Me too: I was sexually harassed at 11

Summary: Following the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, women have been sharing their stories of sexual harassment online using the hashtag #metoo. Here, Shaimaa Khalil writes about her first experience of harassment as a child growing up in Egypt.

There's one particular day - soon after I turned 11 - that I can't forget. I was at my grandparents' house and for the first time I'd been allowed to go out with a cousin and her friend, without any adults - three girls on our own, out on our first adventure. "Be careful. Don't go too far and don't spend your money on stupid things," my grandma warned us. She meant ice cream - and yes, we were planning to spend our money on that. I was excited, but nervous. This needed to go well if I was to stand a chance of ever going out on my own! "OK Shaimaa," I remember thinking. "No falling, no fighting, no losing your money." I should have added: "No getting sexually harassed by teenage boys." But how could I know? In the busy summer streets of Alexandria, we hadn't realised we were being followed. But three boys walking behind started bumping into us. Then one of them groped me. All I could do to escape our tormentors was walk ahead as fast as I could, with my cousin and her friend trying to catch up. But they kept following us. The three of us held hands and rushed back toward my grandparents' house. The boys were right behind. Now verbally harassing us. I was frightened, but also angry. These boys had ruined my big day. I turned around and yelled: "Kifaya! Enough!" "Kifaya!" one of them echoed, mocking me. Later on, my mother chastised me. "You talked to them?" she fumed. "You don't talk to someone who's harassing you … you just keep going. That's what they want - if you engage and make a scene, they win." My grandma chimed in. "Were you loud? Were you laughing and being silly for no reason? I know how you can get, Shaimaa." I tried to remember if I'd laughed. I probably had. I was having fun - until I got sexually harassed. "And why that sleeveless shirt? It's too short, your whole bottom is showing," she went on. I had no idea how the conversation turned from me complaining about three horrible boys and what they did to me, to my being blamed for their actions. Find out more It was the first time I was sexually harassed but of course not the last. Some later incidents were much worse. But that day had a lasting effect. It informed the way I felt about walking the streets of Egypt and how I behaved in them. All my life I wanted the freedom to do things on my own, and here I was, confronted with the reality for Egyptian women - that with the freedom to be in the streets came harassment. My mother laid down some rules: 1. It will happen. It's normal. 2. Don't smile. Frown preferably. 3. Walk fast. Don't linger. 4. Wear long shirts that cover your behind. 5. Do not bring attention to yourself in any way. In the years to come, these rules would sometimes work, but often wouldn't. Sexual harassment would become a part of mine and my friends' lives. Our experiences varied from verbal harassment, to inappropriate touching, to groping, to having men try to rip our clothes off. The culprits were everyone from random men on the streets - shopkeepers, doormen- to teachers, co-workers and relatives. But we wouldn't dream of speaking up. As with all Egyptian women, we had to balance harassment on the streets against more restrictions at home. In 2013 a UN report said that 99% of the women it surveyed in Egypt had been sexually harassed. "We don't need a report," one of my friends laughed at the time. "Just come and live with us for a bit!" A recent poll suggests that Cairo is the world's most dangerous megacity for women, but I can attest that my city also lives up to this scandalous reputation. Things have moved on quite a bit since I was 11. Young women are now much more vocal. There have been campaigns against sexual harassment and law enforcement takes it more seriously. Yet all of this hasn't stopped the harassers. I don't live in Egypt now, but when I visit I can feel myself tense up. I still have my invisible armour - those rules my mum set out. I'm always on guard when I'm alone in the streets. I have an eight-year-old niece who reminds me so much of myself when I was her age. Soon enough she'll want to venture out on her own. And here's what I'll probably tell her: "Don't laugh, don't linger, and if something happens, call someone and get back home." But here's what I really want to tell her: "You look beautiful. Laugh, have fun, enjoy yourself - and if some horrible person harasses you, shout, make a scene and defend yourself! And always, always remember: it is not your fault!" More from Shaimaa Khalil: Why I took off my headscarf... only to put it back on again Join the conversation - find us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

हार्वी वाइनस्टीन के खिलाफ आरोपों के बाद, महिलाएं हैशटैग #metoo का उपयोग करके यौन उत्पीड़न की अपनी कहानियों को ऑनलाइन साझा कर रही हैं। यहाँ, शैमा खलील मिस्र में बड़े होते हुए एक बच्चे के रूप में उत्पीड़न के अपने पहले अनुभव के बारे में लिखती हैं।


Lebanon's Hezbollah drawn into Syria conflict

Summary: Southern Lebanon is very much Hezbollah country.

By Wyre DaviesBBC News, Lebanon-Syria border The highly-organised Shia organisation garners much of its domestic support from the traditional villages in this hilly region. It runs schools, hospitals and local politics in these parts, not to mention being famed for its military prowess. Large posters of Hezbollah fighters killed in the 2006 conflict with Israel are scattered around the town of Nabatiya. There are also plenty of images of Bashar al-Assad, president of neighbouring Syria and a key ally of Hezbollah in the complicated, often sectarian world of Middle Eastern politics. Helping refugees While reaffirming his support and backing for the government in Damascus, Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah recently denied reports that his organisation's members were fighting alongside the Syrian military. What Hezbollah is willing to confirm is the amount of help it is giving to refugees from the fighting. On a short tour of the town we met two families who had been given considerable support by Hezbollah since making the arduous journey from Syria. One young mother from Homs had given birth - by caesarean section - just days after arriving in Nabatiya. The cost of the operation, post-natal medical care and food for the child had all been taken care of by the group. The flat the new family was living in was sparse and short on furniture, but it was adequate and, again, paid for by Hezbollah. Next we met Manel, already at the age of 23, mother to three young boys. She too is living with her extended family in a flat provided by Hezbollah. Two weeks ago they had to flee their homes from a village near Aleppo. 'No questions' "We had to leave because the terrorists, the rebels, made it impossible to move," Manel said, clearly angered at the family's predicament. "You can't get in or out of the village because you could be killed or kidnapped for ransom." Hezbollah minders insisted that they did not ever ask the people they had helped about their political affiliations in Syria or about their religion. They said absolutely no distinction was made between refugees and that they were never asked. That might be the case in southern Lebanon and we saw no evidence there to contradict that stance. Elsewhere, however, it is a different story. Lebanon's Bekaa Valley is the real launching pad for those who have a vested interest in the progress, or otherwise, of the uprising in Syria. Almost all of Syria's internal divisions - Sunni, Shia, Alawite and Christian - are replicated in the villages of the Bekaa. In some of the region's predominantly Shia villages there have been funerals for Hezbollah fighters, killed it is thought while fighting on the government side inside Syria. There were hundreds of mourners at the recent burial of Ali Hussein Nassif, a senior commander who Hezbollah would only say had died while "performing his jihadist duty". Such evidence, and undoubtedly other material, has prompted the United States to accuse Hezbollah of providing training, advice, and logistical support to the Syrian military. 'Attacked' Hezbollah's hierarchy, including Hassan Nasrallah, emphatically denies those charges, although there is now simply too much evidence for him to deny any involvement at all. "The Lebanese in these border villages [inside Syria] are fighting all by themselves and no-one is fighting on their behalf," he said in a recently televised speech. This the first time that Hezbollah has acknowledged that some of its members may have been in Syria, albeit without any formal support. In truth, there is no real border in these areas, and that is part of the conundrum. There are Lebanese communities on what is now regarded as the Syrian side, and thousands of Syrians live in "border" villages that are today formally within Lebanon but were not always so. Soudayf Hamada is a spokesperson for the Committee of Lebanese in Syria. In the Shia villages at the northern end of the Bekaa, he speaks for Lebanese citizens on the other side of the valley - land that is nowadays inside Syria. He defends the role of individuals to protect their communities and their lands. "Many of our villages in Syria have been attacked by the rebels," Mr Soudayf says as he points to the villages in question, no more than a 1km (0.6 miles) away. "People have been killed. Hezbollah can't stop its supporters defending their own land." Spilling over The long, open border is hostile country in more ways than one. Through these hills, known best by Bedouin herders and smugglers, Hezbollah is accused of ferrying men and weapons into Syria. Sunni opponents of the Syrian government, including Sheikh Nabil Ruhayem, accuse Hezbollah of playing a dangerous game. To meet him we drove to the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli - where there have already been deadly clashes between pro- and anti-Assad factions. "Hezbollah is clearly interfering militarily in Syria - supporting the Assad regime. And that will definitely result in the crisis spilling over here into Lebanon," says Sheikh Ruhayem. In truth, the conflict has already arrived in Lebanon. Last week's car bomb that killed a senior Lebanese security official, Wissam al-Hassan, has been widely blamed on the Syrian government. While Hezbollah condemned the attack and denied it was carrying out Damascus's orders, it is one of several groups being drawn inexorably into the conflict because, like many others, it has a lot riding on the outcome.

दक्षिणी लेबनान बहुत हद तक हिज़्बुल्लाह देश है।


Swansea scrapyard car and tyre blaze tackled by crews

Summary: About 15 cars and up to 50 tyres have been engulfed by a fire at a scrapyard.

Firefighters are tackling the blaze at Swansea Enterprise Park in Llansamlet. Mid and West Fire Wales and Rescue Service said they were called to the Dyffryn Close site just after 11:00 BST on Monday. There are reports of large amounts of smoke from the fires. Natural Resources Wales have also been informed about the incident. There have been no casualties or evacuations from the area reported. Related Internet Links Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

एक कबाड़खाने में लगी आग से लगभग 15 कारें और 50 टायर जलकर खाक हो गए हैं।


Toto bass-player Mike Porcaro dies at 59

Summary: Mike Porcaro, bass-player of US rock band Toto which had hits with Africa and Rosanna, has died at 59 after a long battle with Motor neurone disease.

Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro said in a statement that his brother had died peacefully in his sleep at home, surrounded by family. Toto, which broke up in 2008, reformed in 2010 to raise money for Porcaro and raise awareness of his illness. Also known for the hit Hold the Line, the band sold 35m albums. Toto guitarist Steve Lukather wrote on Facebook that Mike was "now at peace". Motor neurone disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a rare condition which attacks the nervous system. As the condition progresses sufferers find basic activities such as walking, speaking and breathing increasingly difficult.

अमेरिकी रॉक बैंड टोटो के बास-खिलाड़ी माइक पोर्कारो, जिन्होंने अफ्रीका और रोजाना के साथ हिट किया था, का मोटर न्यूरॉन रोग के साथ लंबी लड़ाई के बाद 59 वर्ष की आयु में निधन हो गया है।


Views sought on Jersey and Guernsey finance ombudsman

Summary: People in Jersey and Guernsey are to be asked for their views on the creation of a financial ombudsman for the Channel Islands.

Guernsey's Commerce and Employment Department and Jersey's Economic Development Department have been working on areas for co-operation. Now they are consulting on setting up the office of financial ombudsman for the Channel Islands. The ombudsman would consider complaints about financial services. Closer ties between Guernsey's Office of Utility Regulation and Jersey's competition watchdog are seen as evidence of the benefits of co-operation.

जर्सी और ग्वेर्नसे के लोगों से चैनल द्वीप समूह के लिए एक वित्तीय लोकपाल के निर्माण पर उनके विचार पूछे जाने हैं।


Chancellor: There'll be changes to customs with EU

Summary: Chancellor Sajid Javid has acknowledged that "there will be some changes" to customs procedures for all UK traders with the European Union (EU) as a result of the Brexit deal the Conservatives intend to enact should they win the General Election.

Faisal IslamEconomics editor@faisalislamon Twitter "When we trade with the EU there will be some changes but it also means there's opportunities," Mr Javid told the BBC. "We will be able to strike our own free trade agreements around the world where we will have investments in free ports [special kind of port where normal tax and customs rules do not apply] so there's a lot to look forward to." Mr Javid said the government's Brexit agreement was "a good deal". "It gives us a new economic partnership with our friends in Europe, and it allows us to have a deep free trade agreement with our European friends. We will have our own customs territory and the whole of the UK will leave the EU customs territory." While there has been much focus on new checks under a no-deal Brexit and on those required within the UK between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, much less has been said or acknowledged about what would happen for the bulk of cross channel trade under Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. On Thursday, the Bank of England assessed for the first time that the Johnson deal would lead to a small hit to the economy, due to new customs barriers. Its assumptions were based on the introduction of "customs checks on UK-EU trade" alongside other regulatory checks and trade checks on the origin of parts. "As a result, trade flows are likely to fall , and some companies might exit the market," the Bank wrote in its Monetary Policy Report. When asked if a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for customs checks between the UK and EU, the Chancellor said it was a vote for a smooth exit from the EU, and to end the risk of a no-deal Brexit.

चांसलर साजिद जाविद ने स्वीकार किया है कि यूरोपीय संघ (ई. यू.) के साथ ब्रिटेन के सभी व्यापारियों के लिए सीमा शुल्क प्रक्रियाओं में "कुछ बदलाव होंगे" क्योंकि ब्रेक्सिट सौदे के परिणामस्वरूप कंजर्वेटिव आम चुनाव जीतने पर लागू करने का इरादा रखते हैं।


L'Oreal fortune trial brings whiff of scandal

Summary: A trial opening in Paris has wafted a scent of scandal over the government of President Nicolas Sarkozy over reports of links between one of his most important ministers and the heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics fortune.

By Hugh Schofield BBC News, Paris Labour Minister Eric Woerth, who is in charge of the key policy of pension reform, is fighting calls for his resignation after his name was mentioned in the high-profile case involving the 87-year-old Liliane Bettencourt, often described as the richest woman in Europe. The trial is of a close friend of Liliane Bettencourt, the 63-year-old celebrity photographer Francois-Marie Banier. He is being sued by Liliane Bettencourt's daughter Françoise because she believes he has exploited her mother's mental fragility to lay hands on part of the L'Oreal riches. Liliane Bettencourt is the daughter of Eugene Schueller, who founded L'Oreal in 1909. It is now the world's largest cosmetics company, and Liliane Bettencourt's wealth is put at around 17 billion euros ($20.78bn; £13.9bn). Detail of the case has provided gripping reading. But now it has been overshadowed by the wider political story - with Eric Woerth's survival in government hanging in the balance. Mr Woerth says he is the victim of a witchhunt by the left, which wants to whip up popular anger against the decision to increase the retirement age to 62. But even in the ruling UMP party, many feel the minister may have ignored for too long an unacceptable conflict of interest. With the nation's mood at its most unforgiving thanks to a series of recent illustrations of ministerial extravagance, some fear that Mr Woerth may have become a liability. Unexpected twist The roots of the Woerth affair lie in the apparently unconnected L'Oreal inheritance dispute. Banier, a society aesthete who as a youth was a favourite of Salvador Dali, has indeed received money, life insurance policies and paintings from his benefactress worth many hundreds of millions of euros. But both he and Liliane Bettencourt insist that the gifts were made over in full cognisance - and that her mental faculties are in fine working order. Two weeks ago there was an unexpected twist. Unbeknownst to her, Liliane Bettencourt's personal butler had been secretly recording her conversations for much of the last year - and these were made public by a news website. The recordings were apparently intended to help the daughter's case by showing that Liliane Bettencourt is indeed in her dotage. In fact the 87-year-old has been deaf most of her life and she does sound frail. However, the news value of the bugged tapes lay elsewhere. On several occasions in conversations between Liliane Bettencourt and her financial manager Patrice de Maistre, there appeared the names of Eric Woerth and his wife Florence. Florence Woerth, it transpired, was an employee of Mr De Maistre's company Clymene, whose sole function is investing the estimated 278 million euros that Liliane Bettencourt draws annually from her 27.5% stake in L'Oreal. Furthermore, Mr De Maistre says clearly in the tapes that he gave the job to Florence Woerth after being asked to do so by Eric Woerth. This has been strongly denied by the minister. Florence Woerth resigned from Clymene last week. Political donations Also in the tapes emerges strong evidence that Liliane Bettencourt has been avoiding taxes by locking up part of her fortune in two Swiss accounts. There is also mention of an island in the Seychelles - Arros, which once belonged to the Shah of Iran. The conversations suggest that Liliane Bettencourt has masked her ownership of the island by using a Liechtenstein front company, possibly with Mr Banier's connivance. Finally, the tapes show that Liliane Bettencourt has made cash gifts to support political campaigns by members of the UMP, including Mr Woerth. There is nothing illegal in this because the sums were within the allowed limits. But what aroused suspicion is that Mr Woerth is not just a minister (and he was budget minister before he took over at labour in March) but also treasurer and chief fund-raiser for the ruling party. At one point in the tapes, Patrice de Maistre tells Liliane Bettencourt that Eric Woerth "is very nice, and also he's the man who is in charge of your taxes. He is budget minister. He is very nice, he's a friend". Eric Woerth's critics say they want answers to several questions. First: Did he indeed step in to have his wife employed at Clymene? Second: What did he know of Liliane Bettencourt's tax evasion (now admitted by De Maistre who has promised to put things in order)? And third: Was he in any way influenced - either personally or as UMP treasurer - to turn a blind eye to Liliane Bettencourt's taxes? Eric Woerth angrily denies allegations of wrong-doing made against him, and he has the public backing of Nicolas Sarkozy. But even his friends are wondering how a budget minister - the man after all responsible for raising taxes - could think it right to have relations of any kind with the country's largest individual contributor. For the president, the affair falls at a particularly inopportune time. The country is in a truculent mood because of the gloomy economic situation, and the atmosphere has been soured further by reports of self-indulgence by several ministers. Two ministers - Fadela Amara and Christian Estrosi - have been accused of using official apartments to lodge friends and family, while a third - Christian Blanc - had to pay back 12,000 euros of public money which he had spent on cigars. Most people in France would probably not go quite as far as the Socialist Segolene Royal who said on Tuesday that the "whole Sarkozy system is corrupt. It is a regime which confuses public and private property and has lost all sense of the common good". However, the Woerth affair is undoubtedly a major embarrassment. For many it proves what they always suspected: that despite protestations to the contrary the country is still run by a smallish clan of well-connected Parisians, moving arrogantly between ministries, boardrooms, and the salons of the very rich and famous.

पेरिस में एक मुकदमे की शुरुआत ने राष्ट्रपति निकोलस सरकोजी की सरकार पर उनके सबसे महत्वपूर्ण मंत्रियों में से एक और लॉरियल सौंदर्य प्रसाधन संपत्ति के उत्तराधिकारी के बीच संबंधों की रिपोर्टों पर घोटाले की गंध फैला दी है।


Who, What, Why: Is it legal to attack a seagull?

Summary: Northumbria Police have opened an investigation over images apparently showing a man strangling a seagull. Given that many view them as vermin, what is their legal status, asks Chris Stokel-Walker.

Who, What, WhyThe Magazine answers the questions behind the news On 8 August, a fisherman living in Northumberland posted a picture on Facebook appearing to show him throttling a seagull. In the 11 days since, a petition against his actions has reached 6,000 signatures, The offending image has now been taken down, but police are looking into the matter. All species of gulls are protected, but only in the same way that any wild bird is in the UK, says RSPB public affairs officer Tony Whitehead. An attack on a seagull falls foul of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which covers England and Wales. It says that "if any person intentionally kills, injures or takes any wild bird, he shall be guilty of an offence". A similar law covers Scotland and Northern Ireland. If convicted of cruelty against a seagull, an offender could be fined up to £5,000 and potentially jailed for up to six months. "The Wildlife and Countryside Act covers virtually every animal against cruelty or killing," explains Paul Diamond, who specialises in gull control and is based in Cornwall. Despite a wave of concern over nuisance seagulls, there hasn't been a wave of vigilante action. But a seagull, seemingly poisoned, was left in front of a police station in Bridport, Dorset in July. Strong anti-gull sentiment has intensified over the summer. The birds have been associated with attacks on humans, including pensioners and young children. "Killer gulls" were blamed for the death of a chihuahua dog in May, and a tortoise last month. A YouGov poll earlier in August found that 44% of Britons would support a gull cull, though that varied by age - half of respondents aged 18-24 opposed a bird cull, while the same number of over-60s backed one. In the Republic of Ireland, one senator said seagulls were close to "actually endangering society". Not every wild animal is protected by law. It's legal to kill grey squirrels by law as long as it is done humanely. In fact, as an invasive species, it is illegal to release a grey squirrel that has been trapped. There is a way to control particularly troublesome gulls - licences are issued by the government in England to kill the lesser black-backed variety where they are seen to be a risk to public safety, habitats or other wildlife. Whitehead calls this "a civilised piece of legislation that allows protection but still offers you to cull birds if there is a problem". In Scotland, licences allow the great black-backed gull to be killed to protect birds or crops and livestock. Three different species can be killed for public safety purposes. In both Scotland and England a number of different types of gull can be killed in the interests of air safety. But it's by no means clear that sheer numbers of seagulls represent any kind of problem. The number of herring gulls has seemingly halved in the past 30 years as Britain's fishing industry has waned. This population drop caused the British Trust for Ornithology to place the herring gull on its "red list" in 2009. But it's more complicated than that, Diamond says. "At traditional nest sites the numbers have dropped dramatically. However most people will argue that's because they've started to move into urban areas and nest on roofs. The truth is we really don't know whether their numbers are up or down." Diamond would not suggest the public engages in vigilantism against gulls. Not only is it illegal, it's likely to be ineffectual. "If a gull finds a particularly fruitful place, all that'll happen is you'll kill that gull and another will replace it," he says. "You've got to cut off the food supply." It's very easy to think of this literally as a cross wiring This piece was originally published on 19 August. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

नॉर्थम्ब्रिया पुलिस ने उन छवियों की जांच शुरू की है जिनमें एक आदमी को सीगल का गला घोंटते हुए दिखाया गया है। यह देखते हुए कि कई लोग उन्हें कीड़े के रूप में देखते हैं, क्रिस स्टोकेल-वॉकर पूछते हैं कि उनकी कानूनी स्थिति क्या है।


Rihanna: UK tour details announced

Summary: Rihanna has announced she'll tour the UK in October 2011.

The singer recently released her fifth solo album, Loud. It'll be the first chance UK audiences have to see her perform material from the album including the hit singles Only Girl (In The World) and What's My Name. The 22-year-old has also been nominated for four Grammy Awards with the ceremony taking place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on 13 February. The tour will visit: London 02 Arena - October 5 Liverpool Echo Arena - 7 Manchester Evening News Arena - 9 Glasgow SECC - 10 Birmingham LG Arena - 15 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 16

रिहाना ने घोषणा की है कि वह अक्टूबर 2011 में ब्रिटेन का दौरा करेंगी।


Charles Taylor death: Man denies murdering 82-year-old

Summary: A man has denied murdering an 82-year-old who suffered a head injury at a house in Dorset.

Charles Taylor was found injured at 20:30 GMT on 17 December at the property in Phyldon Close, Poole. He died in hospital two weeks later, on New Year's Day. Matthew Locks, 26, of Ashley Road, Poole, was remanded in custody and is due to stand trial at Winchester Crown Court on 17 June. Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service

एक व्यक्ति ने डोरसेट में एक घर में एक 82 वर्षीय वृद्ध की हत्या से इनकार किया है, जिसके सिर में चोट लगी थी।


A statistically modelled wedding

Summary: It's the classic dilemma for anyone planning a wedding. The list of friends and family you'd like to invite is seemingly endless. Your budget is not, and neither is the venue's floor space. Could one couple have found a solution via statistical modelling?

By Ruth AlexanderBBC News Damjan Vukcevic and Joan Ko, planning their wedding in Melbourne, Australia, were struggling to draw up an invitation list of family and friends in places as far-flung as Serbia, Tawain, the UK and the US. "We're both from immigrant families, so the guest list had people from all around the world and, while it's easy to work out whether people in Melbourne - our home town - could come to the wedding, it was a much more difficult task to work out what proportion or how many of the overseas guests would show up," Joan says. "So the challenge is to pick the right number of invitees so that we could get all our friends there, but to not overshoot the mark - and to stop my parents from inviting their friends willy-nilly, as well." The venue they had chosen could fit 110 comfortably. Damjan and Joan calculated that having fewer than 100 guests meant they would be wasting the opportunity to celebrate with more friends, while having more than 110 guests would be too much of a tight squeeze. They could have done what many people do - post the first batch of invitations, wait for replies and then send out a second round and, maybe, a third - but this wasn't an option the couple were keen on. "Some people might get an invitation in the second round and if they're comparing notes they might wonder, 'Oh, what's going on here? Are we not in the best tier of friends, so to speak?'" Damjan says. So one morning, Joan awoke to the find that Damjan had been up late building a solution - a statistical model. The couple started to list all the people they might want to invite to their wedding. They divided them into four categories, depending on how far away they were and how firm the friendship was, and then estimated the probability that a guest in each category would show up. They made some other assumptions, too - for instance, that couples would either both come, or both stay away, and that there were no other influences, such as FA cup finals, high airline prices, or rival weddings which might simultaneously influence lots of guests to stay away. Damjan and Joan plugged the numbers into the spreadsheet, and then sent out 139 invitations in the expectation they would receive between 100 and 110 acceptances. As they waited for the replies to drop through the letter box, they were confident that, statistically speaking, success was almost certain. Their model gave a 95% prediction interval of 102-113 acceptances. It suggested the most likely result would be 106 attendees. So how many people finally did show up? Exactly 105 - a triumph for statistical modelling! Or maybe not. Because of the 105 people went to the wedding, only 97 had been on the original guest list and in the spreadsheet. "We had that problem that weddings often have - people showing up who probably didn't get their invitation in the first round," Joan says. "So I think you should always have a buffer for people with new partners that you didn't know about, or friends and family that your parents have accidently invited." Damjan and Joan had made two sizeable statistical errors. Firstly, they were too optimistic about how many people would accept their invitation. They assumed a 100% acceptance rate among the people living in their home town, which didn't turn out to be the case, and they were also surprised by how few of their overseas guests could make it. Secondly, they didn't take account of the fact that there will always be people who weren't on the original list, who will come anyway. But although the model was wrong, they still had just the right number of guests celebrate their marriage with them. "All the errors cancel out," Joan laughs. And undeterred, they've been further honing the model on their friends' weddings and hope they could have it developed into an app one day. Meanwhile, the key message for all you statistical modellers out there remains - if you can't be right, then be lucky. Follow @BBCNewsMagazine on Twitter and on Facebook

शादी की योजना बनाने वाले किसी भी व्यक्ति के लिए यह एक पुरानी दुविधा है। आप जिन दोस्तों और परिवार को आमंत्रित करना चाहते हैं, उनकी सूची अंतहीन प्रतीत होती है। आपका बजट नहीं है, और न ही आयोजन स्थल के लिए जगह है। क्या एक जोड़े को सांख्यिकीय मॉडलिंग के माध्यम से कोई समाधान मिल सकता था?


Right wing terror group accused in court

Summary: A man has appeared in court charged with terrorism offences relating to his alleged support for an international right wing terror group, the FKD.

Luke Hunter is alleged to have encouraged the murder of homosexuals, Jews, and non-white people, and shared a video of the Christchurch shooting. The 21-year-old, of High Callerton, Newcastle, entered no plea at Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was remanded in custody and to appear at the Old Bailey on 18 October. Mr Hunter's lawyer, Frances Herzo, told magistrates the defendant was accompanied in the dock by an "appropriate adult" as a result of mental health problems and a diagnosis of autism as a teenager. Related Internet Links HM Courts Service

एक व्यक्ति एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय दक्षिणपंथी आतंकवादी समूह, एफ. के. डी. के कथित समर्थन से संबंधित आतंकवाद के अपराधों के आरोप में अदालत में पेश हुआ है।


Jersey pensioners to get cold weather help

Summary: Pensioners in Jersey are to get more help with the cost of heating their homes, the social security minister has said.

A new Cold Weather Bonus is being brought in for islanders who are already eligible for the Food Cost Bonus. It is for people who are over 65 and do not qualify for income support, but are below the Income Tax thresholds. The payment will be available from May and worth at least £120. Senator Francis Le Gresley said: "Pensioner households receiving income support already receive help with regular cold weather payments. "This new bonus extends support with heating costs to a wider group of pensioners."

सामाजिक सुरक्षा मंत्री ने कहा है कि जर्सी में पेंशनभोगियों को अपने घरों को गर्म करने की लागत में अधिक मदद मिलनी चाहिए।


Fund should not be used on M4 relief road, says Lib Dems

Summary: Powers allowing the Welsh Government to borrow millions to fund investment should not be used to build a planned M4 relief road around Newport, the Welsh Lib Dem leader has said.

By 2018 Welsh ministers will be able to borrow up to £500m and Labour plans to spend part of the money on the road. Plans for the scheme include 24km (15m) of new motorway and a 2.5km-long (1.5m) viaduct crossing the River Usk. But Kirsty Williams said the money should be used to build homes. "We used our influence in the assembly to stop work on the M4. Mark my words: the Welsh Liberal Democrats would do so again," she said. "We will use this money to build 20,000 new homes, building them across the whole of Wales so everyone will benefit." Economy Minister Edwina Hart told AMs last year the Welsh Government was not intending to use all the money available on a single project. A final decision on whether the motorway scheme will go ahead will be taken after May's assembly election.

वेल्श लिब डेम नेता ने कहा है कि वेल्श सरकार को निवेश के लिए लाखों उधार लेने की अनुमति देने वाली शक्तियों का उपयोग न्यूपोर्ट के आसपास एक नियोजित एम4 राहत सड़क बनाने के लिए नहीं किया जाना चाहिए।


Why does al-Shabab target hotels?

Summary: On 1 November, al-Shabab militants attacked a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing 15 people. It was the latest in a series of attacks on hotels by the Islamist group. The BBC's Mary Harper explains why hotels are so important to doing business in the Somali capital and how al-Shabab targets them.

By Mary HarperAfrica editor, BBC World Service New Year's Day in Mogadishu was drawing to a close. I was having supper with friends when an enormous blast thundered through the night air. This was not the usual "Mogadishu music" - as the locals call it - of grenade explosions and gunfire. Everybody, including the senior military advisers, who were eating at a table next to mine, looked frightened. After the first shock, people got on their phones. "It's the Jazeera Palace Hotel," said a friend who looks after my security when I'm in town and has contacts all over the city. Some of us ran up on to the roof, and there, just a few hundred metres away, were flames shooting out into the darkness, the remains of a suicide vehicle, which had been driven at high speed towards the thick, high perimeter wall of the hotel. Ambulances and military vehicles raced down the street, lights flashing, sirens screaming. Shortly after they arrived at the Jazeera Palace, there was another massive explosion. Like many other insurgent groups, al-Shabab often conducts double suicide attacks, waiting for the emergency services and onlookers to gather at the scene before sending in another vehicle to ensure maximum casualties. Then it sends in the foot soldiers, to occupy the building, usually until all of them are killed by the security forces, and sent, they believe, on their way to Jannah (paradise) as martyrs. About 10 minutes after the second blast, a senior Somali security official and his entourage entered the place where I was. He had been the target of the attack. We collected plastic chairs and put them out in a circle in the courtyard. The men sat there in stunned silence. At least 10 people had been blown up at the hotel, including members of their team. Fortresses General Abdikarim Dhagabadan was not so lucky. Last week, he and at least 14 others were killed in an al-Shabab attack on another high-end hotel, the Sahafi. A militant contacted me by phone while the siege, which lasted for several hours, was still going on. "We have been after the apostate general since August 2011 because he commanded the operation that forced us out of Mogadishu. We consider as legitimate targets five, six or seven hotels in the capital, I forget the exact number. They know who they are because they provide lodging for members of the apostate government, certain members of the diaspora, foreigners and other infidels." Some Mogadishu hotels are like fortresses, with high surrounding walls, two sets of giant metal gates, private security and scanners. This is to try to protect government officials and other al-Shabab targets, who often live there for years. Hotels have long been a central part of Somalis' urban culture, wherever they are in the world, as so many of them move around a lot, in the same way the traditional Somali nomads do. Al-Shabab has a highly sophisticated intelligence network, so it knows who is in which hotel and when. Security officials say the militants usually have sympathisers working inside the hotels, who can inform on key details such as which room a particular individual is staying in. When Central Hotel was attacked on 20 February this year, one of the suicide bombers was Luul Dahir, who worked at the reception. Who are al-Shabab? The people of Mogadishu refuse to give in, despite the regular attacks on hotels and other targets associated with the government, African Union troops, the United Nations and others. Every time I have been in the city at the time of a big attack, I am astonished at how quickly the damage is cleared. I visited the site of an attack on a UN convoy near the airport in December 2014. Even though it was only about an hour after the blast, the road had been cleared, the carcasses of vehicles moved to one side. Women in masks were hosing down the street, but only after Western men in camouflage and dark glasses had sifted through the wreckage, collecting evidence in plastic bags. Suicide attacks have generated business for Somalis. Some move in quickly after a car bombing, trying to retrieve any surviving spare parts and other scraps before the security forces shoo them away. Al-Shabab hotel attacks in Mogadishu 12 September 2012: A suicide attack at the gates of the Jazeera Palace Hotel targets new President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The president is unharmed but at least seven people are killed 1 January 2014: Two car bombs explode outside the Jazeera Palace, killing at least 10 people 20 February 2015: Some 20 people, including an MP and Mogadishu's deputy mayor, are killed after the Central Hotel is hit by a car bomb and a suicide attack and gunmen storm the hotel mosque and open fire during Friday prayers 26 July 2015: A lorry is used to carry out a huge bomb explosion at the Jazeera Palace Hotel, killing at least 13 people 22 August 2015: At least five people are killed in a suicide car bomb attack near the Juba Hotel 1 November 2015: Gunmen use two car bombs to blast their way into the Sahafi Hotel compound before storming the building, killing at least 15 people including one MP and the general who led the 2011 offensive that drove al-Shabab out of Mogadishu On the day after the 1 January 2014 attack on the Jazeera Palace Hotel, I went to pick up a friend who lives there so we could go for a swim in the warm blue of the Indian Ocean. Electricians were busy on the street outside, repairing electrical wires that had been brought down by the blasts. The hotel's many shattered windows had been boarded up and painted white. A waiter showed me around the dining area, which he said had taken the force of the blast. Everything was tidy, if battered, and people were sitting there drinking Somali tea and fresh watermelon juice, and eating large servings of meat and pasta. My friend showed me the reception desk, which he and many others had hidden behind during the attack. He couldn't hear me properly as his ears were still ringing from the blast. And even though one of the Jazeera Palace's walls was partially brought down in a huge al-Shabab truck bombing this July - the third time the militants have attacked the hotel - he's still living there.

1 नवंबर को अल-शबाब के आतंकवादियों ने सोमाली राजधानी मोगादिशु में एक होटल पर हमला किया, जिसमें 15 लोग मारे गए। यह इस्लामी समूह द्वारा होटलों पर हमलों की एक श्रृंखला में नवीनतम था। बीबीसी की मैरी हार्पर बताती हैं कि सोमाली राजधानी में व्यवसाय करने के लिए होटल इतने महत्वपूर्ण क्यों हैं और कैसे अल-शबाब उन्हें निशाना बनाता है।


Julio Iglesias marries in secret

Summary: Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has married Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburger, his partner of 20 years.

The 66-year-old singer, whose hits include To All The Girls I've Loved Before, announced the marriage in a statement to Spanish newspapers. The ceremony, held in Marbella, was attended by two witnesses and the couple's five children. Iglesias was previously married to Isabel Preysler, with whom he had three children - including singer Enrique. The Rev Roberto Rojo Aguado told the Associated Press news agency the couple were married on Tuesday.

स्पेनिश गायक जूलियो इग्लेसियस ने डच मॉडल मिरांडा रिजन्सबर्गर से शादी की है, जो उनके 20 साल के साथी हैं।


Author Iain Banks: In his own words

Summary: Best selling author Iain Banks has died shortly after announcing he had terminal cancer. The author of The Crow Road and The Wasp Factory revealed he was dying two months ago. Last month, in his only TV interview since the news, the 59-year-old spoke to the BBC's Kirsty Wark about his life and work.

CANCER DIAGNOSIS "It (my reaction) was along the lines of 'oh bugger'. It's one of these things I guess, in a sense, you rehearse in your head. You sort of game it, you play it, you think how would I feel, and how would I react if a loved one dies or is delivered of a verdict, a prognosis like that. If you're writing about people who are facing death, you automatically have to embody that, you have to take that in quite seriously. "And obviously there are professions that are very much involved with death; funeral directors, people in A&E, ambulance drivers, paramedics. You'll probably find a preponderance of people like that who are sort of pre-prepared, or as pre-prepared as you can be, with your reaction. "And I just took it as bad luck, basically. It did strike me almost immediately, my atheist sort of thing kicked in and I thought ha, if I was a God-botherer, I'd be thinking, why me God? What have I done to deserve this? And I thought at least I'm free of that, at least I can simply treat it as bad luck and get on with it." "When I first got the original bad news in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, I'd taken my laptop in - I thought I might do a bit of work while I was there. And I couldn't really be bothered. I'd basically done my words for the day anyway. So, having got this news, I sat in bed and I wrote. "There's a bit in the book [The Quarry] where the character Guy says I shall not be upset to leave this stupid bloody country and this bloody human race and this idiotic world and the rest of it, it's a proper rant. I remember sitting there and thinking you're a writer, you've got to use some of these feelings that you're having right now. Use it to go to town on the whole idea, so some of my darkest thoughts at that point were channelled into that bit of writing." "The narrator is an 18-year-old boy who's on one or two different spectra, possibly Asperger's being one of them. But in a sense, the main character's his dad, who's dying of cancer. "But I was 87,000 words into the book before I discovered the bad news. I had no inkling. So it wasn't as though this is a response to the disease or anything, the book had been kind of ready to go. And then 10,000 words from the end, as it turned out, I suddenly discovered that I had cancer. "I've really got to stop doing my research too late. This is such a bad idea." "A pal had this great idea for a website so people could express what they wanted to. I did say I'd read all of the posts, which I'm doing. I just read page 86, so only 100 and a bit to go. And it was astonishing. I'm still only on day two, after the announcement. Because, obviously in this situation, you're constantly trying to find the positives, few and far between though they are. "But one positive that did strike me, I'm getting all this love and admiration now, rather than people standing around talking about me awfully well when I'm dead, at the wake or that sort of thing. So it's been great to appreciate that now, while I'm still alive." "I've had a brilliant life and I think I've been more lucky than unlucky, even including the news of the cancer. I've written 29 books. I'm leaving a substantial body of work behind me. Whether that'll survive, who knows, but I can be quite proud of that and I am. There's none of the books that I'm not proud of. There's ones that I think I could have done better with. I still think Canal Dreams is the runt of the litter but I'm still very, very proud of The Wasp Factory. "I don't have many regrets in my life. I suppose like a lot of men I've hurt women when I was being selfish or there's a real hurt towards ex-girlfriends that probably didn't need to have happened. That's probably the greatest series of regrets in my life. But other than that, and certainly professionally, not really, no." "I've thought about it, I guess it would just be the local crematorium. Adele has then promised to scatter my ashes in the Grand Canal in Venice, just a small amount, but in secret if necessary. And in front of a certain café in Paris, put some into a rocket to be fired over the Forth, again quite a small amount. And, oh yeah, some onto a beach on Barra - Vatersay, or wherever. But not too much in any. Most of them actually remain in the urn and will be sunk where my dad's ashes are sunk, in Loch Shiel." "There's an enormous freedom that you get in science fiction, you can just go anywhere and do anything. It's that simple. The things that I love and things that I tend to read most are science fiction and mainstream literature, and those are what I love to write as well. And it's been a privilege to be able to get away with it for an entire career, be able to do both." "I'm thinking the solace is going to come because I write music. I've pretentions towards being a composer. And that's what I intend to spend most of my creative energies on in the next couple of months or however long I've got, writing music and trying to get it to some level of presentability so that should be, you know, accessible." "I can only really do one at a time. So now that that's it, basically, with the writing, I can devote myself more to this. And even if no one ever hears it or no-one ever enjoys it, it'll be fun for me. It will be genuinely therapeutic. I just have such a hoot with this." Iain Banks: Raw Spirit will be broadcast on BBC2 Scotland on Wednesday 12 June at 21:00, and for a week afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

बेस्ट सेलिंग लेखक इयान बैंक्स का निधन यह घोषणा करने के तुरंत बाद हो गया कि उन्हें कैंसर है। द क्रो रोड और द वास्प फैक्ट्री के लेखक ने खुलासा किया कि वह दो महीने पहले मर रहे थे। पिछले महीने, इस खबर के बाद से अपने एकमात्र टीवी साक्षात्कार में, 59 वर्षीय ने बीबीसी के क्रिस्टी वार्क से अपने जीवन और काम के बारे में बात की।


Stoke and Liverpool £1 homes: Are schemes a success?

Summary: It's 18 months since Liverpool launched its £1 homes scheme, so why has no-one moved in while bargain-hungry homeowners in Stoke-on-Trent are rushing to buy the same reasonably-priced roosts?

Liverpool City Council launched its pilot scheme to buy a house for £1 in a blaze of publicity. The council offered the chance to buy one of 20 empty homes for the small sum if the new owners pledged to refurbish them and stay for at least five years. But almost a year since the first buyer was handed the keys to his new house in Granby, he has still not moved in. Meanwhile, a similar scheme in Stoke-on-Trent is almost complete, with 31 out of 35 homes occupied. The £3m project in the Cobridge area, funded by the government's Empty Homes Scheme, mainly involves two-bedroom terraced properties. There, the council lent buyers the £30,000 needed for renovations and used their own contractors to do the work. "I know the state these homes are often left in," explained project manager Zainul Pirmohamed. "We couldn't expect 31 people who are novices to try and tackle that. "And thank goodness we did it this way. Once we've gone back to brick, the amount of extra work we have found has been phenomenal. "We've been able to tackle those issues, we've got a big specialist pool of staff. "These people who are buying haven't got the money to throw towards it, so we knew they would not have been able to do it." 'Devil in the detail' By Claire Hamilton, political reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside Liverpool's homes for £1 scheme was launched with a huge fanfare last year. And rightly so. A great way of helping people get on the property ladder and at the same time revitalise neglected neighbourhoods. The devil (and delay) appears to have been in the detail. I wonder if the council repeats the scheme in future whether it would be a better idea to follow Stoke's lead - lending the refurbishment money to the buyers and then carrying out the work with their own contractors, rather than leaving first time buyers with the daunting prospect of a massive restoration project which could go well over budget? It also means the homeowners will have repaid the loan in 10 years, a thought that delights Gavin Pierpont. "I'll be mortgage-free by the time I'm 36," he said. "Not renting and mortgage-free, a bonus on all fronts." Contractors have finished his new house and it just needs decorating. "It's bare plaster but it's all ready for painting, it's just getting round to doing it until its move-inable. "It's up to me to just make it a home." His neighbour Rachel Nieto is set to move in with her boyfriend Chris and said borrowing from the council worked for them. "We wanted to move in together but it's quite hard to get a deposit, this just seemed like a really good opportunity to be able to do it," she said. Liverpool's pilot scheme is part of a plan to bring 179 empty homes back into use in the Granby, Picton and Arnside Road areas of the city. Properties have been empty for many years and have been stripped of pipe work, fixtures and fittings. 'Have a go' New homeowners have to show the council how they will fund the estimated £35,000 renovation costs - within a 12-month deadline - a possible reason why only five families have exchanged contracts so far. Ann O'Byrne, Liverpool's cabinet member for housing, said they were "absolutely overwhelmed" when nearly 3,000 people expressed their interest, of which 600 met the criteria to grab a £1 house. But she added "once they'd seen the level of work involved, they just thought it was too much for them," and many dropped out. Married father-of-two Jayalal Madde, is the first new homeowner, currently renovating his house on Cairns Street in Granby. Following delays with insurance companies, he is now hoping to move in within a couple of months. "We had delays but my wife and daughters are very excited to move in," he said. Liverpool City Council has admitted it has not been an easy ride, but stressed the scheme is a pilot and lessons are being learned. A further £6m has been promised to bring another 1,000 empty properties back into use across the city. Ms O'Byrne said: "It did take longer than we expected, but we've learned from that and we're making much more progress. "We'll be looking at how we actually do some of that structural work to enable people to come in and do more of the cosmetic work to bring the properties back into use. "We're trying different models to encourage people to get on to the property ladder and just have a go." What else can you buy for £1? •Miniature artwork in Leeds •An abandoned 1930s Bradford cinema •An empty magistrates' court •A Somerset mansion •An old fire station

लिवरपूल को अपनी 1 पाउंड की घर योजना शुरू किए हुए 18 महीने हो चुके हैं, तो कोई भी क्यों नहीं आया है जबकि स्टोक-ऑन-ट्रेंट में सौदेबाजी के भूखे घर के मालिक वही उचित कीमत वाले मुर्गों को खरीदने के लिए दौड़ रहे हैं?


Ex-Cromer Crab Company factory put on market for £1.35m

Summary: The former Cromer Crab Company factory in north Norfolk which closed its doors in August has been put back on the market for £1.35m.

A total of 230 people were made redundant from the seafood factory, owned by Young's, after the firm decided to close it in May. Celebrities, MPs and local residents campaigned to keep it open, but processing was moved to Humberside. The factory is being re-advertised as suitable for food processing.

उत्तरी नॉरफ़ॉक में पूर्व क्रोमर केकड़ा कंपनी का कारखाना, जिसने अगस्त में अपने दरवाजे बंद कर दिए थे, उसे £ 1.35m में बाजार में वापस डाल दिया गया है।


Snowdonia: Mobile phone navigation warning after rescue

Summary: Climbers in Snowdonia have been urged not to rely on mobile phones for navigation after rescuers spent most of the night searching for three men.

The trio, aged in their 20s and from the London area, were climbing the 14 peaks which are all above 3,000ft (914m). But as darkness fell and the weather deteriorated on their final peak, Foel Fras, they became lost. They were found at dawn on Sunday but had limited walking kit, said rescuers. They were brought down to Abergwyngregyn and given warm clothing, food and drinks. Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team said the men had no mountain walking experience.

स्नोडोनिया में पर्वतारोहियों से आग्रह किया गया है कि वे नौवहन के लिए मोबाइल फोन पर निर्भर न रहें क्योंकि बचाव दल ने रात का अधिकांश समय तीन लोगों की तलाश में बिताया।


Cheddar Gorge's main road at risk of 'significant danger'

Summary: Police in Somerset are warning of "significant danger" on the main route through Cheddar Gorge after heavy rain and flooding.

The B3135 has been closed for several weeks due to bad weather, however some drivers are ignoring the warning signs, said Avon and Somerset Insp Nick Hunt. He said safety was a priority and urged drivers to "use common sense and find alternative routes". It is not yet known when the road will reopen.

समरसेट में पुलिस भारी बारिश और बाढ़ के बाद चेडर गॉर्ज के माध्यम से मुख्य मार्ग पर "महत्वपूर्ण खतरे" की चेतावनी दे रही है।


South Korea's presidential candidates

Summary: Two main candidates are set to face off in South Korea's presidential elections - the ruling New Frontier (Saenuri) Party's Park Geun-hye and the opposition Democratic United Party's Moon Jae-in.

A third independent candidate, software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo, dropped out of the race to support Mr Moon. The BBC profiles Ms Park and Mr Moon ahead of the 19 December ballot. Park Geun-hye Park Geun-hye, 60, is the candidate of the ruling conservative party, Saenuri, or New Frontier Party. Her nomination marks the first time that a woman has been chosen as a presidential candidate by a main political party in South Korea. Ms Park is no stranger to politics. The daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, she served as South Korea's first lady for five years after her mother was shot dead in 1974. Her father, who seized power in a military coup in 1961, ruled until he was assassinated by his spy chief in 1979. While Mr Park was credited with boosting South Korea's economy, he was also accused of ruthlessly crushing dissent and delaying democratic development. A number of analysts tip Ms Park as the election favourite, but she has been dogged by her family legacy. In September, she issued a public apology for human rights abuses committed under her father. Ms Park was first elected to South Korea's National Assembly in 1998. She sought the presidency in 2007, but her party instead nominated Lee Myung-bak, the current South Korean leader. She holds an engineering degree from Sogang University in Seoul and an honorary degree in literature from the Moonward University in Taiwan. She is not married - something that has exposed her to comment in South Korea's conservative society - and is seen as a private individual. As part of her presidential campaign, Ms Park has pledged to prioritise "national reconciliation", better "economic democracy" and social welfare. Moon Jae-in Former human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in, 59, is the presidential candidate of the liberal opposition Democratic United Party. The lawmaker from the city of Pusan, also known by the political nickname "Shadow of Roh", used to be former President Roh Moo-hyun's chief of staff. Mr Roh, who finished his term in 2008 amid a sluggish economic climate, committed suicide in 2009 after his family was investigated over bribery allegations. As part of his presidential bid, Mr Moon has said that he will engage with North Korea following years of tension under the current government. This stance follows the example set by Mr Roh, who held talks with his North Korean counterpart. The two Koreas are still technically at war despite their truce in 1953. In terms of the economy, Mr Moon says he wants to re-examine the country's Free Trade Agreement with the US, increase taxes on the wealthy and curb the power of big business. Mr Moon published an autobiography said to have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. In it he tells of his experiences growing up in a poor family. The son of North Korean refugees, Mr Moon's father worked at a prison camp and his mother was a peddler. As a student activist, he had led protests during the term of presidential rival Park Geun-hye's father in the 1970s, for which he was imprisoned. Mr Moon finished his law degree from Kyunghee University in Seoul. He has also trained under the military's special forces. He is married with two children.

दक्षिण कोरिया के राष्ट्रपति चुनावों में दो मुख्य उम्मीदवारों का आमना-सामना होना तय है-सत्तारूढ़ न्यू फ्रंटियर (सेनुरी) पार्टी की पार्क ग्यून-हे और विपक्षी डेमोक्रेटिक यूनाइटेड पार्टी की मून जे-इन।


Sarah Groves murder trial in Kashmir adjourned again

Summary: The trial of a man accused of murdering Guernsey woman Sarah Groves in India has been adjourned after a prosecution witness did not appear.

The 24-year-old was found dead on a houseboat she was sharing with a local family in Srinagar, Kashmir, in April. Dutch national Richard De Wit, 43, denies her murder in a trial that has been running since July. The court heard the witness was missing for "health reasons" and the case was adjourned until 17 January. Rahim Shoda, the brother of Ms Groves' boyfriend Saeed Shoda, was due to be the fifth and final witness called by the prosecution. Saeed Shoda, both of his parents and his uncle have already given evidence.

भारत में ग्वेर्नसे महिला सारा ग्रोव्स की हत्या के आरोपी व्यक्ति के मुकदमे को अभियोजन पक्ष के गवाह के पेश नहीं होने के बाद स्थगित कर दिया गया है।


Treasury Minister wants to change Jersey income tax laws

Summary: Jersey's income tax laws could be changed to make the island more attractive to overseas investors, if States members agree.

The Treasury Minister is asking politicians to debate changes to the way profits of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) are taxed. Senator Philip Ozouf wants partners of an LLP taxed instead of taxing the partnership itself. He said it would bring Jersey into line with international practices. A LLP is a special type of business relationship which gives partners public accountability in exchange for a cap on any financial losses which may occur.

यदि राज्यों के सदस्य सहमत हों तो जर्सी के आयकर कानूनों को विदेशी निवेशकों के लिए द्वीप को और अधिक आकर्षक बनाने के लिए बदला जा सकता है।


Russia-Turkey crisis: Food and foreign policy mix again

Summary: What connects Turkish tomatoes and missiles?

By Kevin PonniahBBC News A lot, apparently. At least according to Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's former chief sanitary inspector and now prime ministerial aide, who said on Wednesday that "each Turkish tomato" bought in Russia contributes to the country's economy and thus to purchasing missiles that could potentially be fired at Russian warplanes. The comment came at a moment of high tension, following the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber on the Turkey-Syria border. Now, the Russian agriculture minister has upped the ante, announcing that around 15% of Turkish produce does not meet Russian safety standards. Controls are being tightened, with possibly serious consequences for Turkish exporters. The country has exported food and agricultural produce worth over €1bn (£702m) to Russia already this year, and Russia says 20% of its vegetable imports come from Turkey. Moscow could fulfil its fruit and vegetable needs by buying from other countries, such as Iran, Israel, Morocco, Azerbaijan, China, South Africa and Argentina, the minister said. How serious the immediate effect of a Turkish food ban on prices and supplies would be, however, remains unclear. But the connection between food and foreign policy in Russia is nothing new. Be it bans on Georgian wine, Polish apples, Lithuanian milk, or EU cheese, Russia's food import policies and "safety" concerns often seem to align with its wider foreign policy goals. Georgian wine In March 2006, Russia banned wine imports from Georgia, citing health risks. The industry relied on Russian drinkers, and was hit hard. At the time, analysts said Russia was irritated at Georgia's increasingly pro-Western stance and ambitions to join Nato. Russian ban on Georgia wine reduced the country's exports by 64% in two years In 2005, Georgia exported wine worth a total of $81.4m By 2007, that figure was just $29.2m The Georgian president accused Russia of economic blackmail. The ban was finally lifted in 2013, with Russia quickly resuming its place as the top importer of Georgian wine. Kadri Liik, a Russia expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, called it "an old and familiar playbook", either triggered by a specific incident or used as a general tool to "punish" countries, especially those in the post-Soviet space, for upsetting Russia. As a result, the Russian consumer watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, and government officials have often felt compelled to explain that sudden revelations of poor practices and subsequent bans are not political. When confectionery imports from Ukraine were suspended in 2013, including by a firm owned by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, State Duma deputy Vadim Solovyov defended the move. "We prohibit the import only of those goods that don't meet the standards and agreements that we have," he said, quoted by Russia Today. EU food Russia retaliated against Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis by banning most food imports from EU states, Australia, Canada, Norway and the US in August last year. It extended the ban to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Albania and Montenegro this August, and has threatened to add Ukraine to the list. The destruction of banned produce, like cheese, bacon and fruit, sparked the anger of anti-poverty campaigners. Last year, the closure of several McDonald's outlets in Moscow for alleged "sanitary violations" left many Russians flummoxed, including a fast-food chain owner who said the US burger giant was viewed as exemplary by local restaurateurs. By raising the spectre of restrictions on Turkish food, Russia is once again using food safety to show its anger at another state. But at the same time, Ms Liik says, "it shows Russia is trying to keep the row on a bilateral level" in order to avoid a further escalation of tensions. In this case, a fight involving tomatoes is preferred to one involving missiles.

तुर्की के टमाटर और मिसाइलों को क्या जोड़ता है?


Northamptonshire firefighter 'screeched' when iguana jumped on helmet

Summary: A firefighter who unwittingly rescued an iguana from a blazing room after it leapt on to his helmet, has admitted he "may have screeched a little" when he realised the reptile was there.

Doris the iguana sought refuge on the head of Simon Everitt, as he fought flames in a Corby house on 6 January. The pet escaped unscathed by hitching a ride on his helmet. Mr Everitt, from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, said Doris was "a bit of a lump". 'A big clawed foot' The living room of the house in Whitworth Avenue was smoke-logged when crews arrived shortly before midnight, Mr Everitt said. He added there was very little visibility. "You couldn't see your hand in front of your face," he said. "As I was crawling around... I felt something on my head and I just thought it was [another crew member] searching around. "Then, all of a sudden, the tail sort of moved in front of my helmet and I might have made a little screech... and then I had a big clawed foot scrape across my visor. "[Doris] was a bit of a lump - it frightened me initially - but obviously I... got on with the job in hand." As the crew made their way out of the house, Mr Everitt said his fellow firefighter spotted the iguana perched on his head and "wasn't sure whether to help, or just laugh". He added the photograph of the rescue had "gone everywhere" on social media. "I'd always dreamed of maybe females throwing themselves at me after joining the fire service - but sadly it was a scaly-type female called Doris," he said. The blaze, which took hold at about 23:40 GMT, was caused by "a faulty reptile heated mat in the living room", the service concluded. While there was some damage to the living room, the unhurt iguana was returned to her owner and there were no other injuries. Iguana fact file Source: www.reptileexpert.co.uk Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk Related Internet Links Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service

एक अग्निशामक जिसने अनजाने में एक इगुआना को उसके हेलमेट पर कूदने के बाद एक जलते हुए कमरे से बचाया था, ने स्वीकार किया है कि जब उसे पता चला कि वह सरीसृप वहाँ था तो वह "थोड़ा चिल्लाया होगा"।


Hinkley Point nuclear plant recommendation is made

Summary: A recommendation has been made to the government on whether a new nuclear power plant should be built at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

The view of the Planning Inspectorate has however not yet been made public. A final decision over whether the power plant should be built will be made by the Secretary of State. The government is expected to announce its decision within the next three months. In November, the design for the plant was approved by the government.

समरसेट में हिंकले पॉइंट पर एक नया परमाणु ऊर्जा संयंत्र बनाया जाना चाहिए या नहीं, इस पर सरकार को एक सिफारिश की गई है।


Joseph McCann: Serial rapist freed by 'unstable' probation staff

Summary: A serial rapist was able to carry out a sex attack spree when he was freed from prison after "major failings" by a team of "unstable" and inexperienced probation staff, inspectors have found.

Joseph McCann was given 33 life sentences in December for attacks on 11 women and children. So far only one person has since been demoted, the report said. One of McCann's victims called the probation service's actions "shambolic and chaotic". The 34-year-old convicted burglar had been freed after a probation service error at the start of 2019. The independent review headed up by Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said this happened despite there being signs he posed a risk to the public and could commit sexual offences. 'Crucial information lost' McCann saw 10 staff over 11 years, with three different probation officers responsible for his case in the months leading up to his prison release. Two months after he left prison, over the course of 15 days last spring, he abducted, raped and assaulted victims aged between 11 and 71 in Watford, London, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. He had been seen by probation officers 10 times in those two months, the final time in April just days before he carried out the first rape. A jury found McCann guilty of 37 charges relating to 11 victims, including eight rapes, false imprisonment and kidnap. An internal review published by the Ministry of Justice in March laid bare the errors made in the case, including repeated failures to recall him to prison despite officials warning of the risks he posed. In the first of two reports from his review, Mr Russell said: "McCann was managed by an unstable team, lacking experienced and skilled practitioners. "They suffered from poor management oversight, high workloads, poor performance and high staff turnover. "There were signs that he posed an increasing risk to the public. There was evidence of his potential for sexual offending." Crucial information, recorded on different systems by various authorities, was "lost" in handovers between staff, Mr Russell added. But "most worryingly", the report said, prison staff did not share information about the risk posed by McCann with probation, meaning probation staff did "not have a clear picture" of who they were dealing with and were making decisions based on inadequate assessments. The report found McCann had, in his initial time in jail, been regarded as posing a "high risk of serious harm to family members", having sent letters including threats of sexual violence to relatives. He had also sent a threatening letter containing a sexual reference to his probation service offender manager, causing his case to be handed to another worker. But decisions on whether to release McCann were "too focused" on whether he would carry out more burglaries, the report said, despite warnings as early as 2011 that he had the hallmarks of a sex offender, and were "not based on an analysis of his patterns of behaviour". Another "key element" of planning for such a high risk offender to leave prison was making sure he had suitable accommodation. He should have been given a bed in a bail hostel, known as approved premises, where he could be monitored by probation after being freed. But after probation officers twice "tried, and failed" to get him a space he was instead allowed to live with family where he could not be monitored closely, Mr Russell said. Among 13 recommendations made to the Prison and Probation Service and the National Probation Service, Mr Russell called for more beds at approved premises. This report has echoes of the mistakes made with "black cab rapist" John Worboys, who was cleared for release from prison after a parole panel failed properly to assess his long history of sexual offending. In Joseph McCann's case, probation officers and other specialists didn't fully analyse his record in jail (at one stage he'd made a "serious" attempt to escape) nor did they spot that his "core attitudes" hadn't changed even though he'd completed offending behaviour programmes - the description "manipulative" appears in the report five times. The decision that McCann could be freed - made in 2017, the same year Worboys was recommended for release - came amid huge political pressure to monitor indeterminate sentence prisoners in the community rather than in custody. The report says the influence of this strategy was "evident" in the failure to send McCann back to jail. Worboys' release was eventually blocked by the High Court. McCann, however, was not stopped until it was far too late. This is a report that cannot be allowed to gather dust. Alan Collins, one of the lawyers representing McCann's victims, said the report made "distressing reading" and called for dangerous offenders to be "red flagged" across the justice system to make sure such failings never happened again. One of the victims said in a statement: "The words shambolic and chaotic spring to mind to describe the practices of the Probation Service. "It is obvious that McCann should have been in prison and not at liberty to commit the horrendous crimes that have changed forever the lives of eleven victims and their families." Former victims commissioner Baroness Newlove described the report as "laughable", saying the system needed "overhauling and investing in". "For these victims, I just feel so sorry for them because the system, the government, the funding, has completely let the public down," she said. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "These were horrendous crimes and we have apologised to the victims for the unacceptable failings in this case. "We have greatly improved information sharing between prisons and probation officers and all probation staff have received new, mandatory training on when offenders should be recalled." The second part of the review is due to be published in the autumn. For more London news follow on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

निरीक्षकों ने पाया है कि "अस्थिर" और अनुभवहीन परिवीक्षा कर्मचारियों की एक टीम द्वारा "बड़ी विफलताओं" के बाद जेल से रिहा होने पर एक क्रमिक बलात्कारी यौन हमले की घटना को अंजाम देने में सक्षम था।


Norovirus to blame for Hi-Tide bar diners falling ill

Summary: Fifty-six people who fell ill after attending functions at a bar in Bridgend county had the norovirus, it has been confirmed.

Public Health Wales said the Hi-Tide bar in Porthcawl remains open after the outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting. The outbreak has now been declared over. A bar spokesman said: "We are confident that we provided, and will continue to provide, the very highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene." "We would like to wish all those affected a full and speedy recovery," the spokesman added.

ब्रिजेंड काउंटी के एक बार में समारोहों में भाग लेने के बाद बीमार पड़ने वाले छप्पन लोगों में नोरोवायरस की पुष्टि हुई है।


Norovirus restricts visitors at two Warwickshire hospitals

Summary: A visitor ban Warwick Hospital remains in place following an outbreak of Norovirus which has also hit Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital.

The 18-bed Nicol Ward at Stratford-upon-Avon was closed on Tuesday and restrictions were put in place at Warwick Hospital on Monday. The ban does not apply to the maternity or children's wards at Warwick. A spokesperson said patients should check the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust website for updates. Patients are still being advised to attend their appointments at Warwick, unless notified otherwise.

नोरोवायरस के प्रकोप के बाद एक आगंतुक प्रतिबंध वारविक अस्पताल बना हुआ है जिसने स्ट्रैटफोर्ड-अपोन-एवन अस्पताल को भी प्रभावित किया है।


World suicide prevention day: 'Could I have stopped my dad killing himself?'

Summary: We think we know what suicidal behaviour looks like when someone is young, but when they are elderly the signs are often quite different. Kris Griffiths never imagined his father would kill himself, but now realises he missed a number of red flags.

If you stop someone in the street and ask what the words "male suicide" brings to mind they'll probably mention a singer, maybe Kurt Cobain or Keith Flint, or perhaps a footballer, such as Gary Speed. Most likely it will be someone who became famous when they were young, perhaps lived a life of excess, and didn't make it to the relative stability and equanimity of middle age. This perception is supported to an extent by statistics: suicide is Britain's biggest killer of males under 50, with 45 to 49 the peak age bracket, according to the most recent official figures for England and Wales. The figures also bleakly confirm that the overall suicide rate has risen sharply to its highest level since 2000, with 75% being men - one dies roughly every two hours. Within these grim numbers, however, lies a hidden demographic of men who are extinguishing their lives far away from TV screens and Twitter feeds - a later age group where suicide rates rise again, but out of the public eye. In 2018 my father became one of them. Dad was 76 when he took his life, 18 months after Mum had died following a long illness. He was never able to come to terms with the loss of his life partner, feeling increasingly lonely, useless and isolated, despite regular visits from his children and grandchildren. One reason why three times more men than women kill themselves, is widely thought to be the lifelong conditioned adherence to masculine behaviour patterns: repressing emotions instead of expressing them, which is deemed weakness; and refusing to seek help, either from friends and family or health professionals. The urge to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol is also far more common among men, which invariably compounds the problem, leading to impulsive behaviour. What frequently separates the younger and older demographics, though, are the causes of the anxiety and depression that lead to suicidal ideas. In younger males these can range from identity issues to financial difficulties, often caused by loss of employment, and the perceived pressure to be economically successful. These are less likely to be problems experienced by the 70-plus age group. For them, loneliness tends to be a key factor. "The potentially harmful effects of loneliness and isolation on health and longevity, especially among older adults, are well-established," wellness author Jane Brody has written. "Research has found that loneliness can impair health by raising levels of stress hormones, which in turn can increase the risk of heart disease, dementia and even suicide attempts." In my father's case, the loss of his 45-year marriage partner, whom he had cared for devotedly in her final years, left him struggling. His retirement had not brought the contentment it had promised, and no number of visits from his children could dispel his loneliness. He had little in the way of a social circle - another factor that differentiates older men from women, who tend to be better socially connected. Not long after Mum's funeral, Dad was diagnosed with cancer, which he typically kept as quiet as possible, stoically undergoing his radiotherapy until given the all-clear seven months later. Even then there was no feeling of celebration or rejuvenation, no more joy to derive from things he'd once loved. Attendance at long-planned family engagements like Christmas was cancelled at the last second. He started to feel physical pains for which medics could find no cause. As a younger man, Dad's enjoyment of life had been infectious. A proud working-class man, who began and ended his working life as a bus driver, he enjoyed a beer and a smoke, and was always the life and soul of a party. He was ever the raconteur, and had a perpetual silly streak that didn't fade with age. His comedy idol was Norman Wisdom - he would never not find his films hysterically funny - yet he was also deeply moved by music, his favourite artists being Elvis and Roy Orbison, in particular their rousing balladry. When Orbison's Black and White Night came out on video he would watch it every weekend literally for months on end, as his downtime treat. He was all about the simple pleasures, from an afternoon nap to a Slurpee on a hot day. He once broke an incisor chomping into a frozen Mars bar that had been in the fridge too long. But his biggest mortification was probably the time he found an exotic-looking French lager on bulk sale in a Calais supermarket and duly loaded up the car boot with several crates, only to find when cracking one open back in England that it was a sickly sweet shandy with a minuscule alcohol content. I'll never forget his swearing at the moment of realisation, before the hilarity of the error took hold. It must have taken at least a year to get through them all. He pretended to have "grown fond" of them at one point, but wasn't fooling anyone. It's not just the causes of suicidal feelings that differ in older people, but also the symptoms. "Older adults 'cry for help' in markedly different ways than teens, because depression looks different when we age," says Dr Patrick Arbore, who founded Friendship Line in the US, specifically to counsel elderly people at risk of suicide. "Depressed older adults are more likely to be irritable than sad, and to complain about physical ailments their doctor can't find a reason for." He discovered that older adults weren't calling crisis lines because they didn't see themselves as being in crisis. They were lonely and depressed, but it was a chronic, undiagnosed condition that developed over time. While Dad was never officially diagnosed with depression, my siblings and I, fully aware of his isolation and anxieties, convinced him to move from his rural home to a wardened retirement property closer to us all. While he agreed to this at first, saying he'd do whatever we thought best, he later became hesitant and obstructive when it came to viewing properties, and non-committal on whether he wanted to move at all. The interpersonal theory of suicide articulated by psychologist Dr Thomas Joiner, whose own father killed himself, proposes that there are two chief causes of suicidal desire, "thwarted belongingness" and "perceived burdensomeness" - with the simultaneous presence of both being particularly dangerous. Only now does this make perfect sense, looking back at Dad's final predicament. He wanted to end the loneliness but not encumber his kids - or anyone, including himself - with the upheaval of moving. "When young people talk about suicide or say 'I want to die', older adults are more likely to say 'There's no place for me' or 'I don't want to be a burden'," says Patrick Arbore. "While we're thankfully more sensitive to the effects of outside pressures on young people, such as bullying and online harassment, we miss clear warning signs with older adults." Again, it was only when I later came across a checklist of red flags that I realised how many had been glaringly obvious, but tragically went unnoticed at the time. The obsession with getting his affairs in order - accepting literally the first offer on his house, while still not fully committing to finding a new one. Random gifts - insisting on getting my car MOT'd and fully serviced. The morbid talk of wishing he lived in America where he could easily obtain a gun - which I reflexively shut down ("Don't be stupid!") instead of engaging him on it. As I later read, discussing suicide is in no way advocating it. How to get help The most poignant forewarning was the last. One afternoon Dad turned up at my house, 70 miles away, just to "hang out" for an hour, something he'd never done before. Gratified by this unexpected social effort I gladly chatted with him over coffee, suggesting we all go away for a family holiday once he'd sold up, and then after a hug he was gone again. It was the last time I saw him, as a couple of weeks later he was gone for good. I know now that he was saying goodbye. My feelings of guilt started early because I had been able to see first-hand how lonely he was, rattling around his home with little to do except watch daytime TV. As a childless freelancer, I could spend weeks with him at a time, working from his house and a local library. When it was time to return home he would sometimes ask if I could stay one more day, which I couldn't always agree to. So I would feel guilty and despondent on those long drives back. Then, during one of my final visits, he asked if I would consider moving back in with him full-time, which I had to decline as it just wouldn't have worked out for me, a man in my late 30s, to be cohabiting with his father again in a rural dwelling. I can't help but look back on it all with profound sadness, knowing what was to come next. "Risk states are dynamic - they wax and wane over short periods of time," says geriatric psychiatrist Dr Yeates Conwell of the University of Rochester in New York, who calls the suicidal state a "teeter-totter". "There's a will to live and a will to die, and it goes back and forth." If this oscillating motivation is allowed to swing unchecked, older men are far more lethal in their suicidal behaviour, Conwell says, citing studies that suggest one in four senior citizens who attempt suicide dies, versus one in 200 for younger adults. They plan more carefully and use deadlier methods, while physical frailty reduces the likelihood of recovery from injuries, and increased isolation diminishes the chances of rescue. "Older age is significantly associated with more determined and planful self-destructive acts," says Conwell. "And fewer warnings of suicidal intent." This makes intervention to diagnose and treat depression all the more important, and it works. A 2009 US trial found that anti-depressant treatment significantly reduced the risk of suicidal ideation for those aged 65-plus. A rapid rise in the older adult population, driven by the ageing of the baby boomer generation, means elderly suicide numbers are likely to continue rising. It's telling that My Generation by The Who became something of an anthem for the boomer cohort, with its central "Hope I die before I get old" line. Only now do I wish that lyric had never been written. You may also be interested in:

हम सोचते हैं कि हम जानते हैं कि जब कोई युवा होता है तो आत्महत्या का व्यवहार कैसा दिखता है, लेकिन जब वे बूढ़े हो जाते हैं तो संकेत अक्सर काफी अलग होते हैं। क्रिस ग्रिफिथ्स ने कभी नहीं सोचा था कि उनके पिता खुद को मार देंगे, लेकिन अब उन्हें पता चलता है कि वह कई लाल झंडे भूल गए हैं।


Hot Chip drop Glastonbury festival hint

Summary: Hot Chip have dropped a huge hint that they will be playing at this year's Glastonbury festival.

The event, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2010, takes place between 23-27 June at Pilton Farm. Lead singer Alexis Taylor said: "You'll potentially see us in the Somerset area of the UK around the end of June I'd imagine. "I have been to that part of the world and enjoyed being there. Nice cider there, good music and good atmosphere." Hot Chip, who release their fourth studio album One Life Stand on 1 February, last appeared at the festival in 2008. Tickets for Glastonbury 2010 have sold out.

हॉट चिप ने एक बड़ा संकेत दिया है कि वे इस साल के ग्लास्टनबरी उत्सव में खेलेंगे।


How a UN intern was forced to live in a tent in Geneva

Summary: The case of a United Nations intern found sleeping in a tent on the shores of Lake Geneva has drawn attention to the United Nations practice (one it shares with big business and some European Union institutions) of employing interns on an unpaid basis.

By Imogen FoulkesBBC News, Geneva David Hyde, a 22-year-old from New Zealand, was delighted when he was accepted as an intern with a UN agency. He had hoped for a paid position, because, he says: "I think my work does have a value." But he was happy to take the UN offer because of the prestige attached to working for such a renowned organisation. He admits that, during the interview process, the UN told him quite clearly that Geneva was an expensive town, and wanted reassurances that he would be able to fund his internship himself. "I guess my budget was not realistic in the end," he says. "It was way more expensive than I imagined. I thought I could find a really budget way to live, but to be honest I've ended up living in a tent." He is, he says, not keen to be seen as a victim, and points out that camping on the shores of Lake Geneva during the summer months is not actually "all that bad". He had not spent too many nights there before he was noticed, and soon his story was on the front pages of the Geneva newspapers. Genevans were shocked that the famous and much-loved institution should be connected to such a case. But inside the United Nations itself, there was little astonishment. "It doesn't surprise me at all," says Sabine Matsheka from Botswana. Sabine is chair of the Geneva Interns Association. "We get desperate calls and emails from interns asking for couches, air mattresses, just a place to stay." Sabine, who is interning with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), says she too has had difficulty making ends meet. "The unpaid element has influenced my internship," she says. "I had to plan very carefully with my funds and that's why I had to stick to three months because that is what I could be supported by my family and my own funds. "I wish I could stay longer." UN officials have been taken aback by the huge attention now being paid to David's case. "Interns get a lot of experience," says Ahmad Fawzi, head of the UN's information service in Geneva. "First-hand knowledge about how the international system works: it's invaluable for them, and they have fun." Mr Fawzi also points out that the policy of not paying interns comes not from the UN agencies themselves, but from the UN General Assembly which, some years ago, passed a resolution allowing the recruitment of interns, but prohibiting their payment. And, he insists, the UN does its best to offer a few perks, negotiating cheaper rates for interns on Geneva's public transport system, and offering discounts at the UN cafeteria. Those, however, will hardly compensate for the sky-high rents which confronted David when he arrived. "I feel this young man may not have done his research," says Mr Fawzi. Sleeping in the basement Unpaid internships are commonplace these days, and they can be good experience for young people hoping to gain experience in a possible future career field. But Ian Richards, who heads the UN staff trade union in Geneva, believes the United Nations is the one organisation that should not be using unpaid labour, however valuable the experience. "It does make this organisation look terrible," he says. "Here's the United Nations, it's supposed to set the standards when it comes to labour standards, reaching out to the young, reaching out to people in developing countries, and it doesn't seem to be able to do that." What's more, he points out, UN agencies employing unpaid interns are in danger of violating the very principles, such as the abolition of slave labour, which they exist to promote. "A few years ago at the International Labour Organisation, they found an intern sleeping in the basement," he remembers. "That created a lot of noise in the press and, as a result, the ILO decided to pay its interns." Meanwhile Sabine Matsheka points that continuing with the policy of unpaid interns simply ensures that only candidates with personal funds can apply. At the moment, of the 34 interns in Sabine's section alone, she is one of just two from Africa. "I am from a developing country," says Sabine, "and I know of many people from my university who would have loved this opportunity but could probably not afford to do it." But if the ILO can find a way to get around General Assembly rules and pay its interns, surely other UN agencies can do the same? As ever with UN bureaucracy, it is not quite as simple as that. All agencies attached to the UN Secretariat, among them OCHA, UN Human Rights, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, remain bound by that old General Assembly vote forbidding the payment of interns. "I personally, everyone here agrees," says Ahmed Fawzi. "They should be paid. "But the only way to change it is for a member state to draft a resolution and submit it to the General Assembly and put it to the vote. I have no doubts it would be accepted immediately. "It's not up to us, the civil servants, it's up to member states to change the rules." Drafting, adopting and introducing UN policy can, as with any legislative body, take years. So any change will not affect today's interns, and certainly not David, who is now rolling up his tent. The expense of Geneva, the unpaid status, and now the pressure of media attention have all been too much and he has decided to resign, although he is keen to stress that his UN colleagues in Geneva are not to blame. "The United Nations has done nothing to try to stop me talking about this subject," he says. "They have been nothing but supportive, they don't want to see me in this situation. But on a structural level, there is a kind of missing link in terms of support. "I'm not sure what I'll do moving forward."

संयुक्त राष्ट्र के एक प्रशिक्षु के जिनेवा झील के तट पर एक तम्बू में सोते हुए पाए जाने के मामले ने अवैतनिक आधार पर प्रशिक्षुओं को नियुक्त करने की संयुक्त राष्ट्र की प्रथा (जिसे यह बड़े व्यवसाय और कुछ यूरोपीय संघ संस्थानों के साथ साझा करता है) की ओर ध्यान आकर्षित किया है।