US Election: How TikTok is helping to shape America's presidential election - BBC World Service

 

Sophia Smith Galer enters the hype houses of TikTok to find out how political video could shape the US election.

Coronavirus: the ethnic minority health workers putting their own lives on the line

Thousands of black and ethnic minority health workers are at the frontline of the struggle to defeat coronavirus and save lives. Many of them face a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch the disease while helping to save others.

Indonesia: Alone in a sinking village - BBC News

The village of Bedono, Central Java was once home to more than 200 families. But now it’s now under water as the island is taken over by rising sea levels and only one family still lives there. Researchers say Java, in Indonesia, is sinking because of intense groundwater extraction, the destruction of mangroves and rising sea levels due to climate change.

The South Korean protester living in the sky

For nearly a year, 61-year-old Kim Yong-hee, has being living on a 20-metre-high traffic tower in the centre in Seoul, South Korea. It’s the latest in a quarter-century of protests Mr Kim has made, fighting for workers’ rights at the multinational conglomerate Samsung.

Kim Yong-hee says he was fired by the global tech giant nearly 30 years ago, when he tried to form a trade union. He’s been protesting ever since and vows not to come down till the company improves workers’ rights.

In a statement Samsung said, "the safety of Mr Kim is of our highest priority and we have engaged in negotiations. Contrary to certain allegations, Mr Kim was dismissed according to standing company regulations. Samsung regrets the current situation and is trying to resolve this issue.”

Coronavirus: Guernsey first part of British Isles to remove most lockdown restrictions - BBC News

The Channel Island of Guernsey is set to become the first part of the British Isles to remove nearly all lockdown restrictions. Guernsey hasn't had any new case of Covid-19 for over three weeks. Schools there will be reopening, with distancing measures, from early June. The island’s tourism industry has been losing millions of pounds since the pandemic began.

Kids' puppet show gets large lockdown following

Like many other venues forced to shut their doors due to coronavirus, puppeteers at London's Little Angel Theatre have had to up their online presence. They've been overwhelmed by the response to their streamed shows, with children inspired to do their own performances at home.

Coronavirus: US expert warns lifting lockdown early could cost many lives

The leading expert on infectious diseases in the United States, who is a key member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, has warned that lifting restrictions too soon could lead to an uncontrollable spike in cases. Anthony Fauci's message is at odds with that of President Trump, who is determined to get the economy going again.

Ghosts of the Vietnam War

Hundreds of thousands of South Korean soldiers fought alongside the Americans in Vietnam, but the story of South Korea's involvement in the conflict is largely untold. More than fifty years later, a victim of Korean atrocities travels to the capital Seoul in search of justice.

Coronavirus: Russian hospital staff 'working without masks'

As coronavirus spreads more widely in Russia’s provinces, hospitals - often old and ill-equipped - have become infection "hot spots". The number of medical workers getting sick, and dying, is growing. President Putin admitted that there was a shortage of PPE and ordered an increase in production. But even now, many Russian healthcare staff are scared to complain publicly about having to work without proper protection.

Coronavirus: US in crisis as 33m Americans lose their jobs

More than 33 million Americans have lost their jobs in the past 7 weeks, roughly 1 in 5 of the workforce. It is a devastating turnaround for a country whose jobless rate was at a 50 year low just 8 weeks ago. Meanwhile France will begin lifting what has been one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe on Monday. Most businesses will reopen and people will be allowed to leave home without a permit.

Coronavirus: Lockdown lives behind each door

Since the lockdown started, back in March, we’ve been telling ourselves that we’re “all in this together”. With local Whatsapp groups offering help and support, and Thursday night’s clap for carers, the lockdown has often felt like a collective experience.

Coronavirus: How long does it take to recover?

More than 1.1 million people have recovered from coronavirus globally, but the time it takes to recover can vary. Most people will only develop mild symptoms, which usually take a week to recover from, maybe longer. In more serious cases, it could be more than a year.

Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic to cut thousands of jobs and end Gatwick operations

Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and to end its operation at Gatwick Airport. The company blamed what it called the “devastating” effect of the pandemic. It's another major blow for Gatwick, the UK’s second busiest airport, coming days after British Airways said it might cease its operations there.

Coronavirus: Italy lifts restrictions after world’s longest shutdown -

Italy, the first country in the world to impose a national lockdown to try to control the pandemic, has lifted some of its toughest restrictions. The country has registered its lowest daily death toll since the lockdown began two months ago. But the effects of closing down much of the country have been harsh for many people.

Coronavirus: trial begins of mobile app to track infections

An app for mobile phones aimed at tracing the spread of coronavirus is to be tried out on the Isle of Wight, before being rolled out more widely across the UK. Between 50-60% of the population will need to use the software for it to be effective. Meanwhile the number of people being treated in hospital for coronavirus infection is continuing to fall.

How do you cope when everyone in your family is infected with Covid-19?

Karolina Padolskyte from east London contracted coronavirus, along with her husband, Steve, and their baby daughter Amaya. They kept a video diary during that time, showing how they coped.

Coronavirus 'reinfections' were false positives, says WHO technical lead

Test results suggesting people in South Korea had been reinfected after recovering from Covid-19 were actually false positives caused by dead lung cells, the World Health Organization's technical lead, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, has told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show

Coronavirus R0: What is the R number and why does it matter?

In the daily briefing earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said to avoid the "disaster" of a second peak the UK must keep the R rate below one.

Coronavirus: key to easing lockdown is low transmission rate

Boris Johnson has said the government will release a plan for gradually easing the lockdown. However the Prime Minister made clear that lifting restrictions will depend on keeping transmission rates of coronavirus infection low. The scientific term for the transmission rate is known as the R-number. Boris Johnson said that keeping the R-number down was going to be "absolutely vital to our recovery".

Coronavirus: major drugs trial offers hopes for treatment - BBC News

At present there is no drug proven to be effective in treating coronavirus infections. But several existing medicines for other conditions are undergoing trials. It’s the world’s biggest study of potential treatments, involves thousands of patients. Five drugs are being studied, including treatments currently used for malaria and HiV.