The archaeological legacy of the Crossrail excavations

Summary: The skeletons of plague victims, a Tudor bowling ball and medieval ice skates fashioned from animal bones are among hundreds of artefacts on display at a new exhibition showcasing the most interesting finds made during the Crossrail excavations.

By Josephine McDermottBBC News What's been unearthed undoubtedly offers a fascinating insight into London life over the centuries - but what will be the archaeological legacy of what is Europe's largest infrastructure project? Tens of thousands of artefacts have been dug up during work to create the 42km (26-mile) Elizabeth Line, which runs from the east to the west of the capital. With careful planning, 20 sites were excavated by archaeologists at locations where ventilation shafts were put in, where railways entered tunnels and where new ticket halls were to be built. For more archaeology stories and features follow us on Pinterest "We've managed to take a slice down through London but also across London," said Jackie Keily, the curator of the exhibition at the Museum of London Docklands. One of Ms Keily's favourite exhibits is a bowling ball discovered at the site of a Tudor manor house in Stepney Green. "It's amazing it survived," she said. "It had been in a moat which was boggy. Henry VIII brought in a ban banning commoners from bowling. It was only for the aristocracy. "Stepney Green is now part of Greater London but it would have been a weekend retreat in the countryside." A chamber pot found beneath 19th Century terraced housing, also in Stepney Green, ranks as another highlight for Ms Keily. "It dates back to when there were no indoor toilets or bathrooms," she said. "This one is fabulous because it has a shocked-looking man saying: 'What I see I will not tell'." The discoveries made were by no means restricted to those from Victorian, Tudor or medieval times though, with considerably older items being unearthed, including bison bone fragments in the part of the capital we now call Royal Oak. Asked if there had been previous evidence of bison roaming there, Ms Keily said: "We kind of knew but it's incredible to find the remains. "There were three fragments of bison bone and one of reindeer from an antler. They were dated back to about 68,000 years ago. "Some of the bones had traces of gnawing, possibly from wolves." Two finds from the Crossrail project have ended up among the 80 million specimens at the Natural History Museum: a piece of 55-million-year-old amber and two parts of a woolly mammoth jawbone. Both were discovered beneath Canary Wharf. The bone find could prove to be important, as Jessica Simpson from the museum explains: "They can date the woolly mammoth specimen once it is off display and they might be able to determine when they became extinct in our region. "The last known woolly mammoths were roaming a small part of northern Siberia about 4,000 years ago." For Ms Keily, the discovery that will perhaps provide the most significant element of Crossrail's archaeological legacy is the human remains found at Liverpool Street. DNA testing on teeth found in the 17th Century Bedlam cemetery confirmed the identity of the bacteria behind London's Great Plague for the first time. "That's an important discovery," she said. And it's not the only one. Don Walker, senior human osteologist at the Museum of London Archaeology, analysed some skeletons found at Charterhouse Square in Farringdon. He said of the discovery: "It was important because we found documented evidence of a Black Death cemetery dating to 1348 or 1349." Isotope, radiocarbon and DNA analysis was performed in an effort to reveal details such as how a person's diet had changed during their lifetime and where they were likely to have lived. Mr Walker said: "We don't know much about how infectious diseases interacted with people in the past. "If we can understand the evolution of infectious diseases such as the plague that will help us understand how diseases will behave in the future." Asked what the impact of the Crossrail excavations would be, he said: "I think it goes beyond archaeology and I'm certain there will be some benefits for future medical work as well." Dr Piers Mitchell from Cambridge University is president of the Paleopathology Association and was part of the team that found Richard III's skull in a Leicester car park. Asked if Crossrail would go on to be viewed as a significant project in British archaeology, he said: "The problem with Crossrail is you only get a little vertical shaft, a little box to excavate. "That gives you a little vignette of life in the past. It's a little bit frustrating. "They've got lots of little circles and they are trying to interpret London from that." But he added: "Only time will tell. If interesting papers are published and we learn more about diseases of the past and how they are changing, it's going to be a good resource to teach students with." Some of the finds as they were reported Rail projects find 'Black Death' pit Crossrail dig unearths Victorian jars Rail dig 'Bronze Age path' find Cause of London Great Plague confirmed In Pictures: Crossrail skeletons Jay Carver, lead Crossrail archaeologist, believes the project will be held up as an example of how developers, engineers and archaeologists can work together and share finds with the community. He said: "Every 10 years there's a mega-project that involves a lot of archaeology; previously there was the Eurostar tunnel and then Terminal 5 at Heathrow. "With each project we are developing the way we work with construction and engineering. In the past archaeologists and engineers have been at loggerheads. "I think it's been a really successful project." And it's a project that is set to continue, with plans in place for Crossrail 2, the proposed north-south line from Epsom in Surrey to Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. But wherever there are huge infrastructure projects of this kind, there are difficult decisions to be taken, such as the possibility the Curzon cinema in Soho might have to make way for a new ticket hall. Stephen Fry has said he does not want to be a "numby" - not under my backyard - but, as a supporter of the Curzon Soho, objects to the plans as they stand. And the Victorian Society warns Wimbledon is among the areas that face losing important architecture to Crossrail 2's bulldozers - although a Transport for London spokesperson said: "Demolition is always our last resort." Back in east London at the Museum of London Docklands - a stone's throw away from where engineers are putting the finishing touches to the Canary Wharf Crossrail station - Jackie Keily reflects happily on the impact of the several years of excavations. "It's been an amazing project," she said. "To be able to archaeologically take a slice through London east to west is pretty amazing." Tunnel: The Archaeology of Crossrail runs from Friday 10 February to 3 September at the Museum of London Docklands.

प्लेग पीड़ितों के कंकाल, एक ट्यूडर गेंदबाजी गेंद और जानवरों की हड्डियों से बने मध्ययुगीन बर्फ के स्केट्स एक नई प्रदर्शनी में प्रदर्शित सैकड़ों कलाकृतियों में से हैं जो क्रॉसरेल खुदाई के दौरान की गई सबसे दिलचस्प खोजों को प्रदर्शित करते हैं।


Election 2017: Davies says Cairns 'unwilling' to take part in debate

Summary: A row has erupted between senior Welsh Tories after it emerged neither Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies nor Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns were taking part in Tuesday's BBC Wales leaders' debate.

The Tories were represented by education spokesman Darren Millar AM. Mr Cairns said it was intended that Mr Davies would be the representative. But a spokesman for Mr Davies accused Mr Cairns of being "unwilling" to take part himself. He said Mr Davies had been happy to take part, but on the basis that one candidate took part in the three Welsh TV debates. It had been expected that Mr Davies would take part in the earlier Ask The Leader BBC Wales debate, but prior to broadcast, the Conservative Party decided to put up Mr Cairns. It is understood Mr Davies - who had taken part in the ITV Wales debate earlier in May - is on holiday. The other parties put up their campaign leaders - Labour's Carwyn Jones, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood, Lib Dem Mark Williams and UKIP's Neil Hamilton. Mr Cairns told BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show that it was "always intended" that Mr Davies would be the debate's Conservative representative. The Welsh Secretary said he himself was "never" going to be part of the programme, and claimed Mr Davies could not be there for personal reasons. He said he was confident Mr Millar would do an "excellent job". Mr Cairns appeared for the Conservatives in last week's series of Ask the Leader programmes on BBC Wales. Mr Cairns' comments prompted a critical statement from a spokesman for Andrew RT Davies. He said: "With the Secretary of State unwilling to take part in the General Election debates, Andrew was more than happy to fill in - but that agreement was reached on the basis that it would be best for the party to put forward one candidate for all of the programmes. "Given that Alun was willing to take part in the Ask the Leader programmes, Andrew felt that it was no longer necessary to return from celebrating his wedding anniversary to do the debate. "It's a bit of a surprise that Alun isn't taking part tonight, but our Policy Director Darren will do a brilliant job." A spokesman for BBC Wales said: "BBC Wales invited the main political parties in Wales to nominate a leader to take part in its Leaders' Debate. "The party chooses its representative and in this instance the Conservative Party has nominated Darren Millar AM." First Minister Carwyn Jones said the decision showed "incredible disrespect to the people of Wales that the Secretary of State, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, can't be bothered to turn up at a leaders' debate". In a statement Plaid Cymru accused the Conservatives of treating "democracy with contempt" and claimed "avoiding scrutiny" seemed to be a "key strategy" for the Tories. UKIP said it was "very strange for a party leader to be replaced in two leader debates". The Liberal Democrats claimed Andrew RT Davies "will be desperate to be avoid being next in line for another car crash TV appearance from the Conservatives". In 2015, then Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb represented the Tories in the debates, while Owen Smith, then shadow Welsh secretary, took part for Labour. Mr Jones says he is now involved - instead of Shadow Welsh Secretary Christina Rees - to reflect a change of rules that officially appointed him Welsh Labour leader earlier this year. Analysis by Daniel Davies, BBC Wales political correspondent The Conservative campaign was supposed to be about the leadership of Theresa May. And yet the Welsh Conservatives will be represented by three politicians in three leaders' TV broadcasts. This is not what they planned. I'm told Andrew RT Davies was willing to do all three, but clearly that has broken down. There are contrasting accounts of why that happened. People have differing opinions over who should be participating. Behind the scenes, there is tension within the party. One source calls it a "shambles". Carwyn Jones - Labour Despite not being a candidate at the 2017 general election, Carwyn Jones is undoubtedly the face of Labour's campaign in Wales - with little or no mention of Jeremy Corbyn. That reflects the view that he is more popular in Wales than Labour's UK leader with the party running a distinct Welsh campaign on this side of Offa's Dyke. Mr Jones grew up in Bridgend, the constituency he has represented in the assembly since 1999, and has been a member of the cabinet since 2000. During that time he has held the post of environment minister, education minister and the Welsh Government's main legal advisor. Following Rhodri Morgan's decision to stand down as first minister in 2009, Carwyn Jones beat off the challenge from Edwina Hart and Huw Lewis to become the third leader of the Welsh Government. When the 2010 general election saw Labour lose power in Westminster, it left Mr Jones as the most senior elected Labour politician in the UK. He has used his role to try to push for further powers for the assembly and for more clarity on how the different governments of the UK should work together. However, his views have often put him on a collision course with Welsh Labour MPs who were said to have given him a "roasting" over his views on one occasion. Mr Jones did not back any of the candidates for the Labour leadership in 2015. And while he has been lukewarm at best in his support for Jeremy Corbyn, he has also criticised Labour MPs who have been openly critical of their leader. Watch Carwyn Jones on Ask the Leader Darren Millar - Conservative Brought up in Towyn on the north Wales coast, Mr Millar had a background in accountancy before being elected to the Welsh Assembly in 2007 to represent Clwyd West. A committed Christian, he is currently spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives on education, and has poked fun at his being dubbed "Millar the Cereal Killer" because of his opposition to free school breakfasts - acknowledging its echoes of when former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was called "the milk snatcher". During the last assembly term, from 2011 to 2016, Mr Millar chaired the assembly's public accounts committee. While at the helm of the influential body the AM led an inquiry into the Welsh Government's sale of public land to raise funds for regeneration. The inquiry resulted in a highly critical report claiming taxpayers had been short-changed by millions. He was previously his party's health spokesman for Wales, where he was vocal on problems such as hospital waiting lists and shortages in GP recruitment and, particularly as a north Wales AM, failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Before being elected to the assembly, Mr Millar was a Conwy county borough councillor, and at the age of 24 was the youngest serving mayor in Wales, for his home patch of Towyn and Kinmel Bay. Like Mr Jones and Ms Wood, he is not a candidate in the general election. Leanne Wood - Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood was the outsider who broke the Plaid Cymru mould when she won the party's leadership election in 2012 to succeed Ieuan Wyn Jones. She is Plaid's first female leader, the first to be a non-fluent Welsh speaker and the first from outside the party's heartlands in north and west Wales. Born and raised in the Rhondda valleys - where she still lives - her political awakening came during the miners' strikes of the 1980s. But, unlike many of her peers, Ms Wood turned to Plaid Cymru rather than Labour. The former probation officer and lecturer in social work was hired as a researcher by MEP Jill Evans. In 2003, Ms Wood realised her own political ambitions as she entered the Welsh Assembly as a regional AM for South Wales Central. Nine years later, the staunch republican - considered to be on the left of her party - was elected leader after promoting her economic vision for an independent Wales. Arguably her biggest personal triumph came in last year's Welsh Assembly elections when she won the Rhondda seat by beating the former Labour minister Leighton Andrews. In the 2015 general election campaign Ms Wood enjoyed significant UK media coverage but this high public profile did not translate to any increase in seats at Westminster - the party stayed on three. She is not standing in this election although there was speculation that she would run in the Rhondda. Party officials and members say the public like her and respond to her on the doorstep - but will this result in the party winning more seats this time round? Mark Williams - Liberal Democrats Mark Williams was born in Hertfordshire in 1966 where he lived until 1984 when he went to study politics at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth. On leaving university, he worked for the then Liberal MP for Ceredigion, Geraint Howells, before becoming a researcher to the Liberal group of peers in the House of Lords. After spells as a primary school teacher and deputy head teacher, he was elected to Parliament in 2005 when he won the Ceredigion seat from Plaid Cymru. Mr Williams remained a Lib Dem backbencher when Nick Clegg took the party into the Westminster coalition with the Conservatives in 2010. He was re-elected as the Lib Dems' sole MP in Wales in 2015. In 2016, he was named leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in place of Kirsty Williams, who stepped down after a disastrous assembly election left her as the party's only remaining AM. Mr Williams is pro-EU and a strong supporter of devolution. Neil Hamilton - UKIP Neil Hamilton was born in Monmouthshire in 1949 and spent most of his childhood in Carmarthenshire. His father was a mining engineer and took part in the rescue effort at the Aberfan disaster of 1966 in which 144 people died, most of them children. He studied economics and politics at Aberystwyth University and went on to become a barrister. Mr Hamilton served as Conservative MP for the Cheshire seat of Tatton from 1983 to 1997. Anti-EU, he gained a reputation for being an outspoken MP and was a minister in John Major's government. He lost his seat in the 1997 general election to the independent challenger, Martin Bell, following the "cash for questions" scandal. While away from politics, Mr Hamilton has appeared on many celebrity TV and radio shows - often with his wife Christine - including Have I Got News For You? Mr Hamilton made his political comeback in 2016 when he was elected under the UKIP banner to represent the Mid and West Wales region in the Welsh Assembly , where he leads a group of five AMs. He has been a controversial figure in the assembly, calling two female AMs "political concubines" in the "harem" of First Minister Carwyn Jones. Mr Hamilton also apologised after complaints that he told an opposition AM that "suicide was an option" after she said how disappointed she was with the referendum vote for Brexit. BBC Wales Leaders' Debate - BBC One Wales, Tuesday 30 May at 20:30 BST Followed by reaction on BBC Two Wales at 22:00 BST

वरिष्ठ वेल्श टोरी के बीच एक विवाद छिड़ गया है जब यह सामने आया कि न तो वेल्श कंजर्वेटिव नेता एंड्रयू आर. टी. डेविस और न ही वेल्श सचिव एलुन केर्न्स मंगलवार को बीबीसी वेल्स के नेताओं की बहस में भाग ले रहे थे।


Mumps outbreak hits young people in Oban

Summary: Young people in Oban are being advised to ensure they are vaccinated against mumps after an outbreak in the Scottish west coast town.

NHS Highland said about 50 cases had been identified, mainly among teenagers and those in their early 20s. It is believed returning students and increased social events over the festive period may have contributed to the spread of the virus. Mumps is spread through saliva and is transmitted by coughs and sneezes Symptoms include swelling on the angle of the jaw on one or both sides of the face. Often there are several days of earlier symptoms, which could include fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches and loss of appetite. Doctors have said that teenagers in Oban who have not had all their MMR jabs should make sure they are up to date with vaccination.

ओबान में युवाओं को यह सुनिश्चित करने की सलाह दी जा रही है कि स्कॉटिश पश्चिमी तट शहर में एक प्रकोप के बाद उन्हें कण्ठमाला के खिलाफ टीका लगाया जाए।


England-only votes: What are the options?

Summary: With the Scottish Parliament set to get more powers following the country's rejection of independence, what are the chances of wider change across the UK, including the idea of "English votes for English laws"? What's going on?

Scotland voted against independence, but is still being promised more of a say over its own future. This has led people in other parts of the UK to question whether they too should have more control over their own affairs. Four options for "English votes for English laws" have now been put forward. Three of them are Conservative proposals, one has been put forward by the Liberal Democrats. They are: But don't we already have MPs to speak and vote for us? Yes, but there's growing disquiet about the way the current set-up works, among both the public and MPs themselves. Despite the devolution of powers to Scotland in the late 1990s, Scottish MPs at Westminster can still vote on issues affecting England only, such as its health and education policies. English MPs have no such power over Scotland. This constitutional anomaly - known as the "West Lothian Question" - vexes many voters and MPs, particularly those on the Conservative benches. Currently 41 of Scotland's 59 MPs are Labour, 11 are Liberal Democrats and just one is a Conservative. Many English politicians say reform is needed. How many England-only laws are there? It's hard to say. This is because the effects of a law can extend to other areas even if it does not directly apply there. The McKay Commission, which carried out a review of the West Lothian Question for the government, said there were many ways laws applying only in England, or England and Wales, could still have "consequential effects" in the devolved nations. For example, there is a tradition of "parity" between a devolved administration and Westminster in some policy areas, for example social security policy in Northern Ireland. There are also funding implications for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when a spending commitment is made for England only, for example on the NHS. Under the current Barnett formula grant system, the devolved administrations' funding is adjusted to take into account changes to public spending in England. This is often controversial, for example when spending on the London Olympics was deemed to be UK-wide, rather than England-only - triggering a row between Westminster and the devolved administrations. For these reasons, according to House of Commons Library research, it is "not a simple matter" to count England-only bills. However, it adds that "whatever method is used, there are relatively few bills that unambiguously affect England only". That's not the end of the matter though. There could be sections of a bill that apply only in England, even when the legislation itself extends across the United Kingdom. This is why Commons Leader William Hague said "a very large proportion" of bills currently before the Commons could be affected. The government's report says such decisions could be "technically complex and subject to political debate", suggesting the matter is decided either by the Speaker or through a Commons vote. Why is this all coming to a head now? The three main Westminster parties agreed to give "extensive new powers" to the Scottish Parliament on issues such as tax and welfare if the country's voters rejected independence in the referendum. Scotland's voters opted to stay part of the Union in the referendum, meaning the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are duty-bound to follow up on their pledges. A draft parliamentary bill is being promised by the end of January. A commission set up to examine the issue has recommended handing more control over income tax to the Scottish Parliament - including the power to set rates of income tax and thresholds at which these are paid for the non-savings and non-dividend income of Scottish taxpayers. The commission also suggested devolving other taxes, including air passenger duty. In addition, the Scottish Parliament would be able to agree the franchise for its own elections, meaning 16- and 17-year olds will be given the vote. The Scottish Parliament already has powers over health, education, the environment and law and order. But many politicians in England, particularly Conservatives, are concerned that this makes it even more pressing that Scottish MPs should stay out of English affairs. Some, it is feared, might vote against Scottish devolution plans if they don't get some movement towards change in England. What is the Conservative leadership saying? Just minutes after the outcome of the Scottish referendum was announced in September, David Cameron vowed to fulfil the pledge of new powers for Scotland but also said talks on a new settlement for England should take place "in tandem". The prime minister has argued that, when the further Scottish changes come in, Scottish MPs should lose the right to vote at Westminster on issues that affect only England. He asked Mr Hague to draw up plans for reform. Mr Hague has selected the least radical option, which he says will give "accountability and fairness to England" at the same time as maintaining the integrity of the UK Parliament. Here is how it would work: Mr Hague's proposals do not go far enough for some Conservative MPs, who argue that it will still hand too much influence to MPs for Scottish seats in the final Commons vote. And Labour? Party leader Ed Miliband would have more to lose in parliamentary terms if Scottish MPs are stripped of the right to vote over England-only matters, which would make it harder for any Labour government to get legislation through Parliament. He disagrees with the prime minister, saying his plans risk creating "two classes of MP". Instead he is calling for a cross-party constitutional convention to take place, but not until after the election. This would, he says, take a wider, longer-term look at the situation facing the whole UK. Labour has said it would back giving English MPs greater say over legislation related only to England, by introducing a new committee stage in the legislative process open only to MPs from English constituencies. The opposition also wants to see devolution within England to regions and the House of Lords to be replaced with a "Senate of the Nations and the Regions". What about the Lib Dems? Leader Nick Clegg says there need to be changes to the rules at Westminster to ensure a great say for English MPs over English-only laws - his suggestion is that legislation would go through a committee of English MPs. The Lib Dems also favour more local devolution - or "devolution on demand" - with powers transferred from Westminster to cities, councils or groups of councils. The party also proposes a commission to explore future devolution options within England. So, would this mean an English parliament? At the moment, no. None of the three largest Westminster parties propose setting up an entirely separate body designed solely to create laws for England, as has long been demanded by the small English Democrats party and some Tory backbenchers. But the UK Independence Party does want to see an English Parliament - leader Nigel Farage has also written to Scottish MPs asking them not to vote on England-only issues. Will there be more powers for England's regions? Possibly. The three main parties all say they want the regions - some with populations larger than Scotland's - to have more say over how they are run. Mr Clegg has backed a report calling for large "city-regions" to get tax-raising and spending powers, with elected mayors at the helm. Labour and the Conservatives say they too want power to be decentralised. But creating extra tiers of government has not proved popular with the English public. When 10 cities held a referendum on whether they wanted elected mayors in 2012, only one - Bristol - voted in favour. Similarly, voters in north-east England rejected setting up a regional assembly by 78% to 22% in 2004. Can the parties reach a deal on England? They all said they could, but it is pretty clear that the answer is no. Labour has declined to take part in Conservative-led talks which they say are a "stitch-up". Instead it looks like each will put forward their proposals to voters at next May's general election. And what about Northern Ireland and Wales? In Northern Ireland, the DUP says a vote on the future constitutional arrangement is not needed, with First Minister Peter Robinson saying "more and more" people want to maintain the status quo. But Sinn Fein says Stormont should get more powers over taxation and government spending. In Wales, Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones demanded a full say in any devolution talks, while Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood says Wales must get new powers if Scotland does, rather than being treated as "second-rate".

देश द्वारा स्वतंत्रता की अस्वीकृति के बाद स्कॉटिश संसद को अधिक शक्तियां मिलने के साथ, पूरे ब्रिटेन में व्यापक परिवर्तन की क्या संभावना है, जिसमें "अंग्रेजी कानूनों के लिए अंग्रेजी वोट" का विचार भी शामिल है? क्या हो रहा है?


Coronation Street legend on playing Hilda Ogden

Summary: Thousands of characters have come and gone during Coronation Street's 50-year history. But only a few live on in viewers' affections long after leaving the cobbles. Hilda Ogden is one of them. With her curlers and headscarf, the cleaning lady has remained arguably the most iconic character of the last five decades. Actress Jean Alexander, who played Hilda, recalls her days on the Street.

By Ian YoungsEntertainment reporter, BBC News When the Coronation Street cast and crew took part in the Manchester Pride parade this summer, they were joined by a troupe of male dancers dressed as Hilda Ogden. When the show held a Street party to celebrate its golden jubilee, entertainment was provided by hula-hooping Hildas. A flyer advertising a new art exhibition of Corrie legends bore the image of just one former favourite - our Hilda. Twenty-three years after she last set foot on Coronation Street, Hilda - helped by her distinctive attire - has been popping up everywhere during the anniversary celebrations. It is perhaps not surprising, given that the lovable busybody drew 27 million viewers, one of the largest audiences in the show's history, when she left on Christmas Day 1987. In 2005, she was voted the nation's favourite soap character, while in her 1980s heyday, Hilda was behind only the Queen, Queen Mother and Princess Diana in a poll of the most recognisable women in Britain. "I don't know why she was so popular," considers Jean Alexander, who played Hilda for 23 years. "I think probably because she was a downtrodden, poor little soul. I think people were sorry for Hilda. "She went plodding away, doing her best all the time, always aspiring to better things. "I liked playing her. She was a gift to play," Alexander continues, before concluding with a loud chuckle: "But I wouldn't want her living next door to me." Hilda was stuck on the bottom rung of the social ladder, frustrated by her layabout husband, constantly scheming and striving to better herself, but never quite managing it. She was exactly the type of person Jean Alexander was desperate not to become in real life. Born in Toxteth, Liverpool, Alexander trained as a librarian but turned to acting as a way of escaping a mundane life. After 12 years working in theatre in the north - learning a play a week - she landed what would become her most famous part in 1964. By playing that working class underdog, Alexander managed to escape becoming one herself. The actress says she wanted "to get out of a humdrum, normal sort of existence" that would otherwise have been awaiting her. The character's look was inspired by real life Hilda Ogdens in Liverpool during World War II. Women working in munitions factories would tie up their hair to keep it out of the machinery, the actress says, and put in curlers so they were ready in case they happened to be invited out in the evening. "And that was Hilda too," Alexander explains. "She always had her hair tied up ready - in case. All she had to do was whip the curlers out and give it a flick up with the comb. "She never did go anywhere that was worth going to - but that's where I got the idea from." Looking back on the show's history, Alexander's character acting skills, coupled with sharp writing from the likes of Jack Rosenthal and John Stevenson, make Hilda stand out. A large part of her appeal came from her comic value - whether it was her unbearable singing, her beloved "muriel" (her name for the mural on her living room wall) or her bickering with husband Stan. But she was not spared the heart-tugging drama. Alexander formed a close double-act with Bernard Youens, who played the good-for-nothing Stan, and recalls learning her lines while playing Scrabble with him backstage. When Youens died in 1984, Alexander's quietly devastating solo scene following Stan's on-screen funeral is remembered as one of the most poignant the Street has seen. Hilda lasted a few more years before moving away to become a doctor's housekeeper in Derbyshire and finally getting the respectability she craved. Alexander now watches the show occasionally - mainly to see whether her old friends are still in it. But, she says, it is "not the same as it used to be". "It hasn't got the character that it used to have," she says. "It's lost its identity somehow for me. "You look at all the people in it - the young people in it particularly - and hardly any of them have got a job and those who have are only being paid in buttons. "And yet you never see them in the same clothes twice running. They've got all the latest fashions, the make-up, the hairdos, all this. "Poor Hilda could only get a pinny off the market every once in a while. It shouldn't be like that - it's too glossy now." The year after leaving Coronation Street, Alexander was given another long-running part, as Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine. The wizened junk shop owner, on screen for a total of 22 years, was the "absolute favourite part" of her television career. So when the show was cancelled, she was "devastated", she says angrily. The last episode was shown in August. The reason she was given - that it was "old fashioned and not edgy enough" - cuts no ice. "If they're trying to attract a young element, they're not going to succeed because they're all playing with their computers and watching things on iPods and whatnot," she says. "They're not sitting at home watching television. It's the older people who are watching television, and they're not getting their share of programmes at all." 'No going back' On Coronation Street, an anniversary return for Hilda would have given the show a boost. And producers did approach her agent saying they were writing Hilda into one episode, Alexander reveals. But the actress told them she would not go back. "It's a mistake," she says firmly. "Hilda would be a different person now. She's now achieved her ambition of having some status. "She wouldn't be the old scrubber Hilda now - oh no. The public would be disappointed - they'd expect to see Hilda the same as she was before. "It's quit while you're ahead, me. And I did."

कोरोनेशन स्ट्रीट के 50 साल के इतिहास के दौरान हजारों पात्र आए और गए। लेकिन कुछ ही कोबल्स छोड़ने के लंबे समय बाद दर्शकों के स्नेह में जीवित रहते हैं। हिल्डा ओग्डेन उनमें से एक हैं। अपने कर्लर और हेडस्कार्फ़ के साथ, सफाई करने वाली महिला यकीनन पिछले पांच दशकों का सबसे प्रतिष्ठित चरित्र बनी हुई है। हिल्डा की भूमिका निभाने वाली अभिनेत्री जीन अलेक्जेंडर, स्ट्रीट पर अपने दिनों को याद करती हैं।


Motorcyclist dies near South Cave on A63

Summary: A motorcyclist died when his bike crashed with a lorry on the main road into Hull.

The collision, near South Cave on the A63, happened on Friday afternoon, Humberside Police said. The 27-year-old rider, a local man, died at the scene after his white Yamaha collided with an articulated truck. The road was closed eastbound towards Hull for several hours. Police are appealing for witnesses. More stories from Yorkshire

एक मोटरसाइकिल सवार की मौत हो गई जब उसकी बाइक हल में मुख्य सड़क पर एक लॉरी से टकरा गई।


What are the rules in the new lockdown areas?

Summary: Coronavirus restrictions have been reintroduced in seven of Scotland's biggest council areas, covering more than 1.75 million people. Residents in Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, East and West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire are unable to make indoor visits to other households because of a rise in cases. Here are the answers to some questions being asked.

Can my builder still come to my house? Yes - while the rules forbid those who live in the area from meeting up with people from another household inside their private home, workers can still come inside. The guidance says they are allowed in to carry out work such as repairs, installations and deliveries. Can carers still visit? Yes, regulated care providers can still enter a home if it's to provide health and social care to someone who needs it. But a risk assessment should have been carried out, and it's crucial that social distancing measures are adhered to. The guidance also says it's really important that PPE is used, and that where masks are required that they are worn properly. Members of the public who are providing essential support or delivering care (this includes things like delivering shopping) can continue to make visits, but should be very cautious - it's important that hygiene precautions and social distancing measures are strictly adhered to. What does this mean for my holiday plans? If you don't live in the area, but were there (for example, visiting family or on holiday) when the restrictions came into force you don't need to leave. However, you should be extra vigilant when you leave the area. If you were planning to visit self-catering accommodation in an unaffected area with different households from the affected area then you should not go until these restrictions have been lifted. Will my childcare arrangements be affected? No, they shouldn't be. Children should continue to attend school and nursery, and informal child care (e.g. grandparents caring for their grandchildren) is not affected by the new restrictions - as long as the children being looked after are from the same household. Children whose parents do not live together can stick to their normal arrangements. Can my wedding go ahead? It depends. The guidance says marriages and civil partnerships held indoors in private homes should not take place under these restrictions. But marriage ceremonies being conducted outdoors or in indoor public spaces can still go ahead - in line with the pre-existing restriction that no more than 20 people should be present. You can still go to funerals too, but you still have to comply with the guidance which remains in place for the rest of Scotland. The new restrictions don't currently change the arrangements in place across Scotland for places of worship, but this will remain under review. Can I still see my friends and family? You can still meet with people from other households outdoors (so it's ok to see them in the garden). It's also allowed to see them in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. However, you should still follow guidance that applies to the rest of Scotland when meeting up outside or within hospitality venues. If you are part of an extended household, you can keep meeting indoors - but you should be mindful of hygiene. Should I start shielding again? Earlier in the pandemic, those who were deemed to be most at risk if they contracted coronavirus were sent a letter which advised them to shield. But shielding was "paused" on 1 August, and those who were previously shielding are now expected to follow the same rules as the general public. This has not changed. However, the government has said as with all its advice on shielding it will keep the issue under review. People who received a shielding letter should "strictly follow physical distancing and hygiene measures and may also want to think about the levels of risk associated with work and daily activities", the guidance adds.

स्कॉटलैंड के सबसे बड़े परिषद क्षेत्रों में से सात में कोरोनावायरस प्रतिबंधों को फिर से लागू किया गया है, जिसमें 17.5 लाख से अधिक लोग शामिल हैं। ग्लासगो, उत्तर और दक्षिण लनार्कशायर, पूर्व और पश्चिम डनबार्टनशायर, रेनफ्रूशायर और पूर्वी रेनफ्रूशायर के निवासी मामलों में वृद्धि के कारण अन्य घरों में घर के अंदर जाने में असमर्थ हैं। यहाँ पूछे जा रहे कुछ प्रश्नों के उत्तर दिए गए हैं।


Belgians feel bite of austerity

Summary: Has Europe put the worst of its economic woes behind it? European officials in Brussels say they believe the continent has turned a corner in its debt crisis but, as a social crisis develops across much of the continent, that is not how it feels just a short distance away in northern Belgium.

By Matthew PriceEurope correspondent, Belgium Tania Godefroot keeps her coat on while she waits her turn. The food bank she has come to is barely heated, and winter's frigid chill has made it feel like a refrigerator. Eventually she gets to the front of the queue. A litre of milk, provided by the European Union to help the poor, goes into her bag. She takes some eggs, a few other provisions. Not much but every little bit counts these days. "At the moment I'm surviving on 180 euros [£151; $240] a month," she says. "That's what left when the bills are paid - rent, electricity and hospital bills." Her daughter has been seriously ill. She does not see any sign of things getting better: "There's less food to go round here because there are more people coming [to the food bank]. "As for jobs - the crisis has made it really hard to find work." That may sound like a repetition of what you have heard out of Europe for several years now, but this is slightly different. The food bank Tania goes to is in the town of Ghent, in northern Belgium - the region of Flanders. Half an hour down the train tracks from Brussels, Ghent is the kind of classic Belgian city whose affluent, picturesque cobbled streets attract tourists throughout the year. It is in one of the richer regions in Europe. Yet even here, while officials in Brussels express a sign of relief that, in their opinion, the worst of Europe's economic crisis is behind them - the poor are getting poorer. Credit squeeze Poverty is increasing, according to Peter Heirman from the Flemish Network Against Poverty: "Not spectacularly - but it's increasing. "People are now losing their jobs. Companies have postponed the crisis for a couple of years, but now they have used all their reserves and there is no space left to keep the people employed. "I think the social crisis is starting right now." Belgium is one of the core countries of Europe, a founding member of what became the EU. It is doing better than the southern nations of this continent. Yet even here it is predicted that 2013 will be a year of stagnation. Last year, bankruptcies hit record levels. Among those at risk right now are Walter Verstraeten and his daughter Charlotte. In a small room on an industrial estate they are carefully measuring chemicals into glass tubes for a series of tests they are conducting. For 10 years they have been building up their family firm, H&V Chemicals. Now they have just gone into bankruptcy protection. "It's very difficult to get credit from the bank, especially if you are a small company and have had some difficulties," says Mr Verstraeten. "If you look at the number of unemployed, the number of companies going bankrupt, the difficulties of companies getting some money, then I think it's just as bad [as elsewhere in Europe]," he adds. Things are getting worse, but actually it is not as bad as Spain or Greece. Not that that is any comfort to the Verstraetens, as they struggle to keep their company afloat. Unemployment in Flanders - at some 7% - is far below the record levels of southern Europe. Public spending is coming under control. While total debt is still very high, this year the central government in Belgium expects its budget deficit to fall below the EU's target of 3% of GDP. Broken taboos According to economists like Koen Schoors at the University of Ghent, that is largely thanks to the crisis itself, which has forced governments like Belgium's to make unpopular, but necessary, changes. "You see countries taking reforms that were not only unspeakable but also unthinkable - real taboos," he says. "The European crisis is helping to create the sense of opportunity [for this]. I'm much more optimistic than a few years ago. Now a lot of [reforms] are happening and a lot of them in the right direction." Among the changes that have helped Belgium's public finances is pension reform. People now have to work longer to get a full pension. Unemployment benefit is also being changed, meaning that people who claim the payments will get less. Good for the state coffers, perhaps - but it helps to explain why Europe's debt crisis is now becoming an economic and social crisis in even the continent's stronger economies. Nowhere, perhaps, is that more apparent than in the eastern Belgian city of Genk (not to be confused with Ghent in the west). 'No future' From atop a road bridge over the river, you can look down on a car park containing several thousand brand new Ford vehicles. They are expensive bargaining chips in the battle between management and workers. Ford announced last October that it was closing its Genk factory. Some 4,000 jobs will go by the end of next year at the plant. One study predicts some 7,000 more will vanish in the local area as suppliers are also hit. With Europe in recession, Ford simply has not been selling enough vehicles to keep Genk open. So the workers went on strike, set up a picket outside the factory gates and told managers they would not allow the cars to be shipped off to buyers until a decent redundancy package had been drawn up. They are back at work now, after some negotiation, but the cars remain "impounded" while talks continue. Huddled by a fire to keep them warm, several dozen workers stand by. Among them is Debby Metten. "I'm feeling very insecure because I don't know what's going to happen," she says. "I think I'm going back to school to train for a job where there is a future." In this area, though, work is hard to find and her partner, Mario Vannoppen, knows it. "I worked here 22 years," he says. "I thought when I started - when I was 18 - I would get my pension here. Now, nobody has a future here."

ब्रसेल्स में यूरोपीय अधिकारियों का कहना है कि उनका मानना है कि महाद्वीप ने अपने ऋण संकट में एक कोना बदल दिया है, लेकिन जैसे-जैसे महाद्वीप के अधिकांश हिस्सों में एक सामाजिक संकट विकसित होता है, उत्तरी बेल्जियम में कुछ ही दूरी पर ऐसा नहीं लगता है।


Tory MP puts ministers on the spot over wind farms

Summary: Eat your heart out, Jeremy Paxman.

David CornockParliamentary correspondent, Wales The Newsnight presenter once hit the headlines for asking the same question 14 times to then Home Secretary Michael Howard. Today, in the house of commons, Montgomeryshire Tory MP Glyn Davies asked coalition ministers the same question four times. Mr Davies's question was sparked by the announcement that planning guidance in England will be changed to give local opportunities more powers to block onshore wind farms. So what does that mean in Wales, where planning guidance is the responsibility of the Welsh government, but approval of large-scale wind energy projects is not? That's the gist of Mr Davies's question. This is how he put it to Energy Minister Michael Fallon: "Since power to decide large onshore wind farms—those over 50 MW—is not devolved to the Welsh Government, will my right hon. Friend reassure me that the changes to planning policy that will be announced this morning will apply to the wind farms that the mid-Wales connection is being built to accommodate? Mr Fallon (a Conservative) replied: "I am sure my hon. friend will understand that I cannot comment on any specific wind farm proposal that is subject to the local planning authority and potentially to the Planning Inspectorate and Ministers, but as he will shortly hear in more detail from the unstarred question which I think you have allowed, Mr Speaker, the planning guidance is to be clarified to ensure that the visual impact of turbines, the cumulative impact of turbines and local factors are taken more clearly into account before consent is given." So a question clearly about Wales got an ambiguous answer. A short time later, Mr Davies tried again - this time with Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey. Glyn Davies: "I congratulate my right hon. friend on today's announcement that local opinion will no longer be trumped at the planning stage by national policy. However, everyone in my constituency wants to know whether that applies to the six large wind farm applications, over which planning power is not devolved, and which are currently being heard at the UK's largest ever public inquiry, which started yesterday. Everybody in my constituency is desperate to know whether those applications are subject to the new policy." Ed Davey: "My hon. Friend will know that the public inquiry has started, and that it would be inappropriate for a Minister to comment on it. I am sorry, but I cannot give him the answer he looks for." That didn't satisfy Mr Davies, so a short time later he tried again, this time with English Housing Minister Mark Prisk: "I would like some clarity if possible from the Minister about the position as it affects Wales. Applications for large wind farms over 50 MW are not devolved to the Welsh government. It seems logical that the new provisions should apply to those applications, so can he reassure me that that is the case? Mr Prisk: "As I think you will know, Mr Speaker, the process relates to England only. There is a sensitive legal issue, to which my hon. friend refers, but I understand that the secretary of state for Wales is attuned to that and is in contact with the Welsh government." Things were becoming clearer, but Mr Davies tried again - with Commons leader Andrew Lansley: "This morning the government issued an important statement about the public voice in relation to onshore wind farms. "Three times this morning you have called me, Mr Speaker, and I have asked a similar question about how the statement will affect Wales. I have not received a satisfactory answer. I have been left in a position of deep frustration, and I am sure the people of Wales feel the same. Will my right hon. friend ensure that we have an early statement clarifying the position, so that people in Wales will know that applications for developments over 50 MW, which are not devolved, will be subject to today's new guidelines? Mr Lansley: "I completely understand my hon. Friend's concern about this, and his desire to secure proper answers. If I may, I will talk to my right hon. friend the secretary of state for Wales to see how we might expedite a response." As if by magic, David Jones has been in touch to point out that the new guidance in England will affect only those projects that generate less than 50 MW. Mr Jones will be writing to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones to suggest that unless there is a similarity between planning policy in the two countries Wales could "lose out" by having a disproportionate amount of wind farms. David Jones said: "I would urge the Welsh government urgently to review TAN 8. Given that, as from today, communities in England will be more empowered as to whether wind farm developments proceed in their areas, it is only right that comparable measures should be adopted in Wales. "English communities affected by wind farm development will also now be receiving significantly more generous community benefit payments from developers than before. For a 50 megawatt wind farm, this could be as much as £100,000. "I would also urge the Welsh wind power industry body, R-UK Cymru, to confirm that the community benefits on offer to Welsh residents will match those of residents in England, so as to restore equality of treatment on both sides of the border."

अपने दिल से खाओ, जेरेमी पैक्समैन।


Seaton flats fire: Man admits starting blaze

Summary: A 21-year-old man has admitted starting a "serious" blaze that ripped through a four-storey block of flats in Devon.

Connor Hallett pleaded guilty at Exeter Crown Court to arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. Dozens of firefighters were called to the Royal Clarence building on Harbour Road in Seaton on 2 December. Three people were treated by paramedics after Hallett started the fire in his bedroom, leading to the collapse of a ceiling. Judge Robert Linford ordered a psychiatric report but warned Hallett that he faced a significant jail sentence. Lawyer Mary McCarthy, defending, said Hallett was a "young man with some very good points" but suffered with a background of depression and other issues.

एक 21 वर्षीय व्यक्ति ने स्वीकार किया है कि डेवोन में फ्लैटों के चार मंजिला ब्लॉक में "गंभीर" आग लग गई थी।


Passengers nominate Guernsey bus drivers for award

Summary: Two bus drivers in Guernsey have been honoured for going out of their way to help people.

Stephen Rushton and Kevin Mahoney were nominated by passengers for the Driver of the Quarter award. The award is part of a "Going the Extra Mile" scheme run by bus operator Island Coachways. Hannah Beacom, Island Coachways managing director, said both men were excellent ambassadors for the company and deserved the recognition.

ग्वेर्नसे में दो बस चालकों को लोगों की मदद करने के लिए सम्मानित किया गया है।


Could exit permit change speed up reforms in Cuba?

Summary: As Cuba removes the need for its citizens to obtain exit permits before travelling abroad, Alexander Zhuravlyov of the BBC's Russian Service remembers when the same thing happened in the former Soviet Union. Soon after that the Soviet political system unravelled.

In the spring of 1987, I first heard a strange story about someone among our friends getting a new "blue" service passport which had previously been reserved only for diplomats and people sent abroad on official business. To put matters into perspective, I was then a teacher of English, with a PhD in English Literature, at one of the technical colleges in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). It was the era of perestroika, which had been launched by Mikhail Gorbachev a year before, and there was a lot of excitement about. I was particularly excited as I had been prevented from travelling abroad for many years, and was considered politically unreliable by the KGB - which was no secret to me or my work colleagues. The first step was to apply for a blue passport through the human resources department of my college, which I did. I informed them that I wanted to travel to the UK, to work on a book on English poetry, and very quickly they produced a passport. So my wife and I decided to be brave and apply for an exit visa. This meant approaching the OVIR office, which handled all matters of foreign travel in the USSR. Although the OVIR was officially a branch of the interior ministry it was unofficially run by the KGB. It was a risky move for us, as it could attract unwanted attention from the authorities. So we collected all the required documents and gave them to a stern-looking middle-aged woman at the office. We were told to expect an answer in three to four months. Intellectual freedom While we waited, the stories began to circulate about more and more people, just private citizens, being allowed to travel abroad to visit their relatives and friends. The first to travel were those whose relatives had been allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 80s. It was an unnerving experience for a lot of them, as they had never expected to see their friends and relations again when they were leaving the country. Then I started hearing about people like myself, young and not very young scholars, allowed to travel to Paris or London for a scientific meeting. And then suddenly, after only a month's wait, there was telephone call from the OVIR office informing us that the visas were granted and we should come and collect them. How we travelled to Britain and saw all our friends and resurrected old ties is another story. I believe that this relaxation of the old Soviet system of strict foreign travel controls was a crucial stage in the process of gradual, but quickening, dissolution of the order based on fear and intimidation. Once fear was removed, the political system began to unravel quite fast. And for lots of members of the Soviet intelligentsia it also meant a new intellectual freedom. For the supporters of the old regime it meant quite a different thing - betrayal of state secrets, liberal dissolution of the state and, ultimately, a catastrophic relinquishing of state power. A personal note of gratitude is due to Mikhail Gorbachev, without whom all of this would never have happened.

जैसा कि क्यूबा ने विदेश यात्रा करने से पहले अपने नागरिकों को बाहर निकलने की अनुमति प्राप्त करने की आवश्यकता को हटा दिया है, बीबीसी की रूसी सेवा के अलेक्जेंडर ज़ुरावल्योव याद करते हैं कि पूर्व सोवियत संघ में भी ऐसा ही हुआ था। इसके तुरंत बाद सोवियत राजनीतिक प्रणाली का खुलासा हुआ।


Murder charge over Ipswich street stabbing

Summary: A man has been charged with murder after a man was stabbed to death in the street.

Dean Stansby, 41, was stabbed in the abdomen in Ancaster Road, Ipswich, on 8 February. He died later in hospital. Suffolk Police arrested Jason Ruby, of no fixed address, in the town and have charged him with murder and conspiracy to murder. The 44-year-old will appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on Saturday.

सड़क पर एक व्यक्ति की चाकू मारकर हत्या करने के बाद एक व्यक्ति पर हत्या का आरोप लगाया गया है।


Viewpoint: What if women ruled the world?

Summary: Not so long ago, the idea that women might rule the world seemed slightly ridiculous - like something out of science fiction. But in an essay to mark International Women's Day, political analyst and former White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers argues it's now a topic that can be seriously discussed.

Women clearly lacked the intellectual capacity and emotional fortitude to make the difficult decisions that leadership required. It wasn't bias, it was biology - it was just the way women were made. But that was then. In recent decades, attitudes and ideas have changed - and fast. That's not to say that every corner of the world has welcomed women moving from the traditional and private into the modern and public. But move they have. So what's changed? A lot. As a huge and growing body of research and experience makes clear, empowering women makes things better. Not perfect. But better. Business is more profitable. Governments are more representative. Families are stronger, and communities are healthier. There is less violence - and more peace, stability and sustainability. Why? Well, it starts with the simple fact that women often experience life differently. And that experience affects the way we see problems - and think about solutions. "Diversity is absolutely an asset," says Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. "With diversity you bring different ways of looking at the world, different ways of analysing issues, different ways of offering solutions. The sheer fact of diversity actually increases the horizon and enriches the thinking process, which is critical." Both women and men often say that women communicate differently, that they listen, encourage dialogue, and build consensus. Studies also show that women also lead differently than men. They're more likely to be collaborative, inclusive and team-oriented, all characteristics that tend to be effective, particularly in today's less-hierarchical, fast-paced, innovation-driven world. "I think it's fair to say that women are a little more collaborative in their approach overall, and a little less driven to conflict as opposed to driven to working out problems," says Janet Napolitano, the US Secretary of Homeland Security. Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, says that women also bring an inter-generational perspective to their work. "We need to take decisions now that will make for a safer world for our grandchildren and their grandchildren, and I think women are more likely to do that when they come into positions of leadership." Acknowledging that men and women bring different qualities and different skills to public life is critical. For too long, women were expected to think like men and act like men if they wanted to succeed. But increasingly their differences are seen as a source of strength rather than a weakness to be overcome. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, tells women to simply be themselves. "You are the only person who can make your unique contribution. Your authenticity is your strength, be you." That's not to say there aren't obstacles, there are. Women have long been judged by a double standard. Study after study shows that their accomplishments are just a little less valued - and they have less margin for error. Sometimes it's women who hold themselves back - they don't own their own value, raise their hands for promotions or ask for more money. Despite these ongoing challenges, the benefits of empowering women are undeniable. Women are the engine driving global economic growth. Last year, women were responsible for $20tn (£13.3tn) in spending, and by 2014, that number is expected to increase to $28tn (£18.6tn). And when women have more cash, they spend it differently. They feed their families healthier diets and send their children to school. They invest in clean water, better schools, education and health care. They start businesses and hire other women. The entire community prospers. As a result, investing in women has become more than good public relations. It has become a strategic imperative for companies around the world. Women are also essential to building and sustaining peace. Today, nearly half of peace agreements fail within five years in no small measure because half the stakeholders are excluded. When women are at the table, they help bridge the gap between different groups and ensure that a broader range of issues, from food security to sexual violence, are addressed. As a result, peace is more likely to take root. Former US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice says she has learned first-hand that you need women to participate in the peace process. "First and foremost women are often the guardians of the village, the family, and are therefore the ones who suffer most in conflict zones. They're often the target of marauding forces, the target of those who would rape and maim and if you can engage them in the process, then they also can help the society to heal." So empowering women isn't about political correctness, it's about improving outcomes. It's about investing in stronger economies and healthier communities - it's about ending conflicts, and sustaining peace. It's about improving the quality of life for people all over the world. Empowering women isn't just the right thing, it's the necessary thing. And because women are increasingly ruling, the world is changing for the better. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook

बहुत पहले नहीं, यह विचार कि महिलाएं दुनिया पर शासन कर सकती हैं थोड़ा हास्यास्पद लग रहा था-जैसे कि कुछ विज्ञान कथा से बाहर। लेकिन अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस को चिह्नित करने के लिए एक निबंध में, राजनीतिक विश्लेषक और व्हाइट हाउस के पूर्व प्रेस सचिव डी डी मायर्स का तर्क है कि यह अब एक ऐसा विषय है जिस पर गंभीरता से चर्चा की जा सकती है।


Chippenham crash death cyclist was 'doing what she loved'

Summary: A cyclist who died in a crash with a car "was doing what she loved in her final moments", her family said.

Sue Gainey, 61, from Chippenham, was killed in a crash with a Vauxhall Mokka on Hungerdown Lane in the town at about 06:15 GMT on Tuesday. In a statement, her family said she was a "smiley, kind and caring lady" who "loved being out and about on her bike". Wiltshire Police has appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.

उसके परिवार ने कहा कि एक साइकिल चालक जिसकी कार के साथ दुर्घटना में मृत्यु हो गई थी, वह "अपने अंतिम क्षणों में वही कर रही थी जो उसे पसंद था"।


Robbie Williams will turn on Blackpool Illuminations

Summary: Robbie Williams will turn on this year's Blackpool Illuminations.

He will flick the switch on the attraction, which stretches six miles along the seafront, on 3 September. The singer said: "Blackpool has so many happy memories for me and it will be a real thrill to turn on the 2010 Illuminations." Williams will not be singing on the evening but it is thought to be one of his last solo appearances before he joins Take That on tour after 15 years. He said was excited to be leading the event, which is seen by about three million people every year. "This will cap my 20th year of making music and I can't think of a better place to celebrate that than Blackpool," he said. The illuminations will remain switched on for 66 nights until 7 November.

रॉबी विलियम्स इस साल के ब्लैकपूल इल्युमिनेशन्स को चालू करेंगे।


Ichthyosaur skeleton found at base of Dorset cliff

Summary: Storms in Dorset over the Christmas period have uncovered a 1.5m (5ft) ichthyosaur skeleton at the base of Black Ven near Charmouth.

Stormy seas have eroded away parts of the Jurassic Coast, making it a "prime time" to find fossils, according to earth science manager Richard Edmonds. The giant marine reptile fossil was removed on Boxing Day. It will take hundreds of hours to piece together the ichthyosaur skeleton, which looks similar to a dolphin. Mr Edmonds, who works for the Jurassic Coast world heritage site team, said he found three ichthyosaur skeletons last year due to increased coastal erosion caused by bad weather. Normally it could be up to two years between discoveries, he added.

क्रिसमस की अवधि में डोरसेट में तूफानों ने चारमाउथ के पास ब्लैक वेन के आधार पर डेढ़ मीटर (5 फीट) इचिथोसौर कंकाल का पता लगाया है।


Why Turkish stability matters to the region and beyond

Summary: Turkey is a divided, unhappy country. It is not clear exactly what motivated the men who plotted the coup. But they tried to seize control at a time when Turkey is deeply divided over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's project to transform the country, and hurting badly by the contagion of violence from the war in Syria.

By Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor The Turkish government has indirectly accused the exiled Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup. Mr Erdogan has in the past blamed Mr Gulen for a variety of Turkey's ills. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim threatened any country that would "stand by" Mr Gulen "won't be a friend of Turkey and will be considered at war with Turkey". Mr Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in the United States. He was an ally of Mr Erdogan's, and was sometimes known as Turkey's second most-powerful man, before they fell out. Strengthened president? Turkey is important in the Middle East because of its geographic position, straddling Europe and Asia; because it is a leading member of Nato; and because the Islamist President Erdogan and his AK party have taken a strong interest in the Sunni Muslim-led governments in the region. In a speech a Turkish newscaster said she was forced to read at gunpoint, the plotters claimed that they were aiming to restore Turkey's secular democracy. The ruling AK party has become expert at winning elections, but there have always been doubts about Mr Erdogan's long-term commitment to democracy. Once, he compared democracy to a bus you take to your destination, and then get off. President Erdogan is a political Islamist who has rejected modern Turkey's secular heritage. He has been increasingly authoritarian, locking up troublesome journalists and others. Now that he has crushed an attempted coup he might try to impose an even tighter regime on the country. Mr Erdogan served as prime minister for many years. Now he is trying to change the constitution to turn himself into a strong executive president. Key player Mr Erdogan and his governments have been deeply involved in the war in Syria since it started in 2011, backing mainly Islamist militias fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. But violence has spread across the border, helping to reignite the fight with the Kurdish PKK, and turning Turkey into a target for the jihadists who call themselves Islamic State. The West sees Turkey as part of the solution in the Middle East. That requires stability, and without it a simple equation applies. Turmoil in the Middle East plus turmoil in Turkey equals trouble for everyone. But it can be argued that Turkey has made a lot of trouble on its own in the region and is deeply tied up in the conflicts of its neighbours. Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governments have shown a much keener appetite about getting involved in the Middle East than the Turkish people. He has been a key backer of the mainly Islamist militias that have been fighting Syria's president since 2011. Recently he has been patching up relations with Israel - but President Erdogan also has a natural affinity with Israel's enemy Hamas - which shares roots in the Muslim Brotherhood. And Turkey is seen by the EU as a vital part of schemes to control the flow of migrants from the Middle East. Turkey is facing increasing turmoil, and the attempt to over thrown President Erdogan will not be the last of it.

तुर्की एक विभाजित, दुखी देश है। यह स्पष्ट नहीं है कि तख्तापलट की साजिश रचने वाले लोगों को क्या प्रेरित किया। लेकिन उन्होंने ऐसे समय में नियंत्रण हासिल करने की कोशिश की जब तुर्की राष्ट्रपति रेसेप तैयप एर्दोगन की देश को बदलने की परियोजना पर गहराई से विभाजित है, और सीरिया में युद्ध से हिंसा के संक्रमण से बुरी तरह से आहत है।


Kenya's prayer train: A commute of prayers and songs

Summary: The daily journey to work can be a stressful, exhausting or plain boring experience. It may not be to everyone's tastes but one husband-and-wife team of preachers in Kenya believes the time is best used for spiritual upliftment and has transformed a Nairobi commuter train into a prayer session. All images by Tobin Jones.

Self-styled pastor Helen Wangui Tiphy, a secretary in a government office, believes she plays a vital role in helping commuters cope with their problems. "Many of the people travelling in the morning are jobless, others are discouraged. We decided to give them the word of hope." "You can see someone has many problems, but when we preach the word, you can see the person getting better and getting healed. There is power in prayer, that is what we believe," she says. She is joined by her husband, businessman Joseph Tiphy Gachuhi, who has the grand title of bishop. He believes prayer can help ease Kenya's sharp ethnic divides. "When people pray together they become brothers and sisters. There isn't that separation of different tribes. They love one another." "And because of this, they'll remove their tribal affiliations and they'll instead use God as a force that brings them altogether," Mr Gachuhi says. With some 1,200 people killed after disputed elections in 2007, the couple are praying that the polls due in August will pass off peacefully. "We're praying for the elections in Kenya. For God to give us peace and to give us God-fearing leaders who believe in the lord. We're praying to God that there won't be any bloodshed in the nation of Kenya," Mrs Tiphy says. The train, which takes about an hour to get from Kikuyu, north of the capital, Nairobi, to the city centre, fills up with workers, schoolchildren and those looking for jobs as it nears its destination. Commuters take up every available space but the conductor just manages to squeeze past and collect the train fare. The prayer sessions started in 1998 when a group of Christians travelling to work together on the train decided to start a group and received permission to use the first carriage to worship, pray, and sing. Ever since, the carriage has been used both in the mornings and evenings for this purpose. They call it the "Fellowship Coach". Mrs Tiphy says that if she sees someone who is capable, she gives them "a chance to pray a little and stand on their own". "There are people who started from nothing and now are ministers." The group tries to create a schedule for who will preach and when, but it is fairly open to whoever is capable and wants to stand up in front and lead the group.

काम करने के लिए दैनिक यात्रा एक तनावपूर्ण, थकाऊ या साधारण उबाऊ अनुभव हो सकता है। यह हर किसी की पसंद के लिए नहीं हो सकता है, लेकिन केन्या में प्रचारकों की एक पति-पत्नी टीम का मानना है कि समय का आध्यात्मिक उत्थान के लिए सबसे अच्छा उपयोग किया जाता है और नैरोबी कम्यूटर ट्रेन को प्रार्थना सत्र में बदल दिया है। सभी चित्र टोबिन जोन्स द्वारा बनाए गए हैं।


Birmingham bag snatch victim critically ill

Summary: A woman is in a critical condition after suffering head injuries in a suspected city centre robbery.

The 20-year-old victim was found collapsed in Bull Street, Birmingham, at 21:40 BST on Wednesday. It is believed her handbag was stolen, West Midlands Police said. The woman received specialist trauma care before being taken to hospital, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. Bull Street was cordoned off for inquiries to take place. The road remains closed with some disruption to travel in the area possible, Birmingham City Council said.

एक संदिग्ध सिटी सेंटर डकैती में सिर में चोट लगने के बाद एक महिला की हालत गंभीर है।


The mathematical formula for love

Summary: Looking for the ideal partner? Wondering if your relationship will last? They're common questions as Valentine's Day approaches - so how do you find the right person and keep them? Hannah Fry, author of The Mathematics of Love, says three things make the magic formula.

Be proud: Play up to whatever makes you different Anyone who's ever joined a dating website will know the hours of agony picking your perfect profile picture - the one where you had perfect hair, glowing skin and a winning smile. Well, you needn't have bothered. Because being easy on the eye won't give you an easy pass to online success. Instead, having people think you are unattractive can actually work to your advantage. It may seem counter intuitive, but it's been proven by statistics. Christian Rudder, a mathematician and co-founder of online dating website OKCupid has spent a decade collecting and analysing data from people who use his site. In one section you can rate how attractive other people are on a scale between 1 and 5. To test how attractiveness might link to popularity, Rudder and his team took a random selection of 5,000 female users and compared the average attractiveness scores they each received with the number of messages they were sent in a month. You'd think attractiveness would be a pretty good indicator of how popular they'd be. But instead the OKCupid team discovered it was the spread of scores that mattered. People who divided opinion - those that were rated as both very beautiful and very ugly - did far better than those who everyone agreed were quite cute. This begins to make sense when you think of things from the perspective of people sending the messages. When you stumble upon someone who is beautiful, but suspect that everyone else will think so too, you imagine they're receiving a lot of messages and decide not humiliate yourself by throwing your hat in the ring. On the other hand, if you suspect that others may be put off by something quirky in their appearance, there's less competition and an extra incentive to get in touch. And this gives us our first tip. When most people choose their online dating profile pictures, they tend to try to hide the things that make them unattractive. This is the exact opposite of what you should do. When choosing a profile picture don't be afraid to put some people off. You're not trying to appeal to the masses, so don't make yourself bland. Play up to whatever makes you different - that's the best way to attract the people who matter. Indeed, the most messaged person on OKCupid (as of last summer) is Lauren Urasek, a makeup artist from Manhattan with striking looks and a 1950s style offset by a number of large, prominent tattoos. So play up to whatever makes you different. Be proud of that bald patch, show off that tattoo and get that belly out, because standing out online just means being yourself. Be proactive: Go out and get what you want Imagine you're at a party with a group of single friends, all trying to decide how best to boost your chances of meeting someone. Should you sit back and wait for them to come to you, or walk right up to the most attractive partygoer, risking a humiliating rejection? And who should you approach to give you the best chance of success? If we allowed this party scenario to play out in the very old-fashioned boy-approaches-girl way, each of the boys would hit on his first-choice girl. Then, any girl approached by more than one boy can choose between them, leaving the rejected man to move on to his second choice lady. If nobody wants to leave alone, everyone should find a partner by the end. The method of one group approaching another follows the rules of the "Gale Shapley Algorithm". And the maths behind this algorithm comes with an important result: those who do the asking will always end up with much better partners than the group who sit back and accept a suitor's advances. This does make some intuitive sense. If you put yourself out there, start at the top of the list, and work your way down, you'll always end up with the best possible person who'll have you. If you sit around and wait for people to talk to you, you'll end up with the least bad person who approaches you. Regardless of the type of relationship you're after, it pays to take the initiative. Be provokable: Speak up if something bothers you Even people in the best relationships have arguments. But mathematicians have found that the way you argue can reveal your chances of success as a couple. Over a number of years, psychologist John Gottman recorded hundreds of married couples in conversation with each other, asking them to discuss the most contentious issue in their relationship. Gottman's team came up with a way to measure, quantify and record everything that transpired - their blood pressure, their skin conductivity and their heart rate, as well as the sentiment of what was actually said. With just these few measurements, the team could predict whether or not a particular couple was likely to get divorced with up to 90% accuracy. They found that couples in a good relationship held a deep-seated positive view of one another and the language they used in their arguments reflected that. They would dismiss negative behaviour as out of the ordinary: "She's just tired," or, "They've been really stressed at work recently." Couples in a relationship that was headed for break-up were the opposite. They held a negative belief and used bad behaviour to reinforce this opinion. "You're always like this," or, "See! You're so selfish." Hannah Fry But the insights go beyond mere statistics. Because when Gottman teamed up with mathematician James Murray, they were able to translate their findings into a mathematical model. The model predicted that it's the spirals of negativity you need to watch out for in a relationship, and particularly something called the "negativity threshold". This is how negative one partner needs to be before provoking a strong reaction in the other. I always thought that good relationships were about compromise and giving each other room to be yourself - so you might think it was the couples that could let things go (the ones with a high negativity threshold) that did well. But the team found that the exact opposite was true. It was the couples with the low negativity threshold that had the best chance of staying together in the long run - those who weren't afraid to speak their minds. These couples continually resolve and repair small issues in their relationship, never letting small things build up to the point where they explode. So communicate positively, openly and honestly. Who knew maths could give you such a nice way to live? Listen to More or Less on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, or download the free podcast. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

आदर्श साथी की तलाश? आश्चर्य है कि क्या आपका रिश्ता टिकेगा? ये आम सवाल हैं जैसे-जैसे वेलेंटाइन डे नजदीक आ रहा है-तो आप सही व्यक्ति को कैसे ढूंढते हैं और उन्हें कैसे रखते हैं? द मैथमेटिक्स ऑफ लव की लेखिका हन्ना फ्राय का कहना है कि तीन चीजें जादू का सूत्र बनाती हैं।


Hyponatraemia: Prof Ian Young loses bid to block investigation

Summary: NI's chief scientific adviser has lost a High Court bid to block a General Medical Council (GMC) investigation of allegations he failed to tell the family of a nine-year-old girl who died about "failings" in her treatment.

Claire Roberts died from hyponatraemia, which is linked to a shortage of sodium in the blood, in 1996. Professor Ian Young challenged the investigation into his actions. On Tuesday, the High Court in London dismissed Prof Young's challenge. In a statement following the ruling Prof Young's legal representative said he was "disappointed" with the decision. Claire died at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast shortly after she was admitted to hospital following several episodes of vomiting. In 2004, the then Medical Director of the Royal Group of Hospitals, Dr Michael McBride, now chief medical officer, asked Prof Young to provide an independent assessment on whether hyponatraemia contributed to Claire's death. The purpose of Prof Young's assessment was to inform Dr McBride's decision over whether to refer the matter to the coroner. A public inquiry investigating the deaths of Claire and four other children from the condition found Prof Young did not inform Claire's parents - Alan and Jennifer Roberts - about failings in her care and gave "misleading" evidence to the original inquest into her death. The inquiry found that four of the deaths were avoidable. Prof Young was not involved in the treatment of any of the patients. In a January 2018 report, inquiry chairman Mr Justice O'Hara also said that Prof Young "shifted from his initial independent role advising Dr McBride to one of protecting the hospital and its doctors". A new inquest, which was ordered following the inquiry, concluded in June 2019 that Claire's death "was caused by the treatment that she received in hospital". Prof Young referred himself to the GMC shortly after the inquiry's report was published. In January 2020, the GMC waived an earlier decision not to waive its usual five-year time limit for fitness to practise proceedings. It said it was "in the public interest" for the allegations against Prof Young to proceed to an investigation. Prof Young's barrister argued the original decision was "lawful and rational" and the reversal of that decision was "inconsistent and unreasonable". Robert Kellar QC also said the second decision by the GMC "took into account irrelevant considerations and unfairly mischaracterised Prof Young's conduct". 'Material flaws' On Tuesday, Mr Justice Holgate dismissed Prof Young's challenge saying it had "no legal basis." The judge said that the GMC's original decision was "wholly unsustainable" and had failed "to appreciate key elements of the inquiry's findings going both to the seriousness of the allegations and the public interest issues involved". Mr Justice Holgate said the GMC was right to conclude that there were "material flaws" in the original decision. In a statement after the ruling, Prof Young's legal team said he "continues to acknowledge the ongoing suffering of Mr and Mrs Roberts and their family in relation to Claire's death in 1996 and subsequent events. "He has apologised previously if any of his actions have inadvertently contributed to their distress, and would like to do so again". The statement said Prof Young believes "that he has acted with integrity, to the best of his ability, to give clear and honest opinions which reflected his knowledge and understanding of the evidence at the time". It added: "In particular, he denies completely any suggestion that he sought to mislead the coroner or Claire's parents in any way". 'On leave on health grounds' The General Medical Council has confirmed to BBC News NI that it is continuing to investigate a number of doctors linked with the Hyponatraemia Inquiry. A GMC spokeswoman said in a statement: "We are pleased the court has decided that our decision to investigate in this case was lawful and will now continue. "This is a difficult time for all concerned and our thoughts remain with those families who lost children to hyponatraemia in Northern Ireland. "As in any case, we will look at all the evidence before making a decision." In January, the Department of Health confirmed to BBC News NI that Professor Young was on leave on health grounds. Prof Young, who had been prominent in the Department of Health's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, had been absent from some media briefings prior to the announcement. A spokesperson said other arrangements were in place until further notice. The department said that Dr Declan Bradley, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences QUB, will represent Northern Ireland on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) as deputy chief scientific adviser(interim) and will also chair NI's COVID-19 Modelling Group. Professor Stuart Elborn, Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellor, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences QUB, will represent Northern Ireland on the UK's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and will also chair NI's Strategic Intelligence Group (SIG).

एन. आई. के मुख्य वैज्ञानिक सलाहकार ने एक नौ वर्षीय लड़की के परिवार को उसके इलाज में "विफलताओं" के बारे में बताने में विफल रहने के आरोपों की सामान्य चिकित्सा परिषद (जी. एम. सी.) की जांच को अवरुद्ध करने के लिए उच्च न्यायालय की बोली खो दी है।


Cardiff Uni boss: 'Why I told colleagues I'm bisexual'

Summary: When Cardiff University's vice chancellor prepared to send his monthly email to staff, his finger hovered over the send button for just a moment longer than usual. For alongside his usual round-up of academic affairs and campus matters, Prof Colin Riordan also included a personal note explaining he is bisexual.

By Gwyneth ReesBBC Wales News His unorthodox memo explained how he had completely missed the university's bi-visibility day, held on September 23, despite a colourful 'bi' flag being raised above his very building. "This seemed a pity," he wrote, "because I count myself in that category and I wondered how this could all have passed me by. "Rather obviously, it was probably because people didn't know I would identify as bi and so I thought - if this is about visibility - that it might help if I did." Explaining his decision to speak out, Prof Riordan said, "I felt it important to say I had noticed bi-visibility day and been encouraged by it. "I wanted to show it was a good thing, to help stop making bisexual people feel invisible." 'Felt fraudulent' But it was a move which might perhaps have surprised his 7,000 staff, including close colleagues. Prof Riordan said that, despite having held his Cardiff post for five years, he had not told anyone at work, nor in his previous role as vice chancellor of the University of Essex. "I never deliberately kept it a secret but I never felt the need to mention it either," he said. "Obviously, anyone I was in a relationship with knew the situation, but there was no real reason for colleagues to know." But this led to a situation where some at the university presumed he was "straight" - something which weighed on his mind. Prof Riordan added: "When I joined Cardiff University, I was asked to become a friend of Enfys - the university's LGBT network - but then I read an article somewhere where I was described as its 'straight friend'. "I felt fraudulent and uncomfortable that people presumed I was straight. Speaking out allowed me to correct the false impression." The move also allowed Prof Riordan to show support for the bisexual community, which he believes "still faces problems". "Invisibility is a big problem for people who are bisexual, because they often have no need to mention it," he said. "People would notice if the person was gay, but being bi is not so obvious, and that's why we should talk about it." There are also stereotypes to contend with. He added: "I've been told I'm gay and just in denial. I've also been told there is no such thing as bisexuality and also that everyone is bisexual to some degree, which is quite dismissive. "I've never been accused of being promiscuous, but that can happen. "Some people too can feel excluded by the LGBT community because they are not exclusively gay, though again, I've not encountered this. "More often, people in this scene are just suspicious, like they are not quite sure what you're all about." Despite these problems, however, the former German lecturer, 58, has never wished he was different. He said: "I've never wished for anything else. I've always been this way and I've always been aware of it." That said, speaking out about his bisexuality has not been easy. "Making the decision to send the email to all those thousands of people was quite worrying and stressful," he said. "Although this is not a big thing for me, I knew it would be seen as a big thing by others. "It feels quite exposing, and I knew some people might react badly. "I don't suppose I'd have done it had I not felt it to be so important." Reaction to the news, however, has been nothing but positive - with staff emailing him to say it has helped give them courage and think about their own issues. But perhaps most surprising of all, has been Prof Riordan's own relief. He said: "Already I feel more myself and that a weight has been lifted. I am now being truly honest with those around me, and there is a certain freedom in that." So, does he feel the time is right for people in powerful positions to be more open about their sexuality? "Twenty years ago, I would never have mentioned this in the work place," he said. "It was simply not spoken of. "I realise that not everything is solved in terms of LGBT rights, but compared to how things used to be, there's a huge difference." With his announcement, Prof Riordan, who has two grown-up daughters from a former marriage, joins a tiny minority of leading academics who are openly non-heterosexual. He said: "Only a few vice chancellors have spoken out about being gay or lesbian and none about being bi, as far as I'm aware. "People have said that I am brave for telling the truth, but I don't feel it. "In all honesty, I think most people don't really care one way or the other. "Cardiff University is already very progressive in terms of its support for LGBT people. "But if there is a chance that any of our students or colleagues might feel more supported and less invisible by my mentioning this, then it's worth doing."

जब कार्डिफ विश्वविद्यालय के कुलपति ने कर्मचारियों को अपना मासिक ईमेल भेजने की तैयारी की, तो उनकी उंगली सामान्य से सिर्फ एक पल के लिए भेजने के बटन पर झूल गई। क्योंकि उनके शैक्षणिक मामलों और परिसर के मामलों के सामान्य राउंड-अप के साथ, प्रो. कॉलिन रियोर्डन ने एक व्यक्तिगत नोट भी शामिल किया जिसमें बताया गया कि वह उभयलिंगी हैं।


Key galaxy distance re-measured

Summary: Astronomers have updated one of their most important numbers.

By Jonathan AmosScience correspondent, BBC News It is the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud, a close-by galaxy to our own Milky Way. By studying a clutch of rare double stars in the LMC, the scientists were able to determine the separation to be 163,000 light-years. The calculation is said to be very accurate. It is significant because the number is used to calibrate techniques that measure even larger distances. The hope is the greater confidence will now lead to an improvement in our understanding of the expansion rate of the Universe which is described in a value astronomers refer to as the Hubble Constant. "All other techniques are affected by the zero point," said Grzegorz Pietrzynski from the Universidad de Concepción, Chile. "And after so many years trying to calculate the Hubble Constant, it is clear the biggest contribution to its error is related to the determination error in the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud. So getting the LMC right is a very important part of the whole procedure," he told BBC News. Dr Pietrzynski and colleagues made their calculation by observing eight so-called eclipsing binaries. These are pairs of stars that orbit each other, and, because of their orientation to the Earth observer, pass in front of one another as they do so. With each eclipse, the brightness of the pair falls away, and by different amounts depending on which star is Earth-side. By tracking these luminosity changes together with the velocities of the stars, it is possible to determine the binary system's properties and, crucially, its distance. The work, reported in Nature magazine, took almost a decade to complete. The eight pairs were all sited broadly in the centre of the LMC. Averaged together, they give a separation from Earth of around 49.97 kiloparsecs. A kiloparsec is an astronomical unit that encompasses about 3,300 light-years. The 49.97 kiloparsecs figure is said to be accurate to 2.2% (previous measures had an accuracy of around 5-10%). Measuring distances is critically important in modern astronomy. Knowing how far away something is can help to establish its properties. It is also fundamental in mapping the distribution of matter, and for understanding the evolution of the cosmos. But measuring distances very precisely is actually one of the hardest things to do in astronomy. For the closest objects, like a star in our Milky Way, it is possible to use trigonometric parallax, by exploiting the way the star's angle on the sky appears to shift as the Earth goes around the Sun. However, this approach only works within the Milky Way. Scientists have developed a suite of smart techniques that takes them further out into the Universe but each step on this "ladder" is only as good as the errors on the rung below. The highest step is the Hubble Constant which describes a linear relationship between the distances of objects and the degree to which their light is stretched by the expansion of the Universe. But even this constant (which uses the units of kilometres per second per megaparsec) suffers from the same calibration issue. Dr Pietrzynski and his team plan to extend their work by finding and investigating yet more eclipsing binaries, both within the LMC and other nearby galaxies. There is high hope also for the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite due to launch later this year. This will produce an ultra-precise map of more than a billion stars in and near the Milky Way. Some should even be sited within the LMC itself and available to trigonometric measurement. "Gaia will obtain parallax data for many stars in the LMC with the resultant average accurate to 1%, and will map out its structure," said Prof Bradley Schaefer from Louisiana State University, US. "So the time spent by the LMC's eclipsing binaries at the forefront of astrophysics will be limited to only the next few years," he told Nature. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

खगोलविदों ने अपनी सबसे महत्वपूर्ण संख्याओं में से एक को अद्यतन किया है।


Margate twins murder charges: Mother 'in health care'

Summary: A mother accused of murdering her twins on Boxing Day is receiving "health care" a court has been told.

Samantha Ford, 37, was arrested after Jake and Chloe Ford, both aged 23 months, were found at a house in Castle Drive, Margate, in the early hours. She was due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court via video link, but had "gone back to health care" by the time of the hearing, the defence said. She was remanded in custody and ordered to appear again on 31 January. A provisional trial date has been set for 24 June. Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service

एक अदालत को बताया गया है कि बॉक्सिंग डे पर अपने जुड़वा बच्चों की हत्या करने की आरोपी मां को "स्वास्थ्य देखभाल" मिल रही है।