Canada refuses visas to over a dozen African AI researchers

Summary: For the second year in a row, Canada has refused visas to dozens of researchers - most of them from Africa - who were hoping to attend an artificial intelligence (AI) conference in Vancouver. The hassles have caused at least one other AI conference to choose a different country for their next event.

What happened? The Neural Information Processing Systems conference (NeurIPS), which brings together thousands of experts and researchers from all over the world, will be held in Vancouver next month. Last week, NeurIPS began hearing that several attendees had had their visas denied. It was the second year in a row the conference has had visa troubles. In 2018, when the conference was held in Montreal, more than 100 attendees were denied visas. The issue prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to defend Canada's immigration system during the G7. "I can assure you that Canada is world-class in the way that it approves visas and encourages people from around the world to come participate in important global conversations like these," he told Wired Magazine at the G7 in 2018. "I'm sure that there will be people looking into what you have described." This year, event organisers had been working with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada to try to make the visa process smoother, providing a list of names of people invited to attend the conference. But still problems persisted. Who is affected? NeurIPS said that because denials are issued by embassies around the world, they are unsure how many people are affected. But organisers for the Black in AI workshop said that about 30 were initially denied, mostly from African countries. "The importance cannot be overstressed," Black in AI organiser Charles Onu told the BBC. "It's more and more important for AI to build a diverse body." After the issue was raised to the government by NeurIPS, and 15 of the 30 denials have since been overturned, Mr Onu said. About 20 are still pending, and 86 have been approved. "It is imperative that all voices be heard at NeurIPS to enable future success in the field of AI," said Katherine Heller, a professor at Duke University and the event's diversity and inclusion co-chair. "We are opposed to any attempt to impede progress made by our international community." Why can't they get visas? A spokesperson for the ministry of immigration told the BBC they had been working with conference organisers since May to try and make the visa application process as smooth as possible. "While we cannot comment on the admissibility of any particular individual, we can say that, in general, all visitors to Canada must meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada, as set out in Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act," the ministry said in an email. The ministry said the applicant must demonstrate that they will "leave Canada when their visa expires". The ministry looks at factors such as the applicant's ties to their home country, the purpose of the visit, the person's family and economic situation, and the overall economic and political stability of their home country. Mwiza Simbeye, who is from Zambia and is currently a Google research intern based in New York, was denied a visa to attend NeurIPS in Montreal last year. He says that in its denial letter, the Canadian embassy told him they were "not satisfied" that he would leave Canada once the conference was over. They cited his family ties in Canada and his country of residence as a reason, as well as his personal assets as a reason. Mr Simbeye's trip to the conference was funded by Google, and he had three letters of recommendation, including one from Canadian scientist Yoshua Bengio, who won the Turing Award in 2018, which has been called the "Nobel Prize for computing". What is the reaction? Mr Simbeye said last year's denial was a great disappointment, because the conference provides a rare opportunity to connect in person with people whose research you follow online. "There's no better place or platform than these academic conferences for you to get exposed to these new technologies or methods," he told the BBC. It is also a springboard for many who are just starting out in their career, who hope to network and meet others in the industry. He attended a conference in New Orleans instead, he said. "I just don't want to be a researcher that just does research and it's in a paper," he says. "I want ... that research to be applied and affect millions of people." Google's senior vice-president of AI Jeff Dean tweeted the visa "hindrance" would limit the kinds of voices heard in this burgeoning field of research. "The denial of visas for people to attend scientific conferences inhibits the free flow of ideas that is essential for scientific progress," he said. What next? Visa woes are common for academics trying to attend conferences in the US, Canada and the UK. Russian academic Marina Dubova was denied a visa to attend the Cognitive Science Society's annual conference this summer. In the UK, two Amsterdam University students had their visas to attend a conference rejected over similar concerns that they would not return home to their countries of Bosnia and Turkey. The curator of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo was also denied a visa to attend a conference in Swansea. The hassles are leading some conference organisers to choose other countries. The International Conference on Learning Representations will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2020. Mr Bengio, who is an organiser, said they chose the location after all the issues with Canadian visas for NeurIPS 2018. "It's a lottery, and very often they will use any excuse to refuse access. This is totally unfair," he told the MIT Technology Review.

लगातार दूसरे वर्ष, कनाडा ने दर्जनों शोधकर्ताओं को वीजा देने से इनकार कर दिया है-जिनमें से अधिकांश अफ्रीका से हैं-जो वैंकूवर में एक कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता (ए. आई.) सम्मेलन में भाग लेने की उम्मीद कर रहे थे। परेशानी ने कम से कम एक अन्य ए. आई. सम्मेलन को अपने अगले कार्यक्रम के लिए एक अलग देश चुनने के लिए प्रेरित किया है।


Was Sir Jonathan Stephens appointed because of government concern over Stormont's stability?

Summary: There was little fanfare when Sir Jonathan Stephens was appointed permanent secretary at the Northern Ireland Office in June, but the move was viewed by some as a clear sign that the government was concerned about the stability of the Stormont assembly.

By Vincent KearneyBBC News NI Home Affairs Correspondent The 54-year-old father-of-two is well versed in the complexities and sensitivities of the political process in Northern Ireland. An Oxford graduate, he began his civil service career at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in 1983, and said after his appointment during the summer that it "feels like coming home". That was because Sir Jonathan has 15 years' experience working in Northern Ireland. He was one of the key strategists for the British government during the negotiations that resulted in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. 'Highly regarded' "He was a key player, someone viewed as a heavy lifter when it came to the negotiations," says one well-placed source. Sir Jonathan has seven years experience as a permanent secretary, the most senior grade in the civil service, and is highly regarded. He is credited with the successful delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and has also worked in the Treasury and Cabinet Office. So why was he brought back at the Northern Ireland Office? A source familiar with the talks process that led to the Good Friday Agreement believes his appointment was a clear sign that the government was concerned about the stability of the institutions in Northern Ireland. "He is someone very familiar with the contentious issues here and with the personalities involved," they said. "It's no accident that he has been appointed at this time." Sir Jonathan's civil service seniority is also a sign that the NIO believed more experience was needed at this time. He replaced Sir Julian King, who was a director general, a level below permanent secretary. The change was highlighted by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers at the time of his appointment. "I welcome this appointment at permanent secretary level, a change which reflects the importance the prime minister and I attach to the work the government is doing to support the Northern Ireland Executive and to help build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Northern Ireland," she said. The NIO is also currently recruiting new staff, including two directors who will report to Sir Jonathan. A source familiar with the workings of the NIO said this process, which he described as "capacity building", could also be in preparation for a possible increase in workload and responsibility. But building for what? Describing the assembly as "not fit for purpose", First Minister Peter Robinson has proposed that political parties in Northern Ireland should negotiate a new St Andrew's Agreement. Preparations "I don't think the government will have been at all surprised by Peter Robinson's statement that the assembly is not fit for purpose," said one source. "I think there was a realisation that perhaps the success of devolution here couldn't be taken for granted. Sir Jonathan's appointment and the fact that the NIO is building its capacity suggests it's preparing for a possible period of political instability. "He is someone who can provide high level advice and guidance to the secretary of state. I would expect that the emphasis will be on trying to do what they can to help ensure that the devolved institution survives and to prevent any possible collapse of the assembly. "Sir Jonathan was an important figure for the British government during the Good Friday Agreement talks, so he would be the ideal person to provide strategic advice and guidance during any new talks that might take place." At the time of his appointment, the new head of the NIO himself hinted that the move might have been more significant than appreciated at the time. "Much has changed in the 14 years since I left," he said. "But continuing to help the people of Northern Ireland and their leaders make progress remains as vital as ever."

जून में जब सर जोनाथन स्टीफंस को उत्तरी आयरलैंड कार्यालय में स्थायी सचिव नियुक्त किया गया तो बहुत कम धूमधाम हुई, लेकिन कुछ लोगों ने इस कदम को एक स्पष्ट संकेत के रूप में देखा कि सरकार स्टॉर्मोंट विधानसभा की स्थिरता के बारे में चिंतित थी।


Sergeant found hanged at hospital was under investigation

Summary: A sergeant who was found hanged at Wrexham Maelor hospital ward was being investigated by the police watchdog, a pre-inquest hearing was told.

Sgt Lee Johnson, 45, of West Mercia Police, was found dead in the Heddfan psychiatric unit on 13 February 2016. A pre-inquest hearing was told the father-of-two was being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) at the time. The full inquest will be held in June. Sgt Johnson, of Pantymwyn, near Mold, was based in the Oswestry area. During the hearing in Ruthin, Coroner for north Wales east and central John Gittins said his provisional view was that the IPCC investigation was "not of any great consequence".

एक पूर्व-पूछताछ सुनवाई में बताया गया कि एक सार्जेंट, जिसे रेक्सम मेलोर अस्पताल के वार्ड में फांसी पर लटका हुआ पाया गया था, पुलिस प्रहरी द्वारा जांच की जा रही थी।


What is behind clashes in Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions?

Summary: Thousands of people have fled Ethiopia's Somali region following deadly clashes in recent days between ethnic Somalis and Oromos. The BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal looks at the cause of the conflict and whether it can be stopped.

Dozens of people are reported to have died in clashes across Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions in recent days. According to Adisu Arega, Oromia government's spokesperson, 18 people have been killed. Twelve of those victims are ethnic Somalis, Mr Adisu told the BBC. The figures are however disputed by the Somali regional government, which says that more than 30 ethnic Somalis have been killed in the Oromia town of Awaday. Mr Adisu said the clashes had displaced at least 55,000 people, some of whom have taken refuge in makeshift camps at a stadium in the eastern city of Harar, whilst others are camping at police stations. Local administrators have now asked aid agencies operating in the area to provide humanitarian assistance. How serious is the trouble? Following intense anti-government protests that plagued the Horn of Africa country during most of 2016, the government imposed a 10-month state of emergency, which was lifted in July. While this heightened state of alert calmed most of the restive areas in the Oromia region, it did not stop cross-border clashes in the Oromia and Somali areas. In February and March, hundreds were reported to have been killed in the southern Oromia district of Negele Borena after an incursion by a paramilitary force called the Liyu Police, which is backed by the Somali region. Ethnic Oromos allege that the Liyu Police, which has previously been accused by rights groups of human rights violations, of being behind the current attacks. The Somali regional government has however rejected the allegations and charged that senior officials in the Oromia government were sympathisers of the Oromo Liberation Front, which is categorised as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government. While conflicts have been common between the two bordering communities, the public finger-pointing by top regional officials is unprecedented and could exacerbate the current conflict. "We don't believe this is expected from a responsible senior government official," Communication Minister Negeri Lencho told the BBC. Ethiopia's political arrangement - federalism structured along ethno-linguistic lines - dictates that ethnic borders are also usually political ones. Critics argue that this structure is a tinder box that allows minor conflicts to escalate. What is behind the conflict? Oromia and Somali are, respectively, the two largest regions in the country by area size, sharing a border of more than 1,400 km (870 miles). While Somalis are mostly pastoralists, living from their animals, Oromos tend to be farmers, as well as pastoralists. Both communities inhabit the areas around the regional border. Historically, their relationship has been characterised by territorial competition which often leads to disputes and conflicts over resources, including wells and grazing land. These conflicts can cause the displacement of tens of thousands of people. In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 kebeles - the country's smallest administrative unit - gave 80% of them to Oromia. Following the outcome, tens of thousands of ethnic Somalis reportedly fled the areas for fear of repercussions. The decision has still not been implemented and this is one factor behind the current conflict. Will the clashes spread further? Since the two communities are largely pastoralist and cross borders in search for pasture for their animals, it is difficult to clearly demarcate their boundaries. Additionally, clashes that occur between the two communities can easily spread to neighbouring regions and countries because of shared ethnic ties. The recent conflict has reportedly inspired the killing of two Ethiopians of Oromo origin in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland. People are reportedly trying to escape the violence by fleeing to the Kenyan side of the southern border town of Moyale, which also has a history of Oromo-Somali conflict. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has ordered that regional security forces be withdrawn from the border areas, with federal police patrolling the main roads instead. He also urged local community leaders to support the government's peace efforts. But it is not clear whether this will be enough to prevent the conflict from spreading.

हाल के दिनों में जातीय सोमाली और ओरोमोस के बीच घातक झड़पों के बाद हजारों लोग इथियोपिया के सोमाली क्षेत्र से भाग गए हैं। बीबीसी के कल्किदान यिबेल्टल संघर्ष के कारण और क्या इसे रोका जा सकता है, इस पर गौर करते हैं।


Rio 2016: The race is on to revamp Brazil's party city

Summary: The curtain has fallen on the London Olympics, so all eyes are now turning to the next host city - Rio de Janeiro. Brazil has a huge task to get the venues ready, as the BBC's Quentin Sommerville reports from the city.

At the beach's edge in Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian kiteboarding champion Milla Ferreira wrestles in twisting winds, with the nine-metre long kite flying high above her head. The waves are high, the wind changeable, but Ms Ferreira appears magnetically attached to her board, as the kite moves her at speed across the water. In its Olympic debut, kiteboarding will replace windsurfing at Rio 2016. "We are stoked," she says about the young sport's inclusion, which will be a chance for it to develop, even if it has its challenges. "If God doesn't want to give the wind then you just go back to the house, there's nothing you can do," she explains. Rio is taking a similar approach to its own Olympic debut. The Games are being embraced as a chance for it to show the world its vigour, while allowing Rio to develop and improve. That Olympic watchword - "legacy" - is on the lips of politicians throughout the city. "It's not like we're going to be perfect by the end of the Games," says Eduardo Paes, the city's mayor and cheerleader-in-chief for what the Games can do for Rio. "Brazil still has a long way to go, Rio still has a long way to go, but it is going to be a more equal, more just, more integrated city after the Games," he says. "Bringing the Games here will mean the gathering of nations, of sports - what it always means - but it will mean lots change for a great country and a great city." But not since the Games in Athens has a city faced so many questions about the ability to host the Olympics, and the World Cup, which kicks off two years earlier. Speedy buses Transport is one of the biggest headaches. Rio's splendour, its soaring hilltops and winding coastal roads, make it a difficult place to get around. It has more than six million people, yet only two metro lines. The planned Olympic Park lies beyond reach of the metro and direct bus lines. The metro is being extended, but that requires blasting through a hillside of solid granite. The completed tunnel will be nearly 6km (nearly four miles). But it is slow, laborious work and in two years, they have managed only 2km. With the Olympic clock ticking, Rio does not have the time to build an extensive new metro system, or for that matter, the money. So instead the city has bought dozens of new buses, which travel in exclusive lanes. The first line on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the TransOeste corridor, is already open. For some of the city's poorest residents, the BRT has cut their journey time to work by half. Alexandre Sansao, the municipal secretary of transport, says the metro lines being built will be integrated with the BRT system. Currently 15% of people use the system. "[By 2016] we will be able to transport 60% of the people in this high capacity system of transport," he says. Slum anger However, some of the most critical parts of the network will not be ready until just months before the Games begin. The Maracana stadium, once the biggest in the world holding nearly 200,000 people for the 1950 World Cup, is undergoing a much-needed refurbishment for the 2014 World Cup. It is also key for the Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. But it, too, has had its problems. Strikes have cost the project - where work goes on nearly 24 hours a day - 20 days of lost construction that it can ill afford. The roof over the seating areas was found to be unsafe and had to be demolished, adding between 20% and 30% to the cost of construction. And the city's existing velodrome, built for the 2007 Pan American Games, does not meet Olympic standards and may need significant upgrading. The mayor insists that demolishing the structure is unacceptable, and that it will be fixed in plenty of time for the 2016 deadline. Others are sceptical of promises that the Games will bring greater equality to the city. The slum of Vila Autodromo is set for demolition to make way for the new Olympic Park. "I believe that justice was made for all. We have all the rights to this land, we've been here more than 40 years, and we have the documentation to prove it," says Altair Guimaraes, a resident of the shanty town who delivers newspapers until 3am. After he finishes work he continues on building improvements to the house he has lived in for 17 years. He and his neighbours are fighting the Olympic planners every step of the way. Mr Guimaraes insists that only property developers will benefit from much of the Olympic redevelopment and he does not want to be relocated. In his yard he keeps chickens and grows pineapples, something that would be impossible in the apartment block the city wants to move him to. Soon he is to meet the mayor to offer a proposal, developed with the help of professors from local universities, for the redevelopment of the slum that does not encroach on the Olympic plans. "The Olympics don't have to mean the removal of anyone," he says. "This is what the mayor should have done - tell those governments abroad that Brazil can do it differently. They don't have to do this to my community." But with its annual carnival, Rio - the first city in South America to host the Games - knows how to throw a party. On the beach at Ipanema, Ursala Araujo admits she has been worried about the city's infrastructure, but she has no doubt about the welcome Rio will provide. "Have you never felt not welcome here? It will be just like now, it will be just a pleasure for us to have all you guys here from everywhere," she says. However the pressure is now on Rio to convince the world that it will be ready for 2016. And the city authorities must also assure residents that the huge costs of hosting the Games will benefit them long after the Olympic flag is lowered.

लंदन ओलंपिक पर पर्दा पड़ गया है, इसलिए सभी की नज़रें अब अगले मेजबान शहर-रियो डी जनेरियो की ओर मुड़ रही हैं। ब्राजील के पास आयोजन स्थलों को तैयार करने का एक बड़ा काम है, जैसा कि शहर से बीबीसी के क्वेंटिन सोमरविले ने बताया है।


Osama Bin Laden: The night he came for dinner

Summary: What happens when your surprise dinner guest turns out to be the world's most wanted man? A year on from the death of Osama Bin Laden, two men tell how they came to host the then leader of al-Qaeda.

By M Ilyas KhanBBC News, Islamabad Late one night in the summer of 2010, on the fringes of the Waziristan region in north-western Pakistan, half a dozen men of a local tribal family waited nervously for the arrival of a guest whose identity they didn't know. They had been alerted to this visit weeks earlier, by someone they describe simply as an "important person". They were not given any names, and the exact time of the guest's arrival was conveyed to them just a few hours in advance. At about 23:00, when the world around them was in deep sleep, they heard the rumble of the approaching vehicles. "A dozen big four-wheel drive jeeps drove into the compound," recalls one family elder who agreed to speak to me about it. "They seemed to converge from different directions." One of the 4x4s drove up close to the veranda, and from its back seat emerged a tall and frail-looking man. He wore flowing robes and a white turban. The waiting men couldn't believe their eyes. Standing before them was none other than Osama Bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world. "We were dumb-struck," says the elder. "He was the last person we'd expected to turn up at our doorstep." He stood beside the vehicle for a while, shaking hands. The elder says he kissed Bin Laden's hand and pressed it against his eyes in a gesture of reverence. Then, putting his hand lightly on the shoulder of one of his assistants, Bin Laden walked into the room they'd set up for him. The villagers didn't follow him in. Only a couple of his own men kept him company. This happened exactly one year before Bin Laden was killed in a secret operation of the US Navy Seals in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, located some 300km (186 miles) to the north-east of this remote tribal compound. The shock of his death prompted one of his former hosts to tell close friends about this unexpected visit, which is how I came to know about it. After some persuasion, I was able to speak to two of the men who'd met Bin Laden on that occasion. Both requested that their names and locality be kept secret. During the three hours Bin Laden spent with them, they said he offered prayers, rested, and ate the lamb chops, chicken curry and rice they'd prepared for him and his entourage. All that time, his hosts weren't allowed to leave the compound, or let anyone in. Armed men took positions at the main gate, along the walls and on the roof. There was a slight commotion among the guards when one of the hosts requested that his 85-year-old father be allowed to see Bin Laden. "Consider this to be his dying wish," he pleaded. The message was passed to Bin Laden, who agreed to see the old patriarch. Four armed men escorted the son home to fetch his father. The old man was only told about Bin Laden's presence once they were back inside the compound. They said the old man spent 10 minutes with Bin Laden, pouring out his admiration and prayers for him, and offering time-tested advice on tribal warfare, all in his native Pashto language, which Bin Laden apparently didn't understand. This brought smiles to the faces of Bin Laden's hosts and his guards, they say. Bin Laden and his men departed in just the same way as they'd come - their 4x4s leaving the compound in a bustling confusion - and heading out in different directions, giving his hosts little chance to determine which way Bin Laden's vehicle went. While my interlocutors were quite open about the details of the visit, they didn't want to discuss the identity of the "important man" who had asked them to host Bin Laden. They were also reluctant to share information on who else was in the entourage. Following Bin Laden's death a year later, both Pakistani and American officials had insisted that the al-Qaeda chief had lived in total seclusion for nearly five years, without once leaving his Abbottabad compound. That would seem not to be the case. And many questions remain unanswered. The area where he showed up in 2010 is in the middle of a vast tribal hinterland which was, and to an extent still is, the focus of a number of military operations against militants. Troops stationed there were on high alert and had set up dozens of security checkpoints to monitor commuters along both regular and rarely frequented routes. How did he get past those posts undetected? The Pakistanis have always denied having any knowledge of his whereabouts or providing any support to Bin Laden. There's also the question of who was planning his itinerary, what was the purpose of his visit and, above all, how frequently did he pay midnight visits to unsuspecting hosts?

क्या होता है जब आपका सरप्राइज डिनर गेस्ट दुनिया का सबसे वांछित आदमी बन जाता है? ओसामा बिन लादेन की मौत के एक साल बाद, दो लोग बताते हैं कि वे अल-कायदा के तत्कालीन नेता की मेजबानी करने कैसे आए थे।


Israel's borders explained in maps

Summary: More than 70 years after Israel declared statehood, its borders are yet to be entirely settled. Wars, treaties and occupation mean the shape of the Jewish state has changed over time, and in parts is still undefined. Here is a series of maps explaining why.

The land which would become Israel was for centuries part of the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire. After World War One and the collapse of the empire, territory known as Palestine - the portion of which west of the River Jordan was also known as the land of Israel by Jews - was marked out and assigned to Britain to administer by the victorious allied powers (soon after endorsed by the League of Nations). The terms of the mandate entrusted Britain with establishing in Palestine "a national home for the Jewish people", so long as doing so did not prejudice the civil and religious rights of non-Jewish communities there. The rise of Palestinian Arab nationalism coupled with the rapid growth of Palestine's smaller Jewish population - especially after the advent of Nazism in the 1930s - saw an escalation in Arab-Jewish violence in Palestine. Britain handed the problem to the United Nations, which in 1947 proposed partitioning Palestine into two states - one Jewish, one Arab - with the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area to become an international city. The plan was accepted by Palestine's Jewish leadership but rejected by Arab leaders. The Jewish leadership in Palestine declared the establishment of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the moment the British mandate terminated, though without announcing its borders. The following day Israel was invaded by five Arab armies, marking the start of Israel's War of Independence. The fighting ended in 1949 with a series of ceasefires, producing armistice lines along Israel's frontiers with neighbouring states, and creating the boundaries of what became known as the Gaza Strip (occupied by Egypt) and East Jerusalem and the West Bank (occupied by Jordan). The surrounding Arab states refused to recognise Israel, meaning its borders remained unset. The biggest change to Israel's frontiers came in 1967, when the conflict known as the Six Day War left Israel in occupation of the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and most of the Syrian Golan Heights - effectively tripling the size of territory under Israel's control. Israel effectively annexed East Jerusalem - claiming the whole of the city as its capital - and the Golan Heights. These moves were not recognised by the international community, until the US changed its official position on the matter under the Trump administration, becoming the first major power to do so. Overwhelmingly, international opinion continues to consider East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as occupied territory. One of Israel's land borders was formalised for the first time in 1979, when Egypt became the first Arab country to recognise the Jewish state. Under the treaty, Israel's border with Egypt was set and Israel withdrew all its forces and settlers from the Sinai, a process which was completed in 1982. That left Israel in occupation of the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, with its frontiers (excluding that of Egypt) still delineated by the 1949 armistice lines. In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab state to recognise Israel, formalising its long border with the Jewish state in the process. While there has not yet been a peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon, the two countries' 1949 armistice line serves as Israel's de facto northern border, while Israel's border with Syria remains unsettled. Similarly, Israel has had a de facto border with Gaza since it pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005, but Gaza and the West Bank are considered a single occupied entity by the UN, and the official borders have not yet been determined. The final status and contours of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem are meant to be decided in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians living there under Israeli occupation, but decades of on-off talks have so far proved fruitless.

इज़राइल द्वारा राज्य का दर्जा घोषित किए जाने के 70 से अधिक वर्षों के बाद, इसकी सीमाओं को अभी तक पूरी तरह से तय नहीं किया गया है। युद्धों, संधियों और कब्जे का मतलब है कि यहूदी राज्य का आकार समय के साथ बदल गया है, और कुछ हिस्सों में अभी भी परिभाषित नहीं है। यहाँ मानचित्रों की एक श्रृंखला है जो बताती है कि क्यों।


Cow stuck in mud by Cambridgeshire river rescued

Summary: A cow had to be winched free after getting itself trapped almost up to its nose in deep mud.

Specialist water rescuers used winches and a teleporter to lift the stricken calf free from the river bank in Thorney, Cambridgeshire. Three crews from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were involved in the three-hour rescue at about 12:15 BST on Sunday. The calf was safely returned to a farmer and checked over by a vet. Related Internet Links Cambs Fire and Rescue Service

एक गाय को गहरी मिट्टी में लगभग अपनी नाक तक फंसने के बाद मुक्त करना पड़ा।


Mold Tesco machete attacker 'acted like a lunatic'

Summary: A man accused of trying to murder a trainee dentist in an apparent race revenge attack "acted like a lunatic" as he hacked his victim with a machete in a supermarket, a court heard.

Dr Sarandev Bhambra was set upon by 26-year-old Zack Davies with a hammer and machete in Tesco in Mold, Flintshire. Mold Crown Court previously heard it was a revenge attack for the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. Mr Davies, of Mold, denies attempted murder but admits wounding with intent. Dr Bhambra was walking down an aisle in the store on 14 January when Mr Davies attacked him. Shopper Leanne Jones said she heard the words "white power" and said Mr Davies "started to act like a lunatic and raised the machete above his head... he was striking him as hard as he could." In a statement read to the court, another witness described hearing the words "white power" and "come here, this is for Lee Rigby". Another woman, who was shopping with her four-year-old daughter, said: "He was shouting 'justice for the whites' as he was hacking with the machete... he was constantly striking on the Asian man's back." She said Dr Bhambra had panic in his face and she thought he was "running for his life." The court heard Dr Bhambra suffered two lacerations to his scalp which went down to the bone and a cut to his back which went down to the muscle. The injury to his left hand caused major nerve, artery and tendon damage and he was in surgery for five hours. Mr Davies told police: "It was me. I did it for Lee Rigby." While being interviewed by police, Mr Davies said jihadi violence, the terror attacks in France and the murder of Lee Rigby were all on his mind. He told officers he hoped his victim was "not seriously injured" but said he had harboured violent thoughts for more than a decade. "Since I was 15 I have carried a knife every day and had thoughts of attacking people. Since I was 11 I have been holding back the violence" he told officers. "It was a moment of madness, up to today I have been able to control these urges," he added. Mr Davies said Dr Bhambra's religion was irrelevant, adding: "It was his appearance, just the way he looked... it was his racial appearance. "Young white girls abused by Asians - that was also in the back of my mind." Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale were jailed for life in February 2014 for hacking Fusilier Rigby to death. The trial continues.

एक अदालत ने सुना कि एक स्पष्ट नस्ल के बदले के हमले में एक प्रशिक्षु दंत चिकित्सक की हत्या करने की कोशिश करने के आरोपी एक व्यक्ति ने एक सुपरमार्केट में अपने पीड़ित की कुल्हाड़ी से हत्या करते हुए "एक पागल की तरह काम किया", एक अदालत ने सुना।


Ex-Bullseye presenter Jim Bowen recovering from strokes

Summary: Comedian and former BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Jim Bowen is recovering after suffering two mild strokes.

He was taken ill at his home in Melling over the weekend and is being treated at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The 73-year-old suffered a stroke on Friday and then a second while in hospital. The entertainer, who is best known for darts-themed TV quiz show Bullseye, is receiving physiotherapy.

कॉमेडियन और पूर्व बीबीसी रेडियो लंकाशायर प्रस्तुतकर्ता जिम बोवेन दो हल्के स्ट्रोक से पीड़ित होने के बाद ठीक हो रहे हैं।


Stafford stabbing: Teen arrested after man attacked

Summary: A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man suffered multiple stab wounds.

The man, aged 22, was in hospital in a life-threatening condition after being stabbed in Stafford on Friday. Staffordshire Police believes the attack took place around the area of Pennycrofts Court flats, Corporation Street, at about 17:30 BST. The arrested boy from Wolverhampton has been released under investigation as inquiries continue, police added.

एक व्यक्ति को चाकू से कई घाव होने के बाद हत्या के प्रयास के संदेह में एक 17 वर्षीय लड़के को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


PSNI to buy drones for G8 security operation

Summary: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is to buy two drones, for the huge security operation for the G8 summit in County Fermanagh in June.

Flown by operators on the ground, the aircraft can relay live pictures from high quality cameras. The PSNI owns two helicopters and leases another, and has announced plans to buy a fourth for an estimated £7m. It is understood the unmanned drone aircraft will cost around £1m. The PSNI has told the policing board it wants to buy the drones for use during the G8 summit and afterwards to combat terrorism and crime. The use of drones is considered novel and contentious so the policing board has to be briefed in advance about any planned purchase or deployment. That briefing will take place next week.

उत्तरी आयरलैंड की पुलिस सेवा जून में काउंटी फरमानाघ में जी8 शिखर सम्मेलन के लिए विशाल सुरक्षा अभियान के लिए दो ड्रोन खरीदने वाली है।


Bodies washed ashore in Haiti amid shipwreck fears

Summary: At least 17 people are believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off the northern coast of Haiti.

The bodies of 11 men and six women washed ashore in the coastal town of Le Borgne, about 100 miles (160km) north of Port-au-Prince, the AP reports. One official told AFP news agency the dead were migrants who were trying to reach the neighbouring Turks and Caicos Islands, but this is unconfirmed. No sign of a ship has been found and it is unclear if there were any survivors.

हैती के उत्तरी तट पर एक जहाज के डूबने से कम से कम 17 लोगों के डूबने की आशंका है।


'My father kept Parkinson's a secret, I haven't'

Summary: When sports broadcaster Dave Clark was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the same age as his father - 44 - he knew he couldn't keep it a secret. His dad, Alan, had been so worried about the stigma around it at the time that he didn't tell anyone and eventually took his own life.

By Harry LowBBC Ouch Alan Clark, was a sales rep in Bradford when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, a neurological disorder that attacks the area of the brain which controls movement. It was the 1980s and he was worried he would lose his job if he disclosed he had the disease. He continued to work full-time to provide for his wife and two sons. Even when he turned up to meetings with hands that shook so much he was accused of being drunk, he still refused to reveal what was going on. Alan's son, Dave, a Sky Sports presenter, says: "He went to the doctors by himself, didn't eat with the family because he was worried about his shakes. He didn't tell anyone he had Parkinson's, including me. "It didn't end well for my dad. He died when he was 52, took his own life." Unknown to Alan, his son had discovered this closely guarded secret as a teenager. Dave happened to watch a documentary, which explained the condition, while he was off sick from school. It said Parkinson's causes symptoms such as shaking and slowness of movement due to a reduction of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine helps transmit signals between nerve cells. Dave says: "He was frightened to be labelled as disabled and lose his job. We didn't have a lot of money growing up as a kid and his job was vital. The whole thing was very sad." Dave, a broadcaster for more than 30 years, has covered World Cups, Olympics and a plethora of other sports, more recently becoming synonymous with TV darts coverage. But decades after his father's death, he started to suspect something may be up. Moments before a live television broadcast, his hand excessively shook so he couldn't put on his tie and cufflinks. He hid in a cupboard to escape the producer who was shouting at him to hurry up. Dave managed to sort himself out with moments to spare. Although Parkinson's UK said it's very rare for the condition to be passed on genetically, Dave suspected he may have the same illness as his father and visited a specialist. But the tactless way his then-consultant delivered the diagnosis in 2011 still shocks him. Listen to the podcast Listen to How not to tell someone they have Parkinson's "He said: 'Have you got a big mortgage? How many kids have you got? Sorry to say you've got Parkinson's'. "That was a lousy way of telling it, as if he thought he was God." Dave was devastated by the diagnosis, but determined to deal with it differently to his father and not keep it a secret. "I walked away from the specialist, across Wimbledon Common, and tears were running down my cheeks. But the sun was shining and I thought, the sun's going to shine for a bit longer yet." He allowed himself 24 hours to feel down about the news, although admits the first three months were hard to get through. Dave and his wife Carolyn, a clinical psychologist decided to tell their sons, then aged seven and four, that their dad had the neurological condition as soon as questions arose, to make it a normal part of family life. Carolyn has since helped to write a guide on talking to children about Parkinson's. "We've been very open with the kids from day one because, again, just what happened with my dad, just keeping a secret. And I think it's important that they knew about it. "They know I'm getting worse and they know it's very serious, but I'm just 'Dad'." He says the way his children have accepted it makes him feel guilty about the way he viewed his own father when he turned up unannounced to his football games. "I didn't like to see him hunched up and looking shaky on the side of the pitch and I'm embarrassed by that reaction now. "My kids don't have a choice: I turn up for everything." He's also conscious of the impact Parkinson's can have on mental health and always plays music in the house, often Bruce Springsteen, to keep his spirits up. There is a scientific reason behind that too. Parkinson's can trigger depression due to a drop in levels of the chemical messenger linked to pleasure: dopamine. Although Dave takes medication which simulates dopamine production for the brain, he estimates he is down to his last 10%. "You've got to be careful because the dopamine rush that you get from the meds can cause addictions," he explains. "I've got a slight addiction to guitars. If I'm not careful, I'd end up buying loads of guitars on eBay. I've got seven already, which is too many!" Nine years on from his diagnosis, Dave continues to work in broadcasting, although he now picks and chooses what he takes on so he can focus on his health. About 145,000 people have Parkinson's in the UK, with that number predicted to grow as life expectancy increases. Several high profile people have recently revealed they live with the progressive condition, for which there is currently no cure. Ozzy Osbourne announced in January he had a "mild form" of Parkinson's, comedian Billy Connolly made a documentary about it, and the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones has been charting his progress after a neurologist noticed his symptoms during a live broadcast and contacted the BBC. Dave spends a lot of his time exercising, to keep his body and mind working. The former Capital Gold reporter has also undertaken several bigger physical challenges from walking the Dales Way to coast-to-coast, generating thousands of pounds for charity but says he "needs one big challenge to finish it off". That's come in the form of an 18-day trek to Mount Everest base camp for Parkinson's UK, which he will undertake in November. "I've always wanted to see Everest, and I thought 'while I still can, I'll do it'," he explains. Base camp is just short of 18,000ft (5,500m) where the air is thin so he's unsure how his body will react to the atmosphere. "Some people say altitude is good for Parkinson's, some people say it's bad. Michael J Fox went to meet the Dalai Lama and said he'd never felt as good." The expedition will add to an already wide and varied collection of memories. One of Dave's most poignant sporting moments came during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta with legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, arguably the most famous person to have had Parkinson's. "I was in the stadium and they didn't know who was going to light the torch, and they passed it on through various superstars, and then Ali came out wearing a white tracksuit and his hand really badly shaking, he could hardly move. "I was quite upset at the time because I thought about my dad back in the day. He lit the flame, it was just an amazing moment. It transcended any sporting occasion I've ever been to." While Dave's final big challenge will involve Everest, he says it's important to recognise that every person's experience of the condition differs. "People with Parkinson's do amazing things. Walk coast-to-coast, or just walk down the shops if you've not walked down the shops for a while. "That's an amazing thing if you're really struggling - keep going, keep fighting." Dave's tips for living with Parkinson's You can follow Harry on Twitter. For more Disability News, follow BBC Ouch on Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to the podcast.

जब खेल प्रसारक डेव क्लार्क को उनके पिता (44) की उम्र में पार्किंसंस रोग का पता चला तो उन्हें पता था कि वह इसे गुप्त नहीं रख सकते। उनके पिता, एलन, उस समय इसके आसपास के कलंक के बारे में इतने चिंतित थे कि उन्होंने किसी को नहीं बताया और अंततः अपनी जान ले ली।


Poole harbour road changes discussed by council

Summary: Councillors have been discussing whether they need to act to improve safety for pedestrians on the roads around Poole harbour.

A consultant's report criticised the harbour's road layout, urging the borough council to act quickly. It said the one-way gyratory system around the two road bridges was dangerous. A select committee met earlier to discuss the report and will continue deliberations on Thursday. The report suggests replacing the system with two-way roads, and providing more crossings and signs.

पार्षद चर्चा कर रहे हैं कि क्या उन्हें पूल बंदरगाह के आसपास की सड़कों पर पैदल चलने वालों की सुरक्षा में सुधार के लिए कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है।


2019 European elections: How many new MEPs might you get?

Summary: Four out of 10 current UK MEPs are not contesting the European Parliament elections. That means at least 30 of those elected from 23-26 May might either never take their seats or serve only a few months if the UK leaves the European Union by the end of October. However, voters are being urged not to see the elections as a "joke", as Brexit dominates the agenda.

Who can I vote for? There are 72 UK MEPs currently serving, with one seat vacant. Of those, 43 are seeking re-election and there are 548 other new candidates. In London 88 candidates representing 11 parties, including independents as one group, are vying for eight seats. That compares with 10 parties for three seats in Northern Ireland. There are 23 parties in total, including independents as one group, but only 10 of them are standing in more than one region. The Yorkshire Party is standing in Yorkshire only, the Animal Welfare Party and Women's Equality Party have only put up candidates in London and the Independent Network is only standing in the East Midlands. The Socialist Party of Great Britain has candidates in the South East only. Three parties are standing in all 12 nations and regions - the Conservatives, Greens and UKIP. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Change UK and The Brexit Party are standing in all regions apart from Northern Ireland. Who can't I vote for? Half of the existing MEPs in the North West, West Midlands and South West are not standing again. Two Scottish MEPs are not standing for re-election and another, Catherine Stihler, resigned her seat in January to take up a new role. Mary Honeyball, from the Labour Party, and Julie Girling, formerly a Conservative but now an independent, are two of the 30 MEPs who will not be standing for re-election. Despite the possibility of a very short term for newly-elected MEPs - or even no term at all - they still think the election is important for the UK. Ms Girling, an MEP in the South West, said people should not see the vote as a "joke" because Brexit was not "a done deal". She also said new or returning MEPs may find the job more difficult than in previous terms, as British politicians might be passed over for "important committee positions" if they are not expected to be in their seats for long. Ms Honeyball, an MEP for London, said it would be "very disappointing" for a new MEP to have to leave after a few months. But, she added, candidates had entered the election in full knowledge of the situation with Brexit. How does an MEP's pay compare with the average worker? While it may be a short term job, an MEP earns about three times the median full time monthly salary for the UK. This does not take into account other allowances MEPs have access to. They are paid €8,757.70 (about £7,599) a month before tax and insurance. The largest gap between the monthly earnings of an MEP and a UK region was in the North East, where a middle-earning full time worker is paid £2,206, about £5,393 less than an MEP. What pay-off will they get when they leave? When MEPs leave or are voted out of office they are eligible for a "transitional allowance", worth the equivalent of a month's salary for every year in office, up to two years' pay. However, newly-elected MEPs in the 2019 elections will not qualify for the allowance if the UK leaves the EU by the end of October, as currently planned, because they will not have served a full year. What do they talk about? MEPs work on a range of issues, from copyright to mobile phone roaming, fishing rights, data privacy and more. For UK MEPs, however, Brexit appears to be the overriding issue of concern. Analysis of their tweets over the past year shows the word "Brexit" was used more than any other. What is the gender balance in the European Parliament? Currently, the average MEP is 55 years old while women make up about a third of members. The proportion of female MEPs varies from country to country, from 69% in Finland to 17% in Cyprus. How many people vote? Across the European Union just over four in every 10 voters (42.6%) turned out in the 2014 elections. In the UK it was about a third, which is similar to the proportion of people who vote in local council elections. Turnout was highest in Belgium and Luxembourg but both of these nations had compulsory voting. It was also officially compulsory in Cyprus but more than half of people still did not vote. What would you like to know about the forthcoming European Elections? Let us know and a selection will be answered by a BBC journalist. Use this form to ask your question: If you are reading this page on the BBC News app, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question on this topic.

ब्रिटेन के वर्तमान 10 में से चार एम. ई. पी. यूरोपीय संसद चुनाव नहीं लड़ रहे हैं। इसका मतलब है कि अगर ब्रिटेन अक्टूबर के अंत तक यूरोपीय संघ छोड़ देता है तो मई से चुने गए लोगों में से कम से कम 30 या तो कभी अपनी सीट नहीं ले सकते हैं या केवल कुछ महीनों की सेवा कर सकते हैं। हालाँकि, मतदाताओं से चुनाव को "मजाक" के रूप में नहीं देखने का आग्रह किया जा रहा है, क्योंकि ब्रेक्सिट एजेंडे पर हावी है।


Your pictures on the theme of 'winter scenes'

Summary: We asked our readers to send in their best pictures on the theme "winter scenes". Here are some of the pictures sent to us from around the world.

The next theme is "shelter" and the deadline for entries 9 February 2021. The pictures will be published later that week and you will be able to find them, along with other galleries, on the In Pictures section of the website. You can upload your entries on this page or email them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply. Further details and themes are at We set the theme, you take the pictures. All photographs subject to copyright.

हमने अपने पाठकों से "सर्दियों के दृश्य" विषय पर अपनी सर्वश्रेष्ठ तस्वीरें भेजने के लिए कहा। यहाँ दुनिया भर से हमें भेजी गई कुछ तस्वीरें हैं।


Aberystwyth University gets £2.7m to improve oats

Summary: Research funding of £2.76m has been secured by Aberystwyth University to improve the nutritional value of oats.

The funds will also be used by the university's oat-breeding team to improve the economic sustainability of the staple food. According to the university, oat crops continue to be challenged by high investments into alternative crops. The funding was provided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The five-year project will address the challenges facing agriculture and sustainable food production in the UK. Using genetic tools and resources, the team hopes to improve traits that will increase the production of oats while also enhancing grain yield and quality.

जौ के पोषण मूल्य में सुधार के लिए एबेरेस्टविथ विश्वविद्यालय द्वारा £ 2.76m का शोध वित्त पोषण सुरक्षित किया गया है।


City regions to stem Welsh decline - report

Summary: Bangor, Aberystwyth and Carmarthen should become "city regions" where economic regeneration goes hand-in-hand with growth in the use of Welsh.

This is recommended by a group set up by the Welsh government to look at stemming the language's decline in its heartlands. Ministers should also look at planning decisions' impact on Welsh, they say. Children in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire should also be educated bilingually. The special group was set up after the results of the 2011 census identified a drop in the number of Welsh speakers in Wales. In two heartland counties - Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion - the language had become a minority. The task and finish group's recommendations will now be considered by ministers. The seven recommendations are: The proposals will now be considered by ministers.

बांगोर, एबेरेस्टविथ और कार्मार्थेन को "शहरी क्षेत्र" बनना चाहिए जहां आर्थिक पुनर्जनन वेल्श के उपयोग में वृद्धि के साथ-साथ होता है।


Amedeo Modigliani sculpture sells for 43.2m euros

Summary: A sculpted limestone head by Amedeo Modigliani has sold for 43.2m euros (£35.8m) at Christie's auction house in Paris - a record for the artist.

The piece, created between 1910 and 1912 and depicting an elongated face with almond-shaped eyes, was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder. The Italian artist switched from sculpture to painting later in his life, partly because of ill health. The sale was also a record for art sold at auction in France, Christie's said. The 65cm head was first shown at the Salon d'Automne exhibition in Paris in 1912.

अमेडियो मोदिग्लिआनी द्वारा तराशे गए चूना पत्थर के सिर को पेरिस में क्रिस्टी के नीलामी घर में 43.2m यूरो (£ 35.8m) में बेचा गया है-जो कलाकार के लिए एक रिकॉर्ड है।


Ebola and ethics: Is animal welfare killing wild apes?

Summary: The Ebola virus is not just a threat to humans, but is also wiping out chimps and gorillas. Will a decision to end testing on chimps at a major US medical institute hamper efforts to develop a vaccine that could save primates from Ebola?

By Victoria GillScience reporter, BBC News "Those are samples of gorilla poo, brought all the way from Africa," Peter Walsh announces proudly. Dr Walsh and his colleagues are studying the samples of centrifuged fecal matter - contained in tiny tubes - in an effort to diagnose and combat the diseases that are threatening our closest and most endangered primate relatives. One of these diseases is said to be the most frightening on Earth: the Ebola virus. Ebola has no known cure, is fatal in 90% of cases and is characterised by bleeding, internally and externally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300 people have now died in the most recent outbreak of the virus in West Africa. And, amid this crisis, the same disease is wiping out chimpanzees and gorillas. "In the last 30 years, [it] has killed about a third of the world's gorillas, and thousands of chimps," says Dr Walsh. "If we don't do something about this now, these animals are going to go extinct in the wild." And for Dr Walsh, the solution is straightforward: vaccination. He and his colleagues recently completed the first conservation vaccination trial for chimpanzees - testing an experimental Ebola vaccine on a group of chimps at a primate centre in the US - the last developed country where biomedical testing on captive apes is permitted by law. But the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), after a detailed consultation on the costs and benefits to public health, has made the decision to retire all but 50 of its research chimpanzees to sanctuaries. "The vaccine trial that we just did might be the last conservation trial on a chimp, because if those labs close down there isn't anywhere else that has the proper facilities to do a vaccine trial," Dr Walsh tells BBC News. "I would advocate keeping one place that has the capacity to do controlled vaccines trials. " But, Beatrice Hahn, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, who was on the independent expert advisory panel that recommended the NIH chimps be retired, says there is no need to keep primate centres open to carry out vaccine trials. "You have to understand that the NIH mission is to improve human health, not chimp health or cat health or dog health," she explains. "And there may be a better solution to this. One should look to the sanctuaries to potentially do such [conservation] research." Unlike the NIH, sanctuaries keep chimps for the benefit of the animals. Prof Hahn says that many of them are well equipped and may well be interested in carrying out some of this research. This, however, would require a change in US law. The Chimp Act, established in the year 2000, states that no chimpanzee in a federal sanctuaries can participate in invasive research. So an animal cannot be injected or have its blood drawn unless it's for its own veterinary care. But when that law was passed, Prof Hahn points out, it was to prevent sanctuaries from allowing their animals to be used as "furry test tubes" for human medical research. The need for therapies for the conservation of wild apes, she says, changes the legal landscape. "What also changes the landscape is the increasing endangerment of wild populations. If chimps and gorillas out there in the forest were not endangered, we wouldn't even be talking about it." Other primate experts are cautious about carrying out research on captive apes. Steve Ross is the director for the Lester Fisher Center for the conservation of apes at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. He says the challenges of getting vaccines to wild populations in extremely remote areas might never be overcome. And this issue, he adds, is far more complex than just comparing what's worth more: the welfare of captive animals or the survival of apes in the wild. "It's a little bit similar to a situation we had in the US 30 years ago where hundreds of chimps were bred up for the study of HIV, but it turned out that chimps were not a good model for that disease," he says. "If you develop a captive population, test your vaccine and the result is a vaccine that cannot be administered to wild populations and therefore doesn't save a single chimpanzee, we'll have done a tremendous disservice to chimpanzees as a whole." Catching a cold Ebola is only one of the infections threatening wild ape populations. Ironically, some of the conservation tourism programmes that have done so much to raise awareness and money to conserve wild apes are bringing humans close enough to their non-human cousins to pass on infections to which gorillas and chimps have no immunity. For gorillas exposed to these tourists on a regular basis, human respiratory viruses, including measles, are a major cause of death. And, just like the thousands of adults and children still dying from measles on the African continent, Dr Walsh says these animals could be vaccinated. "Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is available from the Centers for Disease Control in the US for $6 a dose," he tells BBC News. "That means you could take every mountain gorilla in existence, and vaccinate every single one for less than $5,000. "To hire all the personnel to do it might cost $20,000. And it gives long-term immunity, so you might need to do that every 10-20 years." Anti-poaching budgets for a park - often involving armed personnel as well as security measures - can run into the hundreds of thousands of US dollars every year. "So as a cost, it's tiny," says Dr Walsh. "This is the low-hanging fruit, and it gets me so angry to think that chimps and gorillas are dying for silly reasons." The discussion about if and how to involve captive chimpanzees in the development of vaccines to protect their wild cousins is just beginning. And passions run high. Something the experts agree on is that disease is a significant threat. And combined with the destruction of habitat and the continuing threat of poaching, time for wild apes is running out. Follow Victoriaon Twitter

इबोला वायरस न केवल मनुष्यों के लिए खतरा है, बल्कि चिम्पांजों और गोरिल्लाओं का भी सफाया कर रहा है। क्या अमेरिका के किसी प्रमुख चिकित्सा संस्थान में चिम्पांजों पर परीक्षण बंद करने का निर्णय एक ऐसा टीका विकसित करने के प्रयासों में बाधा डालेगा जो नरवानरों को इबोला से बचा सकता है?


Port Talbot: Cyclist killed in Baglan fatal crash

Summary: A 67-year-old cyclist has died in a crash in Neath Port Talbot.

The man was cycling on the A4241, Baglan, when his bike collided with a silver Ford Fiesta at about 14:00 BST on Wednesday. South Wales Police said he died at the scene of the crash, between the Southdown Road junction and Seaway Parade. The force is appealing for anyone who has dashcam footage of the incident or any information to contact them.

नीथ पोर्ट टैलबोट में एक दुर्घटना में एक 67 वर्षीय साइकिल चालक की मौत हो गई है।


Selective mutism: 'I have a phobia of talking'

Summary: Selective mutism - best described as a "phobia of talking" - is an anxiety disorder that affects thousands of children. But adults with the condition remain largely forgotten. What is it like for them?

By Ashley John-BaptisteBBC Victoria Derbyshire programme "I could talk all my life to my nan, but when she had a stroke I was so anxious I stopped being able to speak to her." Sabrina Branwood, from Rochdale, has had selective mutism since childhood - an anxiety disorder that prevents her from speaking in certain social situations and to certain people. The condition - even in adulthood - meant she lost the ability to talk to one of her closest family members, something she greatly regrets. Before her grandmother died, she was unable to tell her directly how she loved her. Sabrina relies on her family and an app on her tablet to communicate. The NHS defines selective mutism as something that affects children, but she is now aged 35. "When people ask me questions, my anxiety makes it hard to think," she explains through her app. "Trapped. I'm not silent because I don't want to talk. I would rather talk freely but it's very difficult and complicated. "Having selective mutism can feel like you're living your life in a box. The box is see-through so you can see out and hear people, but you can't leave no matter how hard you try. "You can shout inside the box as loud as you like but nobody can hear you. They can't hear you cry when you're hurt or scared," she adds. Selective mutism Source: NHS Communicating can be especially difficult for Sabrina when people are impatient and lack understanding, often seeing her as stubborn or rude. But even speaking to her parents and siblings can become difficult when she is worried or upset. On some occasions, when she feels pressured by strangers, she suffers from panic attacks. It has led her to feel like she is losing out. "I've missed out on so much I wanted to do, like having lots of friends and going lots of places without needing my family to take me." Her selective mutism has become more difficult to manage over time. "When you're a child your parents can do lots more to help, and speak for you, but as an adult you're meant to do all that stuff yourself and people expect you to be able to, but I can't." Current estimates suggest one in 150 children in the UK have selective mutism. This falls to one in 1,000 with adolescents and one in 2,400 young adults. But the proportion of older adults with the condition is unknown. Alison Wintgens, national adviser for selective mutism at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, says care for adults with the condition is "extremely under-researched, with a real deficiency of services because it so often falls under the radar". She describes selective mutism, in its simplest terms, as a "phobia of talking". It is arguably most associated in popular culture with the character of Raj Koothrappali in the US sitcom The Big Bang Theory, who was originally unable to speak to women outside his family. Wintgens explains that the condition normally stems from childhood: "Something triggers it, a pretty everyday event - normally around the age of two or three - and it becomes a learnt and reinforced pattern." This often includes freezing in uncomfortable situations, like a "rabbit in the headlights". Avoidance is another tactic employed by those with the condition. "It is recognised more nowadays, but there is still a lot of ignorance. School staff and parents want to do best, but inadvertently can make the situation worse," Wintgens adds. Sabrina says she did not get any support at school. "The special educational needs teacher who wanted to assess me told me it was all in my head and sent me away. The school just ignored the problem then." Her mother Dianne says the condition was hard to notice at home, as Sabrina communicated fully with family. "She used to play with her brothers and sisters and talk to me and her dad. It was just outside of the family we thought she was very shy. "It makes me feel as though I failed as a mum... because I didn't spot the signs. But I had never heard of the condition." Misinterpreting selective mutism as shyness is a common mistake, according to Wintgens, but psychologically the difference between the two can be pronounced. She explains that shy people are generally "slow to warm up", but are eventually likely to take part in conversations and situations. But people with selective mutism "have a consistent and predictable pattern, finding it impossible to talk to the same people and in the same places". If untreated, according to Carl Sutton, founder of the support group iSpeak, "other anxiety disorders - such as agoraphobia - are very likely outcomes for adults." Depression, he adds, is almost universal, and while young adults do manage to circumvent their difficulties, many others are virtually housebound. Until 2011, Sabrina had been receiving treatment from a psychologist for three years after being referred by her GP. But after her case was reassessed by the service provider, she was discharged and says all subsequent referrals have been refused. The only care she has since been offered was short-term therapy. Her mother says the prospect of Sabrina getting a job is currently "off the table", even despite Sabrina retaining independence by living in her own home. "She has done voluntary work for [the charity] Mind but it's been hard for her to enter into those jobs. Once she gets into them, she enjoys them. "It was difficult, but she got close to people. She used to text a lot and would send emails [to colleagues]." Sutton's research - which looked at 83 people who have, or have had, selective mutism in adulthood - suggests the average "turning point" on the way to overcoming the condition takes place aged 22. But although Sabrina is past this age, she still holds hope of recovering. "I want to work with other sufferers," she explains. She is currently studying for a degree in psychology with the Open University. Victoria Derbyshire broadcasts weekdays from 09:15-11:00 BST on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

चयनात्मक उत्परिवर्तन-जिसे "बात करने के डर" के रूप में सबसे अच्छा वर्णित किया गया है-एक चिंता विकार है जो हजारों बच्चों को प्रभावित करता है। लेकिन इस स्थिति वाले वयस्क काफी हद तक भुला दिए जाते हैं। उनके लिए यह कैसा है?


Wood group acquires Canadian firm Sunstone Projects

Summary: Aberdeen-based oil services firm Wood Group has moved deeper into the Canadian market by buying pipeline consulting company Sunstone Projects in a deal worth £7.8m.

Sunstone offers engineering, procurement and construction management services to the Canadian oil and gas industry. It generated sales of about £11.4m last year and employs 70 people. Alberta-based Sunstone will be rebranded as Wood Group Mustang. It will continue to be led by its existing management team. Pipeline business Wood Group Mustang president Steve Knowles said: "The Canadian pipeline system is expected to expand to ensure access to markets for oil and gas produced in Western Canada. "The acquisition of Sunstone will strengthen our ability to provide our clients with services in this area. "Sunstone's capability and geographic presence are complementary to Wood Group Mustang's existing pipeline business. "Sunstone has an excellent reputation for pipeline project execution and will be an important part of our Canadian growth strategy."

एबरडीन स्थित तेल सेवा फर्म वुड ग्रुप ने 7.8 करोड़ पाउंड के सौदे में पाइपलाइन परामर्श कंपनी सनस्टोन प्रोजेक्ट्स को खरीदकर कनाडा के बाजार में गहराई से कदम रखा है।


Israel's Naftali Bennett, rise of a nationalist set to be PM

Summary: Naftali Bennett, who appears likely to become Israel's next prime minister, is a former commando and self-made tech millionaire who says he is further to the right than Benjamin Netanyahu and rejects the concept of a Palestinian state.

Mr Bennett has long held ambitions to be prime minister, but his expected nomination is remarkable given his right-wing nationalist party, Yamina, won only a handful of seats in the last general election. Despite his faction coming joint fifth, with seven MPs, Mr Bennett was propelled into the position of kingmaker, with his support vital if either of the two rival blocs competing for power were to be able to form a viable governing coalition. He was offered the premiership as a shared role by both Mr Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009, and the centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid. In the end, Mr Bennett sided with Mr Lapid, despite their wide ideological differences. Naftali Bennett, 49, was once considered a protégé of Mr Netanyahu, whom he served as chief of staff from 2006 to 2008, until the pair fell out. He left Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and joined the right-wing national religious Jewish Home party, entering parliament after leading it to success in the 2013 election. He went on to serve as a minister in every coalition government until 2019, when his newly formed New Right alliance failed to win any seats in that year's election. Just 11 months later, Mr Bennett reversed the loss, returning to parliament as head of Yamina (Hebrew for "rightwards"). Often labelled an ultra-nationalist (he has described himself as "more right-wing" than Mr Netanyahu), Naftali Bennett is outspoken in his advocacy of Israel as the Jewish nation state and Jewish historical and religious claims to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights - territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war. He has long championed the right of Jewish settlement in the West Bank (he was once the head of the Yesha Council, the political representative group for Jewish settlers), although he has said Israel has no claims on Gaza (from which Israel withdrew troops and settlers in 2005). More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, considered illegal by almost the entire international community, though Israel disputes this. The fate of the settlements is one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians, who seek their removal and the establishment of an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Interfering in, let alone halting, settlement activity is anathema to Mr Bennett, who considered the pro-settlement Mr Netanyahu as untrustworthy on the issue. Fluent in English and media-savvy, Mr Bennett frequently appears on foreign TV networks, defending Israel's actions. Blunt talking and combative, in a domestic television debate he once admonished an Israeli Arab member of parliament for saying Jews had no right to settle in the West Bank, telling him: "When you were still swinging from trees, we had a Jewish state here." Mr Bennett rejects the notion of the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel - the so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (an issue he has likened to "shrapnel in the buttocks") advocated by much of the international community, including US President Joe Biden. "As long as I have any power and control, I won't hand over one centimetre of land of the Land of Israel. Period," he said in an interview in February 2021. Rather, Mr Bennett advocates strengthening Israel's hold on the West Bank - territory he refers to by its Biblical Hebrew name of Judea and Samaria - by annexing most of it. Mr Bennett has also taken a hard line towards dealing with the threat from Palestinian militants, for whom he has said he supports the death penalty. This has never been applied in Israel apart from in the case of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi architect of the Holocaust who was convicted in Jerusalem in 1961 and hanged the following year. He objected to a truce with Gaza's Hamas rulers which ended a flare-up of fighting in 2018, and accused the group of effectively murdering dozens of its own civilians killed in Israeli air strikes carried out in response to rocket fire from Gaza in renewed hostilities in May 2021. The theme of Jewish pride and national self-confidence is one which Mr Bennett, who wears the kippah head-covering of religious Jews, has made his signature. In a 2014 party campaign, he parodied the New York Times and Israel's left-wing Haaretz newspaper for criticising Israeli actions, appearing in a social media video disguised as a hipster Israeli repeatedly saying "sorry", before revealing himself and declaring: "Starting today, we stop apologising." Mr Bennett's political ascent follows earlier distinctions in the military and in business. He served in two branches of the Israeli special forces during his army service, before setting up and selling hi-tech companies, becoming a multi-millionaire in the process. Speaking about his wealth in an interview in 2014, he said: "I don't eat 17 steaks and I don't have a private plane or yacht. It simply bought me freedom to do what I want."

नफ्ताली बेनेट, जिनके इज़राइल के अगले प्रधान मंत्री बनने की संभावना प्रतीत होती है, एक पूर्व कमांडो और स्व-निर्मित तकनीकी करोड़पति हैं, जो कहते हैं कि वह बेंजामिन नेतन्याहू से अधिक दक्षिणपंथी हैं और एक फिलिस्तीनी राज्य की अवधारणा को अस्वीकार करते हैं।


IoM firm to operate extra 48 sailings to Liverpool

Summary: The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will operate 48 additional sailings to Liverpool this summer.

The fast craft Manannan will return to service on 26 March for the summer season and operate a twice daily service to Liverpool. A spokesman said the extra services have been added to meet increased demand. The 96m (314ft) catamaran will also sail to Dublin and Belfast, starting on 1 April.

आइल ऑफ मैन स्टीम पैकेट कंपनी इस गर्मी में लिवरपूल के लिए 48 अतिरिक्त नौकायन का संचालन करेगी।


Man killed in Coventry hit-and-run named

Summary: An 83-year-old man who was killed when he was struck by a car which failed to stop has been named .

Milton Forde was found lying injured in Burnaby Road, Coventry on Saturday evening after he was hit by a blue BMW car. On Monday, West Midlands Police arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has since been released pending further investigation and a vehicle was seized for forensic examination. Mr Forde, who is from the Holbrooks area of Coventry, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family said he would be deeply missed.

एक 83 वर्षीय व्यक्ति, जो एक कार की चपेट में आने से मारा गया था, जो रुकने में विफल रही, उसका नाम लिया गया है।


Forest fires devastate Brazil's Pantanal tropical wetlands

Summary: There have been more than 15,000 fires in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands so far this year, causing widespread devastation. That is triple the number recorded in the same period in 2019, according to data collected by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

A satellite map published by Inpe shows the fires burning in the Pantanal, collected using satellites that measure blazes larger than 30m-long by 1m-wide. This article contains images some people may find upsetting. The wetlands is one of the world's most bio-diverse areas. In total 15,756 fires have been detected in the region so far this year, compared with 5,109 recorded in the same period last year. Brazil's National Centre for the Prevention of Forest Fires (Prevfogo) calculates that 2.9m hectares of the Pantanal have burned so far in 2020. A state of emergency has been declared in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. Environment Minister Ricardo Salles says the fires have spread to "gigantic proportions". Nevertheless, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday that the criticism levelled against his government over the fires in the Pantanal and also in the Amazon region had been "disproportionate". The basin, which thrives off annual flooding following torrential rains, is home to jaguars, piranhas, capuchin monkeys, green anacondas and thousands of plant species. Forest fires often occur naturally in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started by ranchers trying to clear land for cattle. Experts say it is impossible to calculate yet how many animals have been killed by the fires, but losses are feared to be huge. All pictures copyright.

ब्राजील के राष्ट्रीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संस्थान (इनपे) द्वारा एकत्र किए गए आंकड़ों के अनुसार, इस साल अब तक ब्राजील के पैंटनल आर्द्रभूमि में 15,000 से अधिक आग लग चुकी है, जिससे व्यापक तबाही हुई है। यह संख्या 2019 में इसी अवधि में दर्ज की गई संख्या से तीन गुना है।


Norfolk parents push for tribunal over shortage of special school places

Summary: Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are challenging a council's decision to send their children to mainstream schools, because of a shortage of places at special schools. Three parents whose children are due to start school in September explain why they feel a regular school would not be right for them.

'Crisis for hundreds of children' Vanessa Vasey from Bradwell near Great Yarmouth is seeking to reverse a decision by Norfolk County Council to place her son in mainstream education. Her son, four-year-old Jesse, has Down's syndrome. He has difficulty with his vision and hearing, which also causes problems with his speech. Ms Vasey said he needed the environment of a special school, where classes are smaller and staff regularly deal with complex needs. "He's an amazing little boy, I'm absolutely blessed to be his mummy. He loves nothing more than to put a microphone in his hand and have a singalong to the telly," she said. "He's not toilet trained, he's unable to regulate his emotions so he can get quite bad tempered - he throws things, he hits things." Jesse can speak and sign a few words but is unable to express exactly what he means, his mother said. He was also born with just one nasal passage which has to be kept clear and requires suctioning every few hours. "Most of his levels are between eight months and 26 months," said Ms Vasey. "I've been told by the special educational needs coordinator at the school that Jesse would be better placed in a complex needs school. "I've been told by the local authority that he meets the criteria to go to that school, but he cannot go to that school because there isn't enough space. "This is a crisis for my child and for hundreds of other children and their families and I don't know what the answers are but somebody needs to find them, and fast," said Ms Vasey. Petition for more places In nearby Filby, Carly Bowler, mother of four-year-old Jamie, has launched a petition to get some 400 places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Her son is severely autistic and is still in nappies. "He's very happy, loving, very sensory-orientated. He loves to be cuddled and kissed, tickled, but is very, very nervous," she said. "He will smash his head against a hard surface if he's trying to get someone to understand what it is he needs or wants and they're not grasping it quick enough. "With his autism he is hyper-sensitive to noises, and very nervous around other children. "He doesn't say Mum. He doesn't say yes or no. So at the moment Jamie is eight to 20 months in all of his developmental areas." She said the council had not kept up with demand for SEND school places and should have planned for demand. "The spaces that they are creating are not enough to cover those children [already in education] let alone those children that are due to start this September," said Ms Bowler. "I read horror stories of children not wanting to live, that are so frightened, are being bullied, are being singled out are made to feel they are difficult [at mainstream schools]," she said. 'New schools don't help us' Hayley Dudzinski, who lives in Mulbarton, is the mother of four-year-old Zephyr who is non-verbal and has a range of limiting conditions. He has difficulty walking and uses a mobility pushchair when outside. "It's a bit of a guessing game as to what Zephyr needs," said Ms Dudzinski. "We are starting to introduce signs but at the moment Zephyr isn't responding too well to that." Zephyr currently attends a special needs nursery and a local nursery where he receives one-to-one support. Ms Dudzinski is also going through the tribunal process to appeal the local authority decision to send Zephyr to a mainstream school in September. "The school offered is not suitable for his needs. Zephyr doesn't just need an adapted curriculum," she said. "He needs things like sensory rooms, he needs access to hydrotherapy pools for his physio needs, specialist help with his speech and language." An educational psychologist report has confirmed Zephyr requires specialist provision, said Ms Dudzinski. "I blame the council. They're building schools but they've let it get to a point in Norfolk where it doesn't help parents like me," she said. She is hoping that by going to tribunal the council will be forced to create a place for Zephyr at a special school. "The other outcome is that they would offer Zephyr what they class as a bespoke package, which would be potentially where the local authority pays for him to attend nursery until a [special school] space becomes available," she added. '£120m spent on new special schools' Michael Bateman is in charge of Norfolk County Council's SEND provision and agreed more places are needed. "The difficulty is current vacancies, which is why we're building so many new special schools and other specialist provision," said he said. "So we don't disagree with the families and hope that at some point in the future we can make that specialist provision for them." The authority has spent £120m building new special schools, but the earliest any children could attend would be Christmas. "If we had those special school places right now, those boys would be going there. If we could expand overnight of course we would do that," said Mr Bateman. "We have had a lot of experience of this over the years, but families, after that first half-term [at a mainstream school] are reassured. But of course, when going to special school, it's even better," he added. Three new schools for children with SEND are being built in Norfolk - in Great Yarmouth, Fakenham and Easton - to provide up to 450 places over the next two years, and places at some existing schools will also be extended. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

विशेष शैक्षणिक आवश्यकता और विकलांग बच्चों के परिवार (एस. ई. एन. डी.) विशेष स्कूलों में स्थानों की कमी के कारण अपने बच्चों को मुख्यधारा के स्कूलों में भेजने के परिषद के फैसले को चुनौती दे रहे हैं। तीन माता-पिता जिनके बच्चे सितंबर में स्कूल शुरू करने वाले हैं, वे बताते हैं कि उन्हें क्यों लगता है कि एक नियमित स्कूल उनके लिए सही नहीं होगा।


Coronavirus: Isle of Man tax return deadline extended amid pandemic

Summary: Manx workers will have an extra month to file tax returns due to delays in issuing forms amid the coronavirus pandemic, the treasury has said.

Forms are usually sent out in April but are now expected on 6 May, with the deadline postponed until 6 November. A treasury spokesman said delays were due to staff being "engaged in other duties" during the pandemic. A £100m package of measures to assist businesses and individuals was announced by the treasury in March. Treasury minister Alfred Cannan said there would be "slower turnaround times than usual" for tax rebates. He added that priority would be given "where it is abundantly clear that the current crisis is resulting in financial hardship".

कोषागार ने कहा है कि कोरोना वायरस महामारी के बीच फॉर्म जारी करने में देरी के कारण मैनक्स श्रमिकों के पास कर विवरणी दाखिल करने के लिए एक अतिरिक्त महीना होगा।


Coronavirus: How Covid-19 has changed the 'big fat Indian wedding'

Summary: Marriage ceremonies across India have been put on hold due to the coronavirus lockdown. But some couples chose to swap their big fat weddings for small intimate affairs. So, could that be the new normal? The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi reports.

Nitin Arora and Chaitali Puri met in college six years ago and began dating a year later. When they set a date for their wedding in early May, it was meant to be a lavish affair. The celebrations began with an engagement party in March. Attended by 170 people, it was held on the lawns of a posh club in the city of Chandigarh. The venue was decorated with white and green flowers, and golden fairy lights twinkled everywhere. "It was a typical Punjabi function," says Chaitali, "there was lots of booze, lots of food, crazy loud music. And we danced the whole night. We stopped only when it was time for the DJ to go." For their wedding scheduled for 2 May, a sprawling resort was booked on the outskirts of the city for the three-day celebrations - there was meant to be a pre-wedding cocktail party, a music and dance event, and several other rituals. The actual wedding, which involves the bride and the groom walking around a sacred fire seven times, was due to take place on top of a hill within the resort with the setting sun providing the perfect backdrop for photos. The guest list had 450 names, the 10-page food menu had four different styles of cuisines, and a DJ had been booked for the after party. The bride's baby pink silk skirt, blouse and scarf and the groom's outfit were being custom made while orders for jewellery had been placed. And then came the lockdown - on 24 March, India announced a complete shutdown of the country to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The couple waited, hoping that the restrictions would be eased and they would be able to have their perfect wedding. But with no sign of the lockdown being lifted, on 15 April, they decided to postpone the wedding to November. But, as they say, destiny has its own plans. "At noon on 1 May, my dad got a call from a friend who said he could help arrange a curfew pass for us to travel from Chandigarh to Delhi if I still wanted to marry Chaitali on 2 May," Nitin told me on the phone from Chandigarh. It was a nail-biting few hours - after their initial request was turned down, the pass finally came through at 5:30pm. "They said the wedding is on," says Chaitali. "We had to then find a priest to conduct the ceremony. Our local priest first said yes, then he said no because his children were worried about him catching the virus. We finally found another priest at 7:30pm." At 9:30am the next day, Nitin reached Delhi with his parents and his brother. The priest arrived at 10:30 and the wedding began at 11. "My living room became the wedding venue, I wore my mum's magenta sari and my grandmother's jewellery, the photographs were taken by Nitin's brother, and we had a potluck lunch," laughs Chaitali. The ceremony was attended by 16 people, including the priest. A Zoom link was created to let friends and relatives watch from across India. Although Nitin is not happy that his extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles missed his wedding and is planning a "grand reception" later in the year if the Covid-19 threat abates, Chaitali says "we thank our stars that it happened". Three weeks later, similar sentiments were being expressed by newly-weds Sukanya Venkataraman and Shanthu Jacob Paul as they exchanged wedding rings in a dusty parking lot in the southern city of Bangalore. Minutes earlier, they had been married at the Marriage Registrar's office with the bride's mother and the groom's uncle and aunt as witnesses. The paperwork was always a part of the plan - Sukanya is a Hindu and Shanthu a Christian and inter-religious marriages have to be registered - but it was not meant to be the only event. "Shanthu wanted a beach wedding in Chennai where his parents live. There were plans for lavish receptions in Chennai (formerly Madras) and Bangalore. In our heads, we were expecting 200 guests," Sukanya told me over the phone from Bangalore. "I had always wanted to dress up as a bride, I wanted to wear a crimson silk sari, do up my hair and have elaborate henna designs on my hands." In the end, she did her own henna patterns and wore a white and gold sari Shanthu had gifted her two years back. The groom's uncle took the photographs, his aunt set up a Zoom link and did a running commentary as friends and relatives tuned in from Scotland, Norway, UAE and the US. "I am pretty content. I like the idea of a much more personal, intimate wedding, but my husband has plenty of regrets, he's got a laundry list," says Sukanya, laughing. Adds Shanthu, "It was an important day of our life. I had an idea what I wanted it to be. I wanted a month of music and dance rehearsals, a gala celebration, I wanted my family and friends to be there to witness our big day." He hasn't given up on a big celebration though. "Once it's safe and the threat of coronavirus has receded, we will do receptions in Chennai and Bangalore. We'll go to Paris for our honeymoon. Since we missed out on the beach wedding, we'll go for a holiday to Mauritius or Maldives," he says. The May weddings have been exceptions, says Vandana Mohan, one of India's best-known wedding planners who organised Bollywood superstars Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh's wedding at Lake Como in Italy. "I have advised all my clients to move their weddings scheduled for April and May to next year and they have all agreed to wait it out. Ms Mohan says she's been getting a lot of inquiries for later in the year, but she's not encouraging couples to plan anything before mid-October because most people want to invite 250 to 300 people, but current rules allow only 50 people to attend a wedding. "A wedding is a time of great celebration, a time of great joy, it's the coming together not just of two people but also of families and communities," she says, adding that she can't "imagine a time in India when you'll have a wedding and you won't involve the community". Nupur Mehta, former editor of a bridal magazine, says "everyone is waiting for the Covid-19 vaccine". The wedding industry, she says, is one of the biggest in the country - more than 10 million marriages take place every year. Accounting and research firm KPMG estimates the wedding market to be more than $50bn. The lockdown has hit the clothing industry and jewellery makers hard but, Ms Mehta says it will recover quickly because weddings are an integral part of Indian culture where - unlike in the West - living together and civil partnerships are rare. "It's one of the biggest events in most people's lives. We wait all our lifetime for the wedding," Ms Mehta says. "For some time people will have smaller weddings with fewer guests, but in the long run, the big fat wedding will be back in vogue."

कोरोनावायरस लॉकडाउन के कारण पूरे भारत में विवाह समारोहों को रोक दिया गया है। लेकिन कुछ जोड़ों ने अपनी बड़ी मोटी शादियों को छोटे अंतरंग संबंधों के लिए बदलना चुना। तो, क्या यह नया सामान्य हो सकता है? दिल्ली में बीबीसी की गीता पांडे रिपोर्ट करती है।