Prince Edward has told Sky News during an exclusive interview his father, the Duke of Edinburgh is feeling “much better” and “looking forward to returning home”.
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Nergal: Polish metal singer accused of blasphemy appeals for legal funds
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightGetty ImagesA heavy metal singer in trouble with Polish authorities over a photo of him stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary has launched a legal defence fund.Adam Darski, known as Nergal, is appealing against a conviction of offending religious sentiment under Poland's blasphemy laws. He is appealing for donations in a crowdfunding campaign for Polish artists accused of blasphemy.Poland has one of the world's highest numbers of blasphemy and insult laws."For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system. The time for capitulation is over," Nergal, who fronts the band Behemoth, wrote on Twitter. For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system. The time for capitulation is over and I ask you to join me in the ‘Ordo Blasfemia’!Donate and find out more here: https://t.co/iikW2qAVzY pic.twitter.com/fUR5uhMSXO— Behemoth (@BehemothBand) February 24, 2021 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on TwitterOn his fundraising page, the singer accuses Polish politicians of trying to destroy his career and using blasphemy charges to "censor anyone who does not conform to the archaic religious laws of our country".Artists are being "dragged into court rooms" at significant costs, he says, adding that donations will help them "fight back". The campaign, launched five days ago, has raised $17,000 (£11,974) so far.His most recent conviction, in February, is over a picture he posted on Facebook in September 2019 of him stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary.On the setPosted by Adam Nergal Darski on Wednesday, September 25, 2019The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original post on FacebookA judge in the capital, Warsaw, ordered Nergal to pay a fine of €3,340 (£2,800), but the singer is appealing against the conviction meaning the case will proceed to a full trial, according to Polish media.He faces a potential prison sentence of two years.Inside Poland's 'LBGT-free zones'Thousands demand rapper's release in SpainHow a joke ended up in Canada's top courtHis conviction came after conservative legal group Ordo Iuris and an organisation called the Patriotic Society said that Nergal had offended four people, according to state broadcaster TVP Info. An expert in religious studies told prosecutors that "treading with a shoe on the image of the Mother of God is an offence against religious feelings", said the spokeswoman for Warsaw district prosecutor's office, Aleksandra Skrzyniarz. Such cases in Poland are not uncommon. You only have to look at Adam Darski himself. The singer has faced multiple previous lawsuits over the past 13 years for allegedly offending religious feelings by ripping up a Bible and setting fire to crosses on stage or writing a song praising the murderers of Bishop Adalbert, the patron saint of Poland.There's another ongoing high-profile trial of three activists accused of the same offence for allegedly putting up posters and stickers depicting the "Black Madonna", an icon venerated by Polish Catholics, with a halo of LGBT rainbow colours. A verdict is expected on Tuesday.Poland has many different insult laws, covering not just religion, but also public officials and state symbols. According to a 2017 OSCE report looking at insult and defamation laws among 57 countries, Poland had the joint highest with nine, and all carried potential prison terms. In Poland it's possible to be imprisoned for insulting not only the Polish flag, but also those of foreign countries. More from Poland:BusinessChina denies requiring anal swabs from US diplomats
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightAFPChina has denied that it required US diplomats to undergo anal swab tests for coronavirus.US media reported that diplomats had complained after being made to undergo the procedure. Some Chinese cities have introduced anal swabs, with experts there claiming they can "increase the detection rate of infected people". The country has largely brought the virus under control.China's foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian denied the claims on Thursday, telling a press conference that "China has never required US diplomatic staff stationed in China to conduct anal swab tests".Last week, the Washington Post reported that some workers had told the US state department that they had been subjected to the tests. China and the virus that threatens everythingA dazed city emerges from the harshest of lockdownsAnal swabs involve inserting a cotton swab 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) into the anus and gently rotating it. It is not known how many US diplomats may have had the test. "The State Department never agreed to this kind of testing and protested directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we learned that some staff were subject to it," a state department spokesperson told Vice News on Wednesday. The state department added that it was told by Beijing that the test was given "in error". China introduced anal swabs in January. Li Tongzeng, a respiratory and infectious disease doctor in Beijing told state media that anal tests can avoid missing infections as virus traces are detectable for a longer time than the more common Covid tests used in the mouth and nose. However he emphasised that these tests were only needed for certain people such as those under quarantine. Potty mouth jokes rife on Chinese social media Analysis by Kerry Allen, BBC China media analystIt was quite an unusual moment for Chinese netizens to hear the foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, talk about anal swabbing. It's igniting significant chatter on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. In particular, a lot of users are joking about how Americans are so potty-mouthed when it comes to China, that it would be expected they would mistake an oral swab for an anal one. Some question the authenticity of the US diplomats' claims, and perceive that this is yet another "rumour" to "discredit" China over its Covid-19 handling. There has been a lot of bad sentiment between China and the US over the last year. China has criticised the US government under former president Trump for exacerbating anti-Chinese sentiment by repeatedly calling Covid-19 the "China virus" and "Kung flu", and downplaying China's Covid-19 successes. Many in China are of the view that the US needs to do some self-reflection on its own handling of the virus, before preaching on decency. "500,000 American people are dead," says one user, referencing the US' Covid-19 death toll. "Is that dignity?"BusinessChina's Xi declares victory in ending extreme poverty
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersChinese President Xi Jinping says his country has achieved the "miracle" of eradicating extreme poverty.His government says that over an eight-year period, nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty.Speaking at a ceremony in Beijing, Mr Xi said it was a "complete victory" that would "go down in history".But some experts have questioned the way this has been measured. In China, extreme poverty is defined as earning less than $620 (£440) a year.In his speech on Thursday, Mr Xi said the "arduous task of eradicating extreme poverty has been fulfilled".How China became the world's 'economic miracle'China relocates villagers from cliff-top villageThe thoughts of Chairman Xi"According to the current criteria, all 98.99 million poor rural population have been taken out of poverty, and 832 poverty-stricken counties as well as 128,000 villages have been removed from the poverty list," he said.Eradicating rural poverty has been a key initiative of Mr Xi's eight-year tenure.China announced late last year that it had removed the last remaining counties from a list of poor regions, which officials said meant it had achieved the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by the end of 2020.At the ceremony on Thursday, Mr Xi handed out medals to key figures in the poverty fight.But some experts say that China has set a low bar in its definition of poverty, and that ongoing investment is needed in its poorest areas.The threshold set by China to define extreme poverty amounts to $1.69 a day at current exchange rates, compared to the World Bank's global threshold of $1.90, Reuters news agency reports.Wide income inequalities also continue to exist in the country.BusinessJamal Khashoggi: US to release declassified report on murder
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersThe US is preparing to release a declassified intelligence report that is widely expected to implicate Saudi Arabia's crown prince over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.The White House said President Joe Biden, who has read the report, would speak "soon" to the Saudi king.Mr Biden wants to "recalibrate" relations with Saudi Arabia.Khashogg was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The crown prince has denied any involvement.Saudi authorities say his death was the result of a "rogue operation" by a team of agents sent to return him to the kingdom.Five individuals were given death sentences for the murder by a Saudi court, but these were commuted to 20 years in prison last September.What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?Saudi human rights under new spotlight in Biden eraWhat do we know about the report?The report, which is expected to be released later on Thursday, will say that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved "and likely ordered" Khashoggi's killing, four US officials told Reuters news agency.They said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was the main contributor to the report.The Saudi public prosecution and Prince Mohammed insist he did not have any knowledge of the murder, but in 2019 he said he took "full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government".NBC News reports that the intelligence assessment is not new and is based on work by the CIA which was widely reported back in 2018 - and later denied by then-President Donald Trump.According to that reported assessment, there was no "smoking gun" but US officials thought such an operation would have required the prince's approval.The Washington Post, which Khashoggi worked for, said at the time that the CIA assessment was based partly on a phone call made by the crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who was the Saudi ambassador to the US at the time of the murder.Prince Khalid, who is now deputy defence minister, allegedly called Khashoggi at the direction of his brother and gave him assurances that he would be safe to go to the consulate in Istanbul. Prince Khalid has denied any communication with the journalist.In 2019, UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard accused the Saudi state of the "deliberate, premeditated execution" of Khashoggi, and dismissed the Saudi trial as an "antithesis of justice". Why is this happening now?The publication of the report is part of Joe Biden's policy to realign ties with Saudi Arabia, and take a much tougher stance than his predecessor, Donald Trump, on certain Saudi positions.The Trump administration had previously rejected a legal requirement to release a declassified version of the report, focusing instead on improved co-operation with the Saudis.image copyrightReutersWhite House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Wednesday that Mr Biden would communicate with King Salman, and not directly with the crown prince, who is his son and is considered the de facto ruler in Saudi Arabia. She said the president was due to speak to the 85-year-old king for the first time since taking office "soon", without giving a specific time for the call.Major reset under way in US-Saudi allianceThe three campaigns the Saudi crown prince cannot winFive reasons why Saudi Arabia matters to the West"We've made clear from the beginning that we are going to recalibrate our relationship with Saudi Arabia," she told reporters.The new administration has already made some major policy changes in that regard, with President Biden ending US support for offensive operations by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, and freezing arms sales to the kingdom.How was Jamal Khashoggi killed? The 59-year-old journalist was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to obtain papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée. According to the Saudi public prosecution, Khashoggi was forcibly restrained after a struggle and injected with a large amount of a drug, resulting in an overdose that led to his death. His body was then dismembered and handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the consulate, the prosecution said. The remains were never found.Grim details were revealed in transcripts of purported audio recordings of the killing obtained by Turkish intelligence.image copyrightGetty ImagesKhashoggi was once an adviser to the Saudi government and close to the royal family, but fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017.From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Prince Mohammed.Jamal Khashoggi in his own wordsIn his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince.In his last column, he criticised Saudi involvement in the Yemen conflict.BusinessArmenia PM Nikol Pashinyan denounces 'attempted military coup'
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightGetty ImagesArmenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned of an "attempted military coup", after the country's armed forces said he and his cabinet must resign.He urged his supporters to take to the streets in the capital Yerevan.The army earlier said the prime minister was "no longer able to make reasonable decisions" after he sacked a top military commander.Mr Pashinyan has faced mass protests after losing last year's conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but which had been controlled by ethnic Armenians since a 1994 truce. During the bloody six-weeks of fighting late last year, Azerbaijan not only recaptured areas around the enclave but also took the key town of Shusha inside it.Viewpoint: Unlikely victors in Karabakh conflictWhy did Armenia and Azerbaijan go to war? Under the Russian-brokered deal that emerged shortly afterwards, Azerbaijan keeps the areas it has captured. Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers are already deployed in the disputed area.
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Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jim Johnson dies at 92
Champion jockey and Australian hall of fame member Jim 'Jimmy' Johnson has died at the age of 92.Key points:Jim Johnson retired in 1976, having won 2,158 races as a jockeyJohnson is one of the few jockeys to have won the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox PlateHe was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2009 Racing Victoria, the Victorian Jockeys' Association and the Victoria Racing Club each acknowledged the sadness of the occasion and paid homage to the decorated hoop.Johnson was a three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, having been successful on Gatum Gatum in 1963 and also in 1968 and 1969 on Rain Lover.Johnson was also associated with champion Tobin Bronze aboard who he won a Caulfield Cup and two Cox Plates.LoadingJohnson won four Adelaide jockeys' premierships before he relocated to Melbourne where he was champion jockey in 1966-67.He rode in Singapore from 1970 to 1973, winning the jockeys' title there in 1972 and 1973.When he retired in 1976, he had ridden 2,158 winners and claimed his place as one of the greats of Australian racing.Johnson was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame in 2009.LoadingRacing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said Johnson was an exceptional jockey."He is one of the few jockeys to win a Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate and his achievements in the saddle will long be remembered and celebrated through his place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame," Thompson said."Jimmy was a popular member of the racing community, a true gentleman and great ambassador for our sport long after his incredible success in the saddle."He was an active and passionate supporter of the racing industry in retirement as a regular face on the Melbourne Cup Tour and attendee at hall of fame functions."AAPBusinessCA prepares for future as young talent drafted into Australian women's squad for NZ tour
The Australian women's cricket team will be busy over the next couple of years competing in two World Cups and helping T20 cricket debut as a sport at the Commonwealth Games.Key points:Hannah Darlington and Darcie Brown have been added to the women's squad for the New Zealand tour with an eye on the futureThe teens have been impressive in the Women's Big Bash League, each winning the young gun award in the pastBrown will put on hold her 18th birthday celebrations and commencing her first year of university studies to make her international debutThe selectors have made it clear they are already preparing for those future tournaments, naming two surprise additions to the squad heading to New Zealand next month for three ODIs and three T20Is against the White Ferns.The national side is proving extremely hard to break into, considering the ongoing dominance the team has had in recent years.However, teenagers Hannah Darlington and Darcie Brown have been able to force their way into the mix, after impressive performances in the Women's Big Bash League.Both 19-year-old all-rounder Darlington and 17-year-old fast bowler Brown have won the WBBL young gun award, in 2019 and 2020 respectively.The young gun award has been won by regular Australian players Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham in the past.Speaking with the ABC, Darlington and Brown said they were "shocked" to be selected, even though they knew they were already on the extended list of 25 players being considered.LoadingStill coming to terms with the announcement, they say it hasn't stopped them dreaming about the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games."When [women's] cricket's debut at the Commonwealth Games got announced, it became a dream opportunity for me, but I thought with the close time frame I might be cutting it short," Darlington said."I guess this selection now puts me in good stead for a tournament like that … and having those kinds of opportunities available in the near future is really motivating me to stick within the squad."As someone who had an "obsession" with the Commonwealth Games as a child, Brown says she looked up to eight-time medallist Dawn Fraser because of her "carefree attitude"."I used to enjoy reading books about it in the library," she said."I was originally trying to get into netball so I could go to one, but now that cricket is there, I'm really excited to see what happens."Representing country and cultureDarlington, a proud Kamilaroi woman, has now played two seasons with the Sydney Thunder, lifting the trophy in 2020 and finishing second on the wicket-taking list (19) with best figures of 3/19.LoadingAside from her skill with the ball, her leadership qualities have also appealed to Australian selectors, given the fact Darlington has had more experience as a captain than most young players; leading underage representative teams regularly since she was 13.Darlington was given a new role as NSW Breakers vice-captain this summer, in just her second year in the Women's National Cricket League — and today made another step up into the captaincy in a match against Tasmania, in Alyssa Healy's absence.Her advanced leadership skills have also seen her take on a prominent role in the push for more Indigenous representation in cricket, participating in barefoot circles before WBBL matches and captaining First Nations exhibition teams.So, the fact she could become the third Indigenous woman to play in the green and gold — after Faith Thomas and Ash Gardner — is definitely not lost on her."Seeing the pride that my NSW teammate Ash gets in representing Australia and the work she has been doing in Indigenous cricket has been inspiring," Darlington said."It's definitely in the back of my mind that I have a really special chance here and it's something I'd be really proud to do."Missing 18th birthday party for Australian honoursDarcie Brown will turn 18 on March 7, right before the Australian squad heads across the ditch, and has had to postpone her coming-of-age birthday party as a result.The South Australian quick was also due to start her first year of university studies in animal science around that time — hoping to use the degree as a pathway to become a vet in rural areas.She hasn't quite worked out yet whether she'll need to defer or take her studies on tour."It could turn out to be a stressful month actually," she laughed."But oh well, going to New Zealand will be cool, it's an amazing opportunity."LoadingBrown was forced to learn how to bowl fast early on, with two older brothers who would "whack" her slower balls all over the park.The national team have been looking for players who can consistently bowl around 120 kilometres per hour, and alongside Tayla Vlaeminck, Brown definitely fits into that category."In the WBBL games I played that were on the telly, it said I was bowling 125kph every now and then, but not all the time," Brown said."So hopefully I can keep getting quicker, but make sure I get better consistency while adding a few more k's to the speed gun."As the youngest player in the squad, Brown is hoping she might get a chance to pick the mind of Ellyse Perry, who made her debut for Australia at 16."Hopefully I'll be able to learn a few things off her and how she dealt with it all the pressure so young," she said.BasketballBryce Cotton eyes Boomers spot for Tokyo Games
The National Basketball League's best player, Bryce Cotton, says he's honoured to even be considered a chance of playing for the Australian Boomers at this year's Olympic Games.Key points:Bryce Cotton has won two league most valuable player awards with the Perth WildcatsAmerica-born Cotton said becoming eligible for the Boomers was a "pleasant" surpriseCotton currently leads the NBL in points, and is second in assists and stealsThe American is a step closer to becoming a citizen, after receiving a Distinguished Talent Visa on Tuesday, and lodging citizenship paperwork this week.The visa was delayed for months after Cotton refused to travel overseas, which was part of the requirements to receive a new visa.Instead, he was "detained" at government offices until the new visa was issued."You're just sitting in a room, they explain it to you," Cotton said."I guess for legal purposes you have to be detained for a visa to be cancelled."I literally just sat in a room by myself for about 10 or 15 minutes."Cotton said it is not clear how long the rest of process will take, but he's hopeful of being available for the Tokyo games in July, something he had never dreamed of being able to achieve.BusinessAustralian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt voted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
Lleyton Hewitt, the youngest male player to be ranked world number one, is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.Key points:Hewitt described it as the "ultimate recognition"He was the youngest player achieve year-end number one statusThe Original Nine have also been elected into the International Tennis Hall of FameThe Australian star won grand slam singles titles at the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002 and in November 2001 reached the top of the rankings at the age of just 20 years.Hewitt is also the youngest player to achieve year-end number one status, before going on to help Australia win two Davis Cups and 30 professional singles tournaments, including back-to-back Masters Cup titles."When you are competing, you're so focused on training and your results that week or that year, you don't really look ahead to something like this," Hewitt, 40, said."But when that is all compiled up and deemed deserving of becoming a Hall of Famer, well, it's just the ultimate recognition for a player, and I'm so honoured."Hewitt was the only one of five nominees in the player category — the others being Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sergi Bruguera, Jonas Bjorkman and Lisa Raymond — who was voted in.Original Nine inducted into International Tennis Hall of FameBusinessAustralia lose heartbreaker in Dunedin, going down to NZ by four runs in T20I
Australia has finished agonisingly short in another big run chase in New Zealand, falling 2-0 behind in the T20 International series against the Black Caps.Unlike Monday's 52-run capitulation in Christchurch, there was no debacle in Dunedin as Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams steered Australia to within touching distance of New Zealand's 6-219.When Mitchell Santner took 3-6 in the 13th over — dismissing Josh Philippe and then Ashton Agar and Mitch Marsh for golden ducks — the game looked dead and buried.But Stoinis and Sams revived Australia, combining for a stunning 92-run seventh-wicket partnership only to both fall in the final over as Australia finished with 8-215.Stoinis was lethal, reaching his first international half century off 22 balls before finishing with 78 off 37.Sams was even more explosive, scoring 41 off 15 before missing out on a full toss in Jimmy Neesham's final over.
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Nergal: Polish metal singer accused of blasphemy appeals for legal funds
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightGetty ImagesA heavy metal singer in trouble with Polish authorities over a photo of him stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary has launched a legal defence fund.Adam Darski, known as Nergal, is appealing against a conviction of offending religious sentiment under Poland's blasphemy laws. He is appealing for donations in a crowdfunding campaign for Polish artists accused of blasphemy.Poland has one of the world's highest numbers of blasphemy and insult laws."For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system. The time for capitulation is over," Nergal, who fronts the band Behemoth, wrote on Twitter. For over a decade I have been persecuted and prosecuted at the hands of the Polish legal system. The time for capitulation is over and I ask you to join me in the ‘Ordo Blasfemia’!Donate and find out more here: https://t.co/iikW2qAVzY pic.twitter.com/fUR5uhMSXO— Behemoth (@BehemothBand) February 24, 2021 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on TwitterOn his fundraising page, the singer accuses Polish politicians of trying to destroy his career and using blasphemy charges to "censor anyone who does not conform to the archaic religious laws of our country".Artists are being "dragged into court rooms" at significant costs, he says, adding that donations will help them "fight back". The campaign, launched five days ago, has raised $17,000 (£11,974) so far.His most recent conviction, in February, is over a picture he posted on Facebook in September 2019 of him stepping on an image of the Virgin Mary.On the setPosted by Adam Nergal Darski on Wednesday, September 25, 2019The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original post on FacebookA judge in the capital, Warsaw, ordered Nergal to pay a fine of €3,340 (£2,800), but the singer is appealing against the conviction meaning the case will proceed to a full trial, according to Polish media.He faces a potential prison sentence of two years.Inside Poland's 'LBGT-free zones'Thousands demand rapper's release in SpainHow a joke ended up in Canada's top courtHis conviction came after conservative legal group Ordo Iuris and an organisation called the Patriotic Society said that Nergal had offended four people, according to state broadcaster TVP Info. An expert in religious studies told prosecutors that "treading with a shoe on the image of the Mother of God is an offence against religious feelings", said the spokeswoman for Warsaw district prosecutor's office, Aleksandra Skrzyniarz. Such cases in Poland are not uncommon. You only have to look at Adam Darski himself. The singer has faced multiple previous lawsuits over the past 13 years for allegedly offending religious feelings by ripping up a Bible and setting fire to crosses on stage or writing a song praising the murderers of Bishop Adalbert, the patron saint of Poland.There's another ongoing high-profile trial of three activists accused of the same offence for allegedly putting up posters and stickers depicting the "Black Madonna", an icon venerated by Polish Catholics, with a halo of LGBT rainbow colours. A verdict is expected on Tuesday.Poland has many different insult laws, covering not just religion, but also public officials and state symbols. According to a 2017 OSCE report looking at insult and defamation laws among 57 countries, Poland had the joint highest with nine, and all carried potential prison terms. In Poland it's possible to be imprisoned for insulting not only the Polish flag, but also those of foreign countries. More from Poland:BusinessChina denies requiring anal swabs from US diplomats
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightAFPChina has denied that it required US diplomats to undergo anal swab tests for coronavirus.US media reported that diplomats had complained after being made to undergo the procedure. Some Chinese cities have introduced anal swabs, with experts there claiming they can "increase the detection rate of infected people". The country has largely brought the virus under control.China's foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian denied the claims on Thursday, telling a press conference that "China has never required US diplomatic staff stationed in China to conduct anal swab tests".Last week, the Washington Post reported that some workers had told the US state department that they had been subjected to the tests. China and the virus that threatens everythingA dazed city emerges from the harshest of lockdownsAnal swabs involve inserting a cotton swab 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) into the anus and gently rotating it. It is not known how many US diplomats may have had the test. "The State Department never agreed to this kind of testing and protested directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we learned that some staff were subject to it," a state department spokesperson told Vice News on Wednesday. The state department added that it was told by Beijing that the test was given "in error". China introduced anal swabs in January. Li Tongzeng, a respiratory and infectious disease doctor in Beijing told state media that anal tests can avoid missing infections as virus traces are detectable for a longer time than the more common Covid tests used in the mouth and nose. However he emphasised that these tests were only needed for certain people such as those under quarantine. Potty mouth jokes rife on Chinese social media Analysis by Kerry Allen, BBC China media analystIt was quite an unusual moment for Chinese netizens to hear the foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, talk about anal swabbing. It's igniting significant chatter on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. In particular, a lot of users are joking about how Americans are so potty-mouthed when it comes to China, that it would be expected they would mistake an oral swab for an anal one. Some question the authenticity of the US diplomats' claims, and perceive that this is yet another "rumour" to "discredit" China over its Covid-19 handling. There has been a lot of bad sentiment between China and the US over the last year. China has criticised the US government under former president Trump for exacerbating anti-Chinese sentiment by repeatedly calling Covid-19 the "China virus" and "Kung flu", and downplaying China's Covid-19 successes. Many in China are of the view that the US needs to do some self-reflection on its own handling of the virus, before preaching on decency. "500,000 American people are dead," says one user, referencing the US' Covid-19 death toll. "Is that dignity?"BusinessChina's Xi declares victory in ending extreme poverty
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersChinese President Xi Jinping says his country has achieved the "miracle" of eradicating extreme poverty.His government says that over an eight-year period, nearly 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty.Speaking at a ceremony in Beijing, Mr Xi said it was a "complete victory" that would "go down in history".But some experts have questioned the way this has been measured. In China, extreme poverty is defined as earning less than $620 (£440) a year.In his speech on Thursday, Mr Xi said the "arduous task of eradicating extreme poverty has been fulfilled".How China became the world's 'economic miracle'China relocates villagers from cliff-top villageThe thoughts of Chairman Xi"According to the current criteria, all 98.99 million poor rural population have been taken out of poverty, and 832 poverty-stricken counties as well as 128,000 villages have been removed from the poverty list," he said.Eradicating rural poverty has been a key initiative of Mr Xi's eight-year tenure.China announced late last year that it had removed the last remaining counties from a list of poor regions, which officials said meant it had achieved the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by the end of 2020.At the ceremony on Thursday, Mr Xi handed out medals to key figures in the poverty fight.But some experts say that China has set a low bar in its definition of poverty, and that ongoing investment is needed in its poorest areas.The threshold set by China to define extreme poverty amounts to $1.69 a day at current exchange rates, compared to the World Bank's global threshold of $1.90, Reuters news agency reports.Wide income inequalities also continue to exist in the country.BusinessJamal Khashoggi: US to release declassified report on murder
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightReutersThe US is preparing to release a declassified intelligence report that is widely expected to implicate Saudi Arabia's crown prince over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.The White House said President Joe Biden, who has read the report, would speak "soon" to the Saudi king.Mr Biden wants to "recalibrate" relations with Saudi Arabia.Khashogg was brutally killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The crown prince has denied any involvement.Saudi authorities say his death was the result of a "rogue operation" by a team of agents sent to return him to the kingdom.Five individuals were given death sentences for the murder by a Saudi court, but these were commuted to 20 years in prison last September.What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?Saudi human rights under new spotlight in Biden eraWhat do we know about the report?The report, which is expected to be released later on Thursday, will say that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved "and likely ordered" Khashoggi's killing, four US officials told Reuters news agency.They said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was the main contributor to the report.The Saudi public prosecution and Prince Mohammed insist he did not have any knowledge of the murder, but in 2019 he said he took "full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government".NBC News reports that the intelligence assessment is not new and is based on work by the CIA which was widely reported back in 2018 - and later denied by then-President Donald Trump.According to that reported assessment, there was no "smoking gun" but US officials thought such an operation would have required the prince's approval.The Washington Post, which Khashoggi worked for, said at the time that the CIA assessment was based partly on a phone call made by the crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, who was the Saudi ambassador to the US at the time of the murder.Prince Khalid, who is now deputy defence minister, allegedly called Khashoggi at the direction of his brother and gave him assurances that he would be safe to go to the consulate in Istanbul. Prince Khalid has denied any communication with the journalist.In 2019, UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard accused the Saudi state of the "deliberate, premeditated execution" of Khashoggi, and dismissed the Saudi trial as an "antithesis of justice". Why is this happening now?The publication of the report is part of Joe Biden's policy to realign ties with Saudi Arabia, and take a much tougher stance than his predecessor, Donald Trump, on certain Saudi positions.The Trump administration had previously rejected a legal requirement to release a declassified version of the report, focusing instead on improved co-operation with the Saudis.image copyrightReutersWhite House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Wednesday that Mr Biden would communicate with King Salman, and not directly with the crown prince, who is his son and is considered the de facto ruler in Saudi Arabia. She said the president was due to speak to the 85-year-old king for the first time since taking office "soon", without giving a specific time for the call.Major reset under way in US-Saudi allianceThe three campaigns the Saudi crown prince cannot winFive reasons why Saudi Arabia matters to the West"We've made clear from the beginning that we are going to recalibrate our relationship with Saudi Arabia," she told reporters.The new administration has already made some major policy changes in that regard, with President Biden ending US support for offensive operations by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, and freezing arms sales to the kingdom.How was Jamal Khashoggi killed? The 59-year-old journalist was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to obtain papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée. According to the Saudi public prosecution, Khashoggi was forcibly restrained after a struggle and injected with a large amount of a drug, resulting in an overdose that led to his death. His body was then dismembered and handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the consulate, the prosecution said. The remains were never found.Grim details were revealed in transcripts of purported audio recordings of the killing obtained by Turkish intelligence.image copyrightGetty ImagesKhashoggi was once an adviser to the Saudi government and close to the royal family, but fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017.From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Prince Mohammed.Jamal Khashoggi in his own wordsIn his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince.In his last column, he criticised Saudi involvement in the Yemen conflict.BusinessArmenia PM Nikol Pashinyan denounces 'attempted military coup'
SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightGetty ImagesArmenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned of an "attempted military coup", after the country's armed forces said he and his cabinet must resign.He urged his supporters to take to the streets in the capital Yerevan.The army earlier said the prime minister was "no longer able to make reasonable decisions" after he sacked a top military commander.Mr Pashinyan has faced mass protests after losing last year's conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but which had been controlled by ethnic Armenians since a 1994 truce. During the bloody six-weeks of fighting late last year, Azerbaijan not only recaptured areas around the enclave but also took the key town of Shusha inside it.Viewpoint: Unlikely victors in Karabakh conflictWhy did Armenia and Azerbaijan go to war? Under the Russian-brokered deal that emerged shortly afterwards, Azerbaijan keeps the areas it has captured. Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers are already deployed in the disputed area.
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Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jim Johnson dies at 92
Champion jockey and Australian hall of fame member Jim 'Jimmy' Johnson has died at the age of 92.Key points:Jim Johnson retired in 1976, having won 2,158 races as a jockeyJohnson is one of the few jockeys to have won the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox PlateHe was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2009 Racing Victoria, the Victorian Jockeys' Association and the Victoria Racing Club each acknowledged the sadness of the occasion and paid homage to the decorated hoop.Johnson was a three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, having been successful on Gatum Gatum in 1963 and also in 1968 and 1969 on Rain Lover.Johnson was also associated with champion Tobin Bronze aboard who he won a Caulfield Cup and two Cox Plates.LoadingJohnson won four Adelaide jockeys' premierships before he relocated to Melbourne where he was champion jockey in 1966-67.He rode in Singapore from 1970 to 1973, winning the jockeys' title there in 1972 and 1973.When he retired in 1976, he had ridden 2,158 winners and claimed his place as one of the greats of Australian racing.Johnson was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame in 2009.LoadingRacing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said Johnson was an exceptional jockey."He is one of the few jockeys to win a Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate and his achievements in the saddle will long be remembered and celebrated through his place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame," Thompson said."Jimmy was a popular member of the racing community, a true gentleman and great ambassador for our sport long after his incredible success in the saddle."He was an active and passionate supporter of the racing industry in retirement as a regular face on the Melbourne Cup Tour and attendee at hall of fame functions."AAPBusinessCA prepares for future as young talent drafted into Australian women's squad for NZ tour
The Australian women's cricket team will be busy over the next couple of years competing in two World Cups and helping T20 cricket debut as a sport at the Commonwealth Games.Key points:Hannah Darlington and Darcie Brown have been added to the women's squad for the New Zealand tour with an eye on the futureThe teens have been impressive in the Women's Big Bash League, each winning the young gun award in the pastBrown will put on hold her 18th birthday celebrations and commencing her first year of university studies to make her international debutThe selectors have made it clear they are already preparing for those future tournaments, naming two surprise additions to the squad heading to New Zealand next month for three ODIs and three T20Is against the White Ferns.The national side is proving extremely hard to break into, considering the ongoing dominance the team has had in recent years.However, teenagers Hannah Darlington and Darcie Brown have been able to force their way into the mix, after impressive performances in the Women's Big Bash League.Both 19-year-old all-rounder Darlington and 17-year-old fast bowler Brown have won the WBBL young gun award, in 2019 and 2020 respectively.The young gun award has been won by regular Australian players Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham in the past.Speaking with the ABC, Darlington and Brown said they were "shocked" to be selected, even though they knew they were already on the extended list of 25 players being considered.LoadingStill coming to terms with the announcement, they say it hasn't stopped them dreaming about the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games."When [women's] cricket's debut at the Commonwealth Games got announced, it became a dream opportunity for me, but I thought with the close time frame I might be cutting it short," Darlington said."I guess this selection now puts me in good stead for a tournament like that … and having those kinds of opportunities available in the near future is really motivating me to stick within the squad."As someone who had an "obsession" with the Commonwealth Games as a child, Brown says she looked up to eight-time medallist Dawn Fraser because of her "carefree attitude"."I used to enjoy reading books about it in the library," she said."I was originally trying to get into netball so I could go to one, but now that cricket is there, I'm really excited to see what happens."Representing country and cultureDarlington, a proud Kamilaroi woman, has now played two seasons with the Sydney Thunder, lifting the trophy in 2020 and finishing second on the wicket-taking list (19) with best figures of 3/19.LoadingAside from her skill with the ball, her leadership qualities have also appealed to Australian selectors, given the fact Darlington has had more experience as a captain than most young players; leading underage representative teams regularly since she was 13.Darlington was given a new role as NSW Breakers vice-captain this summer, in just her second year in the Women's National Cricket League — and today made another step up into the captaincy in a match against Tasmania, in Alyssa Healy's absence.Her advanced leadership skills have also seen her take on a prominent role in the push for more Indigenous representation in cricket, participating in barefoot circles before WBBL matches and captaining First Nations exhibition teams.So, the fact she could become the third Indigenous woman to play in the green and gold — after Faith Thomas and Ash Gardner — is definitely not lost on her."Seeing the pride that my NSW teammate Ash gets in representing Australia and the work she has been doing in Indigenous cricket has been inspiring," Darlington said."It's definitely in the back of my mind that I have a really special chance here and it's something I'd be really proud to do."Missing 18th birthday party for Australian honoursDarcie Brown will turn 18 on March 7, right before the Australian squad heads across the ditch, and has had to postpone her coming-of-age birthday party as a result.The South Australian quick was also due to start her first year of university studies in animal science around that time — hoping to use the degree as a pathway to become a vet in rural areas.She hasn't quite worked out yet whether she'll need to defer or take her studies on tour."It could turn out to be a stressful month actually," she laughed."But oh well, going to New Zealand will be cool, it's an amazing opportunity."LoadingBrown was forced to learn how to bowl fast early on, with two older brothers who would "whack" her slower balls all over the park.The national team have been looking for players who can consistently bowl around 120 kilometres per hour, and alongside Tayla Vlaeminck, Brown definitely fits into that category."In the WBBL games I played that were on the telly, it said I was bowling 125kph every now and then, but not all the time," Brown said."So hopefully I can keep getting quicker, but make sure I get better consistency while adding a few more k's to the speed gun."As the youngest player in the squad, Brown is hoping she might get a chance to pick the mind of Ellyse Perry, who made her debut for Australia at 16."Hopefully I'll be able to learn a few things off her and how she dealt with it all the pressure so young," she said.BasketballBryce Cotton eyes Boomers spot for Tokyo Games
The National Basketball League's best player, Bryce Cotton, says he's honoured to even be considered a chance of playing for the Australian Boomers at this year's Olympic Games.Key points:Bryce Cotton has won two league most valuable player awards with the Perth WildcatsAmerica-born Cotton said becoming eligible for the Boomers was a "pleasant" surpriseCotton currently leads the NBL in points, and is second in assists and stealsThe American is a step closer to becoming a citizen, after receiving a Distinguished Talent Visa on Tuesday, and lodging citizenship paperwork this week.The visa was delayed for months after Cotton refused to travel overseas, which was part of the requirements to receive a new visa.Instead, he was "detained" at government offices until the new visa was issued."You're just sitting in a room, they explain it to you," Cotton said."I guess for legal purposes you have to be detained for a visa to be cancelled."I literally just sat in a room by myself for about 10 or 15 minutes."Cotton said it is not clear how long the rest of process will take, but he's hopeful of being available for the Tokyo games in July, something he had never dreamed of being able to achieve.BusinessAustralian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt voted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
Lleyton Hewitt, the youngest male player to be ranked world number one, is set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.Key points:Hewitt described it as the "ultimate recognition"He was the youngest player achieve year-end number one statusThe Original Nine have also been elected into the International Tennis Hall of FameThe Australian star won grand slam singles titles at the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002 and in November 2001 reached the top of the rankings at the age of just 20 years.Hewitt is also the youngest player to achieve year-end number one status, before going on to help Australia win two Davis Cups and 30 professional singles tournaments, including back-to-back Masters Cup titles."When you are competing, you're so focused on training and your results that week or that year, you don't really look ahead to something like this," Hewitt, 40, said."But when that is all compiled up and deemed deserving of becoming a Hall of Famer, well, it's just the ultimate recognition for a player, and I'm so honoured."Hewitt was the only one of five nominees in the player category — the others being Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sergi Bruguera, Jonas Bjorkman and Lisa Raymond — who was voted in.Original Nine inducted into International Tennis Hall of FameBusinessAustralia lose heartbreaker in Dunedin, going down to NZ by four runs in T20I
Australia has finished agonisingly short in another big run chase in New Zealand, falling 2-0 behind in the T20 International series against the Black Caps.Unlike Monday's 52-run capitulation in Christchurch, there was no debacle in Dunedin as Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams steered Australia to within touching distance of New Zealand's 6-219.When Mitchell Santner took 3-6 in the 13th over — dismissing Josh Philippe and then Ashton Agar and Mitch Marsh for golden ducks — the game looked dead and buried.But Stoinis and Sams revived Australia, combining for a stunning 92-run seventh-wicket partnership only to both fall in the final over as Australia finished with 8-215.Stoinis was lethal, reaching his first international half century off 22 balls before finishing with 78 off 37.Sams was even more explosive, scoring 41 off 15 before missing out on a full toss in Jimmy Neesham's final over.
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