bbc--2020-02-07--UK names first woman US ambassador

UK names first woman US ambassador

The government has named Dame Karen Pierce as the new ambassador to the US .
Dame Karen - who is currently the UK 's permanent representative to the United Nations - will become the first woman in the post .
She replaces Sir Kim Darroch , who resigned in 2019 after he called President Donald Trump 's administration `` clumsy and inept '' in leaked emails .
Dame Karen said she hoped to `` strengthen the special relationship '' between the countries .
Prim Minister Boris Johnson called her `` an outstanding and accomplished diplomat '' , tweeting : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drive forward our hugely important relationship with the United States at this time . ''
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also congratulated Ms Pierce on her appointment , saying it was `` a time of huge opportunity for the friendship between the UK and US '' .
The posting comes ahead of post-Brexit trade deal negotiations with the US , and amid rows between the two nations over the future of the Iran nuclear deal and the use of Huawei technology .
• UK ambassador to US resigns in Trump leaks row • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Trump Dame Karen joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( FCO ) in 1981 .
She held posts in countries around the world , including Japan , Switzerland and the US , before becoming the British Ambassador in Afghanistan between 2015 and 2016 .
She then returned to London as the FCO 's chief operation officer until her posting at the UN .
After the announcement of her new role , Dame Karen said : `` I am honoured to have been asked to represent the UK in the US .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important relationship .
There is a deep bond between Britain and the US , built on many pillars .
`` We have a fantastic cross-government team across the US and I look forward to working with them to strengthen and even further deepen the special relationship between our two countries and peoples . ''
Mr Raab added : `` I am delighted that Karen Pierce will take forward this exciting new chapter in our relationship .
`` We 're proud to be sending to Washington such an outstanding diplomat , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The UK has not had an ambassador in the US since Sir Kim resigned in July after the emails - dating from 2017 - were leaked .
In his resignation letter , Sir Kim said the situation made it `` impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like '' .
President Trump branded him `` a very stupid guy '' and said he would no longer work with the diplomat .
The row erupted in the middle of the Tory leadership contest , with the now-Prime Minister Boris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Kim .

After the announcement of her new role, Dame Karen said: "I am honoured to have been asked to represent the UK in the US. I think it is the UK's single most important relationship. There is a deep bond between Britain and the US, built on many pillars.


bbc--2020-02-07--Electrosensitivity: 'I didn't believe people had it, then it happened to me'

Just some of the symptoms experienced by people who say they suffer from 'electrosensitivity ' .
Electrosensitives – who are @ @ @ @ @ electromagnetic fields from mobile phones , wi-fi and other modern technology are making them seriously @ @ @ @ @ double-blind studies have found no evidence that electromagnetic fields cause these symptoms .
The World @ @ @ @ @ not a medical diagnosis , and both the WHO and Public Health England say there @ @ @ @ @ that these symptoms are linked to electromagnetic field exposure .
But , with super-fast 5G @ @ @ @ @ UK , electrosensitives are getting increasingly worried .
The BBC has looked at the evidence @ @ @ @ @ here .

Fatigue, pain, headaches, dizziness, burning, twitching, nausea, palpitations.
Just some of the symptoms experienced by people who say they suffer from 'electrosensitivity'.
Electrosensitives – who are mostly self-diagnosed - say that electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, wi-fi and other modern technology are making them seriously ill.
Years of well-controlled, double-blind studies have found no evidence that electromagnetic fields cause these symptoms.
The World Health Organisation says electrosensitivity is not a medical diagnosis, and both the WHO and Public Health England say there’s no scientific basis that these symptoms are linked to electromagnetic field exposure.
But, with super-fast 5G mobile technology spreading across the UK, electrosensitives are getting increasingly worried.
The BBC has looked at the evidence concerning 5G and health risks here.


bbc--2020-02-07--Quiz of the week: What do you recall about the Super Bowl?

It 's the weekly news quiz - have you been paying attention to what 's been going on in the @ @ @ @ @ days ?
If you can not see the quiz , follow this link .
Try @ @ @ @ @ this link .

It's the weekly news quiz - have you been paying attention to what's been going on in the world during the past seven days?


bbc--2020-02-07--Meet the cannabis chef leading a culinary revolution

The legal cannabis market in the US is booming and edibles - food that contains cannabis - are becoming increasingly @ @ @ @ @ first cannabis cafe recently opened in Los Angeles , although cannabis-infused food can not currently @ @ @ @ @ Andrea Drummer is the co-founder and one of the nation 's leading cannabis chefs .
@ @ @ @ @ as an anti-drugs counsellor .
Listen to more stories from Newshour .
Read more : @ @ @ @ @ recreational cannabis use ?

The legal cannabis market in the US is booming and edibles - food that contains cannabis - are becoming increasingly popular.
The country's first cannabis cafe recently opened in Los Angeles, although cannabis-infused food cannot currently be made on site.
Andrea Drummer is the co-founder and one of the nation's leading cannabis chefs.
But she started out life as an anti-drugs counsellor.
Video produced by Trystan Young.
Listen to more stories from Newshour.
Read more: What are the risks of recreational cannabis use?


bbc--2020-02-07--Joaquin Phoenix's unusual Oscar campaign

After cleaning up at every major movie bash so far this award season Joaquin Phoenix looks odds on favourite to @ @ @ @ @ s best actor .
But his all-conquering role in Joker has been no laughing matter @ @ @ @ @ has used his acceptance speeches over the past month as a platform for various campaigns @ @ @ @ @ is climate change and days before the Academy Awards he is the star of a @ @ @ @ @ funded by the Extinction Rebellion .
This is how Joaquin led a very different Oscar @ @ @

After cleaning up at every major movie bash so far this award season Joaquin Phoenix looks odds on favourite to be named the Oscar’s best actor.
But his all-conquering role in Joker has been no laughing matter for the star, who has used his acceptance speeches over the past month as a platform for various campaigns.
One of those issues is climate change and days before the Academy Awards he is the star of a new short film, part funded by the Extinction Rebellion.
This is how Joaquin led a very different Oscar's campaign.
Video journalist: Alex Stanger


bbc--2020-02-07--Africa's week in pictures: 31 January-6 February 2020

And we end with someone reading a Kenyan newspaper article looking back at the presidency of Daniel arap Moi , @ @ @ @ @ at the age of 95 .

Image caption,
And we end with someone reading a Kenyan newspaper article looking back at the presidency of Daniel arap Moi, following his death on Tuesday at the age of 95.


bbc--2020-02-07--Kabul Taliban: Spies, militants and a mysterious assassination

The fatal shooting of two men in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul - a city unfortunately used to violence - went almost unnoticed .
But then , the dead men had hoped to go unnoticed : according to one source , they were both carrying fake IDs .
Exactly what they were doing in Kabul , and who killed them , remains a mystery that touches upon the murky links between security services and extremist groups in the region .
Who they really were , at least , has become clear .
According to sources in Pakistani intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior members of the Pakistani Taliban - a group that has killed hundreds of Pakistanis in suicide bombings and other attacks .
• 'The bed that saved me from the Taliban' One of the dead men was Sheikh Khalid Haqqani , who held a key position in the Pakistani Taliban 's leadership council , and formerly served as the group 's deputy leader .
He had been accused of involvement in several high-profile attacks on Pakistani politicians and linked to one of the country 's deadliest militant attacks , the 2014 assault on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 150 people - mainly children - dead .
The second man was Qari Saif Younis , a military commander within the group .
In a statement on Thursday , the Pakistani Taliban confirmed the men 's identities and their deaths but gave few other details .
According to one militant source , the men had been due to hold a secret `` meeting '' in Kabul , on the direct orders of the group 's leadership , apparently travelling from the eastern Afghan province of Paktika .
The militant would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a source in Pakistani intelligence , the men 's bodies were discovered in the vicinity of the high-end Intercontinental Hotel - the site of two deadly attacks in recent years .
The deaths occurred last week , but the source in the Pakistani Taliban said the group 's leadership had initially ordered the news to be kept `` secret '' , partly as they were rattled by the assassinations , and partly to avoid awkward questions about why the men were in the city .
It is highly unusual for senior members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kabul .
The group is an entirely separate entity from the Afghan Taliban , with different aims and different supporters .
The Afghan Taliban have been fighting a long-running insurgency against the Afghan government , which is backed by US-led forces , while the Pakistani Taliban have focused their attacks inside Pakistan .
Pakistan has long been accused of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban , and providing them sanctuary within the country .
It 's alleged Afghan intelligence services developed links with the Pakistani Taliban in response .
The group , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now based in the east of Afghanistan , in areas out of the control of the country 's government .
• Who shot the militant at the bakery ?
The statement from the Pakistani Taliban said the men were killed in a clash with American forces .
The US has been holding discussions with the Afghan Taliban , aimed at bringing an end to the 18-year insurgency .
Pakistan is believed to be key in helping persuade the group to reach a negotiated settlement .
The source within the group acknowledged it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to Pakistani intelligence services were responsible .
They have in the past conducted other audacious assassinations , targeting figures wanted by Pakistan who were living in Afghanistan .
For example , in December 2018 a suicide bombing in an upmarket district of the southern city of Kandahar killed a separatist Pakistani leader who had been living there in exile .
Conversely , figures linked to the Afghan Taliban have previously been killed in Pakistan .
In 2013 , one alleged senior Afghan militant figure was shot dead in a bakery in Islamabad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taliban , the bodies of the men killed in Kabul , Sheikh Khalid Haqqani and Qari Saif Younis , were handed over to the group , and a large funeral was held for them on Monday in their stronghold in eastern Kunar Province .
Of course , how the bodies ended up back in the hands of their militant group remains another part of the intrigue .

It is highly unusual for senior members of the Pakistani Taliban to be travelling to Kabul. The group is an entirely separate entity from the Afghan Taliban, with different aims and different supporters. The Afghan Taliban have been fighting a long-running insurgency against the Afghan government, which is backed by US-led forces, while the Pakistani Taliban have focused their attacks inside Pakistan.


bbc--2020-02-07--Fireflies face extinction risk - and tourists are partly to blame

Firefly tourism is on the rise globally but scientists are warning it may contribute to risk of the insect 's extinction .
`` Our guide waved his flashlight at the fireflies .
They slowly engulfed us - we were surrounded by a shiny galaxy of glowing beetle stomachs . ''
`` I reached out a hand and captured one in my fist . ''
Reading this travel blogger 's enchanting experience in 2019 makes it clear why firefly tours are popular , but done badly , it risks killing the insects .
Habitat loss and light pollution from urbanisation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populations , according to research published this week .
But firefly tourism , which attracts thousands of visitors in countries including Mexico , the US , the Philippines and Thailand , is a growing concern for conservationists .
`` Getting out into the night and enjoying fireflies in their natural habitat is an awe-inspiring experience , '' Prof Sara Lewis at Tufts University , who led the research , told the BBC .
But tourists often inadvertently kill fireflies by stepping on them , or disturb their habitat by shining lights and causing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in countries including Japan , Belgium , and India , and social media is magnifying this tourism , she adds .
The tiny town of Nanacamilpa in Mexico became a celebrated firefly spot in the past decade .
Some visitors post their sparkling photos on Instagram , flouting the ban on photography that many site managers impose , says local photographer Pedro Berruecos .
The Mexican fireflies are especially vulnerable to tourists , Prof Lewis explains .
• Mexico : 200,000 in 2019 , up from 180,000 in 2018 The female insects are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they live on the ground , where visitors walking around will trample on them .
`` No blame on the tourists , but if they walk on the forest floor , they will be standing on the female fireflies who will be carrying eggs .
They are killing the next generation , '' Prof Lewis says .
In Thailand , Malaysia and the Philippines , the industry has existed for a few decades , but is usually poorly-managed , she explains .
Males gather in huge numbers to attract females , producing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motorised boats are driven up the rivers , creating water swells that erode the banks , killing the trees where the fireflies live .
You might also like : • Can Finland be carbon-neutral in 15 years ?
• The 'unnoticed insect apocalypse ' : How people in towns and cities can help '' Operators also crash boats into the banks to disturb trees and make fireflies fly out , creating a swarm for tourists to see , '' Prof Lewis explains .
`` There is evidence that even just camera flashes disturb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in addition to the flashlights used by tourists '' .
Is firefly eco-tourism even possible ?
Prof Lewis is keen to emphasise that firefly tourism is often crucial to local economies and should not be banned .
Instead tour operators and tourists can develop eco-friendly practices .
Travel blogger Katie Diederichs and her husband , both from the US , chose an eco-friendly tour operator in Bohol , Philippines for their firefly experience in 2015 .
Travelling in a small group at night in kayaks with just one light , the experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , Katie explains .
`` The amount of light from the fireflies made the mangroves look like Christmas trees - it was really magical .
`` The male fireflies were flying around , giving the illusion of twinkling , while the females blink . ''
The company is run by locals who love the fireflies and want to protect their environment , she explains .
But Katie says they witnessed other operators with `` large motorboat of tourists '' passing by them `` sending waves in our direction . ''
In Taiwan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable firefly tours and created `` thoughtful and effective '' firefly eco-tourism , Prof Lewis explains .
Sites have regulated guided tours with raised walkways that allow small groups of people to walk through the habitat without trampling on fireflies .
Instead of flashlights or headlamps that would disturb the insects , white paint illuminates the routes .
A group of scientists will meet in 2020 to set down guidelines for how to run a sustainable firefly tourism company , Prof Lewis says .
`` It is very important to not disturb the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advises wildlife conservation photographer Carla Rhodes .
She regularly photographs the Big Dipper firefly , as well as other wildlife , where she lives in the Catskill mountains in New York .
Watch where you walk , she says , and be careful with your light sources .
`` And for goodness sake , please do n't ever capture them ! ''

"No blame on the tourists, but if they walk on the forest floor, they will be standing on the female fireflies who will be carrying eggs. They are killing the next generation," Prof Lewis says.


bbc--2020-02-07--What happens to all the old wind turbines?

Welcome to the wind turbine graveyard .
It stretches a hundred metres from a bend in the North Platte River in Casper , Wyoming .
Between last September and this March , it will become the final resting place for 1,000 fibreglass turbine blades .
These blades , which have reached the end of their 25-year working lives , come from three wind farms in the north-western US state .
Each is about 90m ( 300ft ) long , and will be cut into three , then the pieces will be stacked and buried .
Turbines from the first great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of their life expectancy today .
About two gigawatts worth of turbines will be refitted in 2019 and 2020 .
And disposing of them in an environmentally-friendly way is a growing problem .
Burying them does n't sound very green .
Can they not be recycled ?
Wind power goes as far back at least as 9th Century BC Persia , where sails were used to grind grain and draw up water on the windy Sistan plains .
Scottish professor James Blyth built the first windmill to make electricity in 1887 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His second powered the Lunatic Asylum , Infirmary and Dispensary in Montrose ( later Sunnyside Royal Hospital ) .
Instead of using cloth to catch the wind like Prof Blyth and the ancient Iranians , today 's turbine blades are built from composite materials - older blades from glass fibre , newer ones from carbon fibre .
Such composite materials might be light and strong , but they are also extremely hard to recycle .
That does n't mean they have to go into landfill , according to Don Lilly , chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Washington .
Mr Lilly has been transforming fibreglass composites into small pellets he calls EcoPoly .
The pellets can then be turned into injectable plastics , or highly waterproof boards that can be used in construction , he says .
Mr Lilly has received interest from `` several manufacturers '' for his pellets .
He 's also developed a programme to track blades throughout their life cycle , and make it easier to recycle them at the end .
If we `` holistically think about the end of life , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could make fibreglass in the blade easier to recycle , '' says Richard Cochrane , professor of renewable energy at Exeter University .
A second avenue for recycling turbine blades is called pyrolysis .
After first chopping up the blades , pyrolysis breaks up the composite fibres in ovens with an inert atmosphere , at about 450-700C .
The process recovers fibres other industries can reuse for glues , paints , and concrete .
Other products include syngas ( synthesis gas ) that can be used in combustion engines .
And char ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fertiliser .
• What can you use instead of Google and Facebook ?
• Robot tanks : On patrol but not allowed to shoot The problem is significant amounts of energy are needed to activate the pyrolysis , which might limit its environmental usefulness .
It has mainly been done at a laboratory scale .
Germany 's subsidiary of the French recycling group Veolia is researching the technology .
In Rotterdam unwanted blades have been put to a different use .
The Dutch city boasts a 1,200sq m children 's playground called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tunnels , ramps , and slides all made from five discarded wind turbine blades .
Decommissioned blades have also been turned into another playground and outdoor seats in the Dutch city of Terneuzen , two bus stops in Almere , a seat beside Rotterdam 's famous Erasmusbrug bridge .
Césare Peeren , an architect from Rotterdam 's Superuse Studios is currently waiting for planning permission to turn two 55m blades into a bridge in Denmark 's city of Ålborg , he says .
Meanwhile new rotors are only getting bigger .
`` Twenty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to ask ourselves what is the most powerful offshore wind turbine that we could imagine , '' says Vincent Schellings , who works for General Electric in the Dutch city of Enschede .
`` We could n't picture anything much more powerful than a three megawatt ( MW ) output , but even that seemed a challenge , '' he says .
Mr Schellings recently led the development team for GE 's Haliade-X , now the world 's largest wind turbine .
It produces 12MW - four times the amount he imagined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yield 45 % more energy than previous offshore turbines .
`` So we are going to see much bigger turbines offshore in this decade , and the reason is size matters , '' says Rolf Kragelund , Danish-based director of offshore wind for the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie .
Bigger onshore turbines can access faster wind speeds , higher in the sky .
They can produce more energy , meaning you need fewer of them , which saves money on transport , installation and servicing .
Siemens Gamesa says 20 of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 94m blades , could power Liverpool , with a population of half a million .
But large turbines bring along their own challenges , including what to do with them when they are no longer needed .
Bigger blades `` need bigger factories , bigger vessels , cables , foundations , and handling equipment , '' says Ray Thompson , global business development head at Spanish-headquartered Siemens Gamesa , one of the world 's two largest wind turbine makers .
Longer blades can make for bigger recycling headaches , too .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most difficult , and the most expensive part '' of turbines to recycle , Mr Kragelund says .
And there 's more of it .
There 's some reselling of second-hand turbine components from Europe to the Middle East and Asia pacific , he says .
Big data , leading to better maintenance regimes and more reliable components could also mean today 's blades might last longer , says Siemens 's Mr Thompson .
Recycling has made more progress so far in the onshore than offshore industry , which is newer , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work being done to find ways to recycle materials from old turbines , '' it `` would be nice to see more design input now , so that 's easier in the future , '' says Prof Cochrane .

These blades, which have reached the end of their 25-year working lives, come from three wind farms in the north-western US state. Each will be cut into three, then the pieces will be stacked and buried.


bbc--2020-02-07--Rain delays start of England's second ODI against South Africa

Rain delayed the start of England 's second one-day international against South Africa in Durban , with the toss pushed @ @ @ @ @ Despite the threat of further rain , play will get under way at 12:45 , @ @ @ @ @ 45 overs per side .
The hosts are 1-0 up in the three-match series after @ @ @ @ @ the first ODI in Cape Town on Tuesday .
The third ODI takes place in @ @ @ @ @ GMT .
England 's previous two ODIs against South Africa in Durban in 2005 and @ @ @ @ @ of rain .
• Archer to miss England 's tour of Sri Lanka with elbow @

Last updated on .From the section Cricket
England must now win the final ODI on Sunday to avoid a series defeat
Second one-day international, Durban South Africa 71-2 (11.2 overs): R Hendricks 35*, Bavuma 21 England: Did not bat Match abandoned; South Africa lead series 1-0 Scorecard
England's second one-day international against South Africa in Durban was abandoned because of rain.
South Africa had reached 71-2 when the players were forced off the field at 16:35 GMT by the rain, which had already caused a delayed start in addition to two lengthy stoppages.
The hosts remain 1-0 up in the three-match series after victory in the first ODI in Cape Town.
The third ODI takes place in Johannesburg on Sunday at 08:00 GMT.
England's previous two ODIs against South Africa in Durban in 2005 and 2009 were also both abandoned because of rain.
South Africa had made a decent start at Kingsmead after being put in to bat, with opener Reeza Hendricks hitting three fours in his unbeaten 35 off 34 balls.
Temba Bavuma also looked to be in good form - hoisting Tom Curran for a huge six into the leg side before being trapped in front by Chris Jordan from what proved to be the final delivery of the ill-fated contest.
Proteas captain Quinton de Kock was bowled by Joe Root for 11, missing a delivery that skidded on while trying to cut.


bbc--2020-02-07--England v India: Natalie Sciver makes half-century in four-wicket win

Natalie Sciver led England to a four-wicket win over India in their third match of the T20 tri-series .
Sciver 's composed 50 from 38 balls rescued England after they slipped to 28-3 , chasing 124 for victory at the Junction Oval in Melbourne .
India had earlier posted an underwhelming 123-6 from their 20 overs , with pace bowlers Anya Shrubsole taking 3-31 and Katherine Brunt 2-23 .
Despite losing regular wickets , England secured victory with seven balls left .
England lost their opening match against India before beating Australia in a super over on Saturday .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GMT ) before the final takes place on 12 February .
India started well , with Smriti Mandhana in particular looking strong down the ground , but she was the only batter to find any fluency on a slow pitch .
Mandhana made 45 from 40 balls , hitting seven fours and India 's sole six of the innings , but after she was stumped off Brunt , India faltered .
They hit just four boundaries in the final 10 overs , with the batters struggling for rhythm as England took pace off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chase for England but once again their openers faltered , with Amy Jones falling to the sixth ball of the innings as she offered a simple catch to mid-on .
With the Women 's T20 World Cup just 14 days away , England experimented with their line-up , sending all-rounder Brunt to bat at three , but she and Danni Wyatt were unable to hit out .
When they both fell , England were in trouble , but Sciver played a smart innings , working singles and rotating the strike before hitting out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up her half-century in fine style , striking left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad for six , but she was left frustrated after chipping her next delivery back to the bowler .
Tammy Beaumont was run out with only three runs needed for victory but Lauren Winfield hit her second ball through the hands of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur to wrap up victory .
While England will be pleased to avenge their loss to India , they may be frustrated that they were not able to make a more convincing go of the chase .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning ( 01:10 GMT ) , it will guarantee an Australia-England final , whatever happens when they meet on Sunday ( 00:40 GMT ) .
'Bit of a non-event ' - what they said England captain Heather Knight : `` It was a bit of a non-event as a game , the pitch was a little bit slow so we had to change our plans and to keep them to 123 was really pleasing .
`` We all know how good Nat is with the bat , she did the job and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the line . ''
Player of the match Anya Shrubsole : `` It was n't one of the prettiest games of cricket we 'll ever see , but it 's another win in the bank and hopefully we can take the momentum on .
`` The pitch was a little bit slow , a lot of our seamers bowled with the pace off and into the wicket , so some good lessons going into the next game . ''
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur : `` We were not able to give our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , but for them to do well we need to put decent totals on the board .
We have to win tomorrow 's game . ''

Last updated on .From the section Women's Cricket
Shafali Verma was the first wicket to fall as India struggled to build an innings against England
T20 tri-series, Junction Oval, Melbourne India 123-6 (20 overs): Mandhana 45, Shrubsole 3-31, Brunt 2-23 England 124-6 (18.5 overs): Sciver 50, Gayakwad 3-23 England won by four wickets Scorecard
Natalie Sciver led England to a four-wicket win over India in their third match of the T20 tri-series.
Sciver's composed 50 from 38 balls rescued England after they slipped to 28-3, chasing 124 for victory at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.
India had earlier posted an underwhelming 123-6 from their 20 overs, with pace bowlers Anya Shrubsole taking 3-31 and Katherine Brunt 2-23.
Despite losing regular wickets, England secured victory with seven balls left.
England lost their opening match against India before beating Australia in a super over on Saturday.
They face Australia again on Sunday (00:40 GMT) before the final takes place on 12 February.
India started well, with Smriti Mandhana in particular looking strong down the ground, but she was the only batter to find any fluency on a slow pitch.
Mandhana made 45 from 40 balls, hitting seven fours and India's sole six of the innings, but after she was stumped off Brunt, India faltered.
They hit just four boundaries in the final 10 overs, with the batters struggling for rhythm as England took pace off the ball.
It seemed a simple chase for England but once again their openers faltered, with Amy Jones falling to the sixth ball of the innings as she offered a simple catch to mid-on.
With the Women's T20 World Cup just 14 days away, England experimented with their line-up, sending all-rounder Brunt to bat at three, but she and Danni Wyatt were unable to hit out.
When they both fell, England were in trouble, but Sciver played a smart innings, working singles and rotating the strike before hitting out in the final overs.
She brought up her half-century in fine style, striking left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad for six, but she was left frustrated after chipping her next delivery back to the bowler.
Tammy Beaumont was run out with only three runs needed for victory but Lauren Winfield hit her second ball through the hands of India captain Harmanpreet Kaur to wrap up victory.
While England will be pleased to avenge their loss to India, they may be frustrated that they were not able to make a more convincing go of the chase.
But should India lose to Australia on Saturday morning (01:10 GMT), it will guarantee an Australia-England final, whatever happens when they meet on Sunday (00:40 GMT).
'Bit of a non-event' - what they said
England captain Heather Knight: "It was a bit of a non-event as a game, the pitch was a little bit slow so we had to change our plans and to keep them to 123 was really pleasing.
"We all know how good Nat is with the bat, she did the job and it was just a case of getting over the line."
Player of the match Anya Shrubsole: "It wasn't one of the prettiest games of cricket we'll ever see, but it's another win in the bank and hopefully we can take the momentum on.
"The pitch was a little bit slow, a lot of our seamers bowled with the pace off and into the wicket, so some good lessons going into the next game."
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: "We were not able to give our best. The spinners are doing really well, but for them to do well we need to put decent totals on the board. We have to win tomorrow's game."


bbc--2020-02-07--Coronavirus: iPhone manufacturer Foxconn to make masks

Electronics giant Foxconn , maker of the Apple iPhone , is taking the unusual step of switching part of its production to making surgical masks .
The firm is also pushing to be allowed to reopen its regular production lines making electronics , which have been closed due to the coronavirus .
The outbreak has seen demand for masks soar and caused a shortage of supplies around the world .
Foxconn aims to produce two million masks a day by the end of the month .
`` In this war against the epidemic , every second counts , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WeChat .
`` The earlier we take precautionary actions , the earlier we can prevent the virus , the earlier we can save lives , the sooner we can overcome this . ''
As well as the iPhone , Foxconn , the world 's largest electronics manufacturer , makes parts and consumer electronics products including the iPad , Amazon 's Kindle , and PlayStations .
The company said it had already started test production of masks at its flagship manufacturing plant in Shenzhen in southern China .
The masks would in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection , something that the firm believes : `` is not just Foxconn 's biggest corporate responsibility , but also our social responsibility '' .
Once full production had started it would start providing masks to people outside the company , it added .
The firm also said that it would use a new generation of infrared temperature measurement equipment at its facilities to help detect any potential coronavirus infections in its workforce .
Like other companies , Foxconn responded to the outbreak by closing most of its operations during the Lunar New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had kept its factories running during the holiday .
It is now seeking permission from the authorities to restart work at the closed plants .
The announcement came as concerns grow that factory closures and travel restrictions across China will have a major impact on the supply of goods around the world .
Some analysts have estimated that global smartphone shipments could fall by as much as 10 % this year , and cause a shortage of iPhones , especially the new iPhone 11 .
US car maker General Motors has also joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its Chinese joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling has announced that it will set up 14 production lines with the goal of making 1.7 million masks a day .

Like other companies, Foxconn responded to the outbreak by closing most of its operations during the Lunar New Year break. In previous years it had kept its factories running during the holiday. It is now seeking permission from the authorities to restart work at the closed plants.


bbc--2020-02-07--A visual guide to the outbreak

A visual guide to the outbreak

A respiratory virus first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan has now infected thousands of Chinese citizens and spread to a number of other countries .
The fast-moving infection , which causes pneumonia-like symptoms , has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization .
It has claimed hundreds of lives and prompted Chinese authorities to quarantine several major cities .
A number of countries have advised against all non-essential travel to China .
These maps and graphics will help you understand what is going on .
1 .
Cases have been mainly in China Thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with central Hubei province the worst-affected .
The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) is warning the number of cases is likely to rise further .
However , the latest figures released on Friday show the number of confirmed cases has dropped for two consecutive days .
It remains to be seen whether this trend continues .
Chinese authorities have introduced a number of measures to try to halt the virus 's spread .
Travel restrictions have been imposed on a number of cities in Hubei province and people have been asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lifts in high-rise buildings have also been disabled to discourage residents from going outside .
The Chinese government has closed a number of temples , the Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall and the capital Beijing has banned group dining for events such as birthdays .
Other cities are limiting how many family members can leave home each day .
The WHO declared the crisis a global health emergency last week as a result of the virus 's spread outside China .
`` The main reason for this declaration is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is happening in other countries , '' said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems , the WHO said .
• How worried should we be ?
2 .
Hubei province has been particularly badly affected More than 20,000 cases have been recorded in Hubei province - the centre of the outbreak - which has also seen most of the deaths as a result of the virus .
Restrictions on travel are affecting at least 20 million people across 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the virus emerged .
Its origins have been linked to illegally traded wildlife at the city 's seafood market , which sells live animals including bats , rabbits and marmots .
However , the exact source of the outbreak has not been identified .
Wuhan - which has a population of 11 million people - has gone into lockdown , with authorities suspending flights and train services in and out of the city .
Local officials said no-one from the city had left Wuhan in four days .
`` My university is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and are offering free masks .
It also has its own hospital and ambulance , '' Chongthan Pepe Bifhowjit , an Indian student at the Wuhan University of Technology , told the BBC .
In a bid to tackle the increased demand for medical services in the city , the authorities have built two new hospitals , one with 1,000 beds and another with a capacity of 1,500 beds .
The Huoshenshan Hospital was handed over to military medics on Sunday and is reported to have begun taking patients .
The Leishenshan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 3,500 workers have been involved in their construction .
• How do you quarantine a city ?
• How can China build a hospital so quickly ?
3 .
A number of other countries have seen cases Infections have spread to 25 countries including Japan , Thailand , the US , Canada , France , Germany and the UK .
The majority of these cases are in people who had been to Wuhan .
Some 61 people onboard a cruise ship of 3,700 people off the coast of Japan have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been only two deaths outside mainland China - one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines .
Both men had been in Wuhan , the epicentre of the outbreak .
A growing number of countries have advised their citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to China and many have announced screening measures for passengers arriving from the country .
Some have also been evacuating their citizens from Wuhan and placing them in quarantine to monitor them for symptoms and avoid contagion .
The US has gone further and declared a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would deny entry to foreign nationals who had visited China in the past two weeks .
In response , the Chinese government accused the US of spreading fear instead of offering assistance .
The WHO has warned against closing borders , saying it would accelerate the spread of the virus if travellers started entering countries unofficially .
• US advises against all travel to China Coronaviruses are common , and typically cause mild respiratory conditions , such as a cough or runny nose .
But some are more serious - such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Respiratory Syndrome ) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( Mers ) .
This outbreak - known as novel coronavirus ( nCoV ) - is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans .
It seems to start with a fever , followed by a dry cough and then , after a week , leads to shortness of breath .
But in more severe cases , infection can cause pneumonia , severe acute respiratory syndrome , kidney failure and even death .
A report on the early stages of the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients who died from the virus had pre-existing conditions .
The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has now surpassed that of the Sars epidemic , which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003 .
There were around 8,100 cases of Sars - severe acute respiratory syndrome - reported during the eight-month outbreak .
There is not yet a specific anti-viral treatment for coronavirus , so people with the infection are currently being treated for their symptoms .
The existence of coronavirus was first flagged by a Chinese doctor in late December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police for `` spreading rumours '' .
Dr Li Wenliang , a 34-year-old ophthalmologist , has since died from the illness .
His death was met with an intense outpouring of grief on Chinese social media as well as anger towards Chinese authorities .
• What does the coronavirus do to the body ?
• The Chinese doctor who tried to warn about coronavirus 5 .
You can do things to reduce your chances of catching it The WHO is advising people in affected areas to follow standard procedures to reduce the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand and respiratory hygiene as well as safe food practices .
People are advised to avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections ; wash hands regularly , especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment ; and avoid unprotected contact with farm or wild animals .
Avoiding eating raw or undercooked animal products is also advised .
Those with symptoms of coronavirus should practise `` cough etiquette '' , including maintaining distance , covering coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or the inside of an elbow , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks are in widespread use - both among the general population and medical staff .
Although virologists are sceptical about their effectiveness against airborne viruses , there is some evidence to suggest the masks can help prevent hand-to-mouth transmissions .
Medical advice in China is to change masks regularly - as often as four times a day for medical teams - and Chinese authorities have appealed to other countries to help with supplies .
• Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses ?
6 .
If a case is suspected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has classified the outbreak in the same category as the Sars epidemic .
This means people diagnosed with the virus in the country must be isolated and can be placed in quarantine .
Within healthcare facilities , the WHO advises staff to implement enhanced standard infection prevention and control practices , especially in emergency departments .
The WHO advises that patients should be assessed quickly and treated for the level of severity of the disease they have - mild , moderate , or severe .
It also recommends immediately implementing infection prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothing and limiting patient movement around the hospital .
In the UK , family doctors - GPs - are being advised to place patients suspected of having coronavirus in isolation and avoid physical examinations .
Official guidance from Public Health England ( PHE ) says patients should remain in a room away from other patients and staff and be prevented from using communal toilets .
Britons evacuated from Wuhan are spending two weeks in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital , Wirral , in two apartment blocks normally used to house medical staff .

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


bbc--2020-02-07--Coronavirus: Eating sea urchins and Swiss rolls under quarantine

Thousands outside of China have been put under quarantine , as they remain under observation for signs of coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ from China to their home countries or have been in contact with infected people , @ @ @ @ @ in isolation for at least 14 days .
While those quarantined within China , particularly @ @ @ @ @ reported poor living conditions , many of those in lockdown in the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ in comfortable converted military camps and government facilities .
Some are also on cruise ships @ @ @ @ @ seaside holiday resorts .

Thousands outside of China have been put under quarantine, as they remain under observation for signs of coronavirus.
They have either been evacuated from China to their home countries or have been in contact with infected people, and now have to stay in isolation for at least 14 days.
While some of those quarantined within China, particularly in Hubei province, have reported poor living conditions, many of those in lockdown in the rest of the world have been put up in comfortable converted military camps and government facilities.
Some are also on cruise ships - or being housed in seaside holiday resorts.


bbc--2020-02-07--Coronavirus: Are African countries ready?

Africa is one of only two continents with no confirmed cases of coronavirus however experts have warned that it may not be long before the first case is confirmed , given its increasingly close ties to China .
At least 565 people have died with more than 28,000 confirmed cases around the world , most of them in China .
Last week the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency - largely because of fears that poorer countries might not be able to cope with an outbreak .
`` The main reason for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China but what is happening in other countries .
Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems , '' said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , who is from Ethiopia .
The health systems in many African countries are already struggling with the existing workload , so can they deal with another outbreak of a highly infectious disease ?
Michael Yao , WHO 's head of emergency operations in Africa , notes that some countries on the continent `` have the minimum to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from scratch '' .
`` We know how fragile the health system is on the African continent and these systems are already overwhelmed by many ongoing disease outbreaks , so for us it is critical to detect earlier so that we can prevent the spread . ''
What facilities are there at the moment to treat it ?
Until early this week , there were only two laboratories in Africa - one in Senegal and the other in South Africa - which had the reagents needed to test samples .
They have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region .
One of the laboratories , Institut Pasteur de Dakar , in Senegal has long been on the front line in medical innovation in Africa , including in yellow fever research .
However this week Ghana , Madagascar , Nigeria and Sierra Leone have announced they can also conduct tests .
The WHO is also sending kits to 29 laboratories on the continent to ensure they have the capacity to deal with the virus and also help test samples from other countries if needed .
However it 's hoped that by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries will be equipped to carry out tests specific to the coronavirus .
The ability of African nations to properly diagnose cases `` depends on the new reagents being made available from China and Europe , '' says Dr Yao .
The Nigerian Red Cross Society says it has placed one million volunteers on alert .
Its Secretary General Abubakar Ahmed Kende said the measure was to prevent the possible spread of the virus into the country and also contain the spiralling outbreak of Lassa fever across the country .
In Tanzania , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres in the north , east and west of the country had been identified .
Thermometers have been stockpiled and more than 2,000 health workers have been trained .
Several countries including Kenya , Ethiopia , Ivory Coast , Ghana and Botswana have dealt with suspected cases , placing them in quarantine while tests were carried out .
So far , all have tested negative for the virus .
Uganda 's health ministry confirmed it had quarantined more than 100 people who have arrived at Entebbe International Airport .
Some of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Entebbe and Kampala , while others have been asked to stay in their homes .
Have any lessons been learned from Ebola ?
Dr Yao was involved in dealing with the outbreaks of Ebola in West Africa in 2014-2016 and more recently in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo .
He said he was concerned that there was not enough capacity to treat critical cases of coronavirus .
`` We 're advising countries to at least detect cases early to avoid spreading the new virus within the community - that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
On a positive note , many African countries were already screening passengers arriving at their ports of entry for Ebola .
Countries that dealt with the Ebola outbreak still have the isolation facilities and expertise in controlling infectious diseases .
But when it comes to detection , Ebola is different to the coronavirus .
Ebola only became infectious when symptoms showed however there have been reports that in some cases , the coronavirus may have been transmitted before patients were showing symptoms .
Learn more about the new virus • How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city now in lockdown • Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses ?
What about travel between the continent and China ?
Increasingly close trade links between China and African countries have heightened concerns that the virus could spread .
China is Africa 's biggest trade partner and around 10,000 Chinese firms are currently operating throughout the continent .
According to Chinese state media , more than one million Chinese nationals live in African countries .
There are also more than 80,000 African students in China , often attracted by government scholarships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student from Cameroon was reported to have contracted the virus after a trip to Wuhan and is being treated in hospital .
Chinese students are also travelling to the continent , attracted again by government scholarships .
Students like Zambian Tisiliyani Salima have been in self-imposed quarantine for more than two weeks .
Every morning she wakes up to news of scores of more deaths and thousands of new cases of infections in Wuhan .
Despite the draconian measures taken across the city , there is little sign that the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China is better equipped to deal with the outbreak of the coronavirus than African student 's home nations does little to calm the anxieties of many of the African students living in the surrounding province , Hubei .
There are thought to be thousands of Africans living across the province where the virus originated .
Students from Nigeria , Zambia , Tanzania , Cameroon and Ivory Coast are starting to lose hope that their governments will listen to their calls to be evacuated .
As trade links continue to increase , so does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and China .
The number of passengers is now a concern .
Dr John Nkengasong , director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention , wrote in the journal Nature that the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Asia as a result of air traffic and vast population movements , should be of significance in Africa .
The 2002 outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( Sars ) largely spared the continent with only one imported case reported in South Africa `` but air traffic between China and Africa has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past decade as a result of the rapid expansion of Chinese investment in Africa '' , he writes .
Many airlines across the world have suspended flights to and from China .
In response , airlines in Africa have been under intense public pressure to halt flights .
The airlines of Egypt , Kenya , Morocco and Rwanda have halted flights but the continent 's biggest airline - Ethiopian Airlines - has carried on with operations .
The WHO has advised against travel restrictions and instead identified 13 top priority countries in Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or high volume of travel to China need to be particularly vigilant .
It plans to have support staff in all 13 countries by the end of the week .
`` A new and unknown virus is often scary and many people are worried , '' says Dr Matshidiso Moeti , WHO 's regional head for Africa .
`` But all efforts to combat the novel coronavirus must be based on sound science . ''

"That may be for several reasons - for instance the droplets that carry the virus may not stay suspended in humid air for as long - and warmer temperatures can lead to the virus degrading when it's outside the body more quickly," she told the BBC's Newsday programme.


bbc--2020-02-07--Vindman: Trump impeachment witness escorted from White House

An aide who testified against President Donald Trump in the impeachment hearings has been escorted out of the White House , says his lawyer .
Lt Colonel Alexander Vindman has been transferred from the National Security Council ( NSC ) back to the Pentagon .
The White House Ukraine expert 's attorney said his client `` was asked to leave for telling the truth '' .
Mr Trump is said to desire a staff shake-up after senators cleared him in the impeachment case on Wednesday .
Lt Col Vindman and his twin brother , Yevgeny Vindman , a senior lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the Department of the Army on Friday .
Lt Col Vindman 's counsel , David Pressman , told the BBC his client had been `` escorted out of the White House where he has dutifully served his country and his President '' .
`` There is no question in the mind of any American why this man 's job is over , why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House , '' said the statement .
`` LTC Vindman was asked to leave for telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment to right , frightened the powerful . ''
It added : `` The truth has cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job , his career , and his privacy . ''
The statement continued : `` The most powerful man in the world - buoyed by the silent , the pliable , and the complicit - has decided to exact revenge . ''
Lt Col Vindman had reportedly turned up for work at the White House as usual on Friday .
What did Trump and his administration say ?
As he left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Trump told reporters : `` I 'm not happy with him [ Lt Col Vindman ] .
`` You think I 'm supposed to be happy with him ?
I 'm not . ''
According to White House sources , Lt Col Vindman had been expecting a transfer .
He was telling colleagues for weeks that he was ready to move back to the defence department , where he still holds active-duty soldier status .
Earlier on Friday , US Defence Secretary Mark Esper told reporters his department welcomes back all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And as I said we protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that , '' Mr Esper added .
Lt Col Vindman testified to a House impeachment panel last November .
He said he was `` concerned '' after hearing Mr Trump 's `` improper '' phone call on 25 July last year with Ukraine 's president .
The call led to Mr Trump 's impeachment in December by the House for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Democratic lawmakers argued that the president had dangled US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When asked how he had overcome his fear of retaliation in order to testify , Lt Col Vindman testified : `` Congressman , because this is America ... and here , right matters . ''
Mr Trump mentioned the Vindman twins in a tirade against his political enemies at the White House one day before ousting them .
Eliot Engel , Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs , said in a statement : `` This is shameful of course .
`` But this is also what we should now expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided he is above the law and accountable to no one.
`` But Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said he would have fired Lt Col Vindman .
`` He 's a leaker , not a whistleblower , '' Mr Massie said .
`` Current Commander in Chief does n't take orders from a Lt Col ! ''
In his comments to media on Friday , Mr Trump said reports that his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney would be fired were `` false '' .
`` I have a great relationship with Mick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmaker Mark Meadows is being tipped by the Washington rumour mill as a replacement for Mr Mulvaney .
Mr Meadows , who is retiring from the House of Representatives where he led the hardline conservative Freedom Caucus , travelled with Mr Trump on Air Force One on Friday .
At a rare White House press conference in October , Mr Mulvaney appeared to implicate the president in an alleged corrupt deal with Ukraine .
The acting chief of staff told stunned reporters : `` We do that all the time . ''
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Mulvaney then walked back his comments in a written statement that said : `` Let me be clear , there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election . ''
Who else is on the way out ?
Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh , one of the two long-shot challengers to Mr Trump for the Republican presidential nomination , announced on Friday that he is ending his campaign .
Mr Walsh , who received just 1 % of the vote in Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern Republican party `` has become a cult '' .
`` I want to stop Trump .
I believe he 's a threat to this country .
He ca n't be stopped within the Republican Party .
Nobody can beat him . ''
Bill Weld , former governor of Massachusetts , is now the only remaining Republican seeking to oust Mr Trump , who will seek re-election in November .
Who will take on Trump in November ?
• Choose your candidate and filter by category • All you need to know about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of a Bernie Sanders boom ?

"Actually, I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my "perfect" calls incorrectly, &. was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, "OUT", Mr Trump wrote.


bbc--2020-02-07--Apple fined for slowing down old iPhones

Apple has been fined 25 million euros ( £21m , $ 27m ) for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models without making it clear to consumers .
The fine was imposed by France 's competition and fraud watchdog DGCCRF , which said consumers were not warned .
In 2017 , Apple confirmed that it did slow down some iPhones , but said it only did so to `` prolong the life '' of the devices .
Apple said in a statement that it had resolved the issue with the watchdog .
Why does Apple slow down old iPhones ?
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down older iPhones to encourage people to upgrade when a new one was released .
In 2017 , the company confirmed it did slow down some models as they aged , but not to encourage people to upgrade .
It said the lithium-ion batteries in the devices became less capable of supplying peak current demands , as they aged over time .
That could result in an iPhone unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components .
So , it released a software update for the iPhone 6 , iPhone 6s and iPhone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance .
The practice was confirmed after a customer shared performance tests on Reddit , suggesting their iPhone 6S had slowed down considerably as it had aged , but had suddenly speeded up again after the battery had been replaced .
What did the regulator say ?
The French watchdog said iPhone owners `` were not informed that installing iOS updates ( 10.2.1 and 11.2 ) could slow down their devices '' .
As part of the agreement , Apple must display a notice on its French-language website for a month .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deceptive commercial practice by omission '' and had agreed to pay the fine .
Does Apple still slow down older iPhones ?
Yes .
Since Apple confirmed the practice in 2017 , it has implemented it on several more iPhones including : • iPhone 8 and 8 Plus running iOS 12.1 or higher The setting is only enabled when the battery begins to degrade , and iOS now offers clearer information to consumers about when performance management has been switched on .
`` The effects of performance management on these newer models may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced hardware and software design , '' Apple said .

The practice was confirmed after a customer shared performance tests on Reddit, suggesting their iPhone 6S had slowed down considerably as it had aged, but had suddenly speeded up again after the battery had been replaced.


bbc--2020-02-07--Antarctica logs hottest temperature on record of 18.3C

A record high temperature of 18.3C ( 64.9F ) has been logged on the continent of Antarctica .
The reading , taken on Thursday by Argentine research base Esperanza , is 0.8C hotter than the previous peak temperature of 17.5C , in March 2015 .
The temperature was recorded in the Antarctic Peninsula , on the continent 's north-west tip - one of the fastest-warming regions on earth .
It is being verified by the UN World Meteorological Organisation ( WMO ) .
`` [ This ] is not a figure you would normally associate with Antarctica , even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nullis told reporters in Geneva .
• 'The closest thing on Earth to interplanetary travel' Temperatures on the Antarctic continent have risen by almost 3C over the past 50 years , the organisation said , and about 87 % of the glaciers along its west coast have `` retreated '' in that time .
The glaciers have shown an `` accelerated retreat '' in the past 12 years , the WMO added , due to global warming .
Scientists warn that global warming is causing so much melting at the South Pole , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global sea level to rise by at least three metres ( 10ft ) over centuries .
Ms Nullis added : `` The amount of ice lost annually from the Antarctic ice sheet increased at least six-fold between 1979 and 2017 .
`` The melting from these glaciers , you know , means we are in big trouble when it comes to sea level rise . ''
While 18.3C is a record for the Antarctic continent , the record in the wider Antarctic region - which includes the continent , islands and ocean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 19.8C , logged in January 1982 .
Last July , the Arctic region hit its own record temperature of 21C , logged by a base at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic .

Temperatures on the Antarctic continent have risen by almost 3C over the past 50 years, the organisation said, and about 87% of the glaciers along its west coast have "retreated" in that time.


bbc--2020-02-07--Coronavirus: Hong Kong imposes quarantine rules on mainland Chinese

Hong Kong has begun a mandatory two-week quarantine for anyone arriving from mainland China , in a fresh effort to contain the new coronavirus .
Visitors must isolate themselves in hotel rooms or go to government-run centres , while returning Hong Kong residents must stay inside their homes .
Anyone caught flouting the new rules faces a fine and a prison sentence .
Tens of thousands of travellers queued at the Chinese border city of Shenzhen ahead of the midnight deadline .
Hong Kong has seen 26 confirmed cases of the virus and one person has died .
The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at more than 31,200 , with 717 deaths .
Outside China , 270 cases have been confirmed in at least 25 countries , with one other fatality - in the Philippines .
Meanwhile , another 41 people on a quarantined cruise ship off Japan have tested positive for the coronavirus , bringing the total number of cases on board to 61 .
There was some positive news on Friday when the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said there had been fewer reported infections in China in the past two days .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading too much into those figures .
He also told reporters that the outbreak had caused a global shortage of protective medical equipment such as gowns , masks and gloves .
`` When supply is short , and demand is high then there could be bad practices like hoarding in order to sell them at higher prices , '' he warned , urging suppliers to `` uphold the protection of humanity '' rather than looking to increase profits .
The WHO also released new data from 17,000 patients that suggested 82 % had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 15 % considered severe cases and 3 % critical .
For most this is a mild infection This is the clearest detail we 've had on the spectrum of disease this coronavirus can cause .
It is good news for most people and emphasises that for more than four-in-five , this is a mild infection .
However , that sheer volume of mild cases raises important questions about stopping this epidemic .
The Sars-coronavirus outbreak was relatively easy to stop because patients were often severely ill and easily identified .
Mild cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other winter bug - are naturally harder to spot .
What we do n't know is how easily people with mild symptoms can spread the new coronavirus .
If mild cases are capable of sustaining this epidemic , then it will be much harder to contain .
It is also worth remembering we still do not know the true number of cases , with some analysts saying there could be 10 times more than official figures suggest .
The semi-autonomous Chinese territory said the mandatory quarantine on anyone entering from the mainland was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
Tens of thousands of people usually travel from mainland China to Hong Kong every day , although that number fell in recent weeks after the territory closed many of its border points .
This week , thousands of medical workers have been on strike , calling for the border to be fully closed .
Hong Kong authorities said about 11,000 mainland visitors entered the territory on Thursday , up from 8,760 the day before .
There has been widespread anger and grief across China over the death of a doctor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Li Wenliang died after contracting the virus while treating patients in Wuhan - the city in Hubei province that is at the epicentre of the outbreak .
In December he sent a message to fellow medics warning of a virus he thought looked like Sars - another deadly coronavirus .
But he was told by police to `` stop making false comments '' and was investigated for `` spreading rumours '' .
China 's anti-corruption body said it would open an investigation into `` issues involving Dr Li '' .
• The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus Analysts say it is hard to recall an event in recent years that has triggered as much online grief , rage and mistrust against the Chinese government .
News of Dr Li 's death became the top trending topic on Chinese social media , garnering an estimated 1.5bn views .
China 's leadership had already faced accusations of downplaying the severity of the virus - and initially trying to keep it secret .
The government has admitted `` shortcomings and deficiencies '' in its response to the virus , which has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainland China .
What is the latest on the coronavirus ?
• Cruise company Royal Caribbean Cruises says it is banning guests holding Chinese , Hong Kong or Macau passports from boarding its ships .
The company has delayed the sailing of its ship Anthem of the Seas from New Jersey after four guests were taken to hospital and tested for coronavirus .
The results of the tests are due on Saturday , the company said .
• Uganda 's health ministry has placed more than 100 people in quarantine as a preventative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • A third person in the UK has tested positive for the virus , and is believed to have caught it in Singapore • Singapore has raised its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition ( Dorscon ) level from yellow to orange .
This means that the disease is deemed severe and spreads easily from person to person but has not spread widely and is being contained • Equatorial Guinea 's president has said the oil-rich country will donate $ 2m ( £1.5m ) to aid its `` sister nation '' China .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world 's second-biggest economy Meanwhile , Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his US counterpart Donald Trump that China is `` fully confident and capable of defeating the epidemic '' .
The country has introduced more restrictive measures to try to control the outbreak : • The capital Beijing has banned group dining for events such as birthdays .
Cities including Hangzhou and Nanchang are limiting how many family members can leave home each day • Hubei province has switched off lifts in high-rise buildings to discourage residents from going outside .

French Health Minister Agnès Buzyn said all of the five new cases were British nationals staying in the same chalet, which had also housed a Briton who had been in Singapore. Their condition is not said to be serious. A further six people who stayed at the chalet are under observation.


bbc--2020-02-07--Fire-hit Australia faces flooding threat

The Australian state of New South Wales ( NSW ) is braced for severe wet weather this weekend as downpours ease the bushfire crisis in the region .
Severe weather warnings for rain , winds and flooding have been issued for coastal areas of the eastern state .
Australia 's Bureau of Meteorology ( BOM ) warned of `` dangerous conditions '' on Saturday and Sunday .
There has already been flooding in Sydney and other areas along the coast .
Friday was the wettest day recorded in well over a year in Sydney , where roads were closed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced flood waters as well , including Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour , where 280mm and 250mm of rain fell respectively .
The heavy rains are expected to continue until early next week , providing relief to some drought and fire-ravaged areas .
NSW Rural Fire Service said the rain had extinguished a third of the blazes there , but as of Friday , 43 were still burning .
`` Good rainfall is being recorded in parts of the state , with a hope it continues to drop where needed most , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system developing off the east coast of New South Wales is forecast to intensify over the weekend , after moving south from neighbouring Queensland .
The BOM has issued a severe weather warning for a large stretch of coastline , from Coffs Harbour in the north to Batemans Bay in the south .
Heavy rainfall is likely to cause flash flooding in parts of the Mid North Coast , lower Hunter , Sydney Metropolitan , and Illawarra regions , and eastern parts of the Central Tablelands , the BOM said .
Damaging winds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , abnormally high tides , and damaging surf conditions were also forecast in parts of the affected area .
The State Emergency Service in New South Wales advised residents to leave low-lying areas `` well before flash flooding begins '' but `` only if it is safe to do so '' .
Weather warnings are also in force in Queensland , where severe thunderstorms are forecast `` to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding '' .
Meanwhile in Western Australia , residents are hunkering down as a tropical cyclone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The cyclone is forecast to hit coastal areas on Saturday , unleashing powerful gusts and torrential rain .
What impact has the weather had on bushfires ?
NSW fire officials said they were `` over the moon '' to see the state 's forecast for a week-long drenching come to fruition .
`` This is n't just one of those scattered showers we saw a month ago , '' NSW Rural Fire Service ( NSWRFS ) spokeswoman Angela Burford told the BBC .
`` This is really helping our firefighters , and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest . ''
However , Ms Burford warned that the largest blazes , in the state 's inland south and near the capital city of Canberra , had received limited showers so far and were still of concern .
Much of NSW has been in drought for over three years , and such conditions have fuelled the intensity of the summer 's unprecedented fires .
Some fires , which were finally contained this week , have been burning for over two months .
NSW fire chief Shane Fitzsimmons said hotter and drier conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
The state 's bushfire season , which began in September , could run until as late as April .
However , he said this particular period of rain `` is breaking the back of this fire season , no doubt '' .
NSW has been the state most devastated in Australia 's 2019-20 bushfires crisis .
The unprecedented scale and intensity of the blazes is a direct effect of climate change , scientists say .
• Australia 's fires 'will be normal ' in warmer world • What 's Australia doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that the peak of fire danger is still to come for the southern states of Victoria and South Australia .
Nationally , blazes have killed at least 33 people and destroyed thousands of homes .
More than 11 million hectares of land - an area comparable to the size of England - has been scorched .

Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.


bbc--2020-02-07--Harry and Meghan attend JP Morgan event in Miami

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a JP Morgan event in Miami on Thursday , a palace source has said .
Prince Harry spoke at the event but it is unclear whether he was paid to appear .
It comes after the couple said they would step back as `` senior royals '' and work to become financially independent .
They intend to split their time between the UK and North America and , from the spring , will no longer be full-time working royals .
They will stop using their HRH titles , no longer carry out royal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formally represent the Queen .
The New York Post 's Page Six , which first reported the story , said the Sussexes were `` keynote speakers '' as they made their first appearance together since the Queen granted their wish to step back as full-time royals .
CBS News host Gayle King introduced Meghan , who spoke of her love for her husband , before introducing him at 1 Hotel in Miami 's South Beach , Page Six reported .
He is said to have talked about his mental health , something he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past .
In 2017 , the duke revealed he sought counselling after `` shutting down '' his emotions for almost 20 years following the death of his mother .
In an ITV documentary last year , Prince Harry described his mental health and the way he deals with the pressures of his life as a matter of `` constant management '' .
• How might Harry and Meghan make money ?
Prince Harry arrived in Vancouver last month , where his wife Meghan had been staying with their nine-month-old son Archie .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January following an extended six-week Christmas break on Vancouver Island .
Since the couple announced their desire to become financially independent there has been speculation about how they might make money .
Public speaking , TV production and book deals have been touted as possible income sources for the couple .
They also plan to launch a charitable foundation .
Currently , 95 % of the couple 's income comes from Prince Charles 's income from the Duchy of Cornwall , a vast portfolio of property and financial investments , which brought in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple will continue to receive money from Prince Harry 's father under the new agreement , although it is unclear whether this will come from the Duchy , his personal wealth , or a combination of the two .
However , the Sussexes will stop receiving money from the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant , which makes up the other 5 % of their income .

It is believed the couple will continue to receive money from Prince Harry's father under the new agreement, although it is unclear whether this will come from the Duchy, his personal wealth, or a combination of the two.


bbc--2020-02-07--Cardboard trafficking gang busted by police in Madrid

A criminal gang that trafficked tonnes of stolen waste cardboard from Madrid to Asian countries has been shut down , Spanish police say .
More than 40 suspected gang members have been arrested on suspicion of environmental offences and money laundering .
The gang has been accused of illegally shipping over 67,000 tonnes of waste worth €10 million ( £8.4m ) .
Much of the waste was stolen from council-owned recycling bins .
A waste management company based in Madrid has been organising the illegal collection of paper and cardboard since 2015 , police said .
The criminal gang is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around €16 million through loss of recyclable materials .
Paper and cardboard deposited in banks is sold on to recycling plants and converted back into raw materials .
The paper and cardboard that was stolen by the gang was mixed with legally collected waste before being shipped to countries in South East Asia , mainly China , India , Indonesia and South Korea .
Pictures released by police show a suspect with his legs dangling out of a council recycling bin as he attempts to steal the cardboard and paper inside .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that members of the gang sometimes `` went twice in a day for the paper '' in `` the most juicy areas '' .
Of the 42 people arrested , three were Spanish nationals and most others were of Romanian origin .
Eleven trucks used in the theft of waste were also seized as part of the police crackdown , named Operation Hartie .
The operation , which was led by the Spanish Civil Guard ( Guardia Civil ) , was supported by Europol , the law enforcement agency of the European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been linked with the waste disposal industry in several European countries , most notably Italy .
A 2015 report by the EU said organised crime in Italy `` plays a significant role in the waste management industry , particularly in the area of illegal dumping and international illegal trafficking of hazardous waste '' .
You may also be interested in :

The paper and cardboard that was stolen by the gang was mixed with legally collected waste before being shipped to countries in South East Asia, mainly China, India, Indonesia and South Korea.


bbc--2020-02-07--Chinese 'democracy tourists' see Iowa up close

To some Americans , Iowa , a rural state in the middle of the US , is dismissively thought of as `` fly-over country '' .
Yet the Hawkeye state is well-known in China .
Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited twice - before he took office in 2012 , and in an earlier stay as a low-level local official on a 1985 trip to study farming technology .
Iowa was once again a destination for Chinese visitors last week , though those who descended upon the state were not there to study soybeans , but democracy in America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourists '' learnt first-hand that it can be a messy way to govern .
The results of Iowa 's caucuses were delayed for days because of a technical failure , causing political uproar in the US .
But the Chinese students did n't seem to mind .
Over the weekend leading up to the 3 February contest - the first step in selecting the candidates who will stand in the November presidential election - they could be spotted at a rally for Andrew Yang , a Democratic hopeful .
• At last , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost ?
The students , aged about 16 , were part of a winter break tour of the US that included stops in Iowa to see democracy in action .
The trip cost $ 7,000 ( £5,428 ) - a huge sum for the average Chinese household - but Liu Junhao , 16 , thought it had been money well spent .
He 'd experienced something unique and meaningful , unlike his classmates ' visits to typical American tourist attractions , he said .
`` If I could vote , I would vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Liu could only hear half of the candidate 's speech , but stared at him awe , star-struck , for the whole event .
Some 360,000 Chinese students now study in the US .
In the UK , the figure is more than 100,000 .
As Chinese people become more affluent and international education more accessible to them , an increasing number of young Chinese want to study in the West .
Understanding democracy has now become part of that education .
Steven Hu , a Hubei native who attends high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months for Joe Biden , working for his campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire , the first two states to vote in the primaries .
Mr Hu , 17 , had ambitions beyond promoting democracy , though .
He arrived at a Biden rally in Des Moines armed with a university recommendation letter- and hopes that the former vice-president would sign it for him .
`` Steven has been very proactive in making a positive impact on my campaign , '' said the letter , written by the student for Mr Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-piece suit , the college hopeful stood waiting next to the aisle , poised to pounce when Mr Biden was to pass through after his speech .
The moment came .
The silver-haired politician approached .
Mr Hu seized the chance to tell Mr Biden about his canvassing work , and asked him to sign the letter .
`` Thank you , '' Mr Biden responded .
Though he appeared to be puzzled by the paper presented to him , he signed it after taking a glimpse .
However , before Mr Hu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden aide seized it and explained the candidate was in no position to sign such a document .
A disappointed Mr Hu took it in his stride .
`` I did n't expect such a letter would be accepted by colleges anyway , '' he said .
He said he just wanted proof that he had participated in the campaign .
Mr Hu viewed politics as a game that everyone in the US plays - a game with high participation but low efficiency , given America 's partisan gridlock .
But he still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great country , '' he said , `` because it successfully created a system that lets everyone be a part of it . ''
Who will take on Trump in November ?
• Choose your candidate and filter by category • All you need to know about the presidential race • Could this be the start of a Bernie Sanders boom ?

Some 360,000 Chinese students now study in the US. In the UK, the figure is more than 100,000. As Chinese people become more affluent and international education more accessible to them, an increasing number of young Chinese want to study in the West.


bbc--2020-02-07--German AfD-backed leader to stay on temporarily

The leader of the German state of Thuringia , who was controversially elected with far-right AfD party help , has said he wo n't resign immediately .
Hit by a wave of criticism , liberal FDP politician Thomas Kemmerich announced his resignation on Thursday , a day after MPs elected him premier .
But now he says lawyers have advised him to stay on temporarily , to ensure government efficiency in Thuringia .
He has declined a pay package of €93,000 ( $ 102,000 ; £79,000 ) .
Legally he is entitled to that amount in salary and allowances for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the figure was widely reported by German media he announced he would stay on his ordinary MP 's salary .
An FDP statement said that if by law Mr Kemmerich had to accept the premier 's higher salary , he would donate the difference to a charity .
Wednesday 's election in the Thuringia parliament sparked outrage across Germany .
Demonstrators outside the government building in Erfurt , the regional capital , chanted `` together against fascism ! ''
It is the first time in post-war Germany that a leader has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mainstream parties officially oppose any deals with the AfD , which has grown to become the main opposition party .
Senior MPs in Thuringia 's parliament plan to meet on 18 February to decide on a constitutional way to re-run the election for state premier .
Chancellor Angela Merkel called the MPs ' vote in the eastern state `` unforgivable '' and said it must be reversed .
No replacement has been chosen yet for Mr Kemmerich .
There are calls for the public to vote in fresh regional elections in Thuringia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CDU ) are resisting that option .
The CDU and its coalition partner in the national government , the Social Democrats ( SPD ) , will hold crisis talks at the weekend .
• German state leader quits over far right backing • How far right caused earthquake in German politics • Just how far to the right is AfD ?
The RND ( Editor Network Germany ) news group reports that the Thuringia premier gets a base monthly salary of €16,617 gross , plus €766 in allowances .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to a €153 family allowance , making a total of €17,537 .
Under Thuringia law , one day in office is treated the same as a month , and Mr Kemmerich is also entitled to a six-month transitional allowance after stepping down .
For the first three months that allowance would be paid in full , and in half for the next three months .
RND reports that his transitional allowance alone would total €75,468 .
Ordinary MPs in the Thuringia parliament get a monthly base salary of €5,803 .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly allowances , Germany 's Die Welt reports .
So the typical income of a Thuringia MP for a day 's work , not counting expenses , is €290 , and that of a national Bundestag MP is €500 .

It is the first time in post-war Germany that a leader has been helped into office by the far right. Mainstream parties officially oppose any deals with the AfD, which has grown to become the main opposition party.


bbc--2020-02-07--Botswana auctions off permits to hunt elephants

Botswana held its first auctions for the right to hunt elephants since lifting a ban last year .
The country has some 130,000 elephants , the largest population in the world .
The government sold seven hunting licences on Friday , with each allowing hunters to kill 10 elephants in `` controlled hunting areas '' .
Officials revoked a 2014 ban in May , saying human-elephant conflict and the negative impact on livelihoods was increasing .
The lifting of the ban has been popular with many in rural communities , but has been heavily criticised by conservationists .
How did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 elephants each were sold at the auction in the capital Gaborone on Friday afternoon , the BBC 's Southern Africa correspondent Nomsa Maseko reports .
Only companies registered in Botswana were allowed to bid for the licences .
Bidders put down a refundable deposit of 200,000 pula ( $ 18,000 ; £14,000 ) .
• In depth : The war on elephants • Why elephants are seeking refuge in Botswana The government has issued a quota for the killing of 272 elephants in 2020 .
The hunting would help areas most impacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildlife spokeswoman Alice Mmolawa told AFP news agency .
Why was the ban reversed ?
Many rural communities believe a return to commercial hunting will help keep the elephant population away from their villages , and also bring in much-needed income in places not suitable for high-end tourism .
But critics fear it could also drive away luxury-safari goers who are opposed to hunting .
Audrey Delsink , Africa 's wildlife director for the global conservation lobby charity Humane Society International , called the auctions `` deeply concerning and questionable '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigation tool or population control method , '' she told AFP .
Ross Harvey , an environmental economist in South Africa , told the BBC : `` There is no scientific evidence to support the view of there being too many elephants .
`` We know that Botswana 's elephant numbers have n't actually increased over the last five years , we have a stable population .
Elephants are critical to Botswana 's ecology . ''
President Mokgweetsi Masisi 's predecessor Ian Khama introduced the ban in 2014 to reverse a decline in @ @ @ @ @ @

Many rural communities believe a return to commercial hunting will help keep the elephant population away from their villages, and also bring in much-needed income in places not suitable for high-end tourism.


bbc--2020-02-07--College cheating scandal: Pimco tycoon jailed for 'chutzpah'

The former head of a top US investment firm has been sentenced to nine months in prison for his role in the US universities admissions scandal .
Retired Pacific Investment Management Company ( Pimco ) chief Douglas Hodge paid nearly $ 1m in bribes to get four of his children into top US colleges .
Hodge has received the longest sentence of the high-profile parents convicted so far .
Prosecutors called him one of the `` most culpable '' of the 35 parents charged .
In October , Hodge pleaded guilty to money-laundering and fraud .
He paid $ 850,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade to have four of his seven children win places at Georgetown University in Washington DC and the University of Southern California as fake athletic recruits .
Prosecutors say Hodge was also attempting to bribe his way into a seat for a fifth child at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles .
They had asked for Hodge to serve two years in prison .
At the sentencing in Boston , Massachusetts , on Friday , Judge Nathaniel Gorton said : `` There is no term in the English language that describes your conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . '
'' The judge said he would have given a prison term of a year , as Hodge had participated in the scam repeatedly and for the longest time , but took into consideration Hodge 's charity work .
• How much difference does going to a top US university make ?
• Exams whizz at centre of US cheat scandal Hodge , who retired from his position as Pimco 's chief executive in 2016 before the scandal broke , has expressed remorse for his actions .
His defence team had argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of his history of philanthropy .
They said he has given more than $ 30m to causes benefitting children around the world .
But prosecutor Justin O'Connell dubbed this the `` height of hypocrisy '' .
A tearful Hodge said in a prepared apology following the sentencing that `` ego '' or `` status '' did not drive his decision .
`` Rather , I was driven by my own transformative educational experiences and my deep parental love . ''
The US college admissions scandal has seen dozens of defendants indicted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children into elite universities , like Yale and Stanford .
The parents - many of whom are celebrities or wealthy business executives - allegedly paid a firm as much as $ 6.5m ( £4.9m ) to cheat on students ' college entrance exams or bribe top coaches to offer fake athletic scholarships .
The colleges have not been accused of any wrongdoing and are investigating the matter internally .
Fifteen parents are still contesting the allegations , and their trials are expected to take place later this year .
US actress Lori Loughlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the 50 total individuals - including coaches and other associates - is charged in the case .
So is Michelle Janavs , the heiress to the Hot Pockets ( a microwavable snack ) fortune .
Ms Loughlin and her husband , designer Mossimo Giannuli , allegedly paid $ 500,000 in bribes to have their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California as fake rowing-team recruits .
She has pleaded not guilty to the charges .
Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman was sentenced to 14 days in prison and a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 to participate in an exam cheating scam .
The ringleader , William `` Rick '' Singer , 58 , is co-operating with the authorities .
Authorities say the scam earned him $ 25m between 2011-18 through his firm Edge College & Career Network .
Children of wealthy Americans often win places at elite universities after their parents make generous donations , an entirely legal practice .

Prosecutors say Hodge was also attempting to bribe his way into a seat for a fifth child at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. They had asked for Hodge to serve two years in prison.


bbc--2020-02-07--El Paso Walmart gunman hit with 90 federal hate charges

A man accused of killing 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso , Texas , last year , where he was targeting victims of Hispanic origin , has been charged with 90 counts of federal hate crimes .
He could face the death penalty under the new charges if found guilty of the attack in August 2019 .
A prosecutor said the shooting was an act of domestic terrorism and an attack against an entire ethnic group .
• Has US neglected fight against white extremism ?
The shooting , believed to be the eighth deadliest in modern US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of 680,000 residents that is 80 % Hispanic .
Crusius is accused of driving 11 hours to El Paso from his hometown of Allen , near Dallas , on 3 August and opening fire with an AK-47 style rifle inside the Walmart store .
He then surrendered and confessed that he was targeting Mexicans .
In a manifesto posted on the now-defunct message board 8-chan , he wrote that the killings were `` a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas '' .
Crusius faces the death penalty on a state capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not guilty last year .
What are the latest charges ?
The new federal charges include 22 counts under the US classification of hate crimes - violence with an added element of bias - resulting in death .
This could also result in the death penalty .
`` We 're firing on all cylinders to stop this .
We 're going to stop hate crimes , '' John Bash , the attorney for the western district of Texas , told reporters .
The indictment references Crusius 's manifesto , where he stated he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ethnic replacement brought on by the invasion '' .

The new federal charges include 22 counts under the US classification of hate crimes - violence with an added element of bias - resulting in death. This could also result in the death penalty.


bbc--2020-02-07--Unseen Charles Dickens letters open window into the life of a genius

Letters by Charles Dickens , revealing his state of mind while working on novels including A Christmas Carol , are to go on display for the first time .
In one , he discloses : `` I have been writing my head off since ten o'clock ... '' despite being on holiday .
The 25 unpublished letters are part of a huge collection of manuscripts , books from his library and personal items .
They have been acquired by the Charles Dickens Museum in London and will go on display later in the year .
The acquisition is being announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
While he was writing A Christmas Carol , Dickens sent a letter dated 9 November 1843 to a close friend .
`` I have half done the Christmas Book , and am resting for two days before going to Chuzzlewit [ Martin Chuzzlewit , his sixth novel ] - that is , if I can call anything rest , with that before me .
`` Yesterday I walked a great deal .
Today I am going out on horseback , for a thirty mile ride . ''
Cindy Sughrue , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letters shed light on Dickens ' `` creative process '' and help answer the question `` what did he do to enable himself to write ? ''
Exercise was clearly important .
Another letter was written in 1846 when Dickens and his family went to stay in Switzerland for several months .
At the time he was starting work on Dombey and Son .
`` It is a tough day , but it is a great thing to get rid of the heat ...
I may perhaps take a boat for exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
Sughrue finds fascinating Dickens ' ability to keep on working , no matter what his circumstances .
`` It 's this mixture of being on holiday… enjoying a completely different culture and still 'writing his head off ' and meeting those publication deadlines throughout , '' she says .
`` He worked hard and he played hard . ''
Other unpublished letters reveal Dickens ' strained relationship with his father John .
And while Dickens destroyed most of the letters sent to him , there is also the only complete exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dickens and one of his fans , a young Danish woman .
In one he offers her advice , writing : `` The state of mind which you describe is not a wholesome one… the remedy for it , however , is easy… action , usefulness .
`` Let me have the great gratification of believing , one day , that the correspondence you have opened with me , had done some good , and made a lighter and more cheerful heart than it found in you . ''
The Charles Dickens Museum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had spent more than 40 years putting it together .
The museum raised the £1.8m to buy it with the help of grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund , Art Fund , Friends of the National Libraries and the Dickens Fellowship .
Mark Dickens , the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens , said : `` This quite staggering material brings us even closer to the man himself , his character , feelings , family and friends . ''
The collection will now be catalogued and conserved - and put online , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter @ BBCNewsEnts .
If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news @ bbc.co.uk .

"Let me have the great gratification of believing, one day, that the correspondence you have opened with me, had done some good, and made a lighter and more cheerful heart than it found in you."


bbc--2020-02-07--Was this Trump's best week yet?

Was this Trump's best week yet?

From the Iowa caucus mishap to his acquittal in the Senate , the US president will have enjoyed the headlines @ @ @ @ @ Gallup poll even showed him with a 49 % approval rating , his personal best @ @ @ @ @ professor of government at American University , talks us through it all .

From the Iowa caucus mishap to his acquittal in the Senate, the US president will have enjoyed the headlines this week.
A new Gallup poll even showed him with a 49% approval rating, his personal best.
David Barker, a professor of government at American University, talks us through it all.
Video by Chloe Kim