Covid outbreak at Swansea's Morriston Hospital

Summary: A coronavirus outbreak has been declared at another hospital in Wales.

Swansea Bay health board said 10 patients and five staff had tested positive at Morriston Hospital in the past few days. The health board said most cases were connected to cardiac services and announced a temporary suspension of routine cardiac surgery. At the city's other hospital, Singleton, nine members of maternity staff had also tested positive. They are self-isolating and no patients had tested positive, the health board said, adding wards and beds at Singleton Hospital were all open as normal. It comes after an outbreak was declared at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital on Monday. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is also dealing with outbreaks at three of its hospitals - Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend's Princess of Wales Hospital. Last Thursday, Betsi Cadwaladr health board said 24 patients were being treated as part of a Covid-19 outbreak at hospitals including Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. Most had been receiving care for more than two weeks and were said to be recovering. "The safety of our patients and staff is paramount and we are doing all we can to contain the spread of the virus while minimising the impact on our services," said Prof Richard Evans, Swansea Bay health board's executive medical director. "We will continue to closely monitor and manage the situation."

वेल्स के एक अन्य अस्पताल में कोरोनावायरस के प्रकोप की घोषणा की गई है।


Belfast: Three 24-hour bus-lanes to be scrapped

Summary: Three 24-hour Belfast bus lanes are to be scrapped.

One of the three is the controversial lane beside Central Station, which will instead operate from 07:00 to 19:00 like most other bus lanes in the city. There were complaints about the camera operating 24 hours a day - even when buses are not running. Two other 24-hour cameras, on the Upper Newtownards Road and the Saintfield Road at Forestside, will also have their hours reduced. It comes after figures revealed more than 2,000 people have been fined for driving in Belfast's city centre bus lanes between the hours of 00:00 and 06:00. City centre buses do not run at night, with the latest one ending before midnight. Figures obtained from the Belfast Telegraph in a Freedom of Information request revealed 115 of these were fines issued on East Bridge Street and 2,090 fines issued on the Castle Street bus lane. Minister for Infrastructure Chris Hazzard asked for the matter to be reviewed. A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: "A review of all 24-hour bus lanes took place in March. "It recommended that three of the 24-hour bus lanes could be amended to 7am to 7pm, including East Bridge Street, Saintfield Road at Forestside and Upper Newtownards Road. "Legislation is currently being prepared to enable these changes to be made." Councillor Jim Rogers told BBC News NI he had been keen to see an end to 24-hour bus lanes. "When they were first introduced I couldn't believe it. Our buses and trains don't run 24 hours," he said. "I remember saying to the department 'What's the reason for this?' They could give me no answer. "Bus lanes are causing mayhem and driving people out of the city centre." Since June 2015, motorists who drive in the lanes have faced a £90 fine, which is reduced to £45 if paid within two weeks. There are more than 60 bus lanes across the city. Bus lanes were introduced as part of the On the Move traffic plan. Last year, Ciaran de Burca from the Department for Regional Develoment's transport projects division told Stormont MLAs that the scheme was not about making revenue. More than £500,000 was raised from fines between 22 June and 16 September 2015. He said he and his staff did not believe that they would raise this level of fines. Extra signs had been put up in efforts to reduce the number of drivers being caught out, he added.

24 घंटे चलने वाले बेलफास्ट के तीन बस मार्गों को रद्द किया जाना है।


Doctor Who: Matt Lucas to return as Nardole

Summary: Matt Lucas is set to return to Doctor Who for its 10th series.

Having taken part in the show's 2015 Christmas special alongside Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston, Lucas will reprise the role of River Song's former assistant Nardole. "I'm chuffed to bits that Nardole is returning to the Tardis for some more adventures," Lucas said. The star will appear in the opening episode of series 10, which begins filming in Cardiff on 20 June. Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added he was "delighted and slightly amazed to be welcoming Matt Lucas back on to the Tardis - and this time it's not just for Christmas, he's sticking around". "One of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space." Capaldi will return as The Doctor while Pearl Mackie replaces Jenna Coleman as his new companion, Bill, in her first major television role. Lucas said he was looking forward to reprising his role in the sci-fi drama because he "loved acting with Peter and I'm excited to work with Pearl". Also announced to be joining the series this year is Jekyll & Hyde and Sherlock star Stephanie Hyam. Doctor Who will return to BBC One with a December Christmas special followed by a new series in 2017.

मैट लुकास अपनी 10वीं श्रृंखला के लिए डॉक्टर हू के पास लौटने के लिए तैयार हैं।


Coronavirus: When is it hypocritical to clap for carers?

Summary: Clapping for our carers and other key workers has become a rite of passage for many of us - a way of showing our appreciation for front-line workers risking their lives to keep us safe.

But Thursday's event, the eighth since the lockdown started, is the first since some NHS staff said they felt "stabbed in the back" by people breaking lockdown guidelines to hold VE Day street parties. An intensive care doctor said the parties she witnessed put emergency staff lives at risk and increased the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus cases. So, is it hypocritical of people who broke the the rules on Friday to applaud those same carers on Thursday? According to experts on ethics, it is not necessarily hypocrisy - although it could be considered selfish. Dr Paddy McQueen, who teaches philosophy at Swansea University, said a key feature of hypocrisy was pretending "to be something they are not or believe something they do not believe". "My hunch is that quite a few people who clap for carers and the NHS, while also failing to observe social-distancing measures, do have genuine admiration and appreciation for them," he explained. "Thus, they are not pretending to admire or support the NHS. Rather, they might fail to make the logical connections between their behaviour and the impact it has on the NHS." What might come close to hypocrisy, Dr McQueen added, is if someone believes people should be observing social distancing, but makes excuses for failing to observe it themselves. He calls this the "what I do won't make a difference" attitude, but says it is "morally dubious" rather than hypocritical. Another ethicist agreed it does not constitute hypocrisy, but is "selfish". "It is akin to being grateful that someone is cleaning up the litter while you throw your rubbish on the ground," said Dr Tristan Nash, lecturer in philosophy at the University of Wales Trinity St David. "It is being grateful that NHS workers are putting their lives at risk while taking actions that could serve to increase that risk." Unions representing NHS staff would not be drawn on the question of morality, but called on people to support NHS staff by abiding by social-distancing rules. The Unite union said it was "extremely concerned that non-compliance" with the rules "ultimately puts lives at risk". The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors in Wales, said while it was "heartening" to see the appreciation, "the best 'thank you' we can ask for" is that people follow Welsh Government guidelines on social distancing. "It's disheartening to see people putting themselves at risk when doctors and other healthcare professionals are doing their utmost, day in, day out, to protect patients," said Dr David Bailey, chairman of the Welsh council of the BMA. The union which represents nurses said it supports the public wanting to say thank you to NHS staff "who are working around the clock saving lives during this pandemic". But Helen Whyley, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, called on people to follow social-distancing guidelines to protect the NHS.

हमारे देखभाल करने वालों और अन्य प्रमुख श्रमिकों के लिए ताली बजाना हम में से कई लोगों के लिए एक संस्कार बन गया है-हमें सुरक्षित रखने के लिए अपनी जान जोखिम में डालने वाले अग्रिम पंक्ति के श्रमिकों के लिए हमारी सराहना दिखाने का एक तरीका।


Seabed leased for SeaGen tidal farm off Skye

Summary: A Bristol-based company has secured the lease of part of the seabed off Skye to deploy four tidal turbines.

Marine Current Turbines said the £40m project would see the devices installed at Kylerhea, narrows between Skye and the Scottish mainland, by 2014. The company already operates a commercial-scale tidal power device at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. It said the four SeaGen units could potentially generate enough electricity for 8,000 homes. The company has secured an "agreement of lease" from the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed.

ब्रिस्टल स्थित एक कंपनी ने चार ज्वारीय टर्बाइनों को तैनात करने के लिए स्काई के समुद्र तल के हिस्से का पट्टा हासिल कर लिया है।


Unlikely partners? China and Israel deepening trade ties

Summary: On paper Israel and China are unlikely close trading partners.

By Dave GordonBusiness reporter, Tel Aviv, Israel China, the world's second-largest country, is the biggest exporter on the planet. While Israel, a tiny strip of land in the Middle East, is only in 45th place on the global exporting league table. And importantly - Israel has always been a steadfast ally of the US. So given the current trading spat between the US and China, you would expect Israel to be firmly on the American side. Yet what many people don't know is that Chinese investment in Israel is continuing to boom, at the same time as a growing number of Israeli firms are entering the Chinese marketplace. So while President Trump is slapping tariffs on Chinese exports and talking tough, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu is happily encouraging his country's firms to accept Chinese investments, as the figures show. In 2016 China's direct investment in Israel almost tripled to $16bn (£12bn), according to a report in the South China Morning Post newspaper. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post predicts that China will overtake the US as the number one source of overseas investment in Israel. So what has brought the two countries together, and should Israeli firms be cautious? Over the past two decades the Israeli economy has established itself as a leading hub of technological development. Commentators say that Chinese firms want to get their hands on that technology, at the same time as Israeli companies want better access to the giant Chinese marketplace. "The Chinese are leveraging Israeli tech to fuel their economy, Israel is held in high esteem as a hub of innovation," says Hagai Tal, chief executive of Taptica, an Israeli mobile advertising company. "China is set on learning as much as it can in order to position itself as an innovation economy. "[Meanwhile], Israeli companies also see important opportunities in the East, and the meeting point of these two approaches is what produces such successful business partnerships." To help bring Israeli and Chinese companies together, a number of business events are now held every year, such as Silicon Dragon Israel, which took place in Tel Aviv at the start of the year, and the China-Israel Innovation Summit, which was held earlier this month in Guangdong. Rebecca Fannin, a founder of Silicon Dragon Israel, says Israeli tech start-ups that have secured Chinese investment tell her they "are progressing faster with Chinese capital, and through introductions, collaborations, and easier access to the large China mainland markets". In recent years Israeli firms that have either been bought outright by Chinese companies, or sold them share of their business, include medical lasers operation Alma Lasers, and medical devices group Lumenis. Others are Israeli dairy business Tnuva, image recognition firm Cortica, and gesture control group Extreme Reality. Royi Benyossef, an Israel-based manager at investment fund Samsung Next, says that the Chinese are "mesmerized by Israel and its technology exporting capabilities". Other commentators say that the different national characteristics of the two countries complement each other. Peggy Mizrahi, a Chinese citizen who lives in Israel, says: "The Chinese are known for long-term planning, and being conservative and hierarchical, unlike the commonly recognised Israeli mindset of [being] fast, innovative, flexible, and having a lack of respect for authority." Daniel Galily, an Israeli expat who has lectured in business at Beijing Geely University, adds that: "The educational system in China places great emphasis on discipline and obedience to superiors, while the Israeli educational system and the Israeli army encourage students and soldiers to think about new ideas, and to solve problems in situations of uncertainty. "The Chinese understand that, and so they strive to integrate the Israeli creativity into their economy." However, it is not just Chinese firms that are benefiting from closer trade ties between the two countries. Spotad, an Israeli digital advertising firm, entered the Chinese market last year after securing funding from a Hong Kong-based private equity firm. The company now works with all the major Chinese online advertising exchanges. Other Israeli firms that are continuing to make inroads into the Chinese market include mobile marketing firm AppsFlyer, and diamond trading platform Carats. Global Trade More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: Yet while both Chinese and Israeli firms seem pleased with their continuing cooperation, some commentators are anxious. "One of the biggest drawbacks that I see here for Israel is that China is notorious for not respecting the intellectual property laws of other nations, so Israel has to be very careful about what kind of manufacturing they outsource to China," says Jason McNew, founder and boss of Pennsylvania-based Stronghold Cyber Security. Lee Branstetter, professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, says that the concern in the US is that Israeli technology could ultimately find its way into the hands of the Chinese military. "The Pentagon is increasingly worried that artificial intelligence capabilities acquired by Chinese firms through civilian investments or licensing deals could find their way into a new generation of Chinese weapons that would threaten American troops and American allies. "The Pentagon is also worried that Israel could become a back door through which China could acquire capabilities that it could not get in the US due to regulatory scrutiny. "I suspect that this will place some limits on the extent and magnitude of the emerging Israel-China relationship. If an American pilot were ever shot down by a Chinese missile powered by Israeli technology, it would be a real problem for the Israeli government." The Israeli government declined to comment on these security and defence sector issues.

कागज पर इज़राइल और चीन के करीबी व्यापारिक भागीदार होने की संभावना नहीं है।


President cuts short Nepal visit

Summary: The Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is cutting short his visit to Nepal to return to Colombo in the wake of the attack in Pakistan on his country's cricket team.

Mr Rajapaksa called the assault by masked armed men on the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team cowardly. At least five policemen escorting the team were killed but none of the cricketers were seriously injured. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bagollagama has been despatched to Pakistan. Before leaving Nepal, Mr. Rajapaksa has held talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Kathmandu. The two countries have also signed few bilateral agreements, media reports said. The Sri Lanka president's scheduled visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha was cancelled as a result of his cutting short the three-day official trip.

श्रीलंका के राष्ट्रपति, महिंदा राजपक्षे, पाकिस्तान में अपने देश की क्रिकेट टीम पर हमले के मद्देनजर कोलंबो लौटने के लिए नेपाल की अपनी यात्रा को कम कर रहे हैं।


Computing GCSE 'leaves girls and poorer students behind'

Summary: A revolution is under way in the teaching of computer science in schools in England - but it risks leaving girls and pupils from poorer backgrounds and ethnic minorities behind. That's the conclusion of academics who've studied data about the move from ICT as a national curriculum subject to computer science.

Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent@BBCRoryCJon Twitter Four years ago, amid general disquiet that ICT was teaching children little more than how Microsoft Office worked, the government took the subject off the national curriculum. The idea was that instead schools should move to offering more rigorous courses in computer science - children would learn to code rather than how to do PowerPoint. But academics at Roehampton University, who compile an annual study of computing education, have some worrying news. First, just 28% of schools entered pupils for the GCSE in computing in 2015. At A-level, only 24% entered pupils for the qualification. Then there's the evidence that girls just aren't being persuaded to take an interest - 16% of GCSE computing entrants in 2015 were female and the figure for the A-level was just 8.5% . The qualification is relatively new and more schools - and more girls, took it in 2016 - but female participation was still only 20% for the GCSE and 10% for the A-level. It looks as though the few that did take the exams were very focused - girls got higher grades than boys in both the GCSE and the A-level. Unsurprising Carrie-Ann Philbin, a former computing teacher who works to engage children in coding at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, describes these figures as "disappointing but not surprising". She points out that we are at an early stage in developing computing education and things should improve. But she also thinks that the way computing is often sold as if its only purpose is to turn out a generation of programmers is a problem. "This only alienates teenage girls who already have a negative idea of what it is to be a 'computer geek'." It also appears that poorer children and those from ethnic minorities are less likely to be getting the computing education the government says is vital if the UK is to have the skills it needs to compete in the digital era. Pupils on free school meals made up just 19% of GCSE entrants, when they are 27% of the population, and just 3.6% of students were black when they make up 4.7% of that age group. But wasn't the picture roughly similar for the old discredited ICT course? Well, no. While it is gradually being phased out, more pupils are still taking the ICT GCSE than computing, and the entrants are far more representative of the wider population. Forty-one per cent of GCSE entrants were female, and the exam had higher numbers of entries from children from low income and ethnic minority backgrounds. Split emerging "Computing and ICT had really quite different groups of students taking them," says Miles Berry from Roehampton. "ICT was much closer to the average in terms of gender, low income, ethnicity and prior attainment in maths." His colleague Peter Kemp says diversity in the kind of children getting computing education is important. "We need to make sure that computer science becomes a subject at least as inclusive as the old ICT qualification. If the current disparities in access go unaddressed we risk wasting the opportunity to transform the tech industry into a more equal profession." They both worry that schools are looking at this new subject with some scepticism and deciding that there are other priorities when budgets are tight. In schools that are offering the new A-level in computing, class sizes tend to be small, raising the prospect, says the Roehampton report, that their economic viability will be questioned under new sixth form funding arrangements. And while many teachers supported the move towards a more rigorous form of computing education, some who warned about the danger of throwing out the baby with the bathwater now feel vindicated. Difficult Drew Buddie, an ICT teacher who also acts as an examiner for the computer science GCSE, says the new exam is just too hard for many children, and is proving very stressful for teachers too. The result, he fears, is that "whole cohorts of students are now completely switched off doing ANY computer-related GCSE." He says the content of the new course is so different that many ICT teachers just do not have the knowledge to teach it, and he fears that computer science could become a niche subject, taught in only a few schools. The Department for Education is looking on the bright side. "The number of girls studying computer science has nearly doubled since last year and we want to see more follow their example," a spokesperson said. The DfE went on to say that "mastering Stem skills would ensure our future workforce has the skills to drive the future productivity and economy of this country". What it doesn't say is that computer science can be creative and fun. Perhaps those words need to be inserted into the curriculum - otherwise many pupils and teachers may decide that computing is just too hard to bother with.

इंग्लैंड के स्कूलों में कंप्यूटर विज्ञान के शिक्षण में एक क्रांति चल रही है-लेकिन इससे गरीब पृष्ठभूमि और जातीय अल्पसंख्यकों की लड़कियों और छात्रों को पीछे छोड़ने का खतरा है। यह उन शिक्षाविदों का निष्कर्ष है जिन्होंने आई. सी. टी. से कंप्यूटर विज्ञान के राष्ट्रीय पाठ्यक्रम विषय के रूप में कदम के बारे में डेटा का अध्ययन किया है।


EU network charges could revive roaming fees

Summary: "Put back those roaming charges we've just scrapped? We wouldn't dream of it!" That's the public message coming from the UK mobile phone operators about the threat of higher costs for travellers from a "no deal" Brexit.

Rory Cellan-JonesTechnology correspondent@BBCRoryCJon Twitter But off the record there is a subtler message - it all depends on what our continental colleagues do. Roaming may be free for customers but not for the operators. Every time you use your phone abroad your home operator is charged a fee by the one you are using abroad. That rate has been capped by the EU as part of the abolition of roaming but once the UK leaves, all bets are off. "If we leave the market they wouldn't be bound by the directive," says one operator. "They could treat our customers like someone from America or Australia and double or triple the charge." The government's own document on what would happen in the event of a "no deal" Brexit says "surcharge-free roaming when you travel to the EU could no longer be guaranteed". While it stresses that this is an unlikely scenario, it also promises to introduce a monthly cap of £45 on any roaming charges. UK operators may feel that this puts them at an unfair disadvantage to their EU counterparts who will be free to charge UK firms whatever they like. And some may be more tempted than others. Millions of UK travellers visit Spain each year while far fewer Spaniards come here, so Spanish operators may decide it is time to start recouping the cost of letting them roam on their networks. Europe's mobile companies reluctantly accepted the abolition of roaming charges by the EU while warning there would be a cost. While they may have been charging excessive amounts when you travelled abroad in the past, that allowed them to keep prices down at home. Now, they have the opportunity to profit from UK travellers who have enthusiastically taken up the opportunity to "roam like at home". UK operators will undoubtedly be under great pressure from the government to just absorb any higher costs from roaming customers. But they are also being told to find the money to invest in new 5G networks. So expect them to be among the fiercest opponents of a "no deal" Brexit.

"उन रोमिंग शुल्कों को वापस कर दें जिन्हें हमने अभी-अभी समाप्त कर दिया है? हम इसके बारे में सपने में भी नहीं सोचेंगे!" ब्रिटेन के मोबाइल फोन ऑपरेटरों की ओर से "नो डील" ब्रेक्सिट से यात्रियों के लिए उच्च लागत के खतरे के बारे में यह सार्वजनिक संदेश आ रहा है।


Mining in Greenland - a country divided

Summary: Greenland's economy relies on fishing and hunting, but the government has ambitious plans to develop the country's resource industries. In places like Narsaq, there's a fear that mining could destroy the environment and traditional ways of life.

By James FletcherBBC World Service, Narsaq, South Greenland Jens Erik Kirkegaard looks out across the smooth black water of Kangerluarsuk fjord to the snow dusted mountain rising steeply from the far shore. It's a clear, cold day at the beginning of winter, and Greenland's mining minister has his hands stuffed deep in a pair of seal-fur mittens to keep them warm. "When you grow up in Greenland, you don't really think about the different mountains having different minerals," he reflects. Standing by his side is a man with a white beard, wearing a battered red felt hat. Greg Barnes is chief geologist for Australian mining company Tanbreez Mining, and he's brought the minister here to pitch his plan to turn the mountain they're looking at into a mine. "It is the world's biggest rare earth deposit, it's probably got 50% of the world's rare earth in it," he claims. "This is one of the world's top 10 mines eventually we think." Rare earth elements are used in everything from mobile phones to solar panels to wind turbines. China dominates world supply, but if people like Greg Barnes are right, Greenland has the potential to be a major player. It's not just rare-earth minerals - Greenland also has reserves of gold, iron-ore, rubies and uranium, as well as oil and gas. In this country of just 57,000 people, with a GDP of $2.4bn (£1.5bn), developing those resources could have a big economic impact. And it could bring full independence from former colonial master Denmark, which still provides a substantial annual subsidy for Greenland's budget. "It gives you some thought that you've been walking on billions of dollars all your life and not knowing about it," Kierkegaard says. "It's a significant time in Greenland." In the nearby town of Narsaq, money like that could make a huge difference. Nestled at the foot of a mountain where two fjords meet, it's a picturesque town of brightly coloured houses like Lego bricks sprinkled amongst the snow. Like much of Greenland, it has traditionally made its living from fishing and hunting, and also more recently farming for lamb. But at the town slaughterhouse, manager Henning Sonderup tells me that traditional way of life no longer pays the bills. "Many people are unemployed," he says. "Lots of families from Narsaq have moved out to other cities, so we have to do something." Several years ago the shrimp processing plant in Narsaq closed, and with it around 80 jobs. It's been partly offset by the expansion of a catering school and the construction of a new slaughterhouse, but Narsaq's population has fallen by around 10% over the past five years. Sonderup feels that unemployment and a lack of opportunities leads to social problems - "people drinking beer, some going around just like zombies with nothing to do". Susanne Lynge is another who thinks the town is in a downward spiral. She's leading a loud protest in the snow outside the town council offices, shouting slogans into a megaphone while dozens of school children cheer in response. They wave colourful signs calling for the council to speed up construction of a new school. "Our local government needs money," she says. "I wish they would open the mining." Henning Sonderup reels off a list of the improvements that mining could bring: "New school, bigger hospital, better airport, new harbour, new roads, everything," he says. "Greenland will be on the map again." The Tanbreez mine isn't the only one proposed near Narsaq. Another Australian company, Greenland Minerals and Energy (GME), is developing a rare-earth mine at Kvanefjeld, a mountain plateau about 6km (3.7 miles) from the town. Unlike the Tanbreez mine, Kvanefjeld will produce uranium, fluoride and thorium as well as rare-earth minerals. The mine's prospects received a major boost in October when Greenland's parliament voted by 15 votes to 14 to overturn a long-standing ban on uranium mining. There are more legal hurdles to be overcome before uranium mining is a reality in Greenland, but the vote triggered huge debate in Greenland and much concern in Narsaq. Avaaraq Olsen is a teacher and member of the local council for the opposition Inuit Ataqatigiit party. Sitting in her kitchen, she remembers the day the ban was overturned. "I was very sad, I was crying," she says. "I'm ashamed of being a Greenlander. If this mine is starting here in Narsaq, we will be moving away, not just from Narsaq, but from Greenland." At Olsen's house, there are guns by the door where you or I might keep umbrellas, ready to be slung over the shoulder whenever the weather is right for hunting birds or seals. "My biggest concern is it will cause so much pollution that we won't be able to live in our town - and all the animals and biodiversity will be destroyed, " she says. These environmental concerns are shared by other hunters and fishermen, and many of the 50 or so sheep farms in the surrounding area. French-born Agathe Devisme runs Ipiutaq Farm with her Greenlandic partner Kallista Poulsen. As well as farming 300 sheep, they also rent out a cottage on the farm to tourists during the summer. "People coming to Greenland are looking for something pure," she says. "It's the last corner of the world not touched by pollution. If there is any kind of radioactivity in the area, they will not like it." The mines would also involve an influx of foreign workers into Narsaq, as there simply aren't enough skilled workers in Greenland to fill all the jobs the mines will create. Some see this as a benefit - the miners will live in the community, send their kids to the school, and spend their money at local businesses. But other aren't so sure. "I don't think it's healthy for such a small town to have so many people from outside," says Ivalo Lund, head nurse at Narsaq's Hospital. "It will be young men looking at the beautiful young girls here." She's worried about sexually-transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies to fathers who leave town, and like Olsen says she'll move away if the Kvanefjeld mine goes ahead. "I will be sad to see this town be destroyed," she tells me. "It will be a mining town and we will never ever be able to live as we do now." Greenland Minerals and Energy have spent much time trying to assure local residents that these concerns are misplaced. "Other countries like Canada and France have uranium mining," says Ib Laursen, the company's operations manager as he drives around town. "If they can do it, we can do it in Greenland, we can take best environmental standards and put them to work here." We stop at an empty multi-story housing block, its windows smashed and boarded and insulation poking out through holes in the walls. Laursen has lived in Narsaq on and off for 10 years, and wants me to see the impact of people leaving town. "Despite what people say I do have a social conscience, my heart is here," he declares. "I'm more worried about the mental pollution, in a place like this where you have more and more social issues. "We need to break that circle we need to bring back jobs and opportunities to the region. And you cannot make an omelette without cracking some eggs, because this will be an industrial revolution for this area." There's still a question whether that industrial revolution will ever happen. Despite years of government promotion, there are no mines currently operating in Greenland. But this year has seen the strongest signs yet that mining will become a reality. As well as overturning the uranium mining ban, in October Greenland's government granted the first major new mining licence in years. Tanbreez Mining has applied for a licence to develop their mine, and there are several other companies likely to follow suit over the next year. Climate change may also help speed the development of new mines, making minerals more accessible as Greenland's ice-cap melts. If and when mines do go into production, ensuring that the benefits are maximised and the pitfalls avoided will be a huge challenge for Greenland's government. Avaaraq Olsen isn't sure they're up to it. "We are a young nation, we don't have enough experience," she says. "We don't have enough skilled people to work in the ministries who are going to secure our safety and our health." But the mayor of South Greenland, Jorgen Waever Johansen, rejects the criticism. "I know some groups around the world would like to have the Arctic as a prehistoric natural museum," he says. "But there are people here who want a good standard of living and want to be part of a global world." Greenland is on its way to independence, he says proudly. "Why should any people strive for independence if they don't believe in themselves?" James Fletcher's Assignment is broadcast on the BBC World Service on January 2 from 00:32 GMT. Listen via BBC iPlayer Radio or browse the BBC documentary podcast archive. Follow @BBCNewsMagazine on Twitter and on Facebook On a tablet? Read 10 of the best Magazine stories from 2013 here

ग्रीनलैंड की अर्थव्यवस्था मछली पकड़ने और शिकार पर निर्भर है, लेकिन सरकार की देश के संसाधन उद्योगों को विकसित करने की महत्वाकांक्षी योजना है। नरसाक जैसे स्थानों में, एक डर है कि खनन पर्यावरण और जीवन के पारंपरिक तरीकों को नष्ट कर सकता है।


Autumn Statement: Carrot and stick for business

Summary: The two big challenges for George Osborne today were to do something to wake the UK economy from the torpor that has afflicted it since 2008, while also persuading investors of the world that lending to the government remains a prudent thing to do.

Robert PestonEconomics editor How has he set about it? Well he has another go at trying to restart business investment, which has been so spectacularly disappointing over the past few years. The chancellor is using the forecast £3.5bn of proceeds from the auction to mobile phone companies of broadcasting spectrum for their 4G broadband services to give some temporary tax cuts to business - of which the most eye-catching is an increase for two years in the annual investment allowance from £25,000 to £250,000. At a cost of around £2bn, this provides a valuable tax incentive for investment to small and medium size businesses. There is a further tax cut of greater political symbolism, which is that corporation tax will be cut by one percentage point more than expected in April 2014. That would take the rate of corporation tax to 21% - and makes it almost inevitable that by the time of the 2015 election, the mainstream rate of corporation tax will be 20%. And as some of you may become tired of hearing in the coming weeks, month and years, a corporation tax rate of 20% would be the joint lowest rate of any of the large G20 economies. Of course, not all businesses can celebrate a reduction in the tax burden. The chancellor is trying to make it harder for multinationals to shuffle their costs and revenues around the globe to minimise the amount of corporation tax they pay to him. And he still regards any tax cuts for banks as toxic. So the bank levy is being increased to sustain the net annual proceeds from the levy at £2.5bn. Nor is Mr Osborne playing Santa for business leaders as individuals. He is increasing taxes raised from those on high earnings by a £1bn a year, through the device of limiting the tax relief they can enjoy on pension saving. And what about investors? Well they won't regard it as good news that it will take a further year for the ratio of national debt to GDP to start falling: on the projections of the Office for Budget Responsibility, debt will reach a peak of 79.9% of GDP in 2015/16, before falling to a still high 79.2% in 2016/17. But that deterioration is not unexpected. Which is partly why, for some time now, investors have been expecting the UK to lose its AAA credit rating, the government's cherished kitemark as one of the world's most trusted borrowers That fear, of a loss of the AAA, has not diminished, and looks likely to happen in early 2013. Which would be a big political embarrassment for George Osborne and David Cameron, who have spent the past couple of years flaunting the AAA. But the cost may be largely a political one, for the coalition, rather than an economic one: there has already in recent weeks been a smallish rise in the long-term costs of borrowing for the Treasury, which may be markets discounting the ratings downgrade. Update 17.05 What the chancellor needs, more than anything else, if he is to hit debt targets that are - yet again - worse than previous forecasts, is an economic recovery. And for that he needs a private sector that feels more confident and starts investing again. So, at the heart of his statement today were a series of measures designed to appeal to the fabled business community. There is £2bn worth of 100% tax relief on investment of up to £250,000 for two years. There is an extension of relief on business rates for smaller businesses. And perhaps most eye-catchingly of all, there is a further 1% to be taken off the standard rate of corporation tax - which will fall to 21% in 2014. Which almost certainly means that by the time of the next general election, the UK will have a 20% tax rate for companies - which would be the joint lowest of all the big G20 economies. Also, Mr Osborne announced what he hopes will be a significant boost to spending on infrastructure - which many businesses have been calling for. All that said, many business people will be in two minds whether to crack open the bubbly. Many of them - especially those in middle management - will be hurt by a £1bn raid on tax relief for those on higher earnings saving for a pension. And they may worry more than most about the symbolism for the British government of losing its AAA credit rating - which now looks likely to happen in the early months of next year - following the deterioration of growth prospects and public finances. They may also query whether the chancellor is engaging in the kind of creative accounting that gets some fast-and-loose businesses into trouble - by the way he is banking and spending £3.5bn of proceeds from an auction of 4G broadband spectrum that hasn't happened yet.

जॉर्ज ओसबोर्न के लिए आज दो बड़ी चुनौती ब्रिटेन की अर्थव्यवस्था को उस संकट से जगाने के लिए कुछ करना था जिसने 2008 से इसे पीड़ित किया है, जबकि दुनिया के निवेशकों को यह भी समझाना था कि सरकार को ऋण देना एक विवेकपूर्ण काम है।


Yorkshire MP Stuart Andrew new Wales Office minister

Summary: West Yorkshire MP Stuart Andrew has been made a new junior minister at the Wales Office, in Theresa May's reshuffle, Downing Street has said.

Mr Andrew, Conservative MP for Pudsey, grew up in north Wales and is a Welsh speaker. The role was previously held by Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb, who becomes a junior defence minister. On Monday, Number 10 confirmed Alun Cairns remains Wales' voice at the UK Cabinet table as Welsh secretary. Mr Cairns said: "I am delighted to welcome Stuart Andrew to the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. "I've worked with him over many years so I know that he will be an excellent champion for Wales within Whitehall and a fantastic representative for the UK Government in Wales."

डाउनिंग स्ट्रीट ने कहा है कि वेस्ट यॉर्कशायर के सांसद स्टुअर्ट एंड्रयू को थेरेसा मे के फेरबदल में वेल्स कार्यालय में एक नया कनिष्ठ मंत्री बनाया गया है।


Surging Greens shake up German coalition politics

Summary: The talk in Darmstadt is of the "green wave".

By Jenny HillBBC News, Darmstadt, Germany One in three voters in this city near Frankfurt backed the Greens in the Hesse state election last month. In the city centre, workmen are setting up a Christmas market in freezing drizzle. There were workmen here just over three years ago too. Then, they were preparing for a street party: Darmstadt had turned out to welcome its refugees. Since then, migration policy has redefined German politics. Angela Merkel's centrist coalition government has bickered, dithered and shifted to the right. As a result, voters have walked away from her Christian Democrats (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Many have chosen instead the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), but also more recently the resurgent, and far more liberal, Green party. Why the Green surge? The Greens' strong performance has taken many by surprise. First they scored well in the Bavarian election last month, then here in the state of Hesse. And, were Germany to hold an election tomorrow, polls suggest the party would come second, just a few points behind Mrs Merkel's conservatives. Singers arrive at a warm, brightly lit church hall near the city centre, faces flushed with cold, pulling off hats, gloves and scarves. "We have a lot of students, a lot of young people, but also a mixture of cultures and people, from engineers to people who work with kids, or in the zoo," said Alison. "I think that's one of the reasons the [Green] party is so big here." "They're riding on a wave right now," said Gudrun. "Especially with AfD coming up, people are starting to think, 'OK, where can I make a point'? And that's what brings them to the Greens." "But on the other side we've got climate change," she says. "A lot of people really believe that it could happen and it's really affecting us. Especially this summer it was so extreme and I think that's one of the reasons why." But the Greens will need more than environmental policy if they are to cement their status as Germany's second-strongest party. Are they trusted? Steffen Ross runs a bicycle shop near the city centre. "Business and the Greens are an uneasy couple. The Greens want growth, but they don't want a lot of things that are associated with growth," he says. He cites the Greens' promise to shut down "dirty" coal-fired power stations, and their wariness about fully embracing new digital technology, in case it infringes citizens' privacy. As we talk, a couple of well-wrapped cyclists speed past the door, on a brand-new cycle lane courtesy of the local Greens. Steffen agrees the party has been good for his business. "But for me the question is: can the Green party operate effectively in questions of economics and politics?" he adds. On that point, the party is trying hard. It has revamped its image and its new leaders - Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck - are determined to play down the party's left-wing protest past. Who are the Greens? The Greens have their roots in the environmental and peace movements of the 1970s. Long defined by their opposition to military intervention and nuclear energy, and their calls for a more ecologically minded Germany, they first took seats in the Bundestag in 1983 and joined two coalition governments - both with the SPD. Their appeal to voters was for many years somewhat diminished by infighting between the radical left (so-called "Fundis", or fundamentalists) and the more pragmatic or centrist "Realos", or realistics. It's less of an issue for the party now. These days the Greens have their sights on the centre ground. What's interesting about Hesse is that the Greens and CDU are negotiating to renew a regional coalition government here. Analysts predict that it could be a model for Germany's next governing alliance at federal level. But they would have to overcome significant differences - not least on migration. "We don't even have common ground to talk about migration, because we haven't managed to pass an immigration law yet," says Hildegard Förster-Heldmann, a Darmstadt Green politician elected with more than 30% of the vote. "That would be the first step. Then we can step-by-step convince people and create common ground." Political turbulence She faces the same challenge as her national colleagues: how to keep the momentum going. "The subjects we work on - the environment, resources, sustainability, are subjects which affect everyone," she says. "The Greens were the only ones who managed to show those subjects were interconnected. If we keep working on that, we might be able to keep the voters who supported us on impulse." Some see the success of the Greens as an antidote to the far right. But Dirk Jörke, a professor of political science at Darmstadt University, is wary. "I don't believe this will make right-wing populism disappear - quite the opposite. It will lead to an increasing division and the debate will become more morally charged. In the end that will not contribute to the decline of far-right populists, but rather confirm them."

डार्मस्टेड में चर्चा "हरित लहर" की है।


Isle of Wight steam railway wins development grant

Summary: A project to preserve and display a historical collection of railway locomotives and carriages has received a £35,000 development grant.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway Company has been awarded Heritage Lottery funding for its Changing Trains project. The £1.1m scheme aims to build a rolling stock storage and display building at Havenstreet. Chairman Steve Oates said: "This is a tremendous boost to us." The railway now has two years to submit a more detailed bid for the remainder of the funds needed. Mr Oates said: "Changing Trains will give visitors the opportunity to view historic railway vehicles at close quarters and discover how they were once so much a part of life on the Island."

रेलवे इंजनों और डिब्बों के ऐतिहासिक संग्रह को संरक्षित करने और प्रदर्शित करने की एक परियोजना को 35,000 पाउंड का विकास अनुदान मिला है।


Fire, plague and royalty - as seen by diarist Samuel Pepys

Summary: Samuel Pepys never intended his famous diaries to be made public. But without them, we would be denied his very colourful eyewitness accounts of 17th Century London life. How did he manage to be in the right place at the right time?

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is seeking to find the answer in a new exhibition looking at Pepys's meteoric rise from relatively humble beginnings. "The 1.25 million words in Samuel Pepys' diaries give us the richest record we have of Britain in the 1660s," says co-curator Robert Blyth. "It was a terrifically turbulent and exciting time. You get the end of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell, the restoration of Charles II, and then the plague and the Great Fire of London. "Pepys was there for it all." Pepys sat for this portrait several times over a number of weeks. Dressed in a hired gown, he wanted to look like a cultured and sophisticated man about town. But he paid for such a look in more ways than one - writing in his diary that he almost broke his neck looking over his shoulder to hold the pose for artist John Hayls. From a modest background - his father was a tailor - Pepys rose to be a senior naval administrator, an MP and president of the Royal Society. "He was a real social climber," says exhibition co-curator Kris Martin. "Partly self-made, but he owes a lot to his distant cousin Edward Montagu who played a major role in his success." Pepys's diaries were written in a form of shorthand - partly to conceal the content, and partly so Pepys could write quickly. For more than 100 years the volumes sat on the shelves of Magdalene College, Cambridge - with all the other books he had bequeathed after his death. The first transcriptions appeared in the early 1800s - with the full, more candid versions only published in the 1970s. "He was an appalling womaniser by modern standards," says Blyth. "He may well have been horrified that his diary is now laid bare for all to see. It is like your whole Facebook account being broadcast to the world." This next painting marks the restoration of the English monarchy at the end of Cromwell's Commonwealth - with Charles II's state entry into London on 22 April 1661, the day before his coronation. "Pepys rushed to Cornhill to watch it. He got a room, some cake and wine - and admired the ladies," says Kris Martin. "But he also mentions how incredible the scene was. Sparkling diamonds woven into fabric and crowds cheering." The white arches in the distance were specially made temporary structures - constructed of plaster and paper mache - designed to show the strength of the restored monarchy. The scene is in marked contrast to the cold January day in 1649, when Pepys bunked-off school and headed to Whitehall to watch the execution of Charles I. "Pepys was a republican and supported Cromwell as a young man," says Martin. "But he switched, on the advice of his cousin Edward Montagu, just at the right time as the republic was crumbling." "And Pepys was, of course, at Westminster Abbey to witness to coronation of Charles II," says Robert Blyth. "In his diary he complains about not being able to hear the music too well. And he doesn't see all of it. It is a very long ceremony, and he leaves early to go to the toilet." The coronation painting above also stresses that the newly restored monarchy is secure - adds Martin. "The King's loins are on display. It is very much about 'I am fertile, I will give you children, we will rule a long time'." The actress Nell Gwyn, reclining in the painting above, was Charles II's mistress. Pepys called her "pretty, witty Nell". "She had a real talent for comedic roles," says Blyth. "And avid theatregoer Pepys took delight in watching women on stage - looking at the female form." The up-close image of a flea below comes from a publication which Pepys described as "the most ingenious book that I ever read in my life". Micrographia, by Robert Hooke, was the first book to illustrate insects and plants as seen through microscopes. And it was through rat fleas that the deadly bubonic plague began to sweep through London at the end of 1664. "Pepys was constantly worried about the plague," says Martin. "He loses friends. His baker. His butcher. And he was obsessed with death rates, checking them weekly. "He is also concerned about wearing his new wig, as it may have been made from the hair of plague victims." He never got the disease. Pepys's accounts of the Great Fire of London in September 1666 are, says Blyth, "without doubt some of the most affecting and extraordinary entries in his diary". "For the whole year the population of London had a great sense of foreboding, because the year had the number of the devil in it - 666. There was just this sense that something appalling was going to happen." The fire started at the king's bakers in Pudding Lane, and quickly spread west through a tinder-dry London, buffeted by a strong easterly wind. Famously, Pepys buried a parmesan cheese and some wine in his garden. "He offered his advice to King Charles and his brother, James the Duke of York," says Blyth. "He was granted an audience because the duke was Pepys's boss in the navy - and the capable Pepys would be able to get the instruments of government working together to fight the fire." Blyth says that once the fire was out, Pepys was invited to dinner and, as typical with middle-class Londoners, the conversation turned to property prices. "And how landlords would now, because more than 100,000 people had been made homeless, be able to command greater rents for those properties which had survived." In his role as Lord High Admiral, James, Duke of York, would not have usually dressed quite so flamboyantly as he is in the painting below. "For this portrait, the future King James II is shown in the stylised outfit of Mars the Roman God of War," says Blyth. "But the duke was a skilled commander, not just a figurehead." And for most of Samuel Pepys's career as a naval administrator, James would have been his boss. England's main nautical rival at that time was the Dutch Republic. The painting above shows the humiliating raid on the Medway in 1667 - during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Pictured in the centre is the English flagship, the Royal Charles - which was seized by the Dutch. The same ship had brought Charles II back from exile in 1660. Blyth says Pepys was not implicated in the incident but he was clearly worried for the future of the monarchy and any implications for his career - noting in his diary that it was not his fault. "I have, in my own person, done my full duty, I am sure," he writes. Samuel Pepys may have been only in the congregation at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Charles II, but by the time Charles' brother James came to the throne in 1685, Pepys's social standing was such that he was one of the coronation canopy bearers. This etching shows the procession - with Pepys on the front left corner. He took on the role because, by that time, Pepys had become a Baron of the Cinque Ports - in Kent and Sussex. Robert Blyth and Kris Martin both stress the value of Pepys's daily observations, because they paint a more colourful, human picture of life in the 17th Century. "He was dashing around London soaking up all that was going on," says Blyth. "Food and drink. Gossiping about who was in and out of favour. Moaning about traffic jams. You can impose 21st Century London on what he wrote." "Pepys could have thrown his private diary on the fire but he didn't," adds Martin. "And because he didn't, we have learnt so much. We have the diary of an everyman, but also a mover and shaker in society. He was a very modern character. There is a bit of Pepys in all of us." Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution can be seen at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London from 20 November 2015 to 28 March 2016. All images subject to copyright.

सैमुअल पेपिस ने कभी नहीं सोचा था कि उनकी प्रसिद्ध डायरियों को सार्वजनिक किया जाए। लेकिन उनके बिना, हम 17 वीं शताब्दी के लंदन जीवन के उनके बहुत ही रंगीन चश्मदीद गवाहों के विवरणों से इनकार कर देंगे। वह सही समय पर सही जगह पर कैसे रहे?


What does the Saudi oil crisis mean for India?

Summary: A drone attack on the world's biggest oil-processing plant has triggered the largest jump in crude prices in decades and raised fears of a new conflict in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has said its oil output will return to normal in the next few weeks, causing prices to ease a little. But the repercussions are still being felt thousands of kilometres away in India, explains the BBC's Suranjana Tewari.

What happened? On 14 September, drones targeted Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq oil refinery and Khurais oil field. The attacks knocked out half of Saudi Arabia's total output and 5% of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter, shipping more than seven million barrels daily. Saudi stocks stood at 188 million barrels in June, according to official data. Yemen's Houthi rebels - who are aligned with Iran - have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group has launched attacks on Saudi soil before, including on oil pipelines. But this attack was on a much bigger scale, hitting the world's biggest oil-processing plant as well as another oil field. Saudi Arabia has said that production will be back to normal by the end of September, which has slightly calmed oil markets. What's India got to do with it? India imports nearly 83% of the oil it consumes, making it one of the biggest importers of oil in the world. Most of its crude oil and cooking gas comes from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It used to import more than 10% of its oil from Iran. However, earlier this year, the US pressured India to stop buying Iranian oil after walking out of the nuclear deal. India also imports from other countries like the US, but at a higher cost. "India viewed Saudi Arabia as amongst the safest suppliers in the world," BJP spokesperson and energy expert Narendra Taneja told the BBC. "With this sophisticated attack and the precision with which the attack was done, we have now realised that their facilities are vulnerable and that does make us anxious." He added that a lot would now depend on how Saudi Arabia responds to the attack - any military action would lead to escalation in the region, which could then disrupt supplies from the entire Gulf region. "Right now, the worry for India is the price - but if the supply is not properly resumed in the next two weeks, then we will also have to worry about the supply." In the last seven years, India's energy strategy has focused on diversifying sources of supply. "We are importing from Africa and the US, but the Middle East remains our main source," he said. "India will have to make constant efforts to diversify more," Mr Taneja said. What does it mean for Indians? It depends on how long production is stalled. Saudi Arabia says it will take a few weeks to repair the facility. But any longer will have a further impact on the price of oil and that could cause India's import costs to go up. The Indian government is already stretched financially and so higher costs mean it has less cash with which to effectively tackle its economic slowdown. The price of petrol and diesel could rise if crude prices globally continue to rise. Every one dollar increase in the price of oil raises India's import bill by $1.5bn every year. It would also affect many industries, including manufacturing and aviation, and can accelerate inflation. By-products of crude oil are also used in the production of items like plastic and tyres, which may become more expensive. So, what can be done? Not much, if experts are to be believed. "The government may not be able to do much right now," Madan Sadnavis, an economist, said. "It can buffer supplies through reserves which we have which will help perhaps a month or so. If the crisis persists, it can cut taxes, but that affects revenue and hence the fiscal deficit. But as long as the price remains less than $70 a barrel, the shock can be absorbed," he added.

दुनिया के सबसे बड़े तेल प्रसंस्करण संयंत्र पर एक ड्रोन हमले ने दशकों में कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में सबसे बड़ी उछाल ला दी है और मध्य पूर्व में एक नए संघर्ष की आशंका बढ़ा दी है। सऊदी अरब ने कहा है कि अगले कुछ हफ्तों में उसका तेल उत्पादन सामान्य हो जाएगा, जिससे कीमतें थोड़ी कम हो जाएंगी। लेकिन इसके परिणाम अभी भी हजारों किलोमीटर दूर भारत में महसूस किए जा रहे हैं, बीबीसी की सुरंजना तिवारी बताती हैं।


Brexit: 'An unprecedented geopolitical shift'

Summary: Historian and constitutional expert Lord Peter Hennessy looks back at British history to evaluate the significance of the referendum result. The Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary University of London was speaking to the BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent James Robbins.

Never in our peacetime history have so many dials been reset as a result of a single day's events. The only thing comparable in my lifetime is the end of the British Empire, which, like this, was a huge geopolitical shift. But getting rid of the British Empire was done over many, many years and by and large in the time control of the British government of the day. It left very few scars on us. But this is sudden. This is guillotine time. This is quite extraordinary and in peacetime British history quite unprecedented. If we go back to the beginning, it took three attempts for Britain to join the European project. Harold Macmillan steered his cabinet towards the first application to join the European Economic Community in July 1961, an effort which failed because of opposition from French leader Charles De Gaulle. During Harold Wilson's second application in 1967, The Labour prime minister said we wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and ended up getting exactly that again from General De Gaulle. Ted Heath finally pulled it off with President Pompidou and the law was passed in 1972, leading to our admittance in January 1973. Ever since then it's been part of the warp and woof of British foreign policy and our attitude towards the world. It's part of Britain's notion of its ability to punch heavier than its weight internationally, and it has been central to so many calculations. That's why this vote is the most remarkable jolt to the system. Where it leads in terms of the psychology of British politics as well as the personnel of British politics and indeed the very survival of the United Kingdom as a union with Scotland is all up in the air. There never has been a day when so many moving parts were thrown up in one go and nobody knows where they will fall. We know one thing and one thing only - that within a few years we shall no longer be a member of the European Union. We know so little else about how it will play out, both in terms of the emotional geography of our politics and the emotional geography of our people. The referendum has revealed deeper fissures and deeper divisions than perhaps we realised were there. We know we've been a country ill at ease with itself for a very long time, with all sorts of divides, including those based on geography and wealth. But this process has thrown it into stark relief, and we're going to have to stand back and take a long and careful look at ourselves. We will need to re-examine the kind of society we are and the kind of relationships we want in the world. 'US will be horrified' Looking to our relationship with the United States, ever since the Marshall Plan brought the Western European countries together after the Second World War to put a dollar curtain up against the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union, the US has wanted us to be a good European player. They have also wanted us to be their number one friend. We were meant to be the hinge that joined the North Atlantic instinct with the European instinct. For this reason they will be horrified by this result. Their notion of who we are and the special ingredients of our special position in the world will be as much affected as we are by this. I suspect the feeling will be that they've got enough to worry about in the world with a resurgent Putin and Middle East in the state it is without their one dependable ally causing all this trouble. They will see Britain - instead of being its usual force for stability in the world as a great and mature democracy - as a bringer of instability to Europe, and they won't like it one bit. This result, on the other hand, is, of course, a victory for democracy. The greatest strength of any country is the degree to which it is an open society and this vote showed that on that index we excel. The sovereign will of the British people is what has prevailed in producing this enormous geopolitical shift. So it's three cheers for democracy and for the 72.2% voter turnout rate. While the consequences of it are very complicated, the will of the people will obviously have to be respected. But, my heavens, it becomes a nitty gritty slog from now on. In particular, the long-term consequences for our place in the world are very considerable indeed. In 2025, we will be out of the European Union and we could be shorn of Scotland. We will be a very different country. I hope to heaven - because I love this country deeply - that it doesn't turn narrowly inward-looking and resentful. That ain't what the British people are for.

इतिहासकार और संवैधानिक विशेषज्ञ लॉर्ड पीटर हेनेसी जनमत संग्रह के परिणाम के महत्व का मूल्यांकन करने के लिए ब्रिटिश इतिहास को पीछे मुड़कर देखते हैं। लंदन के क्वीन मैरी विश्वविद्यालय में समकालीन ब्रिटिश इतिहास के एटली प्रोफेसर बीबीसी के राजनयिक संवाददाता जेम्स रॉबिन्स से बात कर रहे थे।


Workers taken off Brent Bravo amid Storm Imogen damage fears

Summary: Nearly 80 workers were taken off a North Sea oil platform amid fears it had been damaged by Storm Imogen.

Shell said 40 workers taken off Brent Bravo went to the Brent Charlie platform and 39 to Brent Delta on Sunday night, as a precaution. The company said there were concerns over structural damage on one of Bravo's legs. The Brent Bravo is 115 miles north east of Lerwick.

तूफान इमोजेन से क्षतिग्रस्त होने की आशंका के बीच लगभग 80 श्रमिकों को उत्तरी सागर के तेल मंच से हटा दिया गया था।


Man shot in Birmingham city centre

Summary: A man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound after a police car was flagged down in Birmingham city centre.

Officers were stopped in Bristol Street just after 05:30 GMT, West Midlands Police said. "The 24-year-old was in a white Audi and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening," a spokeswoman added. Two vehicles and several other men are thought to have fled the scene. Anyone with information was asked to contact police.

बर्मिंघम शहर के केंद्र में एक पुलिस कार को हरी झंडी दिखाने के बाद गोली लगने से घायल एक व्यक्ति को अस्पताल ले जाया गया।


Innocent victims: Life for children with mothers behind bars

Summary: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has just announced a move to allow children of women prisoners extended "sleepover" visits at the new HMP Inverclyde facility. But what's life really like for the young people who are separated from their mothers by prison bars?

By Alicia QueiroBBC Scotland Kirsten Johnston is mum to two boys. When they were eight and three, Kirsten was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzlement. It was her first offence. Kirsten spent two weeks in Cornton Vale, the infamous all-women's prison in Stirling, before being moved to HMP Greenock. Initially, she was put on suicide watch. She served six months in prison. She rang her sons every day, and saw them when she could - in Cornton Vale this depended on how many prisoners wanted to use the family visiting facilities, in Greenock they would visit once a week. Kirsten could have seen them for longer, but Greenock prison staff advised against it - male prisoners were in the visiting hall for the second half of the session and she got the impression from staff that it "wasn't advisable" for her children to be there at the same time. General visiting times - when all visitors come at once - were hard. Drugs would be passed around before her children's eyes. "I felt very uneasy," Kirsten says. "You're waiting for something to happen. You don't want your family and your kids to be in that sort of environment." Kirsten's boys would spend three hours in the car before they got to Greenock. When they arrived, they wanted to move around. But Kirsten wasn't allowed - she had to stay seated all the time. Anxiety issues When Kirsten was in Cornton Vale, her children thought she was in hospital for mental health issues, as she had been before. Indeed, many of the children of her fellow inmates had no idea their mothers were in prison. In Greenock, however, her children knew where she was. "They took it in their stride," she says - but the effects were inevitable. "I called home one night and my eldest son was in a terrible state, he'd had a horrible nightmare. He said he'd been trying to get me out of prison. "I tried to pacify him and say - 'It's just a silly dream, I'm not going to be here forever'. But then you put the phone down and you go back to your bed and you've got these thoughts in your head… it's just a horrible position to be in." She can see the marks on her sons of six months without mum. Her eldest has had anxiety issues and her youngest has been questioning the experience in the last few weeks. "Why were you there, mummy?" he asks - or, "Remember, we used to go to that place to see you." "I'm just honest with him," Kirsten says. "I try to explain it so that he understands. I just say: 'mummy did something she shouldn't have done and so she had to go there'." Prison charity Families Outside estimates that 27,000 children in Scotland experience the imprisonment of a parent every year. However, the SPS is only considering allowing children of female offenders to spend sleepover visits at HMP Inverclyde. Tom Fox, head of corporate affairs at the SPS, said: "If a woman is in custody the impact on the family can be much more catastrophic. "The overwhelming majority of female prisoners have some sort of family. You just need to take a walk round a wing - instead of seeing pin-ups of pop stars or women in bikinis, it's photographs of children." 'Innocent victims' Children whose mothers are imprisoned tend to face greater challenges, because the majority of children are cared for primarily by their mothers. "It's devastating losing any parent into the criminal justice system," says Sarah Roberts, child and family support manager at Families Outside. "But if the mother's the primary care-giver then that is utterly devastating - because they're not just losing their mum but also their home, their care-giver, their family." According to Families Outside, when a father goes to prison in Scotland, 95% of children remain living with their mother. But when a mother is incarcerated, only 17% stay with their father. The rest are sent to live with family or put into social care. The psychological effects of losing a parent to prison are not unlike bereavement: loss, fear, anger, shock and sadness. But the added stigma and shame of having a parent in jail compounds these emotions. Media representation can be particularly harmful. Sarah Roberts describes how one woman, convicted of drugs smuggling, was described by the press as "an evil monster". Her children read the article. "It was incredibly damaging for them," she says. Tam Baillie, Scotland's commissioner for children and young people, agrees. "Children of offenders suffer ongoing trauma, loss and stress throughout arrest, trial, imprisonment and release," he says. "Publicly, they may be exposed to shame and bullying, while privately they cannot be comforted by the strength and love of the absent parent." He recommends child impact assessment reports at the point of sentencing - so that children's wellbeing is taken into account before a mother's sentence is decided. As it stands, children with a parent in prison are three-times more likely to have serious mental health issues than those in the general population. Sarah Roberts says children need to be listened to and supported. "I think when a mother goes to prison, children are made to feel as if they've done something wrong or are from a 'bad family' - it's really important they hear the message that it's not their fault. "The children have done nothing wrong. These are innocent victims every time." Planning for the future The situation for these children may seem bleak - but it's improving. Some Scottish prisons already have mother and baby units, where young children can spend time with their mothers if she is the sole care-giver - and once the new Inverclyde prison and Edinburgh unit are built, all prisons will have the facilities. Cornton Vale also has independent living areas outside the security perimeter of the jail. They house mothers with very young children who are nearing the end of their sentence. There are positive parenting classes and "bonding visits" in many prisons - so children can spend time with their parents outside of normal visiting sessions. Every prison has a family contact development officer, responsible for helping inmates maintain healthy family relationships. Sarah Roberts says the facilities for younger children have improved massively - even in men's prisons. HMP Low Moss has homework clubs, where children visiting their fathers can engage with them in normal family activities. At HMP Addiewell, there are "Tune In" sessions, where dads can sing nursery songs in family groups. What's lacking is more flexible arrangements for older children. "Visiting every weekend doesn't work with teenagers because they want to have their life but they desperately miss their mum," says Sarah Roberts. "So options like an overnight visit or a private family visit could be really helpful." That's where the Inverclyde proposal comes in - it gives the opportunity for older children to stay with their mother on weekends or during school holidays. "What we're trying to do is something that's beneficial to those in our care, but that's also beneficial to children," says Tom Fox. "If that positive relationship with the mother is maintained, future generations are less likely to find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system." Following her own experience, Kirsten Johnston is unsure of the benefits of sleepover visits. "What would happen if a child got upset halfway through and wanted to go home?" she wonders. But she agrees that longer, more family-friendly visits are the best way to keep families strong in prison. A one-size-fits-all system is never going to be adequate when dealing with the myriad of issues faced by female offenders and their families. The key, according to Sarah Roberts, is having a range of options - "so that young children can interact and older children can have the time they need in the way they need it". She adds: "Then, the impact for young people, children and mums is huge. It's saying to mum: 'You're still a parent'. And what do we want when people come out of prison? We want them to be parents."

स्कॉटिश जेल सेवा (एस. पी. एस.) ने अभी-अभी महिला कैदियों के बच्चों को नई एच. एम. पी. इनवर्क्लाइड सुविधा में "स्लीपओवर" यात्रा की अनुमति देने के लिए एक कदम की घोषणा की है। लेकिन उन युवाओं के लिए जीवन वास्तव में कैसा है जो जेल की सलाखों से अपनी माताओं से अलग हो जाते हैं?


What has Tanzania's Magufuli done during his year in office?

Summary: On John Magufuli's first day as Tanzania's president, a year ago tomorrow, he created a storm on social media by making an unannounced visit to the finance ministry, catching the workers off-guard. But what else has he achieved in his first year? The BBC's Dickens Olewe looks at his highs and lows.

What would Magufuli do? During that visit to the finance ministry, he reportedly asked after those who were not at their desks - a subtle message that he would not tolerate the legendary absenteeism of government workers. He said he was keen to ensure that the government would have enough money to fund its election promises. Surprise visits of government offices have become a trademark, meant to project his looming presence and to instil discipline and accountability. But perhaps his most effective stunt yet was leading the country in cleaning the streets on independence day, 9 December. He had already announced the cancellation of the planned lavish celebrations, with the allocated funds going to cover expenses in public hospitals. This act boosted his reputation among East Africans, inspiring a hashtag on Twitter; #WhatWouldMagufuliDo which was widely used in neighbouring countries. Although the hashtag was mostly used to mock Mr Magufuli's austere policies, it unwittingly defined his leadership style, which many have come to admire. Approval rating Despite winning early admirers, many doubted that he would maintain his hands-on strategy, but so far he seems to have dumbfounded his critics. He continues to attract admiration for following through his campaign promises to change "business as usual" in Tanzania. A recent poll says he has a 96% approval rating. "There is no doubt that President Magufuli is very popular among many ordinary Tanzanians," political analyst Kitila Mumbo told the BBC. "But many are also keen to see him provide civic space for freedom of expression and political gatherings and rallies which his government banned a couple of months ago." Magufuli effect Weeks after he assumed office, government officials seem to be following his cue. A top local official, probably wanting to impress, ordered the police to lock up workers who had arrived late for a meeting. The move was criticised by human rights groups who said that employment laws should be followed. The BBC's Sammy Awami in Dar es Salaam says that the attitude of government workers has changed since Mr Magufuli came to office: "They are now more willing to do their jobs and are afraid of engaging in corruption. People are experiencing better services in hospitals and schools," he says. The president's main promise of extending free education to secondary school, which came into effect in January, has also been well received, our correspondent adds. Ghost slayer In May, an audit ordered by Mr Magufuli revealed that there were some 10,000 "ghost workers" on the public sector payroll. Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister's office. Such revelations continue to magnify the challenges the country faces and his actions endear him to Tanzanians. Example to Kenya A recent example of his popularity came during a visit to neighbouring Kenya earlier this week, only his third foreign trip since he came to office. His visit coincided with news of an alleged corruption scandal that has rocked President Uhuru Kenyatta's government. Kenya's top cartoonist Gaddo depicted state officials, who had gone to receive Mr Magufuli at the airport, dashing off as he emerged from the plane holding a whip. His image as a corruption fighter has captivated Kenyans who suggested that Mr Kenyatta's government should get tips from him: However, it has not been all rosy for Mr Magufuli. Another African dictator? Gaddo recently caricatured African leaders, perceived to be dictators, in several categories. He listed Mr Magufuli as a petty dictator, saying that his government's actions to shut down the media and intimidate opposition parties shows that he's "an aspiring dictator". At least 10 people have been charged for "insulting" Mr Magufuli on social media platforms, leading to criticism from human rights organisations. His popularity seems to be the antithesis of what US President Barack Obama famously called for as a solution to the continent's political problems during his inaugural visit to Africa in 2009: "Strong institutions instead of strongmen". Mr Mumbo told the BBC that despite Mr Magufuli's popularity, many Tanzanians also want to see an "open-democratic space". In June, opposition parties criticised his government for banning live broadcasts of parliament sessions and street protests. Attack on freedom of expression The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US aid agency, cancelled nearly $500m (£405m) of funding in March partly on concerns over the enforcement of a cyber crimes law which they say limits freedom of expression. MCC also expressed concern about the election in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar which it said was "neither inclusive nor representative". The October election for president of the semi-autonomous archipelago was cancelled half-way through the count. The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) said the annulment was because it had won, but the electoral commission said there had been widespread fraud. The information ministry has also banned two radio stations for allegations of "sedition" and a weekly newspaper for "defaming" Mr Magufuli. It seems these concerns have not shadowed what many consider as his attributes. African of the year? In fact, Mr Magufuli might just cap his year by winning the prestigious Forbes Africa person of the year award - he has been nominated for "boosting Tanzania's economy".

तंजानिया के राष्ट्रपति के रूप में जॉन मगुफुली के पहले दिन, एक साल पहले कल, उन्होंने वित्त मंत्रालय की एक अघोषित यात्रा करके सोशल मीडिया पर तूफान खड़ा कर दिया था, जिसमें श्रमिकों को सावधान नहीं किया गया था। लेकिन उन्होंने अपने पहले वर्ष में और क्या हासिल किया है? बीबीसी के डिकेंस ओलेव उनके उतार-चढ़ाव को देखते हैं।


The 19th Century plug that's still being used

Summary: After rumours that Apple was going to get rid of the headphone jack in its imminent iPhone 7, more than 200,000 people have signed a petition asking them to reconsider. This humble plug is a rare example of technology that has stood the test of time, writes Chris Stokel-Walker.

For what remains an unconfirmed rumour, a lot of people are upset about the new iPhone. It's alleged that Apple will be scrapping the 3.5mm socket, instead leaving headphones to be plugged into the "Lightning" port - the company's own design of socket. Cynics have pointed out that while this might enable iPhones to be slightly thinner, it will render many headphones useless and force manufacturers to pay Apple a fee to use their Lightning plugs on products. The petition says Apple's purported move would "singlehandedly create mountains of electronic waste". It will also be a blow for a piece of technology that has been remarkably resilient. The 3.5mm headphone jack is essentially a 19th Century bit of kit - it is a miniaturised version of the classic quarter-inch jack (6.35mm), which is said to go back as far as 1878. Both sizes of plug have a nubbin of metal that nips in before flaring out just before the tip. "It needed to be something that could be inserted and removed very easily, but still make a secure connection," says Charlie Slee, a member of the Audio Engineering Society. Initially the quarter-inch jack was used by operators in old-fashioned telephone switchboards, plugging and unplugging connections. "The standard has always been quarter-inch jacks," says Dr Simon Hall, head of music technology at Birmingham City University. "Professional headphones in studios, guitar leads - they all run off quarter-inch jacks." Of course, as miniaturisation changed audio equipment, so the plug had to have a smaller alternative. The 3.5mm version quickly became popular, spread by the use of personal headsets on transistor radios in the middle of the 20th Century. The jack is known as a tip, ring, sleeve - or TRS - connection. The "tip" transfers audio into the left-hand earplug of a stereo headphone set, and the "ring" the right. The "sleeve" is the ground or "shield". This set-up is stereo - the original mono plugs had only tip and sleeve. Certain modern plugs have a second ring to allow control of a headset microphone or volume. "Technically speaking, it's not a bad design," Slee says of the utilitarian, adaptable design. "If the parts are made cheaply they can break and lose contact, but ultimately it does the job it was designed to do." And yet, if the rumours - which Apple is not commenting on - are true, it bodes ill for the 3.5mm jack. Apple has a track record of being early to abolish things which then start to disappear from rival products too. It killed the 3.5 inch floppy disk early. It also was among the first to remove optical drives. But those signing the petition on the Sum of Us site and social media users have suggested that Apple's motive is greed. The potential grief in a switch to Apple's proprietary Lightning connector is obvious. "It feels painful because you've got hundreds of millions of devices out there that are using the old standard," says Horace Dediu, a technology analyst with in-depth knowledge of Apple. If you're using £1,000 headphones with your iPhone at the moment, you're going to be slightly cross. And Charlie Slee thinks consumers are also concerned about ceding control to Apple. "People are mainly upset because they like to think they're in control of their technology," he says. But this sense of the consumer in control is misplaced, Slee says. "Actually, the contrary is true: The big technology companies have always been in control of how you listen to music and watch videos." The headphones in history The "primitive headphones" (as above) used for listening to early phonographs were simple acoustic tubes. Headphones are really just ordinary telephone receivers adapted to fit a headset, says John Liffen, Curator of Communications at the Science Museum. The headset usually had just one receiver for a single ear. The first headsets with a receiver for each ear were just called "telephones". The name was supplanted by "headphones" by the beginning of the 1920s when they were being widely used to listen to broadcasting via crystal sets. For many years headphone receivers were the simple "Bell" type with permanent magnet, coil and diaphragm. Today's high-end 'phones are considerably more sophisticated, similar to miniature loudspeakers. Source: John Liffen, The Science Museum "I think it's a storm in a teacup," adds Simon Hall. His reasoning? Having a standardised headphone jack on mobile phones and MP3 players is only a relatively recent luxury. "If you look at the previous generation of phones, things like Nokia phones, you had to have an adapter," he reasons. "If you want to connect headphones to professional equipment, you also need a professional adapter." As recently as 2010, Samsung phones came equipped with a proprietary headphone port not dissimilar to Apple's rumoured replacement for the 3.5mm socket, the "Lightning" port. This isn't the first time Apple has aroused ire. Way back in 2007, with the first iPhone, it received complaints that the headphone jack was sunk into the casing. One technology wag called it "a great business plan - break an important device function, and sell the solution for fun and profit." The problem was fixed when Apple released its second iPhone model in 2008. But Apple is known for evolving technology: "They got rid of DVDs, they got rid of the floppy disk drive; they got rid of parallel ports, they're eventually getting rid of USB. This is how they move," says Dediu, the Apple-watcher. He reckons the switch to Apple's proprietary connection augurs a planned move to headphones that are akin to the Apple Watch. Owners of "old" headphones may find themselves having to buy adapters. Dediu forecasts a rapid change. "What Apple does is catalyse transitions," he says. "It would have happened anyway, but if it wasn't for Apple it'd have taken 10-15 years, but now it'll happen in 5-7 years." That the time may have come for the 3.5mm jack to be replaced shouldn't come as such a shock, believes Dediu. "Studying Moore's Law and the history of technology, it's clear we're not going to stick around with something analogue for long," he says. "It's almost puzzling that it's taken so long." Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

अफवाहों के बाद कि एप्पल अपने आसन्न आईफोन 7 में हेडफोन जैक से छुटकारा पाने जा रहा था, 200,000 से अधिक लोगों ने एक याचिका पर हस्ताक्षर किए हैं जिसमें उनसे पुनर्विचार करने के लिए कहा गया है। यह विनम्र प्लग तकनीक का एक दुर्लभ उदाहरण है जो समय की कसौटी पर खरा उतरा है, क्रिस स्टोकेल-वॉकर लिखते हैं।


Sri Lanka attacks: What led to carnage?

Summary: Sri Lanka is in a state of shock and confusion, trying to understand how a little-known Islamist group may have unleashed the wave of co-ordinated suicide bombings that resulted in the Easter Sunday carnage - the worst since the end of the civil war a decade ago.

By Anbarasan EthirajanBBC News, Colombo The South Asian island nation has experience of such attacks - suicide bombers were used by Tamil Tiger rebels during the civil war. But the ruthlessness of the new atrocities has stunned the nation anew. Eventually the government spokesman, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, came out and blamed National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ), a home-grown Islamist group, for the bombings. "There was an international network without which these attacks could not have succeeded," he told reporters on Monday. That might go some way to explaining how a group that has been blamed for promoting hate speech may now have been able to scale up its capacity so monumentally. On Tuesday, however, the Islamic State (IS) group said its militants had carried out the attacks. It published a video of eight men the group claimed were behind the attacks. The IS claim should be treated cautiously. It is not clear whether these men were trained by the group or simply inspired by IS ideology. Political deadlock and confusion The manner in which NTJ was identified was circuitous. The prime minister said there had been warnings made to officials that hadn't been shared with the cabinet. He said only the president would get such briefings, even though it is not clear if he personally did in this instance. This is not an insignificant statement from a prime minister who was at loggerheads with the president for much of the past year. Many are drawing a conclusion about how political discord can have serious consequences - as well as undermining trust in the messages being put out. If the suicide bombers were local Sri Lankan Muslims, as stated by the government, then it is a colossal failure by the intelligence agencies. Information is also now emerging in the US media that the Sri Lankan government may also have had warnings from US and Indian intelligence about a possible threat. "Our understanding is that [the warning] was correctly circulated among security and police," Shiral Lakthilaka, a senior adviser to President Maithripala Sirisena, said. The Sri Lankan president, who oversees security forces, has now set up a committee to find out what went wrong. Sri Lankan intelligence was credited with foiling several suicide attacks by the Tamil Tiger rebels at the height of the civil war and for penetrating a well-knit and ruthless Tamil Tiger organisation. Sri Lanka's Muslim strife While this is clearly a security and political failure, there are also questions about the nature of communal strife in Sri Lanka's more recent history. During the civil war, Muslims were also targeted by Tamil Tiger rebels and suffered at their hands. But Muslim community leaders say successive Sri Lankan governments have failed to restore confidence among young Muslims following more recent attacks by some members of the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community. One of the worst incidents was in the town of Digana in central Sri Lanka where one person died when a Sinhalese mob attacked Muslim shops and mosques in March last year. "After Digana quite a few Muslims lost faith in the government to provide them security. Some of them got the idea that they can defend themselves," says Hilmy Ahamed, vice-president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council. The attacks and what the youths perceived as the lack of action by the government may have led some of them towards groups like NTJ. Some of the radicals were blamed for damaging Buddhist statues in recent years and their leader was arrested last year for offending religious sentiments. He later apologised for offending the sentiments of the Buddhist Sinhalese. Radical preacher Now it is widely believed a new group emerged a few years ago under the leadership of Zaharan Hashim, a radical Muslim preacher from eastern Sri Lanka. Mr Hashim posted several videos on social media purportedly promoting hatred against non-Muslims. Most of his videos are in the Tamil language. His teachings are said to have attracted several Muslim youths. "This man was preaching hate with lots of YouTube videos on social media posts. Some of us reported him to the national intelligence services. Once about three years ago and once in January this year," says Mr Ahamed. He added that security services did not take any action against Mr Hashim. Reports say the preacher was one of the suicide bombers though it's yet to be confirmed. Muslim community leaders say a few youths went to Syria to join IS, and some of them were killed in fighting there. It's important not to overstate this, though, and a former senior military officer Maj Gen (Retired) GA Chandrasiri says "we have very cordial relationship with the Muslims. Most Muslims are not with these people. They are peace loving people". There are no reports so far of a high number of jihadists returning to Sri Lanka. But even if a select few jihadists are angry with the majority, why were Christians targeted? In the complex cocktail of Sri Lanka's religious and ethnic tensions, Christians are almost unique for not perpetrating any kind of violence on behalf of their community. After all, it is a religion that crosses ethnic lines. Global dimension? I covered the Sri Lankan civil war for years and reported on many Tamil Tiger suicide attacks. It took years for the group to be able to learn to detonate such devices. So it is intriguing that a lesser-known Islamist group, with a few home-grown radicals, could carry out six - some say even seven - suicide attacks with such pinpoint precision and devastation. None of them failed. Even though connections with global jihadist groups are unclear, the choice of major luxury hotels and Christians as a target - in addition to the sophistication of the operation - makes it plausible that local radicalism has come under the influence of global jihadist networks. It would be a tried and tested pattern in global attacks. During the Sri Lankan civil war foreign tourists were spared and attacks on outsiders were rare. In the latest bombings, many foreigners were killed and this has raised the spectre of links with al-Qaeda or IS. "For this type of operation you need lots of assistance from outside. You need finances, training and technique for this kind of work. You can't do these things alone. May be there was some help from outside," Gen Chandrasiri said. Violence is not new to Sri Lanka. It went through turbulent times during a left-wing insurrection in the 1970s followed by a nearly three-decade bloody war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. Tens of thousands of people were killed. But the ruthlessness and sophistication of the latest atrocities indicate that it will be challenge for the Sri Lankan security forces to deal with those behind the bombings. The last thing the Sri Lankan public wants is more violence and recrimination.

श्रीलंका सदमे और भ्रम की स्थिति में है, यह समझने की कोशिश कर रहा है कि कैसे एक अल्पज्ञात इस्लामी समूह ने समन्वित आत्मघाती बम विस्फोटों की लहर को उजागर किया हो सकता है जिसके परिणामस्वरूप ईस्टर रविवार का नरसंहार हुआ-एक दशक पहले गृहयुद्ध की समाप्ति के बाद से सबसे खराब।


Swindon town regeneration scheme gets go ahead

Summary: Plans to regenerate Swindon town centre have moved a step closer after the council granted outline permission for the first phase of a £330m development.

The Union Square scheme will include residential apartments, a multi-storey car park, a bus station, medical centre, shops and restaurants. The project is to be situated between Swindon railway station and The Parade. Chris Hitchings of regeneration company Forward Swindon said the planning permission was "a very important step". A planning application for the first phase of development on the former police station site off Fleming Way will now be submitted to Swindon Borough Council. Developers Muse want to begin building work in April 2012.

परिषद द्वारा 330 मिलियन पाउंड के विकास के पहले चरण के लिए रूपरेखा की अनुमति दिए जाने के बाद स्विंडन शहर के केंद्र को पुनर्जीवित करने की योजना एक कदम और आगे बढ़ गई है।


Coronavirus: how to choose your lockdown playlist

Summary: Happy, sad or poignant? Pop or classical?

By Max EvansBBC News Is there a perfect combination of music to ease the stress, fear and boredom bearing down on many people during the coronavirus lockdown? "I don't think there's a recipe, but I think there are some broad things we can look at to help," said Elizabeth Coombes, a music therapist who has previously created her own playlist to ease anxiety. So, what should go on your lockdown playlist? The potential mental health implications of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown have been well-documented, with some warning of damaging long-term effects. But Ms Coombes believes music can "really help" by providing mental "refreshment". So what are the the sounds to try? "One of the most important things [to think about] is 'what do I need right now in terms of my own well-being?' "We instinctively use music to change our emotions and probably just don't think about it overtly," the University of South Wales senior lecturer said. "So, we might use energetic music if we want to do something energetic, like the housework or a work-out. "I think maybe now is the time to actually think about it more consciously." Ms Coombes said some parents of premature babies had told her during one study that Ed Sheeran's timbre helped them to relax - but added that picking songs and artists was largely subjective. For example, when she posted Adele's Someone like You on a list of potentially relaxing songs many people agreed, but one replied to say "I'd rather fill my ears with molten lead than listen to it". "In practice, it can be really difficult to generalise about things like that. I think there is something about what you could call your own significant referential music - songs you have a special relationship with. "It's quite deep and complex." Elizabeth Coombes' lockdown playlist You'll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers topped a recent chart of classic songs, enjoying renewed popularity amid the coronavirus crisis. And Emma Lewis, 24, would certainly want classic hits on her playlist, including September by Earth, Wind & Fire and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours by Stevie Wonder. Ms Lewis, who works in admissions at Cardiff University, has been swapping playlists with her family and friends, and compiling a collaborative playlist remotely with colleagues as a "nice way to be connected". "I think it's definitely a way we that we can feel together when we're not," she said. "It's a way we can universally share something. I think everyone can understand that." She has also been taking part in the popular 30-day song challenge on Instagram, which involves people sharing their favourite songs in response to specific questions. And music has brought her closer to some people in ways she could not have imagined before lockdown. "I live in an apartment block here and our neighbours never really spoke, but on Saturday night all of us went out on the balconies and about 15 balconies were singing Delilah by Tom Jones. "It was a really nice moment we would never have if this wasn't currently happening." Should you make more than one playlist during lockdown? BBC Radio 1 presenter Huw Stephens said music had always been an art form which can "soothe and save us". He said: "This current lockdown has been interesting, because statistics show that people have turned to radio stations more than they have the streaming sites. "When it comes to creating playlists, I'm always a fan of tuning in to a DJ you trust." Stephens advised that when making a playlist for yourself at the moment "be kind to yourself". "You can make as many playlists as you like, with each one serving a different purpose. Some nostalgia is always a good thing; the songs that make you feel good no matter how famous or not they are." And he said going on a "musical journey online" was always fun, "starting with a video for a song you love and seeing where it takes you next".

खुश, दुखी या मर्मस्पर्शी? पॉप या शास्त्रीय?