bbc--2020-01-17--Serbia migrants: The man offering heat to people rejected by Europe

Some 100 people daily are trying to cross into Hungary from Serbia and Romania , in what Hungarian border police see as a new migrant surge .
The Hungarian government has sent military and police reinforcements , including a naval gunship on the Tisza river , to keep them out .
Some have been trying to reach Hungary by rubber dinghy .
Hungary has a razor-wire fence along its border with Serbia .
It was erected after the 2015 crisis , when more than a million migrants - many of them refugees from Middle East conflict zones - reached Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the border in the Serbian town of Subotica , where a Protestant pastor from Serbia 's Hungarian minority helps them keep warm .
Tibor Varga crafts stoves for the migrants out of old barrels in his garden .
This is his third in a day .
He reinforces the base and thin metal walls of the barrel with old roof tiles , held in place with a mixture of clay and sand .
He scrapes off the red paint , to stop it poisoning the people he wants to keep warm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) stove into his van , and drives it to the old railway sidings nearby .
Serbian charities estimate around 500 men are living in derelict buildings in and around Subotica .
Many have come from refugee camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina , after failing to cross from there into Croatia .
Others are new arrivals from Greece .
Those who try to cross into Hungary frequently allege police brutality as they are caught and pushed back into Serbia .
Between 30 and 60 migrants - mostly from Afghanistan , they say - huddle in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the Austro-Hungarian empire .
They emerge cautiously from the freezing fog to greet the Hungarian priest , who sees it as his Christian mission to help all those in need .
Around a fire fuelled by old railway timber , five men cook eggs in an iron pan .
In one ground-floor room , with a blanket over the doorway and plastic sheets in the window , about 10 men sleep on insulation sheets .
They have sleeping bags and blankets , but not much else , only flimsy shoes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the corner pumps out a pleasant heat .
But it 's a long way to the nearest tap , and the men depend on occasional deliveries of rice , sugar , bread and oil to keep them alive .
Upstairs , a smaller group of men say they 're Syrian Kurds from the city of Afrin , now held by Turkish-backed rebels .
In the crowd outside one young man , Ali , recognises me - we last met in Sofia , Bulgaria , in 2016 .
`` I made it straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there two years , then was deported back to Bulgaria .
I had several months in the asylum detention camp at Busmantsi - now I 'm trying again . ''
A 14-year-old boy describes how , when he crossed the Hungarian border fence a few nights earlier , police kicked him , forced him to walk barefoot , and poured cold water down his neck .
Many of the men here have similar stories .
`` Hungarian police and soldiers are defending the Schengen border of the EU for the sixth consecutive year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal migrants arriving on the Balkan route , '' the authorities told the BBC in a written reply to these allegations .
Hungary has kept a constant `` state of migrant emergency '' along this border since 2015 , when nearly 400,000 migrants and refugees crossed , before the fences were finished .
Since then , the flow has slowed to a trickle .
But now hardline anti-migrant Prime Minister Viktor Orban feels his measures were justified - he has always warned that the `` invasion '' could restart anytime .
`` Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for human beings , '' Tibor Varga said .
`` That hurts me .
These people are desperately in need of help .
I hope we can just alleviate this situation with love and care . ''

He scrapes off the red paint, to stop it poisoning the people he wants to keep warm. Then he loads the 30kg (66-pound) stove into his van, and drives it to the old railway sidings nearby.


bbc--2020-01-17--Pope and Stokes centuries put England on top against South Africa

Ollie Pope struck his first of what will surely be many Test centuries and Ben Stokes cracked a hundred of his own to put England in a dominant position on day two of the third Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth .
Pope dazzled for 135 not out , at 22 years and 15 days becoming the youngest player to make a maiden Test hundred for England since Alastair Cook in 2006 .
Stokes continued his stellar form for 120 to take the tourists to 499-9 declared - the first time England have made more than 400 batting first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pair extended their overnight partnership to 203 , crushing the spirit of the South Africa attack .
Sam Curran and Mark Wood took advantage , Curran adding a breezy 44 and Wood swinging his way to 42 from only 23 deliveries , including five sixes .
After England declared , off-spinner Dom Bess exploited the turn on offer , removing Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza to leave the Proteas 60-2 , 439 behind .
Bad light and rain closed in with eight overs remaining , denying England the chance to make further inroads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to go 2-1 up with one Test to play .
Even with the surface remaining good for batting , England have the advantage of scoreboard pressure and the weapon of Wood , who bowled a fiery spell in excess of 90mph in his first Test for 11 months .
If day one of this match was even , fluctuating and intriguing , day two was an England romp towards complete control .
On Thursday , run-scoring seemed tricky on a sleepy pitch , perhaps because the South Africa bowlers nagged and home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday , England rattled along at almost 4.5 runs an over .
Maybe it was because the surface had gained some pace , or because South Africa were lacklustre .
Chiefly , it was because of the brilliance of Pope and Stokes .
They built on the platform laid on the first evening , when England closed on 224-4 and their stand stood at 76 .
In the morning , Stokes blazed his way to three figures .
Later , after Pope inched his way to the maiden ton , he unfurled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - banned for the final Test - thought he had Wood caught , England declared .
As replays revealed Rabada had overstepped , England skipper Joe Root changed his mind and England continued to add 23 more runs .
The farce summed up South Africa 's day .
After such a chastening time in the field , it is to the credit of openers Malan and Dean Elgar that they battled to add 50 for the first wicket , only for Bess to strike in the gathering gloom .
First Malan chipped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hamza inside-edged to Pope at short leg .
Even if Pope 's first attempt at Test cricket , two matches against India in 2018 , did not yield success , the volume of runs he scored for Surrey suggested he was well equipped to perform at the highest level .
His classy strokeplay draws comparisons with former England batsman Ian Bell , but Pope also has the tricks of a player schooled in the Twenty20 era .
Resuming on 39 , he was initially in Stokes ' slipstream , albeit still playing drives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Later , when Curran was scoring freely , Pope 's progression towards a hundred was painstaking .
He overturned being given lbw to Dane Paterson on 74 and narrowly avoided being run out on 76 , when Rabada missed with a shy at the stumps .
When Pope clipped Anrich Nortje through mid-wicket for four , it brought a first hundred in his sixth Test and sparked some spectacular ramping , scooping and reverse-scooping of the fast bowlers .
By the time England declared , Pope 's first-class average stood 61.14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men in the history of the game .
Superb Stokes does it again The list of Stokes ' achievements currently seems to growing every time he takes the field .
The World Cup and Headingley in 2019 , the International Cricket Council 's player of the year , already inspiring England to victory in Cape Town in 2020 .
On Thursday evening he was happy to leave the entertainment to Pope , but on Friday , beginning on 38 , he climbed into the South Africa bowling .
Stokes peppered the mid-wicket boundary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping spinner Keshav Maharaj - one of the two sixes off the left-armer went out of the ground .
On reaching three figures , Stokes celebrated with a hand gesture for his father Ged , who remains in a Johannesburg hospital after being taken ill before Christmas .
After lunch , South Africa found a way to frustrate Stokes , who drove to point to give Paterson his first Test wicket .
By that time , he had already become the second England player , after Ian Botham , to do the double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
'England are way ahead of the game' BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew : `` England are way ahead of the game .
South Africa are in trouble .
As long as there is n't too much rain over the next three days , it is going to be cooler , there will be cloud around and there will be much more friendly bowling conditions . ''
Ex-England batsman Vikram Solanki on The Cricket Social : `` Ollie Pope makes good decisions .
He reflects on mistakes , he 's honest with himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
He gleans any bit of experience from any experienced players - and uses that as a bank of knowledge . ''
Former England pace bowler Graham Onions : `` I do n't think Faf du Plessis had a particularly great day .
But if bowlers do n't execute their plans , there 's not much you can do .
It has almost been role reversal for Joe Root . ''

Ollie Pope hit 18 fours and a six in his unbeaten 135
Third Test, Port Elizabeth, (day two of five): England 499-9 declared: Pope 135*, Stokes 120; Maharaj 5-180 South Africa 60-2: Bess 2-12 South Africa trail by 439 runs Scorecard
Ollie Pope struck his first of what will surely be many Test centuries and Ben Stokes cracked a hundred of his own to put England in a dominant position on day two of the third Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Pope dazzled for 135 not out, at 22 years and 15 days becoming the youngest player to make a maiden Test hundred for England since Alastair Cook in 2006.
Stokes continued his stellar form for 120 to take the tourists to 499-9 declared - the first time England have made more than 400 batting first for over two years.
The fifth-wicket pair extended their overnight partnership to 203, crushing the spirit of the South Africa attack.
Sam Curran and Mark Wood took advantage, Curran adding a breezy 44 and Wood swinging his way to 42 from only 23 deliveries, including five sixes.
After England declared, off-spinner Dom Bess exploited the turn on offer, removing Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza to leave the Proteas 60-2, 439 behind.
Bad light and rain closed in with eight overs remaining, denying England the chance to make further inroads, but they still have a golden opportunity to go 2-1 up with one Test to play.
Even with the surface remaining good for batting, England have the advantage of scoreboard pressure and the weapon of Wood, who bowled a fiery spell in excess of 90mph in his first Test for 11 months.
Riotous day puts England in charge
If day one of this match was even, fluctuating and intriguing, day two was an England romp towards complete control.
On Thursday, run-scoring seemed tricky on a sleepy pitch, perhaps because the South Africa bowlers nagged and home captain Faf du Plessis was canny.
On Friday, England rattled along at almost 4.5 runs an over. Maybe it was because the surface had gained some pace, or because South Africa were lacklustre. Chiefly, it was because of the brilliance of Pope and Stokes.
They built on the platform laid on the first evening, when England closed on 224-4 and their stand stood at 76. In the morning, Stokes blazed his way to three figures. Later, after Pope inched his way to the maiden ton, he unfurled some outrageous strokes.
When Kagiso Rabada - banned for the final Test - thought he had Wood caught, England declared. As replays revealed Rabada had overstepped, England skipper Joe Root changed his mind and England continued to add 23 more runs. The farce summed up South Africa's day.
After such a chastening time in the field, it is to the credit of openers Malan and Dean Elgar that they battled to add 50 for the first wicket, only for Bess to strike in the gathering gloom.
First Malan chipped a catch back to the bowler, then Hamza inside-edged to Pope at short leg.
Pope fulfils promise
Even if Pope's first attempt at Test cricket, two matches against India in 2018, did not yield success, the volume of runs he scored for Surrey suggested he was well equipped to perform at the highest level.
His classy strokeplay draws comparisons with former England batsman Ian Bell, but Pope also has the tricks of a player schooled in the Twenty20 era.
Resuming on 39, he was initially in Stokes' slipstream, albeit still playing drives and cuts square on the off side. Later, when Curran was scoring freely, Pope's progression towards a hundred was painstaking.
He overturned being given lbw to Dane Paterson on 74 and narrowly avoided being run out on 76, when Rabada missed with a shy at the stumps.
When Pope clipped Anrich Nortje through mid-wicket for four, it brought a first hundred in his sixth Test and sparked some spectacular ramping, scooping and reverse-scooping of the fast bowlers.
By the time England declared, Pope's first-class average stood 61.14, a mark bettered by only nine other men in the history of the game.
Superb Stokes does it again
Stokes celebrated with a hand gesture for his ill father Ged, who once had to amputate part of his middle finger
The list of Stokes' achievements currently seems to growing every time he takes the field. The World Cup and Headingley in 2019, the International Cricket Council's player of the year, already inspiring England to victory in Cape Town in 2020.
On Thursday evening he was happy to leave the entertainment to Pope, but on Friday, beginning on 38, he climbed into the South Africa bowling.
Stokes peppered the mid-wicket boundary, either pulling the fast bowlers or sweeping spinner Keshav Maharaj - one of the two sixes off the left-armer went out of the ground.
On reaching three figures, Stokes celebrated with a hand gesture for his father Ged, who remains in a Johannesburg hospital after being taken ill before Christmas.
After lunch, South Africa found a way to frustrate Stokes, who drove to point to give Paterson his first Test wicket.
By that time, he had already become the second England player, after Ian Botham, to do the double of 4,000 Test runs and 100 wickets.
'A day you dream of as a kid'
England batsman Ollie Pope told BBC Sport: "It has been an amazing day - a day you dream of as a kid. The two things you dream of are to make your England debut and as a batsman to score a hundred for your country. I can't describe the feeling right now but it is definitely a good one.
"You can always picture it but a few years ago you never expect it to happen. To do it today it was as good as I could have imagined. I couldn't take the smile off my face. Hopefully it is the first of many.
"It is going to be hard graft but it was exciting to see the way the ball turned at the end and Woody bowling at 150kph. It is going to be hard work but we have shown some good signs tonight."
Ex-England batsman Vikram Solanki and Surrey assistant coach on The Cricket Social: "Ollie Pope makes good decisions. He reflects on mistakes, he's honest with himself and he works very hard on his game. He gleans any bit of experience from any experienced players - and uses that as a bank of knowledge."
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "England are way ahead of the game. South Africa are in trouble. As long as there isn't too much rain over the next three days, it is going to be cooler, there will be cloud around and there will be much more friendly bowling conditions."
Former England pace bowler Graham Onions: "I don't think Faf du Plessis had a particularly great day. But if bowlers don't execute their plans, there's not much you can do. It has almost been role reversal for Joe Root."


bbc--2020-01-17--Afcon move to January a catastrophe for Liverpool, says Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says moving the Africa Cup of Nations back to January `` is , for us , a catastrophe . ''
The 2021 tournament has been moved from the summer because of `` unfavourable '' weather in host country Cameroon .
And the Reds face losing Senegal forward Sadio Mane , Egypt winger Mohamed Salah and Guinea midfielder Naby Keita for a month in mid-season .
`` If we have to make a decision about bringing in a player , it is a massive one , '' said the Anfield boss .
`` You know for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a club you have to think about this .
It does n't help African players . ''
• Listen : How the tournament 's date change will disrupt Premier League • Who could my club lose during Africa Cup of Nations ?
The 2019 Cup of Nations in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer after the tournament had traditionally been staged in January and February .
The decision , made in 2017 , to move the start of the competition to June was widely welcomed , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a January start also means that the competition will not clash with the expanded Fifa Club World Cup , being held in China in June 2021 .
But Liverpool are one of a number of Premier League clubs who will lose first-team players .
`` I could n't respect the Africa Cup of Nations more than I do because I like the competition and watched it a lot in the past .
It 's a very interesting tournament , '' added Klopp .
`` But , it 's an obvious problem that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the season , although it makes more sense for Africa to play it in our winter when the weather is better for them - I get that .
`` But we have absolutely no power - so if we did say 'We do n't let him go ' , the player is suspended .
`` If a player is injured and can not play for us we have to send him to Africa and they have a look and in one or two weeks they are back .
Nowadays , it should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool can still improve defensively , according to Klopp , despite having recorded nine clean sheets in their last 11 games in all competitions .
The Reds had only managed three in their first 24 competitive matches of this season .
The German suggested that saves made by goalkeeper Alisson and chances spurned by Wolves and Tottenham in recent games have been a factor in their defensive improvements .
`` It 's just used to getting each other , getting more and more convinced about things and , how I said , luck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and football , without luck you do n't have a chance , '' he said .
`` We have to be honest in these situations , it 's not that we defended completely perfect in the last six games [ no goals conceded ] , there 's a lot of space we have for improvement , but we knew that . ''
'You lose the ball and the train starts going' Klopp also said his team will have to be at their best to overcome a counter-attacking Manchester United side , who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Old Trafford in October , when the sides meet at Anfield on Sunday .
He added : `` The majority of the time , we face teams set up like this .
`` We want to be dominant , but we have to protect ourselves against this situation .
Attacking football only works if you use the full width of the pitch in the attacking half and that makes it dangerous when you lose the ball .
`` This game is asking us for perfection .
You lose the ball in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We respect them totally .
The difference to playing at Anfield to Old Trafford is massive . ''

Africa Cup of Nations switch is a 'catastrophe' - Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says moving the Africa Cup of Nations back to January "is, for us, a catastrophe."
The 2021 tournament has been moved from the summer because of "unfavourable" weather in host country Cameroon.
And the Reds face losing Senegal forward Sadio Mane, Egypt winger Mohamed Salah and Guinea midfielder Naby Keita for a month in mid-season.
"If we have to make a decision about bringing in a player, it is a massive one," said the Anfield boss.
"You know for four weeks you don't have them. As a club you have to think about this. It doesn't help African players."
The 2019 Cup of Nations in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer after the tournament had traditionally been staged in January and February.
The decision, made in 2017, to move the start of the competition to June was widely welcomed, especially by top European clubs.
Reverting to a January start also means that the competition will not clash with the expanded Fifa Club World Cup, being held in China in June 2021.
But Liverpool are one of a number of Premier League clubs who will lose first-team players.
"I couldn't respect the Africa Cup of Nations more than I do because I like the competition and watched it a lot in the past. It's a very interesting tournament," added Klopp.
"But, it's an obvious problem that you play a tournament in the middle of the season, although it makes more sense for Africa to play it in our winter when the weather is better for them - I get that.
"But we have absolutely no power - so if we did say 'We don't let him go', the player is suspended.
"If a player is injured and cannot play for us we have to send him to Africa and they have a look and in one or two weeks they are back. Nowadays, it should not be like this."
'We haven't defended perfectly'
Alisson joined Liverpool from Roma in 2018 for £66.8m
Meanwhile, Liverpool can still improve defensively, according to Klopp, despite having recorded nine clean sheets in their last 11 games in all competitions. The Reds had only managed three in their first 24 competitive matches of this season.
The German suggested that saves made by goalkeeper Alisson and chances spurned by Wolves and Tottenham in recent games have been a factor in their defensive improvements.
"It's just used to getting each other, getting more and more convinced about things and, how I said, luck in the right moment: in life and football, without luck you don't have a chance," he said.
"We have to be honest in these situations, it's not that we defended completely perfect in the last six games [no goals conceded], there's a lot of space we have for improvement, but we knew that."
'You lose the ball and the train starts going'
Klopp also said his team will have to be at their best to overcome a counter-attacking Manchester United side, who they drew 1-1 with during the league meeting at Old Trafford in October, when the sides meet at Anfield on Sunday.
He added: "The majority of the time, we face teams set up like this.
"We want to be dominant, but we have to protect ourselves against this situation. Attacking football only works if you use the full width of the pitch in the attacking half and that makes it dangerous when you lose the ball.
"This game is asking us for perfection. You lose the ball in the wrong moment and the train starts going.
"We respect them totally. The difference to playing at Anfield to Old Trafford is massive."


bbc--2020-01-17--Premier League referees instructed to make more use of pitchside monitors

Premier League referees have been told to start using pitchside monitors for red card decisions where it is felt they should have the final say .
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited , the body that manages elite referees , has issued the guidance .
The only time the monitors have been used this season is by Michael Oliver in an FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Derby County .
As a result , he upgraded a yellow card for Palace 's Luka Milivojevic to a red .
This is the sort of incident where they are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The move was welcomed by Premier League managers .
Speaking on Friday Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said `` It is a positive move .
The referee will be taking responsibility himself .
I like that . ''
One case that could potentially be handled differently in future was that of Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 's sending off against Crystal Palace on 11 January .
Aubameyang , 30 , was initially given a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney for a tackle on midfielder Max Meyer , but the decision was changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referee .
It is felt by the Premier League that Tierney should probably have made the final call to confirm his authority and make the decision more likely to be accepted by both players and fans inside the stadium .
The Gunners appealed against the decision but that was rejected on Wednesday , meaning Gabon international Aubameyang will miss Premier League games against Sheffield United and Chelsea , and the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Bournemouth .
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Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Referee Michael Oliver consulted the pitchside monitor during the FA Cup tie between Crystal Palace and Derby and changed his decision from a yellow to a red card for Luka Milivojevic
Premier League referees have been told to start using pitchside monitors for red card decisions where it is felt they should have the final say.
The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body that manages elite referees, has issued the guidance.
The only time the monitors have been used this season is by Michael Oliver in an FA Cup third-round tie between Crystal Palace and Derby County.
As a result, he upgraded a yellow card for Palace's Luka Milivojevic to a red.
This is the sort of incident where they are now set to be used in top-flight games.
The move was welcomed by Premier League managers. Speaking on Friday Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said "It is a positive move. The referee will be taking responsibility himself. I like that."
One case that could potentially be handled differently in future was that of Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's sending off against Crystal Palace on 11 January.
Aubameyang, 30, was initially given a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney for a tackle on midfielder Max Meyer, but the decision was changed to a red by the video assistant referee.
It is felt by the Premier League that Tierney should probably have made the final call to confirm his authority and make the decision more likely to be accepted by both players and fans inside the stadium.
The Gunners appealed against the decision but that was rejected on Wednesday, meaning Gabon international Aubameyang will miss Premier League games against Sheffield United and Chelsea, and the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Bournemouth.


bbc--2020-01-17--Formula 1: Saudi Arabia unveils plans for race in 2023

Saudi Arabia has unveiled detailed plans for a new race track that is poised to host Formula 1 from 2023 .
The Qiddiyah circuit is part of a new entertainment and sports complex outside the capital Riyadh , designed by ex-F1 driver Alexander Wurz .
Chief executive officer Mike Reininger told BBC Sport the track would be `` ready '' to host a Grand Prix in 2023 .
`` We 're building a facility in the hope there will be a deal struck and there is a race here in Saudi , '' he said .
Reininger said negotiations were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding : `` The formalisation of a race is not for us at Qiddiyah .
It is outside the confines of the project itself .
But we are building a facility that will be able to host a really world-class event as one of the signature items we will have on offer here at Qiddiyah as we open in 2023 . ''
• 'We are in Saudi Arabia because of money' • Watch Formula E on the BBC this Saturday for the Santiago E-Prix Reininger said he was `` not specifically engaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to day '' and that they were `` mostly being driven by the general sports authority and the motorsports federation '' .
Insiders say no deal for Saudi Arabia to host a Grand Prix has yet been finalised but it is an effective fait accompli .
F1 declined to comment on the prospect .
The Qiddiyah track was unveiled at an event on Friday , where the circuit was demonstrated on a simulator .
Damon Hill , the 1996 F1 world champion , was among the guests , along with ex-F1 drivers David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F1 racer Romain Grosjean and former MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi .
The track is FIA Grade One standard , capable of hosting both F1 and MotoGP , and is part of what Reininger described as `` a bigger universe of motorsport activities '' .
He added : `` We are actually building a series of facilities both on-circuit and off-road in one aggregated place which really has n't been assembled anywhere else in the world like this .
The centrepiece for us is going to be the Grade One circuit . ''
Wurz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Williams driver , two-time Le Mans winner and chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers ' Association , is the track designer and a consultant on the project .
He said : `` It 's a privilege of a lifetime to design the motion and mobility zone in Qiddiyah , including the Speedpark track .
The project offers us amazing opportunities to design a track , a true racing arena for the drivers and spectators .
`` The design offers amazing elevation changes , making use of the stunning natural landscape .
Equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and engineers alike .
And , from our simulation runs , I can assure you it is absolutely thrilling as an on- and off-track experience . ''
When will the Saudi Grand Prix be ?
It is not impossible that Saudi Arabia could hold its maiden Formula 1 event before 2023 , but this would require another new circuit to be constructed as a stop-gap .
Alternatively , the Qiddiyah F1 track could potentially be finished before the sites surrounding it , but even then it would not be ready before 2022 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ could enter the F1 calendar as early as next year , but senior insiders say that is unlikely to happen .
One reason for that is there is no track that could host F1 - although it is not impossible that a temporary street track could be constructed for next year - and another that F1 is wary of overloading the calendar in the first year of a sweeping new set of regulations being introduced in 2021 .
This year 's F1 schedule already holds a record 22 races and only the Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue in 2021 .
A grand prix in Saudi Arabia would be lucrative for F1 in terms of hosting fees that would be expected to be in the region of $ 50m a year but would inevitability draw criticism from human rights groups .
Global sports organisations have been accused of being complicit in what is seen as Saudi Arabia 's attempt to 'sports-wash ' its poor human rights record .
Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia has `` an appalling record on LGBT rights , women 's rights , extra-judicial killings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kashoggi , and their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen '' .
And human rights groups point out that while women have been allowed to drive for the last 18 months , Saudi female activists are still in jail for promoting the right to do so in the first place .
Saudi Arabia has recently been making efforts to present an image that it is becoming more liberal , and is in the process of trying to open itself up to the wider world and promote itself as a place to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who back holding sports events in controversial places often argue that raising the profile of countries in such a way can bring the issues into the spotlight .
F1 holds races in other countries that have been criticised for their human rights records , most notably Russia , China , Azerbaijan , Bahrain and Abu Dhabi , and has always countered criticism by saying it is a non-political organisation .
The Qiddiyah development is part of a project by Saudi Arabia called Vision 2030 aimed at diversifying the country 's economy beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reininger described Vision 2030 as `` a transformation of the country economically and socially '' .
The wider Qiddiyah project effectively creates a new city and will extend over 330 square kilometres , including hotels , a theme park , retail and environmental programmes .

1996 world champion Damon Hill and current driver Romain Grosjean were among the guests at the unveiling
Saudi Arabia has unveiled detailed plans for a new race track that is poised to host Formula 1 from 2023.
The Qiddiyah circuit is part of a new entertainment and sports complex outside the capital Riyadh, designed by ex-F1 driver Alexander Wurz.
Chief executive officer Mike Reininger told BBC Sport the track would be "ready" to host a Grand Prix in 2023.
"We're building a facility in the hope there will be a deal struck and there is a race here in Saudi," he said.
Reininger said negotiations were ongoing between Saudi authorities and F1, adding: "The formalisation of a race is not for us at Qiddiyah. It is outside the confines of the project itself. But we are building a facility that will be able to host a really world-class event as one of the signature items we will have on offer here at Qiddiyah as we open in 2023."
Reininger said he was "not specifically engaged in (the talks with F1) day to day" and that they were "mostly being driven by the general sports authority and the motorsports federation".
Insiders say no deal for Saudi Arabia to host a Grand Prix has yet been finalised but it is an effective fait accompli. F1 declined to comment on the prospect.
The Qiddiyah track was unveiled at an event on Friday, where the circuit was demonstrated on a simulator.
Damon Hill, the 1996 F1 world champion, was among the guests, along with ex-F1 drivers David Coulthard and Nico Hulkenberg, current Haas F1 racer Romain Grosjean and former MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi.
The track is FIA Grade One standard, capable of hosting both F1 and MotoGP, and is part of what Reininger described as "a bigger universe of motorsport activities".
F1 races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East
He added: "We are actually building a series of facilities both on-circuit and off-road in one aggregated place which really hasn't been assembled anywhere else in the world like this. The centrepiece for us is going to be the Grade One circuit."
Wurz, the 45-year-old former Benetton, McLaren and Williams driver, two-time Le Mans winner and chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, is the track designer and a consultant on the project.
He said: "It's a privilege of a lifetime to design the motion and mobility zone in Qiddiyah, including the Speedpark track. The project offers us amazing opportunities to design a track, a true racing arena for the drivers and spectators.
"The design offers amazing elevation changes, making use of the stunning natural landscape. Equally, it is made to challenge drivers and engineers alike. And, from our simulation runs, I can assure you it is absolutely thrilling as an on- and off-track experience."
When will the Saudi Grand Prix be?
It is not impossible that Saudi Arabia could hold its maiden Formula 1 event before 2023, but this would require another new circuit to be constructed as a stop-gap.
Alternatively, the Qiddiyah F1 track could potentially be finished before the sites surrounding it, but even then it would not be ready before 2022.
A report this week suggested Saudi Arabia could enter the F1 calendar as early as next year, but senior insiders say that is unlikely to happen.
One reason for that is there is no track that could host F1 - although it is not impossible that a temporary street track could be constructed for next year - and another that F1 is wary of overloading the calendar in the first year of a sweeping new set of regulations being introduced in 2021.
This year's F1 schedule already holds a record 22 races and only the Spanish Grand Prix does not have a contract to continue in 2021.
The human rights question
A grand prix in Saudi Arabia would be lucrative for F1 in terms of hosting fees that would be expected to be in the region of $50m a year but would inevitability draw criticism from human rights groups.
Global sports organisations have been accused of being complicit in what is seen as Saudi Arabia's attempt to 'sports-wash' its poor human rights record.
Amnesty International says Saudi Arabia has "an appalling record on LGBT rights, women's rights, extra-judicial killings, beheadings, the murder of journalist Jamal Kashoggi, and their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen".
And human rights groups point out that while women have been allowed to drive for the last 18 months, Saudi female activists are still in jail for promoting the right to do so in the first place.
Saudi Arabia has recently been making efforts to present an image that it is becoming more liberal, and is in the process of trying to open itself up to the wider world and promote itself as a place to do business and go on holiday.
And those who back holding sports events in controversial places often argue that raising the profile of countries in such a way can bring the issues into the spotlight.
F1 holds races in other countries that have been criticised for their human rights records, most notably Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, and has always countered criticism by saying it is a non-political organisation.
The Qiddiyah development is part of a project by Saudi Arabia called Vision 2030 aimed at diversifying the country's economy beyond reliance on the production of fossil fuels.
Reininger described Vision 2030 as "a transformation of the country economically and socially".
The wider Qiddiyah project effectively creates a new city and will extend over 330 square kilometres, including hotels, a theme park, retail and environmental programmes.


bbc--2020-01-17--UFC 246: Conor McGregor v Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone - all you need to know

Conor McGregor will make his much-anticipated return to the octagon when he fights Donald 'Cowboy ' Cerrone at UFC 246 in Las Vegas this weekend .
It is the first time the Irishman has fought professionally since his controversial fourth-round defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018 .
Despite the welterweight bout being a non-title fight , it is set to break pay-per-view figures , with 31-year-old McGregor saying he will earn a record £80m .
But what has McGregor been up to since his last bout ?
What do we know about his American opponent ?
And how can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Here 's everything you need to know about the blockbuster bout .
Where has McGregor been ?
McGregor might have spent more than a year away from the UFC , but he has never been far from the headlines .
Five months after his defeat by Nurmagomedov , McGregor announced on social media that he had retired from the sport - but that turned out to be premature .
The Irishman also made news for two other unsavoury incidents .
In one , he was accused of smashing a fan 's phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following his arrest - and in another , he punched a man in a Dublin pub and was convicted of assault .
Away from these incidents , McGregor has been heavily promoting his own brand of whiskey , which he says generated more than $ 1bn ( £770m ) in its first year .
Is he still the main draw in the UFC ?
McGregor has headlined the top five highest-selling pay-per-view fights in UFC history , with his defeat by Nurmagomedov holding the record at 2.4 million buys .
He recently told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make £80m from the Cerrone fight alone , adding : `` They think I 'm toast , but I 'm still the bread . ''
Since McGregor last fought , UFC 232 has been the promotion 's highest-selling event , where 700,000 people paid to watch the rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson .
McGregor 's fights alone have outsold that on six separate occasions during his career .
Quite simply , nobody in the UFC has McGregor 's pulling power .
A veteran of the sport , Cerrone is well known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wider world , is far from the household name McGregor is .
A 36-year-old from Denver , Cerrone holds the record for most wins ( 23 ) , finishes ( 16 ) and post-fight bonuses ( 18 ) in UFC history .
Like McGregor , Cerrone is coming into the fight off the back of a defeat - he was stopped by compatriot Justin Gaethje in September .
In the past , he has described McGregor as being `` a great fighter with great punching power '' .
He even likes the Irishman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from TMZ Sports with : `` It gets me drunk , so it 's all the same to me . ''
And finally , the origin of his 'Cowboy ' nickname ?
`` I wear boots and a hat , '' he told the UFC .
Who is the favourite to win ?
McGregor 's stand-up skills , and in particular his explosive left hand , has him the favourite to win with the bookies .
However , it is far from clear cut .
First , McGregor is stepping up to welterweight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untested waters for a fighter more used to grappling in the octagon at lightweight and featherweight .
There are also long-standing doubts about McGregor 's ground-game - an area ruthlessly exposed by Nurmagomedov during their fight 15 months ago .
McGregor has had four defeats in his professional MMA career , all of which came by submission .
Former MMA star Dan Hardy says Cerrone is someone who can challenge McGregor in a lot of different ways .
`` What we can expect from Conor as always is an aggressive , flamboyant start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the UFC .
`` What we 've seen from Cowboy all the way through his career is great knockouts and great submissions .
`` He 's one of those guys who has a full skill set in every range .
Of the two of them , Cowboy is the one with the options .
`` Conor , we know what he 's going to do and Cowboy is the one who has to fit his pieces around Conor to deal with that . ''
Who else is on the fight card ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ women 's bantamweight rematch between Americans Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington .
This was a fight originally booked to take place at UFC 243 in October .
Holm , however , was forced to withdraw through injury .
The 38-year-old knocked out Ronda Rousey to win the women 's bantamweight title at UFC 193 five years ago , but has since endured a stuttering career , with five defeats in her past seven fights .
Pennington will be looking to avenge the defeat by split decision that she suffered when she first met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pettis will try to bounce back from his defeat by Nate Diaz in August when he takes on Carlos Diego Ferreira at lightweight .
How to follow UFC 246 with the BBC There will be live radio and text commentary from 03:00 GMT on Sunday as the BBC brings you the key action from UFC 246 .
The main card starts with Anthony Pettis against Carlos Diego Ferreira , with McGregor and Cerrone 's arrival in the Octagon expected after 05:00 GMT .
Former UFC star Dan Hardy , MMA journalist Nick Peet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio commentary on the night from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas .
Coverage starts from 03:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app , before switching to BBC Radio 5 Live at 04:30 .
In addition , the BBC Sport website will bring you live text commentary .
You can check out archive UFC fights , including Conor McGregor v Nate Diaz II and Holly Holm v Ronda Rousey , on the BBC iPlayer .
The MMA podcast , featuring UFC reporter Megan Olivi , Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to download now on BBC Sounds .
You can also follow @ bbcsport on social media for all the latest news , behind the scenes content and reaction from Vegas .

Last updated on .From the section Mixed Martial Arts
Conor McGregor will make his much-anticipated return to the octagon when he fights Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone at UFC 246 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
It is the first time the Irishman has fought professionally since his controversial fourth-round defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.
Despite the welterweight bout being a non-title fight, it is set to break pay-per-view figures, with 31-year-old McGregor saying he will earn a record £80m.
But what has McGregor been up to since his last bout? What do we know about his American opponent? And how can you follow the fight on the BBC?
Here's everything you need to know about the blockbuster bout.
Where has McGregor been?
McGregor might have spent more than a year away from the UFC, but he has never been far from the headlines.
Five months after his defeat by Nurmagomedov, McGregor announced on social media that he had retired from the sport - but that turned out to be premature.
The Irishman also made news for two other unsavoury incidents.
In one, he was accused of smashing a fan's phone - although the charges were subsequently dropped following his arrest - and in another, he punched a man in a Dublin pub and was convicted of assault.
Conor McGregor was fined £861 after pleading guilty to assaulting a man in a Dublin pub last April
Away from these incidents, McGregor has been heavily promoting his own brand of whiskey, which he says generated more than $1bn external-link (£770m) in its first year.
A busy 15 months then...
Is he still the main draw in the UFC?
Undoubtedly.
McGregor has headlined the top five highest-selling pay-per-view fights in UFC history, with his defeat by Nurmagomedov holding the record at 2.4 million buys.
He recently told MMA journalist Ariel Helwani external-link that he will make £80m from the Cerrone fight alone, adding: "They think I'm toast, but I'm still the bread."
Since McGregor last fought, UFC 232 has been the promotion's highest-selling event, where 700,000 people paid to watch the rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson.
McGregor's fights alone have outsold that on six separate occasions during his career.
Quite simply, nobody in the UFC has McGregor's pulling power.
Meet the man behind McGregor’s custom-made suits & swag
Who is Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone?
A veteran of the sport, Cerrone is well known inside MMA circles but, to the wider world, is far from the household name McGregor is.
A 36-year-old from Denver, Cerrone holds the record for most wins (23), finishes (16) and post-fight bonuses (18) in UFC history.
Like McGregor, Cerrone is coming into the fight off the back of a defeat - he was stopped by compatriot Justin Gaethje in September.
Following a win, Donald Cerrone sometimes brings his son Dacson inside the octagon for the post-fight celebrations
In the past, he has described McGregor as being "a great fighter with great punching power".
He even likes the Irishman's whiskey, responding to a question from TMZ Sports external-link with: "It gets me drunk, so it's all the same to me."
And finally, the origin of his 'Cowboy' nickname?
"I wear boots and a hat," he told the UFC. external-link
Quite the character...
Who is the favourite to win?
'Blood will be spilled, make no mistake' - McGregor faces media before UFC return
McGregor's stand-up skills, and in particular his explosive left hand, have him as the favourite to win with the bookies.
However, it is far from clear-cut.
First, McGregor is stepping up to welterweight to face Cerrone.
These are largely untested waters for a fighter more used to grappling in the octagon at lightweight and featherweight.
There are also long-standing doubts about McGregor's ground game - an area ruthlessly exposed by Nurmagomedov during their fight 15 months ago.
McGregor has had four defeats in his professional MMA career, all of which came by submission.
Khabib Nurmagomedov dominated Conor McGregor on the ground during their Las Vegas fight in October 2018
Former MMA star Dan Hardy says Cerrone is someone who can challenge McGregor in a lot of different ways.
"What we can expect from Conor as always is an aggressive, flamboyant start and powerful left hands," Hardy told the UFC. external-link
"What we've seen from Cowboy all the way through his career is great knockouts and great submissions.
"He's one of those guys who has a full skill-set in every range. Of the two of them, Cowboy is the one with the options.
"Conor, we know what he's going to do and Cowboy is the one who has to fit his pieces around Conor to deal with that."
Who else is on the fight card?
The co-main event at UFC 246 is the women's bantamweight rematch between Americans Holly Holm and Raquel Pennington.
This was a fight originally booked to take place at UFC 243 in October. Holm, however, was forced to withdraw through injury.
The 38-year-old knocked out Ronda Rousey to win the women's bantamweight title at UFC 193 five years ago, but has since had a stuttering career, with five defeats in her past seven fights.
Pennington will be looking to avenge the defeat by split decision that she suffered when she first met Holm in 2015.
Holly Holm is a former women's bantamweight champion
Elsewhere, Anthony Pettis will try to bounce back from his defeat by Nate Diaz in August when he takes on Carlos Diego Ferreira at lightweight.
How to follow UFC 246 with the BBC
There will be live radio and text commentary from 03:00 GMT on Sunday as the BBC brings you the key action from UFC 246.
The main card starts with Pettis against Ferreira, with McGregor and Cerrone's arrival in the Octagon expected after 05:00 GMT.
Former UFC star Dan Hardy, MMA journalist Nick Peet and Brendan Fitzgerald will bring you live radio commentary on the night from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Coverage starts from 03:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app, before switching to BBC Radio 5 Live at 04:30.
In addition, the BBC Sport website will bring you live text commentary.
You can check out archive UFC fights, including Conor McGregor v Nate Diaz II and Holly Holm v Ronda Rousey, on the BBC iPlayer.
The MMA podcast, featuring UFC reporter Megan Olivi, Hardy and Peet, is available to download now on BBC Sounds.
You can also follow @bbcsport on social media for all the latest news, behind the scenes content and reaction from Vegas.


bbc--2020-01-17--All you need to know about the trial

All you need to know about the trial

For only the third time in history , an American president is facing an impeachment trial , with hearings set to start on Tuesday .
Such a trial could , in theory , lead to President Donald Trump being removed from office .
That outcome would be a huge shock - we 'll explain why later - but the very fact a president is facing trial is significant .
Here are seven questions and answers that will help you understand the trial .
Put simply , it 's a process that allows senior figures in government to hold other officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinet members ) to account if they 're suspected of committing offences while in office .
Those offences can include `` treason , bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours '' .
After someone is impeached , they then go on trial in the Senate , the members of which will decide whether they are guilty or not .
It 's a political trial not a criminal one .
2 ) What is Mr Trump accused of ?
He 's facing two articles of impeachment , or charges .
Firstly , he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government to help himself get re-elected this November .
He 's alleged to have held back millions of dollars of military aid to Ukraine and dangled a proposed White House meeting with Ukraine 's president , both as bargaining chips .
In exchange , witnesses say he wanted Ukraine to publicly announce an investigation into Joe Biden , the man who 's leading the Democratic race to challenge him in the election .
Polls suggest Mr Biden would beat him if chosen as the Democratic candidate .
Secondly , after the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first impeachment hearings last year , Democrats accused Mr Trump of obstructing Congress ( the part of the US government that writes and brings in laws , and which was investigating him ) .
Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a `` witch hunt '' .
It 's worth emphasising that this has nothing to do with the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election , and into the Trump campaign 's ties to Russia .
That ended with no further action against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there a trial ?
This is what led us to this moment : • October - December : An investigation took place , with hearings in the House of Representatives ( controlled by Mr Trump 's Democratic rivals ) • December : Democratic leaders from the House voted to impeach Mr Trump • January 2020 : The case was passed up to the Senate ( controlled by Mr Trump 's Republicans ) , where the trial will take place The US Constitution is a bit vague when it comes to the specifics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general rules based largely on the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868 .
In that case , he just about kept his job .
The only other president to face an impeachment trial was Bill Clinton in 1999 .
He too survived .
• Why only two articles of impeachment ?
Two people are deciding how the trial will be conducted : Mitch McConnell , the Republican leader of the Senate , and his Democratic counterpart , Chuck Schumer .
They 'll both have to agree guidelines for evidence , witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republicans control the Senate , Mr McConnell has the final say over the format of the trial .
A few rules have already been laid out : there is to be no live tweeting from the chamber , and no outside reading material should be brought in .
Senators are also not allowed to speak to those sitting near them while the case is being heard .
Senators will hear from both sides - prosecutors from the House of Representatives and lawyers from the White House - as well as from any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given a full day to deliberate before they vote on whether to convict Mr Trump .
A two-thirds majority of 67 votes in the 100-seat Senate is required to convict and oust Mr Trump .
But because there are only 47 Democrats ( and 53 Republicans ) , the president is widely expected to be cleared .
In the unlikely event of Mr Trump being found guilty , he would be removed from office and Vice-President Mike Pence would be sworn in as president .
A simple majority of senators - 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial should they wish .
5 ) Who are the main players ?
Each senator , including Mr McConnell , has delivered an oath promising to deliver `` impartial justice '' during the trial .
But Mr McConnell - the most senior Republican in the Senate - last month said `` I 'm not an impartial juror '' and has also said he and his party are working hand-in-hand with the White House .
`` Everything I do during this , I 'm co-ordinating with the White House counsel , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior Democrats .
`` There will be no difference between the president 's position and our position . ''
He wo n't be presiding over the trial - that job has gone to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts , although the 100 senators will ultimately act as both judge and jury .
Justice Roberts is there to make sure the trial sticks to the predetermined rules .
A group of seven Democrats will act as impeachment managers - essentially prosecutors for the House , who will present its case for impeachment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairman Adam Schiff and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler , both frequent targets of Mr Trump 's anger .
Want to know more ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : If you want a basic take , this one 's for you • GO DEEPER : Here 's a 100 , 300 and 800-word summary of the story • VIEW FROM TRUMP COUNTRY : Hear from residents of a West Virginia town • CONTEXT : Why Ukraine matters to the US • FACT-CHECK : Did Ukraine interfere in the 2016 election to help Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate himself , but it 's much more likely that White House lawyer Pat Cipollone and Mr Trump 's own lawyer Jay Sekulow will speak on his behalf .
They , like the impeachment managers , will be able to question witnesses and deliver opening and closing statements .
Mr Trump is also represented by Ken Starr - who investigated Bill Clinton - and famed lawyer Alan Dershowitz .
Mr Trump is very keen for Mr Biden to testify along with the original whistleblower .
Democrats want several senior White House officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adviser John Bolton .
But there may not be any witnesses at all if Republicans decide they would rather keep the trial short , which is possible .
A simple majority of senators - 51 - is needed to agree whether witnesses will be called or not .
• Who 's who in the Trump-Ukraine story ?
Senators can ask questions of witnesses or counsellors , but only by submitting them in writing to Justice Roberts .
Witnesses may not necessarily appear on the Senate floor .
They could be interviewed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the testimony would be aired during the trial instead .
7 ) When will this all be over ?
After the House presents the articles of impeachment to the Senate - a process that took three days in Mr Clinton 's trial - senators must remain in session every day except Sunday until they make a final decision .
This means that the four Democratic senators who are running for the presidency - Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bennet - will have to leave their campaigns behind for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial is likely to last for weeks but how many is anybody 's guess - Mr Clinton 's took almost a month .
Democrats will hope it is all done by February and the start of the 2020 primary elections , which will decide their nominee to run against ( probably ) Mr Trump .

Some of the other rules include: no live tweeting from the chamber, and no outside reading materials to be brought in. Senators are also not allowed to speak to those sitting near them while the case is being heard.


bbc--2020-01-16--'Hear ye, hear ye!' Trump impeachment trial begins

The US Senate 's sergeant at arms opens the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by calling out : `` @ @ @ @ @ !
Hear ye !
All persons are commanded to keep silent , on pain of @ @ @

The US Senate's sergeant at arms opens the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by calling out: "Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment."


bbc--2020-01-16--Trump impeachment: Who is Democrat Adam Schiff?

California Congressman Adam Schiff has been chosen to lead the prosecution in the Trump impeachment trial .
Who is this veteran Democrat - extolled by colleagues , reviled by the president ?
Described by those who know him as `` a Boy Scout '' with wry humour , Mr Schiff , 59 , has kept a low profile over his nine previous terms in the US House of Representatives .
But as chairman of the House intelligence committee , the former prosecutor has become the face of the Democrats ' impeachment of President Donald Trump .
As lead impeachment manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the House , making the case to oust the president in only the third US impeachment trial in history .
`` I 'm humbled by the solemn responsibility , '' Mr Schiff said of his appointment .
`` The task before us is a grave but necessary one . ''
Born in Massachusetts to a Democratic father and Republican mother , Mr Schiff grew up in California and later earned degrees at Stanford University and Harvard Law School .
In 1987 , he joined the Los Angeles US Attorney 's office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ won praise for his work on a case that led to the first conviction of an FBI agent for espionage .
The agent was discovered to have had an affair with a Soviet spy , giving her intelligence in exchange for money and sex .
It was punishing government misconduct in that case which inspired him to jump into politics , his father would later say .
Mr Schiff 's career in politics began with two failed campaigns for the California assembly , in 1991 and 1994 , before he won a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt .
Four years later , he unseated a Republican to become the US congressman for the California district stretching from Pasadena to the Hollywood Hills , now a reliably Democratic seat .
His defeated opponent , James Rogan , had become unpopular in part due to his fervent prosecution of Bill Clinton during the Democratic president 's Senate impeachment trial .
In 2008 , Mr Schiff was appointed to the House intelligence committee , becoming chairman last year after Democrats won a majority in the House .
In March 2017 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible Russian links to the Trump campaign .
At the time , the committee was led by Republicans .
Mr Schiff drew national attention - and the ire of the president - after speaking out in the media about the Russia investigation and what he viewed as attempts to discredit the inquiry .
Mr Schiff 's prominence grew after the disclosure last year of a whistleblower complaint alleging that the president had sought foreign interference into the US election .
The congressman led the ensuing impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process .
His criticism of the president has turned Mr Schiff into a frequent target for Mr Trump , whose Twitter account is laced with mocking nicknames for the chairman , including 'Liddle Adam ' and 'Shifty Schiff ' .
Nancy Pelosi , the Democratic House speaker , on the other hand , has lauded Mr Schiff as `` the full package '' .
When she named the congressman and the other impeachment managers on 15 January , she noted they were chosen with an eye to their `` on comfort level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasis is on making the strongest possible case to defend our Constitution , '' she said - a nod to her confidence in Mr Schiff 's skills as a litigator .
Republicans have accused him of pursuing a vendetta against Mr Trump , and echo the president 's claims that he is corrupt .
He is booed at Trump rallies and lampooned on Fox News .
An amateur screenwriter in his spare time- though his teleplays have so far failed to sell - Mr Schiff has said that he never imagined becoming a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in a question on the gameshow Jeopardy !
not a single contestant had heard of him .
Now , he is poised to step into the spotlight as he writes a chapter in America 's most riveting modern political drama .
Want to know more ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : If you want a basic take , this one 's for you • GO DEEPER : Here 's a 100 , 300 and 800-word summary of the story • VIEW FROM TRUMP COUNTRY : Hear from residents of a West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the US • FACT-CHECK : Did Ukraine interfere in the 2016 election to help Clinton ?

An amateur screenwriter in his spare time- though his teleplays have so far failed to sell - Mr Schiff has said that he never imagined becoming a household name, although when he came up in a question on the gameshow Jeopardy! not a single contestant had heard of him.


bbc--2020-01-16--Impeachment trial: Why did Pelosi use so many pens?

The US Senate formally received the articles on impeachment from the House on Thursday .
The whole process has been more colourful , and dramatic , than your standard Congress fare .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi used several pens to put her signature on the impeachment bill - annoying Republicans - before House Democrats and the House clerk formally marched over to the Senate Chamber to present the articles .
And the sergeant at arms kicked off proceedings on Thursday with a medieval-sounding threat : `` Hear ye , hear ye , hear ye , all persons are commanded to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It 's rare to see so much pomp and circumstance in the US Congress , which typically has far fewer ceremonial traditions than the UK 's Parliament .
Here 's a breakdown of what happened , and what it means .
Ms Pelosi and her team held an engrossment ceremony on Wednesday evening , where she signed the final articles of impeachment .
This is the last , formal step the House takes before it hands over the impeachment proceedings to the Senate .
It took her some time - because she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , joking : `` It makes a funny signature . ''
Reporters snapped photos of four trays , each holding eight pens engraved with Ms Pelosi 's name , before the signing ceremony .
This is actually a long-standing US tradition - since President Franklin Roosevelt , presidents have frequently used multiple pens to sign high-profile pieces of legislation , so they can be offered as souvenirs and historical keepsakes .
President Donald Trump joked that he was running out of pens as he signed legislation on his inauguration day - while President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Affordable Care Act into law .
Ms Pelosi has faced criticism for using several pens to sign the impeachment articles - with Republican critics saying she appeared to be celebrating what was supposed to be a sombre moment .
Her office , however , argued that while impeachment is `` tragic ... it is indisputably historic when the Constitution and its balance of power reasserts itself . ''
Back in 1998 , Republican senators also kept pens as souvenirs after signing oaths for the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton - although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inscribed on them , and had to be reissued .
Following Wednesday 's signing , the House clerk walked across the Capitol , under the iconic Rotunda , to deliver the two articles of impeachment to the Senate .
She was accompanied by the House Sergeant at Arms and the seven impeachment managers .
It was a rare moment when members of the House formally crossed over to the Senate - typically , the two chambers function separately .
The tradition of the procession is thought to go back to the impeachment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also made the same walk in 1998 , when carrying articles impeaching President Bill Clinton .
`` Ceremony and precedence play a role in strengthening the way in which legislative bodies function , '' Prof Richard Arenberg , an expert in Congressional history and procedures at Brown University , and a former Capitol Hill staffer , told the BBC .
The procession `` symbolises the transmission of the solemn document enacted by the House of Representatives , and acceptance of it by the Senate '' .
When the procession arrived at the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate that the House had passed a resolution appointing the impeachment managers , and the Senate President , Republican Charles E Grassley , replied `` the message will be received '' .
House Democrats had to make the walk again on Thursday , as Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell asked them to return to formally exhibit the articles of impeachment then .
You would n't normally hear medieval English in the Senate .
But on Thursday , the sergeant of arms - Senate 's chief law enforcement officer - kicked off proceedings by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ye , hear ye , all persons are commanded to keep silence , on pain of imprisonment , while the House of Representatives is exhibiting to the Senate of the United States articles of impeachment against Donald John Trump , president of the United States '' .
Why did he sound so formal ?
Most of the words he used are actually set out in the Senate impeachment rules , which were developed in 1868 and last revised in 1986 .
`` This is only the third impeachment trial in US history - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through two centuries , without routine use , so they may seem archaic , '' Prof Arenberg says .
Nonetheless , he adds , the traditions and ceremonies that have developed help underline the `` seriousness '' and `` sober gravity '' of what it taking place .
The Senate impeachment rules also specify that when it is the president or vice-president who is being impeached , the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should preside over the trial .
Chief Justice Roberts had to be formally sworn in , before administering oaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to sign an oath book that is kept in the national archives .
Prof Arenberg says it is significant that they are required to take a separate oath .
`` This is an additional oath above their oath of office - it 's to underline that this is different from the partisan and legislative procedures they normally go through .
Even beyond the oath of the Constitution when they take office , they need to additionally swear to offer impartial justice in this trial . ''
The Senate then issued a formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the charges against him .
The trial is set to reconvene on Tuesday .
Want to find out more ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : If you want a basic take , this one 's for you • GO DEEPER : Here 's a 100 , 300 and 800-word summary of the story • A STATE DIVIDED : What New Hampshire makes of it • YOUR QUESTIONS : Will Trump really testify ?
• CASE FOR & AGAINST : What legal scholars say about Trump conduct

"This is an additional oath above their oath of office - it's to underline that this is different from the partisan and legislative procedures they normally go through. Even beyond the oath of the Constitution when they take office, they need to additionally swear to offer impartial justice in this trial."


bbc--2020-01-16--White House 'broke law' by withholding Ukraine aid, says watchdog

The White House broke the law by withholding aid to Ukraine that had been approved by the US Congress , a government watchdog has said .
The Government Accountability Office ( GAO ) ruling comes as President Donald Trump faces an impeachment trial in the Senate related to the withheld aid .
He is accused of freezing aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival .
Ukraine has opened a probe on separate allegations linked to the impeachment .
Why was the aid freeze illegal ?
`` Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress has enacted into law , '' the decision by the GAO said .
The White House Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ) `` withheld funds for a policy reason , which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act ( ICA ) '' , the ruling continued .
The 1974 Impoundment Control Act says it is illegal for the White House to withhold aid appropriated by Congress .
It also says the White House must first alert Congress before it delays or blocked funds , which the Trump administration did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a violation of the ICA .
Multiple presidents have been found by the GAO to have violated US laws .
The act does allow the agency to sue to have the blocked or delayed funds released , but that has only happened once in history .
The aid to Ukraine was released in September 2019 , more than two months after it was first blocked .
The White House said it disagreed with the GAO 's opinion , accusing the agency of trying to `` insert themselves into the media 's controversy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling , saying it undercuts Republicans claim that the president committed no crime .
In a news conference on Thursday morning , House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House `` broke the law '' .
The ruling comes as Ukrainian authorities began a criminal investigation into whether Mr Trump 's supporters were spying on the former US Ambassador to Ukraine , Marie Yovanovitch .
The former envoy 's movements were being monitored , according to letters , phone records , notes and flash drives obtained from Lev Parnas , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide to Mr Trump 's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
Some of the materials - which House Democrats are presenting as evidence in the impeachment inquiry - show Mr Parnas and Mr Giuliani discussing the removal of Ms Yovanovitch , who was fired last May for reasons that remain unclear .
• Who is Adam Schiff , the lead prosecutor of Trump ?
Several text messages from a Republican congressional candidate , Robert Hyde , to Mr Parnas appear to suggest the ambassador was being tracked in the capital Kyiv .
Mr Parnas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ambassador 's location and mobile phone .
But Mr Parnas told MSNBC on Wednesday that he did not think Mr Hyde 's surveillance talk was credible .
`` He was either drunk , '' said Mr Parnas , `` or he was trying to make himself bigger than it was , so I did n't take it seriously '' .
Mr Parnas said Ms Yovanovitch was removed because she was in the way of a Trump-approved plan to prod Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice-President Joe Biden .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Trump in the White House election this November .
Ms Yovanovitch has called for an investigation into the messages , which her lawyer called `` disturbing '' .
What else did Lev Parnas say ?
Mr Parnas told NBC that he was in Ukraine to put pressure on officials to investigate Mr Biden and his son , Hunter , on behalf of Mr Trump and Mr Giuliani .
He said that President Trump `` knew exactly what was going on '' .
`` I would n't do anything without the consent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would [ Ukrainian ] President Zelensky 's inner circle or [ Interior ] Minister [ Arsen ] Avakov or all these people or [ former ] President [ Petro ] Poroshenko meet with me ?
`` Who am I ?
They were told to meet with me .
And that 's the secret that they 're trying to keep .
I was on the ground doing their work , '' he added .
Documents show that Mr Parnas was in regular contact with Mr Giuliani as well as Ukrainian officials .
The files @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in trying to have President Zelensky announce an investigation into Mr Biden .
One handwritten note from Mr Parnas states : `` Get Zalensky [ sic ] to Annonce [ sic ] that the Biden case will be investigated . ''
There is also a screenshot of a previously undisclosed letter from Mr Giuliani to Mr Zelensky , in which he asks to arrange a meeting .
Mr Parnas said President Trump `` decided to '' withhold military aid to increase pressure on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens ' activities .
Mr Parnas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that US Vice-President Mike Pence would not attend President Zelensky 's inauguration unless there was an investigation into the Bidens .
Mr Trump has said he does not know Mr Parnas .
Referring to photos of himself with Mr Parnas and another Giuliani associate , he said : `` It 's possible I have a picture with them because I have a picture with everybody . ''
Mr Trump 's has touted unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Mr Biden and his son , Hunter , who held a lucrative board position with Ukrainian gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice-president overseeing American-Ukrainian relations .
The matter will be examined in Mr Trump 's impeachment trial , which is due to begin in earnest next week in the US Senate .
He is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress but denies any wrongdoing .
Trump gets his Ukraine investigation ... sort of After months of pressure from the Trump administration , Ukraine has at last launched an investigation .
Unfortunately for President Trump it 's not the one he 's long demanded .
This interior ministry inquiry will not look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden or Burisma , the Ukrainian gas company Hunter Biden once lucratively worked for .
It 's aimed rather closer to the White House .
Incredibly , Ukraine is looking into whether Trump supporters were involved in illegally surveilling Marie Yovanovitch when she was US ambassador in Kyiv .
At the time Ms Yovanovitch was the subject of a public campaign by President Trump 's lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his associates to have her removed .
In May 2019 they were successful , with Ms Yovanovitch later testifying to Congress she was recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to her security .
There 's been no suggestion that President Trump was aware of any plans to monitor Ms Yovanovitch .
But in his July phone call with President Zelensky he said she was `` bad news '' and that she was `` going to go through some things . ''
Want to find out more ?
• A SIMPLE GUIDE : If you want a basic take , this one 's for you • GO DEEPER : Here 's a 100 , 300 and 800-word summary of the story • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes of it • YOUR QUESTIONS : Will Trump really testify ?
• CASE FOR & AGAINST : What legal scholars say about Trump conduct

Mr Trump has said he does not know Mr Parnas. Referring to photos of himself with Mr Parnas and another Giuliani associate, he said: "It's possible I have a picture with them because I have a picture with everybody."


Climate change explained

The 10 years to the end of 2019 have been confirmed as the warmest decade on record by three global @ @ @ @ @ climate change has been linked to Australian bushfires , torrential rains in Indonesia and record-breaking @ @ @ @ @ just what is climate change ?
This video is part of Our Planet Matters , @ @ @ @ @ climate change .
• Our Planet Matters : What 's it all about ?

The UK, France and the UN are hosting a virtual climate meeting on Saturday. About 75 world leaders will attend, marking five years since the adoption of the Paris climate agreement. Pope Francis will also address the meeting.
This virtual gathering is taking place after the pandemic caused the postponement of the annual Conference of the Parties, due to take place in Glasgow this year.
Nations will be revealing how they intend to cut their greenhouse gas emissions which means we’ll find out if their commitments are ambitious enough to stop the worst effects of climate change. But just what is climate change? And why are scientists calling for urgent action?
The BBC's global science correspondent Rebecca Morelle explains.
Produced and edited by Larissa Kennelly
Graphics by Terry Saunders
This video was first published in January 2020.


bbc--2020-01-17--Giant jet engines aim to make our flying greener

`` It 's on another scale from anything I 've seen before , '' says Lorna Carter who recently started working at a new Rolls-Royce research and development facility near Bristol .
She works with giant robots which lay thousands of strips of carbon fibre tape to form a cylinder some 3.7m ( almost 12ft ) in diameter .
The cylinder forms the outer shell of Rolls-Royce 's new engine , the Ultrafan .
Still under development , Rolls-Royce says the Ultrafan will be quieter and more fuel efficient than anything it has made before .
It will certainly be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to make is massive and we are at capacity , it 's really stretching the limits of what we can do , '' says Ms Carter .
At the £25m facility Rolls-Royce has also developed robots that can make fan blades from carbon fibre , a process that has taken more than 10 years to perfect .
Making the fan casing and blades from carbon fibre should result in a 20 % weight saving compared with previous materials .
And that 's important as the aerospace industry is under pressure to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more efficient , but airline traffic is growing even faster .
Rolls-Royce estimates that 37,000 new passenger aircraft will be needed over the next 20 years .
• What went wrong with virtual reality ?
• A chatbot pulled me out of a 'really dark place' • Are charity apps making us more generous ?
`` We 've come a long way , but the challenge is to decouple emissions growth from traffic growth , '' says Alan Newby , future programmes director at Rolls-Royce .
The new engine will also incorporate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which results in a more efficient engine .
It 's an innovation already being used on a smaller engine from US-based Pratt & Whitney Engine , the PW1000G .
While Rolls-Royce and others in the aerospace industry are working on electric and hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft , for long-haul aircraft , at the moment jet engines are the only option .
Given that it is a technology that has been around since World War Two , how much more efficiency can be squeezed out of the jet engine ?
Quite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is head of power and propulsion department at Cranfield University 's Centre for Propulsion Engineering .
His department works with on research projects with aerospace companies including Airbus and Rolls-Royce .
`` I do expect improvements to continue , '' he says .
Better materials , more efficient shapes and improved coatings can all contribute to make engines lighter and stronger .
He also points out that lighter engines mean the aircraft structure can be lighter as it has to carry less weight .
Those kind of incremental changes might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airline business they can make a big difference .
`` Evolutionary changes , they sound unimpressive - 10 % here 12 % there .
But in the airline business with very thin margins , that is the difference between life and death , '' says Richard Aboulafia , vice-president of analysis at the Teal Group .
One UK firm though is looking to make a step change in propulsion .
Reaction Engines is developing a rocket engine , called Sabre , to be used on high-speed aircraft and on spacecraft .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mach 5 ( five times the speed of sound ) the air coming into the engine can reach temperatures of 1,000C .
That temperature would destroy the engine , so Reaction has developed a cooling system which can chill the incoming air in a fraction of a second .
The so-called pre-cooler is made from miniature tubes , less than 1mm thick , that can pipe coolant under high pressure through the system , and whisk heat away .
`` The Sabre is completely unique , there 's nobody else in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that 's developing an air-breathing rocket engine , '' says Mark Thomas , chief executive of Reaction Engines .
`` Our pre-cooler technology ... is in a different class to anything out there .
It 's ultra-high performance , ultra lightweight , highly miniaturised ... it 's just in a different league completely . ''
Reaction Engines plans to start building the Sabre engine this year and test it in 2021 .
Reaction 's pre-cooler can also potentially be used on conventional jet engines to make them more efficient , an idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prof Pericles it will be another 30 years until we see a radical change in passenger aircraft .
By then he thinks there will be a transition from the current design , which is basically a tube , with engines hanging below the wings , to a `` blended wing '' design .
Under that design , the aircraft is just one set of wings , with engines sitting on the top .
Those engines might even by powered by hydrogen , which has the potential to be a very low emission fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Prof Pilidis .
`` It is a long-term solution to decarbonise aviation completely .
However , environmentalists says action needs to be taken sooner .
`` There 's always a role for technology to play in cutting emissions , but solving the climate crisis is something we need to get on with right now , '' says Jenny Bates , a campaigner at Friends of the Earth .
`` The priority instead needs to be emissions cuts by having fewer planes in the sky .
This is a crucial part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More BBC coverage on climate change at Our Planet Matters

"The component we're trying to make is massive and we are at capacity, it's really stretching the limits of what we can do," says Ms Carter.


bbc--2020-01-17--What can I do about climate change?

What can I do about climate change?

`` The moment of crisis has come '' in efforts to tackle climate change , Sir David Attenborough has warned .
He spoke as BBC News launched a year of special coverage on global warming .
Here are our answers to a range of readers ' questions .
What are the most important things people can do ?
- Maureen Watt , Livingston , Scotland Climate change will need to be tackled by governments worldwide , through measures like the 2005 Kyoto Protocol .
This brought nations together for the first time in a single agreement on tackling climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide - which contributes to global warming - released into the atmosphere by people 's actions .
This can be reduced in a number of ways .
According to a recent report by a group of international scientists , transport is responsible for 34 % of a household 's carbon footprint in high-income countries like the UK .
The report calls for a major programme of investment in the rail and bus network , with lower ticket prices and investment in safer cycling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footprint when you fly • Climate change : Should you fly , drive or take the train ?
Home heating presents another challenge and opportunity .
It is responsible for 21 % of a household 's carbon footprint .
This could be cut by turning down the thermostat , having better-insulated houses and changing to low-carbon heating systems .
According to the United Nations , the current world population is about 7.7 billion and could reach 9.7 billion in 2050 .
This population growth drives higher demand for food , greater energy consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it increases the production of the gases that cause global warming .
And a recent major study , by a global group of 11,000 scientists , concluded that the world needs to stabilise its population .
The study has attracted quite a deal of controversy , but its authors say such action is needed if the world is to avoid what they call `` a catastrophic threat '' from climate change .
Is a plant-based diet one of the best steps you can take ?
- Sophie Hill , Astwood Bank , Worcs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global emissions come from food and more than half of this from animal products .
This is because producing food from animals uses more resources than food from plants .
Cows and sheep also produce methane - a greenhouse gas .
According to a 2019 report by UN experts , switching to a plant-based diet can help fight climate change .
They said that more people could be fed using less land if individuals cut down on eating meat .
But they stopped short of advising people to become vegan or vegetarian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if everybody on Earth cut meat and dairy from their diet , there could be a 49 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from food production .
What can we do about other , bigger countries not adopting green practices ?
- Christina Dudley , Beenham , Berks China and the US are the world 's largest emitters of CO2 , responsible for 16 megatonnes between them a year .
In terms of emissions per head of population , the picture is different .
The US is still near the top , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 5.99 tonnes ) is only slightly behind China ( 6.59 tonnes ) .
So what can a smaller country , like the UK , do to exert pressure for change ?
On an individual level , consumers could decide to seek out `` green '' products and boycott ones from more polluting parts of the world , says Alyssa Gilbert , climate policy director at Imperial College London .
There is also an opportunity for the UK to come up with innovative ideas that larger countries might adopt , Ms Gilbert suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small and nimble , so we can pilot ideas around technology and policy in the hope that we can export them to other countries '' , she says .
At government level , the UK can also use diplomacy , as well as international aid , to bring about change .
Why are we not capturing and using the greenhouse gases already in our atmosphere ?
- Jonathan Miller , Cornwall Carbon capture , to remove and store greenhouse gases , already happens naturally .
All plants and trees take carbon dioxide from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planting trees is seen as an important weapon in the fight against global warming .
The UK 's Committee on Climate Change ( CCC ) says significant rises in tree planting `` need to happen quickly '' if other targets to cut carbon are not met .
It says 30,000 hectares of woodland should be planted annually , more than double the new trees planted in 2018 .
The UK government says it is committed to planting 11 million trees by 2022 .
In February 2019 , the Drax power station in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to capture carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) from wood-burning .
Another approach , currently being offered by a company in Switzerland , is to pull carbon dioxide directly from the air .
This gas can then be sold for other purposes , like being used to grow vegetables in hi-tech greenhouses .
But schemes like these are , as yet , relatively few and small-scale .
• How much warmer is your city ?
• What is your diet 's carbon footprint ?
• Where we are in seven charts What questions do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and about the Our Planet Matters series ?
In some cases your question will be published , displaying your name , age and location as you provide it , unless you state otherwise .
Your contact details will never be published .
Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy .
Use this form to ask your question :

Climate change: What can I do about it and other questions Published 21 January 2020
Image source, Getty Images
"The moment of crisis has come" in efforts to tackle climate change, Sir David Attenborough has warned.
He spoke as BBC News launched a year of special coverage on global warming.
Here are our answers to a range of readers' questions.
What are the most important things people can do? - Maureen Watt, Livingston, Scotland
Climate change will need to be tackled by governments worldwide, through measures like the 2005 Kyoto Protocol. This brought nations together for the first time in a single agreement on tackling climate change.
But everyone has a carbon footprint. This is the amount of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide - which contributes to global warming - released into the atmosphere by people's actions.
This can be reduced in a number of ways. According to a recent report by a group of international scientists, transport is responsible for 34% of a household's carbon footprint in high-income countries like the UK. The report calls for a major programme of investment in the rail and bus network, with lower ticket prices and investment in safer cycling.
Home heating presents another challenge and opportunity. It is responsible for 21% of a household's carbon footprint.
This could be cut by turning down the thermostat, having better-insulated houses and changing to low-carbon heating systems.
Is the fundamental problem human overpopulation? - David Bassett, Locks Heath, Hants
According to the United Nations, the current world population is about 7.7 billion and could reach 9.7 billion in 2050.
This population growth drives higher demand for food, greater energy consumption and more competition for resources. And it increases the production of the gases that cause global warming.
Image source, Getty Images
And a recent major study, by a global group of 11,000 scientists, concluded that the world needs to stabilise its population.
The study has attracted quite a deal of controversy, but its authors say such action is needed if the world is to avoid what they call "a catastrophic threat" from climate change.
However, not everyone agrees about the impact population growth has on climate change. Some argue, for example, that a focus on reducing individual carbon footprints would be a much effective strategy than seeking to stabilise population growth.
Is a plant-based diet one of the best steps you can take? - Sophie Hill, Astwood Bank, Worcs
It is estimated that 26% of global emissions come from food and more than half of this from animal products.
This is because producing food from animals uses more resources than food from plants. Cows and sheep also produce methane - a greenhouse gas.
According to a 2019 report by UN experts, switching to a plant-based diet can help fight climate change.
They said that more people could be fed using less land if individuals cut down on eating meat. But they stopped short of advising people to become vegan or vegetarian.
And a University of Oxford study found that if everybody on Earth cut meat and dairy from their diet, there could be a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from food production.
What can we do about other, bigger countries not adopting green practices? - Christina Dudley, Beenham, Berks
China and the US are the world's largest emitters of CO2, responsible for 16,000 megatonnes between them a year.
In terms of emissions per head of population, the picture is different. The US is still near the top, with 15.53 tonnes. But the UK (5.99 tonnes) is only slightly behind China (6.59 tonnes).
So what can a smaller country, like the UK, do to exert pressure for change?
On an individual level, consumers could decide to seek out "green" products and boycott ones from more polluting parts of the world, says Alyssa Gilbert, climate policy director at Imperial College London.
There is also an opportunity for the UK to come up with innovative ideas that larger countries might adopt, Ms Gilbert suggests.
"As a country we are small and nimble, so we can pilot ideas around technology and policy in the hope that we can export them to other countries", she says.
At government level, the UK can also use diplomacy, as well as international aid, to bring about change.
Why are we not capturing and using the greenhouse gases already in our atmosphere? - Jonathan Miller, Cornwall
Carbon capture, to remove and store greenhouse gases, already happens naturally. All plants and trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and groundwater.
So, planting trees is seen as an important weapon in the fight against global warming.
The UK's Committee on Climate Change (CCC) says significant rises in tree planting "need to happen quickly" if other targets to cut carbon are not met.
It says 30,000 hectares of woodland should be planted annually, more than double the new trees planted in 2018.
The UK government says it is committed to planting 11 million trees by 2022.
In February 2019, the Drax power station in North Yorkshire, became the first in Europe to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from wood-burning.
Another approach, currently being offered by a company in Switzerland, is to pull carbon dioxide directly from the air. This gas can then be sold for other purposes, like being used to grow vegetables in hi-tech greenhouses.
But schemes like these are, as yet, relatively few and small-scale.
What questions do you have about changes in our climate and about the Our Planet Matters series?
In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.
Use this form to ask your question:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.


bbc--2020-01-15--Facts and figures behind our climate and weather

Australian Open qualifying is cancelled for the day because of rain after earlier delays caused by the `` very poor @ @ @ @ @ bushfires in the country .

What can the weather tell us about our changing planet? Ben Rich looks at the latest data in the first of our new monthly series, Climate Check.


bbc--2020-01-17--New Chinese virus 'will have infected hundreds'

The number of people already infected by the mystery virus emerging in China is far greater than official figures suggest , scientists have told the BBC .
There have been 41 laboratory-confirmed cases of the new virus , but UK experts estimate the figure is closer to 1,700 .
Two people are known to have died from the virus , which appeared in Wuhan city in December .
`` I am substantially more concerned than I was a week ago , '' disease outbreak scientist , Prof Neil Ferguson , said .
The work was conducted by the MRC Centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College London , which advises bodies including the UK government and the World Health Organization .
• Mystery Chinese virus : How worried should we be ?
Singapore and Hong Kong have been screening air passengers from Wuhan and US authorities announced similar measures starting on Friday at three major airports in San Francisco , Los Angeles and New York .
How were the numbers calculated ?
The crucial clue to the scale of the problem lies in the cases being detected in other countries .
While the outbreak is centred on Wuhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thailand and one in Japan .
`` That caused me to worry , '' said Prof Ferguson .
He added : `` For Wuhan to have exported three cases to other countries would imply there would have to be many more cases than have been reported . ''
It is impossible to get the precise number , but outbreak modelling , which is based on the virus , the local population and flight data , can give an idea .
Wuhan International Airport serves a population of 19 million people , but only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed calculations , which have been posted online ahead of publication in a scientific journal , came up with a figure of 1,700 cases .
What does it all mean ?
Prof Ferguson said it is `` too early to be alarmist '' but he was `` substantially more concerned '' than a week ago .
Chinese officials say there have been no cases of the virus spreading from one person to another .
Instead they say the virus has crossed the species barrier and come from infected animals at a seafood and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argues : `` People should be considering the possibility of substantial human-to-human transmission more seriously than they have so far .
`` It would be unlikely in my mind , given what we know about coronaviruses , to have animal exposure be the principle cause of such a number of human infections . ''
Understanding how a novel virus is spreading is a crucial part of assessing its threat .
What is this virus ?
Viral samples have been taken from patients and analysed in the laboratory .
And officials in China and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection is a coronavirus .
Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses , but only six ( the new one would make it seven ) are known to infect people .
At the mild end they cause the common cold , but severe acute respiratory syndrome ( Sars ) is a coronavirus that killed 774 of the 8,098 people infected in an outbreak that started in China in 2002 .
Analysis of the genetic code of the new virus shows it is more closely related to Sars than any other human coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients and been fatal in two of them .
What do other experts say ?
Dr Jeremy Farrar , director of the Wellcome medical research charity , said : `` There is more to come from this epidemic .
`` Uncertainty and gaps remain , but it 's clear that there is some level of person-to-person transmission .
`` We are starting to hear of more cases in China and other countries and it is likely , as this modelling shows , that there will be many more cases , in a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from the University of Nottingham , said : `` What 's really important is until there has been widespread laboratory testing it is very difficult to put a real number on the cases out there .
`` But this is a figure we should take seriously until we know otherwise , 41 animal-to-human 'spillovers ' is stretching it a bit and there probably is more underlying infection than has been detected so far . ''

"Much remains to be understood about the new coronavirus," it said. "Not enough is known to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, the clinical features of the disease, the extent to which it has spread, or its source, which remains unknown."