Black Panther: The 'weird signs' that led Chadwick Boseman to Wakanda

Summary: The man who first told Chadwick Boseman he would play the role of Black Panther - before Boseman even knew the film would be made - was an Australian bodyguard and comic collector, Charles Carter. It was a story Boseman told more than once, though Carter himself has remained silent until now.

By Megha MohanGender and identity correspondent It was September 2014 when Marvel studios called Chadwick Boseman. He was in Zurich promoting Get On Up, a biopic where he played soul legend James Brown. Just the day before Boseman had decided to upgrade his phone plan to include international calls, even though he wasn't expecting one. But suddenly his agent told him Marvel was looking to speak to him - the production house responsible for producing $100m films based on Marvel Comic characters including Spiderman and Captain America. Such was the secrecy surrounding the project that the Marvel executive at the end of the line didn't even say the name of the iconic character they wanted Chadwick Boseman to play. "We want you to play a role and we think you know what the role is. Are you interested?" Boseman's driver had pulled up outside an antique shop while he took the call. Looking out of the car at the display window of the shop, Boseman saw several panther statues in a line facing him. The offer was for him to play Black Panther, prince of Wakanda, in Captain America: Civil War and then to star in the film Black Panther itself, this time as the king of the African kingdom. Boseman recounted this story in 2016 to a gasping audience on Jimmy Kimmel Live, during a press tour ahead of the release of Captain America: Civil War. But there was also another story that the actor wanted to share. Looking at the audience and then at the television camera, Chadwick Boseman smiled and said, "Charles Carter, you were right. Come out wherever you are!" Charles Carter first met Chadwick Boseman on the lot of the Fox studio in Sydney, Australia, when the actor was filming Gods of Egypt, a fantasy about ancient Egyptian deities. Carter had been employed in security for over 20 years and was working as the bodyguard of one of the film's leads. But he instantly hit it off with the actor playing Thoth, the God of Wisdom - it was early 2014 and Chadwick Boseman, then 37, was gaining momentum as someone who could carry big Hollywood roles, like that of African American baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the film 42. Carter and Boseman bonded over their love of martial arts, kung fu and boxing. Between takes, the two would dissect and analyse the style and technique of boxer Floyd Mayweather. The make-up artists would then reprimand Carter for play-fighting with Boseman. "You're getting him sweaty," they'd warn. When the two talked, Boseman mainly spoke about his family and cousins in South Carolina. It was clear to Carter that Boseman's world, and those he trusted, were a tight circle. "He wasn't 'Hollywood'," says Carter. "He was friendly and calm, but he didn't have fake familiarity with people. "He never said it openly, but I don't think he liked people he didn't know calling him 'brother', except for me. "When he heard people on set that he didn't know so well call him 'brother', he turned around and gave a very subtle, very calm look that said, 'Slow down, we're not this kind of close.' "He owned himself, he was friendly to everyone, all crew on set." He also had a regal authority that made people listen to him, Carter says. "I know the perfect role for you," Carter said to Boseman one day. It was a story he'd known since the age of 10, when he picked up the first issue of a Black Panther comic. As a child growing up in Sydney with a multicultural group of friends, the fact that this superhero was black didn't strike him as particularly surprising, but he was fascinated by the technologically advanced fictional African nation of Wakanda, the birthplace of King T'Challa, the Black Panther. He collected comics, sealing them in protective plastic. Watching Boseman carry himself on set, Carter started wondering. When he asked Boseman if he'd heard of the Black Panther, the actor replied that while he had heard of the character, he didn't know details or storylines. The conversation ended almost as soon as it started. But this gave Carter an idea. He went home to fetch his first edition copy of the first Black Panther comic from 1977. What happened next would be repeated by Chadwick Boseman in media interviews two years later. In 2016, on the American chat show Live with Kelly and Michael, Boseman said "there were weird signs" that he was going to get the role. "I got in a conversation with the security on set for this movie Gods of Egypt in Australia," he said. "And we didn't really talk that much about Black Panther but he put the first issue of Black Panther in my trailer, his original issue of Black Panther from when he was a kid, and wrote a note in it to say 'You're going to get this role.'" "Oh my God," responded the host, Kelly Ripa. "There was no sign that Marvel was even going to do a Black Panther movie or even bring the Black Panther into the Marvel universe then," Boseman continued, "but it became a thing that built in my head." The actor would repeat the story to US presenter Jimmy Kimmel, this time turning to the camera and naming Charles Carter as the planter of the seed. Carter was in his car in Sydney when he heard the interview played back on an Australian radio station. He smiled, and recalled one of their last conversations on set. "If they ever do a Black Panther movie, that comic book will be worth a lot," Boseman had told Carter. "No, it's a good luck charm to stay with you forever," Carter replied. Then he added jokingly, "Just don't forget me when you're a superstar!" After filming wrapped up in Australia, there was criticism of Boseman's character in Gods of Egypt, that it was a flattened stereotype of a magical black character. In an interview with GQ magazine, Boseman said he agreed with the criticism, but added that he had to accept the role because "people don't make $140m movies starring black and brown people". But the $200m Black Panther movie was already being discussed in Marvel offices. At the Black Panther launch press conference, Marvel producer Kevin Feige said that Chadwick Boseman was their one and only choice for the role. After it was announced that Black Panther was to be filmed and Boseman publicly acknowledged him, Carter declined interviews. "I'm obviously not responsible for Chad and Black Panther," he says. "Chad did it. It was all his merit, his skill, his beauty, his amazing talent. He did it all and I didn't want him to think I was trying to take credit just by giving him a gift." But nine days before the world debut of Black Panther, Boseman messaged Carter. "I know it's last minute. The tickets are hard to come by for this premiere, even for me. If you happen to be on this side of the pond on the 29th I have one for you." As it turned out, Carter was that side of the pond, he was working in Las Vegas. After the film screening at Dolby Theatre, Boseman invited Carter to the afterparty where Carter met Boseman's family and the cast of Black Panther. "It was a gas," Carter says. "While there was almost everyone you could recognise from a magazine there, it was clear that Chad's attention was on his parents and family. He knew who mattered." This was the last time Carter saw Boseman. "At the premiere I thought he was moving a little slow and deliberate," says Carter. "I thought maybe he took a Valium as it was a big event. He was totally lucid talking to people coming up to congratulate him, but now maybe I think he may have been on meds for his cancer at the time. "He was thinking a lot I thought." He was smiling a lot too though, relishing the success of the film that would go on to make over $1bn in box offices worldwide, and putting a nail in the myth that black-led films were too niche to be blockbusters. The film became a cultural touchpoint, and the first Marvel Comic Universe offering to win an Academy Award. Boseman had been diagnosed with colon cancer two years before the film was released, but it was not something he shared, even with other members of the cast. Carter had no idea himself, and he is reluctant to give details of the moment he heard the news or the last conversation the two of them had. But he knows that what Chadwick Boseman did for representation is huge. "My friend showed that it's possible to have diverse, strong and powerful leads that are box office wins," he says. "And when one person does that, it will give inspiration for many others to follow." That said, he doesn't want to see anyone else in Boseman's role. "No-one else can be the Black Panther now. Wakanda can live, but not King T'Challa. Writers should think of developing other leads, strong women, strong people of colour. Not replace Chadwick Boseman, because that is not possible." You may also be interested in: The release of Black Panther was a moment of special significance for black comic fans, who had only rarely seen a hero on the page who looked like them, and almost never on screen. In 2018, British graphic illustrator Jacob V Joyce explained the importance of the groundbreaking character. Black Panther: 'Why black people like me are refusing to be sub-plots'

जिस व्यक्ति ने पहली बार चैडविक बोसमैन को बताया कि वह ब्लैक पैंथर की भूमिका निभाएंगे-इससे पहले कि बोसमैन को पता था कि फिल्म बनाई जाएगी-वह एक ऑस्ट्रेलियाई अंगरक्षक और हास्य संग्राहक, चार्ल्स कार्टर थे। यह एक ऐसी कहानी थी जिसे बोसमैन ने एक से अधिक बार बताया था, हालांकि कार्टर खुद अब तक चुप रहे हैं।


Change brings challenges for Qatar Emir Tamim

Summary: After months of rumours and speculation, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has formally handed power to his son, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, as part of an ordered transition that appears to have been many months in the making.

Michael StephensRoyal United Services Institute, Qatar In a speech replete with references to empowering the youth of the nation, and the need for change, the emir enacted a transition that will see him leave the stage he has dominated for nearly two decades alongside his Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, who is expected to be stepping down imminently. In recent weeks, discreet communications were passed to various diplomats and leading businessmen to inform them that change was in the works, and although it was unclear exactly when the process would happen, the widely rumoured "before Ramadan" timeline proved to be true. 'Unfillable gap' Now that the handover is officially complete, and once two days of meeting and greeting Qatar's well-to-do are over, the 33-year-old emir will need to turn his attention to a growing number of challenges. And though it would not be fair to describe Sheikh Tamim as a novice in world affairs, he has yet to face complex issues without the support of his father, and the efforts of Khalid al-Atiyya, Qatar's energetic minister of state for foreign affairs. And of course the dominating presence of the PM and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim. It is widely believed that HBJ, as he is known, will step down as part of the cabinet reshuffle in which a number of new appointees are expected. His departure will leave an unfillable gap. Hamad bin Jassim is one of the very best diplomats the region has to offer, hard-working, shrewd and full of charisma. He possesses all the tools needed to cajole and persuade. His are big shoes to fill, and the skill of diplomacy is something that is as much innate to a person's character as it is to experience. Sheikh Tamim has certainly learnt the ropes quickly and may well grow to be a great emir, but with Hamad bin Jassim's departure, Qatar's clout on the foreign stage will undoubtedly suffer, and this at a time when the country is facing increasing criticism. The region, once friendly and open to Qatar's influence, now views the emirate's intentions with suspicion, fear and even hatred. In the Gulf, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have grown distrustful of Qatar and its alliances and foreign policy initiatives. The UAE in particular has been angered by Qatar's growing relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and has worked to try to blunt Qatari influence at every turn. Some in Qatar have expressed hope that Sheikh Tamim will work to reset relations with neighbouring Gulf states, and bring Qatar closer into the fold of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in the coming years. In Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, the public mood has turned against Qatar, despite or perhaps because of the billions that Qatar has pumped into those North African countries. In responding to the Arab Spring, Qatar helped enable revolutions that saw three dictators fall, but its continued support for Islamists has angered many. In Tahrir Square, Egyptians burnt Qatari flags and a leading comedian, Bassam Youssef, has taken several pokes at the Qataris for their involvement in Egyptian political and financial affairs. Al-Jazeera, Qatar's once shining jewel, has also suffered, losing an estimated five million viewers. It is being criticised for appearing biased and lacking in editorial rigour, in effect becoming an extension of the Qatari government rather than an independent news organisation. But it is in Syria that the Qataris face their greatest challenge. Where once they were confident that the regime of Bashar al-Assad would crumble in the face of international pressure and arms transfers to rebel forces, the war now looks to be moving in Mr Assad's favour. Should his forces prevail, the consequences for Qatar, following two years of active support for the opposition and $3bn (£2bn) spent on weapons and humanitarian aid, are potentially devastating. Qatar's position and influence in the region would be irreparably damaged should the rebels it has backed so openly be defeated. At the same time, Qatar's relationships with the West remain a mixture of engagement and confusion. Qatar needs Western military support, and intelligence co-operation, particularly with regard to the Syrian crisis. But distrust clouds Western interpretations of Qatar's intentions, and its relationships with hardline Islamists in Libya and Syria as well as the country's links with Hamas are troubling Washington and its allies. Few doubt the ruling family will remain close to Western powers, particularly as it seeks to maintain deterrence vis-a-vis Iran, but Qatar will never be the fully compliant ally the West may wish it to be. And the West will never be entirely at ease with Qatar's Islamist links. Balancing act Though there is talk of Sheikh Tamim's conservatism and his fondness for the Muslim Brotherhood, there is no actual evidence for either charge other than the rumour and gossip so often associated with Gulf politics. And regardless of the prince's personal beliefs, it is likely that very little would change under his leadership. That is because Qatar's main initiatives and policy tracks are more or less set in stone. The 2030 Vision, which outlines the development goals for the country, is already chaired by Sheikh Tamim (with significant input from his mother Sheikha Mozah and his father, the emir) and has a clear modernising social agenda. Likewise, the football World Cup in 2022 will require social and legal reforms in the country, most notably around workers' rights and the construction of stadiums and new cities for its large expatriate population to live in. Qatar has invested billions of dollars already in realising these visions, and Sheikh Tamim could not turn his back on these gargantuan projects even if he wanted to. Nevertheless Qataris are a traditional people, and the emir will have to balance his subjects' need for maintaining the traditions of his people with modernising the rapidly growing country. It is interesting that Sheikh Hamad made explicit mention of his confidence in the younger generation's "loyalty to your Arab and Islamic heritage". It is a delicate balancing act and one Sheikh Tamim must manage with sensitivity if he is to succeed in ensuring the country develops successfully. Push for reform However, lost in a story which has consumed the elite in Doha is an issue that will not go away. It concerns the push for constitutional reform and the first ever elections to Qatar's advisory council. The council is an appointed body and its term ends on 30 June 2013, but just before the abdication announcement by the emir, the council's term was extended. Much criticism has been directed at Qatar calling for change in regions of the Arab world, but not practising what it preaches at home. Granted Qataris - there are just 250,000 - live privileged lifestyles, and the call for democracy comes from a tiny number of activists, but regional states still chafe at this particular inconsistency. Time will tell if Sheikh Tamim decides to push forward with pluralistic change, but it would greatly assist the young emir in maintaining Qatar's regional aspirations and it would enhance his reputation with Arab youth calling for reform if this process was started in earnest. Certainly, declaring elections early on in his reign would cement his legacy as an emir committed to the long-term prosperity of his nation. Sheikh Tamim will be a man who stays close to his father's legacy; after all, Sheikh Hamad would not have felt secure enough to hand over his crown to a man who was not of his ilk. Inculcated from a young age with the values of hard work, and of keeping an open mind, Sheikh Tamim is unlikely to fall far from the tree. Nevertheless how the new emir deals with an unstable region and a country undergoing significant social change will be fascinating to watch, as will the extent of his commitment to democratic reform. Michael Stephens is a research analyst for Rusi in Doha (@MStephensgulf)

महीनों की अफवाहों और अटकलों के बाद, कतर के अमीर, शेख हमद बिन खलीफा अल-थानी ने औपचारिक रूप से अपने बेटे, तमीम बिन हमद अल-थानी को सत्ता सौंप दी है।


RAF Waddington personnel parade through Lincoln

Summary: More than 70 personnel from RAF Waddington have paraded through Lincoln to exercise their freedom of the city, which was first granted in 1959.

The march started at Lincoln Cathedral and was accompanied by the Band of the Royal Air Force College, RAF Cranwell. It last took place in 2010 after last year's parade was cancelled due to operations in Afghanistan and Libya. A commemoration service to the Battle of Britain was held at the cathedral. Sq Ldr Liz Brassington, who lead the parade, said: "This is a very special day for RAF Waddington." She said the march honours "the British and Allied forces that fought and died during the Battle of Britain". "It also recognises the men and women who continue to serve in the armed forces today."

आर. ए. एफ. वैडिंगटन के 70 से अधिक कर्मियों ने शहर की अपनी स्वतंत्रता का प्रयोग करने के लिए लिंकन के माध्यम से परेड की है, जिसे पहली बार 1959 में दिया गया था।


Police warning to off-road bikers in Lake District

Summary: Illegal off-road biking is damaging important wildlife habitats in the Lake District, say Cumbria Police.

They have issued warnings to motorcyclists that their activity is not only illegal and dangerous but causing damage to agricultural land. Local trail bike groups are backing the warning in order to continue organised events in the area. A National Park spokesperson said it would "not be tolerated" and they would take action against offenders. Related Internet Links Cumbria Constabulary

कुम्ब्रिया पुलिस का कहना है कि अवैध ऑफ-रोड बाइकिंग झील जिले में महत्वपूर्ण वन्यजीव आवासों को नुकसान पहुंचा रही है।


Is Polanski haunting the Strauss-Kahn case?

Summary: Comparisons between the legal troubles of the film director Roman Polanski and Dominique Strauss-Kahn are being made on both sides of the Atlantic. Could the case of Polanski - given sanctuary in France after fleeing sex charges in the US - have any impact on the fate of the IMF chief?

Prosecutors were among the first to draw parallels between the two cases, arguing in court on Monday that if Dominique Strauss-Kahn were to leave the US, France would be under no obligation to send him back to face trial. "He would be living openly and notoriously in France, just like Roman Polanski," said chief assistant district attorney Daniel Alonso. Judge Melissa C Jackson quickly dismissed the idea. "I will note that Roman Polanski has nothing to do with this," she said. "I am trying to be objective, and I am not going to judge this individual on the basis of what happened with Roman Polanski." But many commentators, both in France and the US, continue to see the Strauss-Kahn case through the prism of the Polanski saga. "Prosecutors say, plausibly, that Strauss-Kahn could easily hop on a plane to France and never be extradited and be a whole new… Polanski, over there," wrote Hamilton Nolan on the Gawker website. Jim Dwyer in the New York Times noted French anger at the television footage of the IMF managing director handcuffed in court - and compared it to Polanski's appearances as a free man at the Cannes film festival. "Year after year, the director Roman Polanski strolled the red carpet, smiling for the cameras, apparently unworried - and rightly so - that the French authorities would notice that he was a fugitive from justice in Los Angeles, where he had drugged, raped and sodomised a 13-year-old girl," he wrote. He went on: "Mr Polanski… lowered the odds that Mr Strauss-Kahn... will get bail in New York any time soon." French gloom In the same newspaper, Stephen Clarke, author of a book, 1,000 Years of Annoying the French, speculated that if Mr Strauss-Kahn were convicted he would "someday return to France, publish his autobiography (which will, of course, be adapted for the big screen by Mr Polanski) and eventually be made a government minister. Minister of gender equality perhaps?" French media tend to see the comparison between the two cases as an ominous sign for Mr Strauss-Kahn. Columnist Hubert Coudurier in Le Telegramme.com asks whether the Americans will "make us pay for the Polanski affair", and a number of newspapers answer Yes. "Justified or not, the comparison between the two cases could… have repercussions on the continuation of DSK's judicial troubles," wrote Pauline Tissot in L'Express. Le Point quotes an unnamed French government source saying that the Polanski episode does not work in Mr Strauss-Kahn's favour. "In the US they don't play around with sex cases, it's very aggressive," the source is quoted as saying. "It's as though Dominique Strauss-Kahn were a war criminal, they won't let him go." 'Unconscious role' Le Journal du Dimanche published an article on its website on Wednesday under the headline Polanski's Shadow, noting that a number of Polanski's French ardent defenders - including Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand and the writer Bernard Henri-Levy - had entered the fray in support of Mr Strauss-Kahn. The article quotes two of Polanski's lawyers, both interviewed on French radio stations. One, Georges Kiejman, told France Info that the Polanski case was playing an "unconscious role" in the Strauss-Kahn drama. The other, Herve Temime, told the radio station Europe 1: "One can understand [the parallel] on a factual, intellectual level, but it is unfortunate and very regrettable."

फिल्म निर्देशक रोमन पोलांस्की और डोमिनिक स्ट्रॉस-कान की कानूनी परेशानियों के बीच तुलना अटलांटिक के दोनों किनारों पर की जा रही है। क्या पोलांस्की के मामले-जिसे अमेरिका में यौन आरोपों से भागने के बाद फ्रांस में शरण दी गई थी-का आईएमएफ प्रमुख के भाग्य पर कोई प्रभाव पड़ सकता है?


Apple to open first shop in Edinburgh

Summary: Apple has announced it is to open its first store in Edinburgh.

The tech giant's shop is due to open at the east end of Princes Street on Saturday 18 October at 10:00. It will be Apple's 38th store in the UK. The retail outlet will house the range of Apple products, along with daily workshops, technical advice and support. The opening will come two days after the tech giant's latest product launch event, rumoured to be a new iPad Air.

एप्पल ने घोषणा की है कि वह एडिनबर्ग में अपना पहला स्टोर खोलेगा।


Why is the UK's housing benefit bill so high?

Summary: The UK currently spends billions of pounds a year on housing benefit. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, explains the history of the payments and how government funding for house-building has gradually moved into subsidies for rents, especially to private landlords.

What is housing benefit? It's a means-tested benefit paid to people on low incomes. For tenants in council or housing association properties it will usually cover their whole rent if they have no other income. For many of those in the private sector it will not pay the whole rent even if they have no other income. Housing benefit is withdrawn as income rises, but an increasing number of people in work claim at least some housing benefit. Why do we have it? We don't have benefits explicitly to pay for any other item of spending - a clothes benefit, or a food benefit for example. But the level of rents is so variable around the country and between households that a special benefit to help pay rents has been in place since at least the 1930s. A form of housing benefit was part of Beveridge's prescription in his famous report. He referred to "the problem of rent". How expensive is it? Very. At over £25 billion it is one of the biggest and fastest-growing parts of the welfare bill. That is a huge sum of money: more than we spend on the police, roads and buying military equipment combined. And the amount we spend has been growing very fast over the last three decades as both rents and the number of renters have risen. I thought the government had cut it The coalition government did introduce a number of cuts to the generosity of the housing benefit system. The most high profile, but by no means the biggest was the so called "bedroom tax" (properly known as the social sector size criteria) which reduced the amount of benefit social tenants could claim if they lived in a property deemed too big for them given the size of their family. Similar criteria have operated in the private sector for a long time. There was less publicity about the biggest cuts, which were to benefits for tenants in the private sector, essentially limiting the amount of rent in respect of which housing benefit could be paid. So that's reduced spending? No. The cuts mean that spending is more than £2 billion less than it would otherwise have been but total spending actually rose over the period after 2010 when the cuts were introduced. That's because rents rose, the number of renters rose, and earnings fell. Why has spending risen so much over the longer term? Two big things have happened. First the government has almost stopped building new council houses and has reduced the subsidy on the rents that social tenants pay. Since a lot of council tenants are poor, this has just led to more being spent on housing benefit. Meanwhile in the private sector, rents have risen quickly and a lot more people are renting rather than becoming owner-occupiers. For example, the proportion of people in their twenties who are owner-occupiers has halved in the last 20 years. Isn't the problem that we pay the rents for people to live in Chelsea? Isn't that just unfair on the rest of us who can't afford to live there? That's a big dilemma. Yes, you can get housing benefit to help you live in very expensive areas, though the amount you can claim has been cut back recently. And there is still a lot of social housing in some of these very expensive areas. Critics say the problem is that if it was left entirely to the market we could end up with "ghettoization" and parts of the country, and especially parts of our cities, where only the rich or only the poor lived. Many argue that this would make for an unhealthy, socially destructive balance. And in any case there are lots of low-paid jobs that need to be done in expensive areas and if we need the workers perhaps we should be willing to help them live near their work. So why have rents risen so much? That's the $6 million question. Of course it's closely related to the big increases in house prices. That in turn has been driven in part by the lack of house building. In the 1950s and 1960s we were building 200,000 or even 300,000 new homes every year. We haven't managed that for 30 years or more now, and only built 125,000 last year. Most of the difference is explained by the collapse in building by the state. Very few new council houses have been built. It's not just that though. We also have a tax system which encourages owner-occupiers to stay in their current properties even when they no longer need all the bedrooms. This exacerbates our tendency to see housing as an investment as well as a home. And it means that even if we do have enough bedrooms to go round they are effectively being hoarded by those lucky enough to be owner occupiers. What should we do? In the end the problem is with the whole of housing policy, not just with the housing benefit system. We urgently need to build more houses, public and private. But we also need a radical overhaul of the way we tax housing and approach housing policy more generally. Paul Johnson is Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies. Analysis: What's Housing Benefit for? is on Radio 4 at 20.30 BST on Monday 21 September and 21.30 BST on Sunday 27 September.

ब्रिटेन वर्तमान में आवास लाभ पर एक वर्ष में अरबों पाउंड खर्च करता है। वित्तीय अध्ययन संस्थान के निदेशक पॉल जॉनसन, भुगतान के इतिहास को बताते हैं और बताते हैं कि कैसे घर-निर्माण के लिए सरकारी धन धीरे-धीरे किराए के लिए सब्सिडी में चला गया है, विशेष रूप से निजी जमींदारों के लिए।


Guernsey 11-plus vote: End of selection confirmed by States vote

Summary: The use of the 11-plus exams for selection in Guernsey's education system will end, the States has confirmed.

The island's government agreed to end selection at 11 in March, but following the election in April the issue was brought back for another vote. A move to overthrow that decision was defeated 21-19. Reports on the future of the education estate are due before the States before the end of 2017. This will include the potential £64m redevelopment of La Mare de Carteret schools. More on the decision and other Channel Islands stories What the States agreed in March

राज्यों ने पुष्टि की है कि ग्वेर्नसे की शिक्षा प्रणाली में चयन के लिए 11-प्लस परीक्षाओं का उपयोग समाप्त हो जाएगा।


Michelin in Dundee: Wheel of misfortune

Summary: Different fittings of tyres have been growing at a staggering 10% per year in the past two decades. Car buyers like the look of big wheels. And although tyres for standard wheels are more fuel efficient, the Dundee factory has been undercut both by changes in the market and cheaper imports. There's a lot more change to come for the car industry as it goes electric and autonomous.

Douglas FraserBusiness/economy editor, Scotland If you've needed new tyres recently, you probably found that they had to be ordered and trucked from a distant warehouse. It used to be that you could go into a garage, you might get a choice of three manufacturers, and there and then, the mechanics could haul any of the three off a storage rail. What used to take 20 minutes now takes days, and often a lot more money. The change is partly down to the business practice of limiting stock to reduce costs, and having car parts delivered to order. But it has more to do with the growth in the range of tyres. That seems to be the reason why Michelin has not only punctured hopes for continued employment at its Dundee manufacturing plant, but on Tuesday it is telling its 845 workers that it will have the whole operation up on bricks within two years. It's not quite like the rapid demise of the horse-drawn carriage-builder early last century. The auto industry will remain huge. But it's in the early stages of very significant change, and the Dundee workforce has been very unfortunate to find that it's making the items that are going out of automotive fashion. Car buyers increasingly want big wheels, on the basis that, well, they look cool. Big wheels require thinner tyres, if they are to fit the profile of the car. Car buyers also like big chunky Sports Utility Vehicles, and they are designed with big chunky wheels and tyres. And with so much more variation in the market, the growth in the range of tyres required is simply astonishing. According to Fleet News, a trade website for those who buy their cars by the dozen, tyre choice has been rising at around 10% per year. It says that "in 1997, 19 tyre sizes accounted for up to 90% of company car tyre fitments. Today 120 tyre sizes account for 90% of fitment, with the remaining 10% comprising a staggering 1030 sizes." That's a lot to ask of the tyre manufacturers. On relatively small production runs, it helps explain why niche tyres can have some alarmingly niche prices. 'Profound transformation' And what of the bog standard 16-inch wheel? Well, it's still there, on a bog standard car. But that's Dundee's problem. Car makers selling bog standard cars, in a price-sensitive segment of the market, choose to fit them with bog standard tyres, which can be manufactured more cheaply in Asia. Dundee's role within the 17-country, 105,000-worker, French-based Michelin empire has been to produce not just 16-inch tyres, but premium ones. And while demand for them has not disappeared, it has fallen away sharply. From the HQ in Clermont Ferrand, they say it is "a profound transformation", and one that has accelerated. According to Dundee factory boss John Reid, the change is "dramatic and permanent" and the company "has to address these structural changes". It could have done so by re-tooling the Dundee plant for the wider range of tyres demanded. But having already spent 70 million euros on modernising the site in recent years, Michelin doesn't want to plough in more. "The plant is unsuitable, and conversion is not financially viable," it says. Electric flux In a recent warning to the French stock exchange about the state of the tyre market, Michelin's finance chief was quoted by the Financial Times as saying "there is a lot of nervousness in the market today. There have been multiple evolutions of guidance [by the carmakers] in particular." In other words, the whole industry is in a state of flux. We know why it's in a state of not just flux but high anxiety in the UK. Manufacturing supply chains face a rupturing through Brexit. New car sales are down 7% so far this year, and 10% in Scotland. That is after some years of strong figures, fuel injected by a revolution in the way cars are financed in Britain. The industry more widely is having to make rapid adjustments as demand for diesel cars plummets and both hybrid electric and plug-in electric cars see rapid growth. It's not simple to make that adjustment. Electric power requires a lot more space and weight for batteries. The spare tyre tends to be one casualty, meaning a shift towards a more expensive tyre designed to keep running while punctured, at least far enough to get to somewhere it can be replaced. Yet that push towards lower emissions could also become a push back towards the beleaguered 16-inch wheel. Bigger wheels not only provide a less cushioned, less comfortable ride: they also tend to use more fuel. And the wider the wheel hitting the road - "rolling resistance" in the jargon - the more noise. The decibel count could become more of an issue as internal combustion gives way to an electric whirr. As for the autonomous car? When that rubber hits the road, it may be too much, for now at least, to expect it to change its own tyres.

पिछले दो दशकों में टायरों की अलग-अलग फिटिंग प्रति वर्ष 10 प्रतिशत की दर से बढ़ रही है। कार खरीदारों को बड़े पहियों का रूप पसंद है। और हालांकि मानक पहियों के लिए टायर अधिक ईंधन कुशल हैं, डंडी कारखाने को बाजार में बदलाव और सस्ते आयात दोनों से कम किया गया है। कार उद्योग के लिए बहुत अधिक बदलाव आने वाले हैं क्योंकि यह बिजली और स्वायत्त हो जाता है।


Scottish Budget: The reaction in quotes

Summary: The Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney has presented his plan for the budget . This is the first budget in which the Scottish Finance Secretary has been able to decide tax rates. Mr Swinney announced the rates of two new devolved taxes, the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, which will replace Stamp Duty, and the Scottish Landfill Tax. He said homebuyers in Scotland would pay no tax on properties costing less than £135,000. Under the new Land and Building Transaction Tax, a tax of 2% will apply to transactions between £135,000 and £250,000, while a 10% rate will apply to those between £250,000 and £1m and 12% above £1m.

Iain Gray, Scottish Labour finance spokesman "Scottish Labour welcomes any attempts to introduce a more graduated replacement to stamp duty. "This budget demonstrates once and for all that we have a powerful devolved parliament in Holyrood, just as the people of Scotland democratically, decisively and emphatically chose to remain within the UK just three short weeks ago. "However, what we have seen is that Mr Swinney's successive budgets have failed to protect our NHS. The reality is that health spending in Scotland has not kept pace with spending in England and we know Scottish Government plans are being worked on for £450 million in cuts." Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader "There is still a great deal to be done to ensure that this budget delivers for families, with new investment to ensure that childcare provision in Scotland matches what Liberal Democrats have secured in other parts of the country. "We need to see action to restore college funding to 2011 levels, so more young people can get the best start in life, and on mental health so that these crucial services get the investment they need." Gavin Brown, Conservative finance spokesperson "This is another example of the SNP lurching to the left. It's not a mansion tax. A family buying a house worth £325,000 would be hit - homes of various types, and even some flats, will be subject to the rise. It's not just going to hit the wealthy, it's also a suburbs tax that will impact many ordinary middle class families. "This isn't about people in their 50s and 60s who have already found their family home and settled. It's going the overwhelm people from their late 20s to early 40s, who are thinking about starting or adding to their family. They need to think about a suitable home to raise their children, they need to think about schooling. "With this huge hike in tax, for thousands of those people that aspiration has become impossible because of the much heavier price tag. This move will also distort the market. There will be a rush of people looking to sell their homes before this incredible rate kicks in, and far fewer after April." David Lonsdale, director, Scottish Retail Consortium "Retailers contribute over a quarter of all revenues from business rates in Scotland. The decision to ensure the poundage rate rises no faster than that which applies in England and confirmation that the £95 million larger retailer levy will be scrapped next Spring are, therefore, both positive and welcome. "Business rates are set to generate £2.8 billion in tax revenues next year, up from £2.1 billion just five years ago. A comprehensive longer term overhaul of the rates system is required, which would increase retailers' confidence about investing in property, create more jobs and help revive high streets." Paul Brewer, head of government and public sector at PwC in Scotland "We welcome the continued focus on infrastructure investment to underpin Scotland's future economic growth. The commitment of £125 million to the housing sector, which includes housing associations and low cost housing providers, will be welcomed and, alongside the £135,000 threshold before the new property tax regime kicks in, will undoubtedly benefit young people and those on low wages who are keen to get on the property ladder. "It is to be hoped that, as the debate over further devolved powers reaches its conclusions, we'll see further targeted investment focused on making Scotland an attractive business location with the transport, digital and housing infrastructure that encourages the private sector to invest." Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland "Ahead of this announcement we called on the Finance Secretary to invest an additional £200 million in a budget for homes in order to start tackling Scotland's housing crisis. "While £125 million of additional funds is welcome, the commitment to deliver only 4,000 social rented homes is a missed opportunity and shows the Scottish Government's ambition falls well short of meeting the expectations of 150,500 people stuck on council house waiting lists. To bring real hope to these families and individuals, we need to deliver at least 10,000 social rented homes a year." Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary "Today's budget provides little relief for hard pressed public service workers who have seen their real terms income falling by thousands of pounds in recent years. STUC reiterates its support for the continuing Living Wage commitments within Public Sector pay policy but is very concerned about the squeeze on those on median pay of a little over £21,000 per year which is getting more and more painful every year. "These real terms wage cuts are a disaster for our members and a disaster for the Scottish economy which desperately needs a boost in demand." Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance "Scotland is a vastly unequal country, with the three richest families owning the same wealth as the bottom twenty per cent. Across Glasgow alone, there is a life expectancy gap of eleven years between those in the most deprived areas and those in the most affluent communities. We welcome measures to tackle this inequality, and particularly increased funding to tackle child poverty and to mitigate against the impact of welfare reform." Philip Hogg, chief executive, Homes for Scotland "With all home purchases under £325,000 set to 'win' under the new system, the plans set out by Swinney have the potential to support an active housing market. However, we are yet to fully assess the impact that an increased tax take from higher value homes, and an increase in tax charged on land purchases, in meeting the Scottish government's desire to be revenue neutral, will have on home building businesses." Mary Taylor, chief executive, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations The additional boost referred to in the budget statement of £125m in financial support to the housing sector is welcome and we look forward to the detail of how this extra subsidy is to be allocated between new social rented homes, where the greatest need exists, and low-cost home ownership and market-rate initiatives. However, with more support to the sector, much more could be achieved towards achieving the government's housing completion targets." Jim Hillan, tax partner, CMS law firm The Scottish budget statement makes the point that non-residential Land and Buildings Transaction Tax will be cheaper than the old Stamp Duty Land Tax for transactions up to around £2m. However, transactions of major strategic importance for businesses regularly weigh-in at more than that, and, on a £50m acquisition, the tax bill goes up by almost £250,000. There may be an assumption that large transactions can support a larger tax bill - that may not always be the case." Andrew Perratt, head of residential in Scotland for estate agents Savills "Young families who need to live in the prime hubs of Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire and Glasgow's west end, where average house prices are considerably higher, the proposed increases are so punitive they may discourage many buyers from moving. In view of this we anticipate increased market activity between now and the spring, whereby buyers are likely to make quick and committed decisions before the new tax comes into force in April."

स्कॉटिश वित्त सचिव जॉन स्विनी ने बजट के लिए अपनी योजना प्रस्तुत की है। यह पहला बजट है जिसमें स्कॉटिश वित्त सचिव कर दरों को तय करने में सक्षम रहे हैं। श्री स्विनी ने दो नए हस्तांतरित करों, भूमि और भवन लेनदेन कर, जो स्टाम्प शुल्क और स्कॉटिश लैंडफिल कर की जगह लेगा, की दरों की घोषणा की। उन्होंने कहा कि स्कॉटलैंड में घर खरीदार 135,000 पाउंड से कम की संपत्ति पर कोई कर नहीं देंगे। नए भूमि और भवन लेनदेन कर के तहत, 2 प्रतिशत का कर 135,000 पाउंड और 250,000 पाउंड के बीच के लेनदेन पर लागू होगा, जबकि 10 प्रतिशत की दर उन लोगों पर लागू होगी जो 250,000 पाउंड और 1 मिलियन पाउंड और 1 मिलियन पाउंड से अधिक 12 प्रतिशत के बीच हैं।


Obama talks tough

Summary: President Obama seems determined to both talk and act tough after the attack in Libya. He told an audience in Las Vegas: "We want to send a message all around the world to anybody who will do us harm - no act of terror will dim the light of the values that we proudly shine on the rest of the world."

Mark MardellNorth America editor@BBCMarkMardellon Twitter He went on: "No act of violence will shake the resolve of the United States of America... we will keep going, we will keep going because the world needs us. We are the one indispensable power in the world." He's spoken to the father and mother of Chris Stevens, the ambassador who was killed in the attack and told them justice would be done. In a TV interview he said: "we go after anybody who would attack Americans." It would seem, after talk like that, that failure is not an option. He's backed up his version of American exceptionalism by moving two warships off the coast of Libya and sending 50 marines from an anti-terrorist squad to the country. The Pentagon won't comment on reports that drones are being flown across eastern Libya searching for possible militant camps. 'Playing politics' It is clear his response to the first killing of an American ambassador for 30 years is an election issue. Mitt Romney seized on a statement from the Cairo embassy to argue that the president was keen to apologise for American values and was sending mixed messages. He repeated this argument forcefully at a news conference even before the president had made a statement in the Rose Garden. If you want to know what the commentators think of Mr Romney's strategy you can choose between "noxious and indecent", "rash and shameful", "craven and ill-advised" or "unfair and hyperbolic". Although the latter is from Senator McCain's former chief of staff, conservatives have a point when they say most of the condemnation comes from liberals in the "mainstream media". There are those who defend Mr Romney, but in the last two years of following him I can't remember such unity of scorn from the media. President Obama has joined in, accusing Mr Romney of shooting first and aiming later saying: "As president, one of the things I've learned is you can't do that, that it's important for you to make sure that the statements you make are backed up by the facts, and that you've thought through the ramifications before you make them." This has yet to play out, but Mitt Romney stands accused of playing politics with a tragedy - a dangerous game when the president holds most of the cards. UPDATE: My colleague Regan Morris was at the Las Vegas rally on Wednesday night and sent this report on the mood in the crowd: President Obama started on a sombre note, by quelling cheers of "four more years" to mourn the loss of four Americans in Libya and send "heartfelt prayers to their loved ones". But many said they were more concerned about jobs and the economy. Nevada, a swing state, has the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 12%. Still Libya overshadowed the event: "I hope he doesn't start another war," Stanley Sabbath said. "He's got to figure out how they'll go about resolving it - without starting a war." Andrew Davis, 20, brought his newborn daughter Gabrielle. "I'm more concerned with jobs. We have this little one we're trying to support now and it's not easy," Mr Davis said. Many at the rally did not realise that the American consulate in Libya had been attacked. As the president spoke, people in the crowd murmured: "Libya? What happened in Libya?" After the rally, an undecided voter said he was still sitting on the fence about who to vote for and feared neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney could respond to the situation in Libya without more conflict: "It's terrible - we might be in for another road of heartache here," he said.

राष्ट्रपति ओबामा लीबिया में हमले के बाद बात करने और कड़ी कार्रवाई करने दोनों के लिए दृढ़ प्रतीत होते हैं। उन्होंने लास वेगास में एक श्रोताओं से कहाः "हम दुनिया भर में एक संदेश भेजना चाहते हैं जो हमें नुकसान पहुंचाएगा-आतंक का कोई भी कार्य उन मूल्यों की रोशनी को कम नहीं करेगा जो हम गर्व से बाकी दुनिया पर चमकते हैं।"


Two soldiers and LTTE cadre killed

Summary: The army in Sri Lanka say an officer and another soldier have been killed in an attack on one of their bases by Tamil Tiger rebels.

The army said the attack took place near the northern town of Vavuniya, close to rebel-held territory. The army said their troops had returned fire. The clash took place amid growing speculation that the European Union is about to ban the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist outfit. The United States, where Tigers are proscribed, earlier this week urged the EU to ban Tamil Tigers following an upsurge in violence between the rebels and government forces in the recent weeks. Meanwhile, a Tamil Tigers said one of their cadres was sot dead at his home on Thursday night at Mankerny in Batticaloa District.

श्रीलंका में सेना का कहना है कि तमिल टाइगर विद्रोहियों द्वारा उनके एक अड्डे पर किए गए हमले में एक अधिकारी और एक अन्य सैनिक की मौत हो गई है।


Pembrokeshire College's new £6.6m sixth form centre approved

Summary: Plans to build a new sixth form centre at Pembrokeshire College have been approved by the county council.

The college sought permission for a £6.6m two-storey extension at its Merlins Bridge campus in Haverfordwest. College A-level students will go there, along with sixth formers from Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Ysgol Dewi Sant. They would be followed Sir Thomas Picton and Tasker Milward sixth formers if the council's sixth form shake-up plans are approved.

पेम्ब्रोकेशायर कॉलेज में एक नया छठा फॉर्म केंद्र बनाने की योजना को काउंटी परिषद द्वारा मंजूरी दी गई है।


Ballymena: Prescription drugs seized and man charged

Summary: A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the seizure of suspected prescription drugs worth £50,000.

Police in Ballymena say the 40-year-old was charged following a search in the Demesne area of the town on Tuesday. The PSNI carried out the search after Border Force officers intercepted a package containing the tablets. The man is expected to appear at Ballymena Magistrate's Court on 6 August. Chief Inspector William Calderwood said he welcomed the removal of drugs from the community, adding "the criminal elements involved have no regard for the misery they cause."

एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया गया है और उस पर 50,000 पाउंड मूल्य की संदिग्ध प्रिस्क्रिप्शन दवाओं की जब्ती के संबंध में आरोप लगाया गया है।


How will the new King Salman change Saudi Arabia?

Summary: When the 79-year-old King Salman took over the Saudi throne in January, he promised security and stability. "We will adhere to the path this nation has followed since it was established," he said.

But where will that path take the kingdom? Onwards towards further limited reform or a retreat into greater conservativism? And with the high-profile case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi - sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" - once again drawing attention to the country's record on human rights, four expert witnesses offer their insight into what the future might hold. 'Modest reforms will continue': Journalist Khaled Almaeena As editor-in-chief of the Arab News, Saudi Arabia's first English-language daily newspaper, Khaled Almaeena has interviewed three Saudi kings. He believes King Salman will follow his predecessor's path. He says: "Over the years I met [him] dozens of times. He has knowledge, he has travelled and he's very well-read. He's a very astute person, austere, he's very focused and he's also very disciplined." He is also the family disciplinarian. When Saudi princes and princesses got into trouble, Khaled Almaeena says, it was Prince Salman who would quietly sort things out. "He was like the gatekeeper, he would solve the problems, do a few things and discuss, advise and guide them. He sees to it that nobody strays across boundaries that they should not," he says. But it's as governor of Riyadh, a post he held for 50 years, where Prince Salman had the most impact, transforming a desert town into a sprawling city of seven million with skyscrapers and fast-food chains. "Making Riyadh into a major city, building schools and colleges, pushing around development, also initiating social development by focusing on hospitals and other issues... shows a man who is deeply concerned about his people," Khaled Almaeena says. And he says that as governor, King Salman was supportive of women in public life. "Riyadh has now become the hub of so many meetings," he says. "A few years ago, you would not find any female in these meetings or in these symposiums. "One could see the changes where the participation of women was becoming more and more profound." And Khaled Almaeena thinks it's unlikely that King Salman will reverse the late King Abdullah's modest reforms. He says: "There were so many things that were taboo before in this country. "Now, the newspapers and the media by and large focus on issues like corruption, child abuse, so many other things. "Prince Salman is as I said astute and observes what's going on around, he is a very well-travelled man. So there will be no going back." 'Power will be consolidated': Ali Al-Ahmed, director of the Institute of Gulf Affairs Ali Al-Ahmed is a Shia, born in Saudi Arabia's eastern province. His parents, siblings, nephew and uncle all spent long periods in jail, so he emigrated to the US. He now runs the Institute for Gulf Affairs in Washington, a think tank critical of the Saudi government. "I think he will expand power to the ruling family and will concentrate it within his own allies within the ruling family," he says. He points to the sweeping changes made by King Salman in his first 10 days. In a smattering of royal decrees, ministers were sacked, others appointed and councils abolished. The king has concentrated power within the region of Najd, seen as the monarchy's natural constituency. "So loyalty and trust is the name of the game here," Ali Al-Ahmed says. "He would make sure to keep the family happy. "That's why you will see more members of the family getting greater share of the pie, the political, economic pie, at the expense of the people." Ali Al-Ahmad says history offers a stark warning if the family is not happy. "Starting in 1932 onward, the Saudi ruling family had had a problem with infighting," he says. "King Saud, the son of Abdulaziz, was overthrown and deposed by his half-brothers... King Salman was part of that operation. "The Saudi ruling family is now larger than ever, and naturally there will be tension." King Salman also abolished the 14 supreme councils that covered various different areas such as media, Islamic affairs, health and so on, with the responsibility and authority of these councils being rolled into just two, one run by his son and the other by his nephew Mohammad bin Nayef. The controversial minister of the interior, Mohammad bin Nayef, is now second in line to the throne. Ali Al-Ahmad says he has a "really dark record" on human rights. "The fact that he has imprisoned even woman drivers, that has never happened in the country's history, and established a terrorism court... you will see that... the new king now is really concerned about security," he says. Many also hold Mohammad bin Nayef responsible for the killing of protesters by security forces. Ali Al-Ahmad argues his nephew's promotion suggests King Salman will take Saudi Arabia in a different direction to his predecessor: "I think he will change it in some ways," he says. "He also will become much more conservative in terms of social policies and will be harsher in terms of security and political policies." 'America's valuable ally': Bruce Riedel, director of intelligence, the Brookings Institution Bruce Riedel is director of the intelligence project at the Brookings Institution, a foreign policy think tank in the US. He was at the CIA for 29 years, mostly on the Middle East desk, a job that took him all over the region and into the company of then Prince Salman. "I've met Salman a half dozen or so times, often in larger meetings," he says. "[He] always came across as a very serious person, a person who valued the relationship with the United States but also understood that there were limits on what a conservative kingdom like Saudi Arabia can do with America, which has very, very different values and very different lifestyle than the kingdom." But Mr Riedel believes that relationship, forged 70 years ago on an American cruiser in the Suez Canal, is unlikely to change. "King Salman has been at the core of Saudi decision making for more than a half century," he says. "So I don't think he's about to do anything fundamentally different. "I think we're going to see a lot of continuity here. "President Obama's early trip to Riyadh right after the passing of King Abdullah set a good tone for the relationship." But since King Salman came to power last month, allegations have surfaced that senior Saudi royals funded al-Qaeda throughout the late 90s. The Saudi embassy has dismissed the claims, but they could nonetheless damage relations between the two countries. "King Salman... was given responsibility for raising private Saudi funds to support the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet Union," says Bruce Riedel. "Of course the US and other countries were covertly providing support to the Afghan mujahideen. "The private Saudi money kept the mujahideen going. "And of course, in addition to private money, there were also volunteers who went to fight with the Afghan mujahideen, most famously Osama Bin Laden. [Then] Prince Salman was involved in all of those things." So the key question for the US is when did that relationship between Saudi Arabia and Osama Bin Laden end? Bruce Riedel says it began to deteriorate in the mid-1990s. "Whether indirect contacts continued on for a few years is a subject of much speculation," he says. "The 9/11 Commission came to the conclusion, though, that there was no Saudi role in the planning of the attacks of 11 September 2001. "What's more important is that today the kingdom is one of the most valuable allies that we have in the intelligence war, the covert war, against al-Qaeda, and against the Islamic State." But what could be much more problematic is the issue of human rights, as highlighted by Raif Badawi's case. "For most of the US-Saudi relationship," argues Bruce Riedel, "just like for most of the UK-Saudi relationship, human rights issues were really not on the plate. I think they're more on the plate now than they've ever been before. "In the halls of government, both in London and in Washington, I think they're still regarded as too problematic to raise in heads of states meetings. But they will be raised in lower level meetings; they already are. And they're bound over time to become a question of friction in the relationship." And once again, the controversial minister of the interior is centre stage. "Muhammad bin Nayef... has done more to fight al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula than anyone else," Mr Riedel says. "But he also has very hard-line views about any kind of dissent." So King Salman's decision to promote him could put Saudi Arabia on a collision course with its major ally. "Inevitably, as the Middle East and the Arab world is trying to find ways to have reform and better governance, we're going to have a problem between the West and the most conservative, even reactionary, counter-revolutionary state in the region, which is Saudi Arabia," Mr Riedel says. 'No middle ground for peaceful protest': Saudi film-maker Safa Al-Ahmad Last year the Saudi film-maker Safa Al-Ahmad made a documentary about a largely unknown uprising in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The government had tried to suppress the protests since they began in 2011, while the world's attention was focused on activists in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. She says: "It was really heart-breaking to see other countries getting full coverage of what's happening, yet this huge thing is happening [here]. "It's historic: this has never happened where protests in Saudi Arabia last for three years. "The last time there were protests in the eastern province was in 1979, and it lasted maybe a week." The protesters demanded the release of political prisoners and more economic and political rights for the Shia minority. "[The protests] were massive initially and people weren't covering their faces," Safa Al-Ahmad says. "Everybody felt that there was a moment in 2011 of hope, like genuine hope, that peaceful protests would bring change. "I think this was an inspiring moment." But these hopes came to nothing. "They realised this was not going to be the response of the Saudi government," Safa Al-Ahmad says. "I ended [my film] in the cemetery, where they had a special plot for what they called the martyrs of the movement. "The government has quite successfully silenced most of the protests." About 20 protesters were killed while hundreds were injured or jailed. Safa Al-Ahmad has herself been warned not to return. She is left fearful for her country's future: "I think the crux of what 2011 in the whole Arab world and specifically in Saudi Arabia revealed [was] the huge schism between our governments and the people, and the inability of the two to communicate in a way that's conducive of genuine deep reform in the country," she says. "The government has left very little space for peaceful protest and reform. "That is the real danger of continuing to clamp down on activists and putting them in jail - you are leaving no middle ground for people to reform. "And so the more estranged the young feel, both Sunni and Shia in Saudi Arabia, across the board, you are pushing them towards something that is truly frightening." The Inquiry is broadcast on the BBC World Service, Tuesdays from 13:05 GMT. Listen online or download the podcast.

जब 79 वर्षीय राजा सलमान ने जनवरी में सऊदी सिंहासन संभाला, तो उन्होंने सुरक्षा और स्थिरता का वादा किया। उन्होंने कहा, "हम उस रास्ते का पालन करेंगे जो इस राष्ट्र ने अपनी स्थापना के बाद से अपनाया है।"


Moray primary school class sizes 'could increase'

Summary: Class sizes could increase in Moray in a bid to tackle a teacher shortage and concerns surrounding school capacities.

Councillors will this week be asked to change the limit for P2 and P3 classes to 30 from the current 25 pupils. Moray Council recently warned that more children could have to be sent home from schools across the region unless it addressed a teacher recruitment crisis. Earlier this year there were 70 vacancies across Moray. A Scottish government spokesperson said: "The Scottish government believes that smaller class sizes, especially in the early years and in areas of deprivation, help improve the quality of the pupil teacher interaction, which in turn leads to improved learning."

शिक्षकों की कमी और स्कूल की क्षमताओं से जुड़ी चिंताओं से निपटने के लिए मोरे में कक्षाओं का आकार बढ़ सकता है।


How Penn Station saved New York's architectural history

Summary: In May, New York City's landmarks preservation agency blocked renovation changes to the Four Seasons restaurant in the modernist Seagram building. More than half-a-century ago, it was another architectural upheaval that led to the creation of a powerful city landmarks law.

By Nick BryantBBC News, New York To descend into Penn Station in midtown New York is to visit an architectural crime scene. A cramped, subterranean space, interred under Madison Square Garden, it has the look and lifeless feel of an over-sized subway station. Not even two storeys tall, the concourse has a low-hung roof, held up by stumpy, inelegant columns and dotted with air conditioning ducts, fluorescent lights and security cameras enclosed in smoke-glass half-domes. Battleship grey, which presumably had a futuristic sheen when the station was constructed in 1969, is the dominant colour. It gives an already bland building even more of a deadening air. In what should be one of the world's great rail terminuses, the locomotives themselves are hidden further underground. To board them means descending deeper into this miserable warren. Outside of the US penitentiary system, it is hard to think of a more joyless building. What makes the "new" Penn Station all the more depressing is the black and white pictures on its walls of the old Penn Station, demolished in 1963. Wrecking balls were hurled at one of Manhattan's most noble buildings, a station which could boast a facade grander in scale that the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and a concourse vaster than the nave of St Peter's in Rome. Completed in 1910, and designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, it was inspired by the Baths of Caracalla from Roman antiquity, and shaped from the same stone as the Coliseum. Alas, a terminus designed to celebrate travel gave way to a transportation hub devised to process passengers. Efficiency was the watchword. And remarkably, the building was destroyed with hardly any public outcry, save for the sorrowful cries of a small group of local architects. In the ruins of the old Penn Station, however, are found the origins of the New York landmarks law. Passed in 1965, the measure was intended to conserve the city's architectural heritage, a surprisingly radical idea in a decade with little respect for the past. This spring, the law has celebrated its golden jubilee. Without the landmark law, some of New York's most-loved buildings would have disappeared from the urban landscape. Much of SoHo's beautiful cast-iron district would have gone. Likewise, Tribeca and the Meatpacking district. In other words, the developers would have laid waste to what have recently become Manhattan's most desirable neighbourhoods. Row upon row of Brooklyn's brownstones would also have been obliterated, so, too, Radio City Music Hall, the home of the famed Rockettes. Still more felonious would have been the destruction of Grand Central Station, arguably the city's most breathtaking public space. In 1968, Penn Central Railroad, the company that bulldozed Penn Station, announced plans for the redevelopment of Grand Central that could have led to the destruction of its facade and main waiting room. Fortunately, the newly created New York Landmarks Preservation Commission, with the celebrity backing of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, stepped in. The railroad challenged the constitutionality of the landmark law in a test case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court in Washington, and the justices sided with the preservationists. Fifty years on, the law protects 1,400 landmarks, 115 historic interiors, 109 historic districts and 10 scenic landmarks, including Central Park. Almost 30% of Manhattan's buildings are safeguarded. They not only include heritage sites, like the RCA building lobby at the Rockefeller Center, but also modern architectural masterpieces, like Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum and the Lever Building on Park Avenue, one of New York's early curtain wall office towers. The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, will soon be considered by the commission for landmark status. More recently, the city's landmarks preservation commission used the law to reject changes to the Four Seasons restaurant inside the modernist Seagram building in Manhattan. Not every noteworthy building was saved. The original Ziegfeld Theatre, one of Manhattan's great art deco temples, was demolished in 1966 to make way for a nondescript 50-storey skyscraper. The Singer Building in Lower Manhattan, briefly the world's tallest structure at the start of the last century, was also hauled down. A stunning skyscraper, designed in the Beaux-Arts style, it would have been a great adornment to the modern skyline. Nowadays the main aesthetic threat to New York comes not from what is being torn down, but rather what is being built. Its heritage buildings will remain just that, a legacy to the landmark law and the visionary preservationists who stood in the way of a mindless rush towards modernity.

मई में, न्यूयॉर्क शहर की स्थलचिह्न संरक्षण एजेंसी ने आधुनिकतावादी सीग्राम इमारत में फोर सीजन्स रेस्तरां में नवीनीकरण परिवर्तनों को अवरुद्ध कर दिया। आधी सदी से भी पहले, यह एक और वास्तुशिल्प उथल-पुथल थी जिसके कारण एक शक्तिशाली शहर स्थलचिह्न कानून का निर्माण हुआ।


Is the US still Asia's only military superpower?

Summary: US pre-eminence in the Pacific is no more.

By Jonathan MarcusDefence and diplomatic correspondent For a long time experts have been speaking about China's rapid military modernisation referring to it as "a rising power". But this analysis may be out of date. China is not so much a rising power; it has risen; and in many ways it now challenges the US across a number of military domains. This is the conclusion of a new report from the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney in Australia. It warns that US defence strategy in the Indo-Pacific region "is in the throes of an unprecedented crisis" and that Washington might struggle to defend its allies against China. "America no longer enjoys military primacy in the Indo-Pacific", it notes, "and its capacity to uphold a favourable balance of power is increasingly uncertain." The report points to Beijing's extraordinary arsenal of missiles that threaten the key bases of the US and its allies. These installations, it asserts, "could be rendered useless by precision strikes in the opening hours of a conflict". China is not a global superpower like the United States. Indeed it is doubtful if its military ambitions extend that far (though this too may be changing as it slowly develops a network of ports and bases abroad). For now its global reach depends much more on the power of its economy. China lacks the "proselytising zeal" - the sense of over-seas mission, that over the twentieth century saw the US strive for global dominance. It also has nothing like the soft-power pull of the United States - no equivalent to blue jeans, Hollywood or burgers - to encourage people to share its values. Indeed according to many indices Washington's raw military punch still greatly out-weighs that of Beijing. Washington's nuclear arsenal (and indeed Moscow's) is significantly larger than that available to Beijing. The US still retains a technological edge in key areas like intelligence collection; ballistic missile defence; and the latest generation warplanes. The US can also rely upon a deeply entrenched network of alliances both in Asia and through Nato in Europe. China has nothing like this kind of alliance system. But it is fast eroding Washington's technical edge. And in any case what matters to China is Asia and what it sees in expansive terms as its own back-yard. Two key factors - focus and proximity - mean that in Asia, China is already a superpower to rival the US. China has studied US capabilities and warfighting and has come up with an effective strategy to mitigate the traditional sources of US military power, not least the US Navy's powerful carrier battle groups, the central element of Washington's ability to project military force. Dubbed in military-speak, an "anti-access and area denial" approach, China has single-mindedly focused on a range of sensors and weapons systems that it hopes will compel US forces to operate as far away from its own shores as possible. At the outset this was inherently a defensive posture. But increasingly analysts see China's capabilities as enabling it to seize the initiative, confident that it can deter and cope with any likely US response. "Chinese counter-intervention systems," the Australian study notes, "have undermined America's ability to project power into the Indo-pacific, raising the risk that China could use limited force to achieve a fait accompli victory before America can respond, challenging US security guarantees in the process." China's goal is in a time of crisis is to deny the US access to the area within the "first island chain" (the South China Sea bounded by a line running from the bottom of Japan, encompassing Taiwan, and passing to the west of the Philippines). But it also seeks to restrict access to the outer "second island chain" with weapons that can reach as far as the US bases on Guam. This overall strategy can be bolstered by Chinese land-based aircraft and missiles. Of course, it is not as if the Pentagon is unaware of the China challenge. After decades of counter-insurgency warfare the US military is being re-structured and re-equipped for renewed big-power competition. In the Cold War the focus was the Soviet Union. Today it is largely China. However the Sydney University report questions whether Washington is sufficiently focused on the task in hand. It says that "an outdated superpower mindset in the (US) foreign policy establishment is likely to limit Washington's ability to scale back other global commitments or to make the strategic trade-offs required to succeed in the Indo-Pacific." Money is going into new weaponry and research. But the task is huge. "America has an atrophying force that is not sufficiently ready, equipped or postured for great power competition" and the report warns that a back-log of simultaneous modernisation priorities "will likely outstrip its budget capacity." It is a sobering document written by a prestigious institution from one of Washington's closest allies in the region. China clearly feels empowered - you can see this from the tone of its recently published defence white paper. President Xi Jinping has decided not just to stand up to President Trump in the ongoing trade war but to take a much more assertive position, whether it be towards the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong or to China's long-standing claims over Taiwan. China's military rise to match its growing economic muscle was inevitable. But some analysts fear that President Trump has made a difficult situation worse. Many in the US feel it was time to stand-up to China on trade - but the way the US is going about it leads several experts to fear that Washington may simply lose the trade war. Overall the Trump Administration's foreign policy often lacks a clear strategic aspect and is prone to the whims of the Presidential twitter feed and bizarre distractions like his apparent desire to purchase Greenland. In contrast China knows exactly where it wants to go and it has the strategy and the means to get there. Indeed, for all intents and purposes, it may have already arrived.

प्रशांत क्षेत्र में अमेरिका की प्रमुखता अब नहीं रही है।


Independence march held in Dundee

Summary: A large number of Scottish independence supporters have gathered for a march through Dundee.

The Tayside event was the latest called by the All Under One Banner (AUOB) organisation. SNP MP Stewart Hosie, who represents Dundee East, was one of those on the march. He estimated that 16,000 people took part. AUOB has said it will organise regular marches "until Scotland is Free". Its next event is planned for Edinburgh. Previous AUOB events this year have taken place in Dumfries, Bannockburn and Inverness.

बड़ी संख्या में स्कॉटिश स्वतंत्रता समर्थक डंडी के माध्यम से एक मार्च के लिए एकत्र हुए हैं।


Furlough: ‘In limbo’ or ‘one long garden party'?

Summary: When large parts of the economy were suddenly mothballed in March, the government stepped in with a scheme to pay 80% of the wages of people who could no longer go to work. At its peak nearly a third of the UK workforce were on furlough.

By Lucy HookerBusiness reporter While for a lucky few it felt like an unexpected holiday, others were in limbo, robbed of a sense of purpose and belonging. Some had a job to go back to. Some didn't. 'I felt rudderless' When Flora Blaythwayt's employer, a supplier of condiments to restaurants and hotels, told her she was being furloughed, she had to go away and look up what the word meant. "I thought, is this it, is this the chop?" she says. Being paid most of her salary certainly made things easier. But she had just come out of a relationship and was living on her own in London. "I felt horrible, in limbo, lost and alone. I felt rudderless," she says. She needed something to focus on, so she went beach cleaning along the banks of the Thames, picking up scraps of plastic and other litter. Then she went home and turned the bits of old toys, sweet wrappers and bottle tops into greetings cards. "I was distracting myself, doodling around, getting the creative juices flowing." She gave the cards to friends and sold some on the e-commerce site Etsy. Then bigger retailers started to show an interest. What started as a wholesome activity to get her through lockdown, was starting to look like an opportunity to start her own sustainable business. Washed Up Cards is far from providing financial security yet, but Flora thinks her furlough, which comes to an end on Saturday, may not turn out to be the disaster she initially feared - even though she doesn't have a job to return to. "When I got told I was being made redundant I felt really wounded, gutted. "But as the weeks have gone on I've started to think I'll look back and be grateful for being catapulted in this new direction." 'It was a bit like a second honeymoon' "My furlough was fantastic. I loved it," says Louise Solomon, who works as a chef in Brighton. "It was a godsend, to have a few months at home, not having to get up, not having to be anywhere." Louise has spent the last 30 years working long shifts in professional kitchens, on her feet, with few breaks. Her wife, a key worker, wasn't furloughed, but with Louise at home they found they had time to garden, sort cupboards, walk the dogs together, just "relax and have fun". "We were able to reconnect and get to know each other again. It was a bit like a second honeymoon." After three months she went back to work which wasn't easy. "I suddenly felt older," says Louise. "I'm 50 next year. I've always been able to keep up, but I felt my pace had slowed. My body hurt for the first time." Above all, though, she appreciates how lucky she was to have a job to go back to, given the precarious state of hospitality right now. "I appreciate for others it wasn't like that and my heart goes out to them." 'I missed my colleagues' While it was nice to spend time with the family, Julie Simmons found being sent home from her job as a hotel receptionist robbed her of her sense of purpose. "I think it did affect how I felt about myself," she says. "It's nice to feel you've brightened someone's day. To not have that interaction was odd." Julie lives near Crawley in West Sussex, an area which, thanks to its reliance on Gatwick, boasted the highest rate of furlough in the country. But it wasn't just airline employees. Closing down air travel had a ripple effect on everything from local shops to taxi firms and hotels. "It was very strange going from being there five or six days a week to nothing at all and not seeing anybody. Because we're a small hotel, we're a close team, we're all good friends. I did miss that," she says. Plus there was the worry and uncertainty over whether she would have a job to come back to at all - although in the end Julie returned to work in September, albeit to a smaller team. Julie says friends who worked through those months, teaching key workers' children in schools for example, at least felt they were making a difference. "It's been hard to think there are people out there risking their lives and you're sitting at home reading a book," she says. 'Furlough gave me time to prepare' In March 33-year-old James Pemblington was working in his dream job, creating audio-visual effects at Alton Towers. Right now he should have been supervising blood-curdling screams, the smoke machines and even the stink of fake vomit for the theme park's Halloween event. But after five months on furlough he was made redundant. "It's quite heartbreaking," he says. However, James worked out early his role might be under threat and when the blow came he was firing on all cylinders. First he asked a friend who does David Brent (of the Office) impersonations to make him a funny video reference. Then he had "Hire JP" T-shirts printed and distributed an edible CV - a chocolate brownie with a QR code printed on top. He even had his details printed on the back of a lorry. None of this landed him a job in his field, but he is about to start a short-term contract managing a new Covid testing site. "I'm grateful for furlough because if I'd have lost my job at the start it would have been more of a shock," he says. "The furlough period gave me time to prepare myself to hit the job market." He adds that if he had stayed on furlough for longer, it might have been self defeating "because in a couple of weeks there's going to be another few thousand people applying for the same roles". The new job starts on Monday. In the meantime he's putting his creative skills to good use: preparing a full-blown audio-visual extravaganza for Halloween in his front garden, complete with ghosts, eerie green lights, spooky voices and billows of smoke.

जब मार्च में अर्थव्यवस्था के बड़े हिस्से में अचानक उथल-पुथल मच गई, तो सरकार ने उन लोगों के वेतन का 80 प्रतिशत भुगतान करने की योजना के साथ कदम रखा जो अब काम पर नहीं जा सकते थे। अपने चरम पर यूके के लगभग एक तिहाई कार्यबल छुट्टी पर थे।


Preparing for the predicted storm

Summary: Preparations are under way across England and Wales as weather forecasters predict one of the most powerful storms of recent years will hit. With heavy rain and winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph) expected - and rush-hour trains already cancelled - what is the advice for households, motorists and commuters?

Households Insurance companies are advising householders to take basic precautions such as moving rubbish bins, garden furniture and hanging baskets to ensure they do not cause damage to cars or property if blown over. "Damage to garage and shed doors are common claims," says Claire Foster of insurer Direct Line. "Keep these closed and locked. This will not only prevent the wind blowing them off the hinges, it is good practice to keep your property secure." Householders are advised to make sure drains and gutters are clear of debris so rainfall can flow effectively and does not lead to flooding. But Ms Foster adds: "If the wind does pick up, its important householders don't put their safety at risk. If the wind is too strong to get on a ladder and clear the guttering or fix a lose tile then it shouldn't be attempted." In the event of serious damage, people are being urged to establish an evacuation plan for their families and make a list of useful phone numbers including the local council, emergency services and insurers. The British Red Cross, which has teams ready to assist people, says households should be prepared for possible blackouts and make sure mobile phones are charged. Simon Lewis, head of the organisation's emergency response, adds: "Make sure you have torches at hand, as well as a battery-powered or wind-up radio to keep up-to-date with weather warnings and information for your area." Councils, meanwhile, say crews are being readied to deal with downed trees, traffic disruption and property damage and are preparing to provide emergency accommodation. Some councils are distributing sandbags, which people can use to protect homes, shops and businesses against possible flooding. Councils will be posting regular updates on their websites and social media so people can stay up-to-date on the situation in their area. Public transport South West Trains is telling passengers not to travel on Monday with most services not running until at least 08:00 GMT to allow maintenance teams to check the lines. First Capital Connect is also advising people "not to travel". It says it is unlikely to run any trains until after 09:00 GMT on Monday, to ensure nothing is blocking the railway. After that, there will be "far fewer services and with extended journey times". C2c is also advising people "not to attempt to travel" with services suspended until at least 09:00 GMT, and then "disruption, short notice alteration and running at reduced speed". Greater Anglia trains has similarly suspended all services on Monday until 09:00 GMT. It says after that it will look to run a reduced service on all lines but it expects there to be significant disruption throughout the day. Southeastern is also "unlikely" to start services before 09:00 GMT; while East Coast, First Great Western, and Southern also say they will or are likely to run amended timetables. Passengers are advised to allow extra journey time. London Overground says there will be no service before 09:00 GMT on Monday. Passengers are advised to check before travelling and log onto National Rail Enquiries to sign up for free Twitter alerts. People travelling abroad are also urged to make sure plane services will be running and be prepared for possible delays and cancellations. Motorists The Highways Agency says drivers should check weather forecast and road conditions, leave extra time if travel conditions are poor and be prepared to delay journeys if the weather becomes severe. It says low speed limits or temporary closures may be imposed on exposed bridges and road closures due to falling debris. Accidents may also be more frequent. Major road closures will be listed on the Highways Agency and Traffic Wales websites. Motoring breakdown organisations the AA and RAC say they are boosting their emergency patrols but advise drivers should avoid unnecessary journeys. The AA's Darron Burness says: "Although the predicted storm may pass through fairly quickly, the impact could last much longer, depending on the damage caused. "Driving conditions are likely to be pretty hazardous with a risk of serious disruption, so heed any local police advice about whether it's safe to travel." The AA is advising drivers to park their vehicles in a garage if possible. It suggests ensuring that items that could get blown over and cause damage are moved away from cars left parked outside. Coasts and rivers The Coastguard and Environment Agency are urging people to take extra care. "In some parts of the country, waves are expected to be as high as eight or nine metres," a Coastguard spokeswoman says. "Combined with winds, conditions on the sea and along the coast, particularly on cliffs top, are likely to be extremely treacherous. Sending units to help people in these types of avoidable incidents will also put rescue teams at risk. "HM Coastguard's advice is simple: Don't take risks. But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard." Colin Williams, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's regional operations manager, said: "The forecasters have given us plenty of warning so hopefully people will be doing the sensible thing and staying away from the sea. "I know many boat owners are busy making their vessels secure and ensuring they are in a safe harbour." The Environment Agency is closely monitoring water levels and has issued some flood warnings and dozens of flood alerts. It says: "Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind-blown shingle." In some places, such as Portsmouth, seafront exclusion zones in place, with people warned to stay away. There is more information about the forecasts for Sunday and Monday on the BBC Weather, Met Office and Environment Agency websites. See BBC Travel News for up to date travel information and the Highways Agency and Traffic Wales websites for details about road conditions. BBC Local has information from your area.

पूरे इंग्लैंड और वेल्स में तैयारी चल रही है क्योंकि मौसम पूर्वानुमानकर्ताओं ने भविष्यवाणी की है कि हाल के वर्षों में सबसे शक्तिशाली तूफानों में से एक आएगा। भारी बारिश और 80 मील प्रति घंटे (130 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे) की हवाओं के साथ-और भीड़-भाड़ वाली ट्रेनें पहले ही रद्द कर दी गई हैं-घरों, मोटर चालकों और यात्रियों के लिए क्या सलाह है?


BBC Sound of 2003: Where are they now?

Summary: The top five acts on the BBC Sound of 2013 new music list will be revealed next week. The first list was BBC Sound of 2003, when 10 new artists were tipped for the top.

By Ian YoungsEntertainment reporter, BBC News We reveal who is still going strong, who has appeared on Dancing With the Stars and who is now a part-time squash coach. Their ups and downs hold lessons for this year's crop, as well as illustrating the seismic changes that have taken place in the music industry over the past decade. BBC Sound of 2013: Full coverage 1. 50 Cent 50 Cent's debut album was called Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. He got rich. A mythologised rise from teenage crack hustler on the mean streets of New York to Eminem's protege, via a couple of assassination attempts, gave the rapper both gangsta credibility and commercial appeal. His debut album was the fastest-selling release in the US since records began 12 years earlier. But by his third album in 2007, he faced a backlash from hip-hop purists who felt he had lost his street cred. His fifth studio album, Street King Immortal, has been mired in delays and disputes with record label Interscope, but is now scheduled for release in February, preceded by the single My Life, featuring Eminem and Maroon 5's Adam Levine. 50 Cent also recently became a boxing promoter, with Cuban former Olympic flyweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa on his books. 2. Electric Six Good time Detroit rock 'n' rollers Electric Six made a splash with their high-octane hits Gay Bar and Danger High Voltage in 2003. The first album came out on record label XL and the follow-up was on Warner Brothers. After that, they learned to become "self sufficient", singer Dick Valentine says. "We got good at being dropped from labels and how to respond to that and taking matters into our own hands." There have been many personnel changes - Valentine is the only remaining member of the original line-up - but he has now presided over eight studio albums. "We've been sued by a couple of ex-band members and people we've worked with," he says. "We've had moments that could certainly be considered downs. But the ups certainly outweigh them." Their reputation as an exciting live band has helped them keep a loyal following. "We do a pretty good job of keeping costs down on the road," Valentine says. "We don't carry too many roadies. We're not afraid to be seen loading our own gear. "If somebody comes up to us and says 'You're rock stars, why are you loading your own gear?' they usually get punched in the mouth. We do everything we can to keep it going and make it profitable." 3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Riding the garage rock revival led by The Strokes and The White Stripes, this New York trio, led by the distinctive Karen O, became cult favourites. Their debut album Fever To Tell earned a Grammy nomination and was named the best album of 2003 by the New York Times. The second and third albums both reached the UK top 10 and a fourth will arrive in the spring. Between band duties, Karen O wrote and performed the soundtrack for the film Where the Wild Things Are and guitarist Nick Zinner has published and exhibited his photographs. 4. The Thrills Irish indie quintet The Thrills became known for carefree, sun-drenched tunes like Big Sur and Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far). But they were dropped by EMI after their third album in 2007. "The Thrills have never split up but there came a point where we just did not want to do anything any more," says guitarist Daniel Ryan. "EMI had been taken over by [private equity firm] Terra Firma before our third album came out and it was like going from a Premiership soccer team to a fourth division side. The whole record company shrank." Ryan is now managing the Dublin band Little Green Cars - who are on the BBC Sound of 2013 longlist. Thrills singer Conor Deasy is making a solo album with Paul Butler, who produced the debut by the Sound of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka. Drummer Ben Carrigan released a solo album in 2011 and composes music for films and games, while bassist Padraic McMahon works as an account manager for the professional social network Linkedin. Ryan adds: "I think back when The Thrills was happening and I was just caught up in how exciting the whole thing was. But for me now as a manager, I don't get excited because I don't want to be looking at another band on their third album that are completely irrelevant. "That's the worst thing about The Thrills - I feel we made a good third album and we would have had another good album in us. But there comes a point in the music business when your credit just runs out and your stock just isn't worth anything any more. "The most important thing was knowing when that time had come. And I definitely knew that." 5. Dizzee Rascal When Dizzee Rascal performed at the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, he was revisiting old haunts - the stadium was built on the site where he performed on pirate radio at the start of his career. Dizzee has taken east London grime to the big time and paved the way for a chart take-over by home-grown urban artists. His first album Boy In Da Corner won the Mercury Prize in 2003, but it took another five years for a real commercial breakthrough. Despite a fall-out with his label XL, he scored five number one singles between 2008 and 2010, including Dance Wiv Me and Bonkers. The first single from his fifth album will be unveiled on 1 January. 6. Interpol The majestic melancholy of Interpol's debut album Turn on the Bright Lights earned it a place in NME magazine's top 10 albums of the 2000s. Their commercial success grew steadily, with follow-up Antics reaching number 21 in 2004 and Our Love To Admire hitting number two in 2007. Their self-titled and most recent album made the top 10 in 2010. Guitarist Daniel Kessler puts their sustained appeal down to the five years they spent learning their craft before their debut album came out as well as old-fashioned leg-work since. "Our first record was released in the twilight of the old guard of the music industry and the dawning of the new one," he says. "We put out a record and toured it and built a word-of-mouth fanbase. That helped us. "When bands come out today, they get swept up a lot quicker because you can discover bands in two seconds on the internet. When we came out, we didn't have that." Singer Paul Banks released a solo album this year and a 10th anniversary edition of Turn on the Bright Lights has just come out. The group have started writing material for a fifth Interpol album. 7. Audio Bullys The "dirty house" duo, with bulging beats and geezer vocals, provided the soundtrack to many a debauched night out. Their biggest smash was a reworking of Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), which reached number three in 2005. But one half of the duo, Tom Dinsdale, left this February and said he would perform under his own name. The remaining Audio Bully Simon Franks has been working on new material and says he is still making "a good living" from playing live in places like Russia, Holland and Argentina. "But I think it's time, if I'm going to keep it going, to put out some new music," he says. "I'm at a crossroads - I've got all this music and I'm not doing it with Tom at the moment, so how do I do it? Do I keep the brand going or do I start something new? That's the question I keep asking myself." 8. Mario R&B singer Mario Barrett was 15 when his debut album reached the US top 10 in 2002. He hit his peak two years later with his second album Turning Point, which earned two Grammy nominations and included the hit Let Me Love You. But he never quite joined pop's A-list. After two more albums, he appeared on Dancing With The Stars in 2008. He also made an MTV documentary titled I Won't Love You to Death, in which he helped his mother get treatment for heroin addiction. He is now working on a new album. 9. The Datsuns Raucous New Zealand rockers The Datsuns blazed onto the scene and were named best live band at the NME Awards in 2003. "We had that first wave of success in the dying gasp of the music industry, before downloading changed everything," says guitarist Christian Livingstone. The desire to play music, rather than achieve fame and fortune, has kept the band going, he says. "When you get in that situation we got [into], there is the inevitable backlash which did occur and was very harsh and unpleasant. But we kept on going because the fame and all that stuff was not the reason for doing it. "So when that [fame] reduced in scale, we soldiered on and here we are, 10 years later and five albums in, still doing it." But The Datsuns no longer make enough money to live off their music alone. So Livingstone has a sideline building guitar pedals, singer Dolf DeBorst runs a recording studio in Sweden, guitarist Phil Somervell is a squash coach and drummer Ben Cole is a session musician and drum teacher. "Everybody's got something on the side to keep the ball rolling," Livingstone says. The guitarist recalls the effects of turmoil in the music industry. Staff levels at their record label V2 were continually shrinking until the label itself vanished. "Now you have to do things in a different way if you want to keep going," he says. "We put out our latest record ourselves because that's just the best way for somebody like us to do it." His advice to bands on the Sound of 2013 list? "Make hay while the sun shines," he replies. "The ability to monetise music is a limited and narrow thing these days. So if you have the opportunity to do it, do it while you can." 10. Sean Paul The Jamaican star has remained one of the biggest names in reggae and dancehall for the past decade. He broke into the mainstream with his Grammy-winning second album Dutty Rock in 2002. All three subsequent albums have been nominated for the Grammy Award for best reggae album. He has scored 13 UK top 20 singles, including several collaborations with the likes of Beyonce, Jay Sean and Sasha.

बी. बी. सी. साउंड ऑफ 2013 की नई संगीत सूची में शीर्ष पांच कृत्यों का खुलासा अगले सप्ताह किया जाएगा। पहली सूची बी. बी. सी. साउंड ऑफ 2003 थी, जब 10 नए कलाकारों को शीर्ष के लिए चुना गया था।