bbc--2020-06-16--Why women are being dragged to court accused of lying

The three women were in tears , distraught , and seemingly faint with hunger , as they sat in filthy prison uniforms in the dock in a magistrate 's court in Zimbabwe 's capital , Harare , waiting to hear if they would be granted bail .
In a country grappling not just with coronavirus but with a string of deepening economic and political crises - including rumours and denials of a coup plot - the extraordinary and deeply controversial case of opposition activists Cecilia Chimbiri , Netsai Marova and Joana Mamombe seems to point to something grim and fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming loss of public trust in its key institutions .
`` We see a very jittery state that is at war with its citizens , '' said Fadzayi Mahere , a spokeswoman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change ( MDC ) , who attended the bail hearing on Monday and argued that the women 's humiliation was part of an overtly political strategy to instil fear in the public .
The MDC activists are facing trial on charges that they lied about being abducted and sexually assaulted last month .
Speaking from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said unnamed state security agents had tortured them .
But a string of government ministers immediately accused them of fabricating their stories to discredit the government and to distract from the women 's own participation in an illegal protest march .
One deputy minister , who was later sacked , suggested the women , one of whom is a member of parliament , were prostitutes .
`` The mask has fallen .
They have no qualms about violating women and no interest in bringing the perpetrators to account , '' said Ms Mahere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left confused , and deeply cynical , about the allegations , unable to decide whom to believe .
`` We 've been tricked before .
Nothing is as it seems , '' said one hospital doctor , who often treats torture victims , but who asked not to be identified .
This ugly , fractious legal case is playing out at a particularly tough time for Zimbabwe .
The impoverished nation had seemed to be turning a corner three years ago , when President Robert Mugabe was forced out of power by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , promised tough economic reforms and a new era of transparency and accountability for the ruling Zanu-PF party .
But today , half the country 's population is struggling to feed itself , high inflation rates - which helped destroy the economy over a decade ago - have returned , and Zanu-PF has stopped telling the world that Zimbabwe is `` open for business '' and has reverted to its old habit of accusing unnamed Western nations of fomenting unrest and of conspiring with local critics to undermine the government and the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the making , '' said Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe last week , blaming such `` rumours '' on an elaborate conspiracy between local and international forces .
His comments , presumably designed to reassure , appeared to have the opposite effect .
`` We are facing a storm .
A perfect storm .
We are going into state failure , '' warned businessman Shingi Munyeza , during a recent Zoom call with a range of civil society activists alarmed about the deepening economic crisis and the threat posed by coronavirus .
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Harare has been compounded by a recent and controversial move by the security forces to seize the opposition 's headquarters , as well as by the unpredictable presence of troops on the streets apparently enforcing lockdown measures .
One of Mr Mugabe 's old allies , now in exile in South Africa ( and accused of fuelling the rumours about another military intervention ) , said the situation was clearly fragile .
`` It is a very unstable situation .
Any system built on weak foundations will always shake .
This regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said former minister Saviour Kasukuwere , accusing his old party , Zanu-PF , of `` failing to deliver '' on its promise of reforms .
In the meantime , Cecilia Chimbiri , Netsai Marova and Joana Mamombe are back in the notorious Chikurubi prison , on the edge of Harare , awaiting trial .
The magistrate denied them bail , arguing that the state had produced compelling evidence , including video evidence , against the women , and that the three might seek to flee the country if released .
You may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking by phone from hospital , Ms Chimbiri said had been sexually assaulted and forced to drink urine by her abductors , but she insisted she and her colleagues were undaunted .
`` Our freedom will not be granted to us on a silver plate , '' said Ms Chimbiri .
The MDC said the decision to deny the women bail was `` extremely political , '' and that an appeal was being prepared .
On Tuesday , at a national prayer service , President Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to repent `` in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to fight against injustice and corruption .
Meanwhile , Amnesty International has condemned what it calls `` an escalating crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and the criminalisation of dissent '' in the country .
After the court appearance , the three women - one of them barely able to walk - were escorted back to a prison van and returned to prison .
Citing fears of being poisoned , they have refused to eat prison meals , and are relying on whatever food the authorities permit their relatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @

But today, half the country's population is struggling to feed itself, high inflation rates - which helped destroy the economy over a decade ago - have returned, and Zanu-PF has stopped telling the world that Zimbabwe is "open for business" and has reverted to its old habit of accusing unnamed Western nations of fomenting unrest and of conspiring with local critics to undermine the government and the economy.


bbc--2020-06-16--Kaesong liaison office: What does North Korea want?

Just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 's sister , Kim Yo-jong , threatened direct action against South Korea , Pyongyang has followed through .
At 14:49 on Tuesday ( 05:49 GMT ) , explosives demolished the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in the North Korean border city of Kaesong .
The provocative step , coming just one day after the 20th anniversary of the first ever inter-Korean summit between Kim Jong-un 's father , Kim Jong-il , and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung , marks an ominous turning point for the two neighbours .
Kim Yo-jong 's threats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' were meant to be taken literally .
• Why did North Korea destroy the liaison office ?
An early statement from the South Korean Unification Ministry , pointing out that the action was telegraphed , suggests that Seoul intends not to publicly make the case that it was caught off-guard .
But the seriousness of the event - and its global headline-seizing nature - raises natural questions about what Pyongyang may be seeking .
There are few easy answers here , but many puzzle pieces that that form part of a bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recall the historic inter-Korean summit at the Panmunjom Peace Village , north-east of Kaesong , in April 2018 .
While that event cemented South Korean President Moon Jae-in 's place as a historic statesman , for Kim Jong-un , one of the most important takeaways was to be found in what his South Korean interlocutor handed him on a USB pen drive .
Mr Moon had shown Mr Kim the promise of inter-Korean economic co-operation , outlining several projects that would allow the two Koreas - under South Korean guidance - to collaboratively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the ensuing months , however , President Moon 's plans were limited by the continued existence of the onerous international and US sanctions that remained in place on Pyongyang for its testing and development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons throughout 2017 .
Sanctions relief was North Korea 's core demand of the United States , of South Korea , and of the world through the two years of diplomacy that persisted from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games , where Kim Yo-jong first made herself apparent as a force in inter-Korean relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of 2019 , when Pyongyang began to make clear that it had no expectations that diplomacy could yield fruit .
This is why the symbolic destruction of the facility that had been used to administratively realise inter-Korean collaboration strikes at the core of Mr Moon 's inter-Korean promises .
For the South Korean president , who finds himself with unprecedented political strength after his party 's strong showing in the April mid-term parliamentary elections , this moment may be designed to seek further concessions .
The proximal explanation for the North Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her statement last weekend .
She cited the launching of anti-North Korean regime leaflets by South Korean civil groups , describing them as an insult to the `` dignity '' of the North Korean supreme leadership .
And Pyongyang takes these sorts of events seriously ; in August 2015 , South Korean army loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda across the Military Demarcation Line sparked a major dispute .
The leaflets , as grating as they may be for Pyongyang , likely do not tell us the whole picture .
Part of the answer - unknowable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the North Korean regime - may have to do with Kim Yo-jong herself .
Kim Jong-un 's younger sister has seen a spectacular ascent in her public role in the effectuation of North Korean state policy in recent years .
Where she was once seen lurking behind a pillar as her brother delivered an address before a major military parade , she is now directing the Korean People 's Army to take action .
Last year , she was for the first time seen overseeing missile launches with her brother .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more significant role in guiding military activities may indicate her rising star .
Allowing her to oversee the demolition of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office may serve to bolster her leadership credentials , much in the same way that her brother was rumoured to have been instrumental in the sinking of the South Korean naval corvette , ROKS Cheonan , and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010 .
The current trajectory of inter-Korean ties does bring 2010 to mind .
What is concerning this time , however , is that North Korea is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was then .
Under the cover of its increased nuclear capabilities , Pyongyang may seek to torment Seoul for concessions and leverage .
In this sense , the demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office may be the start of a much darker period in the inter-Korean story .
Ankit Panda is a senior editor at the Diplomat and author of Kim Jong-un and the Bomb .

The leaflets, as grating as they may be for Pyongyang, likely do not tell us the whole picture. Part of the answer - unknowable as it may be given the nature of the North Korean regime - may have to do with Kim Yo-jong herself.


bbc--2020-06-16--Bayern win eighth consecutive title and celebrate in empty stadium

Bayern Munich celebrated in a near-empty stadium after securing an outstanding eighth successive title .
Robert Lewandowski chested down Jerome Boateng 's chipped pass to net the winner against Werder Bremen - and seal the league with two games to spare .
Bayern 's 11th straight Bundesliga win put them 10 points clear of Borussia Dortmund , who have three games left .
Bayern finished the match with 10 men after Alphonso Davies was sent off for two yellow-card offences .
• How successful has the Bundesliga restart been ?
Poland striker Lewandowski has scored 31 league goals this season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scoring record by a foreign player in the league .
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang , now at Arsenal , scored 31 Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17 .
Bayern were far from their best against a Werder Bremen side fighting for survival at the other end of the table .
With the game goalless , Bremen 's Maximilian Eggestein went close from distance before Lewandowski 's quality winner after Kingsley Coman had earlier headed narrowly wide .
Coman again went close before teenager Davies was sent off with 11 minutes remaining , while Werder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty for handball turned down .
Seven points clear of nearest rivals Borussia Dortmund with three games to go before kick-off , Bayern needed one win from their remaining three games to wrap up another title .
Hansi Flick 's side did just that - but they got over the line in unusual circumstances .
When Bayern won the title on the final day of last season , they did so after an emphatic 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in front of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena .
On Tuesday , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 42,000-capacity Weserstadion as they wrapped up the title in pouring rain .
The full-time whistle was greeted with shouts of delight from Bayern 's players which echoed around the empty stadium , but it was a far cry from previous title celebrations before the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It is sensational the kind of football we have played in the past few months , '' said Flick , a four-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern as a player .
`` You could feel the passion , the joy for the game and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home to Freiburg and away to Wolfsburg still to come , Bayern 's latest domestic triumph looks relatively straightforward but it required a managerial change to kick-start their season after a poor opening .
After an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt on 2 November , Bayern were fourth in the table , four points behind early-season leaders Borussia Monchengladbach .
That result spelt the end of Niko Kovac 's 16-month reign , Flick appointed interim boss before signing a new contract until 2023 in April .
And Bayern have flourished under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means they have taken 58 points from a possible 66 , yet their season is far from over .
While Bayern have progressed to the final of the German Cup , where they will meet Bayer Leverkusen on 4 July in Berlin , the five-time champions of Europe are still in the Champions League and are well placed to reach the quarter-finals after establishing a 3-0 lead over Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie .
`` We have now taken the first step and reached our big goal , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the cup in our sights and then obviously the Champions League games are something you can not plan for and we still need to survive the Chelsea game . ''
Nine league titles at one club - the stats • David Alaba and Thomas Muller win their ninth Bundesliga championship title , equalling the record set by Franck Ribery last season .
• Hansi Flick is the third person to win the Bundesliga title for Bayern both as a player and a manager , after Franz Beckenbauer and Niko Kovac .
Flick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player in 1985-86 , 1986-87 , 1988-89 and 1989-90 .
• In Europe 's top five leagues , only Juventus ( 35 in Serie A ) and Real Madrid ( 33 in La Liga ) have won more league titles than Bayern ( 30 , including pre-Bundesliga era ) .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Bayern Munich are the second team in one of Europe's top five leagues to win eight consecutive domestic top-flight titles, after Juventus in Serie A from 2011-12 to 2018-19.
Bayern Munich celebrated in a near-empty stadium after securing an outstanding eighth successive title.
Robert Lewandowski chested down Jerome Boateng's chipped pass to net the winner against Werder Bremen - and seal the league with two games to spare.
Bayern's 11th straight Bundesliga win put them 10 points clear of Borussia Dortmund, who have three games left.
Bayern finished the match with 10 men after Alphonso Davies was sent off for two yellow-card offences.
Poland striker Lewandowski has scored 31 league goals this season, a tally that equals the single-season scoring record by a foreign player in the league. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now at Arsenal, scored 31 Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund in 2016-17.
Robert Lewandowski has scored in nine of his past 10 appearances for Bayern Munich
Bayern were far from their best against a Werder Bremen side fighting for survival at the other end of the table.
With the game goalless, Bremen's Maximilian Eggestein went close from distance before Lewandowski's quality winner after Kingsley Coman had earlier headed narrowly wide.
Coman again went close before teenager Davies was sent off with 11 minutes remaining, while Werder Bremen had a late appeal for a penalty for handball turned down.
Bayern celebrate in unusual circumstances
Seven points clear of nearest rivals Borussia Dortmund with three games to go before kick-off, Bayern needed one win from their remaining three games to wrap up another title.
Hansi Flick's side did just that - but they got over the line in unusual circumstances.
When Bayern won the title on the final day of last season, they did so after an emphatic 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in front of 75,000 fans at the Allianz Arena.
On Tuesday, there were no supporters present inside Werder Bremen's 42,000-capacity Weserstadion as they wrapped up the title in pouring rain.
The full-time whistle was greeted with shouts of delight from Bayern's players which echoed around the empty stadium, but it was a far cry from previous title celebrations before the coronavirus pandemic.
"It is sensational the kind of football we have played in the past few months," said Flick, a four-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern as a player.
"You could feel the passion, the joy for the game and the team spirit."
From a humiliating 5-1 defeat to champions
With matches at home to Freiburg and away to Wolfsburg still to come, Bayern's latest domestic triumph looks relatively straightforward but it required a managerial change to kick-start their season after a poor opening.
After an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt on 2 November, Bayern were fourth in the table, four points behind early-season leaders Borussia Monchengladbach.
That result spelt the end of Niko Kovac's 16-month reign, Flick appointed interim boss before signing a new contract until 2023 in April.
And Bayern have flourished under the 55-year-old former Germany assistant.
This result means they have taken 58 points from a possible 66, yet their season is far from over.
Bayern Munich's players wore red T-shirts after full-time with the number eight on them to mark the club winning the Bundesliga between 2013 and 2020
While Bayern have progressed to the final of the German Cup, where they will meet Bayer Leverkusen on 4 July in Berlin, the five-time champions of Europe are still in the Champions League and are well placed to reach the quarter-finals after establishing a 3-0 lead over Chelsea in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
"We have now taken the first step and reached our big goal," added Flick.
"But we also have the cup in our sights and then obviously the Champions League games are something you cannot plan for and we still need to survive the Chelsea game."
Nine league titles at one club - the stats
David Alaba and Thomas Muller win their ninth Bundesliga championship title, equalling the record set by Franck Ribery last season.
Hansi Flick is the third person to win the Bundesliga title for Bayern both as a player and a manager, after Franz Beckenbauer and Niko Kovac. Flick won the Bundesliga title as a Bayern player in 1985-86, 1986-87, 1988-89 and 1989-90.
In Europe's top five leagues, only Juventus (35 in Serie A) and Real Madrid (33 in La Liga) have won more league titles than Bayern (30, including pre-Bundesliga era).


bbc--2020-06-16--The Premier League returns - all you need to know

The Premier League returns on Wednesday ... but not exactly as we know it .
After a 100-day absence because of the coronavirus pandemic , Aston Villa v Sheffield United will kick off the English top-flight 's resumption .
It is the first of 92 league games that will be packed into a frantic 40 days before the season concludes on 26 July .
Fixtures will be played behind closed doors as one of a host of measures to prevent any further cases of the virus .
A minute 's silence to remember those who have died with coronavirus will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while heart-shaped badges in tribute to frontline NHS staff will also be worn on kits .
For the first 12 matches of the restarted campaign , all player names on the back of shirts will be replaced by `` Black Lives Matter '' .
This follows the death of George Floyd in the United States , which has sparked protests worldwide .
Over eight rounds of twice-weekly coronavirus screenings of Premier League players and staff , there have been 16 positive results from 8,687 tests .
All remaining 92 games will be broadcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown on the BBC - the first to be made free-to-air on terrestrial television since the Premier League 's inception in 1992 .
Liverpool sit 25 points clear at the top of the table while Bournemouth , Aston Villa and Norwich City are in the relegation places .
The Reds , chasing a first league title in 30 years , could clinch it with victory in their first game back should second-placed Manchester City lose to Arsenal on Wednesday .
• Things we expect when the Premier League comes back • 'Life has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - Phil McNulty on Premier League 's return • Quiz : what can you remember of the 2019-20 season so far ?
Why is the Premier League returning now ?
With the number of new infections falling and lockdown restrictions in England being gradually eased , the Premier League agreed it was safe to resume with the correct safety measures in place .
This was followed by the UK government giving the go-ahead for elite competitive sport to resume behind closed doors from 1 June .
Clubs unanimously voted to resume contact training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having started non-contact training the previous week as part of Project Restart .
Premier League players and staff will continue to be tested twice a week , with any players or staff who test positive self-isolating for a period of seven days .
The delaying of Euro 2020 by a year provided the Premier League with greater flexibility in which to fit in fixtures .
But there remains a time pressure imposed by issues with players ' contracts , many of which run out on 30 June , and the scheduled start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also a financial incentive to resume playing , with the threat of an increased or restructured rebate to TV companies if fixtures are not completed .
When are the games ?
The fixture list , including kick-off times , for the first 32 matches after the restart was announced on 5 June .
Aston Villa will face Sheffield United in the opening match at 18:00 BST on Wednesday , before Manchester City host Arsenal later the same evening .
The first full round of fixtures will then be played over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League fixtures , click here .
Where can you follow the games ?
All remaining 92 Premier League games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports , BT Sport , BBC Sport or Amazon Prime .
The BBC will show Bournemouth v Crystal Palace on 20 June at 19:45 BST , followed by Norwich v Everton on 24 June at 18:00 , and then two matches yet to be confirmed .
As well as the four live games , there will be additional Match of the Day highlights programmes .
Sky Sports will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free to air , including the Merseyside derby at 19:00 on 21 June .
Amazon Prime 's four matches will also be broadcast for free .
For the full list of free to air games , click here .
BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport will also provide live radio commentaries for all the remaining matches , while BT Sport will show the first Saturday 15:00 Premier League match to be broadcast live in the UK when Brighton take on Arsenal on 20 June .
What new measures have been put in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with number of key people allowed inside the stadium limited to 300 .
• Stadiums divided into three zones - red ( includes pitch and technical areas ) , amber ( stands ) and green ( stand concourses ) - with restrictions on who is allowed to enter each .
• Teams able to make five substitutions , rather than three , in each match and able to name nine substitutes instead of the usual seven .
• Staggered entry on to pitch for players and staff and no handshakes before kick-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goalposts , substitution boards and match balls before and after each fixture .
• Extra disinfection , such as of the substitution board after it is used , likely during matches and at half-time .
• Medical protocols stipulate how squads and coaching staff must travel to and from games , observing social distancing .
• Post-match broadcast interviews will take place pitchside with press conferences conducted virtually .
• VAR will continue to be in operation .
How did we leave things ?
Before the suspension of play in the Premier League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-flight title in 30 years .
The league will restart with the Reds 25 points clear at the top and potentially one win away from confirming their triumph .
If Manchester City lose their game in hand - against Arsenal on Wednesday - Jurgen Klopp 's side will seal the title with victory in the Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday .
The race for a top-four spot is less of a formality .
City 's two-year ban from European competition ( appeal pending ) means fifth place will be enough for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chelsea and Manchester United are currently occupying the qualification places , but the likes of Wolves , Sheffield United , Tottenham and Arsenal will all begin again with a place in Europe 's top competition as their aim .
Down at the bottom , six clubs are seemingly battling it out to avoid the drop .
Bottom club Norwich are six points adrift on 21 points .
Aston Villa and Bournemouth are the two clubs above them but are part of a group of five clubs , along with Watford , West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four points .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Liverpool (led by Jurgen Klopp, centre) could win the Premier League in their first game back
The Premier League returns on Wednesday... but not exactly as we know it.
After a 100-day absence because of the coronavirus pandemic, Aston Villa v Sheffield United will kick off the English top-flight's resumption.
It is the first of 92 league games that will be packed into a frantic 40 days before the season concludes on 26 July.
Fixtures will be played behind closed doors as one of a host of measures to prevent any further cases of the virus.
A minute's silence to remember those who have died with coronavirus will be held before the first matches, while heart-shaped badges in tribute to frontline NHS staff will also be worn on kits.
For the first 12 matches of the restarted campaign, all player names on the back of shirts will be replaced by "Black Lives Matter".
This follows the death of George Floyd in the United States, which has sparked protests worldwide.
Over eight rounds of twice-weekly coronavirus screenings of Premier League players and staff, there have been 16 positive results from 8,687 tests. external-link
All remaining 92 games will be broadcast live, with four matches to be shown on the BBC - the first to be made free-to-air on terrestrial television since the Premier League's inception in 1992.
Liverpool sit 25 points clear at the top of the table while Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City are in the relegation places.
The Reds, chasing a first league title in 30 years, could clinch it with victory in their first game back should second-placed Manchester City lose to Arsenal on Wednesday.
Why is the Premier League returning now?
With the number of new infections falling and lockdown restrictions in England being gradually eased, the Premier League agreed it was safe to resume with the correct safety measures in place.
This was followed by the UK government giving the go-ahead for elite competitive sport to resume behind closed doors from 1 June.
Clubs unanimously voted to resume contact training in the final week of May, having started non-contact training the previous week as part of Project Restart.
Premier League players and staff will continue to be tested twice a week, with any players or staff who test positive self-isolating for a period of seven days.
The delaying of Euro 2020 by a year provided the Premier League with greater flexibility in which to fit in fixtures.
But there remains a time pressure imposed by issues with players' contracts, many of which run out on 30 June, and the scheduled start of the 2020-21 season in August.
There is also a financial incentive to resume playing, with the threat of an increased or restructured rebate to TV companies if fixtures are not completed.
It's OK to say we've missed football - Lineker on Premier League return
When are the games?
The fixture list, including kick-off times, for the first 32 matches after the restart was announced on 5 June.
Aston Villa will face Sheffield United in the opening match at 18:00 BST on Wednesday, before Manchester City host Arsenal later the same evening.
The first full round of fixtures will then be played over the weekend.
For the full list of Premier League fixtures, click here.
Where can you follow the games?
All remaining 92 Premier League games will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC Sport or Amazon Prime.
The BBC will show Bournemouth v Crystal Palace on 20 June at 19:45 BST, followed by Norwich v Everton on 24 June at 18:00, and then two matches yet to be confirmed.
As well as the four live games, there will be additional Match of the Day highlights programmes.
Sky Sports will make 25 of the remaining top-flight matches free to air, including the Merseyside derby at 19:00 on 21 June. Amazon Prime's four matches will also be broadcast for free.
For the full list of free to air games, click here.
BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport will also provide live radio commentaries for all the remaining matches, while BT Sport will show the first Saturday 15:00 Premier League match to be broadcast live in the UK when Brighton take on Arsenal on 20 June.
What new measures have been put in place?
All matches behind closed doors, with number of key people allowed inside the stadium limited to 300.
Stadiums divided into three zones - red (includes pitch and technical areas), amber (stands) and green (stand concourses) - with restrictions on who is allowed to enter each.
Teams able to make five substitutions, rather than three, in each match and able to name nine substitutes instead of the usual seven.
Staggered entry on to pitch for players and staff and no handshakes before kick-off. Deep cleaning of corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards and match balls before and after each fixture.
Extra disinfection, such as of the substitution board after it is used, likely during matches and at half-time.
Medical protocols stipulate how squads and coaching staff must travel to and from games, observing social distancing.
Post-match broadcast interviews will take place pitchside with press conferences conducted virtually.
VAR will continue to be in operation.
How did we leave things?
Before the suspension of play in the Premier League, Liverpool were hurtling towards their first top-flight title in 30 years.
The league will restart with the Reds 25 points clear at the top and potentially one win away from confirming their triumph.
If Manchester City lose their game in hand - against Arsenal on Wednesday - Jurgen Klopp's side will seal the title with victory in the Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday.
The race for a top-four spot is less of a formality.
City's two-year ban from European competition (appeal pending) means fifth place will be enough for a Champions League spot.
Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester United are currently occupying the qualification places, but the likes of Wolves, Sheffield United, Tottenham and Arsenal will all begin again with a place in Europe's top competition as their aim.
Down at the bottom, six clubs are seemingly battling it out to avoid the drop.
Bottom club Norwich are six points adrift on 21 points. Aston Villa and Bournemouth are the two clubs above them but are part of a group of five clubs, along with Watford, West Ham and Brighton, separated by just four points.


bbc--2020-06-16--Teenager Fati joins Messi on scoresheet in Barcelona win

Seventeen-year-old Ansu Fati scored his fifth La Liga goal of the season as Barcelona extended their lead at the top with victory over Leganes .
The Guinea-Bissau forward produced a clinical finish at an empty Nou Camp before Lionel Messi doubled the lead from the penalty spot .
Messi 's 699th goal for club and country came after the Argentina forward was fouled by Ruben Perez .
Barcelona are five points clear of nearest rivals Real Madrid .
However , Real will cut the lead to two points if they beat Valencia at home on Thursday ( 21:00 BST ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fati became the second-youngest first-team player in Barcelona history when he made his debut in a 5-2 win over Real Betis on 25 August .
Having moved to Spain at the age of six with his family , he has been with Barcelona 's youth academy since 2012 .
The exciting youngster produced a composed finish to put Barca in control before Messi doubled the lead in the first match played at the Nou Camp since La Liga resumed after it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Leganes are bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety with nine games left .

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Ansu Fati has scored five goals from 10 shots on target in La Liga
Seventeen-year-old Ansu Fati scored his fifth La Liga goal of the season as Barcelona extended their lead at the top with victory over Leganes.
The Guinea-Bissau forward produced a clinical finish at an empty Nou Camp before Lionel Messi doubled the lead from the penalty spot.
Messi's 699th goal for club and country came after the Argentina forward was fouled by Ruben Perez.
Barcelona are five points clear of nearest rivals Real Madrid.
However, Real will cut the lead to two points if they beat Valencia at home on Thursday (21:00 BST).
At 16 years and 298 days, Fati became the second-youngest first-team player in Barcelona history when he made his debut in a 5-2 win over Real Betis on 25 August.
Having moved to Spain at the age of six with his family, he has been with Barcelona's youth academy since 2012.
This was Barcelona's first match at the Nou Camp since La Liga resumed after it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic
The exciting youngster produced a composed finish to put Barca in control before Messi doubled the lead in the first match played at the Nou Camp since La Liga resumed after it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Leganes are bottom of the table, three points from safety with nine games left.


bbc--2020-06-16--Wednesday's gossip: Man Utd make contact over Willian free transfer

Manchester United have made contact with Willian 's representatives to negotiate a free transfer for the 31-year-old Brazil forward , who is out of contract at Chelsea this summer .
( France Football - in French ) Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has opened talks with former club Napoli over 29-year-old Portuguese midfielder Allan .
( Express ) Ancelotti has also made an attempt to sign 35-year-old Paris St-Germain and Brazil defender Thiago Silva on a free transfer , once his contract ends this summer .
( Express ) Gareth Bale 's relationship with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 30-year-old Wales forward remains happy in the Spanish capital .
( Marca ) Jadon Sancho 's future at Borussia Dortmund remains uncertain after head coach Lucien Favre admitted the 20-year-old English forward was among players that could leave this summer .
( Sky Sports ) RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann insists Timo Werner , 24 , is still in his side 's plans for their Champions League campaign , despite the German forward having agreed a deal with Chelsea .
( Mirror ) Leicester City have joined Manchester United in the race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moussa Dembele .
( France Football , via Leicestershire Live ) Chelsea have been boosted in their pursuit of Kai Havertz with Bayer Leverkusen saying they will not 'block ' his exit , after the 21-year-old German midfielder said he wanted a new challenge .
( Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger - in German ) Salary caps could be introduced in the EFL with clubs voting to reduce the threshold required to change financial rules .
( Mail )

Last updated on .From the section Gossip
Manchester United have made contact with Willian's representatives to negotiate a free transfer for the 31-year-old Brazil forward, who is out of contract at Chelsea this summer. (France Football - in French) external-link
Aston Villa will ask for at least £80m for English midfielder Jack Grealish, 24, during the transfer window and have not given up hope of keeping their captain if they avoid relegation. (Mail) external-link
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is keen on Brentford winger Said Benrahma but Leicester City are also in contention to sign the 24-year-old Algeria international. (Express) external-link
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has opened talks with former club Napoli over 29-year-old Portuguese midfielder Allan. (Express) external-link
Ancelotti has also made an attempt to sign Paris St-Germain and Brazil defender Thiago Silva on a free transfer, once the 35-year-old's contract ends this summer. (Express) external-link
The Premier League is back! Here's all you need to know...
Gareth Bale's relationship with Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reached the point of no return, but the 30-year-old Wales forward remains happy in the Spanish capital. (Marca) external-link
Jadon Sancho's future at Borussia Dortmund remains uncertain after head coach Lucien Favre admitted the 20-year-old England winger was among players that could leave this summer. (Sky Sports) external-link
Arsenal's Germany centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, 28, has admitted a move to the Bundesliga interests him amid speculation surrounding his future with the Gunners. (Star) external-link
RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann insists Timo Werner, 24, is still in his side's plans for their Champions League campaign, despite the Germany forward having agreed a deal with Chelsea. (Mirror) external-link
Chelsea have been boosted in their pursuit of Kai Havertz, with Bayer Leverkusen saying they will not "block" the 21-year-old Germany midfielder's exit. (Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger - in German) external-link
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Brazil defender David Luiz is a "key role model" and hopes the 33-year-old will extend his contract beyond this season. (Reuters) external-link
Salary caps could be introduced in the English Football League with clubs voting to reduce the threshold required to change financial rules. (Mail) external-link


bbc--2020-06-16--US Open to be held behind closed doors after New York governor gives go-ahead

Last updated on .From the section Tennis The US Open will be held without fans from 31 August to 13 September , after plans were approved by governor of New York Andrew Cuomo .
There have been no professional tennis events since March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport , '' US Tennis Association chief Mike Dowse said .
Cuomo wrote that `` extraordinary precautions '' would be in place to protect players , including coronavirus testing and extra locker room space .
The United States has the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll in the world and New York is the hardest-hit state , with more than 30,000 deaths .
`` We recognise the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times , '' a USTA statement read .
`` We will do so in the safest manner possible , mitigating all potential risks . ''
Further details about the tournament will be announced on Wednesday .
Queens , the New York borough where the US Open is held at Flushing Meadows , has the second-highest death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre , where the Slam is held , was turned into a temporary hospital to help with the crisis .
Australia 's Nick Kyrgios called tournament organisers `` selfish '' for pushing ahead with the event .
Defending men 's champion Rafael Nadal previously said he `` had little desire '' to play the event , while world number one Novak Djokovic has called the proposed protocols `` extreme '' .
The Western and Southern Open , which usually takes place in Cincinnati just before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York and will also be staged at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre .
The ATP and the WTA are expected to release a more detailed summer and autumn calendar on Wednesday .

Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev to win the men's singles at the US Open in 2019
The US Open will be held without fans from 31 August to 13 September but suggested restrictions on players' travelling teams will not be enforced.
The Grand Slam will be held at Flushing Meadows, despite some players voicing concerns about travelling to New York.
But there will be no qualifying and no mixed doubles under plans approved by the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo.
"We can showcase tennis as the ideal social distancing sport," said US Tennis Association chief Mike Dowse.
There have been no professional tennis events since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the details in the US Open's health and safety plan, which has been widely shared on social media, were:
Players travelling to New York will be entitled to two rooms in an official hotel outside Manhattan. No more than two people will be allowed to a room, but competitors will also have the option of renting a private house outside Manhattan at their own expense.
Players will not need to quarantine on entering the United States, but will be tested before they begin their journey to New York.
Tests will then be carried out once or twice a week during their stay, along with daily temperature checks.
Everyone at the venue will be expected to wear a face mask, unless playing, practising or working out.
The draw for the men's and women's doubles will be half the usual size (32 instead of 64).
The United States has the highest number of coronavirus cases and the highest death toll in the world and New York is the hardest-hit state, with more than 30,000 deaths.
Cuomo wrote that "extraordinary precautions" external-link would be in place to protect players, including extra locker room space.
"We recognise the tremendous responsibility of hosting one of the first global sporting events in these challenging times," a US Tennis Association (USTA) statement read.
"We will do so in the safest manner possible, mitigating all potential risks."
Australian player Nick Kyrgios called tournament organisers "selfish" for pushing ahead with the event, while defending men's champion Rafael Nadal has previously said he "had little desire" to play the event.
World number one Novak Djokovic had called the originally proposed protocols "extreme" and said it would be "impossible" if he was only able to bring one member of his team to the site.
However, under the plans revealed on Tuesday the USTA says it is yet to determine how many will be able to accompany a player to Flushing Meadows.
Another of the changes is that the Western and Southern Open, which usually takes place in Cincinnati just before the US Open, has been moved to New York and will also be staged at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre from 22-28 August.
The USTA is putting up $60m (£48m), the majority of which will be on offer as prize money for the two tournaments.
But $6.6m will be set aside for the ATP and WTA tours, to allow them to compensate players being denied the chance to compete by the restriction in numbers.
Ranking points will also be on offer - something which is sure to further upset players who are not able to take part.
However, both the ATP and the WTA Tours could resume before the two tournaments in New York, with a more detailed summer and autumn calendar expected imminently.


bbc--2020-06-17--India-China clash: Modi says soldiers' deaths 'will not be in vain'

India 's prime minister has said the deaths of at least 20 soldiers in a fight with Chinese troops in a disputed Himalayan border area `` will not be in vain '' .
Narendra Modi said India would be `` proud that our soldiers died fighting the Chinese '' in the clash in the Ladakh region on Monday .
Soldiers reportedly brawled with sticks , bats and bamboo sticks studded with nails .
No shots were fired .
Both sides blamed each other .
It is the first deadly clash between the two sides in the border area , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 45 years .
India 's army said China also suffered casualties but Beijing has given no details .
The Indian statement notes that injured soldiers were `` exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain '' .
• An extraordinary escalation 'with rocks and clubs' As each side traded accusations , India said China had tried to `` unilaterally change the status quo '' .
Beijing accused Indian troops of `` attacking Chinese personnel '' .
The two armies later held talks to try to defuse tensions .
The fighting occurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strategically important Galwan Valley , which lies between China 's Tibet and India 's Ladakh .
Indian media say soldiers engaged in direct hand-to-hand combat , with some `` beaten to death '' .
During the fight , one newspaper reported , others fell or were pushed into a river .
The Indian army initially said a colonel and two soldiers had died .
It later said that `` 17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty '' and died from their injuries , taking the `` total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Indian forces appear to have been massively outnumbered by Chinese troops .
A senior Indian military official told the BBC there were 55 Indians versus 300 Chinese , who he described as `` the Death Squad '' .
`` They hit our boys on the head with metal batons wrapped in barbed wire .
Our boys fought with bare hands , '' the officer , who did not want to be named , said .
His account , which could not be verified , tallies with other reports in the Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The clash has provoked protests in India , with people burning Chinese flags .
Addressing the confrontation for the first time in a televised address on Wednesday , Prime Minister Modi said : `` India wants peace but when provoked , India is capable of giving a fitting reply , be it any kind of situation .
`` The country will be proud that our soldiers died fighting the Chinese . ''
He said he wanted to `` assure the nation '' the loss of the soldiers would `` not be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important , '' he added .
China has accused India of crossing the border onto the Chinese side .
Its foreign ministry said on Wednesday it wanted to avoid further clashes but gave no further details .
This is not the first time the two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought without conventional firearms on the border .
India and China have a history of face-offs and overlapping territorial claims along the more than 3,440km ( 2,100 mile ) , poorly drawn Line of Actual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides .
Do n't expect any more confirmation from China The official line from Beijing is that China and India have an agreement to `` peacefully resolve '' their Himalayan border dispute .
The foreign ministry also repeated claims that Indian forces `` provoked and attacked '' their Chinese counterparts .
But that 's where the detail ends .
China has not confirmed how many of its personnel died or were injured .
The Indian media has reported gruesome details .
There are claims that US intelligence agencies think China suffered a loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the closest Beijing has come to any official confirmation is a tweet from the state-run Global Times newspaper saying it has `` never reported the exact casualties on the Chinese side ' '' .
The main reason is that China just does n't do that .
Going back decades it 's never given contemporaneous confirmation on military deaths outside of peacekeeping duties .
Sometimes numbers have emerged , but many , many years later .
On this occasion China 's propagandists may not want to fan nationalist flames at home by making much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to admit to a significant and demoralising loss .
Or , as has long been the case , they just do n't want to admit if Chinese soldiers have been killed in action .
How tense is the area ?
The LAC is poorly demarcated .
The presence of rivers , lakes and snowcaps means the line can shift .
The soldiers either side - representing two of the world 's largest armies - come face-to-face at many points .
Border patrols have often bumped into each other , resulting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising between the neighbours • How a new map stirred old rivalries The last firing on the border happened in 1975 when four Indian soldiers were killed in a remote pass in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh .
The clash was variously described by former diplomats as an ambush and an accident .
But no bullets have been fired since .
At the root of this is a 1996 bilateral agreement that says `` neither side shall open fire ... conduct blast operations or hunt with guns or explosives within two kilometres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But there have been tense confrontations along the border in recent weeks .
In May Indian and Chinese soldiers exchanged physical blows on the border in the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim .
India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into Ladakh 's Galwan Valley and says China occupies 38,000 sq km ( 14,700 sq miles ) of its territory .
Several rounds of talks in the last three decades have failed to resolve the boundary disputes .
The two countries have fought only one war so far , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat .
There are several reasons why tensions are rising again now - but competing strategic goals lie at the root .
The two countries have devoted extensive money and manpower to building roads , bridges , rail links and air fields along the disputed border .
Both India and China see each other 's construction efforts as calculated moves to gain a tactical advantage , and tensions often flare up when either announces a major project .
Following the latest clash between China and India , the United Nations urged both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We take positive note of reports that the two countries have engaged to de-escalate the situation , '' UN associate spokesperson Eri Kaneko said .
India also disputes part of Kashmir - an ethnically diverse Himalayan region covering about 140,000 sq km - with Pakistan .

The Indian army initially said a colonel and two soldiers had died. It later said that "17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty" had died from their injuries, taking the "total that were killed in action to 20".


bbc--2020-06-17--S Korea unification minister offers to resign over tensions with North

The South Korean unification minister has offered his resignation over the sharp rise in tensions with the North .
Kim Yeon-chul said he took responsibility for the worsening of inter-Korean relations .
It comes a day after North Korea blew up a symbolic liaison office near the border which was built to improve ties with the South .
The North Korean army meanwhile has said it will send troops into disarmed areas along the border .
Earlier on Wednesday , Pyongyang explained why it blew up the office in Kaesong .
A state media article accused the South of breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mongrel dog '' - while the sister of Kim Jong-un accused the South 's president of being a US `` flunkey '' .
While the South says it remains open for talks , it has condemned the North 's actions as senseless and damaging .
Tensions have sharply escalated in recent weeks - partly prompted by defectors in the South sending propaganda over the border .
What did North Korea say ?
North Korean state media accused the South of `` systemically breaching and destroying '' recent 2018 agreements , including the Panmunjom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's defence ministry to a `` feared mongrel dog '' that was `` bragging and bluffing , rattling the dialogue partner and stoking [ a ] confrontational atmosphere '' .
It closed with a warning that Tuesday 's explosion could be `` a prelude to the total catastrophe of the North-South relations '' .
Meanwhile , the North 's military said it would move troops to two symbols of past Korean co-operation : the shut industrial complex in Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang tourist zone on the east coast .
There was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un - aimed at the South 's President Moon Jae-in .
`` The reason the north-south agreements which were so wonderful did not see ... even a single step of implementation was due to the noose of the pro-US flunkeyism into which he put his neck .
`` Even before the ink on the north-south agreement got dry , he accepted the 'South Korea-US working group ' under the coercion of his master . ''
How did the South respond ?
President Moon 's office on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and warned Seoul would no longer accept unreasonable behaviour by the North .
Despite the explosion of the liaison office though , the South says it hopes an agreement from 2018 in Pyongyang can be honoured .
`` It is our basic stance that the 19 September military agreement should be complied with without fail to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and to prevent accidental clashes , '' the South 's defence ministry said .
It warned , though , that any military action by the North was being closely monitored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any military provocation .
The South also offered to send special envoys to diffuse the current tension , yet the North was quick to reject the idea .
What was the build-up to this ?
North Korea on Tuesday blew up a joint liaison office near the border , but on its own territory .
The office was opened in 2018 - a year of intense diplomacy - to help the two sides communicate .
But earlier this month , the North expressed its anger at the cross-border propaganda and then cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then escalated tensions further by threatening to move troops back into areas of the border zone it left after the 2018 deal .
The explosion of the liaison office - which was empty - was the most symbolic step so far by the North .
Why is this happening ?
Pyongyang 's anger over cross-border propaganda is the official explanation - yet the propaganda is nothing new .
Activists groups in the South routinely send balloons across the border carrying things like leaflets condemning Pyongyang 's human rights abuses .
Analysts think North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation to gain more leverage should diplomatic talks resume .
This would be a message aimed both at Seoul and Washington DC , Jeongmin Kim , Seoul Correspondent at NK News , told the BBC .
The destruction of the liaison office `` is largely irrelevant to the US-North Korea relations , '' she said .
But `` it can still serve as a message that the North is willing to withdraw from any widely-publicised goodwill gestures they had made in the past - if they do not get what they want @ @

"The reason the north-south agreements which were so wonderful did not see...even a single step of implementation was due to the noose of the pro-US flunkeyism into which he put his neck.


bbc--2020-06-17--US Air Force sergeant charged in 'boogaloo' murder

A US Air Force sergeant with links to the far-right `` boogaloo '' movement has been charged with the murder of a federal security officer in California , the FBI says .
Steven Carrillo is accused of killing David Patrick Underwood outside the courthouse in Oakland during Black Lives Matter protests last month .
He was already charged with the murder of another officer eight days later .
Damon Gutzwiller was killed in an ambush near Santa Cruz on 6 June .
Mr Carrillo , who is stationed at Travis air force base , was arrested during a subsequent confrontation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own blood to write various phrases on the bonnet of a car he stole , the FBI said , including `` boog '' and `` stop the duopoly '' .
`` Boogaloo '' is a term used by extremists to reference a violent uprising or impending civil war in the US , the FBI said .
Adherents of the loose grouping , which some liken to a militia , are anti-government and often carry assault weapons and support the idea of a race war .
The Oakland victim , Mr Underwood , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white van overnight on 29 May .
There were large protests taking place in nearby streets over the death in police custody of George Floyd .
A colleague was also shot in the attack , and the accused is charged with his attempted murder .
A second man , Robert Alvin Justus , has confessed to driving the van , the FBI said , and has been charged with aiding and abetting the alleged murder .
In a comment on Facebook , Mr Carillo said the Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their anger to fuel our fire .
Think outside the box .
We have mobs of angry people to use to our advantage , '' he allegedly wrote .
Announcing the charges at the same Oakland federal building where Mr Underwood worked , US Attorney David Anderson said many people would miss hearing the sound of his voice and laughter .
`` Pat Underwood wore his uniform because it signified his authority to protect the courthouse where we are gathered here today , '' the attorney said .
`` This courthouse exists to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law , and to protect the freedoms that we all cherish . ''
A second deputy was injured in the attack in Santa Cruz county in which Sgt Gutzwiller lost his life .
The sheriff 's office is holding a memorial event for Sgt Gutzwiller on Wednesday which will be broadcast online .
• Read more on the US 's militia groups

"Pat Underwood wore his uniform because it signified his authority to protect the courthouse where we are gathered here today," the attorney said. "This courthouse exists to administer justice, to uphold the rule of law, and to protect the freedoms that we all cherish."


bbc--2020-06-16--How our brains are processing the pandemic

Self-isolation , job loss and fear of getting Covid-19 are just some of the factors affecting our mental health during @ @ @ @ @ how our brains are responding .

Self-isolation, job loss and fear of getting Covid-19 are just some of the factors affecting our mental health during the pandemic. This is how our brains are responding.
Video by Angélica M Casas


bbc--2020-06-17--John Bolton: Trump administration sues to block book

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to prevent former National Security Adviser John Bolton from publishing a new book about his time at the White House .
According to the complaint , the book contains `` classified information '' .
The move comes a day after President Donald Trump said Mr Bolton could face `` criminal problems '' over the release .
The book , entitled The Room Where It Happened , is due to be released on 23 June .
`` I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified , '' Mr Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would mean that if he wrote a book and if the book gets out , he 's broken the law and I would think he would have criminal problems . ''
However , the non-profit American Civil Liberties Union said that `` any Trump administration efforts to stop John Bolton 's book from being published are doomed to fail '' .
Mr Bolton 's lawyer , Charles Cooper , said they were looking through the lawsuit and `` will respond in due course '' .
In January , the White House said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details that must be removed , although Mr Bolton rejected this .
However , claims reportedly contained in the manuscript - including that Mr Trump withheld military aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to start a corruption investigation into Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son Hunter - formed a central part of the president 's impeachment trial earlier this year .
The president denied the reports and Mr Trump was acquitted after a two-week trial in the Republican-controlled Senate , which did not include any witnesses .
Mr Bolton joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left in September the following year , saying he had decided to quit as national security adviser .
President Trump , however , said he had fired Mr Bolton because he disagreed `` strongly '' with him .

"I will consider every conversation with me as president highly classified," Mr Trump told reporters on Monday. "So that would mean that if he wrote a book and if the book gets out, he's broken the law and I would think he would have criminal problems."


bbc--2020-06-17--Tshegofatso Pule killing: South African police make arrest

South African police have arrested a 31-year-old man for the murder of a woman whose stabbed body was found hanging from a tree last week , triggering a national outcry .
The man is due to appear in court later on Wednesday .
After her death , South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the culture of silence around gender-based violence had to end .
• Get the latest updates from across Africa Ms Pule went missing on 4 June and four days later a member of the public found her body in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabbed through the chest .
There was a wave of outrage in South Africa after her death and the hashtag # JusticeForTshego trended on Twitter .
'Men need to be part of the solution' The past few days have been difficult for the women of South Africa .
At a time when the nation 's focus has been on containing the spread of coronavirus , the gruesome murders of women like Tshegofatso Pule have been a harsh reminder of the daily violence women face here .
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described gender-based violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His government has in the last few months channelled more resources towards the fight .
Some of the extra funding has gone towards training the police , some towards special sexual offences courts .
But advocates say there should be more focus placed on prevention and , for that , attitudes towards women need to change .
That is something that will need more than hashtags and protests , it needs men to be part of the solution , they say .
• ' I was raped , now I fear for my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous for women during South Africa 's lockdown .
`` We note with disgust that at a time when the country is facing the gravest of threats from the [ coronavirus ] pandemic , violent men are taking advantage of the eased restrictions on movement to attack women and children , '' he said Mr Ramaphosa condemned the brutality of recent killings , mentioning Ms Pule and two other victims : • Naledi Phangindawo - the 25-year-old was stabbed to death in the harbour city of Mossel Bay last Saturday .
Those using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is now in police custody , to be denied bail .
He is believed to be her partner .
• Sanele Mfaba - the young woman had been dumped under a tree in Johannesburg 's Soweto township on Friday .
As many as 51 % of women in South Africa had experienced violence at the hands of someone they were in a relationship with , the president 's statement said .
`` Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence .
With our silence , by looking the other way because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family matter , we become complicit in this most insidious of crimes , '' President Ramaphosa said .
Following an outcry over a spate of femicides last year , President Ramaphosa said South Africa was one of `` the most unsafe places in the world to be a woman '' .

"Gender-based violence thrives in a climate of silence. With our silence, by looking the other way because we believe it is a personal or family matter, we become complicit in this most insidious of crimes," President Ramaphosa said.


bbc--2020-06-17--Australia shark encounter: Teenage siblings film 'really scary' escape

Teenage siblings in Australia have filmed the moment they encountered a shark while snorkelling at Bulli Beach , south of @ @ @ @ @ the shark circling the pair about 150m offshore as they scream and rush to swim @ @

Teenage siblings in Australia have filmed the moment they encountered a shark while snorkelling at Bulli Beach, south of Sydney.
The footage shows the shark circling the pair about 150m offshore as they scream and rush to swim away.
Video produced by Isabelle Rodd.


bbc--2020-06-17--Ramzan Kadyrov denies Georgia journalist murder plot

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has denied reports he was behind an alleged plot to kill a Georgian journalist .
Local media say a Russian man detained by Georgian state security on Monday was sent to murder television presenter Giorgi Gabunia on Mr Kaydrov 's orders .
The journalist sparked a major row last year when he crudely insulted Russian leader Vladimir Putin live on air .
But Mr Kadyrov said that while Mr Gabunia was his `` enemy '' , he did not organise his murder .
`` Trust me , if someone is acting on my orders , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on the messaging app Telegram ( in Russian ) .
`` Giorgi Gabunia had better go down on his knees and ask for forgiveness… Otherwise , he will , I repeat , remain my enemy , '' he added .
Georgian officials have not commented on the allegations .
Details of the alleged murder plot first emerged on Monday , but the story dates back to July last year , when presenter Giorgi Gabunia sparked a row between Russia and Georgia .
Live on Georgia 's main commercial TV channel , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin .
Protesters gathered outside the channel 's building , and it went off the air for security reasons soon after .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at the time called the journalist 's remarks `` totally unacceptable '' , saying it was because of Georgia 's `` reluctance or inability to restrain extremist youths . ''
• You 're not safe in Georgia , Russia tells its citizens The outburst came amid worsening ties between the two nations .
Many Georgians remain angry about the large numbers of Russian troops in two areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke away from Georgia in 2008 following a short war .
What is the alleged plot ?
On Monday , Georgian state security services announced they had detained a Russian citizen identified as VB for using forged documents .
The arrest came as part of an investigation into `` preparation of murder by contract '' , the statement said .
It made no mention of the journalist or of Mr Kadyrov , and asked people not to spread `` fake information '' so they can `` establish an objective truth in this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information `` through Interpol channels '' .
That same day , Mr Gabunia 's boss Nika Gvaramia told Open Caucasus Media that the individual VB was sent to assassinate the journalist on the orders of Ramzan Kadyrov , and that security services learned of the plot from Ukrainian officials .
Formerly a Chechen separatist , Mr Kadyrov is now a staunch ally of President Putin .
Critics have linked him to several assassination plots in the past , but he has denied any involvement .
Human rights groups accuse him of torture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The powerful leader was reportedly rushed to a Moscow hospital for treatment last month after contracting coronavirus , but later told reporters he was `` absolutely healthy '' , while appearing to have a cannula in his right hand .

It made no mention of the journalist or of Mr Kadyrov, and asked people not to spread "fake information" so they can "establish an objective truth in this case". Security services have asked for more information "through Interpol channels".


bbc--2020-06-17--Syria war: New US sanctions target Assad government's foreign backers

Tough new economic sanctions aimed at deterring foreign business activity with Syria 's government have been imposed by the United States .
The measures in the Caesar Act seek to compel the government to `` halt its murderous attacks '' on civilians and accept a peaceful political transition .
But there are fears that the sanctions will make the plight of ordinary Syrians even more desperate .
The war-torn country is grappling with a worsening economic crisis .
Its currency has plummeted in value on the black market , sending prices of food and medicine soaring and prompting rare protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 380,000 people have been killed and 11 million others have been displaced since an uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011 .
• Too big , too rich : Syrian president turns on his cousin Government forces have regained control of most of the country with the help of Russia 's military and Iran-backed militiamen .
However , rebels supported by Turkey and jihadists still hold areas in the north-west , while Kurdish-led fighters backed by the US control part of the north-east .
What do the sanctions target ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for four decades , but they were extended in 2011 to press the government to end its bloody crackdown on opponents .
The Caesar Act , which was included in legislation passed in December , is named after a military photographer codenamed `` Caesar '' who came from Syria with 52,275 images of torture and death from inside government prisons .
It authorises `` diplomatic and coercive economic means '' to `` compel the government of Bashar al-Assad to halt its murderous attacks on the Syrian people and to support a transition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law , human rights , and peaceful co-existence with its neighbours '' .
The act directs the president to impose sanctions on any foreign person : • Providing significant financial , material , or technological support to the Syrian government or to a foreign person operating in a military capacity inside Syria on behalf of the governments of Syria , Russia , or Iran • Selling or providing goods , services , technology or information that facilitates the Syrian government 's production of oil and gas ; its purchases or maintenance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and engineering projects • Entering into contracts related to reconstruction in areas of Syria controlled by the Syrian government and its allies Why could this hurt ordinary Syrians ?
The problem is that Syria 's economy is already in meltdown .
Syrians are going hungry in a way they were not even a year ago .
Economic sanctions are often a blunt instrument and many analysts fear the Caesar Act might miss its target .
Instead , it could deliver a devastating blow to what remains of the Syrian economy after getting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis over the border in Lebanon , particularly the collapse of the banks , has cut Syria 's main link to the outside world .
The result is the real value of the Syrian currency has plummeted , putting the price of imported staple foods beyond the reach of most people .
As well as targeting the Assad regime , the Caesar Act also fits in with President Donald Trump 's policy of `` maximum pressure '' on Iran and its surrogates , including Hezbollah , which is the strongest military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's critics argue that eagerness in Washington to punish Iran could end up delivering an even more desperate existence to Syrian civilians .
What has been the reaction ?
At a virtual session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday , Syrian permanent representative Bashar al-Jaafari sharply questioned whether Washington was concerned about the deteriorating situation for people in his country .
Russia 's envoy , Vassily Nebenzia , also criticised the sanctions , saying the US had confirmed `` that the purpose of these measures is to overthrow the legitimate authorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that `` as vulnerable countries like Syria are struggling with the [ coronavirus ] pandemic , imposing more sanctions is simply inhumane '' .

"I will make special note of the designation for the first time of Asma al-Assad, the wife of Bashar al-Assad, who with the support of her husband and members of her Akhras family has become one of Syria's most notorious war profiteers," he said, without providing any evidence.


bbc--2020-06-17--Carlos Lehder: Pablo Escobar's crime partner freed from US jail

The man who set up the notorious Medellín drug cartel alongside Pablo Escobar has arrived in Germany after his release from a US prison .
Carlos Lehder , a 70-year-old Colombian-German national , became known for creating a base for drug smuggling on a private island in the Bahamas .
Captured in Colombia in 1987 , he was extradited to the US and sentenced to life plus 135 years in jail .
This was reduced after he agreed to co-operate with the authorities .
Lehder 's daughter , Mónica , told Colombian magazine Semana that he had been diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a German charity as he had no relatives in the country .
• Atoning for the sins of a brother Lehder set up a transit point for drug-laden aircraft on the island of Norman 's Cay , 210 miles ( 340km ) off the coast of Florida , with the help of corrupt local officials .
Lehder was captured by the Colombian authorities at a farm , allegedly after a tip-off from Escobar , and extradited to the US , which was then leading a campaign against drug traffickers based in Colombia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he testified against former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega , who had close links with the Medellín cartel and allowed it to ship cocaine through Panama .
Lehder was then placed in a witness protection programme in Florida .
Lehder was given German citizenship through his father , an immigrant to Colombia .
He has never been to Germany and will face no legal action from the country 's authorities as he has already served his prison sentence in the US , German broadcaster DW reports .
His lawyer , Oscar Arroyave , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in returning to Colombia and German authorities provided assistance in allowing him to resettle in Berlin .
According to his daughter , Lehder arrived on a regular passenger flight from New York to Frankfurt .
`` It 's been 17 years since I last saw him .
I 'm relaxed and in peace to know that he 's well , despite his illness , '' she told Semana ( in Spanish ) .
Spiegel Online reported he was escorted by two US officials and handed over to German officials .
It is believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the cocaine smuggled into the US in the 1970s and 1980s .
Escobar - whose partnership with Lehder was portrayed in the hit Netflix series Narcos - was killed in a shoot-out with police in Medellín in 1993 as he attempted to avoid extradition to the US .

Lehder was given German citizenship through his father, an immigrant to Colombia. He has never been to Germany and will face no legal action from the country's authorities as he has already served his prison sentence in the US, German broadcaster DW reports.


bbc--2020-06-17--Coronavirus in Beijing: 27 neighbourhoods not allowed to leave as spike continues

Millions of people in Beijing are living under renewed restrictions , as a spike in virus cases continues .
The city reported another 31 cases on Wednesday , bringing the total to 137 in the past week .
Before the recent spike , the Chinese capital had gone 57 days without a locally-transmitted case .
The outbreak is believed to have started in the massive Xinfandi food market that supplies 80 % of the city 's meat and vegetables .
What are the new restrictions ?
At least 27 neighbourhoods have been classed as medium risk and one neighbourhood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People in medium or high-risk areas can not leave the city .
People in low-risk areas can leave , but need to test negative first .
However , getting a test is difficult - three testing stations told the BBC there were no tests available until July .
Queues were seen outside other centres .
More than 1,200 flights have been cancelled to and from the city and railway services have been reduced until at least 9 July .
Primary school , middle school , and college classes are suspended , sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pools and gyms are closed .
However , roads are open , and companies and factories can still work .
The city is on a `` level two '' alert , the second-highest .
Restaurants , sport , packed trains , even the pub… there we were , basking in the glory of `` normal-ish '' life in Beijing , after more than 50 days without an infection .
The market outbreak has dragged us back into a virus prevention bubble .
In effect , it 's very hard to leave Beijing right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a test in the past week your departure is not allowed , and limited testing capacity is , understandably , being diverted to `` high risk '' groups .
The airlines know this .
That 's why they 've cancelled 1,255 flights in and out of the capital on Wednesday so far .
For the moment , the authorities are managing Beijing districts almost like cities within the city , imposing strict measures where needed in the hope that they can control it .
However , this is touching everyone 's movements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that businesses , government departments , manufacturing are all still operating .
Perhaps because of this , there seems to be a general confidence that the cluster will be controlled - before becoming a full-blown second wave .
Where did the outbreak begin ?
Local media said the virus was discovered on chopping boards used for imported salmon at the Xinfandi market .
The general manager of the market was dismissed , along with other local officials .
• Fear of Beijing second wave after market outbreak The Beijing government said `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be allowed to leave the city , regardless of which neighbourhood they live in .
The market has tens of thousands of visitors each day .
What is the situation in the rest of China ?
In general , China has successfully `` flattened the curve '' in recent months .
After passing 80,000 confirmed cases at the start of March , it has added only around 3,200 since then .
On Tuesday , for example , it reported just 32 locally-transmitted cases in the whole country - 27 were in Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you live in one of the 27 Beijing neighbourhoods where restrictions are in place ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist .
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

In effect, it's very hard to leave Beijing right now. If you haven't done a test in the past week your departure is not allowed, and limited testing capacity is, understandably, being diverted to "high risk" groups.


bbc--2020-06-17--Top sprinter Coleman suspended for missed tests

Last updated on .From the section Athletics World 100m champion Christian Coleman has been provisionally suspended after missing a third doping test .
He claims he was Christmas shopping `` five minutes away '' from home and the tester made no effort to contact him .
`` I have never and will never use performance enhancing supplements or drugs , '' Coleman posted on social media .
`` I am willing to take a drug test every single day for the rest of my career for all I care to prove my innocence .
`` I have nothing to hide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if I 'm not even given a chance to . ''
Coleman says he has been contacted by phone `` literally every other time '' he has been tested , and claimed the AIU tester wrote an incorrect address on his unsuccessful attempt form .
The AIU does not regard Coleman 's explanation for the missing test as a defence , as it is not their policy to call an athlete if they 're not at the designated address .
According to the AIU 's out-of-competition testing guidelines , athletes are accountable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their specified location for the one-hour period they have stated .
If they are not at the location , the tester must wait for the full 60 minutes before leaving .
Coleman - who won his first major title at the World Championships in Doha last year - had previously missed a test on 16 January 2019 and experienced a filing failure on 26 April 2019 .
Three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period can result in a ban of up to two years by the AIU .
`` The system must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I thought the point of the organisation was to keep the sport clean by testing everyone and catching cheaters , not attempt to catch people when they 're not home and make no attempt to actually test them and mess with the livelihoods of people who are clearly not doping .
`` This is n't justice for anybody . ''
The AIU has not yet responded to Coleman 's claims .
His chances of competing in Doha last August had looked slim after the US Anti-Doping Agency charged Coleman with missing three drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it then withdrew the case after it was proved there had been a filing irregularity regarding the date of the first missed test .
Earlier this month , Bahraini world 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser was provisionally suspended after missing four doping tests .

Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Christian Coleman won 100m gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2019
World 100m champion Christian Coleman has been provisionally suspended after missing a third doping test.
The American, 24, has disputed the third whereabouts failure, on 9 December, which has been confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
He claims he was Christmas shopping "five minutes away" from home and the tester made no effort to contact him.
"I have never and will never use performance enhancing supplements or drugs," Coleman posted on social media. external-link
"I am willing to take a drug test every single day for the rest of my career for all I care to prove my innocence.
"I have nothing to hide but it's not possible to show that if I'm not even given a chance to."
Coleman says he has been contacted by phone "literally every other time" he has been tested, and claimed the AIU tester wrote an incorrect address on his unsuccessful attempt form.
The AIU does not regard Coleman's explanation for the missing test as a defence, as it is not their policy to call an athlete if they're not at the designated address.
According to the AIU's out-of-competition testing guidelines, athletes are accountable for missed tests if they are not at their specified location for the one-hour period they have stated.
If they are not at the location, the tester must wait for the full 60 minutes before leaving.
Coleman - who won his first major title at the World Championships in Doha last year - had previously missed a test on 16 January 2019 and experienced a filing failure on 26 April 2019.
Three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period can result in a ban of up to two years by the AIU.
"The system must change," he said.
"I thought the point of the organisation was to keep the sport clean by testing everyone and catching cheaters, not attempt to catch people when they're not home and make no attempt to actually test them and mess with the livelihoods of people who are clearly not doping.
"This isn't justice for anybody."
The AIU has not yet responded to Coleman's claims.
His chances of competing in Doha last August had looked slim after the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) charged Coleman with missing three drugs tests in 12 months.
However, it then withdrew the case after it was proved there had been a filing irregularity regarding the date of the first missed test.
In a statement on Wednesday Usada said: "We can confirm the latest proceeding involving Mr Coleman and we are collaborating with the AIU on the matter.
"As in all cases, a person charged with a potential anti-rule violation is presumed innocent unless and until found to have committed a violation through the established process."
Earlier this month, Bahraini world 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser was provisionally suspended after missing four doping tests.


bbc--2020-06-17--Endangered cheetahs snapped in award-winning photos

Charity picture book series Remembering Wildlife has announced the 10 winners of its cheetah photography competition .
The winners were @ @ @ @ @ entrants , with the winning images showing cheetahs in Kenya , Namibia , Tanzania and @ @ @ @ @ will be published in the book Remembering Cheetahs in October this year , alongside images @ @ @ @ @ .
Competition entry fees will be distributed to cheetah-protection projects in Namibia and Kenya .
@ @ @ @ @ cheetahs left in the wild , Remembering Wildlife aims to create awareness of the threats @ @ @ @ @ images include the top photo and the pictures below .

The images will be published in the book Remembering Cheetahs in October this year, alongside images donated by world-leading wildlife photographers. Competition entry fees will be distributed to cheetah-protection projects in Namibia and Kenya.


bbc--2020-06-16--Virtual guide to 'Covid-safe' galleries

Virtual guide to 'Covid-safe' galleries

Large public galleries and museums remain closed in the UK .
The earliest possible opening date for these spaces in @ @ @ @ @ third phase of lockdown , 4 July .
The BBC 's media and arts correspondent @ @ @ @ @ consultant James Adebayo give a virtual tour around a gallery to show how they might @ @ @ @ @

Large public galleries and museums remain closed in the UK. The earliest possible opening date for these spaces in England will be in the third phase of lockdown, 4 July.
The BBC's media and arts correspondent, David Sillito and planning consultant James Adebayo give a virtual tour around a gallery to show how they might look when they open.


bbc--2020-06-16--A Street Cat Named Bob: Stray who inspired series of books dies

A pet that inspired the book A Street Cat Named Bob has died aged 14 .
James Bowen met Bob in 2007 during his battle with drug addiction when he found the cat abandoned and injured and decided to look after him .
He began taking the ginger cat with him when busking or selling The Big Issue in London .
Bowen eventually wrote a book about their relationship which became a smash hit and was made into a film , featuring Bob , in 2016 .
A Street Cat Named Bob : And How He Saved My Life was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since been five further books released in more than forty different languages .
A second film , A Gift from Bob , which also features the eponymous feline , is due to be released later this year .
Bowen credits his scarf-wearing companion with aiding his own recovery .
In a statement on the official Facebook page for his books , the author said Bob had saved his life .
`` It 's as simple as that .
He gave me so much more than companionship .
With him at my side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'd been missing . ''
`` He 's met thousands of people , touched millions of lives .
`` There 's never been a cat like him .
And never will again .
`` I feel like the light has gone out in my life .
I will never forget him . ''

A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life was published in 2012, and there have since been five further books released in more than forty different languages.


bbc--2020-06-17--How Elon Musk aims to revolutionise battery technology

Elon Musk has perhaps the most exciting portfolio of businesses on the planet .
There 's SpaceX with its mission to Mars , and Tesla with its super-fast hi-tech electric cars .
He claims his Hyperloop concept could revolutionise public transport .
And even his Boring Company is kind of interesting - it aims to find new ways to dig tunnels .
So which one will end up changing the world most ?
It is my contention that it will be his battery business .
Does n't sound that scintillating does it ?
But the compact , lightweight lithium batteries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on wafer-thin phones will soon be powering much more of your life .
• Business Daily : Justin Rowlatt looks at how batteries are powering ahead You 're probably already interested in the potential of electric cars .
But maybe you also have the usual concerns about actually buying one : the price , the range , and worries about where you are going to charge the thing and how long you 'll be stuck there .
Yet the market certainly seems to reckon they are the future .
Just look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefly nudged ahead of Toyota to become the world 's most valuable car firm , even though the Japanese giant sold 30 times as many vehicles last year .
One reason is that Elon Musk has been teasing investors and rivals with the promise of `` battery day '' some time soon , at which he will announce a series of advancements in battery tech .
And cars are not the only vast new battery market .
You might have seen a story I wrote about how the world is slowly weaning itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to our electricity grids are going to be central to the great renewable energy revolution too .
`` We are entering into a nearly exponential growth phase '' , says Prof Paul Shearing .
He 's an expert on emerging battery technologies at University College London .
He expects electric vehicles alone to drive European battery demand up by a factor of 10 this decade .
But this explosion in demand will only be possible if we can make batteries cheaper , more durable and more efficient .
That is a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Musk 's proposed `` battery day '' comes thanks to a whole cascade of breakthroughs .
The first of these was announced just last week when the Chinese battery-maker that supplies most of the major car makers , including Tesla , revealed it had produced the first `` million mile battery '' .
Contemporary Amperex Technology ( CATL ) says its new battery is capable of powering a vehicle for more than a million miles ( 1.2 million , to be precise - or 1.9 million km ) over a 16-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 60,000-150,000 miles over a three to eight-year period .
This is a huge improvement in battery life , but will cost just 10 % more than existing products , says CATL chair , Zeng Yuqun .
Having a battery you never need to change is obviously good news for the electric car industry .
But longer-lasting batteries are also essential for what 's known as `` stationary '' storage too .
These are the batteries we can attach to wind turbines or solar panels so renewable energy is available when the sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't blowing .
Fairly soon you might even want a stationary battery in your home to store cheap off-peak electricity , or to collect the power your own solar panels generate .
The next barrier that is likely to be broken is price .
The landmark challenge in the electric vehicle industry is to get a battery costing under $ 100 ( £78 ) per kilowatt hour .
`` At that point you start to get electric vehicles that are cheaper than the equivalent internal combustion vehicles , '' says Seth Weintraub , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that happens the internal combustion engine will be effectively dead.
, he says , comparing it to how digital killed off film cameras a decade ago .
`` In car dealerships we 're going to go from one electric vehicle in the back lot somewhere , to one gas vehicle in the back lot somewhere . ''
So when will this crucial price-point be passed ?
He believes it already has .
Mr Weintraub says his sources tell him these batteries are going into Teslas right now , and thinks this will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day '' revelations .
Cheaper batteries will address some of the other key concerns potential customers have .
That is because it will make it economical to put bigger batteries into cars .
That has two major advantages .
First , it means they can go much further on a single charge , so you 'll soon be able to buy cars with ranges of 400-500 miles ( 640-800km ) or more .
Second , big batteries charge faster for the bulk of their capacity , so you might be able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 10 minutes of charging .
That 's comparable to the time it takes to fill a car with petrol or diesel .
So expect Elon Musk to announce upgrades for the Model S and X which will combine 400-500 mile range with supercar performance , says Mr Weintraub .
So , where are we going to make all these wonderful new batteries ?
Again , we are expecting some major announcements from Mr Musk .
Earlier this month his private jet reportedly landed at Luton airport .
The man , who actor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marvel 's Tony Stark in the 2008 film Iron Man , is believed to have been flown by helicopter to a 650-acre site just outside Bristol .
The location is reckoned to be the prime UK candidate for one of Tesla 's `` Gigafactories '' , the huge battery plants it 's pioneering .
And he is planning an even bigger factory in the US , probably in Austin , Texas .
According to Seth Weintraub this one will be a `` Terafactory '' .
That 's quite an upgrade .
Gigafactories were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could store billions of watt-hours of power .
By that reasoning a terafactory should be able to make batteries with a total capacity in the trillions of watt-hours .
And the logic of Mr Musk 's ever-expanding factories remains the same .
The bigger the scale , the easier it will be to deliver cost-slashing innovations , he believes .
So where are all the battery chemicals going to come from ?
Tesla 's Chinese partner CATL has found a way to make batteries free of cobalt , at least for shorter-range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot is sourced from DR Congo , where it has been associated with child labour .
There are no plans to get rid of the key ingredient in lightweight batteries , lithium .
There are large supplies in salt deposits around the world .
including the biggest single reserve - as yet unexploited - in the hauntingly beautiful Salar de Uyuni salt plain in the remote Bolivian Andes .
The problem is current method of separating out the lithium in these deposits is slow and inefficient .
The biggest salt lake currently being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chile .
And at their significantly lower altitude , the Chileans can use natural evaporation to crystallise the salts , driven by the intense sunshine of the Atacama Desert .
Despite these advantages , the process still takes months , and only recovers about 30 % of the available lithium .
Which is where a wannabe Elon Musk-style tycoon with a similarly exotic name comes in .
Teague Egan is working with scientists on what he says is a `` nanoparticle '' filter that can separate lithium from other salts in solution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lithium .
Instead of months , he reckons it could eventually take just a few days .
Mr Egan says his firm EnergyX is already talking to key players about applying the technology on a commercial scale .
If effective it could dramatically cut the cost of lithium - removing one of the biggest bottlenecks to the ramping up of battery production.. What this is really about Which brings us back to my original premise - that batteries will be the most transformative part of Elon Musk 's empire .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iPhone of cars - a must-buy product that revolutionises our driving experience , while also delivering him a big fat profit .
That 's what will make us ditch our old diesel and petrol cars .
But there is also something much bigger at stake : climate change .
If cheaper , better batteries enable a rapid switch to electric vehicles , and give us renewable energy whatever the weather , then clearly they are going to be central to efforts to decarbonise our economy .
Astronauts blasting off into space are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a couple of wires attached .
But if that grey box helps us jettison fossil fuels , then the grey box wins in terms of its power to change our world .
Of course , you may disagree .
And if you do , then please tell me why .
@ BBCJustinR

But maybe you also have the usual concerns about actually buying one: the price, the range, and worries about where you are going to charge the thing and how long you'll be stuck there.