bbc--2020-09-28--US election 2020: When is the Trump v Biden presidential debate?

We 've had months of set-piece events , tightly controlled by a team of campaign staff .
Well , that 's about to end .
On the debate stage , candidates are on their own and in the whole campaign , this is the moment most fraught with risk .
Plenty can go wrong , so hold on tight .
When - and where - are the Trump v Biden debates ?
There are three presidential debates on the agenda : Vice-President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris will also go head-to-head : They all take place from 21:00-22:30ET ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How can you follow the debate ?
On our live page from 08:00 EST ( 13:30 BST ) on Tuesday which you will be able to find here .
That 's a one-stop shop for pre-debate commentary , a livestream of the action from Cleveland , and all the reaction and analysis from BBC experts across the US and our panel of voters .
All the latest developments will also be tweeted @ BBCNorthAmerica while you can also see the main speeches and get analysis on BBC World News ( global ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
What 's the format for the first debate ?
Six questions in six segments , 15 minutes each .
The segments are : Mr Trump and Mr Biden will get two minutes apiece to respond to the question initially before the back-and-forth begins .
If you 've got a question for the candidates , you can tell us what it is and we 'll try to answer it for you .
There 's a form at the bottom of the page .
What should people watch out for in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality .
He seeks out and dominates in the public spotlight , and his strengths and weaknesses are familiar to most Americans .
That 's why the presidential debates will be much more focused on how Joe Biden performs in the spotlight .
Biden 's task will be to post a sure and steady performance .
He needs to make Americans , at least enough of them to win in November , comfortable with the thought of him in the Oval Office .
He needs to dispel concerns about his age and mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stumbles that have bedevilled him in the past .
Trump 's job , on the other hand , will be to trip his opponent up .
As Hillary Clinton and his primary opponents can attest , he is a destabilising , unpredictable presence on the stage - and if he can fluster Biden , it might sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the Democrat 's less devoted supporters .
While doing so , he will also have to be prepared for Biden 's counterattacks - including criticisms about how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy and the duties of the presidency .
It has the makings of a raucous encounter .
And there could be fireworks from the moderator , right ?
The first moderator is Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace .
A lot of people might think a Fox News anchor would give President Trump an easy ride but this is no Sean Hannity .
Quite the opposite .
The president has endured some of his most awkward moments sitting across from Wallace , whose command of the detail is legendary .
An interview in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump he 'd taken the same cognitive ability test the president touted , telling him it was `` not the hardest test '' .
Mr Trump - who typically favours Fox News - has dismissed Wallace as a `` wannabe '' of his father , Mike Wallace , who was an original reporter with CBS 60 Minutes .
A registered Democrat , Wallace has said moderating debates is a serious business as it helps `` millions of people decide who we 're going to elect '' .
For the second debate , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scully moderating .
That 's a town hall format which means real people get to play a part too .
Who could forget Ken Bone from 2016 ?
Finally , NBC 's White House correspondent Kristen Welker will round out the debate season .
USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page will tackle the one and only vice-presidential debate .
What do supporters say is the worst thing that could happen ?
We asked two voters from our panel .
Trump-supporter Mike Harlow , a 30-year-old writer/YouTuber in New York City says expectations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' that he fears it 'll look like a stellar performance if he `` is just able to speak and stand up straight '' .
Biden 's showing is similarly a concern for Reem Sabha , a 24-year-old graduate student in Seattle .
She says she worries the Democrat 's debate performance and policy plans may not translate to actual votes .
`` I 'm concerned people will say Joe Biden does n't have the energy to be president or he 's too old to be president or he does n't have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are you an American voter ?
But when have debates actually affected an election ?
Viewership has been on the decline , but millions of Americans still regularly tune in .
It 's both entertainment and informative - for many voters the debates help cement their candidate of choice .
The first ever televised debate in 1960 pitted young Democratic Senator John F Kennedy against the sitting vice-president , Republican Richard Nixon .
Mr Kennedy 's team made sure he looked fresh for the close-ups , while Mr Nixon , who was recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit and was seen wiping sweat off his brow .
The story goes that most of the 70 million TV viewers felt the youthful Mr Kennedy had won , while those who tuned in solely on radio thought it was the more experienced Mr Nixon .
Mr Kennedy did see a jump in the polls after the debates , even though we ca n't say for certain it was due to his small screen prowess .
Republican challenger Ronald Reagan defeated President Jimmy Carter in their 1980 debate by keeping things short and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight policy and history , Mr Reagan used one-liners to his advantage .
He responded to one of Mr Carter 's lengthy criticisms by saying simply : `` There you go again . ''
In 2000 , Democratic candidate Al Gore 's debate performance against George Bush may have cost him the presidency .
His sighing and eye-rolling during his Republican counterpart 's responses came across as condescending to many voters ( and made it into a Saturday Night Live comedy skit ) .
What would you ask the candidates ?
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you want to ask Mr Trump and Mr Biden ?
Send us your questions using the form below .
If you ca n't see the form , you may need to view the site on a desktop .

US election 2020: What time is the Trump v Biden presidential debate? Published 29 September 2020
We've had months of set-piece events, tightly controlled by a team of campaign staff. Well, that's about to end.
On the debate stage, candidates are on their own and in the whole campaign, this is the moment most fraught with risk.
Plenty can go wrong, so hold on tight.
Here's your handy guide.
When - and where - are the Trump v Biden debates?
There are three presidential debates on the agenda:
29 September in Cleveland, Ohio
15 October in Miami, Florida
22 October in Nashville, Tennessee
Vice-President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris will also go head-to-head:
7 October in Salt Lake City, Utah
They all take place from 21:00-22:30ET (02:00-03:30BST), with no commercial interruptions.
Where can I watch the debate?
The BBC will have a livestream of all the action from the debate in Cleveland where you can also follow all the build-up on our live page here.
That's a one-stop shop for pre-debate commentary from BBC experts across the US, the debate itself and then all the reaction and analysis from our reporters and our voter panel.
All the latest developments will also be tweeted @BBCNorthAmerica while you can also see the main speeches and get analysis on BBC World News (global) and the BBC News Channel (UK).
What's the format for the first debate?
Six questions in six segments, 15 minutes each. The segments are:
Trump and Biden's records
Supreme Court
Coronavirus pandemic
Race protests and violence in cities
Election integrity
Economy
Mr Trump and Mr Biden will get two minutes apiece to respond to the question initially before the back-and-forth begins.
If you've got a question for the candidates, you can tell us what it is and we'll try to answer it for you. There's a form at the bottom of the page.
What should people watch out for in the first debate?
Donald Trump is a known quantity. He seeks out and dominates in the public spotlight, and his strengths and weaknesses are familiar to most Americans. That's why the presidential debates will be much more focused on how Joe Biden performs in the spotlight.
Biden's task will be to post a sure and steady performance. He needs to make Americans, at least enough of them to win in November, comfortable with the thought of him in the Oval Office. He needs to dispel concerns about his age and mental alacrity and avoid the kind of verbal stumbles that have bedevilled him in the past.
Trump's job, on the other hand, will be to trip his opponent up. As Hillary Clinton and his primary opponents can attest, he is a destabilising, unpredictable presence on the stage - and if he can fluster Biden, it might sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the Democrat's less devoted supporters. While doing so, he will also have to be prepared for Biden's counterattacks - including criticisms about how he has handled the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and the duties of the presidency.
It has the makings of a raucous encounter.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, How will Trump or Biden win the debate? Anthony assesses their strengths and weaknesses
And there could be fireworks from the moderator, right?
The first moderator is Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace.
A lot of people might think a Fox News anchor would give President Trump an easy ride but this is no Sean Hannity. Quite the opposite. The president has endured some of his most awkward moments sitting across from Wallace, whose command of the detail is legendary.
An interview in July went viral when Wallace told Mr Trump he'd taken the same cognitive ability test the president touted, telling him it was "not the hardest test".
Mr Trump - who typically favours Fox News - has dismissed Wallace as a "wannabe" of his father, Mike Wallace, who was an original reporter with CBS 60 Minutes.
A registered Democrat, Wallace has said moderating debates is a serious business as it helps "millions of people decide who we're going to elect".
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, In 2016, Chris Wallace became the first Fox News host to moderate a presidential general election debate
For the second debate, we'll have C-Span's political editor Steve Scully moderating. That's a town hall format which means real people get to play a part too. Who could forget Ken Bone from 2016?
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, US Election: Internet star Ken Bone's message of hope
Finally, NBC's White House correspondent Kristen Welker will round out the debate season.
USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page will tackle the one and only vice-presidential debate.
What do supporters say is the worst thing that could happen?
We asked two voters from our panel.
Trump-supporter Mike Harlow, a 30-year-old writer/YouTuber in New York City says expectations are "so incredibly low with Biden" that he fears it'll look like a stellar performance if he "is just able to speak and stand up straight".
Biden's showing is similarly a concern for Reem Sabha, a 24-year-old graduate student in Seattle. She says she worries the Democrat's debate performance and policy plans may not translate to actual votes.
"I'm concerned people will say Joe Biden doesn't have the energy to be president or he's too old to be president or he doesn't have the character or the gravitas."
But when have debates actually affected an election?
Viewership has been on the decline, but millions of Americans still regularly tune in.
It's both entertainment and informative - for many voters the debates help cement their candidate of choice.
The first ever televised debate in 1960 pitted young Democratic Senator John F Kennedy against the sitting vice-president, Republican Richard Nixon.
Mr Kennedy's team made sure he looked fresh for the close-ups, while Mr Nixon, who was recovering from an illness, donned an ill-fitting suit and was seen wiping sweat off his brow. The story goes that most of the 70 million TV viewers felt the youthful Mr Kennedy had won, while those who tuned in solely on radio thought it was the more experienced Mr Nixon.
Mr Kennedy did see a jump in the polls after the debates, even though we can't say for certain it was due to his small screen prowess.
Republican challenger Ronald Reagan defeated President Jimmy Carter in their 1980 debate by keeping things short and sweet.
Where Mr Carter tried to highlight policy and history, Mr Reagan used one-liners to his advantage. He responded to one of Mr Carter's lengthy criticisms by saying simply: "There you go again."
In 2000, Democratic candidate Al Gore's debate performance against George Bush may have cost him the presidency. His sighing and eye-rolling during his Republican counterpart's responses came across as condescending to many voters (and made it into a Saturday Night Live comedy skit).
If you were a debate moderator, what would you want to ask Mr Trump and Mr Biden?
Send us your questions using the form below. If you can't see the form, you may need to view the site on a desktop.


bbc--2020-09-28--Chris Wallace: First debate host and Fox anchor unloved by Trump

`` I took the test too when I heard that you passed it , '' the veteran TV journalist Chris Wallace told Donald Trump in a one-on-one interview in July of this year , referring to a cognitive test that the US president had boasted about `` acing '' .
`` It 's not the hardest test , '' he continued , noting that one question involved identifying a drawing of an elephant .
The president , affronted , responded angrily : `` That 's all misrepresentation .
Yes , the first few questions are easy but I bet you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
It was the kind of sharp-edged exchange with Mr Trump that viewers do n't normally expect to see on Fox News - the hugely influential conservative cable network that the president watches religiously .
But Chris Wallace is not any Fox News anchor .
Instead , the 72-year-old has made a name for himself and his Sunday news show for precisely not being the kind of cheerleader for President Trump that some of his high-profile colleagues on the opinion side of the organisation are often accused of being .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interrogative and even-handed journalist , with a measured delivery that at times seems to hark back to TV news anchors of the 1960s and 1970s .
( He was , in fact , a young assistant to the legendary anchorman Walter Cronkite during the 1964 Republican National Convention . )
On Tuesday , in Cleveland , Ohio , Wallace will moderate the first of the 2020 US presidential debates between President Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden .
It wo n't be his first debate rodeo .
Wallace , who had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ABC before joining Fox in 2003 , burnished his long standing reputation for fair treatment of both sides of the US political aisle in 2016 , when he became the first Fox News anchor to host a presidential debate .
His calm but firm handling of the third debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was widely praised .
Staring through his all-black , thick-framed glasses , he calmly asked detailed , policy-oriented questions of both candidates and admonished them when they talked over each other , or him .
At one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not a potted plant '' and was here to ask questions .
He also asked the Republican candidate about the many sexual assault allegations against him .
At the same time he pressed Mrs Clinton about allegations that she gave preferential treatment to Clinton Foundation donors when she was secretary of state .
`` Chris Wallace did Fox proud '' was the headline of Politico 's debate post-mortem .
`` No one could watch the final debate and deny that Chris Wallace is among the best in the business , '' wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were effusive .
`` He works for Fox but Chris Wallace deserves exceptional praise , '' said Howard Dean , who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2004 .
`` He was tough and he was right down the middle fair .
His dad would be proud . ''
• Your guide to the Trump v Biden debate The shadow of Wallace 's father , himself a highly regarded journalist and tough interviewer , is never far from the Fox anchor .
Mike Wallace , who died in 2012 , was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minutes programme .
Over more than 50 years he interviewed everyone from Deng Xiaoping and Barbara Streisand to Salvador Dali and Yasser Arafat .
Both father and son have sat down with the long-time Russian leader Vladimir Putin .
Chris Wallace 's testy 2018 interview , in which he pressed the stern-faced Mr Putin on US election interference and the deaths of his political opponents , drew a huge audience and earned Fox News its first Emmy nomination .
• A simple guide to the US election • How is Donald Trump doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a result on US election night ?
• Why some older Trump voters are not happy Named Christopher because he was born on Columbus Day in Chicago in 1947 , Wallace 's parents separated when he was an infant and he was raised by his mother , Norma Kaphan , and stepfather , Bill Leonard , a journalist who would become president of CBS News .
Mike Wallace only came back into Chris 's life when he was 14 years old - after his older son , Chris 's brother , fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At Harvard , Chris Wallace reported for the student radio station WHRB .
When young protesters occupied University Hall in 1969 he was there to cover it .
And when he was detained and taken to jail along with them , he used his only phone call to file a report , signing off with youthful bravado : `` This is Chris Wallace in custody . ''
He joined NBC News in 1975 , later becoming chief White House correspondent , co-anchor of the Today show and host of Meet the Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1989 before joining Fox in 2003 as the host of Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace .
The registered Democrat ( who says that was only to vote in local elections and that he 's voted for politicians from both main parties ) has refrained from publicly criticising some of his more bombastic and partisan colleagues but told the New York Times earlier this year : `` Look I work at Fox .
Do I agree with some of the stuff I hear ?
Absolutely not . ''
But he insists that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't pull punches , I 'm not playing favourites , '' he said .
`` That 's what matters ultimately to me . ''
Wallace has described his job as being like a `` cop on the beat , walking around with a nightstick and trying to keep people honest '' .
That has not gone down well with President Trump , who has frequently denigrated the journalist on Twitter , calling him `` nasty '' and saying he will `` never be his father '' .
Wallace , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in `` the most direct , sustained assault on freedom of the press in our history '' .
Mr Trump has already tried to suggest the 2020 debate wo n't be fair .
But Wallace 's history suggests he will ask probing questions of both candidates .
`` I take it very seriously , '' he said in 2016 before the Clinton-Trump debate .
`` This is not a TV show .
This is part of civics , the constitution , if you will , in action , because this is helping millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to elect as the next president '' .

The registered Democrat (who says that was only to vote in local elections and that he's voted for politicians from both main parties) has refrained from publicly criticising some of his more bombastic and partisan colleagues but told the New York Times earlier this year: "Look I work at Fox. Do I agree with some of the stuff I hear? Absolutely not."


bbc--2020-09-28--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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 the election .
With that caveat aside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in most national polls since the start of the year .
He has hovered around 50 % in recent months 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 , the number of votes 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 how many members it sends to Congress - House and Senate .
A total of 538 electoral college votes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to hit 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 is ahead in Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Republican 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 it 's looking much closer in all three at the moment .
Betting markets , however , are certainly not writing Mr Trump off just yet .
The latest odds give him just less than a 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which suggests some people expect the outlook to change a lot over the next few weeks .
But political analysts are less convinced about his chances of re-election .
FiveThirtyEight , a political analysis website , says Mr Biden is `` favoured '' to win the election , while The Economist says he is `` likely '' to beat Mr Trump .
• Has Trump delivered on his promises ?
The coronavirus pandemic has dominated headlines in the US since the start of the year and the response to President Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 of the virus .
At this point , 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 .
By July , the data suggests his own supporters had begun to question his response - but there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The virus is likely to be at the forefront of voters ' minds and one leading model produced by experts at the University of Washington predicts the death toll will have risen to about 230,000 people by election day .
Mr Trump may be hoping Operation Warp Speed , his administration 's vaccine initiative , can produce an `` October surprise '' - a last-minute event that turns the election upside down .
The chief scientific adviser to the initiative has said it 's `` extremely unlikely but not impossible '' that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before 3 November .
• Trump deliberately played down virus , new book says Can we trust the polls ?
It 's easy to dismiss the polls by saying they got it wrong in 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 college degree - meaning Mr Trump 's advantage in some key battleground states was n't spotted until late in the race , if at all .
Most polling companies have corrected this now .
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 .
• Americast : The latest news and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you have about the US election ?
The US election process can be confusing .
The BBC is here to help make sense of it .
Please put your questions below .

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--2020-09-25--US election 2020: A really simple guide

US election 2020: A really simple guide

The president of the United States of America has a huge influence on how the world responds to international crises , such as wars , global pandemics and climate change .
So when the election comes round every four years , there ’ s a lot of interest in the outcome but not a lot of understanding about how the process works .
Even here at BBC News , we have to remind ourselves how the electoral college works and what a battleground state is .
So if you ’ re looking for a refresher or trying to understand it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide to the US election will help .
When is the election and who are the candidates ?
The election for president always falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November , meaning this time around it ’ s on 3 November .
Unlike many other countries , the US political system is dominated by just two parties , so the president always belongs to one of them .
The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US and their candidate in this year ’ s election is President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure another four years in power .
The Democrats are the liberal political party in the US and their candidate is Joe Biden , an experienced politician best-known for serving as Barack Obama ’ s vice president for eight years .
Both men are in their 70s - Mr Trump would be 74 years old at the start of his second term , while at 78 , Mr Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history .
How is the winner decided ?
The winner is not always the candidate who wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found out in 2016 .
Instead , candidates compete to win electoral college votes .
Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes based on its population and there are a total of 538 up for grabs , so the winner is the candidate that wins 270 or more .
This means that when someone votes for their preferred candidate , they ’ re voting in a state-level contest rather than a national one .
All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule , so whichever candidate wins the highest number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s electoral college votes .
Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other , which means the candidates focus their efforts on a dozen or so states where either of them could win .
These are known as the battleground states .
Who can vote and how do they do it ?
If you ’ re a US citizen and you ’ re 18 or over , you should be eligible to vote in the presidential election .
However , lots of states have passed laws requiring voters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are before they can vote .
These laws are often put into place by Republicans who say they ’ re needed to guard against voter fraud .
But Democrats accuse them of using this as a form of voter suppression as it is often poorer , minority voters who are unable to provide ID like a driving licence .
States also have different rules on whether prisoners can vote .
The majority of them lose their right to vote when they are convicted but regain that right when they have served their sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station on election day , but alternative methods of voting have been on the rise in recent years .
In 2016 , 21 % of those who voted did so by post .
How people vote is a contentious issue this year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Some politicians are calling for wider use of postal ballots , but President Trump has said - with very little evidence - that this could result in more voter fraud .
Is the election just about who is president ?
No .
All of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but voters will also be choosing new members of Congress when they fill in their ballots .
Democrats already have control of the House so they will be looking to keep hold of that while also gaining control of the Senate .
If they had a majority in both chambers they would be able to block or delay President Trump ’ s plans if he were to be re-elected .
All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year , while 33 Senate seats are also up for grabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result ?
It can take several days for every vote to be counted , but it ’ s usually pretty clear who the winner is by the early hours of the following morning .
In 2016 , Donald Trump took to the stage in New York at about 3am to give his victory speech in front of a crowd of jubilant supporters .
But don ’ t set your alarm clocks just yet .
Officials are already warning that we may have to wait longer - possibly days , even weeks - for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected surge in postal ballots .
The last time the result wasn ’ t clear within a few hours was in 2000 , when the winner wasn ’ t confirmed until a Supreme Court ruling was made a month later .
When does the winner take office ?
If Joe Biden wins the election , he wouldn ’ t immediately replace President Trump as there is a set transition period to give the new leader time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans .
The new president is officially sworn into office on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inauguration , which is held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC .
After the ceremony , the new president makes their way to the White House to begin their four-year term in office .

Click or tap on an underlined word for a short definition or explanation
The US president has a huge influence on people's lives both at home and abroad, so when the next election is held on 3 November, the outcome will matter to everyone.
The US political system is dominated by just two parties, so the president always belongs to one of them.
The Republicans are the conservative political party in the US and their candidate in this year’s election is President Donald Trump, who is hoping to secure another four years in power.
Skip Republicans The Republican Party is also known as the GOP, or the Grand Old Party. In recent years, it has stood for lower taxes, gun rights and tighter restrictions on immigration. Support for the party tends to be stronger in more rural parts of America. Former Republican presidents include George W Bush, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. End of Republicans
The Democrats are the liberal political party in the US and their candidate is Joe Biden, an experienced politician best-known for serving as Barack Obama’s vice president for eight years.
Skip Democrats The Democratic Party is best defined by its liberal stances on issues like civil rights, immigration, and climate change. It believes government should play a bigger role in people’s lives, like providing health insurance. Support for the party tends to be stronger in urban parts of America. Former Democratic presidents include John F Kennedy and Barack Obama. End of Democrats
Both men are in their 70s - Mr Trump would be 74 years old at the start of his second term, while at 78, Mr Biden would be the oldest first-term president in history.
How is the winner decided?
Both candidates compete to win electoral college votes.
Skip electoral college Like most voting systems, the electoral college has a number of pros and cons but it is widely respected because of its historical roots in the founding of the US. It usually reflects the popular vote, but it has failed to in two of the last five elections, including when Donald Trump won in 2016. End of electoral college
Each state gets a certain number of electoral college votes partly based on its population and there are a total of 538 up for grabs, so the winner is the candidate that wins 270 or more.
This means voters decide state-level contests rather than the national one, which is why it’s possible for a candidate to win the most votes nationally - like Hillary Clinton did in 2016 - but still be defeated by the electoral college.
Skip Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton was Donald Trump’s opponent in 2016. She ended up winning nearly three million more votes than Mr Trump, mainly because she picked up a high number of votes in strong Democrat states like New York and California. However, her rival comfortably beat her in the electoral college race 304 to 227 because he won several tight contests in key states. End of Hillary Clinton
All but two states have a winner-takes-all rule, so whichever candidate wins the highest number of votes is awarded all of the state’s electoral college votes.
Most states lean heavily towards one party or the other, so the focus is usually on a dozen or so states where either of them could win. These are known as the battleground states.
Skip battleground states These states, which are often referred to as swing states as well, are where voters are split relatively evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Traditional battleground states include Florida and Ohio. Other states that have been strongly Republican in the past, like Arizona and Texas, are considered battlegrounds in 2020 due to increasing support for the Democratic Party. End of battleground states
Who can vote and how do they do it?
If you’re a US citizen and you’re 18 or over, you should be eligible to vote in the presidential election, which takes place every four years.
Skip eligible to vote In 2016, about 245 million people were eligible to vote, but fewer than 140 million people actually did. According to the US Census Bureau, the majority of people who didn’t register to vote said they just weren’t interested in politics. Those who registered but didn’t actually vote said they didn’t like the candidates. End of eligible to vote
However, lots of states have passed laws requiring voters to show identification documents to prove who they are before they can vote.
These laws are often put into place by Republicans who say they’re needed to guard against voter fraud. But Democrats accuse them of using this as a form of voter suppression as it is often poorer, minority voters who are unable to provide ID like a driving licence.
How people vote is a contentious issue this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some politicians are calling for wider use of postal ballots, but President Trump has said - with very little evidence - that this could result in more voter fraud.
Skip voter fraud Critics say postal ballots are susceptible to fraud - and there have been isolated incidents involving Republicans and Democrats - but numerous nationwide and state-level studies have found no evidence of any widespread fraud. End of voter fraud
Is the election just about who is president?
No. All of the attention will be on Trump v Biden, but voters will also be choosing new members of Congress when they fill in their ballots.
Skip Congress Congress is the part of the US government that writes and passes laws. It's made up of two chambers - the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House serve two-year terms while senators serve six-year terms and are split into three groups, meaning a third of them are up for election every two years. End of Congress
Democrats already have control of the House so they will be looking to keep hold of that while also gaining control of the Senate.
If they had a majority in both chambers they would be able to block or delay President Trump’s plans if he were to be re-elected.
All 435 seats in the House are up for election this year, while 33 Senate seats are also up for grabs.
When will we find out the result?
It can take several days for every vote to be counted, but it’s usually pretty clear who the winner is by the early hours of the following morning.
In 2016, Donald Trump took to the stage in New York at about 3am to give his victory speech in front of a crowd of jubilant supporters.
But don’t set your alarm clocks just yet. Officials are already warning that we may have to wait longer - possibly days, even weeks - for the result this year because of the expected surge in postal ballots.
Skip postal ballots There are two ways to vote in the US - by going to a polling station on election day or by using a postal ballot - but the rules vary depending on which state you are in. All states offer some form of voting by post, but many require you to provide a reason for not being able to vote in person on election day. Some states are accepting the coronavirus as a valid reason to use a postal ballot, but not all of them are at the moment. End of postal ballots
The last time the result wasn’t clear within a few hours was in 2000, when the winner wasn’t confirmed until a Supreme Court ruling was made a month later.
Skip a Supreme Court In 2000, the race between Republican candidate George W Bush and Democratic candidate Al Gore was so close that it came down to the result in Florida, where just a few hundred votes separated them. There were weeks of legal battles, which triggered a recount, but eventually the Supreme Court stepped in. Mr Bush was declared the winner, giving him all 25 of Florida’s electoral college votes and leaving him with a winning total of 271 overall. Mr Gore, who won more votes nationally than Mr Bush, conceded defeat. End of a Supreme Court
When does the winner take office?
If Joe Biden wins the election, he wouldn’t immediately replace President Trump as there is a set transition period to give the new leader time to appoint cabinet ministers and make plans.
The new president is officially sworn into office on 20 January in a ceremony known as the inauguration, which is held on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC.
After the ceremony, the new president makes their way to the White House to begin their four-year term in office.


bbc--2020-09-25--Predict the president 2020: Will Trump or Biden win the US election? You decide

This year 's US presidential election could come down to results in just a few key states .
Most states are tipped to vote one way or another - so we have already assigned 188 votes to Mr Trump and 233 to Mr Biden .
Can Joe Biden wrestle enough away to seize the presidency ?
Or will Donald Trump romp home to a second term ?
It 's all about the race to 270 electoral votes - and this time you decide .
Click here if you ca n't see the interactive How did we pick these states ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's the state-level results that count .
Each state has a number of electoral votes , based on population , and many reliably vote the same way each time .
Two independent American sources , Real Clear Politics and The Cook Political Report , publish lists of states grouped by how they are expected to vote on election night .
Several states are classified as `` toss-ups '' , which means they could be won by either side .
We chose our seven key states from those toss-ups which have enough electoral votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we expect the battle to be fought most closely .
President Trump won all of them in 2016 Why do the candidates start with some votes ?
Since most states are already tipped to vote one way or another , we 've assigned their respective electoral votes to the candidate that each is considered most likely to vote for .
This means the game starts at 188 votes for Mr Trump and 233 for Mr Biden .
Can there be a tie ?
Technically , yes .
There are a total of 538 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two candidates to win states in such a way that each will come out with 269 votes .
Awkward .
It 's also possible for no candidate to receive a majority .
To determine a single winner , the US House of Representatives will vote for the next president and the US Senate will vote for the next vice-president .
This is so rare , though , that it 's only happened a few times in US history… and not since the 19th Century .
Written and produced by Harriet Agerholm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Willmott What questions do you have about the US election ?
The US election process can be confusing .
The BBC is here to help make sense of it .
Please put your questions below .
If you ca n't see the form , you may need to view the site on a desktop .
In some cases , your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as you provide it , unless you state otherwise .
Your contact details will never be published .
Please ensure you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy policy .

Since most states are already tipped to vote one way or another, we've assigned their respective electoral votes to the candidate that each is considered most likely to vote for. This means the game starts at 188 votes for Mr Trump and 233 for Mr Biden.


bbc--2020-09-29--How will Trump try to dominate this time?

The first of three of socially distanced debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden takes place on Tuesday night in @ @ @ @ @ of Americans will get a close up look at the Republican and Democratic candidates hoping @ @ @ @ @ on 3 November .
But what will it take for one of them to come @ @ @ @ @ BBC 's Anthony Zurcher gives us The Lowdown on what to expect from a contest @ @ @ @ @ personal .
Read our guide to the debate here and Jon Sopel 's analysis here @

The first of three of socially distanced debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden takes place on Tuesday night in Ohio.
Tens of millions of Americans will get a close up look at the Republican and Democratic candidates hoping to win the presidential election on 3 November.
But what will it take for one of them to come out on top? The BBC's Anthony Zurcher gives us The Lowdown on what to expect from a contest that's likely to get personal.
Read our guide to the debate here and Jon Sopel's analysis here.
Video by Shrai Popat


bbc--2020-09-29--US election 2020: Do voters care about Trump taxes?

The revelations about President Donald Trump 's taxes have been described as a jolt to the US election campaign that could reshape the race .
But what do voters think ?
We asked members of our voters ' panel for their views .
• Trump 's taxes : What you need to know Mr Mansfield is a federal public defence lawyer who calls himself a `` social Democrat like in Europe '' .
He is reluctantly voting for Biden this year and reluctantly voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
`` I wish I could say I 'm surprised , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but the revelations that he has bilked the system again , that he has played the system again .
And he 's proud of it , and very brash .
`` I think it will have zero effect on a nation that 's already asleep on these issues .
And that 's a pity .
So lesson learned is that we pay taxes and the super rich do n't have to .
The rich and powerful have different rules .
Different laws apply to them as to middle class or poor people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's a kind of economic socialism for the rich and the same ol ' , same ol ' for us .
So we 're getting bilked .
We 're being honest , we 're filing our taxes and paying our fair share , but some people do n't have to apparently . ''
Mr Mansfield paid just under $ 25,000 in federal income taxes last year .
James Clark is a Republican planning to vote for Biden in November .
I `` would never dream of voting for Trump '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Chief Tax Counsel on the House Ways and Means Committee .
`` I find it outrageous and I speak as someone who taught tax policy at Georgetown University in the mid-1990s as an adjunct professor .
There are several goals in any tax system .
One is vertical equity .
One is horizontal equity .
Richer people should be paying more than poor people and similarly situated people should be paying about the same .
And you ca n't call $ 750 paid by our current president as equitable in any sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ From the period of 2000 to 2015 , there were apparently 10 years where he paid no tax .
I find that astounding , particularly in light of President Trump 's insistence , during the campaign in 2016 and afterward , about his abilities as a businessman and his ability to make money .
He 's obviously losing money .
`` The top 1 % pay a lot in tax in terms of dollars .
But you have to look at it two ways - the total dollars and also the percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rich are paying is capital gains taxes and a lot of that is an inflationary game . ''
Clark paid just over $ 37,000 in federal income tax last year .
Mrs Smith is a product manager who voted for Trump in 2016 and plans to do so again this year .
`` I feel like it was put out there just to provide negative press to Donald Trump right before the election .
I find it hard to believe that somebody could gain his tax information and I feel it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not fake .
I do n't know how people can gather that information without consent .
I do n't think my tax information is out there for people to look at . ''
Mr Solene is a registered Republican - although he identifies as a libertarian - who voted for Trump in 2016 and plans to do so again .
`` I look at it from the perspective of everything else going on and I personally view it as a hit piece , simply because the New York Times has not mentioned squat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine , but they continue hammering away at Trump , '' he says referring to Joe Biden 's son 's former job at a Ukrainian energy firm .
`` My other take on it is that the information did n't discuss or claim anything illegal that was done .
It 's mostly that he 's paid very little taxes and there 's nothing illegal about that .
`` The fact that he 's sitting in the White House does n't change the equation .
I was in business for myself for many years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everybody does .
`` The article did n't claim he did anything wrong .
It was just he paid very little in taxes .
Good for him . ''
Mr Solene , a former business owner , paid between 35 % and 38 % in federal and state income taxes last year .
Mrs Lusk is a legal assistant who voted Trump in 2016 and is supporting his re-election .
`` Obviously , yeah it 's probably true .
As a US businessman , you 're going to have a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gains and that determines how much tax you actually owe , and if he legally pays what he owes , then I do n't see an issue with it at all .
`` But , as far as how he was able to manipulate it , like Ivanka doing 'consulting . '
I think that they 're going to investigate that a little deeper .
If that checks out , then I do n't have any issue with it .
`` You have to look at it from a business perspective .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of businessmen just like him .
But you have to look at the perspective that he 's hiring people .
If he 's hiring someone , he 's paying them and he 's got them on payroll , then is n't he supporting their family ?
And they 're paying taxes on his income basically .
`` So you have to look at how many families he has supported through his business .
Look , it 's really bad that he 's only paid that much , but for people who own businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and maybe it should change .
Maybe we should get to a fairer tax act , which I supported when former congressman Paul Ryan brought that to the table a long time ago . ''
Deanna was in the 13-16 % bracket for federal income taxes this year .
• A simple guide to the US election • Where does Donald Trump stand on key issues ?
• How you can be US president without winning most votes

"I find it outrageous and I speak as someone who taught tax policy at Georgetown University in the mid-1990s as an adjunct professor. There are several goals in any tax system. One is vertical equity. One is horizontal equity. Richer people should be paying more than poor people and similarly situated people should be paying about the same. And you can't call $750 paid by our current president as equitable in any sense compared to his peers."


bbc--2020-09-29--Where has been hit hardest by coronavirus?

Coronavirus has now contributed to the deaths of one million people worldwide .
The report of the millionth death arrived just short of 10 months after the first confirmed death , in China in January .
The virus continues its spread across the world , with more than 33 million confirmed cases in 188 countries .
The virus is surging in many regions and some countries that had apparent success in suppressing initial outbreaks are also seeing infections rise again .
Note : The map , table and animated bar chart in this page use a different source for figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by Johns Hopkins University , which results in a slightly lower overall total .
US figures do not include Puerto Rico , Guam or the US Virgin Islands .
Where are cases and deaths rising ?
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned the death toll could hit two million before an effective vaccine is widely used .
A number of regions have seen new coronavirus cases rise over the last few months , with India driving numbers in Asia .
The official number of confirmed infections in India has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world after the US .
The virus appears to be spreading much faster in India than elsewhere , with the country recording about 90,000 cases a day earlier in September .
The rise in infections comes as the government continues to lift restrictions to try to boost an economy , but the surge is also a reflection of increased testing .
India has maintained a relatively low death rate , however , given the size of its population .
• Why India 's Covid problem could be bigger than we think In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of deaths , with more than 140,000 so far .
It has also recorded more than 4.7 million cases , the third highest in the world .
Newly confirmed cases in the region are also rising quickly in Argentina , which now has more than 700,000 infections .
In the Middle East , Iran has been badly affected by the virus , and in the past week has confirmed its highest number of new cases since early June .
Neighbouring Iraq has seen a steady rise in cases .
Cases are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country has recorded more than 10,000 deaths - the highest number in South East Asia .
Africa has recorded more than 1.4 million confirmed cases , although the true extent of the pandemic in the continent is not known .
Testing rates are reported to be low , which could distort official estimates .
South Africa and Egypt have seen the largest recorded outbreaks so far on the continent .
Several European countries are recording a rising number of daily cases amid fears of a resurgence of the virus .
A number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions in their worst-affected regions , and there have been fresh appeals for people to wear face coverings and follow social distancing rules .
The pattern of rising infections following the loosening of lockdown restrictions is not limited to Europe , though .
Israel has imposed a new national lockdown after recording a record number of daily cases in recent days .
Other countries that have seen a resurgence of the virus include Russia , Peru , South Korea , Canada and Australia - although following the reintroduction of tougher restrictions some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the table below , countries can be reordered by deaths , death rate and total cases .
In the coloured bars on the right-hand side , countries in which cases have risen to more than 5,000 per day are those with black bars on the relevant date .
US cases slow after second surge The US has recorded more than seven million cases of coronavirus , more than a fifth of the world 's total .
Following a second rise in cases in July , numbers fell back in August , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again now .
With more than 200,000 deaths , the US also has the world 's highest death toll .
A projection from the University of Washington suggests there could be about 370,000 deaths by the end of the year , though it says this could be reduced to about 273,000 if 95 % of Americans wear masks in public .
The outbreak has had a devastating impact on the US economy , with GDP falling by a record rate of 33 % in the three months from April to June .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , was first detected in the city of Wuhan , China , in late 2019 .
The outbreak spread quickly across the globe in the first months of 2020 and declared a global pandemic by the WHO on 11 March .
A pandemic is when an infectious disease is passing easily from person to person in many parts of the world at the same time .
Europe and North America saw their first major outbreaks in April but as they began to ease , Latin America and Asia started seeing cases spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to limit public movement and close businesses and venues in a bid to slow the spread of the virus .
This has had a devastating impact on the global economy .
Damage to the world 's major economies is four times worse than the 2009 global financial crisis , according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) .
Meanwhile , the United Nations has said that up to 265 million people could face starvation by the end of the year because of the impact of Covid-19 .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your area ?
• TESTING : What tests are available ?
• JOBS : How will I be kept safe at work ?
• SYMPTOMS : What are they and how to guard against them ?
• HOLIDAYS : Where can I go away in the UK ?
The data used on this page comes from a variety of sources .
It includes figures collated by Johns Hopkins University , data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , national governments and health agencies , as well as UN data on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries it is important to bear in mind that not all governments are recording coronavirus cases and deaths in the same way .
This makes like for like comparisons between countries difficult .
Other factors to consider include : different population sizes , the size of a country 's elderly population or whether a particular country has a large amount of its people living in densely-populated areas .
In addition , countries may be in different stages of the pandemic .

Please update your browser to see full interactive
Show more
This information is regularly updated but may not reflect the latest totals for each country.
** The past data for new cases is a three day rolling average. Due to revisions in the number of cases, an average cannot be calculated for this date.
Source: Johns Hopkins University and national public health agencies


bbc--2020-09-29--Estonia ferry disaster: TV crew uncovers new evidence

Estonia , Sweden and Finland will examine new evidence that may shed light on the cause of one of Europe 's worst peacetime shipping disasters .
The three countries said they would `` assess new information '' which could contradict the official explanation .
The vessel was sailing from Estonia to Sweden on 28 September 1994 when it sank in the Baltic Sea off Finland .
Most passengers on board the ship were trapped inside after it capsized , but 97 , who managed to leave the vessel , died in freezing water .
There were 137 survivors .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident concluded that the locks on the ship 's bow doors had failed during stormy weather and huge amounts of water had gushed in .
But survivors and relatives of the victims have long been calling for a fuller investigation , and various unproven theories have circulated since the tragedy .
The new underwater footage features in a five-part Discovery Network documentary about the disaster titled Estonia : The Find That Changes Everything .
The film crew discovered the hole in the ship 's hull while using a remote-controlled submarine to explore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweden have agreed that verification of the new information presented in the documentary will be made , '' the three countries said in a joint statement .
`` Our countries will cooperate closely in this matter and Estonia [ where the ship was registered ] will lead this process , '' they added .
The new documentary has reignited calls for a fresh investigation .
`` A new technical investigation into the circumstances of Estonia 's sinking must be carried out , '' Estonia 's Prime Minister Juri Ratas said , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hull was dismissed over the years , '' Kent Harstedt , a survivor and former member of the Swedish parliament , told a news conference on Monday .
`` What has emerged today adds to the question marks - why was the hole not included in the official investigation ? ''
`` I believe the truth is something other than what people have been told until now , '' survivor Carl Eric Reintamm said in the documentary .
Last year , more than 1,000 survivors and relatives of victims requested €40.8m ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the French agency that deemed the vessel seaworthy and the German shipbuilder .
But the claim was rejected by a Paris court , which said the claimants had failed to prove `` intentional fault '' .

The vessel was sailing from Estonia to Sweden on 28 September 1994 when it sank in the Baltic Sea off Finland. Most passengers on board the ship were trapped inside after it capsized, but 97, who managed to leave the vessel, died in the water. There were 137 survivors.


bbc--2020-09-29--Hathras gang rape: India victim's death sparks outrage

A 19-year-old Dalit ( formerly untouchable ) woman has died after she was allegedly gang raped by four upper-caste men , sparking outrage in India .
The woman was admitted to a hospital in Delhi two weeks ago with several serious injuries .
The attack occurred on 14 September in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh .
Four men have been arrested .
The news of her death has prompted many in India to take to social media and demand justice .
Police told local media that the four men had dragged the victim to a field in Hathras district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was grievously injured in the attack .
The victim 's brother confirmed her death to BBC Hindi , saying that no arrests had been made in the first 10 days after the incident took place .
`` She was left for dead .
She fought for her life for 14 days , '' he said .
`` The government should provide all possible help to the victim 's family and ensure speedy punishment to the culprits by prosecuting them in a fast-track court , '' Mayawati , former Uttar Pradesh chief minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Akhilesh Yadav , another former chief minister , said the government was `` insensitive '' to crimes against women .
Dalit politician and activist , Chandrashekhar Azad , had visited the victim over the weekend .
His party has now called for nationwide protests over her death .
Dalits are some of India 's most downtrodden citizens because of an unforgiving Hindu caste hierarchy that condemns them to the bottom of the ladder .
Despite laws that protect them , discrimination remains a daily reality for the Dalit population , thought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her death is among the top discussion trends , with many calling her the forgotten Nirbhaya , a reference to the gang-rape and murder in Delhi in 2012 that shocked the world .
The 23-year-old physiotherapy student was named Nirbhaya - the fearless one - by the press as she could not be named under Indian law .
Rape and sexual violence have been under the spotlight in India since the 2012 Delhi attack , which led to huge protests and changes to the country 's rape laws .
But there has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and girls abating .

The victim's brother confirmed her death to BBC Hindi, saying that no arrests had been made in the first 10 days after the incident took place. "She was left for dead. She fought for her life for 14 days," he said.


bbc--2020-09-29--Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: Casualties mount in Nagorno-Karabakh

Nearly 100 people , including civilians , have died as battles rage on between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
The mountainous enclave is recognised as part of Azerbaijan , but has been run by Armenians since a war ended in 1994 .
The self-proclaimed republic has reported 84 military deaths since Sunday , as well as civilian victims .
Azerbaijan has not revealed its military losses , but has confirmed seven civilian deaths .
The fighting that started three days ago now appears to be spilling out of Nagorno-Karabakh .
On Tuesday , Armenia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit by an Azerbaijani drone in the eastern Armenian city of Vardenis .
There were no reports of casualties .
Azerbaijan earlier said two Azerbaijani civilians had been killed in Armenian shelling in Azerbaijan on Monday , following the deaths of five people from the same family a day earlier .
The fighting is the heaviest seen in the conflict since 2016 , and later on Tuesday the UN Security Council is due to hold emergency talks on the issue .
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan - who have already mobilised more soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - blame each other for starting the fighting .
There are growing concerns that other countries may get directly involved in the conflict in the strategic Caucasus region .
Turkey has already openly backed Azerbaijan , while Russia - which has a military base in Armenia - has called for an immediate ceasefire .

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Armenia to immediately end its "occupation" of the region and withdraw, saying this was the only course of action that would secure peace.


bbc--2020-09-29--Buried lakes of liquid water discovered on Mars

Three underground lakes have been detected near the south pole of Mars .
Scientists also confirmed the existence of a fourth lake - the presence of which was hinted at in 2018 .
Liquid water is vital for biology , so the finding will be of interest to researchers studying the potential for life elsewhere in the Solar System .
But the lakes are also thought to be extremely salty , which could make it difficult for any microbial life to survive in them .
Mars ' thin atmosphere means that the presence of liquid water on the surface is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liquid below ground .
The latest discovery was made using data from a radar instrument on the European Space Agency 's ( Esa ) Mars Express spacecraft , which has been orbiting the Red Planet since December 2003 .
In 2018 , researchers used data from the Marsis radar to report signs of a 20km-wide subsurface lake located 1.5km under Mars ' south polar layered deposits , a thick polar cap formed by layers of ice and dust .
However , that finding was based on 29 observations collected by Marsis between 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including many of the same scientists from the 2018 study have analysed a much bigger dataset of 134 radar profiles gathered between 2010 and 2019 .
`` Not only did we confirm the position , extent and strength of the reflector from our 2018 study , but we found three new bright areas , '' said co-author Elena Pettinelli from Roma Tre University in Italy .
`` The main lake is surrounded by smaller bodies of liquid water , but because of the technical characteristics of the radar , and of its distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not conclusively determine whether they are interconnected . ''
The team borrowed a technique commonly used in radar sounder investigations of sub-glacial lakes in Antarctica , Canada and Greenland , adapting the method to analyse the data from Marsis .
`` The interpretation that best reconciles all the available evidence is that the high intensity reflections ( from Mars ) are coming from extended pools of liquid water , '' said co-author Sebastian Lauro , also from Roma Tre University .
There 's not enough heat at these depths to melt the ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must contain high concentrations of dissolved salts .
These chemical salts ( different to the stuff we sprinkle on our chips ) can significantly lower water 's freezing point .
In fact , recent experiments have shown that water with dissolved salts of magnesium and calcium perchlorate ( a chemical compound containing chlorine bound to four oxygens ) can remain liquid at temperatures of -123C .
`` These experiments have demonstrated that brines can persist for geologically significant periods of time even at the temperatures typical of the Martian polar regions ( considerably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , '' said co-author Graziella Caprarelli , from the University of Southern Queensland , Australia .
`` Therefore we think that any process of formation and persistence of sub-ice water beneath the ice polar caps requires the liquid to have high salinity . ''
Whether life could survive in such conditions depends on just how salty these Martian pools are .
On Earth , only very specific types of microbes , known as halophiles , can survive in the saltiest bodies of water .
Roberto Orosei , chief scientist on the Marsis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence of a single sub-glacial lake could be attributed to exceptional conditions such as the presence of a volcano under the ice sheet , the discovery of an entire system of lakes implies that their formation process is relatively simple and common , and that these lakes have probably existed for much of Mars ' history .
`` For this reason , they could still retain traces of any life forms that could have evolved when Mars had a dense atmosphere , a milder climate and the presence of liquid water on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

"This is a difficult question to answer," Dr Orosei, who is the principal investigator on the Marsis experiment, told me. "We do not know the thermodynamical conditions down there and we do not know the kinds of salts that are dissolved in the water if they are down there.


bbc--2020-09-29--George Pell: Cardinal to return to Rome for first time since acquittal

Cardinal George Pell will return to Rome this week for the first time since he was acquitted of child sexual abuse and released from prison in Australia .
The ex-Vatican treasurer , 79 , was due to fly out of Sydney on Tuesday , Australian media reported .
He was freed in April after Australia 's top court overturned his conviction .
He had served more than a year in jail .
The cleric left the Vatican in 2017 to fight the charges in his home state of Victoria .
`` He always intended to return to Rome , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney , told Reuters news agency .
She did not say whether the cleric would be seen at the Vatican , where previously he had led efforts to clean up the Church 's finances .
Cardinal Pell has maintained a low profile in Sydney - where he was once archbishop - in the months since his acquittal .
He has been supported by the city 's archdiocese since his release .
He has been granted an exemption to leave Australia , which closed its borders in March to incoming and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The Holy Father was elected to clean up Vatican finances .
He plays a long game and is to be thanked and congratulated on recent developments , '' Cardinal Pell said last week in a statement reported by the Catholic News Agency .
A jury convicted Pell in 2018 of charges relating to the 1990s , but the High Court of Australia quashed that verdict .
It found a jury had not properly considered all the evidence presented at trial .
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions , detailing how he failed to act over the actions of paedophile priests .

She did not say whether the cleric would be seen at the Vatican, where previously he had led efforts to clean up the Church's finances.


bbc--2020-09-29--Chinese teacher sentenced to death for poisoning nursery children

A Chinese court has sentenced a nursery teacher to death for poisoning 25 children , one of whom died .
Wang Yun was arrested last year after children at a kindergarten in Jiaozuo city were rushed to hospital after eating their morning porridge .
The court said she put sodium nitrite in the breakfast of her colleague 's students for revenge after a fallout .
It described Ms Wang as `` despicable and vicious '' .
The incident on 27 March last year shocked China and triggered global headlines .
At the time it was reported 23 children began vomiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A police probe was triggered after allegations the teacher had poisoned them .
On Monday a local court in Jiaozuo sentenced Ms Wang to death .
It said in a statement that she had put sodium nitrite into the porridge of the young students of another teacher in `` revenge '' after they had `` argued over student management issues '' .
Sodium nitrite is often used as a food additive for curing meat but can be toxic in high amounts .
The court also said this was not the first time Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier incident where she bought nitrite online and poisoned her husband who suffered minor injuries .
One of the poisoned children died in hospital in January after spending 10 months in hospital .
The court noted Ms Wang was `` despicable and vicious , and the consequences of her crimes were extremely serious , and she deserves to be severely punished . ''
While China refuses to disclose how many people it executes , rights groups believe thousands are killed every year .
The sentence is carried out by lethal injection or by @ @ @

It said in a statement that she had put sodium nitrite into the porridge of the young students of another teacher in "revenge" after they had "argued over student management issues".


bbc--2020-09-29--Amnesty International to halt India operations

Amnesty says its bank accounts have been frozen and it 's been forced to lay off staff in the country , and suspend all its campaign and research work .
`` We are facing a rather unprecedented situation in India .
Amnesty International India has been facing an onslaught of attacks , bullying and harassment by the government in a very systematic manner , '' Rajat Khosla , the group 's senior director of research , advocacy and policy , told the BBC .
`` This is all down to the human rights work that we were doing and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised , whether it 's in terms of our investigations into the Delhi riots , or the silencing of voices in Jammu and Kashmir . ''
In 2019 , the watchdog testified before the US Foreign Affairs Committee during a hearing on human rights in South Asia , where it highlighted its findings on arbitrary detentions , and the use of excessive force and torture in Kashmir .
The group , which has faced scrutiny by different government agencies over the past few years , says the freezing of its bank accounts earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In August 2016 , a case of sedition was filed against Amnesty India over allegations that anti-India slogans were raised at one of its events .
Three years later , a court ordered the charges to be dropped .
In October 2018 , the group 's offices in the southern city of Bangalore were raided by the Enforcement Directorate , which investigates financial crimes .
Its accounts were frozen then too , but Amnesty says it was able to access them after seeking a court 's intervention .
In early 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sent letters by the country 's income tax department .
And later in the same year , Amnesty 's offices were raided again , this time by the Central Bureau of Investigation , based on a case registered by India 's home affairs ministry .
Over the years rules surrounding receiving foreign funds have been tightened , and thousands of non-profit groups have been banned from receiving money from overseas .
`` India does not stand in good company with these moves it is making .
We operate in over 70 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we had been forced to shut operations in was Russia in 2016 , '' says Mr Khosla .
`` I hope people around the world sit up and take notice .
We are doing this with a very heavy heart , and a deep sense of anguish and grief . ''

"This is all down to the human rights work that we were doing and the government not wanting to answer questions we raised, whether it's in terms of our investigations into the Delhi riots, or the silencing of voices in Jammu and Kashmir."


bbc--2020-09-29--Anger as Brazil revokes mangrove protection regulations

The Brazilian government of Jair Bolsonaro has revoked regulations that protect tropical mangroves and other fragile coastal ecosystems .
President Bolsonaro 's policies and rhetoric on the environment have caused widespread alarm , and the far-right leader has been accused of encouraging illegal activity .
The decision removed so-called `` permanent protection zones '' created in 2002 to preserve Brazil 's many tropical mangroves and the sand-dune scrublands .
It was taken by the National Environmental Council , led by controversial Environment Minister Ricardo Salles .
Environmental groups say the removal of the regulations will allow property developers to clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which could lead to their destruction .
`` These areas are already under intense pressure from real-estate development , '' said Mario Mantovani , head of environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica .
`` The 2002 regulations at least protected them from further destruction , '' he told the AFP news agency , calling their repeal `` a crime against society '' .
One acre ( 4,000 sq m ) of mangrove forest absorbs nearly the same amount of carbon dioxide as an acre of Amazon rainforest .
Since Mr Bolsonaro took power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit by environmental crises including an escalation of deforestation and wildfires .
This is not the first time Environment Minister Ricardo Salles has been involved in controversy since taking the job .
In a leaked recording of an April cabinet meeting with the president , Mr Salles said the coronavirus pandemic was a chance to roll back environmental regulations `` now that the media 's only talking about Covid '' .
`` Even as we witness record environmental devastation and Brazil is in flames , Salles dedicates his time to promoting even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement on the new measures .

"Even as we witness record environmental devastation and Brazil is in flames, Salles dedicates his time to promoting even more destruction," environmental group Greenpeace said in a statement on the new measures.


bbc--2020-09-29--No more 'ladies and gentlemen' on Japan Airlines flights

If you 're stepping on a Japan Airlines ( JAL ) plane anytime next month , chances are you wo n't hear the term `` ladies and gentlemen '' anymore .
Instead , from 1 October , gender-neutral phrases like `` attention all passengers '' , or references to passengers as `` everyone '' will be used , reported local site the Mainichi .
JAL is one of a few global airlines to embrace gender-neutral greetings .
However , it will only apply to JAL 's English announcements , AFP said .
That is because is in Japanese , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already gender-neutral , the agency added .
JAL 's decision however , has not made any major waves in Japan .
`` It is a small deal that most people do not really care about because this change in announcement in English can not be understood nor noticed by almost all the Japanese-speaking passengers , '' , Professor Kazuya Kawaguchi , a sociologist at Hiroshima Shudo University told the BBC .
`` However , as one of the leading LGBT-friendly enterprises [ in Japan ] ... [ their ] efforts should be appreciated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant step forward to the improvement ... of other LGBT+ issues .
I think that it is important for big companies to start good practice [ s like this ] ... because other medium or small-sized companies tend to follow . ''
JAL follows airlines like Air Canada and EasyJet which adopted gender-neutral greetings last year .
In a statement to Reuters , JAL said it wanted to `` create a positive atmosphere and treat everyone ... with respect '' .
`` We have committed to not discriminate based on gender ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal attributes , '' spokesman Mark Morimoto told the news agency .
Same-sex marriage is not legally recognised in Japan - though surveys suggest there is strong support for this .
Last year , 13 same-sex couples across Japan took legal action against the government , demanding the right to get married .

"However, as one of the leading LGBT-friendly enterprises [in Japan]... [their] efforts should be appreciated and therefore will be and must be a significant step forward to the improvement... of other LGBT+ issues. I think that it is important for big companies to start good practice[s like this]... because other medium or small-sized companies tend to follow."


bbc--2020-09-28--The water-saving device wasting billions of litres every week

Billions of litres of water are being wasted every week because of an innovation intended to cut water use .
About 400 million litres of water are estimated to leak from UK toilets every day .
But much of this can be blamed on dual-flush toilets , designed to save water , the BBC has learned .
One water company says dual-flush toilets are now wasting more water than they save due to a combination of leaky mechanisms and confusing flush buttons .
Dual-flush toilets allow the option of a small or large flush - typically four or six litres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for urine or faeces .
Water-saving organisation Waterwise estimates that between 5 % and 8 % of toilets are leaking and says most of these are dual flush .
Andrew Tucker , water efficiency manager at Thames Water , the UK 's largest water and sewerage company , says the problem is getting worse as bathrooms are done up .
`` Because we 've got so many [ loos ] that continuously flow all through the day , collectively that water loss is now exceeding the amount of water they should be saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The volume of water loss is getting bigger every day as more people refurbish and retrofit their older toilets and as we build more homes , so we 're actually adding a problem . ''
The 400 million litres of water lost daily from loos is enough to supply 2.8 million people - the populations of Edinburgh , Cardiff , Belfast , Manchester , Sheffield , Liverpool and Bristol combined .
Rising demand for water harms the natural environment and has been strongly linked to rivers running dry .
Most dual-flush toilets use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed onto the UK market back in 2001 due to a change in regulations .
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association ( BMA ) admits the drop valve system is more prone to leakage than the traditional siphon .
The drop valve , which opens for a flush , sits underwater at the bottom of the cistern .
Debris - like porcelain , grit or calcium - easily catches in the valve causing leaks which can then run constantly .
The siphon , on the other hand , works when the flush handle forces a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a tube linked to the pan .
Water 's only way out is above the water line , making leakage very rare .
How can I tell if I have a leaky loo ?
A leak can be silent but there may be a small ripple at the back of the bowl .
Some water companies suggest wiping the back of the bowl dry 30 minutes after a flush and placing a square of toilet paper there overnight - if it is wet or torn in the morning there is a leak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a toilet bowl or food colouring can be put in the cistern between flushes to see whether it shows up in the toilet pan .
Water smart meters will indicate high usage or go up constantly - even when residents are sleeping .
Thomas Dudley Ltd , one of the UK 's largest plumbing manufacturers , has a testing station that puts any new mechanism through its paces with 200,000 constantly repeated flushes , taking four months .
Managing director Jason Parker says : `` A siphon will not leak whereas an outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures we 've got - they could leak within a week of installation .
It could be two years but they will leak . ''
Siphons are now being made dual flush , so he wants drop valves outlawed despite the fact they are his biggest seller and such a move could harm his business .
`` If we 're serious about wasting water and we want to stop it , the only way to do that is put a siphon back in , '' he says .
Water companies and campaigners are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem out of existence '' .
Although BMA chief executive Tom Reynolds admits drop valves are more likely to leak , he does not want them banned .
`` Individual companies have gone into looking at the issue… but we have n't cracked what the underlying issue is , '' he says .
`` There is a commercial and moral imperative to ensure our products reduce leakage wherever possible . ''
But water is also lost by confusion over buttons .
Style over substance has made many unclear which button does what .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many as 50 % of customers chose the wrong button - or pushed both .
For more on this story listen to Costing the Earth on BBC Radio 4 at 15:30 BST on Tuesday 29 September or afterwards on BBC Sounds .

Managing director Jason Parker says: "A siphon will not leak whereas an outlet valve - if we look at the figures we've got - they could leak within a week of installation. It could be two years but they will leak."


bbc--2020-09-29--US man faces jail in Thailand over hotel review

A US man is facing up to two years in jail in Thailand after posting negative reviews of a hotel he stayed in .
He was sued by the resort under the country 's strict anti-defamation laws .
Wesley Barnes , who works in Thailand , had posted several reviews on different platforms allegedly accusing the resort of `` modern day slavery '' .
The Sea View Resort , however , said the harsh criticism by the former guest was untrue and damaging to the hotel 's reputation .
`` The owner filed a complaint that the defendant had posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TripAdvisor website , '' police told the AFP news agency .
The incident , which occurred at the resort on the island of Koh Chang earlier this year , was apparently triggered by an argument over Mr Barnes wanting to bring his own bottle of alcohol while dining in the restaurant .
A hotel statement said he had `` caused a commotion '' and refused to pay a corkage fee which was eventually waived off when the manager intervened .
Since leaving , Mr Barnes posted several negative reviews of the property , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defamation .
Mr Barnes was subsequently detained and says he spent two nights in prison before he was released on bail .
If found guilty of breaking the country 's notorious anti-defamation laws he could face up to two years in prison .
The hotel has alleged that his reviews were `` fabricated , recurrent , and malicious '' , with one post on TripAdvisor accusing the hotel of `` modern day slavery '' .
Mr Barnes , though , told the BBC that this particular post was never published as it violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had already lost his job over the incident and expressed worries that the publicity his case had received would make it harder to find new employment .
His next court appointment will be in early October .
Mr Barnes added that he was afraid of going to prison given his first few days in detention had been very `` scary '' .
He still hopes to resolve the case with the hotel directly .
But the hotel told the BBC they had repeatedly tried to contact Mr Barnes before they filed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complaint to serve as a deterrent , as we understood he may continue to write negative reviews week after week for the foreseeable future , '' they said .
`` Despite our multiple efforts to contact him to resolve the matter in an amicable way for well over a month , he chose to ignore us completely .
He only replied to us when he had been notified of our complaint by the authorities . ''
The hotel explained that after the reviews had been published , it had received cancellations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it had told Mr Barnes several times they would not go ahead with pressing charges if he stopped writing new `` false '' reviews .
`` Receiving multiple false and defamatory reviews over a period can be extremely damaging , especially , during these incredibly difficult times , '' they added .
Thailand 's tourism sector has been hit hard by the fallout of the global coronavirus pandemic .
Thailand is not unique in criminalising defamation , but the law , which carries a punishment of up to two years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was prosecuted for criminal defamation in 2016 for a report I made for the BBC .
The plaintiff dropped the case 18 months later .
Plaintiffs do not have to get the police or a prosecutor to file a criminal complaint - they can file directly to a court , and courts rarely reject them .
So anyone subject to such a complaint almost invariably becomes a criminal defendant , summoned to court to defend themselves , or subject to arrest if they do n't .
The defendant will have to post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have their passport held by the court and the cases often last many years .
They can not recoup the substantial costs of defending such cases , even if they win , unless they file a separate civil case .
The plaintiffs , on the other hand , are not liable to pay costs even if they lose .
It gets worse .
In Thailand truth is not an automatic defence as it is in many countries .
So even if what you have said , or reported , is true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can still go to jail , unless you can prove there is a public interest in reporting it .
Finding reliable and affordable lawyers is also very difficult .
Unsurprisingly , criminal defamation cases are frequently used in commercial or political disputes .
Rights groups allege that they are often abused to harass and silence those fighting injustice .
One poultry processing company has filed as many as 38 legal cases , many of them criminal defamation , against workers and human rights campaigners who complained about labour abuses .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence for social media comments about the case .

It gets worse. In Thailand truth is not an automatic defence as it is in many countries. So even if what you have said, or reported, is true, and the plaintiff admits it is true, you can still go to jail, unless you can prove there is a public interest in reporting it. Finding reliable and affordable lawyers is also very difficult.


bbc--2020-09-28--The cat who hitched a lift on a worldwide tour

When former Edinburgh Rugby player Dean Nicholson packed his job in to travel the world , he hoped it would be a life-changing experience .
But what the 31-year-old did n't realise is that it would be a tiny four-legged friend that would change him forever .
Dean , a welder from Dunbar , was sick of his 9-5 existence and decided to get on his bike and see the world .
He then travelled on to Bosnia which is where he met a little striped creature who would become his travel companion .
`` I heard a wee cat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chasing me up the hill .
So I stopped and pulled over and she just would n't leave my side .
I put her on the front of my bike and got her comfy to take her into the next town .
I went to find out if she was microchipped .
`` But she was n't and she climbed up on my shoulder and fell asleep and I just thought that was it , she was coming with me on this tour . ''
The original plan to get to Thailand as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window and Dean realised the little kitten , who he named Nala , had changed him .
Speaking from Austria , he said : `` She has taught me just to slow down and enjoy life a lot more .
Having her on the bike her needs come first and it slowed the tour down and now we stop and play a lot .
If there 's woods we stop and play and she loves running on the beach .
The pair have covered about 10,000 miles .
Dean had to organise a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world is their oyster .
Dean said : `` I could n't go through Iran with the cat because they would n't let her stay in hotels so we missed that .
The plan now is to cycle up through Russia in the spring . ''
Everywhere they go , Dean and Nala attract attention .
Local people are in awe of the little purring passenger who travels in a basket on the front of his customised bike or on Dean 's shoulder if it 's a bit bumpy .
People stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been responsible for at least one free pint of beer for her owner .
Nala has been to Albania and Greece and back to Dunbar for a pitstop .
She has been in a cable car and even enjoyed kayaking .
Dean said : `` We are going to spend winter in Greece working at some animal sanctuaries .
Then through Russia in the spring and on to Thailand .
I want that whole dream of sitting on the beach - with a coconut . ''

"I heard a wee cat miaowing from behind me. She was chasing me up the hill. So I stopped and pulled over and she just wouldn't leave my side. I put her on the front of my bike and got her comfy to take her into the next town. I went to find out if she was microchipped.


bbc--2020-09-29--Aaron Sorkin: 'Right time' to tell Chicago riots story

Screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin spoke to the BBC 's Arts and Entertainment correspondent Will Gompertz about his new film @ @ @ @ @ be involved in the project.. Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on the 1968 @ @ @ @ @ by the federal government because of the protests and riots Chicago .

Screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin spoke to the BBC's Arts and Entertainment correspondent Will Gompertz about his new film and why he chose to be involved in the project..
Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on the 1968 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government because of the protests and riots Chicago.


bbc--2020-09-28--Kangana Ranaut: The star on a warpath with Bollywood

And at the centre of its troubles is Kangana Ranaut - a 33-year-old female star who appears to be on a warpath with many of her colleagues .
In the past few weeks , she has accused industry bigwigs of nepotism and sexual abuse , harshly criticised several of her colleagues , alleged others are involved in drug dealing , and called Bollywood a `` gutter '' .
Ranaut says she was `` harassed and molested in the industry and faced a drug racket '' and that by `` removing the obstacles '' in her way , she would `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But her critics say her vocal criticisms stem from political ambition .
There are rumours she is on the verge of joining India 's governing Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) , and accusations that the colleagues she has picked on are those whose political beliefs differ from hers .
A small-town girl , who has often spoken of her struggles to fit in with the glamorous crowd , Ranaut rose to become a style icon and one of Bollywood 's most bankable actresses , with millions of fans at home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful people in the industry like director Karan Johar , whom she accused of nepotism ; she also had a very public spat with Hrithik Roshan , her co-star from Kites whom she calls ' a silly ex ' . ''
Ranaut tweeted blaming nepotism and some Bollywood insiders for driving the actor to his death .
She said he was an `` outsider '' like her who had no `` godfathers '' in the industry , and that powerful Bollywood families and directors had `` systematically sabotaged '' his career .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was once known for her craft and her courage , but has now allowed that courage to degenerate into self-promotion and sexist attacks on women she disagrees with and the single-minded pursuit of a right-wing agenda , '' said journalist and film critic Anna MM Vetticad in an interview .
`` While claiming to bat for outsiders entering Bollywood , Ranaut makes demeaning , even outright misogynistic comments about outsiders who oppose her ideologically , and it has become painfully clear that her commitment is not to the cause but to her image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So on Saturday , when Deepika Padukone , one of India 's most loved stars , was summoned by the drug authorities investigating allegations of widespread drug use in Bollywood , TV channels provided breathless coverage and reporters chased her car .
Similar scenes were witnessed when actresses Shraddha Kapoor , Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh were called for questioning .
All four have denied any wrongdoing .
Ranaut has also been engaged in a bitter fight with the Shiv Sena party in Maharashtra , the state where Mumbai - the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Sena , which governs the state , is a former ally - and now bitter rival - of the BJP .
Critics say the Ranaut story is just a diversion .
It comes at a time when India is battling much more pressing issues : a Covid-19 caseload that is the second-highest in the world , an economy that is down in the dumps , and rising tensions on the border with China .
`` She 's spoken about how she was treated badly in the beginning , she 's been nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she 's still standing up to the powerful , she 's still criticising nepotism in Bollywood , '' Bajpai said .
`` Now what 's her motive ?
Is she settling scores ?
Is she seeking a political role ?
Who knows .
But the way she 's doing it is questionable .
I think she has gone too far . ''

And at the centre of its troubles is Kangana Ranaut - a 33-year-old female star who appears to be on a warpath with many of her colleagues. In the past few weeks, she has accused industry bigwigs of nepotism and sexual abuse, harshly criticised several of her colleagues, alleged others are involved in drug dealing, and called Bollywood a "gutter".


bbc--2020-09-29--Mahomes outshines Jackson as Chiefs beat Ravens

Last updated on .From the section American Football Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reached 10,000 passing yards in 34 games - the fastest in NFL history - as he guided his side to a 34-20 victory at the Baltimore Ravens .
In contrast , Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled with 97 passing yards and a lone touchdown pass .
`` The guys executed at a very high level , '' Mahomes said .
`` Our training camp prepared us for a hot start , we have the Patriots next and we are going to keep moving . ''
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most Valuable Player Mahomes and Jackson , the man who succeeded him last season , it was the Chiefs who dominated the main plays .
Mahomes entered the game with 9,925 passing yards and surpassed Kurt Warner 's previous record of 10,000 yards in 36 games , with a pass to Travis Kelce in the second quarter .
The Chiefs , who now have a 3-0 win record for the season , had five players make more than 60 receiving yards while their defence finished with four sacks .
The visitors trailed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it 27-20 in the third quarter following Jackson 's five-yard touchdown pass to Nick Boyle , but the Chiefs soon restored their healthy lead as the Ravens ' challenge faded .
`` I mean , you know , they do n't give that guy a half a billion dollars for no reason , '' Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell said , in reference to Mahomes ' record-breaking 10-year £403m Chiefs contract .
`` He 's an incredible talent and he just made play after play . ''

Last updated on .From the section American Football
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes reached 10,000 passing yards in 34 games - the fastest in NFL history - as he guided his side to a 34-20 victory at the Baltimore Ravens.
Mahomes, 25, completed four touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown for the defending Super Bowl champions.
In contrast, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson struggled with 97 passing yards and a lone touchdown pass.
"The guys executed at a very high level," Mahomes said.
"Our training camp prepared us for a hot start, we have the Patriots next and we are going to keep moving."
In a highly anticipated contest between 2018 NFL Most Valuable Player Mahomes and Jackson, the man who succeeded him last season, it was the Chiefs who dominated the main plays.
Mahomes entered the game with 9,925 passing yards and surpassed Kurt Warner's previous record of 10,000 yards in 36 games, with a pass to Travis Kelce in the second quarter.
The Chiefs, who now have a 3-0 win record for the season, had five players make more than 60 receiving yards while their defence finished with four sacks.
The visitors trailed by 17 points at half-time but rallied to make it 27-20 in the third quarter following Jackson's five-yard touchdown pass to Nick Boyle, but the Chiefs soon restored their healthy lead as the Ravens' challenge faded.
"I mean, you know, they don't give that guy a half a billion dollars for no reason," Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, in reference to Mahomes' record-breaking 10-year £403m Chiefs contract.
"He's an incredible talent and he just made play after play."