual political event looks and feels like.
Without the passionate crowd to react to speeches, it was left to the event organisers to manufacture some energy and emotion among the audience watching at home.
Cue A-list celebrities, heart-wrenching personal stories and political speeches cut much shorter than in conventions past.


bbc--2020-08-18--Wuhan coronavirus: From silent streets to packed pools

Thousands of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder with no face masks in sight , frolicking on rubber floats and cheering along to a music festival .
It 's not a very 2020 image , but it was the scene this weekend in the Chinese city of Wuhan , where Covid-19 first emerged late last year .
Pictures of partygoers at the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park - looking very much removed from the outbreak that the rest of the world continues to battle - have now gone , well , viral .
It 's worlds apart from the images that came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first Covid-19 lockdown in January - a ghost town devoid of residents and vehicles .
The lockdown was lifted in April and there have been no domestically transmitted cases in Wuhan or Hubei province since mid-May .
Wuhan went into a then unprecedented lockdown on 23 January - at a time where the virus had killed 17 people and affected more than 400 .
It was a week after China confirmed that human-to-human transmission of the virus had taken place , something not previously proven .
The city of 11 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of China , as thousands of people were over the next few months tested and placed in quarantine .
All large public gatherings were cancelled and people told to avoid gathering .
By March , the lockdown slowly started to ease .
One resident from each household was allowed to leave their residential compound for a maximum of two hours .
Shopping malls began re-opening , public transport started to run and people slowly started heading out - though social distancing was still in place and masks had to be worn .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged ?
• A dazed city emerges from the harshest of lockdowns Couples rushed to get married , after having their plans put on hold for months .
For a while it seemed like life was getting back to normal as schools re-opened , businesses slowly emerged and public transport resumed operations .
But on 12 May , six new virus cases were recorded .
The city quickly put in place ambitious plans to test its entire population of 11 million people .
The outbreak was soon brought under control .
• Did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ?
By June , night markets - which see street stalls set up along small streets - were allowed to re-open .
And a month later , in July , life truly started to go back to normal in most parts of China .
Cinemas in most places were allowed to re-open , certain parks , libraries , museums were also allowed to open at half capacity and larger gatherings were given permission to take place .
Today , it appears that life has edged back to normal in Wuhan .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electrical Musical Festival over the weekend have only proved this point .
Organisers even offered female tourists tickets at half price in a bid to attract more visitors .
Wuhan Happy Valley - the theme park that owns the Maya Water park - re-opened on 25 June , but according to its deputy general manager it only started getting more visitors this August .
The park currently sees around 15,000 visitors on the weekend , he said , around half the number of people it saw this time last year .
On Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such a large scale event was allowed to take place in Wuhan .
There was also alarm on Twitter and Facebook .
But Wuhan has not had a local coronavirus case since mid-May , and about 9.9 million people in the city have been tested for the virus .
There are no bans in place on large gatherings .
However , Sanjaya Senanayake , an associate professor in infectious diseases at the Australian National University , said that while a majority of the city 's residents had been tested , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced from elsewhere .
`` The problem is we have n't eradicated Covid-19 , and what that means is that as long as its not eradicated , there 's still the risk of having it introduced , whether from overseas or elsewhere , '' he told the BBC .
He points to the example of New Zealand , which had no locally transmitted cases for more than three months - before a new spike in cases were reported earlier last week .
`` A study from London came out suggesting that about 10-20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about 80 % of cases , '' he said .
`` So if you 're putting large groups of people together you really have to be careful .
Even if one person has the virus , you 're in for some rough times . ''
Meanwhile , the virus continues to rage on elsewhere .
There have been more than 21 million cases worldwide .
Countries like South Korea - which seemed to have successfully contained the virus - are facing a new wave of cases .
So it may be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in allowing crowded events to resume .

And a month later, in July, life truly started to go back to normal in most parts of China. Cinemas in most places were allowed to re-open, certain parks, libraries, museums were also allowed to open at half capacity and larger gatherings were given permission to take place.


bbc--2020-08-18--Ellen DeGeneres: Three producers fired over 'toxic workplace' claims

Three top producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show have been fired amid allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment .
Ms DeGeneres announced the overhaul in a video meeting with staff , and said an internal investigation was under way .
In a message to staff she said she was `` so sorry for what this has become , '' according to the Hollywood Reporter .
The departures follow investigations by journalists into claims of bullying and intimidation on set .
A spokesperson for Warner Brothers confirmed the show has `` parted ways '' with executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a story published earlier this year , several former employees told Buzzfeed News they had experienced racism while working on the show , which has won over 60 Emmy Awards since it first aired in 2003 .
Others accused Mr Glavin of inappropriate touching , and leading with intimidation and fear .
Mr Leman and Mr Norman were also accused of sexual harassment by former staff .
In earlier statements to Buzzfeed News , Mr Leman denied `` any kind of sexual impropriety , '' and Mr Norman said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Mr Glavin has not publicly responded to the claims .
Ms DeGeneres initially distanced herself from the claims of a toxic work environment , saying in an email to staff that she had been `` misrepresented '' by `` people who work with me and for me '' .
But she apologised to staff and said she was `` glad the issues were brought to her attention '' .
A host of celebrities , including singer Katy Perry and comedian Kevin Hart , have spoken out in support of the chat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have supported the claims made against her programme , among them Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett .
In an email to staff , David McGuire , executive vice president of programming at Warner Brothers , said the studio was `` absolutely committed '' to `` change and a new culture .
`` Many of you have spoken with WarnerMedia 's investigators , and we thank you for your honesty , '' he added , according to Buzzfeed News .
`` I hope this note is another way we are showing our commitment @ @ @ @ @

DeGeneres initially distanced herself from the claims of a toxic work environment, saying in an email to staff that she had been "misrepresented" by "people who work with me and for me". But she apologised to staff and said she was "glad the issues were brought to her attention".


bbc--2020-08-18--Mauritius oil spill: Bad weather impedes clean-up

Rough seas have made it too risky to remove the remaining oil from the ship which spilled hundreds of tonnes of the fuel off the coast of Mauritius , the national crisis committee says .
The MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef , Pointe d'Esny , on 25 July while carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil , causing an ecological emergency .
The bow of the ship is being towed away from the reef .
• Africa Live : Updates on this and other stories • Why the Mauritius oil spill is so serious • Why do oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in half over the weekend , and the rear part remains stranded on the reef .
About 90 tonnes of the fuel was believed to be on board in the engine room when the vessel split .
`` Due to the adverse weather conditions , it is still risky to remove the remaining small amount of residual oil in the engine room '' , the National Crisis Management Committee said on Monday night , adding that `` oil pumping operations should resume as soon as the weather permits . ''
The BBC 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis , reports that rough seas are currently being experienced around the coast of Mauritius caused by seasonal heavy swells .
The Japanese-owned MV Wakashio has already leaked about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil into the uniquely biodiversity-rich marine ecosystem .
Mauritius has said it will seek compensation for the leak from `` the owner and the insurer '' and Japanese firm Nagashiki Shipping has pledged to respond to requests for compensation .
A team of experts from Japan are arriving in Mauritius on Wednesday to help with the clean-up , Japan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth declared a state of emergency and appealed for international help .
Volunteers took the matter into their own hands , filling sacks with straw to make barriers against the oil - despite orders from the government to leave the operation to the authorities .
On Monday , around 416 cubic meters of the homemade barriers - called booms - were collected and found to be saturated with oil , our correspondent reports .
The amount of oil spilled is relatively low compared with the big spills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , unlike most previous offshore spills , this has taken place near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve , which is a wetland of international importance .

"Due to the adverse weather conditions, it is still risky to remove the remaining small amount of residual oil in the engine room", the National Crisis Management Committee said on Monday evening, adding that "oil pumping operations should resume as soon as the weather permits."


bbc--2020-08-18--Former CIA officer charged with spying for China

A former Central Intelligence Agency officer has been arrested on charges of conspiring with a relative , who also worked for the CIA , to spy for China .
Alexander Yuk Ching Ma , 67 , was arrested on Friday and charged , said the US justice department .
He is accused of divulging classified national defence information to Chinese intelligence officials .
It is the latest espionage arrest at a time of growing tension between Washington and Beijing .
Mr Ma is due to appear in court on Tuesday and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ma ?
Mr Ma , a naturalised US citizen born in Hong Kong , began working for the CIA in 1982 .
Prosecutors said he left the CIA seven years later and worked in the Chinese city of Shanghai before moving to Hawaii in 2001 .
• China and trade : Breaking up is hard to do They accuse Mr Ma and his relative of spying for China over the course of a decade in a scheme that began with meetings in Hong Kong in March 2001 .
The ex-CIA officers are accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's personnel , operations , and methods of concealing communications '' with the Chinese intelligence service .
Part of their meeting in Hong Kong was recorded on videotape and shows Mr Ma counting $ 50,000 ( £38,000 ) in cash for the secrets they shared , the statement said .
While living in Hawaii , court documents say , he then sought work with the FBI to gain access to classified US government information once again to pass on to China .
He was hired by the FBI 's Honolulu office in 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of stealing documents marked secret .
It remains unclear why it took so long to arrest Mr Ma .
The unnamed relative with whom prosecutors say Mr Ma conspired is now 85-years-old .
He is also a naturalised US citizen , who was born in Shanghai .
Court documents say prosecutors are not seeking an arrest warrant for him at this time as he is suffering from an `` advanced and debilitating cognitive disease '' .
What are the other espionage cases ?
This is the latest arrest in a string of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another former CIA officer , Jerry Chun Shing Lee , was sentenced to 19 years in prison for conspiring to spy for China .
The information shared by Mr Lee is said to have helped China to bring down a network of informants between 2010 and 2012 .
About 20 informants were killed or jailed during that period in one of the most disastrous failures of US intelligence in recent years .
In May 2019 , Kevin Mallory , another ex-CIA agent , was sentenced to 20 years in prison , after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secrets to China .
Former US intelligence officer Ron Rockwell Hansen was sentenced in September to 10 years in prison .
In Monday 's statement Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said : `` The trail of Chinese espionage is long and , sadly , strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues , their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime . ''
`` Whether immediately , or many years after they thought they got away with it , we will find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to justice . ''
Why are tensions especially high now ?
The relationship between the US and China has plummeted to its lowest point in decades .
They 've been locked in a bitter trade war since 2018 and earlier this month US President Donald Trump threatened to ban the popular Chinese app TikTok .
The two economic superpowers have also clashed over the coronavirus pandemic and the controversial new security law imposed by Beijing in Hong Kong .
Last month a Singaporean man pleaded guilty in the US to working as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents he was recruited by Chinese intelligence in 2015 , when he was a PhD student at a prestigious Singaporean university , after giving a presentation in Beijing .
• The Chinese spy who hunted on LinkedIn Jun Wei Yeo , also known as Dickson Yeo , was charged with using his political consultancy in America as a front to collect information for Chinese intelligence .
The US has also been pursuing economic espionage charges against China in recent years .
About 80 % of all economic espionage prosecutions brought by the justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese state '' , the department says on its website .

"Whether immediately, or many years after they thought they got away with it, we will find these traitors and we will bring them to justice."


bbc--2020-08-18--Rafik Hariri tribunal: Verdict due over assassination of Lebanon ex-PM

The long-awaited verdict is due in the trial of four men allegedly involved in the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri and 21 others in a 2005 bombing .
The defendants - suspected members of the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah - were tried in absentia by a special tribunal in the Netherlands .
Outrage at the attack in Beirut forced Hezbollah 's backer Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon after 29 years .
Hezbollah and Syria 's government denied any involvement in the attack .
More than 220 people were also injured when a van filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's convoy passed along Beirut 's seafront corniche .
The killing was a watershed moment for Lebanon and gave rise to rival alliances that shaped Lebanese politics for years afterwards .
Mr Hariri 's son , Saad , led the anti-Syrian , pro-Western grouping that emerged , and subsequently served three terms as prime minister himself .
He is attending the hearing at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( STL ) , which is based in a village on the outskirts of The Hague , when the verdict is delivered on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salim Jamil Ayyash , Hassan Habib Merhi , Hussein Hassan Oneissi and Assad Hassan Sabra - are not known .
None of them commented on the trial .
But their court-appointed defence lawyers dismissed the prosecution 's case , saying it relied on circumstantial evidence and did not prove they were guilty beyond reasonable doubt .
On the morning of 14 February 2005 , Rafik Hariri - then an MP who aligned himself with the opposition in parliament - was travelling in a motorcade past Beirut 's St George Hotel when a bomb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created a huge crater in the street , and left nearby vehicles smouldering and shopfronts blown out and blackened .
Hariri had been one of Lebanon 's most prominent Sunni politicians and at the time of his death had backed calls for Syria to withdraw its troops , which had been in Lebanon since 1976 following the start of the country 's civil war .
• Who are the men accused of killing Hariri ?
The killing brought tens of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets in protest against the pro-Syrian government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assassination pointed at Lebanon 's heavily influential neighbour .
The government resigned two weeks later and Syria withdrew its forces that April .
After collecting evidence , the UN and Lebanon 's government set up the STL in 2007 to investigate the bombing , and four suspects were ultimately put on trial in absentia on charges that included conspiracy to commit a terrorist act .
A fifth suspect , Hezbollah military commander Mustafa Amine Badreddine , was removed from the indictment after he was killed in Syria in 2016 .
Hezbollah 's supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the STL process is not politically neutral .
More than 15 years after the grim events of February 2005 , how much does this verdict matter , here where it all happened ?
Beirut is still reeling from the port explosion exactly two weeks ago .
The physical and political implications of that disaster overshadow everything .
As if that was n't enough , the country is on the verge of another Covid-induced lockdown .
Cases are spiking and people are anxious .
And then there 's Lebanon 's desperate economic decline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .
The currency has collapsed , unemployment has spiralled and people are going hungry .
Judging by the crowds at Beirut 's international airport , some wealthier Lebanese citizens are simply leaving the country .
Fifteen years after Rafik Hariri 's assassination , Lebanon is a very different place .
The Syrian army is long gone .
Hezbollah is bigger and stronger , deeply embedded in every walk of political , economic and military life .
The group 's opponents may well believe that it had a hand in the explosions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is its stranglehold on Lebanon that few expect the tribunal 's verdict to have any practical effect .
Just look at Mr Hariri 's younger son , Saad .
For more than a decade , he 's been in a marriage of convenience with the very organisation accused of killing his father .
He 's already served twice as prime minister , in coalitions which included Hezbollah .
If he wants to be prime minister again , he 'll need its support once more .

Hariri's son Saad, who is himself a former prime minister, told reporters outside the court: "I think today everybody's expectation was much higher than what came out, but I believe the tribunal came out with a verdict that is satisfying and we accept it."


bbc--2020-08-18--Citibank sues for $176m payment made in error

US banking giant Citigroup has asked a federal court to force hedge fund Brigade Capital to return $ 176m ( £134m ) .
The money is part of the $ 900m the bank accidentally transferred to creditors of the struggling cosmetics company Revlon .
The bank says it meant to send Brigade just $ 1.5m to cover interest on a loan the hedge fund holds .
Citigroup blames the accidental over-payment on an `` operational mistake '' .
In a filing to the Southern District of New York Court , Citigroup said it meant to make interest payments on behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 times the size intended .
`` When Citibank discovered the mistake , it promptly asked the recipients to return its money , '' America 's third-largest bank said in the filing .
Citigroup was preparing to step down as the administrative agent for the Revlon loan when it accidentally wired roughly $ 900m to the lenders ' last week amid a bitter fight between the cosmetics company and creditors .
• Big US banks set aside $ 28bn in downturn warning • Financial district prepares for new way of working Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money to Citigroup , while others , including Brigade , did not immediately give the money back .
Brigade was supposed to receive interest on a $ 174.7m loan , according to the complaint .
It instead got $ 176.2m and has refused to repay the funds `` despite crystal-clear evidence that the payments were made in error , '' Citigroup said , noting that the money belonged to the bank , not Revlon .
Revlon has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and Brigade is one the creditors that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans .
Citigroup declined to comment further on the case .
Brigade did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment .

Citibank is named along with Revlon as one of the defendants in the complaint. The bank is accused of gross negligence and wilful misconduct. That complaint asked a New York court to declare the loan "due and payable". The creditors, including Brigade claim they are legally entitled to the money now, and to their surprise have received it, though if it does get to court it will be for a judge to decide if they can keep it.


bbc--2020-08-18--Sparkling plankton light up waves at Irish beach

`` The intensity was incredible , each wave splashing millions of sparkles on to the beach .
Wow , wow , wow ! ''
The words of a nature lover treated to glowing waters along the coastline of County Cork , in the Republic of Ireland .
Bioluminescent plankton lit up the waves at Fountainstown Beach , just south of Cork City this week .
Bioluminescence describes the light that some living creatures , such as fireflies , emit from their cells .
Keen photographer Joleen Cronin , from nearby Crosshaven , went to the beach after seeing a post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was completely mesmerised by the whole thing , it was amazing , '' she said .
`` When you put your feet in the water it would just kind of explode beneath you .
`` We went paddle boarding and when the paddle hit the waves , it was like a disco . ''
Others soon made their way to catch a glimpse of the spectacle late at night after reading the same post online .
`` I 've swam in it before , but I 've never seen it like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I met some local people down there , as well as my brother and his wife .
`` Everyone was just giggling and laughing .
It was worth leaving the house , even though it was almost midnight . ''
The area is well known for bioluminescent seas .
`` Thirty years ago we started doing night-time kayaking trips '' said Jim Kennedy from Atlantic Sea Kayaking .
`` We 've had magazines come out with us from around the world and Jolene 's photos are right up there with them .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like those taken this week is in the National Geographic . ''
Jim has kayaked around the world , including in Mexico , but says the bioluminescence on the south west coast is just as good .
`` We have good advantages here .
Our seas are pristine and we do n't have a lot of shipping , '' he said .
According to Ocean Research and Conservation Ireland , the bioluminescence is caused by the dinoflagellate , single-celled Mesokaryotes , commonly known as sea sparkle .

"We've had magazines come out with us from around the world and Jolene's photos are right up there with them.