bbc--2020-02-18--Should organ donors be paid? The heavy toll of US kidney shortage

Time is not on Duane Oates ' side .
His body is being slowly poisoned .
Three years ago he found out that his kidneys had begun to shut down .
Now , most days the 56-year-old spends hours hooked up to a dialysis machine that removes excess fluid and waste building up inside him .
Although doctors refer to dialysis as `` kidney replacement therapy '' , it is a stopgap at best .
The machine does only 15 % of the job of a normal kidney .
`` What 's going on with the other 85 % [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Oates asks , sitting in a medical recliner at a clinic near Washington DC .
`` Every day that I 'm on dialysis my body is getting less healthy . ''
What he needs is a new kidney that filters his blood around the clock .
As his specialist doctor Ashté Collins puts it : `` The optimal kidney replacement therapy is a transplant . ''
The problem is that US , like nearly every country , is experiencing a permanent shortage of donors .
Oates is healthy enough for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performed in the US every year .
There are 100,000 people in the queue .
The shortage is particularly acute in big cities , where the wait can last as long as 10 years .
Meanwhile , as toxins continue to collect in patients ' bodies , they face increasing risks of heart disease and stroke .
`` Most people who need a kidney transplant unfortunately will never receive it because they die while on the waiting list , '' says Dr Keith Melancon , who heads the kidney transplant unit at George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis in the US - which spends more on kidney care and carries out more transplants than any other nation - is startling .
Kidney disease affects one in seven adults .
Because of a genetic mutation , African-Americans are three times more likely than whites to develop full-blown failure .
Oates is a case in point - his kidney stopped function as a result of `` focal segmental glomerulosclerosis '' , a condition that disproportionately affects black people .
Even for someone who is still relatively healthy like Oates , dialysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work as a project manager in the construction industry .
Although he tries to keep active , having your blood filtered four mornings a week makes it impossible to hold down job .
`` When you first get hit with it , you 're kind of in a dark place .
But you 've got to fight through it and not allow it to take over you . ''
This is a struggle many patients lose .
`` Being bored is the kiss of death , '' says Towanda Maker , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leads to depression , which is the number-one mental illness for dialysis patients . ''
Dialysis does not have to be done in a clinic .
Many patients are given machines that allow them to dialyse more efficiently from the comfort of their homes .
But despite Ms Maker 's friendly nagging , Oates does not feel quite ready for self-care , which requires sticking thick needles into his veins .
Dialysis in any form can only do so much .
Rather than languish for years on the transplant list , Oates has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined a programme sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation , `` Big Ask , Big Give '' , that provides tips on how to ask people if they have a kidney to spare - after all , we all have two but only need one .
Some of Ms Maker 's patients have devised their own strategies .
One put out a successful appeal on Facebook .
Some have had `` I need a kidney '' T-shirts made with their contact information on the back .
`` People have gotten very creative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of increasing your chances of finding a donor is through kidney exchanges - where a donor and recipient who are not compatible can find another non-matching pair for mutual benefit .
Such initiatives can help individuals , but they will not resolve the underlying problem : not enough kidneys are available for transplant .
Many countries , notably in continental Europe , have tried boosting the supply of dead donors through a `` presumed consent '' approach .
Such a system , also known as `` opt out '' , automatically places people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they choose not to be .
All US states , by contrast , have `` opt-in '' laws .
Would switching to `` opt out '' make a big difference ?
International studies suggest not .
Spain , which has presumed consent , is only slightly ahead of the US in the number of transplants relative to its population ; France and Belgium , with similar legislation in place , have fewer transplants .
Wales is currently the only part of the UK with an opt-out system - England is due to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welsh did not see an increase in organ donations after it changed its law in 2015 .
• No rise in organ donors since law change A similar system in the US may help only a bit , Dr Melancon of George Washington University hospital reckons .
`` We would still fall short if we had presumed consent , '' he says .
According to Joseph Vassalotti , the National Kidney Foundation 's chief medical officer , one way to make the most from dead donors is by improving the `` discard rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kidneys they provide are deemed unhealthy and thrown away .
If the US followed French policy and accepted kidneys from older patients and diabetics , for example , there could be 17,000 extra kidneys available for transplant , says Dr Vassalotti .
There is a wide consensus , however , that the surest way to substantially alleviate the shortage of kidneys is through an increase in living donors .
But there is fierce disagreement on how to achieve this .
One prominent contributor to the debate is Sally Satel .
A scholar at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Washington think tank , she has an intense personal interest in the subject .
In 2004 , her kidneys started to fail .
She was desperate to avoid dialysis , but as an only child with no immediate family nearby , she was n't sure how to find a donor .
Her quest consisted in mainly mentioning her condition to those around her .
`` I never asked anybody outright , '' Satel recalls , sitting in the hushed foyer of the AEI .
`` I just brought it up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking .
I just sort of assumed it would happen . ''
Several friends did offer their kidney but pulled out - on two occasions after their spouses threatened divorce if the donations went ahead .
By 2006 , Satel 's health was deteriorating rapidly .
She was weeks away from dialysis when the hoped-for miracle happened .
Virginia Postrel , a political writer , heard about Satel 's predicament while making small talk at a party .
Postrel went home , did some research about donating kidneys and emailed Satel saying she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message , entitled `` a serious offer '' , was immediately followed by a second , single-line email that read : `` I wo n't back out . ''
Fourteen years after she became America 's most famous kidney donor , Postrel demurs at any suggestion that her decision was admirable .
`` I always call it the world 's easiest good deed , '' she says .
`` You show up , you get anaesthesia , you wake up .
There 's very little you have to do afterwards .
People do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of taking care of ageing parents . ''
The intensity in her voice suggests it 's not false modesty .
`` The traditional journalistic narrative of 'Oh the hero blah blah blah ' - I think it makes it less likely that people will donate .
It needs to be normalised . ''
Postrel 's kidney lasted Satel 10 years .
By the time her immune system rejected it , aged 60 , she had found another donor .
Satel is now on her third right kidney and is feeling fine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a policy expert the experience left Satel deeply dissatisfied with a system that relies on luck and the kindness of strangers .
The reason so few kidneys are available for transplant , she contends , is that under the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 , paying for organs is illegal .
The US is not exceptional - Iran is the only country that allows such transactions and it has no kidney shortage .
Satel is not advocating an Iranian-style market for body parts .
But she believes that well-designed financial incentives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressing concerns over paying cash for organs .
`` They 're afraid people will rush in to do this not knowing what they 're doing because the rewards are so appealing , '' she says .
`` There are a million ways to approach that . ''
A 2017 paper co-written by Satel outlines safeguards such as built-in waiting period and delayed compensation .
A payment of , say , $ 50,000 could take the form of tax-credit spread over 10 years , school vouchers , or other long-term government benefit .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to maintain donations on a purely charitable basis .
One common objection , outlined in this Los Angeles Times piece , is that financial incentives would crowd out altruistic giving .
Satel rejects that notion as illogical and argues that financial incentives would not just improve the length and quality of life for kidney patients , but also save a huge amount of money .
Half a million Americans are on dialysis , and caring for each one costs $ 100,000 ( £77,000 ) a year .
Medicare , the US federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , spends 7 % of its budget on it , while dialysis patients account for just 1 % of its recipients .
If you add disability benefits and tax forgone , the costs of dialysis dwarf those of transplantation and post-transplant care .
Studies have tried to quantify the benefits US society would derive from various levels of compensation .
One paper found that that offering $ 45,000 for every donated kidney would result in a net gain of $ 46bn for America as a whole , through lower medical costs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Polls have suggested that a majority of US voters would favour non-cash payments for organs if this saves lives .
But those who want to keep donations on a purely charitable basis take a dim view of such calculations and stand on principle .
The National Kidney Foundation ( NKF ) - a powerful voice in shaping public policy in the field -opposes any radical review of the 1984 ban .
`` Any attempt to assign a monetary value to the human body , '' it says , risks `` devaluating the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many contributors to bioethics - the study of the rights and wrongs of medical research - also regard financial incentives as potentially exploitative .
David Gortler , a former Federal Drug Administration official and onetime member of Yale University 's Center for bioethics , is concerned that people could make reckless decisions because they need the money .
`` I have no confidence that people are going to spend [ any tax credit ] any more intelligently than a teenager with a blank check , '' he says .
Deep-seated misgivings about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not face a frontal challenge anytime soon .
A number of US states are now providing tax breaks worth up to $ 10,000 to cover the costs of donating organs - such as travel , accommodation and lost wages .
But such measures may have limited impact , as research suggests the total value of the disincentives faced by donors is much higher .
There have been federal moves to tweak the 1984 act , but they are unlikely to go very far either .
A bill to study the effect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been stuck in Congress since 2016 .
Things may change in due course , but not fast enough for Duane Oates .
He is pinning his hopes of finding a kidney not on politicians , but on the inner strength he derives from his family and his god .
`` You can allow things to pull you down and go crawl underneath a rock , or you can make something else happen for yourself , '' he says .
`` The wind underneath my wing is my daughter and my wife .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about them , and I come out of it .
We 're strong on faith belief . ''

Things may change in due course, but not fast enough for Duane Oates. He is pinning his hopes of finding a kidney not on politicians, but on the inner strength he derives from his family and his god. "You can allow things to pull you down and go crawl underneath a rock, or you can make something else happen for yourself," he says.


bbc--2020-02-17--US economy under Trump: Is it the greatest in history?

Claim : President Trump often says the US economy is on an historic high , perhaps the greatest it 's ever been .
Speaking at his State of the Union address in February , he reinforced those claims by hailing his pro-growth policies which he says have helped Americans with jobs and wages .
Reality Check verdict : It 's true the economy has been doing well - but there have been periods when it was even stronger .
And the trade war with China , rising tensions in the Middle East and fears over the health of the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and led the US central bank , the Federal Reserve , to lower interest rates .
President Trump has repeatedly tweeted that the current US economy is the greatest in American history .
What do the figures show ?
The annual rate of growth in GDP - the value of goods and services in the economy - has generally been strong .
For 2019 , the data shows an annual average growth of 2.3 % , ending the year at 2.1 % for the fourth quarter .
This is significantly less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second quarter of 2014 during the Obama presidency .
And if you go further back , there were times in the 1950s and 1960s when GDP growth was even higher .
`` If you choose to look at the health of the economy based on GDP , Mr Trump 's claims are suspect when compared to the national economic boom of the post-War years , '' says Megan Black , assistant professor of history at the London School of Economics .
President Trump has also highlighted the rising value of US financial markets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Average , which follows the shares of 30 major US companies .
It 's true the Dow reached record highs under his administration .
Mr Trump 's supporters argue that his corporation tax cuts along with his US-focused policies , his clampdown on bureaucracy and his promises of infrastructure investment have all helped .
The index was highly volatile at times during 2019 , reflecting worries about the trade confrontation with China , and a gloomier outlook for the global economy .
But it 's begun 2020 by notching up more gains with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , what 's happening with employment and wages ?
In his State of the Union address , President Trump said unemployment was at its lowest for half a century .
He also said that since his election , seven million more Americans were now on the employment roll .
In January this year , the unemployment rate was 3.6 % .
It was more than fifty years ago , in December 1969 , when the unemployment rate was lower at 3.5 % .
As for the numbers in employment , almost seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January this year than when Mr Trump was elected in November 2016 .
However , this figure takes into account the final months of the Obama presidency .
Since Mr Trump took office in January 2017 , 6.7 million jobs have been added .
President Trump also highlighted record low levels of unemployment amongst specific groups .
`` The unemployment rate for African Americans , Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans has reached the lowest levels in history , '' he said .
The African American and Hispanic American unemployment rate hit 5.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 - the lowest rates recorded since the US Labor Department started collecting these statistics in the 1970s .
For Asian Americans , records only go back to 2003 .
These show the unemployment rate was the lowest ever recorded in June 2019 at 2.1 % .
In all these groups , unemployment levels had been decreasing throughout the Obama years , after peaking around 2009 .
President Trump also told Congress in his State of the Union speech that `` wages are rising fast '' and `` incomes are soaring . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , by 3.1 % on average - a generally upward trend which began during President Obama 's administration .
But that 's not the whole story .
After inflation is taken into account , real wages increased by 0.6 % in December 2019 , and peaked at 1.9 % in February under President Trump , according to official data .
This is lower than the real wage increases of more than 2 % that President Obama oversaw in 2015 .
Household income has also been growing - but the rate of increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2018 , median household income was $ 63,179 , which official data says is not statistically different from the previous year .
This was reported to be the first year it had barely moved after three years of growth .

Prior to the recent post-pandemic fluctuations, if we look at growth rates as far back as comparable records allow, it's clear there have been frequent periods when the growth of GDP - the value of goods and services in the economy - has been significantly higher than under President Trump.


bbc--2020-02-17--Storm Dennis: 'Ghost ship' washes up on Irish coast

A `` ghost '' cargo ship has washed up off the coast of County Cork , Ireland , brought in by the bad weather that lashed Europe in Storm Dennis .
The abandoned boat was spotted on the rocks of fishing village Ballycotton by a passerby .
The vessel appears to have drifted thousands of miles over more than a year , from the south-east of Bermuda in 2018 , across the Atlantic Ocean .
`` This is one in a million , '' said local lifeboat chief John Tattan .
The head of Ballycotton 's Royal National Lifeboat Institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper he had `` never , ever seen anything abandoned like that before . ''
So what 's the story behind this mysterious ship without a crew ?
The ship has been identified as the Alta , which has had numerous owners and names .
Built in 1976 , it most recently flew a Tanzanian flag .
Various authorities had become aware of its aimless drift around the world .
It was last spotted in September 2019 by a British Royal Navy ship .
The saga that brought it to Ireland began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and sailing from Greece to Haiti .
Unidentified problems on board led to a power outage and the Alta drifted at sea for 20 days around 1,300 miles ( 2,100km ) south-east of Bermuda , according to the US Coast Guard , which became aware of its struggles .
With just two days of food left on board for Alta 's crew , the coast guard air-dropped food and other supplies .
• Ghost boat containing human remains washes up on Japanese island • Why are North Korean 'ghost ships ' washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approached , the coast guard decided to rescue the damaged ship 's 10 crew members and take them to Puerto Rico .
`` M/V [ Motor Vessel ] Alta remains adrift to the southeast of Bermuda as salvage attempts by owners continue , '' a Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre spokesperson said at the time .
Partly damaged and without a crew , the Alta was left to drift .
Then , one year later , in September 2019 , the Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS Protector spotted it in the mid-Atlantic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but her future lies in the hands of others , '' HMS Protector tweeted , having ascertained that there were no crew on board .
Who is responsible for ghost ships ?
Normally , damaged or sunken ships remain the property of their owners , who are responsible for securing a solution , the director of coastal operations for the Commissioners of Irish Lights , Robert McCabe , told BBC News .
However , if such a vessel is deemed a danger to shipping , local authorities might make efforts to tow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of incidents in the Irish Sea like that - if there is no owner , the Commissioners of Irish Lights get involved , '' said Mr McCabe .
`` To have a ship drifting around like that for 18 months is not common , '' he added .
`` For it to have been spotted just once since October 2018 just shows how vast the ocean is . ''
He said recent poor weather may have meant fewer ships were at sea and in a position to have noticed it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no visible pollution leaking from the ship , according to environmental scientists who visited Ballycotton on Monday , explained Cork County Council .
Cork County Council , the Irish Coastguard and the Receiver of Wrecks will decide what will happen to the ship , but Mr McCabe suggests that salvaging it would be expensive .
And there are still puzzles in the Alta 's story that remains to be solved : who is its owner ?
And what was the cargo on board at the time it was abandoned ?
Answers may only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with the Alta is reached .

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bbc--2020-02-18--FW de Klerk and the South African row over apartheid and crimes against humanity

FW de Klerk , the last white man to lead South Africa , has apologised for `` quibbling '' over whether or not apartheid was a `` crime against humanity '' , but the row has revealed old wounds , writes the BBC 's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding .
The past is still raw in South Africa .
Mr de Klerk 's apology was an attempt to calm a fortnight of increasingly furious debate after he made comments that many interpreted as an attempt to rewrite history and play down the seriousness of apartheid .
In a statement issued through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed regret for `` the confusion , anger , and hurt '' his remarks might have caused .
Two weeks ago , in an interview with the national broadcaster , SABC , the former president said he was `` not fully agreeing '' with the presenter who asked him to confirm that apartheid , the legalised discrimination against non-white people , was a crime against humanity .
Mr de Klerk went on to acknowledge that it was a crime , and to apologise profusely for his role in it , but he insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths and that it should not be put in the same category of `` genocide '' or `` crimes against humanity '' .
At first , South Africa seemed to shrug .
Mr de Klerk , who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela after helping to negotiate an end to apartheid , is a peripheral figure in the country these days , and his potentially polarising comments seem to pass unnoticed .
But that changed last Thursday when , as a former head of state , he attended parliament for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nation Address .
Members of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters ( EFF ) party interrupted the president and demanded that Mr de Klerk be removed from the chamber .
`` We have a murderer in the House , '' said EFF leader Julius Malema .
He said that Mr de Klerk was an `` apartheid apologist… with blood on his hands '' .
An hour-and-a-half later , President Ramaphosa was finally able to begin his speech , and the EFF 's aggressive delaying tactics were widely condemned - by the governing ANC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrageous , shameful stunt .
You may also be interested in : Once again , it seemed as if Mr de Klerk 's own comments had been more or less sidelined .
But not for long .
In the days that followed , the backlash against Mr de Klerk gathered a furious momentum across the country , opening wounds and provoking deep anger .
That anger was fuelled - in part - by social media , and by rival political agendas , but also by Mr de Klerk 's blunt attempts to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially issued a defiant statement explaining why it believed Mr de Klerk was right to insist that apartheid was not a crime against humanity .
It argued that describing it as such was simply `` an agitprop project initiated by the Soviet Union '' , and that it was `` simplistic '' to portray South Africa 's painful history in a `` black/white , good/evil framework '' .
Mr de Klerk , his foundation insisted , was an innocent victim of the EFF 's `` bully boy tactics ... who whip up race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Duce ' '' .
In a BBC interview last Friday , Mr de Klerk said his comment about crimes against humanity was `` in line with the ( UN ) Security Council at that time '' .
This was a reference to the fact that , although the UN General Assembly declared that apartheid was a crime against humanity , the US and the UK ( both permanent members of the Security Council ) voted against approving this description .
But this can not obscure the UN 's repeated condemnation of apartheid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa .
Apartheid was also included as a `` crime against humanity '' in the Rome Statute that set up the International Criminal Court .
`` It is unarguable and hopeless to claim today that apartheid is not , and has never been , a 'crime against humanity , ' '' said Philippe Sands , QC , a professor and expert on international law .
To push home that same point , another former South African President , Thabo Mbeki , announced that he would send Mr de Klerk a copy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to learn from the man himself that his predecessor `` actually did not know '' about its existence .
Some voices - particularly , but not exclusively , those of white South Africans - responded to Mr de Klerk 's comments by calling for people to `` move on '' and to focus on more urgent priorities like fighting corruption , tackling poverty , and reviving a stagnant economy .
Those same voices suggested that the furore was being deliberately , cynically , exploited by the ANC and others , in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to shift blame to the white minority .
There is no doubt that in recent years , under former President Jacob Zuma , and spurred on by the EFF , the political rhetoric in South Africa has become increasingly racialised .
White farmers and `` white monopoly capital '' have frequently been blamed for the country 's slow pace of economic transformation .
The former leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance , Helen Zille , has regularly bemoaned the growth of racial nationalism , and of `` identity politics '' which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But to many others here - perhaps even to the majority - Mr de Klerk 's comments appeared to reinforce a wider perception that many white people have never been obliged to confront , properly , the evils of the past .
This is in part , perhaps , because apartheid ended through negotiation rather than a military victory .
`` Far too many white South Africans… continue to deny the full horror of apartheid , '' wrote constitutional expert Pierre de Vos .
`` [ They ] refuse to admit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tacitly , propped up the system and still reap the benefits bestowed on them by that system . ''
`` Sadly , FW de Klerk , his foundation , and the behaviour of some of our white compatriots of even trying… to justify the systemic destruction of black lives for generations , has opened old wounds at the time when many are questioning the very democracy and its liberation dividends , '' wrote political commentator Somadoda Fikeni on Twitter .
`` De Klerk soaked up the glory and the money on the speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single day , '' tweeted prominent journalist Carol Paton .
The ANC issued its own statement , condemning Mr de Klerk 's argument as `` a blatant whitewash [ which ] … flies in the face of our commitments to reconciliation and nation building '' .
Soon afterwards , Archbishop Desmond Tutu 's foundation called on the De Klerk Foundation to `` withdraw its statement '' .
It angrily chided the former president : `` It is incumbent on leaders and former leaders of the white community , in particular , to demonstrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contribute to societal healing . ''
This row has surfaced at a particularly difficult time .
As Desmond Tutu himself put it in his foundation 's statement , South Africa `` is on an economic precipice .
It is beset by radical poverty and inequity .
Those who suffered most under apartheid continue to suffer most today . ''
Some black South Africans have taken to arguing that Mr Mandela himself was a sell-out , and that the painful and hard-won compromises that led to the emergence of a democratic `` rainbow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-examined .
In his second statement , withdrawing his first , Mr de Klerk acknowledged that his comments about apartheid had been `` totally unacceptable '' .

Mr De Klerk went on to acknowledge that it was a crime, and to apologise profusely for his role in it, but he insisted that apartheid was responsible for relatively few deaths and that it should not be put in the same category of "genocide" or "crimes against humanity".


bbc--2020-02-18--How are weather forecasts made?

How are weather forecasts made?

Extreme weather events are happening around the world on a regular basis , causing misery for those affected .
The UK had Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis over successive weekends , Spain and France were hit by severe storms last month and Australia has suffered with extreme heat , leading to wildfires .
Weather forecasts predicting such events help people to prepare - but how is a forecast put together ?
How do you forecast the weather ?
As much information as possible is gathered about the current weather and the state of the atmosphere .
The observations , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind speed , are collected from across the globe and then fed into powerful supercomputers .
In the UK , for example , the Met Office has just secured the help of a supercomputer project costing £1.2bn .
The main limiting factor is how quickly these computers can process all this information to make a forecast .
Meteorologists also monitor current weather conditions to ensure the forecast is going to plan - making tweaks when necessary .
Because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere , even small developments in the ocean can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and strength of a weather system when it reaches land , for example .
The atmosphere is vast and complex and it is impossible to accurately monitor every part of it , so inevitably there are gaps in those observations .
As a result , something can be missed or just not observed fully enough .
A forecast for seven days from now will probably change before that day arrives .
However , as our understanding of the atmosphere improves , alongside advances in computer technology , forecasts further into the future are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says its four-day forecast is now as accurate as a one-day forecast was 30 years ago .
And longer forecasts can still give a good steer on general trends , such as whether it will be wetter or drier than average .
We can also use computers to model how our climate , rather than the day-to-day weather , might look many decades into the future .
• How do I know if it 's going to rain ?
• The birth of the weather forecast Some weather patterns are particularly challenging when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an individual location .
Showers are such small-scale weather features , it is hard to predict exactly where they will develop .
You may think the forecast was wrong because you were expecting showers but did not see any , whereas just a mile down the road there was a torrential thunderstorm .
Why do we get different forecasts ?
There is more than one answer to the question `` What will the weather do tomorrow ? ''
Many different organisations across the world produce weather forecasts , using different computer programs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ band of rain arriving somewhere at 21:00 , while others may have it arriving after midnight .
Different media organisations take weather forecasts from different providers and , depending on who you favour , you might see differences if you compare one to the other .
Also there are an increasing number of weather apps fed by different data providers and each can use different methods to display the forecast .
If there is a 30 % chance of a shower , one app might choose to show a shower symbol whereas another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a 70 % chance it will stay dry .
What does the future hold for weather forecasting ?
As computer technology evolves , particularly processing speed , we will be able to capture more and more observations .
These will be put into ever more complex equations , churning out forecasts for ever smaller areas more quickly .
This should lead to more accurate forecasts looking out further into the future

How are weather forecasts made? Published 18 February 2020
Image source, Getty Images
Extreme weather events are happening around the world on a regular basis, causing misery for those affected.
The UK had Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis over successive weekends, Spain and France were hit by severe storms last month and Australia has suffered with extreme heat, leading to wildfires.
Weather forecasts predicting such events help people to prepare - but how is a forecast put together? And why aren't they always accurate?
How do you forecast the weather?
As much information as possible is gathered about the current weather and the state of the atmosphere.
The observations, such as temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed, are collected from across the globe and then fed into powerful supercomputers.
In the UK, for example, the Met Office has just secured the help of a supercomputer project costing £1.2bn.
Image source, Getty Images
The main limiting factor is how quickly these computers can process all this information to make a forecast.
Meteorologists also monitor current weather conditions to ensure the forecast is going to plan - making tweaks when necessary.
Why are weather forecasts sometimes wrong?
Because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, even small developments in the ocean can have a significant impact on the position and strength of a weather system when it reaches land, for example.
The atmosphere is vast and complex and it is impossible to accurately monitor every part of it, so inevitably there are gaps in those observations.
As a result, something can be missed or just not observed fully enough.
Image source, Getty Images
A forecast for seven days from now will probably change before that day arrives.
However, as our understanding of the atmosphere improves, alongside advances in computer technology, forecasts further into the future are becoming more accurate.
The Met Office says its four-day forecast is now as accurate as a one-day forecast was 30 years ago.
And longer forecasts can still give a good steer on general trends, such as whether it will be wetter or drier than average.
We can also use computers to model how our climate, rather than the day-to-day weather, might look many decades into the future.
Why is some weather so hard to forecast?
Some weather patterns are particularly challenging when it comes to an accurate forecast for an individual location.
Showers are such small-scale weather features, it is hard to predict exactly where they will develop.
You may think the forecast was wrong because you were expecting showers but did not see any, whereas just a mile down the road there was a torrential thunderstorm.
This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Media caption, Weatherman Simon King explains how raw data is turned into a weather forecast
Why do we get different forecasts?
There is more than one answer to the question "What will the weather do tomorrow?"
Many different organisations across the world produce weather forecasts, using different computer programs to do so.
Some may predict a band of rain arriving somewhere at 21:00, while others may have it arriving after midnight.
Different media organisations take weather forecasts from different providers and, depending on who you favour, you might see differences if you compare one to the other.
Also there are an increasing number of weather apps fed by different data providers and each can use different methods to display the forecast.
If there is a 30% chance of a shower, one app might choose to show a shower symbol whereas another picks a partly cloudy symbol because there is a 70% chance it will stay dry.
What does the future hold for weather forecasting?
As computer technology evolves, particularly processing speed, we will be able to capture more and more observations.
These will be put into ever more complex equations, churning out forecasts for ever smaller areas more quickly.


bbc--2020-02-17--Don't blame foreign workers, says economist Piketty

Economist Thomas Piketty 's last book , Capital in the Twenty First Century , took the publishing world by surprise when it stormed to the top of the bestsellers list .
Despite containing a multitude of data and equations , the professor sold 2.5 million copies .
His central argument was that invested capital - in the stock market , in property - will grow faster than income .
The solution , then , to inequality was to look at ways to redistribute this wealth and influence .
Unsurprisingly , it divided opinion .
Now he 's back with an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which comes in at a hefty 1,150 pages .
At the heart of it is the idea of `` participatory socialism '' .
Mr Piketty advocates income and property taxes of up to 90 % , a `` public inheritance '' of £100,000 for every 25-year-old and caps on shareholders ' influence .
He essentially argues that governments are focusing on limiting the movement of people rather than capital flows in answer to concerns about inequality - saying it is easier to `` blame foreign workers '' rather than try to deliver a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this approach , he warns , could risk a further break-up of the EU .
In an interview for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme , he warned : `` There is a tendency within the EU to say that Brexit is all because of these crazy British nationalists ...
I 'm not so convinced . ''
He says that if the bloc does n't take a closer look at the way it is organised , tackle social policy and taxation , `` we 'll risk another Brexit '' .
He fears Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But are people willing to entertain such radical change ?
I put it to him that , given the victory of the Conservatives over Jeremy Corbyn 's Labour party in the December general election , some of those that his ideas should help the most had emphatically rejected them at the ballot box .
He conceded this was an issue , but said he hoped that the ideas of the likes of Bernie Sanders , who advocates a wealth tax , might mobilise the poorest to vote in the forthcoming US presidential elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it might take another financial crisis for his ideas to be more widely embraced in the mainstream .
And given the method used to enable recovery from the last one , the boosting of balance sheets via quantitative easing , he fears another crash is inevitable .
But when that might happen is another question .

But are people willing to entertain such radical change? I put it to him that, given the victory of the Conservatives over Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party in the December general election, some of those that his ideas should help the most had emphatically rejected them at the ballot box.


bbc--2020-02-17--Man Utd win at Chelsea in game full of VAR controversy

Manchester United closed in on the Champions League places with victory over Chelsea as Frank Lampard 's side were left with a sense of injustice after contentious video assistant referee decisions went against them .
United closed to within three points of Chelsea in fourth place with headed goals either side of the interval from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire at Stamford Bridge .
Martial glanced in Aaron Wan-Bissaka 's cross on the stroke of half-time before Manchester United captain Maguire powered in a header from Bruno Fernandes ' corner after 66 minutes .
Chelsea felt aggrieved as Maguire was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicking Michy Batshuayi in the groin in the first half as they tangled on the touchline , despite the incident being examined by VAR .
And the review system denied them again when Chelsea thought substitute Kurt Zouma had made it 1-1 .
The goal was ruled out for a push by Cesar Azpilicueta on Brandon Williams , although replays showed United 's Fred put a hand on the back of Chelsea 's captain .
Chelsea 's frustration was complete when Olivier Giroud 's 76th-minute header was ruled out because his foot was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet Mason Mount 's free-kick .
Being on the right side of the decisions helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's organised and diligent United side to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1987/88 .
This was not a glittering performance by any means from Manchester United but it can be satisfactorily filed under 'job done ' .
VAR was United 's friend in two pivotal moments , with Maguire 's goal adding insult to injury as Chelsea felt - with understandable conviction - he should have been given a red card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United had the decisive advantage over Chelsea was in front of goal , where they made the most of their rare opportunities with a clinical edge that was notably lacking in their opponents .
Martial was on the margins for most of the first half but showed his quality with an angled header beyond the grasp of Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero .
United sealed an important win that gives them hope of a top-four finish when Maguire escaped the attentions of Antonio Rudiger to head home .
New boy Fernandes will have added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touches , including a free-kick against the post as well as creating Maguire 's goal before he was substituted to a loud ovation from the away end in the closing moments .
It puts them firmly back in contention for the top four , with only five points separating Everton in ninth place from Chelsea in fourth .
Chelsea manager Lampard 's constant gripe this season has been a lack of cutting edge to accompany some neat approach play and plentiful possession - and so it proved again here .
As they continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win in six league games , Chelsea again paid a heavy price for once more failing to make the most of the opportunities that presented themselves .
With Tammy Abraham sidelined through injury , responsibility fell on Batshuayi - but the Belgium striker looked short of confidence and drew Stamford Bridge 's wrath when he missed two first-half chances .
The experienced Giroud looked more threatening when he came on but it was too late for Chelsea , who came up short again .
These are difficult times for Lampard as he must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their current form , get his strikers scoring and deal with a dilemma over his goalkeeper - with £71m keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga clearly behind 38-year-old Caballero .
It means the stakes are high in the battle for top-four places when Jose Mourinho 's Spurs visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime .
Chelsea host Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday ( kick-off 12:30 GMT ) while Manchester United travel to Club Bruges in the Europa League on Thursday , followed by a Premier League game against Watford on Sunday ( 14:00 GMT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top sides - the stats • This is the first time Manchester United have completed a league double over Chelsea without conceding a goal since 1964-65 .
• Chelsea have lost seven home games in all competitions this season , their most in a single campaign since 1994-95 ( also seven ) .
• Chelsea have lost all five of their home league games when conceding the first goal this season ; only two other sides have failed to recover a single point at home when conceding first in the Premier League this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Manchester United scored with both of their first two attempts on target in this match and scored two headed goals in a Premier League game for the first time since November 2017 against Newcastle .
• Chelsea became the second side to have two goals awarded and then overturned by VAR in a Premier League match this season , following Sheffield United against Brighton in December .
• Anthony Martial has scored four Premier League goals against Chelsea ; he has n't scored more goals against any other side .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three appearances against the Blues .
• Martial became the first Manchester United player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances against Chelsea , and the third to score home and away Premier League goals against the Blues in the same season ( Wayne Rooney 2011-12 and Eric Cantona 1992-93 ) .
• Harry Maguire scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United ; each of his last four strikes in the competition have been away from home , with his first since January 2019 at Liverpool .
• Ole Gunnar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away games as Man Utd manager against Chelsea and Man City in all competitions - more than the Red Devils had won in their previous 19 such games under Alex Ferguson , David Moyes , Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho combined .
• Odion Ighalo became the 200th player to make an appearance for Man Utd in the Premier League , and the first Nigerian to do so .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Harry Maguire scored his first league goal for Manchester United
Manchester United closed in on the Champions League places with victory over Chelsea as Frank Lampard's side were left with a sense of injustice after contentious video assistant referee decisions went against them.
United closed to within three points of Chelsea in fourth place with headed goals either side of the interval from Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire at Stamford Bridge.
Martial glanced in Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross on the stroke of half-time before Manchester United captain Maguire powered in a header from Bruno Fernandes' corner after 66 minutes.
Chelsea felt aggrieved as Maguire was fortunate to escape a red card for kicking Michy Batshuayi in the groin in the first half as they tangled on the touchline, despite the incident being examined by VAR.
And the review system denied them again when Chelsea thought substitute Kurt Zouma had made it 1-1. The goal was ruled out for a push by Cesar Azpilicueta on Brandon Williams, although replays showed United's Fred put a hand on the back of Chelsea's captain.
Chelsea's frustration was complete when Olivier Giroud's 76th-minute header was ruled out because his foot was in an offside position as he moved to meet Mason Mount's free-kick.
Being on the right side of the decisions helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's organised and diligent United side to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1987-88.
Solskjaer's men grind it out
Chelsea 0-2 Manchester United: Solskjaer praises defensive display as United in 'the running' for top four
This was not a glittering performance by any means from Manchester United but it can be satisfactorily filed under 'job done'.
VAR was United's friend in two pivotal moments, with Maguire's goal adding insult to injury as Chelsea felt - with understandable conviction - he should have been given a red card for kicking out at Batshuayi.
Where United had the decisive advantage over Chelsea was in front of goal, where they made the most of their rare opportunities with a clinical edge that was notably lacking in their opponents.
Martial was on the margins for most of the first half but showed his quality with an angled header beyond the grasp of Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero.
United sealed an important win that gives them hope of a top-four finish when Maguire escaped the attentions of Antonio Rudiger to head home.
New boy Fernandes will have added to Solskjaer's pleasure with some nice touches, including a free-kick against the post as well as creating Maguire's goal before he was substituted to a loud ovation from the away end in the closing moments.
It puts them firmly back in contention for the top four, with only five points separating Everton in ninth place from Chelsea in fourth.
Old failings haunt Chelsea
Chelsea 0-2 Manchester United: Chelsea's season starts now with fight for fourth - Lampard
Chelsea manager Lampard's constant gripe this season has been a lack of cutting edge to accompany some neat approach play and plentiful possession - and so it proved again here.
As they continued a slump that has brought only one win in six league games, Chelsea again paid a heavy price for once more failing to make the most of the opportunities that presented themselves.
With Tammy Abraham sidelined through injury, responsibility fell on Batshuayi - but the Belgium striker looked short of confidence and drew Stamford Bridge's wrath when he missed two first-half chances.
The experienced Giroud looked more threatening when he came on but it was too late for Chelsea, who came up short again.
These are difficult times for Lampard as he must find a way to drag Chelsea out of their current form, get his strikers scoring and deal with a dilemma over his goalkeeper - with £71m keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga clearly behind 38-year-old Caballero.
It means the stakes are high in the battle for top-four places when Jose Mourinho's Spurs visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime.
Man of the match - Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
Ivory Coast defender Bailly produced an immense performance in United's back three in his first start of the season - including a crucial block to deny Mateo Kovacic
What next?
Chelsea host Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 GMT) while Manchester United travel to Club Bruges in the Europa League on Thursday, followed by a Premier League game against Watford on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
Solskjaer's away joy against top sides - the stats
This is the first time Manchester United have completed a league double over Chelsea without conceding a goal since 1964-65.
Chelsea have lost seven home games in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since 1994-95 (also seven).
Chelsea have lost all five of their home league games when conceding the first goal this season; only two other sides have failed to recover a single point at home when conceding first in the Premier League this season (Norwich and West Ham).
Manchester United scored with both of their first two attempts on target in this match and scored two headed goals in a Premier League game for the first time since November 2017 against Newcastle.
Chelsea became the second side to have two goals awarded and then overturned by VAR in a Premier League match this season, following Sheffield United against Brighton in December.
Anthony Martial has scored four Premier League goals against Chelsea; he hasn't scored more goals against any other side. Those four strikes have come in his last three appearances against the Blues.
Martial became the first Manchester United player to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances against Chelsea, and the third to score home and away Premier League goals against the Blues in the same season (Wayne Rooney 2011-12 and Eric Cantona 1992-93).
Harry Maguire scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester United; each of his last four strikes in the competition have been away from home, with his first since January 2019 at Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won all five of his away games as Man Utd manager against Chelsea and Man City in all competitions - more than the Red Devils had won in their previous 19 such games under Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho combined.
Odion Ighalo became the 200th player to make an appearance for Man Utd in the Premier League, and the first Nigerian to do so.


bbc--2020-02-17--Liverpool first in Europe to qualify for Champions League... for next season

The knockout stage of this season 's Champions League has n't even started yet - but holders Liverpool have already qualified for next year 's competition .
Chelsea 's failure to beat Manchester United on Monday night means the Premier League leaders have guaranteed a top-four finish .
Jurgen Klopp 's side are 36 points above fifth-placed Tottenham with 12 games remaining .
But Spurs play Chelsea at the weekend , meaning that if Jose Mourinho 's side did win all of their remaining games and Liverpool lost every one , Chelsea would only be able to reach 74 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reached the last two Champions League finals and face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday .
They are the first team in Europe to secure their spot in the elite competition in European football for the 2020-21 season .
As it stands Manchester City are set to be banned from the Champions League next season , meaning that whoever finishes fifth will take their place in the competition .
Liverpool can , in theory , win their first Premier League title against Bournemouth on 7 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all their matches in that time with Manchester City , and Leicester City in third , slipping up .
Manchester United hold the record for the earliest Premier League title win , with Sir Alex Ferguson 's men claiming the trophy in 2000-01 on 14 April .

Last updated on .From the section Champions League
Liverpool lifted the trophy for a sixth time in Madrid last May
The knockout stage of this season's Champions League hasn't even started yet - but holders Liverpool have already qualified for next year's competition.
Chelsea's failure to beat Manchester United on Monday night means the Premier League leaders have guaranteed a top-four finish.
Jurgen Klopp's side are 36 points above fifth-placed Tottenham with 12 games remaining.
The worst Liverpool can possibly finish this season is now fourth place
But Spurs play Chelsea at the weekend, meaning that if Jose Mourinho's side did win all of their remaining games and Liverpool lost every one, Chelsea would only be able to reach 74 points and therefore finish behind Liverpool.
Liverpool have reached the last two Champions League finals and face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday. They are the first team in Europe to secure their spot in the elite competition in European football for the 2020-21 season.
Liverpool have now qualified for the European Cup or Champions League on 24 occasions
As it stands Manchester City are set to be banned from the Champions League next season, meaning that whoever finishes fifth will take their place in the competition.
Liverpool can, in theory, win their first Premier League title against Bournemouth on 7 March. That would require Liverpool to win all their matches in that time with Manchester City, and Leicester City in third, slipping up.
Manchester United hold the record for the earliest Premier League title win, with Sir Alex Ferguson's men claiming the trophy in 2000-01 on 14 April.


bbc--2020-02-17--Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder: A knockdown, a fightback, a heated corner and a rematch

Tyson Fury is motionless on the canvas as his wife shakes with fear , and a few feet away there is a fight about to break out in a ringside corner .
Commentators are screaming , pundits have forgotten how to sit down and 18,000 boxing fans are losing themselves in the seconds that separate glory and disaster .
Deontay Wilder is on the brink of a 12th-round stoppage win .
It has been a step too far for Fury - or so it seemed .
Welcome to the chaos of the knockdown that stunned us all .
• Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren ' I will kick you out' In his changing room , moments after the December 2018 draw that led to Saturday 's Las Vegas rematch , Fury simply asks : `` What round did I go down in , 12 ? ''
That he can not recall points to the parallel universe a fighter inhabits when in survival mode .
He had been down in the ninth too .
But the way he was truly hammered to the canvas three rounds later more likely explains the horrified look on his wife 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shower .
In the coming hours , she will ask him to retire .
The night was too much to take .
In just 12 months , Fury had lost the 10st in weight he packed on during a debilitating mental health battle .
In six months from his return to boxing he had moved to challenge WBC world heavyweight champion Wilder .
In just three minutes he saw a shock points win turn to certain defeat - and then to a draw .
`` Do n't let him take you for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Fury 's trainer Ben Davison moments before round 12 .
Across the ring , Wilder is asked by his corner : `` Can you give me a big finish ? ''
Less than 30 seconds later he lands the kind of shots honed over thousands of lonely hours punching a bag .
Right hand , left hook : powerful , accurate , show-stopping .
Fury 's brother Hughie stands at ringside , his mouth open and arms wide like a frozen goalkeeper .
`` I genuinely thought it was over , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Wilder 's people around me were going crazy . ''
`` It was the scariest time ever , '' recalls Fury 's wife Paris , who pushed one of his brothers towards the ring to be with him .
`` You 've got to sit down , right now , '' a steward in a suit screams at Fury 's trainer Davison .
`` I will kick you out of the corner . ''
But Davison ca n't sit .
No-one can .
He is warned again , this time more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , '' he says , as things get heated .
As Fury begins to stir on the canvas , Ricky Hatton - part of the team in the corner - shouts in Davison 's ear : `` If he gets through this round he 's still won . ''
Davison simply puts his hands together , closes his eyes and mouths a prayer .
Over two minutes remain and the most vicious puncher in heavyweight history stands over Fury , posturing and blowing kisses while he waits .
`` Anybody else you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you 're hit like that by Wilder , '' Hatton tells BBC Sport .
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Mike Costello adds : `` I was staring directly at the soles of Fury 's boots and there was no movement .
I 'm in good company when I say I still do n't know how he got up . ''
'One of the most miraculous things I 've seen in boxing' Fury blinks , stands , and is instructed by referee Jack Reiss to jog to his left .
Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles ' Staples Center and look around in bemusement .
`` You see disappointment , despair , elation , concern , a trainer praying , a trainer nearly thrown out - all these things are happening in 10 seconds so it is a truly amazing thing , '' adds promoter Warren .
It is hard to fathom how a fighter finds clarity of thought in such moments .
David Haye , a former world heavyweight champion , once prepared for a knockdown by rolling around on the canvas in training before getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onslaught from sparring partners .
`` Change your height , '' screams Davison from the corner , urging his man to at least vary Wilder 's target .
Fury has other ideas and stands , hands behind his back , brazenly provoking the man trying to turn out the lights .
A reporter in the seat next to mine takes issue with the goading : `` No Tyson , not now , do n't be stupid Tyson , no . ''
And then , as Fury recalls : `` I hit him with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anybody 's ever thrown . ''
`` As Fury began to rally , I ca n't say I believed he could stop Wilder but I was aware we were watching something that would be remembered forever , '' Costello adds .
The BBC commentator told his listeners : `` The division is alive again . ''
And so was Fury , as he bulldozed his way closer to reclaiming the world title .
`` Anyone who wants to be punched in the face for a living , you have to be a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hatton .
`` You have to have a heart of a lion but fighting back the way he did at that time was the wrong tactic , there 's no doubt .
I wanted him to just hold on .
`` It was one of the most miraculous things I 've seen in boxing . ''
Fury laps the ring at the bell , arms aloft , before screaming `` that 's pay-per-view '' .
The fighters - each visibly bruised - embrace .
The ringside consensus is for Fury but the cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own a reporter punches the air .
They have bet on the draw .
Fury is keen not to spark a riot .
`` His brothers after the decision were going crazy in the ring , '' says Warren .
Wilder 's manager Lou DiBella is the first at ringside to point to the world of WWE , stating : `` The guy is The Undertaker to get up from that . ''
Backstage , Fury embraces his wife .
The concern on her face is obvious .
She has seen enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone has a view , yet none of them can change anything .
`` Listen , we know the truth , I won that fight , '' says Fury .
His cousin Hughie interjects : `` Ten stone lost in a year .
How you got up from that second knockdown ... '' He fails to end the sentence and instead shakes his head .
Hatton is shaking his head too .
`` When I went and fought Floyd Mayweather in America , even though I was losing , the size of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We always seem to get the bad end of the stick in the US . ''
Wilder tells the media he saw Fury 's `` eyes roll into the back of his head '' as he hit the deck .
Fury arrives for a news conference dressed like a Miami Vice character - blazer , floral shirt , gold watch , red trousers , baseball cap .
He orchestrates a rendition of Don McLean 's American Pie and calls on reporters to join in .
Costello concludes : `` It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when family and friends , fully aware that you were there , ask : 'Did you see that ? '
'' `` There was a similar reaction when Usain Bolt danced across the line to win the Olympic 100m final in 2008 .
Those nights do n't come in bunches . ''
There will be a sequel .
Las Vegas has much to live up to after the three minutes that stunned us all .

Last updated on .From the section Boxing
"I literally saw his eyes roll into the back of his head," said Wilder in the aftermath of flooring Fury
Tyson Fury is motionless on the canvas as his wife shakes with fear, and a few feet away there is a fight about to break out in a ringside corner.
Commentators are screaming, pundits have forgotten how to sit down and 18,000 boxing fans are losing themselves in the seconds that separate glory and disaster.
Deontay Wilder is on the brink of a 12th-round stoppage win. It has been a step too far for Fury - or so it seemed.
Welcome to the chaos of the knockdown that stunned us all.
'I will kick you out'
In his changing room, moments after the December 2018 draw that led to Saturday's Las Vegas rematch, Fury simply asks: "What round did I go down in, 12?"
That he cannot recall points to the parallel universe a fighter inhabits when in survival mode.
He had been down in the ninth too. But the way he was truly hammered to the canvas three rounds later more likely explains the horrified look on his wife's face as he begins to strip for a shower. In the coming hours, she will ask him to retire. The night was too much to take.
quote I was staring directly at the soles of Fury's boots and there was no movement. I'm in good company when I say I still don't know how he got up Mike Costello
In just 12 months, Fury had lost the 10st in weight he packed on during a debilitating mental health battle. In six months from his return to boxing he had moved to challenge WBC world heavyweight champion Wilder. In just three minutes he saw a shock points win turn to certain defeat - and then to a draw.
"Don't let him take you for the biggest comeback in boxing history," said Fury's trainer Ben Davison moments before round 12.
Across the ring, Wilder is asked by his corner: "Can you give me a big finish?"
Less than 30 seconds later he lands the kind of shots honed over thousands of lonely hours punching a bag. Right hand, left hook: powerful, accurate, show-stopping.
Fury's brother Hughie stands at ringside, his mouth open and arms wide like a frozen goalkeeper.
"I genuinely thought it was over," says Fury's promoter Frank Warren. "Wilder's people around me were going crazy."
"It was the scariest time ever," recalls Fury's wife Paris, who pushed one of his brothers towards the ring to be with him.
"You've got to sit down, right now," a steward in a suit screams at Fury's trainer Davison. "I will kick you out of the corner."
But Davison can't sit. No-one can. He is warned again, this time more physically. "Get your hands off me," he says, as things get heated.
As Fury begins to stir on the canvas, Ricky Hatton - part of the team in the corner - shouts in Davison's ear: "If he gets through this round he's still won."
Davison simply puts his hands together, closes his eyes and mouths a prayer.
Over two minutes remain and the most vicious puncher in heavyweight history stands over Fury, posturing and blowing kisses while he waits.
"Anybody else you might have half a chance but not when you're hit like that by Wilder," Hatton tells BBC Sport.
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Mike Costello adds: "I was staring directly at the soles of Fury's boots and there was no movement. I'm in good company when I say I still don't know how he got up."
'One of the most miraculous things I've seen in boxing'
Fury blinks, stands, and is instructed by referee Jack Reiss to jog to his left.
Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and actress Hayden Panettiere stand ringside at Los Angeles' Staples Center and look around in bemusement.
"You see disappointment, despair, elation, concern, a trainer praying, a trainer nearly thrown out - all these things are happening in 10 seconds so it is a truly amazing thing," adds promoter Warren.
It is hard to fathom how a fighter finds clarity of thought in such moments.
David Haye, a former world heavyweight champion, once prepared for a knockdown by rolling around on the canvas in training before getting up - dizzied - to face an onslaught from sparring partners.
"Change your height," screams Davison from the corner, urging his man to at least vary Wilder's target.
Fury has other ideas and stands, hands behind his back, brazenly provoking the man trying to turn out the lights.
A reporter in the seat next to mine takes issue with the goading: "No Tyson, not now, don't be stupid Tyson, no."
And then, as Fury recalls: "I hit him with the best right hand and left hook anybody's ever thrown."
The American is shaken.
"As Fury began to rally, I can't say I believed he could stop Wilder but I was aware we were watching something that would be remembered forever," Costello adds.
The BBC commentator told his listeners: "The division is alive again."
And so was Fury, as he bulldozed his way closer to reclaiming the world title.
"Anyone who wants to be punched in the face for a living, you have to be a bit weird," says former world champion Hatton. "You have to have a heart of a lion but fighting back the way he did at that time was the wrong tactic, there's no doubt. I wanted him to just hold on.
"It was one of the most miraculous things I've seen in boxing."
A dressing room of shaking heads
Witness Deontay Wilder's punching power
Fury laps the ring at the bell, arms aloft, before screaming "that's pay-per-view". The fighters - each visibly bruised - embrace.
The ringside consensus is for Fury but the cards say a draw.
Three seats from my own a reporter punches the air. They have bet on the draw.
Fury is keen not to spark a riot. "His brothers after the decision were going crazy in the ring," says Warren.
Wilder's manager Lou DiBella is the first at ringside to point to the world of WWE, stating: "The guy is The Undertaker to get up from that."
Backstage, Fury embraces his wife. The concern on her face is obvious. She has seen enough.
Expletives fill the dressing room. Everyone has a view, yet none of them can change anything.
"Listen, we know the truth, I won that fight," says Fury.
His cousin Hughie interjects: "Ten stone lost in a year. How you got up from that second knockdown..." He fails to end the sentence and instead shakes his head.
Hatton is shaking his head too. "When I went and fought Floyd Mayweather in America, even though I was losing, the size of the margin was diabolical," he recalls.
"We always seem to get the bad end of the stick in the US."
Wilder tells the media he saw Fury's "eyes roll into the back of his head" as he hit the deck. Fury arrives for a news conference dressed like a Miami Vice character - blazer, floral shirt, gold watch, red trousers, baseball cap.
He orchestrates a rendition of Don McLean's American Pie and calls on reporters to join in.
Costello concludes: "It was one of those special moments in sport when family and friends, fully aware that you were there, ask: 'Did you see that?'"
"There was a similar reaction when Usain Bolt danced across the line to win the Olympic 100m final in 2008. Those nights don't come in bunches."
There will be a sequel. Las Vegas has much to live up to after the three minutes that stunned us all.


bbc--2020-02-12--Women’s Footballer of the Year contender Julie Ertz

We are profiling each of the five nominees for the BBC Women 's Footballer of the Year 2020 award .
You can vote for your winner on the BBC Sport website until Monday , 2 March at 09:00 GMT .
The result will be revealed on Tuesday , 24 March on BBC World Service .
• US Soccer Female Player of the Year Did you know ?
• Started career as a defender but moved to midfield in 2017 • Married to NFL player Zach Ertz , who won the 2018 Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles • Was second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Cup-winning squad In her own words '' The whistle blowing !
You kind of black out a bit as I was so much in the moment , that I was waiting for us to score - 'we got this , we 're in this ' .
So once we got the first goal then I was looking at everyone 's face , the same facial expression as 2015 , be calm collected .
I could probably recite every play to you , I 've watched it so many times - but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Right after the Olympics , like through the 2017 season , being benched was a hard time for me to figure out where I was in my career .
Having the opportunity to be put in the midfield was new at that level and also at a time when I needed a new challenge and a shift in mindset .
My team helped me feel comfortable .
I felt like I could be myself and my perspective changed .
You become more grateful for every game and opportunity . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud of being married !
The best day of my life for sure .
Throughout an entire year you have ebbs and flows but I 've been proud of myself so far to overcome small obstacles and being grateful for the moment that presents to you . ''
`` I do n't know any different .
I 'm grateful for it - he challenges me and he gets it .
Just having his support and understanding , he knows when to listen and have some tough love .
I could n't be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him in World Cup wins , as he 's got one Super Bowl .
When we met Zac was really shy , so he would n't talk to me .
He threw sunflower seeds at me to get my attention !
Now he talks all the time ! ''
When were you star struck ?
`` I was pretty star struck at the Best Fifa awards this past year .
Being in the States I do n't get to see world-class soccer players all the time .
When the women went down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and just being in the presence of players I 've looked up to , to learn their craft and better myself ...
I did n't say anything but it was an honour to be in the same room as them . ''
Who would play you in a film ?
`` Crystal Dunn [ USA team-mate ] .
That would be fun .
No , I 'd pick Blake Lively as she 's adorable and she 's got blond hair and her husband is hysterical . ''

BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020: Julie Ertz profile
We are profiling each of the five nominees for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2020 award. Voting closed on Monday, 2 March. The result will be revealed on Tuesday, 24 March on BBC World Service and the BBC Sport website.
Age: 27 Position: Midfielder Plays for: Chicago Red Stars and USA
Achievements in 2019
Won World Cup for second time
US Soccer Female Player of the Year
Reached NWSL play-off final with Chicago Red Stars
Did you know?
Started career as a defender but moved to midfield in 2017
Married to NFL player Zach Ertz, who won the 2018 Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles
Was second youngest player in the USA's 2015 World Cup-winning squad
In her own words
Biggest memory of World Cup win?
"The whistle blowing! You kind of black out a bit as I was so much in the moment, that I was waiting for us to score - 'we got this, we're in this'. So once we got the first goal then I was looking at everyone's face, the same facial expression as 2015, be calm collected. I could probably recite every play to you, I've watched it so many times - but the memory is my team-mates' faces."
Career breakthrough moment?
"Right after the Olympics, like through the 2017 season, being benched was a hard time for me to figure out where I was in my career. Having the opportunity to be put in the midfield was new at that level and also at a time when I needed a new challenge and a shift in mindset. My team helped me feel comfortable. I felt like I could be myself and my perspective changed. You become more grateful for every game and opportunity."
Proudest career moment?
"My wedding day - you can be proud of being married! The best day of my life for sure. Throughout an entire year you have ebbs and flows but I've been proud of myself so far to overcome small obstacles and being grateful for the moment that presents to you."
Life as a super-sport couple?
"I don't know any different. I'm grateful for it - he challenges me and he gets it. Just having his support and understanding, he knows when to listen and have some tough love. I couldn't be more grateful. He jokes I'm ahead of him in World Cup wins, as he's got one Super Bowl. When we met Zac was really shy, so he wouldn't talk to me. He threw sunflower seeds at me to get my attention! Now he talks all the time!"
When were you star struck?
"I was pretty star struck at the Best Fifa awards this past year. Being in the States I don't get to see world-class soccer players all the time. When the women went down from the stage, the men went up and just being in the presence of players I've looked up to, to learn their craft and better myself... I didn't say anything but it was an honour to be in the same room as them."
Who would play you in a film?
"Crystal Dunn [USA team-mate]. That would be fun. No, I'd pick Blake Lively as she's adorable and she's got blond hair and her husband is hysterical."


bbc--2020-02-17--Atletico Madrid v Liverpool: What's gone wrong with Diego Simeone's team?

With just one win from their last seven games , a humiliating cup exit , a lengthy injury list and a batch of new players who are struggling to assimilate , it 's fair to suggest that Atletico Madrid are not exactly firing on all cylinders as they prepare for their Champions League meeting with Liverpool .
Why has this season , which started with such optimism , gone so wrong for Diego Simeone 's team ?
When Atletico Madrid splashed out 126m euros ( £113m ) last summer to make Joao Felix the third most expensive player in history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of intent .
And after the Portuguese youngster dazzled during pre-season , scoring once and providing two assists in a remarkable 7-3 thrashing of Real Madrid , it looked as though Atletico were poised to enter a new and exciting era of attacking football spearheaded by the world 's most gifted teen .
Sadly for the Rojiblancos , the opposite has transpired .
After a bright start , Felix has faded dramatically , scoring just four goals in 23 appearances before being ruled out by a hamstring injury at the end of January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his injury are a neat microcosm of the wider issues facing Atletico : how to incorporate creative football within the unimaginative framework of manager Simeone 's famous defensive rigidity ?
The right balance has not been struck this season , with the team 's lack of attacking intent reflected in their paltry total of 25 goals from 24 league games .
They have drawn nine of those encounters 0-0 or 1-1 .
It 's no coincidence that the only Atletico forward who could be regarded as having a good season is the versatile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more to tenacity and grit than technical attributes .
In contrast , Felix and French winger Thomas Lemar , who are supposed to provide the unpredictable spark of ingenuity in an otherwise workmanlike team , have often looked totally lost , and the team 's lack of goalscoring threat has already effectively ended their league title challenge after falling 13 points behind leaders Real Madrid .
The low point of Atletico 's season - and perhaps even the whole of Simeone 's eight-year reign - came in the space of five desperate days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limp performance to lose 2-0 at lowly Eibar , and then had a near-full strength side knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier Cultural Leonesa .
Those consecutive losses prompted unprecedented criticism towards Simeone , who stood accused of being too rigid , too dogmatic , too defensive and overall incapable of taking Atletico to the next level .
The fans have mostly kept the faith , giving Simeone loud ovations when his name was announced before recent home meetings with Leganes and Granada .
But there were outbreaks of whistled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those two games , and the overwhelming mood among Atletico fans is that something must change if the team want to compete for major titles .
For now , that 'something ' is not expected to be the departure of Simeone , whose position as iconic leader remains intact after his transformation of the club 's fortunes since his arrival in December 2011 .
Instead , the man expected to make way is his long-time and deeply trusted assistant German Burgos , a former Atletico goalkeeper who has been tipped to leave in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career and allow Atletico players to benefit from a new voice on the training ground .
It is highly noteworthy , however , that Simeone 's suitability to remain in charge is even being questioned - and Real Madrid fans mockingly latched onto the new insecurity of his position by chanting `` Do n't go , please stay '' at the opposition boss during the recent derby , which Real won 1-0 .
From a ferocious warrior to a figure of fun , it 's been a tough few months for Simeone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been confronted by a long list of injury absentees this season , forcing Simeone to shuffle his pack on an almost weekly basis .
The start of 2020 has seen particular problems in attack , with injuries to Felix , Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata depleting Simeone 's options and forcing the club into the desperate January re-recruitment of talented but inconsistent Belgian forward Yannick Carrasco from Chinese club Dalian Yifang .
Morata returned from injury as a substitute in Friday night 's hectic 2-2 draw at Valencia , and he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Liverpool .
Costa could also be in contention after returning to full training , and the same applies to former Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier , so Simeone might not have the injuries excuse for much longer .
But another factor to take into account , and a point regularly made by Simeone , is that it would be fair to expect Atletico to have a transitional season after undergoing a turbulent summer , which saw key players Antoine Griezmann , Diego Godin , Juanfran , Filipe Luis , Rodri and Lucas Hernandez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season Atletico have fielded a back four consisting entirely of new signings , and that lack of mutual familiarity has led to a notable vulnerability against set-pieces .
Nine of their 17 goals conceded in La Liga ( a figure that would be much higher without the routine brilliance of goalkeeper Jan Oblak ) have come from dead ball situations .
So Atletico ca n't score , they ca n't play the ball through midfield and they do n't even look particularly secure at the back .
In short , they are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Simeone 's tenure , and should be there for rampant Liverpool 's taking in Tuesday 's first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano .
Or will Simeone dig deep and summon another managerial masterclass ?

Diego Simeone has struggled with Atletico Madrid's transition from underdogs to giants
With just one win from their past seven games, a humiliating cup exit, a lengthy injury list and a batch of new players who are struggling to assimilate, it's fair to suggest that Atletico Madrid are not exactly firing on all cylinders as they prepare for their Champions League meeting with Liverpool.
Why has this season, which started with such optimism, gone so wrong for Diego Simeone's team?
Early promise fizzles out
Joao Felix has only scored four times for Atletico - with both his goals since September coming against Lokomotiv Moscow
When Atletico Madrid splashed out 126m euros (£113m) last summer to make Joao Felix the third most expensive player in history, it seemed like a serious statement of intent.
And after the Portuguese youngster dazzled during pre-season, scoring once and providing two assists in a remarkable 7-3 thrashing of Real Madrid, it looked as though Atletico were poised to enter a new and exciting era of attacking football spearheaded by the world's most gifted teenager.
Sadly for the Rojiblancos, the opposite has transpired. After a bright start, Felix has faded dramatically, scoring just four goals in 23 appearances before being ruled out by a hamstring injury at the end of January.
The problems encountered by Felix before his injury are a neat microcosm of the wider issues facing Atletico: how to incorporate creative football within the unimaginative framework of manager Simeone's famous defensive rigidity.
The right balance has not been struck this season, with the team's lack of attacking intent reflected in their paltry total of 25 goals from 24 league games. They have drawn nine of those encounters 0-0 or 1-1.
It's no coincidence that the only Atletico forward who could be regarded as having a good season is the versatile Argentine Angel Correa, whose qualities owe more to tenacity and grit than technical attributes.
In contrast, Felix and French winger Thomas Lemar, who are supposed to provide the unpredictable spark of ingenuity in an otherwise workmanlike team, have often looked totally lost, and the team's lack of goalscoring threat has already effectively ended their league title challenge after falling 13 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Simeone under pressure
The low point of Atletico's season - and perhaps even the whole of Simeone's eight-year reign - came in the space of five desperate days last month when they offered an alarmingly limp performance to lose 2-0 at lowly Eibar, and then had a near-full strength side knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier Cultural Leonesa.
Those consecutive losses prompted unprecedented criticism towards Simeone, who stood accused of being too rigid, too dogmatic, too defensive and overall incapable of taking Atletico to the next level.
The fans have mostly kept the faith, giving Simeone loud ovations when his name was announced before recent home meetings with Leganes and Granada. But there were outbreaks of whistled complaints against the team's efforts during those two games, and the overwhelming mood among Atletico fans is that something must change if the team want to compete for major titles.
For now, that 'something' is not expected to be the departure of Simeone, whose position as iconic leader remains intact after his transformation of the club's fortunes since his arrival in December 2011.
Instead, the man expected to make way is his long-time and deeply trusted assistant German Burgos, a former Atletico goalkeeper who has been tipped to leave in the summer to follow his own coaching career and allow Atletico players to benefit from a new voice on the training ground.
It is highly noteworthy, however, that Simeone's suitability to remain in charge is even being questioned - and Real Madrid fans mockingly latched onto the new insecurity of his position by chanting "Don't go, please stay" at the opposition boss during the recent derby, which Real won 1-0.
From a ferocious warrior to a figure of fun, it's been a tough few months for Simeone.
Injuries hampering 'transitional' season
Kieran Trippier: Diego Costa calls me 'Rooney' at Atletico Madrid
To be fair to Atletico, they have been confronted by a long list of injury absentees this season, forcing Simeone to shuffle his pack on an almost weekly basis.
The start of 2020 has seen particular problems in attack, with injuries to Felix, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata depleting Simeone's options and forcing the club into the desperate January re-recruitment of talented but inconsistent Belgian forward Yannick Carrasco from Chinese club Dalian Yifang.
Morata returned from injury as a substitute in Friday night's hectic 2-2 draw at Valencia, and he is expected to start Tuesday's first leg against Liverpool. Costa could also be in contention after returning to full training, and the same applies to former Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier, so Simeone might not have the injuries excuse for much longer.
But another factor to take into account, and a point regularly made by Simeone, is that it would be fair to expect Atletico to have a transitional season after a turbulent summer, which saw key players Antoine Griezmann, Diego Godin, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Rodri and Lucas Hernandez all depart.
On many occasions this season Atletico have fielded a back four consisting entirely of new signings, and that lack of mutual familiarity has led to a notable vulnerability against set-pieces. Nine of their 17 goals conceded in La Liga (a figure that would be much higher without the routine brilliance of goalkeeper Jan Oblak) have come from dead ball situations.
So Atletico can't score, they can't play the ball through midfield and they don't even look particularly secure at the back.
In short, they are the weakest they have been at any point during Simeone's tenure, and should be there for rampant Liverpool's taking in Tuesday's first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Or will Simeone dig deep and summon another managerial masterclass?


bbc--2020-02-18--Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy over sex abuse lawsuits

The Boy Scouts of America ( BSA ) has filed for bankruptcy protection in a move that the group says will allow it to build a compensation fund for sex abuse victims .
The move follows a number of lawsuits filed against the organisation over claims of sexual abuse , alleging it failed to prevent hundreds of cases .
As a result of the move , all civil lawsuits against it are put on hold .
The group is struggling with declining membership as well as abuse claims .
`` The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during their time in scouting .
We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children , '' chief executive Roger Mosby said in a statement .
Court papers filed in Delaware listed liabilities of up to $ 1bn ( £768m ) and assets of as much as $ 10bn , reports say .
The filing was made under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code which allows the group to keep operating and pay its creditors over time .
The bankruptcy allows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into one court and try to negotiate a settlement , rather than using its funds to fight each case in court .
The group said it was setting up a trust fund to compensate victims .
`` While we know nothing can undo the tragic abuse that victims suffered , we believe the Chapter 11 process - with the proposed trust structure - will provide equitable compensation to all victims while maintaining the BSA 's important mission , '' Mr Mosby said in a statement .
The BSA has 261 councils which operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many states , the Wall Street Journal ( WSJ ) reports .
Tuesday 's bankruptcy move is designed to protect those councils , which hold about 70 % of all BSA assets , according to the WSJ .
In its statement , the BSA said the councils , which are legally separate and financially independent of the national organisation , had not filed for bankruptcy .
• One of the largest non-profit youth organisations in the US • Nearly 2.2 million members between the ages of seven and 21 • Nearly one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US • Former presidents of the organisation include ex-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former Secretary of Defence Robert Gates Other non-profit organisations facing multiple sexual abuse claims , including the Catholic Church and USA Gymnastics , have also sought bankruptcy protection in recent years in the face of sexual abuse lawsuits .
The BSA is facing hundreds of claims over sex abuse in several states .
Last year , the Abused in Scouting group began advertising around the country and has since found nearly 2,000 people with complaints , including one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .

"The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologises to anyone who was harmed during their time in scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children," chief executive Roger Mosby said in a statement.


bbc--2020-02-18--Coronavirus: Largest study suggests elderly and sick are most at risk

Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 44,000 cases of Covid-19 , in the biggest study since the outbreak began .
Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention ( CCDC ) finds that more than 80 % of the cases have been mild , with the sick and elderly most at risk .
The research also points to the high risk to medical staff .
A hospital director in the city of Wuhan died from the virus on Tuesday .
Liu Zhiming , 51 , was the director of the Wuchang Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals in the virus epicentre .
He is one of the most senior health officials to die so far .
Hubei , the province Wuhan is in , is the worst affected province in the country .
The report by the CCDC shows the province 's death rate is 2.9 % compared with 0.4 % in the rest of the country .
The findings put the overall death rate of the Covid-19 virus at 2.3 % .
China 's latest official figures released on Tuesday put the overall death toll at 1,868 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die without care in Wuhan • Why Singapore is so vulnerable to virus spread Officials reported 98 new deaths and 1,886 new cases in the past day , with 93 of those deaths and 1,807 infections in Hubei province - the epicentre of the outbreak .
More than 12,000 people have recovered , according to Chinese authorities .
What does the study tell us ?
The paper by the CCDC , released on Monday and published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology , looked at more than 44,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results largely confirm previous descriptions of the virus and patterns of infection , the study includes a detailed breakdown of the 44,672 confirmed cases across all of China .
It finds that 80.9 % of infections are classified as mild , 13.8 % as severe and only 4.7 % as critical .
The number of deaths among those infected , known as the fatality rate , remains low but rises among those over 80 years old .
Looking at the sex ratio , men are more likely to die ( 2.8 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The study also identifies which existing illnesses put patients at risk .
It puts cardiovascular disease at number one , followed by diabetes , chronic respiratory disease and hypertension .
Pointing out the risk to medical staff , the paper says that a total of 3,019 health workers have been infected , 1,716 of which were confirmed cases .
Five had died by 11 February , which was the last day of data included in the research .
On 13 February , China broadened its definition of how to diagnose people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously were counted separate from `` confirmed cases '' .
This is by far the most detailed study of the coronavirus outbreak within China .
It gives us incredible insight into what is happening , but the picture is far from complete .
You can study only the cases you find , and other scientists have estimated there could be 10 times as many people infected as are ending up in the official statistics .
That means the overall death rate is likely to be lower than the one reported in this study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaked in late January , but it is too soon to know for sure .
What this analysis clearly describes is a `` highly contagious '' virus that spreads `` extremely rapidly '' even in the face of an `` extreme response '' by China .
That should be a warning to the rest of the world .
What does it say about the future ?
Looking forward , the paper finds that `` the epidemic curve of onset of symptoms '' peaked around 23-26 January before declining up to 11 February .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'No change ' in virus outbreak despite China spike The study suggests that the downward trend in the overall epidemic curve could mean that `` isolation of whole cities , broadcast of critical information ( e.g.
, promoting hand washing , mask wearing , and care seeking ) with high frequency through multiple channels , and mobilization of a multi-sector rapid response teams is helping to curb the epidemic '' .
But the authors also warn that with many people returning from a long holiday , the country `` needs to prepare for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
China 's response to the virus has seen the lockdown of Wuhan - the largest city in Hubei - and the rest of the province as well as severe travel restrictions on movements across the country .
The virus has spread beyond mainland China to countries around the globe and two cruise ships are now confirmed to have been affected .
The Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama on 3 February , after a man from Hong Kong tested positive .
More than 450 of the 3,700 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US has begun evacuating its citizens from the vessel .
On Tuesday South Korea joined the list of the countries and territories also planning to get their residents out which already includes Canada , Australia , the UK , Israel and Hong Kong .
A second ship , the MS Westerdam , was turned away by multiple ports around Asia over fears it could be carrying the virus .
It was finally cleared to dock in Sihanoukville , Cambodia , after no cases were found on board .
Disembarking passengers were personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one was quarantined .
However days later , a woman who had been on the ship tested positive after arriving in Malaysia .
Huge efforts are now being made to track down the passengers , who have moved on to many different countries including Malaysia and Thailand , but also further afield to the US and Canada .
Several countries have said they will not admit foreign visitors who were on the ship .
There are still 255 guests and 747 crew on board the MS Westerdam , while more than 400 passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capital , Phnom Penh , to await test results .

You can study only the cases you find, and other scientists have estimated there could be 10 times as many people infected as are ending up in the official statistics. That means the overall death rate is likely to be lower than the one reported in this study.


bbc--2020-02-18--HSBC signals mass job cuts as profits plunge

HSBC has said it will axe around 35,000 jobs as it announced profits for 2019 fell by about a third .
That has spurred the bank to target $ 4.5bn ( £3.5bn ) of cost cuts by 2022 as part of a major restructuring .
The bank 's interim chief executive , Noel Quinn , said HSBC would scale back its headcount from 235,000 to about 200,000 over the next three years .
HSBC , which makes the bulk of its revenue in Asia , reported annual profit before tax of $ 13.35bn ( £10.3bn ) .
It said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 7.3bn in write-offs related to its investment and commercial banking operations in Europe .
The 35,000 job losses are deeper than expected , and represent about 15 % of the workforce .
Analysts had expected about 10,000 jobs to be cut .
• HSBC customers hit by two IT glitches within hours The bank currently operates in more than 50 countries across North America , Europe , the Middle East and Asia .
It employs more than 40,000 people in the UK , where it has its headquarters .
About 10,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Canary Wharf in London , and another 2,000 work at its new UK head office in Birmingham .
HSBC has said some of the cutbacks will be in its European and US investment banking businesses , although it has not been specific about where the job cuts will fall .
Are the job losses as severe as they sound ?
Set up in 1865 to facilitate trade between Asia and Europe , the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation , to give it its full name , is moving back to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming from Asia - and with an expectation that the region is the best bet for long term prospects - the bank 's cuts will focus on its European and US operations .
At present the bank is not detailing exactly where the cuts will come , but the interim boss , Noel Quinn , says reducing the workforce from the current 235,000 to `` nearer 200,000 '' would be consistent with the £3bn or so he wants to save by 2022 .
There are four key areas that are likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group 's central operations , the US retail banking outfit and - as in many businesses - those areas where jobs are being replaced by technology .
With one in seven jobs set to go globally , employees may face an anxious time - but with HSBC seeing a turnover of 25,000 staff per year , the compulsory cuts may not be quite as brutal as they sound .
Peter Hahn , banking expert and former dean of the London Institute of Banking & Finance , told the BBC 's Today programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic about their chances of their success in investment banking .
`` The reality is that the biggest investment market in the world is the US , and if you 're not big in the US in investment banking it 's pretty tough to succeed in that business - and they 're not . ''
The strategy overhaul comes as economic growth is slowing in HSBC 's major markets .
Asia now accounts for about half of HSBC 's revenue and 90 % of profits .
The bank is also facing the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protracted withdrawal from the European Union and historically low interest rates around the world .
It will be the UK-based bank 's third overhaul in a decade as it attempts to lift its profits .
Mr Quinn told Reuters that the restructuring would mean `` that our headcount is likely to go from 235,000 to closer to 200,000 over the next three years '' .
The 57-year-old HSBC veteran was appointed interim chief executive in August last year following the ousting of John Flint .
HSBC reiterated that it expects to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 months .
Addressing the impact of coronavirus , HSBC said the full effect had not been fully accounted for in its latest earnings , raising the possibility that it could increase the amount it expects the outbreak to cost the bank .
HSBC will also reduce the assets it owns by more than $ 100bn by the end of 2022 as part of sweeping reforms .

At present the bank is not detailing exactly where the cuts will come, but the interim boss, Noel Quinn, says reducing the workforce from the current 235,000 to "nearer 200,000" would be consistent with the £3bn or so he wants to save by 2022.