Murder arrest after man found dead in Leicester flat

Summary: A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found in a flat.

Police went to a property in Heathcott Road, Leicester, on Tuesday after concerns were raised about the welfare of a 50-year-old man in the flat. He was pronounced dead at the scene at about 17:25 BST, and a post-mortem examination has taken place. Police remain at the scene and the suspect, who is in police custody, is being questioned by detectives. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

एक फ्लैट में एक शव मिलने के बाद एक 49 वर्षीय व्यक्ति को हत्या के संदेह में गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


New engine test plan for Norwich Airport

Summary: Plans for a new engine testing facility at Norwich International Airport, which will help secure the future of 341 jobs, have been submitted.

A planning application for a building on the eastern part of the airfield has been put forward by the airport. It has been working with KLM UK Engineering, which has been based at the airport repairing and overhauling engines for 35 years. The plans have been submitted to Norwich City Council. Andrew Bell, chief executive of Norwich International Airport, said: "This application is the culmination of an enormous amount of work to identify the optimum location and technology to enable engine testing to continue to take place, whilst minimising as far as possible the impact of the activity itself on the surrounding community. "The ability to test engines is critical to KLM UK Engineering's business at the airport."

नॉर्विच अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हवाई अड्डे पर एक नई इंजन परीक्षण सुविधा की योजना प्रस्तुत की गई है, जो 341 नौकरियों के भविष्य को सुरक्षित करने में मदद करेगी।


Harry Thomas dies after East Yorkshire car crash

Summary: A man has died and a second driver is critically ill following a car crash in East Yorkshire.

Harry Thomas, 23, was hurt in a collision on the A165 between Leven and Brandesburton, on Thursday morning, and has since died, said Humberside Police. The second driver remains in a critical but stable condition, the force said. Officers are asking anyone who saw the crash or has dashcam footage of the collision to contact police. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Related Internet Links Humberside Police

ईस्ट यॉर्कशायर में एक कार दुर्घटना के बाद एक व्यक्ति की मौत हो गई है और दूसरा चालक गंभीर रूप से बीमार है।


Could Rangers have survived?

Summary: The tax bill owed by the company that used to control Rangers Football Club has been sharply reduced. There is a report that it could yet be cut by more. It does not affect current Ibrox operations. But it raised the question of what might have happened to Rangers if its debts in 2011 had appeared to be smaller than they did.

Douglas FraserBusiness/economy editor, Scotland The question of what went wrong with the finances of Rangers Football Club is back in the Ibrox floodlights. A claim has been published by the Times that the tax bill hanging over it was inflated by HMRC far beyond the amount that should have been charged. It doesn't make any difference to activities at Ibrox now but it still matters to quite a lot of fans and foes of Rangers. Could Rangers have avoided its collapse nearly eight years ago? To remind you, if you need it, this involves the way Rangers players were being paid from 2001 to 2009, and the tax that was not being paid on that income. Money was put into Employee Benefit Trusts (EBT), located in offshore tax havens. The trust, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the Ibrox payroll department, ensured that loans were forwarded from the trusts into players bank accounts, with no expectation they would ever be paid back. Rangers was far from being the only company doing this. It looked like it might be ok - accountants elsewhere were filling their clients' boots with untaxed income via the Cayman Islands - but it wasn't. HM Revenue and Customs came after them. It said this was avoidance and slapped a very large bill on Rangers to pay back tax. With that bill hanging over the club, it struggled to find a buyer when Sir David Murray had to put it on the market. And in came Craig Whyte in May 2011. He bought it for £1, refused to pay further tax bills, and recklessly drove it into financial collapse in less than a year. BDO, the liquidators of the old company that controlled Ibrox, have continued to tussle with the tax authority about the total bill. That reached a maximum of £94m. But it has emerged that HMRC has removed a penalty of £24m, after an appeal to the tax authority's Penalty Review Consistency Panel. When I write 'emerged', I mean that it was made public in June, though it wasn't much publicised. But there's more, and this is where it gets a lot less clear. The Times newspaper is reporting that the bill could be further reduced, as negotiations and legal manoeuvres continue. That report says that the further reduction could be as much as £30m. That would take the EBT-related tax bill down to about £20m. But before you get carried away, consider carefully the words "could be" and "as much as". It could also be a lot less, and The Times is not saying how its accountancy sources have got to the figures being used. BDO has responded to the report, saying negotiations with HMRC continue, and they hope for resolution next year. HMRC says it won't comment on this specific case. But in a brief statement, it reminds us that even if you try to "disguise remuneration" through a trust, that remains taxable. So, what difference does that make? For the creditors of the old Rangers holding company, a little. There is an additional £1m pot of money to be distributed as a result of the reduction in the tax bill. Such creditors, ranging from the Ibrox energy suppliers to a face painter at a children's event, have already received 3.9 pence for every pound claimed. They may now get another 3 pence. Does it change things for activities at Ibrox? Not at all. The stadium, the team, the brand and all the other assets are owned and controlled by a completely different corporate entity, Rangers International Football Club. Does it make any difference to what might have been? Perhaps. That's for fans and their foes to fight over. I'm not going to take sides, because among my various areas of non-expertise is the question of what might have been. I would simply offer three observations. Away from all the tussling over the Ibrox legacy and what might have been, a head of steam under this issue was building up at Westminster earlier this year. Contractors, in all sorts of sectors, are the individuals who were paid through these "disguised remuneration" trusts, such as EBTs, as players and some others were being paid at Ibrox. They got the money, without tax paid, and they've spent a lot of it. As one does. To claw it back from earnings going back to 1999, which HMRC is now doing, is threatening to ruin some people. There's a campaign group - the Loan Charge Action Group - which got going 18 months ago. It has been lobbying MPs, and has support from across party lines, mostly Conservatives, claiming that retrospective tax is unjust, and that some of those facing the bills are in extreme distress. Those on board for the campaign include "NHS workers, teachers, public sector agency staff, power, gas and oil industry contractors, as well as IT, digital and banking sector specialists". In September, Chancellor Sajid Javid, bowed to pressure to review the law. He commissioned a report from Sir Amyas Morse, former head of the National Audit Office. That should have been published around now. But it has been delayed by the election. It won't be sent to the Treasury before mid-December. It's not clear how a change in the retrospective nature of this would affect companies, and particularly one in liquidation. The campaign is mainly about individuals, so former Rangers players, who were hit by tax bills as a result of this, may yet find an end or a reduction to retrospective tax demands.

रेंजर्स फुटबॉल क्लब को नियंत्रित करने वाली कंपनी द्वारा देय कर बिल को तेजी से कम कर दिया गया है। एक रिपोर्ट है कि इसमें अभी और कटौती की जा सकती है। यह वर्तमान इब्रोक्स संचालन को प्रभावित नहीं करता है। लेकिन इसने सवाल उठाया कि रेंजर्स का क्या हुआ होगा यदि 2011 में इसका ऋण उनकी तुलना में कम प्रतीत होता।


'Thankful villages' of WW1 acknowledge their good fortune

Summary: Colwinston near Cowbridge, Llanfihangel y Creuddyn on the outskirts of Aberystwyth, and Herbrandston - just a stone's throw from the port of Milford Haven - are all archetypal picture-postcard rural Welsh villages.

By Neil PriorBBC News Yet keen-eyed visitors may spot that something is missing from all three - none have the obligatory memorial to the fallen of World War One. The reason is that they are Wales' only "thankful villages". Of more than 1,000 Welsh parishes who sent men to the front, only these three saw all of their sons return home safely. Indeed, Herbrandston is doubly thankful, as it alone in Wales lost no men in either world war. Across 16,000 parishes in England and Wales, just 53 are thankful villages, of whom only 14 are said to be doubly thankful. There are none in Scotland or Ireland, and only one in the whole of France. Last year Medwyn Parry and his hardy companions set about touring all 53 thankful villages by motorbike to raise money for the Royal British Legion. Even though he now lives just a few miles from Ceredigion's thankful village of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Mr Parry explained that his fascination began in another of those rarest of places. "Decades ago I was doing some work in Colwinston. I can't remember whether I'd already noticed that they had no war memorial, but one day it started teeming down and we went into the porch of the local church to shelter," he said. "I saw the plaque there listing the men who went to the Great War and giving thanks for the fact that they all came home alive. "It struck me as incredibly unusual at the time, but it was only with the arrival of the internet that I started doing some research and realised just how unusual it was." As part of the motorcycle tour, Mr Parry's group presented each village with a slate plaque to commemorate their good fortune and to mark a spot at which to remember those places which were not as lucky. "I found around Llanfihangel that some people knew it was a thankful village but didn't really know what that meant, and that others had wondered why we went to the neighbouring village on Remembrance Sunday but hadn't thought any more about it than that," he said. "But once people know the significance they're immensely proud of their history. So we thought we'd like each of the thankful villages to have a plaque which would act as a talking point. "The fact that this handful of parishes lost no-one focuses your mind on the sheer scale of the carnage elsewhere." Llanfihangel y Creuddyn welcomed home 12 men in 1918, Colwinston 23, and Herbrandston 32, as well as another 39 in World War Two. All three had populations under 200, and had stood to lose the heart of a generation. BBC Historian Dan Snow contends that their salvation is all the more miraculous given the system of battalions of "pals", which saw entire villages, factories and football teams patriotically sign up together, and often die together. "It was a pattern repeated many times - and on each occasion, a town or village was deeply wounded, instantly," he said. The pals' system was phased out in 1917, but not before it left an indelible mark on the British consciousness. "They had to stop that practice because it was so unbelievably destructive," said Snow, whose great-grandfather Sir Thomas D'Oyly Snow was a general at the Somme. "When you let brothers serve together, it can be devastating for a whole community. It was a war that touched everybody in the British Isles. That's what total war means." However Geoff Bates, chair of Colwinston Community Council, wonders whether this same destructive system could in a bizarre way be responsible for the thankful villages as well. "Part of the work we're undertaking for our centenary commemorations is to try and learn more about these 23 men - who they were, what they did etc," he said. "At the moment it's not clear if they served together in a pals' battalion and were extremely lucky to have been posted to a part of the line which saw comparatively light losses, or whether they were dotted all over and the fact that they all came home is just an incredible random chance. "Depending on what we find, we're hoping to put on an exhibition of their lives on the anniversary in August." Colwinston has also secured a grant from Vale of Glamorgan council for new road signs indicating their thankful village status. But Colin Reynolds, a member of the church council of St Mary's in Herbrandston, says that when they realised there were no village losses after World War Two as well, the villagers were not entirely sure whether they should be advertising the fact. "After the first war a local landowner, whose son was one of the 32 to come home safely, gave thanks by paying for the church to be re-pointed. He also donated the wonderful screen we have behind the altar," he said. "When the same happened in the second war the local gentry bought the church a pipe organ. That drew a lot of attention because there weren't many churches around here with pipe organs, but by all accounts nobody in the village knew quite how they should feel. "There were six churches on the local circuit and the other five all lost many, many men. "So how could St Mary's celebrate all their sons returning safely, and show off their new organ, when everywhere else you looked people were mourning?"

काउब्रिज के पास कोल्विनस्टन, एबेरेस्टविथ के बाहरी इलाके में लानफिहांजेल वाई क्रेडिन और मिलफोर्ड हेवन के बंदरगाह से सिर्फ एक पत्थर की दूरी पर हरब्रांडस्टन-सभी प्राचीन चित्र-पोस्टकार्ड वाले ग्रामीण वेल्श गांव हैं।


Q&A: Red Cross on relief efforts in Rakhine

Summary: Joe Cropp of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) recently visited Burma to work with the Myanmar [Burma] Red Cross helping ethnic Rakhine and Muslim communities affected by inter-communal violence. He returned last week, before the latest outbreak of violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslims, mostly from the stateless Rohingya minority, which left dozens dead and thousands more displaced.

Where were you? I travelled to Sittwe, which was the centre of the inter-communal violence in June, but has escaped the latest unrest further north. Myanmar Red Cross is well respected in Rakhine because of its neutral approach - this meant we were able to move freely among both affected communities. What evidence of violence could you see? The physical destruction is still evident in Sittwe township, where some 4,800 homes were damaged or destroyed. In most parts of the town life continues as normal, on the surface at least. In other parts, entire streets are little more than a few blackened tree stumps and occasional burnt pieces of timber where a home once stood. The starkest evidence of the destruction, however, is in the relief camps, where the displaced families who lost everything are now living. How many have been displaced and where are they? When I was there, an estimated 75,000 people were living in camps and other temporary locations in and around Sittwe. The government has separated the communities, for how long it is unclear, with the larger displaced Muslim community - some 67,000 people - accommodated in nine camps outside Sittwe. The displaced ethnic Rakhine are in camps inside the town. Their accommodation ranges from single-room bamboo shelters to canvas tents, each housing a family. It is estimated that a further 28,000 people, predominantly Muslim families, have been displaced by the recent unrest further north and will be in urgent need of aid. Who is in the camps and what are conditions like? The people in the camps are typical families. I met teachers, shop owners, tri-shaw drivers, business people and carpenters. There is a sad irony in a carpenter living in a tarpaulin tent, surrounded by almost 200 other tarpaulin tents. Their condition varies, depending on the level of relief that has arrived. The most in need are still in canvas tents, which become stiflingly hot during the day. Water often needs to be trucked in and sanitation is a major issue - many of the camps are still short of suitable toilets. The evidence of this can also be seen in the first aid clinics run by the Red Cross. Most cases are skin rashes and diarrhoea, the result of poor water and sanitation. In each camp we visited, the visible needs were very similar - food, shelter, safe water and sanitation facilities. The government, Red Cross, United Nations and a few other humanitarian organisations are working to provide this support, but more still needs to be done. There are also hidden needs. People have endured trauma and live every day with uncertainty. There is a need for "psychosocial" support for these families, who lost everything during the violence. This is not as obvious as the physical needs, but you can see it in people's faces and hear it on the edge of their voices as they talk about lost homes and lost lives. One woman said to me: "When I think about it, I just want to cry." I think that sentiment rings true for thousands of others. Did you get a sense of tensions on the ground? The latest violence hit other areas of Rakhine state, north of Sittwe. The township remains extremely tense and polarised, with both communities on high alert. A night curfew remains in place. In the camps themselves, there is a mood of sadness and loss, mixed with flashes of anger at the people who caused the waves of violence. Basically people want their lives back and they want to feel secure.

इंटरनेशनल फेडरेशन ऑफ रेड क्रॉस एंड रेड क्रिसेंट सोसाइटीज (आई. एफ. आर. सी.) के जो क्रॉप ने हाल ही में म्यांमार [बर्मा] रेड क्रॉस के साथ काम करने के लिए अंतर-सांप्रदायिक हिंसा से प्रभावित जातीय रखाइन और मुस्लिम समुदायों की मदद करने के लिए बर्मा का दौरा किया। वह पिछले सप्ताह वापस आए, राखाइन बौद्धों और मुसलमानों के बीच हिंसा के नवीनतम प्रकोप से पहले, ज्यादातर राज्यविहीन रोहिंग्या अल्पसंख्यकों से, जिसमें दर्जनों लोग मारे गए और हजारों लोग विस्थापित हो गए।


'Yarn-bombing' pattern developing in Orkney town of Kirkwall

Summary: Mystery knitters and crochetters have been brightening up public spaces in the Orkney town of Kirkwall with a craze known as "yarn-bombing".

Trees, railings and street signs have been decorated with colourful works. The pair behind it are keen to protect their anonymity, and go under the alias of Knitfish and Ripples the Crocheter. Much of their work has appeared at the public area in front of Orkney Library and Archive. The craze is believed to have originated in Texas. Young trees are sporting crocheted cardigans, while brightly-coloured knitted tubes have been fitted around railings. Orkney's yarn-bombers have promised to continue - as long as public opinion remains on their side.

रहस्यपूर्ण बुनाई और क्रोकेटर्स किर्कवाल के ऑर्कनी शहर में सार्वजनिक स्थानों को "यार्न-बॉम्बिंग" के रूप में जाने जाने वाले क्रेज के साथ रोशन कर रहे हैं।


Amy Winehouse found dead at London flat aged 27

Summary: Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in London.

It still hasn't been confirmed what caused the singer's death. Ambulance crews and police went to the singer's flat in Camden, north London, just before 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon (23 July) but paramedics were unable to save her life. The singer has had a well documented battle with drink and drugs. She last performed one of her own shows at a festival in Serbia last month. But despite remaining on stage for a full gig she appeared drunk and was booed off stage. Following that show, the remainder of her European comeback tour was postponed. Amy Winehouse was seen out on Wednesday night (20 July), showing support for her god-daughter Dionne Bromfield as the teenager performed as part of the iTunes festival in London. It's believed Amy's father, Mitch Winehouse is flying back from New York to London. Tributes Amy Winehouse followed the critical success of her debut album Frank with a Mark Ronson-produced breakthrough second album Back To Black in 2006. It won her five Grammy Awards and brought her worldwide stardom. However, despite time in the studio, a follow-up was never released. On Saturday evening, fans gathered near her London home. Tributes are coming in from around the world. On Twitter, Tinchy Stryder said: "My thoughts go out to her family and friends. RIP Amy Winehouse." Katy B said: "So sad. Such an incredibly talented woman. R.I.P Amy such an inspiration, my heart hurts." Jessie J said: "The way tears are streaming down my face - such a loss - RIP Amy." Lily Allen, who rose to fame around the same time as Amy Winehouse said the death is "just beyond sad". She added: "There's nothing else to say. She was such a lost soul, may she rest in peace." Take a look back at Amy Winehouse's life from her debut in 2003 to her death in 2011

एमी वाइनहाउस लंदन में अपने घर पर मृत पाई गई हैं।


Asylum seekers 'given inappropriate study bans'

Summary: After the government was forced to apologise for declaring some of the so-called Windrush generation illegal immigrants, the Home Office is now reviewing the cases of asylum seekers affected by another aspect of its so-called "hostile environment" policy, who may have been inappropriately banned from studying.

By James Clayton & Phil KempBBC Newsnight Ibrahim - not his real name - received a letter four weeks ago from the Home Office telling him he was banned from further study. It arrived two weeks before he was due to sit his English language exams. As a 19-year-old asylum seeker from North Africa living in a foreign country and speaking a new language, he says his English classes - he was studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - had become a lifeline. "Sometimes I cry. I even thought I would kill myself… this is one way I can make my life better but now they closed that one way", says Ibrahim, who came to England three years ago because he faced threats in his own country. He is one of more than 50 asylum seekers Newsnight has been told about who may have had inappropriate study restrictions imposed upon them. It is the result of rule changes introduced in January after the introduction of the government's "hostile environment" immigration policy. "I've certainly heard of getting on for 100 cases," says Adam Hundt, a solicitor with Deighton Pierce Glynn. "I think it's quite clear that this will be affecting thousands of people." Since the beginning of the year, asylum seekers who used to be classified as having been granted temporary admission have been placed on "immigration bail". The change was introduced as part of the Immigration Act 2016 and it affects migrants lawfully in the UK but without leave to remain, like asylum seekers. The government said it was only intended to be used on a case-by-case basis when proportionate - for example, when they want to know the whereabouts of an asylum seeker, they could specify a particular institution where they could study. During the passage of the legislation, the government gave assurances that it did not intend to impose a blanket ban on asylum seekers accessing education. But campaigners and immigration lawyers say that appears to have been what has happened. "We see about 50 asylum seekers a week on average at our advice drop-in and everybody that has come with a bail form has the restriction on study," says Becky Hellewell, a case worker with the charity St Augustine's Centre in Halifax. Home Office staff are not the only group to have interpreted the guidance in this way. The University of Leicester wrote to asylum seekers on its roll to update them that they were not permitted to use immigration bail conditions to study there. But that should only have been the case if there was a restriction to study on their bail form - they should not have been prevented because they were on immigration bail. A statement from the university said: "All email communications on this matter are in accordance with government guidance provided to all universities. "We change and update our communications in accordance with guidance from the government." Government 'to correct' mistakes The consequences for asylum seekers caught breaching these conditions can be severe. They are liable to prosecution and could be subject to a fine and/or six months in prison. Earlier this week, the Home Office minister Baroness Williams clarified in the House of Lords that the new immigration provisions were not designed to prevent asylum seekers from studying. "The Home Office is proactively looking to identify cases where this has been applied inappropriately and will apply a new bail notice to the individual," she told peers. This clarification came too late for Ibrahim. He had to take the Home Office to court in order to have his study ban lifted just a day before his exams. He has now been issued with a new bail notice removing his study restriction. "I think what we've seen with the implementation of immigration bail provisions is that it's different depending on what area you are in," says Kamena Dorling of the charity Coram, which works with vulnerable children and young people. "It's not being applied in accordance with the guidance, nor is it being applied consistently." The guidance that immigration officials were using has now been updated to say "anyone who claims asylum should not have a study condition applied to them… If there is any doubt over whether study should be restricted, no study condition should be applied". The Home Office told Newsnight the study restrictions on immigration bail are not part of its "compliant environment" policy - the phrase preferred by the new Home Secretary Sajid Javid instead of "hostile environment". A Home Office spokesperson said: "Immigration bail is a valuable tool which enables individuals who are liable to be detained to remain in the community, subject to certain conditions. "The provisions are not designed to be used to prevent asylum seekers studying and we are proactively looking to identify cases where this may have happened so that we can correct it. "We have also updated our guidance for staff so that they are absolutely clear when to apply restrictions and we are putting in place new safeguards, so that when the restriction is applied, it has to be approved by a senior officer. These steps will make sure such an issue does not arise in the future."

सरकार द्वारा तथाकथित विंडरश पीढ़ी के कुछ अवैध प्रवासियों को घोषित करने के लिए माफी मांगने के लिए मजबूर होने के बाद, गृह कार्यालय अब अपनी तथाकथित "शत्रुतापूर्ण वातावरण" नीति के एक अन्य पहलू से प्रभावित शरण चाहने वालों के मामलों की समीक्षा कर रहा है, जिन्हें अध्ययन से अनुचित रूप से प्रतिबंधित किया गया हो सकता है।


Q&A: Will shale revolutionise gas?

Summary: "If shale gas fails to deliver on current expectations, then in 10 years or so, gas supplies could face serious constraints."

So says Paul Stevens, a senior fellow at the international affairs think tank, Chatham House. He's penned a report that raises serious doubts about whether shale gas will indeed deliver. So what is shale gas, why is it such a big deal, and what will happen if it turns out to be one big wild goose chase?

"यदि शेल गैस वर्तमान अपेक्षाओं को पूरा करने में विफल रहती है, तो लगभग 10 वर्षों में, गैस आपूर्ति को गंभीर बाधाओं का सामना करना पड़ सकता है।"


The extraordinary case of the Guevedoces

Summary: The discovery of a small community in the Dominican Republic, where some males are born looking like girls and only grow penises at puberty, has led to the development of a blockbuster drug that has helped millions of people, writes Michael Mosley.

Johnny lives in a small town in the Dominican Republic where he, and others like him, are known as "Guevedoces", which effectively translates as "penis at twelve". We came across Johnny when we were filming for a new BBC Two series Countdown to Life, which looks at how we develop in the womb and how those changes, normal and abnormal, impact us later in life. Like the other Guevedoces, Johnny was brought up as a girl because he had no visible testes or penis and what appeared to be a vagina. It is only when he approached puberty that his penis grew and testicles descended. Johnny, once known as Felicita, remembers going to school in a little red dress, though he says he was never happy doing girl things. Find out more Watch the second episode of Countdown to Life: The Extraordinary Making of You, Against the Odds, on BBC Two at 21:00 on Monday 21 September, or catch up afterwards on iPlayer. "I never liked to dress as a girl and when they bought me toys for girls I never bothered playing with them - when I saw a group of boys I would stop to play ball with them." When he became obviously male he was taunted at school, and responded with his fists. "They used to say I was a devil, nasty things, bad words and I had no choice but to fight them because they were crossing the line." We also filmed with Carla, who at the age of seven is on the brink of changing into Carlos. His mother has seen the change coming for quite a while. "When she turned five I noticed that whenever she saw one of her male friends she wanted to fight with him. Her muscles and chest began growing. You could see she was going to be a boy. I love her however she is. Girl or boy, it makes no difference." So why does it happen? Well, one of the first people to study this unusual condition was Dr Julianne Imperato-McGinley, from Cornell Medical College in New York. In the 1970s she made her way to this remote part of the Dominican Republic, drawn by extraordinary reports of girls turning into boys. When she got there she found the rumours were true. She did lots of studies on the Guevedoces (including what must have been rather painful biopsies of their testicles) before finally unravelling the mystery of what was going on. When you are conceived you normally have a pair of X chromosomes if you are to become a girl and a set of XY chromosomes if you are destined to be male. For the first weeks of life in womb you are neither, though in both sexes nipples start to grow. Then, around eight weeks after conception, the sex hormones kick in. If you're genetically male the Y chromosome instructs your gonads to become testicles and sends testosterone to a structure called the tubercle, where it is converted into a more potent hormone called dihydro-testosterone This in turn transforms the tubercle into a penis. If you're female and you don't make dihydro-testosterone then your tubercle becomes a clitoris. When Imperato-McGinley investigated the Guevedoces she discovered the reason they don't have male genitalia when they are born is because they are deficient in an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which normally converts testosterone into dihydro-testosterone. This deficiency seems to be a genetic condition, quite common in this part of the Dominican Republic, but vanishingly rare elsewhere. So the boys, despite having an XY chromosome, appear female when they are born. At puberty, like other boys, they get a second surge of testosterone. This time the body does respond and they sprout muscles, testes and a penis. Imperato-McGinley's thorough medical investigations showed that in most cases their new, male equipment seems to work fine and that most Guevedoces live out their lives as men, though some go through an operation and remain female. Another thing that Imperato-McGinley discovered, which would have profound implications for many men around the world, was that the Guevedoces tend to have small prostates. This observation, made in 1974, was picked up by Roy Vagelos, head of research at the multinational pharmaceutical giant, Merck. He thought this was extremely interesting and set in progress research which led to the development of what has become a best-selling drug, finasteride, which blocks the action of 5-alpha-reductase, mimicking the lack of dihydro-testosterone seen in the Guevedoces. My wife, who is a GP, routinely prescribes finasteride as it is an effective way to treat benign enlargement of the prostate, a real curse for many men as they get older. Finasteride is also used to treat male pattern baldness. A final interesting observation that Imperato-McGinley made was that these boys, despite being brought up as girls, almost all showed strong heterosexual preferences. She concluded in her seminal paper that hormones in the womb matter more than rearing when it comes to your sexual orientation. This is still a controversial topic and one I explore later in the film when I meet Mati, who decided from the earliest age that though "he" looked like a boy, Mati was really a girl. As for Johnny, since he developed male genitalia he has had a number of short term girlfriends, but he is still looking for love. "I'd like to get married and have children, a partner who will stand by me through good and bad," he sighs wistfully. More from the Magazine The number of children aged 10 and under who have been referred to NHS support services to help deal with transgender feelings has more than quadrupled in the last six years, the Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned. Here is the story of two of the youngest transgender children in the UK - with permission from their parents and with the support of the children's schools. The story of two transgender children Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

माइकल मोस्ले लिखते हैं कि डोमिनिकन गणराज्य में एक छोटे से समुदाय की खोज, जहां कुछ पुरुष लड़कियों की तरह दिखते हुए पैदा होते हैं और केवल युवावस्था में लिंग विकसित करते हैं, ने एक ब्लॉकबस्टर दवा के विकास को जन्म दिया है जिसने लाखों लोगों की मदद की है।


Covid-19: Youngest stroke patient's 'Christmas miracle'

Summary: A father-of-two who nearly died from pneumonia, sepsis, respiratory failure and a stroke, caused by coronavirus, said he was "so grateful" to be alive to celebrate Christmas with his family.

By Charlie JonesBBC News Omar Taylor, 31, spent six weeks in Colchester General Hospital earlier this year. He was the youngest reported patient in the world to have a stroke due to Covid-19. He said: "It feels like a miracle that I am even here." Mr Taylor suffered the most severe stroke possible, with multiple microbleeds. Doctors said his brain was being attacked on both sides, in a "cytokine storm". He spent 20 days on a ventilator in intensive care and his wife Kaitlyn, who is training to be a nurse at the same hospital, was told to prepare for the worst. When he began to show signs of recovery, doctors said he would probably be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life but he managed to walk out of hospital in May. Mr Taylor was left with mobility issues and minimal speech when he got home to Rowhedge, near Colchester. But he learned to speak again and recently returned to work as a regional director of Care UK. A fundraising page created by a friend raised nearly £19,000, which the family used to fund private therapy sessions. "Looking back, it doesn't feel like it happened to me, it doesn't even feel real," Mr Taylor said. Doctors recently discovered one of the valves in his heart did not close at birth, and he is due to have surgery to fix it. Mrs Taylor said: "They never would have found out if it hadn't been for what has happened. We are so grateful to my colleagues at the hospital who have looked after him so well." She said this year had been "horrendous" at times but it had ultimately brought them closer together as a family. "Everything happens for a reason," she said. "It has changed our outlook on life. Omar is a lot calmer, more settled and we all appreciate everything more. "It has changed our lives forever." Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

निमोनिया, सेप्सिस, सांस की विफलता और कोरोनावायरस के कारण एक स्ट्रोक से लगभग मरने वाले दो बच्चों के पिता ने कहा कि वह अपने परिवार के साथ क्रिसमस मनाने के लिए जीवित रहने के लिए "बहुत आभारी" हैं।


Twenty years of Sonic the Hedgehog

Summary: For an entire generation of gamers, this is where it all started. Spinning into life in 1991, Sega's spiky blue mascot took the gaming world by storm. But as he celebrates his 20th birthday, what's next for Sonic the Hedgehog?

By Dave LeeTechnology Reporter At the start of the '90s, Sega had a problem - a big, fat, moustachioed Italian plumber problem. Although it had just launched the well-received Megadrive console (Genesis in the US), the company was still no match for the might of Nintendo, with its NES games machine and rotund plumber hero, Mario. During its first full year on sale, the Megadrive sold fewer units than the NES, despite Nintendo's console being over five years old. The popularity of Mario had helped Nintendo claim 92% of the home video game market. If Sega was to survive, something drastic had to be done. The company's new boss, Tom Kalinske set about creating a megastar. He tasked Sega's designers with inventing a mascot; a hero to take over from the moderately popular, but distinctly ordinary, Alex Kidd. It took several goes - an armadillo, a rabbit and a dog were all considered - before the team settled on Sonic, a speedy blue hedgehog. "The speed of Sonic was always a big part of the design," said David Corless, brand director for Sonic outside of Japan. "It was born out of one of the original team members - Yuji Naka - the first programmer of Sonic. "He had a love of all things fast, so Sonic was always going to be a quick character and that was also born out of looking at other platform games like Mario and wanting to create something that was much quicker." Much to the annoyance of the Sonic Team, Mr Kalinske - who was a former head of toy company Mattel - toned down some rather bizarre additions to the character, most notably a human girlfriend named Madonna, and a pair of menacing fangs. Even more controversially, Mr Kalinske decided to make Sonic the new 'pack-in' game - the title that came free in the box with every purchase of the Sega console, which itself was to be drastically lowered in price. On 23 June, 1991, the first Sonic game hit the shelves. As video game historian Steven L Kent recalls, it changed perceptions of Sega. "Sonic comes out, he's got a lot of attitude. For example, if you don't keep playing, he'll stare into the camera and start tapping his foot. "It communicated the whole attitude that Sega was not interested in being your little brother's video game console. They wanted to be the cool console." It worked. Sonic the Hedgehog reportedly sold in excess of 15 million copies, swinging the games market 65% into Sega's favour. Such was the character's popularity that, according to one study, he was more recognisable to US children than Mickey Mouse or Abraham Lincoln. Naturally, a slew of sequels followed. Sonic 2 was released in November 1992, Sonic 3 in 1994. Like Mario, he soon developed a cast of supporting characters, including a two-tailed fox companion named Tails and a love-interest called Amy. Sonic's rise continued, with gaming spin-offs and TV shows - an approach that would eventually devalue the brand, according to Steven Kent. "They totally diluted their message, and they diluted Sonic too. All of a sudden Sonic wasn't just running and attitude, pretty soon you had all these puzzle games and RPG games." By 1996, Sonic had gone three dimensional. Sonic 3D Blast was released on both the Megadrive and Sega's newer machine, the Saturn. However, the game sold poorly, partly due to the dominance of the new console in town: the Sony PlayStation. Meanwhile, old adversary Mario went from strength to strength. Mario 64, also released in 1996, was widely regarded as a milestone in gaming, and every bit as important as Sonic's debut in 1991. Then in 1998, Sonic was propelled back into favour again with the arrival of Sega's latest console, the Dreamcast. The first sixth-generation games machine, Dreamcast beat PlayStation 2, Nintendo Gamecube and Microsoft's Xbox to market. With it came Sonic Adventure, the best Sonic game of recent times, according to Steven L Kent. "It's still at that incredible speed and with 3D graphics, and it was brilliant. It was a fabulous game," he said. But despite the head start, Dreamcast lost the console war and its demise spelled the end of Sega as a hardware manufacturer. From now on, Sonic would only appear on other companies' machines - including Nintendo's. The cold war truly came to an end in 2007 with the release of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. The following years brought a few more Sonic titles, but the glory days had clearly passed. To mark the 20th anniversary, Sega is releasing Sonic Generations, a combination of modern Sonic - with its 3D style - and classic Sonic. Steven L Kent holds on to the hope that a single great Sonic game would be enough to make the character popular again. "One more Sonic Adventure and Sonic could be back up on top, he really could. But he's not there right now. "Right now, he's Kevin Costner."

गेमर्स की एक पूरी पीढ़ी के लिए, यह वह जगह है जहाँ यह सब शुरू हुआ। 1991 में जीवन में घूमते हुए, सेगा के तीखे नीले शुभंकर ने खेल की दुनिया में तूफान ला दिया। लेकिन जैसे ही वह अपना 20 वां जन्मदिन मना रहा है, सोनिक द हेजहोग के लिए आगे क्या है?


Patient 91: How Vietnam saved a British pilot and kept a clean Covid-19 sheet

Summary: "If I'd been almost anywhere else on the planet, I'd be dead. They would have flicked the switch after 30 days," says Stephen Cameron from his hospital bed.

By Oliver Barnes & Bui ThuBBC News The 42-year-old Scottish pilot spent 68 days on a ventilator, thought to be a longer stretch of time than any patient in the UK. He did so not in a hospital in his hometown of Motherwell, but in Vietnam's sprawling and hectic Ho Chi Minh City, with no close friends or family for thousands of miles. Cameron, the last Covid-19 patient in an intensive care unit in Vietnam, has been the sickest doctors have had to deal with during the outbreak. The country, home to 95 million people, has seen only a few hundred confirmed cases, single-digit ICU admissions and not a single recorded death. So rare was a case of Cameron's severity in Vietnam, every minute detail of his recovery was reported in national newspapers and on TV news bulletins. He's now known nationwide as Patient 91, the moniker given to him by public health officials when he fell ill in March. "I'm very humbled by how I've been taken into the hearts of the Vietnamese people," says Cameron, speaking exclusively to the BBC. "And most of all I'm grateful for the bloody-mindedness of the doctors in not wanting me to die on their watch." '10% chance of survival' Dozens of Vietnam's intensive care specialists held regular conference calls to discuss Cameron's condition. "The very small number of critical care patients meant anyone who was severely ill got the attention of all the country's top-level clinicians," explains Dr Kidong Park, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Vietnam. For much of Cameron's two-and-a-half months in a medically induced coma, he depended on an Ecmo machine, a form of life support only used in the most extreme cases, to survive. The machines extract blood from a patient's body and infuse it with oxygen, before pumping it back in. "I'm lucky that the only lasting effect seems to be that my legs aren't yet strong enough to hold me, but I'm doing physiotherapy twice a day," says Cameron. "At one point, my friend Craig was told by the Foreign Office I had a 10% chance of survival, so he planned for the worst - he gave up my apartment and started doing things somebody would do if I was coming home in a box." Since he regained consciousness, he describes several tearful phone conversations with friends back home, who "didn't think [he'd] ever come back". Doctors had to contend with multiple complications while Cameron was in a coma. His blood became extremely sticky leading to clots. His kidneys failed meaning they required dialysis and his lung capacity plummeted to 10%. "When it came out in the press here that I needed a lung transplant, apparently loads of people offered their lungs, including a 70-year-old Vietnam war veteran," he smiles. "But it would have been a double lung transplant so that wouldn't have ended well for him." Despite the outpouring of support from the Vietnamese people and the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on Stephen Cameron's care, the reaction when he first tested positive for the virus was less welcoming. The Buddha bar cluster Cameron became ill only a few weeks after arriving in Vietnam in early February. Like many Western pilots, he'd headed to Asia to ply his trade for higher pay in the booming regional air travel industry. Two nights before he was due to pilot his first flight for Vietnam Airlines, and the night before most bars and clubs were set to shut in Ho Chi Minh City to contain the virus, he headed to meet a friend in an expat bar in an upmarket district of the city. At the time, Vietnam had had fewer than 50 confirmed cases but, according to Prof Guy Thwaites, director of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit based in Ho Chi Minh City and a government advisor on infectious diseases, the population "already had a healthy amount of respect for and fear of the virus". It was the weekend before St Patrick's Day, so the Buddha Bar and Grill was packed with revellers wearing Irish fancy dress when Cameron arrived just after 22:00. "I don't drink, I largely kept myself to myself in the corner, played a few rounds of pool and went home at around 3.15am," he recalls. However, when he developed a fever, the day after his maiden flight, and 12 others at the bar tested positive in the days following, sympathy for him among locals was in short supply. The Buddha bar cluster, as it became known in the local press, was the single biggest outbreak of coronavirus in south Vietnam, infecting nearly 20 people both indirectly and directly. And for some on social media, Cameron, who had criss-crossed the city taking in the sights, was to blame. Despite there being no proof he was the source of the outbreak, one prominent businessman, Luong Hoai Nam, labelled Patient 91 a "time bomb". He called for foreigners breaking the rules to be deported, earning plaudits from his followers on social media "There seemed to be a desire to pin it on me coming from abroad, as I did a visa run to Bangkok a week earlier," says Cameron, who's convinced he too was infected at the Buddha bar, and was not the source of the outbreak. "I was the first person to put my hands up and say: 'Look I don't feel well'. It was inevitable I would be blamed." Rapid decline On 18 March, Cameron was admitted to hospital after testing positive for the virus, and authorities moved swiftly to shut down the bar and quarantine everyone in his apartment building. In total, 4,000 people linked to the Buddha bar outbreak were tested. "Patient 91's condition got worse very quickly," recalls Prof Luong Ngoc Khue, who serves on the Vietnamese health ministry's Covid-19 taskforce and advised on Cameron's treatment. "There was a worrying decrease in the function of not just his lungs, but his kidneys, liver and blood flow." With his condition deteriorating, Cameron remembers taking the bold decision of asking to be ventilated. "I was exhausted as I couldn't sleep and I just thought: 'Oh, put me under and get it sorted'," he says. He was then comatose for weeks and weeks on end, as doctors agonised over his treatment. Meanwhile, the small number of other ICU patients in Vietnam recovered and went home. All the while, his case gained prominence, with top politicians promising to put every effort into keeping him alive, as the hospital temporarily footed the bill for the spiralling costs of his care. "There's a lot of political kudos that Vietnam can take from my recovery," he observes, "and it keeps their record, which is pretty phenomenal on Covid, very, very low." Prof Khue insists everyone - foreign or Vietnamese - had access to good quality care. "We focused on treating sick people at the highest level, both in terms of facilities and human resources, regardless of whether they were Vietnamese or from abroad," he says. But he gleefully reports that "49 out of 50 foreign patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital". Waking up was a 'blur' When Stephen Cameron was first ventilated in early April, there were just over a million cases of coronavirus around the world. When doctors woke him up, on 12 June, there were in excess of seven million. But Vietnam had avoided the worst of the virus. There has not been a recorded case of community transmission since 16 April. "I never thought it would take as long as 10 weeks to wake me up. I remember being roused, I remember getting my tracheotomy, I remember being wheeled through hospital corridors - and then the next few days are a blur." From his recovery bed in a private room in Cho Ray Hospital on the other side of Ho Chi Minh City, where he was transferred after being taken off a ventilator and testing negative for the virus, Cameron is feeling the fallout of several months being motionless and severely ill. He's lost 20kg (3.1 stone) and his muscles are so wasted it's an effort to swing his leg up even a few inches. He's also suffered from severe fatigue and depressive lows since waking up, in addition to the nagging fear that post-traumatic stress could be just around the corner. "I've been through a lot mentally. Right now, all I want to do is return home. It's the lack of noise and heat I miss the most. There's such a buzz here from all the scooters' horns and it's monsoon season. Fifteen degrees back home for me is just nice." 'I need to get back to Scotland' In the past few weeks, he's been visited at his bedside by not just a procession of doctors and nurses, but also high-ranking diplomats, government officials and politicians. Most recently, his hospital room played host to the British consul general and the chairman of Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee. He recalls the mayor promising he'll "be back in England soon", before being swiftly corrected. "I told him, if I get dumped in England, I won't be too happy," he jokes. "I need to get home to Scotland, it's 400 miles away." There's also a practical side to Cameron's desire to return home as soon as possible. The twice-daily rehab sessions he receives are made more difficult by the language barrier as very few medical staff speak good English. Rehabilitation for the most severely ill patients after ICU is always a delicate dance. Progress and pitfalls are faced in equal measure, and it can be dragged out over several years. The hospital, in which Cameron is a patient, dates back to Vietnam's French colonial era - it's one of the country's leading medical facilities "I feel like I'm taking up a bed that somebody who is really ill could take." Beating the odds But his care hasn't come free. An Ecmo machine costs $5,000-10,000 (£4,000 - £8,000) a day to operate and he was reliant on one for eight-and-a-half weeks. The ongoing wrangling over who will cover the costs are causing him stress and diverting attention away from his recovery. At first, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases paid out of its own pocket for his treatment. Then, it seemed the British embassy would intervene. His work insurance eventually covered the cost. But the funds for his stay in Cho Ray Hospital are still up in the air. "It's become really, really frustrating. At the beginning, I'd send the insurance company an email and they would say: 'Yeh, we'll sort that'. Now, the response is 'We'll deal with this shortly' and nothing seems to happen." There's a place for Cameron on a Vietnam Airlines flight back to the UK on 12 July. Meanwhile, planes continue to shuttle Vietnamese nationals back from Europe, and having been declared fit to fly a week ago, Cameron is confused why he can't return home sooner. "As I'm such a well-known public figure here now, everything about my case is controlled by the government." The politics of his return are a reminder that the miraculous recovery of Patient 91 is not just a story of a Scottish pilot who recovered from Covid-19 and overcame the odds. It is the story of how a developing Southeast Asian country with a turbulent recent history beat the odds too.

अस्पताल के बिस्तर से स्टीफन कैमरन कहते हैं, "अगर मैं दुनिया में कहीं और होता, तो मैं मर जाता। वे 30 दिनों के बाद स्विच बंद कर देते।"


Latin America: The 'pink tide' turns

Summary: First, right-wing candidate Mauricio Macri won the presidential contest in Argentina . Then, in early December, the centre-right opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition swept to victory in elections for the National Assembly in Venezuela.

By Nick CaistorRegional analyst Meanwhile, in Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff, of the left-wing Workers' Party (PT), faces possible impeachment. And even if this comes to nothing, local observers think it unlikely she will reach the end of her mandate in 2018. In all three countries, left-leaning parties have been in power for more than a decade. These recent defeats suggest the "pink tide" of left-wing governments in Latin America since the start of the 21st Century is receding. The 'pink tide' in Latin America Polarisation In Argentina, since 2003, Nestor Kirchner and subsequently his widow, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, led populist governments that owed much to the Peronist legacy. This included strong social programmes to relieve poverty and resistance to international economic orthodoxy promoted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but also led to strained relations with the country's agricultural and business sector. But the Peronist candidate in the 2015 contest, Daniel Scioli, was decisively beaten by Mr Macri in a run-off election at the end of November. In Venezuela, the arrival to power of Hugo Chavez at the end of the 1990s and the attempts to create a "21st Century socialism" led to an even greater polarisation of society, with many middle-class professionals leaving the country. But, for more than a decade, opposition voices in Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil proved unable to unite or convince a majority in their countries that they could offer a real political alternative. At the same time, the parties in power in all three countries have been accused of financial scandals and corruption, and of manipulating state institutions for their own political ends. Second generation The left-wing presidents have also suffered because they are all "second-generation" leaders of populist movements who proved far less charismatic or capable politicians than those who first swept to power more than a decade ago. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner won popular sympathy in Argentina following the death of her husband, Nestor, in 2010, but proved to be far less adept at governing the country than he was. In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro faced the hard task of continuing to build on Hugo Chavez's populist Bolivarian revolution. He too won the presidency thanks largely to a sympathy vote after Chavez's death in 2013, but has lacked both the charisma of his predecessor and the political nous to cope with increasing economic and social problems. And in Brazil, Dilma Rousseff has failed to measure up to the inspiring PT leadership of her mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who served two terms in office from 2003 to 2011. She now faces either being impeached, or leading a lame-duck government for the next two years. Smooth handovers The positive aspect of the recent elections has been the willingness of the ruling parties in both Argentina and Venezuela to accept defeat. Despite Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's obvious animosity towards Mr Macri, there was a smooth handover of power in December 2015, something that has been rare in Argentine politics over the past 50 years. And in Venezuela, President Maduro accepted what he termed "adverse results" in the elections. Now his United Socialist Party will need to show it is not afraid of a large opposition majority in the Venezuelan National Assembly pushing for change, and does not resort to governing by decree. In Argentina, the Peronists still enjoy a majority in both houses of Congress. They also control the main trade unions, and remain the most powerful party, and are likely to make life difficult for the incoming president. President Macri leads a movement called Let's Change. This desire for fresh political ideas and policies seems likely to sweep throughout Latin America in the coming months and years, threatening the hold on power of other populist leaders such as Rafael Correa in Ecuador, Evo Morales in Bolivia, and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.

सबसे पहले, दक्षिणपंथी उम्मीदवार मौरिसियो मैक्री ने अर्जेंटीना में राष्ट्रपति पद का मुकाबला जीता। फिर, दिसंबर की शुरुआत में, केंद्र-दक्षिणपंथी विपक्षी डेमोक्रेटिक यूनिटी राउंडटेबल (एमयूडी) गठबंधन ने वेनेजुएला में नेशनल असेंबली के चुनावों में जीत हासिल की।


Bethany Ovenden-Gumm: Two held over fatal Westbury crash

Summary: Two people have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a woman died when the car she was in crashed into a wall.

Bethany Michelle Ovenden-Gumm, 18, was in a Ford Fiesta that left The Mead in Westbury, Wiltshire and hit a garden wall and a tree late on 5 February. Three other occupants, a 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, were also injured. A woman and man, both 19, were arrested and released under investigation. A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said the arrests "relate to two other vehicles - a Vauxhall Astra and a Vauxhall Corsa" that officers believe were involved in the crash. Related Internet Links Wiltshire Police

एक महिला की मौत के बाद खतरनाक ड्राइविंग से मौत के संदेह में दो लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है, जब वह जिस कार में थी वह दीवार से टकरा गई थी।


Who might be next Met Police commissioner?

Summary: Four candidates have applied to become the new Metropolitan Police commissioner following the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson. Home Secretary Theresa May, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Metropolitan Police Authority chairman Kit Malthouse will select Britain's next top officer. So who is in the running?

STEPHEN HOUSE: ASKED BY HOME OFFICE TO APPLY Stephen House, the chief constable of Strathclyde Police, applied for the job after being contacted by Home Office officials. Mr House, 54, was born in Glasgow and moved to London with his family in the 1960s. He graduated from Aberdeen University before joining Sussex Police in 1981 where he helped police the Brighton Grand Hotel bombing aftermath. He went on to serve in uniform and operational roles with the Northamptonshire and West Yorkshire forces. Mr House joined the Met in 2001, where he set up the new territorial policing central operations group. He later headed the specialist crime directorate, with responsibility for areas including homicide, child abuse, the Flying Squad, undercover policing and gun crime. He began his current role as head of Scotland's largest police force in 2007 and won praise early on for his initiative on gang violence in Glasgow. In February, ahead of a conference on the future of policing, Mr House suggested a national Scottish police force would be better equipped to deal with major incidents. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said Mr House had emerged as one of the early front runners. SIR HUGH ORDE: APPLIED FOR JOB Sir Hugh Orde, who is thought to have applied, is one of the favourites for the job, according to our correspondent. He narrowly missed out when Sir Paul got the job in 2009. He is currently president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), a job which gives him a high profile, good contacts and an excellent insight into the issues facing the Met and other forces up and down the country. Although he was born in Surrey, his biggest claim to fame is his stewardship of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He was chief constable of the PSNI for seven years from 2002 and oversaw the challenge of reforming the force and winning the support of Catholics and Irish nationalists in the wake of the Good Friday Agreement. Violence and sectarian tension fell massively in Northern Ireland during his time, although critics might argue this was due to political and social factors as much as to police tactics. Sir Hugh began his career with the Met in 1977 and become a commander for crime in 1998, prior to taking the job in Northern Ireland. Gifted with a dry sense of humour, he is popular with crime reporters and has endeared himself to ordinary police officers with his remarks about government pay reforms. The question might be whether he is too outspoken to get the job of commissioner, which relies on discretion and a fair amount of "biting your lip". His chances of securing the post are said to have diminished following comments made after the recent riots in England. The home secretary was reported to have been unhappy after Sir Hugh rejected suggestions that the restoration of calm was due to political intervention, although the officer later denied there was any rift with the government. BERNARD HOGAN-HOWE: APPLIED FOR JOB Former Merseyside head Bernard Hogan-Howe was drafted into the Metropolitan Police last month as deputy commissioner after Sir Paul quit. He was chief constable of Merseyside police between 2004 and 2009. He was the man in charge when 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead as he walked home from football practice. The killing horrified the nation and there were grumblings from some in the media when there was no immediate arrest. But Mr Hogan-Howe got his man in December 2008 when Sean Mercer, 18, was jailed for life and several members of his gang were also locked up. The Sheffield-born football enthusiast joined South Yorkshire Police in 1979, working his way up and gaining an MA in law from Oxford University and a diploma in applied criminology from Cambridge University along the way. In 1997 he moved to Merseyside police and four years later joined the Met as an assistant commissioner, before returning to Liverpool in 2004. In 2008 he accused some judges of being lenient on gun crime by overlooking mandatory five-year sentences for possession of a firearm. TIM GODWIN: APPLIED FOR JOB Tim Godwin has a much lower profile than Sir Hugh but is seen as a "safe pair of hands" and stepped in as acting commissioner when Sir Paul Stephenson quit last month. He started out in the Merchant Navy but joined Sussex Police in 1981, rising through the ranks. In 1999 he switched to the Met, becoming a commander in south London and was promoted to deputy assistant commissioner in 2001. He has a background in territorial policing and led the safer streets initiative, which saw robbery cut by 30% over three years. In December 2009 he became acting deputy commissioner, a job which was made permanent in July 2009. Mr Godwin has confirmed he has put his name forward. However, his chances may have been harmed by the government's view that the Met got its tactics wrong during the initial disturbances in London.

सर पॉल स्टीफेंसन के इस्तीफे के बाद चार उम्मीदवारों ने नए मेट्रोपॉलिटन पुलिस आयुक्त बनने के लिए आवेदन किया है। गृह सचिव थेरेसा मे, लंदन के मेयर बोरिस जॉनसन और मेट्रोपॉलिटन पुलिस प्राधिकरण के अध्यक्ष किट माल्थहाउस ब्रिटेन के अगले शीर्ष अधिकारी का चयन करेंगे। तो कौन दौड़ में है?


San Cristobal: The birthplace of Venezuela's protests

Summary: Rocks, logs, rubble, discarded furniture, assorted rubbish and even an old armoured car: anything that can be used is being used to shut down the streets of San Cristobal, the Venezuelan city that gave birth to the current wave of protests against President Nicolas Maduro.

By Arturo WallaceBBC Mundo, San Cristobal Here they have been at it for more than a month, after students of a local university took to the streets and clashed with the authorities, following the alleged attempted rape of one of their classmates. And now large parts of the capital of the north-western state of Tachira look as if they are under siege, with barricades blocking avenues and the entrances to shopping districts, neighbourhoods and residential complexes. "There are more than 100 barricades," the city's mayor, Daniel Ceballos, told the BBC. "About 40% of San Cristobal is affected," he added. The situation, however, feels much worse. Most of the city comes to an almost complete standstill every day after 15:00. And, so far, every time the state governor, Jose Vielma Mora, has asked for a return to normalcy, the answer has been more barricades. List of grievances It is not surprising that every aspect of daily life has been badly affected. Every morning, huge queues form in front of the few shops that are open, as people queue for hours to buy bread, milk or flour. But San Cristobal is an opposition stronghold, and difficulties in buying basic goods have been part of daily life since long before the recent protests. Insecurity and food shortages are only two items on a long list of grievances that seems to have united a significant part of the local population against Mr Maduro's government. "This fight is no longer students-only. It's also a fight because even in normal times you cannot get milk or bread," said opposition activist Vianey Carvajal. "I don't mind [the blockades]. I'd rather suffer them for another month than suffer this government for four more years," said America Ruiz, as she crossed a barricade to look for soap in one of the more badly affected neighbourhoods. Among the San Cristobal protesters, nobody denies that the ultimate objective now is to force deep changes in the government, maybe even topple it. But nobody seems to know how to achieve it, other than by "resisting". 'Creating chaos' "We have to be patient. This won't be a struggle of days. The Venezuelan who believes we will get rid of Maduro with these protests is delusional," said Pedro Pablo Quitero, a 60-year old university teacher who sympathises with the protesters. But others are saying the "gochos", as the inhabitants of this Andean region are called, should march into Venezuela's capital, Caracas, to set up a new government like they did in 1899. Meanwhile, the government still disputes the idea that the majority of the inhabitants of San Cristobal support the protests. And Jonathan Garcia, a local MP with the ruling United Socialist Party, told the BBC it was all part of a right-wing conspiracy aimed at creating chaos and violence to justify a foreign intervention. "But we won't give them the excuse they're looking for by removing the protesters by force, like you would do in any other country in the world," said Mr Garcia. "We know they have the cameras, the videos to try to convince the world that the unarmed people of Venezuela are being violently repressed by a tyrannical government in order to justify an US intervention," he added. Armed groups That might explain why, despite all the discontent, San Cristobal remains pretty calm during the day - and there have not been reports of large violent clashes lately. However, after nightfall the situation changes. The protesters have accused the government of employing armed groups of civilians that routinely harass or attack them under the cover of night, and they insist that is why they need the barricades. But the authorities imply that the clashes are a result of disgruntled neighbours trying to set themselves free of the restrictions imposed by unwelcomed protesters. It is difficult to tell how long the situation will go on, but there's one slogan common to almost all the barricades: "He who tires, loses." The government has called for dialogue. And all of Venezuela's opposition will also be looking at what happens in San Cristobal very carefully.

चट्टानें, लट्ठ, मलबे, फेंका हुआ फर्नीचर, मिश्रित कचरा और यहां तक कि एक पुरानी बख्तरबंद कारः वेनेज़ुएला के शहर सैन क्रिस्टोबाल की सड़कों को बंद करने के लिए कुछ भी इस्तेमाल किया जा रहा है, जिसने राष्ट्रपति निकोलस मादुरो के खिलाफ विरोध की वर्तमान लहर को जन्म दिया।


Stoke-on-Trent man, 18, held after woman's body found

Summary: An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was found in Stoke-on-Trent.

Police were called to flats in Fletcher Road at 15:20 BST on Saturday. A man from the Stoke area had been arrested in connection with the death and was in custody, the Staffordshire force said. On Saturday night it said formal identification of the woman was yet to take place and specially trained officers were supporting her family. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.

स्टोक-ऑन-ट्रेंट में एक महिला का शव मिलने के बाद हत्या के संदेह में एक 18 वर्षीय व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


Bethnal Green Tube Disaster: 'I tried to black it out'

Summary: The Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943 was the UK's largest single loss of civilian life during World War II. More than 170 people fleeing from an air raid were crushed to death when the entrance to the east London station became blocked.

Joan Martin had been qualified as a doctor for just one year when she led the team treating the casualties at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children. Like many involved in the disaster, she was told to never speak of what happened that night as the British government, fearful of damaging public morale, attempted a cover up. Forced to carry the burden for most of her life - she still suffers nightmares. Now, aged 100, she told PM her story. "At 8.45pm, on the evening of the 3rd March 1943, we received a phone call telling us to expect 30 faints from a Tube shelter. 30 faints! Quickly, we began taking down children's' cots and putting up beds. I told the medical students I was working with that it must just be a test to see how quickly we could do it. That it was all an exercise. "We had hardly finished changing the beds before the first wet, mauve, body was carried into the hospital. "Wet, because apparently when they pulled the bodies from the shelter all they did was to dump them on the pavement and throw water on them. Mauve, because they were all asphyxiated. They continued to arrive until 11 o'clock that night. At least 30 bodies, mostly women and children. Almost all dead. "We worked through the night, my two medical students and I. I kept waiting for a consultant to come, but no-one came. Presumably because they had heard that everybody was already dead. I had only been qualified for one year and yet here I was in charge of this desperately impossible situation. "I've had nightmares ever since. And always in my nightmares people are trampled to death. Bethnal Green Tube Disaster The Tube station had regularly been used by up to 7,000 Londoners at a time to shelter from German bombing raids. When the sirens began at 20:17 GMT on 3 March, 1,500 locals hurried to the shelter but, although the raids were anticipated, no-one was on duty and only one door was open. Roars from new anti-aircraft guns in nearby Victoria Park were mistakenly thought to be enemy bombs and the crowd surged forward in panic. One woman, clutching her young child, lost her footing and fell, pulling an elderly man down with her. Bodies quickly piled up at base of the steps, whilst those at the top, unaware of what had happened continued to try and force their way down. A seething mass of women and children, all wearing thick clothes and gasping for air quickly developed. Though some escaped, 173 people, overwhelmingly women and children were asphyxiated. "The next morning, whilst the two students and I ate breakfast, an orderly instructed us to go off duty for 24 hours. Without any support at all - not even a thank you or a well done. "My reaction was to walk all the way from Bethnal Green to Hammersmith where my mentor and dear friend Ursula Shelley lived. She took me in, gave me a bath, a hot meal and breakfast - and sent me back to the hospital in the morning. I told her what happened. 'They've told you not to tell anyone else about it, haven't they?' she said. 'I agree. Don't dare tell anyone. ' "I suppose the government didn't want to look as if things were out of hand. The newspapers said nothing. The two students I worked with were told not to come back to the hospital, not even to this part of London, and I never saw them again. So, I stayed quiet. I tried to totally black it out. "Years later, I was looking after a disabled patient of mine, when he said he had heard of a terrible incident that happened during the war at Bethnal Green Tube station. After letting him carry on with the long story, I finally admitted that I had been there. "Of course, he was deeply shocked. He told me that a memorial service had been established on the anniversary of the event and he thought I ought to go. 'Certainly not!' was my reaction. Having been silent for so long, I couldn't imagine owning up to actually being there. "But, as things go, there I found myself at the service. I've been going for about 15 years now, though now it's mostly just filled with relatives of those involved. "Talking about what happened has helped the nightmares a bit, but they still come. At one point, I would wake up every night suffocating, desperately trying to get back to air. It wasn't the only thing that happened to me during the war, but it was the worst."

1943 की बेथनल ग्रीन ट्यूब आपदा द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के दौरान ब्रिटेन में नागरिक जीवन की सबसे बड़ी एकल क्षति थी। पूर्वी लंदन स्टेशन के प्रवेश द्वार को अवरुद्ध करने पर हवाई हमले से भाग रहे 170 से अधिक लोगों की कुचलकर मौत हो गई थी।


What executive actions has Trump taken?

Summary: One of the first ways a new president is able to exercise political power is through unilateral executive orders.

While legislative efforts take time, a swipe of the pen from the White House can often enact broad changes in government policy and practice. President Donald Trump has wasted little time in taking advantage of this privilege. Given his predecessor's reliance on executive orders to circumvent Congress in the later days of his presidency, he has a broad range of areas in which to flex his muscle. What are executive orders? Here's a look at some of what Mr Trump has done so far: Climate change policy reversal Mr Trump signed the order at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) undoing a key part of the Obama administration's efforts to tackle global warming. The order reverses the Clean Power Plan, which had required states to regulate power plants, but had been on hold while being challenged in court. Before signing the order, a White House official told the press that Mr Trump does believe in human-caused climate change, but that the order was necessary to ensure American energy independence and jobs. Environmental groups warn that undoing those regulations will have serious consequences at home and abroad. "I think it is a climate destruction plan in place of a climate action plan," the Natural Resources Defense Council's David Doniger told the BBC, adding that they will fight the president in court. Immediate impact: A coalition of 17 states filed a legal challenge against the Trump administration's decision to roll back climate change regulations. The challenge, led by New York state, argued that the administration has a legal obligation to regulate emissions of the gases believed to cause global climate change. Mars Inc, Staples and The Gap are among US corporations who are also challenging Mr Trump's reversal on climate change policy. Travel ban 2.0 After an angry weekend in Florida in which he accused former-president Barack Obama of wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower, Mr Trump returned to the White House to sign a revised version of his controversial travel ban. The executive order titled "protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States" was signed out of the view of the White House press corps on 6 March. The order's new language is intended to skirt the legal pitfalls that caused his first travel ban to be halted by the court system. The updated ban: Immediate impact: Soon after the order was signed, it was once again blocked by a federal judge, this time in Hawaii. Trump signs new travel-ban directive Undoing Obama-era waterway regulations Surrounded by farmers and Republican lawmakers, Mr Trump signed an order on 28 February directing the EPA and the Army Corp of Engineers to reconsider a rule issued by President Obama. The 2015 regulation - known as the Waters of the United States rule - gave authority to the federal government over small waterways, including wetlands, headwaters and small ponds. The rule required Clean Water Act permits for any developer that wished to alter or damage these relatively small water resources, which the president described as "puddles" in his signing remarks. Opponents of Mr Obama's rule, including industry leaders, condemned it as a massive power grab by Washington. Scott Pruitt, Mr Trump's pick to lead the EPA, will now begin the task of rewriting the rule, and a new draft is not expected for several years. Immediate impact: The EPA has been ordered to rewrite, or even repeal the rule, but first it must be reviewed. Water protection laws were passed by Congress long before Mr Obama's rule was announced, so it cannot simply be undone with the stroke of a pen. Instead the EPA must re-evaluate how to interpret the 1972 Clean Water Act. Coal waste A bill the president signed on 16 February put an end to an Obama-era regulation that aimed at protecting waterways from coal mining waste. Senator Mitch McConnell had called the rule an "attack on coal miners". The US Interior Department, which reportedly spent years drawing up the regulation before it was issued in December, had said it would protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests. Business regulations An attempt to cut down on the burden of small businesses. Described as a "two-out, one-in" approach, the order asked government departments that request a new regulation to specify two other regulations they will drop. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will manage the regulations and is expected to be led by the Republican Mick Mulvaney. Some categories of regulation will be exempt from the "two-out, one-in" clause - such as those dealing with the military and national security and "any other category of regulations exempted by the Director". Immediate impact: Wait and see. Trump moves to cut business regulation Travel ban (first version) Probably his most controversial action, so far, taken to keep the country safe from terrorists, the president said. It included: The effect was felt at airports in the US and around the world as people were stopped boarding US-bound flights or held when they landed in the US. Immediate impact: Enacted pretty much straight away. But there are battles ahead. Federal judges brought a halt to deportations, and legal rulings appear to have put an end to the travel ban - much to the president's displeasure. Trump border policy: Who's affected? Border security On Mr Trump's first day as a presidential candidate in June 2015, he made securing the border with Mexico a priority. He pledged repeatedly at rallies to "build the wall" along the southern border, saying it would be "big, beautiful, and powerful". Now he has signed a pair of executive orders designed to fulfil that campaign promise. One order declares that the US will create "a contiguous, physical wall or other similarly secure, contiguous, and impassable physical barrier". The second order pledges to hire 10,000 more immigration officers, and to revoke federal grant money from so-called "sanctuary cities" which refuse to deport undocumented immigrants. It remains to be seen how Mr Trump will pay for the wall, although he has repeatedly insisted that it will be fully paid for by the Mexican government, despite their leaders saying otherwise. Immediate impact: The Department of Homeland Security has a "small" amount of money available (about $100m) to use immediately, but that won't get them very far. Construction of the wall will cost billions of dollars - money that Congress will need to approve. Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the Republican-led Congress will need to come up with $12-$15bn more, and the funding fight - and any construction - will come up against issues with harsh terrain, private land owners and opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans. The department will also need additional funds from Congress to hire more immigration officers, but the order will direct the head of the agency to start changing deportation priorities. Cities targeted by the threat to remove federal grants will likely build legal challenges, but without a court injunction, the money can be removed. The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, along with Arizona Democrat Raul Graijalva, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. They argue the Department of Homeland Security is required to draft a new environmental review of the impacts of the wall and other border enforcement activities as it could damage public lands. How exactly will Trump 'build the wall'? Two orders, two pipelines On his second full working day, the president signed two orders to advance construction of two controversial pipelines - the Keystone XL and Dakota Access. Mr Trump told reporters the terms of both deals would be renegotiated, and using American steel was a requirement. Keystone, a 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline running from Canada to US refineries in the Gulf Coast, was halted by President Barack Obama in 2015 due to concerns over the message it would send about climate change. The second pipeline was halted last year as the Army looked at other routes, amid huge protests by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at a North Dakota site. Immediate impact: Mr Trump has granted a permit to TransCanada, the Keystone XL builder, to move forward with the controversial pipeline. As a result, TransCanada will drop an arbitration claim for $15bn in damages it filed under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Mr Trump made no mention of an American steel requirement. Construction will not start until the company obtains a permit from Nebraska's Public Service Commission. The Dakota Access pipeline has since been filled with oil and the company is in the process of preparing to begin moving oil. Keystone XL pipeline: Why is it so disputed? Dakota Pipeline: What's behind the controversy? Instructing federal agencies to weaken Obamacare In one of his first actions as president, Mr Trump issued a multi-paragraph directive to the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies involved in managing the nation's healthcare system. The order states that agencies must "waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay" any portions of the Affordable Care Act that creates financial burden on states, individuals or healthcare providers. Although the order technically does not authorise any powers the executive agencies do not already have, it's viewed as a clear signal that the Trump administration will be rolling back Obama-era healthcare regulations wherever possible. Immediate impact: Republicans failed to secure an overhaul of the US healthcare system due to a lack of support for the legislation. That means Mr Trump's executive order is one of the only remaining efforts to undermine Obamacare. Can Obamacare be repealed? Re-instating a ban on international abortion counselling What's called the Mexico City policy, first implemented in 1984 under Republican President Ronald Reagan, prevents foreign non-governmental organisations that receive any US cash from "providing counselling or referrals for abortion or advocating for access to abortion services in their country", even if they do so with other funding. The ban, derided as a "global gag rule" by its critics, has been the subject of a political tug-of-war ever since its inception, with every Democratic president rescinding the measure, and every Republican bringing it back. Anti-abortion activists expected Mr Trump to act quickly on this - and he didn't disappoint them. Immediate impact: The policy will come into force as soon as the Secretaries of State and Heath write an implementation plan and apply to both renewals and new grants. The US State Department has notified the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that US funding for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) would be withdrawn, arguing that it supports coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation. The agency has denied this, pointing to examples of its life-saving work in more than 150 countries and territories. This policy will be much broader than the last time the rule was in place - the Guttmacher Institute, Kaiser Family Foundation and Population Action International believe the order, as written, will apply to all global health funding by the US, instead of only reproductive health or family planning. Trump's order on abortion policy: What does it mean? Withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership The Trans-Pacific Partnership, once viewed as the crown jewel of Barack Obama's international trade policy, was a regular punching bag for Mr Trump on the campaign trail (although he at times seemed uncertain about what nations were actually involved). The deal was never approved by Congress so it had yet to go into effect in the US. Therefore the formal "withdrawal" is more akin to a decision on the part of the US to end ongoing international negotiations and let the deal wither and die. Immediate impact: Takes effect immediately. In the meantime, some experts are worried China will seek to replace itself in the deal or add TPP nations to its own free trade negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), excluding the US. TPP: What is it and why does it matter?

एक नया राष्ट्रपति राजनीतिक शक्ति का प्रयोग करने में सक्षम होने के पहले तरीकों में से एक एकतरफा कार्यकारी आदेशों के माध्यम से है।


Viewpoint: Women's support does not justify regressive tradition

Summary: The argument that a ban on women entering India's Sabarimala temple should be re-instated just because some women are supporting it, is a regressive and misleading argument, says historian and social commentator Devika J.

Of the many ironies that have unfolded in the wake of the violence in defence of "custom" at the Sabarimala temple, which traditionally does not allow women aged between 10 and 51 to enter, the cruellest one is about an "elite feminist conspiracy" against the Hindu religion. But I'm not surprised. The myth that Kerala - the southern Indian state where the temple is located - is a matrilineal society and that women here enjoy freedom and equal rights has been a persistent one. This myth has continued to circulate despite a rising mountain of evidence against that rosy picture. There is excellent research that reveals yawning gender gaps in non-conventional indicators of development such as the freedom from domestic and sexual violence, access to independent sources of income, and mental wellness. For instance, studies show that while education levels have risen in Kerala, domestic violence and demand for dowry have risen alongside that as well. It is also worth noting that only 24.8% of Kerala's women are a part of its workforce. This is despite Kerala having the highest levels of female literacy in India - 92%. As someone who lives in Kerala, I can vouch that misogyny here is just as toxic as anywhere else in India. The fact that numerically, feminists are relatively few, are nowhere close to power in the state and are constantly under attack is quite well-known. But critics often cherry-pick facts to suit their arguments. In fact, they have even put out privileged spokeswomen on local television to make their arguments sound more convincing. However the double-standard here is blatant. In this debate, feminists in Kerala and elsewhere who have publicly supported the court verdict have been told they are too "elite" to do so and that their concerns are ultimately too cosmopolitan to represent marginalised women and devotees. But these spokeswomen, who enjoy immense power and privilege themselves, are somehow seen as having more in common with the local women in Kerala. But all feminists - elite or not - should oppose the belief that women must be barred from the Sabarimala temple to protect the deity's "celibacy". The claim that the presence of women would invoke the "sexual energy" of male devotees has been made by critics quite publicly. But isn't the reasoning employed here very similar to the one used to victim-shame survivors of rape and sexual harassment - that their attire or their presence provoked their attacker? If such a belief is being peddled as tradition, it's important for everyone in a democratic society to strongly oppose it. What is worth questioning is why is this particular custom is being defended while so many other regressive practices have been done away with by social reform movements in the early 20th century? And ultimately, the argument that many women are rallying behind the "tradition" and faith is a classic fallacy. Never in history did a cause turn virtuous simply because an enormous mob engaged in public display of violence in its defence; neither is there reason to think that a mob full of women is less of a mob. If we look back at the suffrage movement, it may seem striking and surprising now to read about the associations of women who opposed the right to vote in America. India's Supreme Court has, in recent months, dismantled several regressive colonial-era laws, including repealing a 157-year-old act that criminalised gay sex. In reference to Sabarimala, the same court has raised an important question: If God doesn't discriminate between men and women, why should discrimination exist in temples? In overturning this ban, the court made clear in its judgement that "the right to practice religion is available to both men and women". If India's Supreme Court is convinced, why aren't we?

इतिहासकार और सामाजिक टिप्पणीकार देविका जे. का कहना है कि यह तर्क कि भारत के सबरीमाला मंदिर में महिलाओं के प्रवेश पर प्रतिबंध सिर्फ इसलिए लगाया जाना चाहिए क्योंकि कुछ महिलाएं इसका समर्थन कर रही हैं, एक प्रतिगामी और भ्रामक तर्क है।


Venezuela: What changes will the new Congress bring?

Summary: An opposition coalition won an overwhelming victory in Venezuela's legislative election on 6 December. For the first time in more than 16 years, it will control Congress. The newly elected lawmakers take up their seats on 5 January. What changes are likely to be brought about by this new National Assembly?

Who is in control? Venezuela has a presidential political system. The president is the head of the executive. The National Assembly is the legislative branch. It consists of just one chamber with 167 members. President Nicolas Maduro was elected in April 2013 to a six-year term. Up until 5 January 2016, his party, the socialist PSUV, had a majority in the National Assembly, allowing him to pass laws smoothly and even allowing him to govern temporarily by executive decree. President Maduro will now face a National Assembly in which the opposition MUD coalition is in the majority. Venezuelan politics have hitherto been highly polarised and the opposition could hold up much of President Maduro's legislation. The likely result is going to be a power struggle between the executive and the legislative. How much power does the National Assembly have? The National Assembly can pass most laws with a simple majority (50% of the lawmakers plus one). Under Venezuela's constitution, the president only has limited powers to veto laws. The president can send laws back to the National Assembly, but the latter can override the veto with an absolute majority (half of those present at the time of the vote plus one). With a three-fifths majority, lawmakers can give the president the power to govern by decree, sack the vice-president and ministers and hire and fire members of the country's National Electoral Council. With a two-thirds majority, the National Assembly can remove judges from the Supreme Court and create a constituent assembly with a view to rewriting the constitution. How strong is the opposition? The opposition MUD coalition won 112 seats in the elections on 6 December. That gives them a two-thirds majority, also called supermajority. However, since the election, the Supreme Court has suspended the inauguration of four lawmakers while it investigates allegations of electoral irregularities. Three of them are members of the MUD opposition coalition, the fourth is a member of President Maduro's PSUV party. Fifty-four pro-government and 109 opposition Assembly members were sworn in at the inaugural ceremony on 5 January. A day later, the opposition defied the Supreme Court order and swore in its three barred lawmakers. The former speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, said he would lodge a complaint with the country's top court. What changes does the opposition want to make? Opposition lawmakers said they would seek the release of dozens of politicians and activists jailed under President Maduro. Mr Maduro said he would veto any amnesty law, setting the scene for the first clash between the executive and the legislative branches. The opposition also said it would demand that the Central Bank release key data such as inflation figures but this move seems to have been thwarted by a last-minute change to the law made by President Maduro a day before his decree powers expired. If it keeps its supermajority, it could replace prosecutors and judges, but this is likely to take time. What about the economy? Venezuela's economy is in dire straits, suffering from skyrocketing inflation, shortages of some basic goods and dwindling revenue from oil. Opposition lawmakers have promised reforms but without access to key economic data, depleted state coffers and an executive with an iron grip on the finances it is hard to see how it can make sweeping changes quickly. One of Venezuela's main problems is its almost exclusive reliance on oil, the price of which has fallen sharply. Diversifying its production would be key to its recovery as global oil prices remain low, however this would not be a speedy endeavour in a country which has focussed almost exclusively on its oil production for decades. The opposition says Venezuela's problems have been further exacerbated by government mismanagement. But replacing personnel in state-run companies such as oil giant PdVSA would take time and likely encounter opposition from the executive. Many Venezuelans said they were prompted to vote for the opposition because of the shortages and endless queues they have to brave to get some basic goods. But lifting price controls, which many people say are to blame for the shortages, could turn poorer Venezuelans against their newly elected lawmakers. A reform of its strict currency controls would also be unlikely to be immediate. Will President Maduro remain in power? President Maduro's term runs until April 2019. However, once he is halfway into his term, from April 2016 onwards, a recall referendum could be held. Four million signatures are needed to trigger it and some opposition members have already threatened to seek such a referendum. President Maduro's predecessor in office, Hugo Chavez, won a recall referendum in 2004, but Mr Maduro's popularity has never been as high as that of his mentor.

एक विपक्षी गठबंधन ने 6 दिसंबर को वेनेजुएला के विधायी चुनाव में भारी जीत हासिल की। 16 से अधिक वर्षों में पहली बार, यह कांग्रेस को नियंत्रित करेगा। नवनिर्वाचित विधायक 5 जनवरी को अपनी सीटें संभालेंगे। इस नई राष्ट्रीय सभा द्वारा क्या बदलाव लाए जाने की संभावना है?