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  Published Date: 2020-08-24 

 President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the use of convalescent plasma to treat coronavirus for emergency use. The president spoke about the approved treatment during a White House press conference on Sunday evening. “This is a powerful therapy that transfuses very, very strong antibodies from the blood of recovered patients to help treat patients battling a current infection,” Trump wrote. “It’s had an incredible rate of success.” The treatment takes convalescent plasma from blood donated from patients that have recovered from coronavirus. Under current FDA guidelines, convalescent plasma is regulated as an “investigative product.” “We broke the logjam over the last week,” Trump said when asked about the difficulty getting the treatment approved for emergency use by the FDA. The president thanked FDA administrator, Dr. Steven Hahn, for helping lead the project. “It is only made possible because of Operation Warp Speed. That is, everybody working together,” Trump said referring to his administration’s effort to speed treatments and vaccines for coronavirus. Trump said that approvals were years ahead of schedule and previewed exciting news about vaccines in the upcoming days. “We are removing unnecessary barriers and delays, not by cutting corners, but by marshaling the full power of the federal government,” he said. Hahn said that the expanded access program for convalescent plasma was started at the Mayo Clinic in April and over 70,000 people had received treatment. “This is one of the largest expanded access programs in the history of FDA, so a very successful approach to evaluating how convalescent plasma would work,” he said. Hahn said that the scientists at the FDA evaluated both the data from the program and over a dozen published studies before approving the treatment. Breitbart News has not independently confirmed the data at the time of publication. In a June 3 article, the JAMA network outlined the history of the use of convalescent plasma dating as far back as the Spanish Flu epidemic and identified the treatment as a potential route to coronavirus containment. A later study published by the JAMA Network, however, concluded that the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment is less effective in severe coronavirus cases. “In the optimal patients, as described by Secretary Azar, treated with convalescent plasma at the highest tiers there was a 35 percent improvement in survival,” Hahn said. Hahn said that the FDA would continue evaluating the data and study the emergency use of the treatment. “We’re waiting for more data, and we’re going to continue gathering more data, but this clearly meets the criteria we’ve established for the emergency use authorization and we’re very pleased with these results,” he said. Hahn said that everyone recovering from the Covid-19 should act to donate their blood. “If you’ve recovered from Covid-19, please donate, you could save a life,” he said. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-24 

 The 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC) is preparing to kick off its four-day celebration with appearances throughout the week from several prominent, conservative voices. This year’s convention, which carries the theme “Honoring the Great American Story,” will begin on Monday and conclude on Thursday. Prominent speakers who will take part in the convention include President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and multiple Republican representatives and senators. With this year’s convention being largely virtual due to health concerns over the coronavirus, no more than 336 delegates will meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, to formally nominate President Trump as the party’s nominee. Below are a list of speakers and themes for each night of the 2020 convention. Monday – “A Land of Heroes” Speakers include Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, Amy Johnson Ford, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Natalie Harp, Charlie Kirk, Kim Klacik, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, Sean Parnell, Andrew Pollack, and Tanya Weinreis. Tuesday – “Land of Promise” Speakers include First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Abby Johnson, Jason Joyce, Myron Lizer, Mary Ann Mendoza, Megan Pauley, Cris Peterson, John Peterson, and Nicholas Sandmann. Wednesday – “Land of Opportunity” Speakers include Vice President Mike Pence, Second Lady Karen Pence, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, Kellyanne Conway, Keith Kellogg, Jack Brewer, Sister Dede Byrne, Madison Cawthorn, Scott Dane, Clarence Henderson, Ryan Holets, Michael McHale, Burgess Owens, and Lara Trump. Thursday – “Land of Greatness” Speakers include President Donald Trump, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Ivanka Trump, Ja’Ron Smith, Ann Dorn, Debbie Flood, former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani, Franklin Graham, Alice Johnson, Wade Mayfield, Carl and Marsha Mueller, and Dana White. Tony Sayegh, who is managing the program for the GOP convention, joined Washington Political Editor Matt Boyle on Breitbart News Saturday over the weekend to discuss the event. “Obviously this has been a very unconventional convention,” Sayegh told Boyle of the virtual convention. “We have transformed this into something unique.” “It really doesn’t matter where it ended up,” Sayegh said in regards to the location of the convention. “We have the best message and the best messenger in the president. And we have four years of great, great progress in this country that is almost unparalleled in this period of time that we want to highlight.” “We are turning our convention over to the American people, the forgotten men and women in this country that the president has dedicated his presidency to fighting for,” Sayegh continued. “We’re gonna have a people’s convention, much to the opposite of what the Democrats did with their political, establishment elite stars.” Sayegh also said the convention would heavily focus on the “consequences that would come from a Biden administration.” To listen to Sayegh’s full interview with Breitbart News Saturday, click here. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-24 

 Protesters with Black Lives Matter signs and shirts shouted at diners who were seated on restaurant patios throughout Northwest Washington, DC, over the weekend as part of an “education” campaign. With many Washington restaurants now featuring patio seating due to coronavirus restrictions, protesters have been increasingly targeting diners now accessible from the streets. On Saturday, several pro-Black Lives Matter and other associated groups organized to protest throughout Northwest Washington, DC, which includes the affluent Georgetown and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. As the sun started going down, the protesters first targeted diners at restaurants on P Street NW near Dupont Circle. Protesters shouted into megaphones and held signs that said, “Black Lives Matter,” according to tweets by Deadspin journalist Chuck Modiano. Modiano, who apparently accompanied the protesters, tweeted: “#DCProtests confront white spaces and read facts on Black Lives murdered by police.” #DCProtests confront white spaces and read facts on Black Lives murdered by police pic.twitter.com/Dm7rMZ2oTe — ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 23, 2020 Modiano also posted a video of an agitated restaurant staff member talking to the protesters. “Restaurant staff member comes out to argue w/protesters but customer approves,” he tweeted. “They need to know. Everybody needs to know” Restaurant staff member comes out to argue w/protesters but customer approves . In weeks covering #DCProtests, Black customers are supportive. Many white ppl too. So we must define “angry customer” as a distinctly white issue. pic.twitter.com/P6n16DP0x1 — ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 23, 2020 Later, another group carrying a large banner that said, “Free the people, fight the power, f**k the police,” converged on Dupont Circle and stopped in front of a restaurant named The Admiral, according to a video posted by Modiano. #DCProtests at DuPont Circle still going strong. One of three different protest actions tonite pic.twitter.com/xAAvf8WLv0 — ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 23, 2020 At The Admiral, protesters yelled at diners seated on the patio. One diner confronted the protesters while another person tried to hold him back. The diner is heard yelling, “Get out of our neighborhood.” He was also seen spitting toward the protesters after things got heated. The woman the diner allegedly spit on claimed he “instigated” the confrontation by “yelling and pushing bushes at protesters” as they recited names of “[Black Indigenous People of Color] murdered by [the Metropolitan Police Department].” I’m the black woman he FULLY SPIT ON during a pandemic after he instigated by yelling and pushing bushes at protestors reciting names of BIPOC murdered by MPD. The police did NOTHING except threaten protestors with mace & let the attacker get away. #dcprotests #WHODOYOUPROTECT https://t.co/38OwO6vEVM — Josie (@josielisettem) August 23, 2020 Modiano and another journalist entered the restaurant patio area to keep filming the diner: An angry white man got into my friend @ChuckModi1 face he tried to stop the recording and he was right at his face things are getting very intense right now he tried to snatch his phone out his hand #dcprotest #dcprotests #FTPmarch #Blacklivesmatter #blmprotest #acab pic.twitter.com/6kRxPgI7Rq — RawsMedia™ (@rawsmedia) August 23, 2020 Protesters then moved east on P Street NW to the Logan Circle area, where they continued to harass diners. Again, most people in restaurant clap for protesters after they are done reading facts. Always one or two really angry white ppl. #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/uR7DkpMyJk — ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 23, 2020 Some diners expressed their support for the protesters, including a woman who allegedly saw a police officer shake his head at the protesters. She demanded his “badge number.” Modiano tweeted later, “Restaurant Education [F*** the Police] March continues.” Later that night, protesters were seen in Georgetown, carrying the “free the people, fight the power, f**k the police” banner and chanting, “No justice, no peace! No racist police!” and “Cops and the Klan go hand in hand!” #DCProtests #BLM Protests continue in the affluent neighborhood of Georgetown pic.twitter.com/c53F1GcXtr — Mr. Fantastic aka Static Shock (@ltrain87x) August 23, 2020 He tweeted a video of protesters from last week yelling at diners about their “complacency.” “Your complacency is the reason why we have to be out here. Your silence is participation”#DCProtests last Saturday. Another FTP March in DC tonite pic.twitter.com/QlYTvgrOaV — ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) August 22, 2020 Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on Twitter or on Facebook. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-24 

 Boisterous left-wing protesters demonstrating against the Republican National Convention (RNC) intimidated diners at a Charlotte, North Carolina, restaurant Saturday night while they clogged up the streets. Protesters engaged with a man leaving a restaurant in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood around 11:00 p.m., and called him a “gentrifier,” the Charlotte Observer reported. Demonstrators in the South End, marching in their second night against the RNC to protest police brutality and neighborhood gentrification, yelled, “White Silence Equals Violence.” A person in the crowd also appeared to spray silly string at someone appearing to confront the protesters. The protesters also shouted, “the blood of Breonna Taylor,” referencing the March 13 death of Breonna Taylor, 26, at the hands of the police when officers searched her home for illegal drugs. Earlier in Charlotte, NC pic.twitter.com/laDKWvxT8R — Kitty Shackleford (@KittyLists) August 23, 2020 Officials, as well as a police officer and Taylor’s boyfriend, claimed that the officers knocked on Taylor’s apartment door, presented themselves, and only opened fire after Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, started shooting. Police made several arrests after midnight. The night’s protests were, for the most part, nonviolent, but at times, tense. Police still had to deploy pepper spray to break up the crowd. At least five protesters were arrested during the exchange. Two were arrested for assaulting police officers, one was arrested for blocking the road with debris, a fourth demonstrator was arrested for repeatedly aggressing on the police line, and a fifth protester was arrested for being armed with a gun. WBTV reported that the far-left group Charlotte Uprising was posting on social media advertisements about protests beginning at Marshall Park at 8:30 p.m. this weekend. Their message was to stop social injustice and protest against President Donald Trump and the police. Although the RNC has a scaled back presence this year, delegates began arriving in Charlotte this weekend, and Trump is expected to make an appearance in the city on Monday. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Gavin Williamson says his focus is on "making sure that every student gets the grades that they deserve" Gavin Williamson says he is "incredibly sorry for the distress" caused to pupils after having to make a U-turn in how A-levels and GCSEs are graded. The education secretary refused to say if he will resign amid a fresh scramble to secure university places. "My focus is making sure youngsters get the grades that they deserve," he said. Institutions are dealing with a surge of inquiries from students rejected due to their original results last week, prompting fears over capacity. Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK which represents vice-chancellors, said that many more students now had the grades to get into their first-choice university and this will "cause challenges at this late stage in the admissions process - capacity, staffing, placements and facilities - particularly with the social distance measures in place". Ministers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales all decided on Monday - four days after A-level results were issued - to revert to teacher assessed grades rather than an algorithm designed to moderate them. It followed an outcry after 40% of A-level results were downgraded by exams regulator Ofqual, which used a formula based on schools' prior grades. "I would like to start off by apologising - saying sorry to all those young people who've been affected by this. This is something none of us expected to see and none of us wanted to see," Mr Williamson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Williamson said it had been the common view of the government, Ofqual, and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland of different political parties that the system in place was more robust and "significantly better" than that in Scotland, after an earlier U-turn there. But after the release of A-level results on Thursday he said it "became increasingly apparent that there were too many young people that quite simply hadn't got the grade they truly deserved". The "exact same challenge" would have remained had there been a U-turn earlier, he said, and "we would still be faced with the challenge of the fact of how do we expand the capacity within the university sector". He refused to address questions about his future as education secretary during interviews on Tuesday morning and he declined to offer explicit support for Ofqual's chief regulator, Sally Collier, to stay in her job. Mr Williamson later told LBC: "We ended up in a situation where Ofqual didn't deliver the system that we had been reassured and believed that would be in place." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Williamson would not say whether he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Boris Johnson during interviews on Monday Labour's shadow higher education minister Emma Hardy told Breakfast it appeared Ofqual had been "thrown under the bus" by the government despite it working to ministers' instructions during the pandemic. Ofqual's algorithm was meant to moderate the process of awarding grades to prevent teachers awarding what the exams watchdog described as "implausibly high" marks to pupils. But it came under fire for its perceived unfairness and, particularly, the way it appeared to penalise bright children from disadvantaged schools. The government's U-turn means teachers' assessments will also be used for all GCSE results - except for any cases where the algorithm adjustment actually suggests a better grade. It is still unclear what the climbdown will mean for students taking specialist work-related qualifications, including BTecs. Mr Williamson said he hoped they would also be subject to teacher-assessed grades, adding that the government was working with awarding authorities to ensure this happened. 'Stretching resources' As part of the changes to grading, Mr Williamson has suspended a cap on student numbers for universities - effectively allowing institutions to accept unlimited numbers this year. Alistair Jarvis, of Universities UK, called for "urgent clarification" following the policy change and for the government to "step up" by supporting universities through the challenges it has created. He warned that while 70% of students were placed with their first choice institution, those who were not should "think carefully about their next steps" and seek advice from their preferred institutions. Timeline: Government's changing position 11 August: Gavin Williamson announced A-level students would be able to use their results in mock tests to appeal if they are unhappy with the grades they are given, calling it a "safety net". Earlier in the day Scotland's government decided to switch to teachers' predicted grades Gavin Williamson announced A-level students would be able to use their results in mock tests to appeal if they are unhappy with the grades they are given, calling it a "safety net". Earlier in the day Scotland's government decided to switch to teachers' predicted grades 12 August: Nick Gibb, the schools minister for England, acknowledged the government was "concerned" about what had happened in Scotland but insisted the system in England remained "robust" Nick Gibb, the schools minister for England, acknowledged the government was "concerned" about what had happened in Scotland but insisted the system in England remained "robust" Thursday 13 August (results day): Mr Williamson ruled out following the Scottish government in reversing position, telling Sky News: "You've got to have a system that has checks and balances". Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the results were a "robust set of grades" Mr Williamson ruled out following the Scottish government in reversing position, telling Sky News: "You've got to have a system that has checks and balances". Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the results were a "robust set of grades" Saturday: Mr Williamson told the Times there would be "no U-turn" on the grading system, saying Scotland had ended up with "a system where there aren't any controls" and had "rampant grade inflation" Mr Williamson told the Times there would be "no U-turn" on the grading system, saying Scotland had ended up with "a system where there aren't any controls" and had "rampant grade inflation" Sunday: Mr Williamson defended Ofqual's grading method in the Sunday Express, saying the calculated grade "makes certain that everyone can be confident that these qualifications carry the same weight as previous years" Mr Williamson defended Ofqual's grading method in the Sunday Express, saying the calculated grade "makes certain that everyone can be confident that these qualifications carry the same weight as previous years" Monday: Mr Williamson announces a move to teacher-assessed grades for A-levels and GCSES saying "we now believe it is better" Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group which represents 24 leading universities, said support would be needed to help with expected increases in student numbers. "There are limits to what can be done by the university sector alone to address that uncertainty without stretching resources to the point that it undermines the experience for all, not to mention ensuring students and staff are kept safe as we follow the steps needed to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," he said. Some students are now anxiously waiting to find out if they will be accepted on to their courses now that their teacher-assessed grades have been reinstated. Zainab Ali, 18, from London, said it had been an awful and confusing experience - having initially been rejected from her first-choice of Queen Mary University of London. "I felt like I've been really let down. It was really, really stressful," she said. Image copyright Emily King Image caption Emily King does not know if she will be able to go to the University of Lincoln this year And Emily King, from Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire, said being downgraded from a C to a U in her A-level biology had "really knocked her confidence" and meant she had been rejected by the University of Lincoln. It is not clear if there is any guarantee that admissions decisions can be revisited if a course is already full, and some universities, including Durham, Sheffield, Bristol and Liverpool, had stopped offering places through clearing by Monday. Ucas said 193,420 18-year-old applicants across the UK were placed with their first-choice university, which is higher than at the same point last year. A spokesman said students who have not got into their first-choice institution should seek advice from their parents or teachers before contacting the university. The government has said that students who accepted offers based on their downgraded results would be able to release themselves if another offer is reinstated based on their updated grades. 'Too slow to act' Sam Freedman, who was a senior policy adviser to the Department for Education between 2010 and 2013, said he was surprised Mr Williamson had not resigned over the handling of A-level results and said it "beggared belief" that the secretary of state had said he was only aware of problems over the weekend. "I can't think of many other education secretaries who wouldn't have already resigned," he said. Meanwhile Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wrote in the Daily Mirror: "The Tories' handling of these results sums up their handling of this pandemic: incompetent." Have your grades been raised? Have you still missed out on a university place? Do you have questions about your situation? Get in touch via the form. In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. Use this form to ask your question: 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Image copyright PA Marks & Spencer is cutting 7,000 jobs over the next three months across its stores and management. It said the coronavirus pandemic had made it clear there had been a "material shift in trade". In-store sales of clothing and home goods were "well below" 2019, although online and home deliveries were strong. M&S said it hoped a "significant proportion" of the cuts - about a tenth of its workforce - will be voluntary redundancy and early retirement. In a statement, M&S said it was "too early to predict with precision where a new post-Covid sales mix will settle. We must now act to reflect this change". But the retailer said operating during the pandemic had showed it could work "more flexibly and productively", with more staff multi-tasking and moving between food, clothing and home departments. M&S said total sales in its hard-hit clothing and home arm plunged 29.9% in the eight weeks since shops reopened, with store sales tumbling 47.9% and online surging 39.2%. In the last 13 weeks, food sales have increased by 2.5%. At the height of lockdown, M&S boss Steve Rowe said customers might "never shop the same way again" after the coronavirus crisis. And last month the retailer announced 950 store management and head office jobs were at risk because it needed to accelerate its restructuring. Alongside Tuesday's announcement of more job cuts Mr Rowe said: "In May we outlined our plans to learn from the crisis, accelerate our transformation and deliver a stronger, more agile business in a world in which some customer habits were changed forever. "Three months on and our 'Never the Same Again' programme is progressing; albeit the outlook is uncertain and we remain cautious. He said the proposals to "further streamline store operations and management" were an "important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs". 'Calm before the storm' Retail Economics chief executive Richard Lim said the cuts represented a "massive reduction" in the M&S workforce. The retailer was "desperately attempting to reposition the business towards a new-normal emerging in the sector". "Retailers were already battling with the pace of structural change facing the sector but the impact of the pandemic has been a step-change for the industry." He said retailers remained in "survival mode, preserving cash and hanging on for more sustainable levels of demand to return". "But the way we shop has changed on a permanent basis for many parts of the sector almost overnight. "The reality is that many more retailers will fail and the number of job losses will ramp up as government support is withdrawn. This is the calm before the storm." Marks and Spencer has been in the throes of a big reorganisation of one sort or another for most of the past two decades. Successive management teams have struggled to come to terms with rapid shifts in consumer behaviour - but none so rapid as what has happened over the past four months. M&S had already begun what looked like it most serious restructuring in years before the pandemic struck, with a big drive to boost online sales - notably with a partnership with Ocado - and to close underperforming stores. But those plans, drawn up by Chairman Archie Norman and Chief Executive Steve Rowe, have been accelerated by the coronavirus. The bigger question now is whether the drastic action now being taken is enough to cope not only with the sudden decline in sales brought about by the pandemic, but the longer-term shifts that have so vexed M&S management in the past. The size of the job cuts suggests that M&S is at least taking those threats seriously. M&S employs almost 78,000 people, most of them in the UK. The bulk of the latest job cuts are expected to come among shop floor workers, with about 12% of customer assistant roles going. Cuts will also be made at head office and in regional management. However, the company is shifting resources and recruiting towards areas that are expanding - online and food. M&S said online clothing and home goods sales had been performing strongly since the beginning of the year, and over the last eight weeks had accounted for 41% of its total clothing and home goods sales. M&S has recently taken on 150 new staff in its online warehouse at Castle Donington, and is looking to employ 360 people at a new food distribution centre in Milton Keynes. In recent weeks, several retailers have announced job cuts, among them John Lewis, which warned 1,300 jobs could go, Boots, which said 4,000 were at risk, and WH Smith, which may shed 1,500 jobs. Do you work for Marks and Spencer? Is your job at risk? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Michelle Obama: Trump is "wrong president" for US Michelle Obama has launched a stinging attack on US President Donald Trump as Democrats prepared to crown Joe Biden as their White House challenger. "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," said the former US first lady in an emotional recorded message to the Democratic convention. Disaffected members of Mr Trump's Republican party also piled in on him at the Democratic party conference. The election takes place on Tuesday 3 November. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, Democrats scrapped plans for a crowded party extravaganza with balloon drops and all the other political razzmatazz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But it is unclear whether the largely virtual schedule of pre-recorded speeches with no live audience can generate the same level of enthusiasm as pre-pandemic gatherings of the party faithful. Republicans will face the same challenge as they make their case for four more years in the White House at a drastically scaled-down convention next week. What did Michelle Obama say? Mrs Obama, who recorded her keynote address before Mr Biden announced his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, six days ago, launched a blistering attack on Mr Trump. "You simply cannot fake your way through this job," she said in remarks that closed the first night of the convention on Monday. The headline speaker added: "Our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long." "Stating the simple fact that a black life matters is still met with derision from the nation's highest office," Mrs Obama continued. "Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy." She said the last four years had been difficult to explain to America's children. "They see our leaders labelling fellow citizens enemies of the state, while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Democratic National Convention day one: Biden's grandchildren and famous faces "They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protests for a photo op." Mrs Obama continued: "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. "He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is." She described Mr Biden as a "profoundly decent man", touting the Democratic White House candidate's experience as vice-president under her husband, President Barack Obama. "We have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it," she said, wearing a necklace that said "Vote". An emotional punch A lot of politicians spoke at the camera during the "virtual" Democratic convention on Monday night. The only speaker who landed an emotional punch, however, was Michelle Obama. The truth, she said, was that Donald Trump "simply cannot be who we need him to be for us". "It is what it is," she said, employing the same words the president recently used about the coronavirus death toll - a jab that was as subtle as it was devastating. She wasn't trying to convince Republicans to switch sides. That was John Kasich's job. She wasn't trying to get left-wing progressives to rally to Biden. Bernie Sanders handled that. Mrs Obama was speaking to loyal Democrats, some of whom may have stayed at home or voted for a third party in 2016, some of whom may be dispirited or scared this year. Her goal was to drive home the gravity of the moment and to give them a call to action. What else happened on Monday? The opening night of the convention, a two-hour programme hosted by former Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria Baston, was titled by party organisers "We the People". John Kasich, a former Ohio governor who ran against Mr Trump in 2016, recorded a message calling on Americans to deny the president a second term in office. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What happens at the US conventions? Mr Kasich endorsed Mr Biden, saying: "We can all see what's going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us, and no one person or party has all the answers. "But what we do know is that we can do better than what we've been seeing today, for sure." Bernie Sanders, the left-wing Vermont senator who was Mr Biden's fiercest competitor during the Democratic party's contest to pick a challenger to Mr Trump, also recorded a message. He said: "My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake." He added: "Nero fiddled while Rome burned - Trump golfs." Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What do young Democrats think of Joe Biden? Along with Mr Kasich, three other high-profile Republicans recorded messages for the convention's opening night: California businesswoman Meg Whitman, former New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman and former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari. While their inclusion left the Biden team claiming a broad coalition, some Democrats grumbled that the Republicans used up precious time that could have benefited progressive speakers or lesser-known rising stars. But Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and Biden campaign co-chairman, rejected that idea, saying, "remember tonight's theme is 'We the People,' not 'We the Democrats'". The opening night also featured pre-recorded messages from everyday Americans, including repentant Trump voters and a woman who blamed her father's death from Covid-19 on the president. How did President Trump hit back? Speaking to the BBC on Air Force One as he flew back from a trip to the presidential swing-voting states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Mr Trump lashed out at Mr Kasich. "He was a loser as a Republican, and he'll be a loser as a Democrat," the president said on Monday. "The guy was a major loser as a Republican." During a campaign speech earlier in the day in Mankato, Minnesota, Mr Trump warned that if Mr Biden won in November, news outlets would lose their audiences. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption What does this hat mean to Americans? "Nobody's going to want to cover sleepy Joe," Mr Trump said. "We will end up with one very boring socialist country that will go to hell." Mr Trump on Monday also confirmed he would accept the Republican nomination for a second term during a live speech at the White House next week. His plans have been criticised by Democrats and even some fellow Republicans. How will the rest of the Democratic convention play out? The four-night jamboree will culminate in Mr Biden's speech on Thursday in a mostly empty ballroom in his home state of Delaware. On Wednesday, his vice-presidential pick, Ms Harris, the daughter of immigrant parents from India and Jamaica, will accept her nomination as the first woman of colour to be a running mate on a major party presidential ticket. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Who is Kamala Harris? A look at her life and career Also speaking on Wednesday are former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, and one of Mr Biden's former rivals, Senator Elizabeth Warren. Tuesday will hear speeches from former President Bill Clinton and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. More on Joe Biden and the 2020 election BIDEN ON KEY ISSUES: What the US presidential hopeful wants to do POLLS: Who is ahead - Trump or Biden? US ELECTIONS 2020: A really simple guide to the US election ELECTORAL COLLEGE: What is it? ONE-STOP-SHOP: All our US election coverage The US election process can be confusing. The BBC is here to help make sense of it. Please put your questions below. In some cases, your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Image copyright PA Media Image caption The six-year-old boy taken by air ambulance to Royal London Hospital A boy who suffered catastrophic injuries when he was thrown from the balcony of the Tate Modern has been able to visit home, his family said. Last August the boy, aged six at the time and visiting London from France with his family, fell 100ft (30m) and suffered life-changing injuries. Now, the boy's family says he is "happy to see his toys again". Jonty Bravery, 18, who threw the boy from the balcony, was convicted of his attempted murder and jailed, in June. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spent time at Royal London Hospital before moving to a hospital in France. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Audio recording of Jonty Bravery telling carers in autumn 2018 about his plan to commit murder During Bravery's sentencing, the court was told the boy would require round-the-clock care until at least 2022. His injuries included a bleed to the brain and fractures to his spine and he has been left needing the use of a wheelchair. An update posted on a GoFundMe site, which has raised almost £250,000 for the boy's medical care, said his parents were able to bring him home "just for a weekend". "We took him to the sea and he was able to build sandcastles with a friend on the beach," the statement said. "He stays seated in one place, and we bring him what he needs to build. He couldn't swim, of course, mainly because he still can't move around without his splints. "He also returned at home for the first time and he was super happy to see his house and his toys again, even though he couldn't go upstairs to see his room." Image copyright AFP Image caption The boy had been visiting London from France with his parents The parents thanked the public for their continued support and said their son's reading, breathing and singing was improving "little by little". "He still spends most of his day in a wheelchair and still cannot walk on his own," the statement added. "But when we give him our hand, we don't need to carry his weight anymore like before - it is mostly about helping him to find his balance. "He can walk a few metres like that and he now also manages to climb one or two steps, always with our help." Image copyright Stuart Haggas Image caption A GoFundMe page has raised more than £200,000 for the boy's medical treatment Bravery, of Northolt in west London, who was diagnosed with autism from a young age, was jailed at the Old Bailey for at least 15 years. Hammersmith and Fulham Council has been carrying out a serious case review into Bravery's care as the council was responsible for the handling of it. In a victim impact statement in February, the boy's parents described to the court how Bravery's actions were "unspeakable". "Words cannot express the horror and fear his actions have brought up on us," the couple said. A spokesman for Tate Modern said: "A full security review was undertaken, as would happen after any major incident, and we continue to follow best practice guidelines to keep the public safe." For more London news follow on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Image copyright Reuters Image caption Host Ellen DeGeneres has issued an apology to staff over the allegations Three top producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show have been fired amid allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment. Ms DeGeneres announced the overhaul in a video meeting with staff, and said an internal investigation was under way. In a message to staff she said she was "so sorry for what this has become," according to the Hollywood Reporter. The departures follow investigations by journalists into claims of bullying and intimidation on set. A spokesperson for Warner Brothers confirmed the show has "parted ways" with executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman, and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman. In a story published earlier this year, several former employees told Buzzfeed News they had experienced racism while working on the show, which has won over 60 Emmy Awards since it first aired in 2003. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ed Glavin (second from left) and Kevin Leman (right) have denied the claims against them, while Jonathan Norman has not publicly commented Others accused Mr Glavin of inappropriate touching, and leading with intimidation and fear. Mr Leman and Mr Norman were also accused of sexual harassment by former staff. In earlier statements to Buzzfeed News, Mr Leman denied "any kind of sexual impropriety," and Mr Norman said he was "100% categorically denying these allegations." Mr Glavin has not publicly responded to the claims. Ms DeGeneres initially distanced herself from the claims of a toxic work environment, saying in an email to staff that she had been "misrepresented" by "people who work with me and for me". But she apologised to staff and said she was "glad the issues were brought to her attention". A host of celebrities, including singer Katy Perry and comedian Kevin Hart, have spoken out in support of the chat show host. However, other stars have supported the claims made against her programme, among them Everybody Loves Raymond actor Brad Garrett. In an email to staff, David McGuire, executive vice president of programming at Warner Brothers, said the studio was "absolutely committed" to "change and a new culture. "Many of you have spoken with WarnerMedia's investigators, and we thank you for your honesty," he added, according to Buzzfeed News. "I hope this note is another way we are showing our commitment to do better." 

  Published Date: 2020-08-18 

 Image caption Insp Charles Ehikioya has served with the Met for more than two decades A black police inspector is suing the Met Police for racial harassment after being stopped in his car by two white officers. Insp Charles Ehikioya recorded the incident in which he said officers stopped him without justification as he drove home from work in south London. He told the BBC it showed an "abuse of power" and he was speaking out in solidarity with the black community. The Met said it found no evidence of misconduct. The 55-year-old had been driving home after his shift on 23 May when he was followed for two miles by officers and stopped in Croydon, according to his complaint. As one officer approached, Insp Ehikioya said he noticed he had not switched on his body-worn camera and for that reason he refused to leave his car. He said he then started to record the incident for protection, at which point the officer turned on his bodycam. In the recording, shared with BBC News, the officer said Insp Ehikioya was being stopped for driving at speed and it "looked like he had gone through a red light". Image caption Insp Charles Ehikioya said he was driving home from work in his red Toyota iQ when he was stopped The officer said he needed to see Insp Ehikioya's driving licence and proof he was insured to drive the car, that the vehicle had not been stolen, and to check he was not drunk or had been using his phone. He claimed Insp Ehikioya's driving was "unusual", which he strongly disputed, according to the recording. Insp Ehikioya was then accused of being obstructive and the officer said his own behaviour had been perfectly reasonable, it can be heard. "These were alleged offences that could have ended my whole career," said Mr Ehikioya, who has worked for the Met Police for more than 22 years. In his formal complaint, Insp Ehikioya wrote: "The officers did not believe or did not care that I was an officer, because I am black. "They are both clearly racist police officers pretending to be polite whilst falsely accusing me without any evidence whatsoever of having committed serious criminal and road traffic act offences." After Insp Ehikioya informed them he was a serving police officer and later showed them his police badge, both officers left the scene. 'Racially profiled' The Met said Insp Ehikioya was not arrested, charged or cautioned for any offence in relation to the stop. "I believed I was racially profiled and received no apology," Insp Ehikioya added. "I have kids and a grandson, I would not want them treated like this." Asked why he had chosen to take legal action against the Met, Insp Ehikioya said he was "not prepared to sit quietly and be silenced". "In my view it's not the whole organisation that's like that, it's only a few individuals that are causing this issue. "I have no choice but to react in the way I'm reacting to bring it to the attention... Actions speak louder than words," he said. The Met has come under increasing scrutiny since the wave of Black Lives Matter protests in the UK after the death of African-American George Floyd. Last week, the Labour MP Dawn Butler called for a "system change" after she and a black male friend were stopped and pulled over in east London by two police cars. In July, the British sprinter Bianca Williams received an apology from the Met Police after she and her partner were pulled over in their car for a stop-and-search in west London. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Footage of the stop of Bianca Williams was shared widely on Twitter Lawrence Davies, of Equal Justice Solicitors who is representing Insp Ehikioya, said the incident showed the "extent of the current racism in the Metropolitan Police". "The conduct of a few embarrasses the vast majority of officers who are not racist but who, as a consequence of that conduct, have to work with very distrusting BAME communities," he said. The Met confirmed it had received an internal complaint from a driver who alleged they were stopped as a result of racial profiling and said an investigation was undertaken by the Professional Standards Unit. In a statement, the Met said the vehicle was followed by officers through suspicion of excessive speed at a traffic signal and onward. No action was taken against the man stopped and, after reviewing body-worn footage, no evidence of misconduct was found, it said. The statement added: "Any allegation, whether external or internal, made concerning the conduct of our staff is taken extremely seriously. "Where the conduct of staff is proven to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected, we will take robust action to ensure that staff are appropriately disciplined and that lessons are learnt from each case."