Fighting the curse of the blessers

Summary: You may have heard of the hashtag #blessed, it's often seen on Instagram next to beautiful pictures of family, travel and shopping; used to show how lucky people think their lives are. But the phrase has recently taken on a very different meaning in South Africa.

By BBC TrendingWhat's popular and why After some women posted photos of gifts from partners claiming they were "blessed" people started asking who was "blessing" them. Soon "blesser" became a term for someone who gives money and gifts as part of a relationship - the sort of person traditionally referred to as a sugar daddy. Blesser has been so widely used on social media over the last month that a new joke has taken off "when a girl sneezes these days you can't even say 'bless you' in case she gets the wrong idea." However, as the phrase has taken off, it has also kick-started a brand new debate about this age old practice. The hashtag #antiblessers trended this week on South African twitter as thousands of people began to criticise blessers and blessees. Some users posted comments like "real men don't buy girls" while a graduate called Nkamogeleng posted a photo of her degree ceremony saying "When young women are busy searching for blessers we out here (graduating)". While a blesser can technically be male or female and of any age, many of those using #antiblessers were most concerned about older men lavishing gifts on young girls. One South African vlogger posted a YouTube video titled "Blessers are ruining our world" in which she expressed concerns about hearing 13-year-old girls discussing blessers on their way home from school. This issue is so serious that when the South African health minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced a major new anti-HIV campaign last week, he specifically included some economic measures aimed at helping girls between 15 and 24, which he hopes will help tackle the effects of blessers. Mr Motsoaledi told BBC Trending that as young women in that age-group have far higher rates of HIV infection than their young male counterparts it indicates intergenerational sex must form one part of the problem. Mr Motsoaledi also suggested that young women from poorer backgrounds were more at risk of being targeted and exploited by blessers, particularly those who had lost parents as a result of HIV and AIDS. "Apart from the issue of who takes care of you… it's just the issue of who mentors you, who speaks to you every day?" he said. While many are trying to halt the practise of blessing, under the right circumstances it does have supporters. Blesserfinder is a group that helps to arrange meetings between those happy to offer money with those looking to be blessed. Their spokesperson Ditshego says he's seen some of those using #antiblessers also using his site to find a partner. He thinks money will always be a factor in relationships, and until the government try and tackle the levels of poverty and inequality in the country there will always be a demand for his service. Blog by Kate Lamble Next story: Is this picture disgusting or beautiful? This picture of father holding his sick son has fiercely divided opinion on social media. READ MORE You can follow BBC Trending on Twitter @BBCtrending, and find us on Facebook. All our stories are at bbc.com/trending.

आपने हैशटैग #blessed के बारे में सुना होगा, यह अक्सर इंस्टाग्राम पर परिवार, यात्रा और खरीदारी की सुंदर तस्वीरों के बगल में देखा जाता है; यह दिखाने के लिए उपयोग किया जाता है कि लोग अपने जीवन को कितना भाग्यशाली समझते हैं। लेकिन इस वाक्यांश ने हाल ही में दक्षिण अफ्रीका में एक बहुत ही अलग अर्थ लिया है।


North Korean missiles: Can the US defend itself?

Summary: Whatever the precise range and capability of North Korea's latest ballistic missile test, there is no doubt that it is making steady progress towards its goal of having a nuclear-capable missile, able to threaten the continental US.

Jonathan MarcusDiplomatic correspondent@Diplo1on Twitter That term "nuclear capable" is important. Pyongyang must both miniaturise a nuclear warhead to fit on the head of a missile and be able to protect it against all the buffeting and forces as it re-enters the earth's atmosphere. We do not know precisely where the North Koreans stand in this aspect of their programme. But it is possible that North Korea will achieve its goal during the Trump presidency. This then throws a spotlight on the US ability to defend against such an attack. Huge quantities of money have been invested in ballistic missile defence. There is a global network of satellite sensors and relays able to spot and track a missile launch. Interceptor missiles are already in place. But critics believe that the US system is far from reliable. The Trump administration is reviewing the whole programme. New generations of interceptor missiles are coming on stream. But in the foreseeable future, only a handful will be available to deal with the potential North Korean threat. We are a long way from the "Star Wars" dream of President Ronald Reagan, who hoped for the construction of a missile-proof shield over the US and its allies. In those days ballistic missile defences were seen by many as destabilising. That is why there was a Cold War treaty largely banning them. They would threaten the certainty of a retaliatory nuclear attack getting through, thus increasing the likelihood of a no-warning onslaught, in turn decreasing the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence. Missile defence viewed as part of the strategic equation between two nuclear-armed superpowers is one thing. Some argued that even a less-than-effective defensive system would alter an opponent's calculations. But very quickly the idea of a missile-proof screen - like a comic book Captain America's shield protecting the continental US - was seen as science fiction if not fantasy. It would be too expensive and the technology simply did not exist. Scroll forward a few decades and the threat that missile defence is now ranged against is very different. It is not - despite Russian protests - aimed at weakening Russia's nuclear forces. It is designed to protect against a very specific threat - from Iran or North Korea's developing missile arsenals. Against this kind of threat, the requirement is not simply to alter an adversary's strategic calculations, but to stop each and every missile getting through. Technology has advanced dramatically with some of the most significant strides being made by Israel. Its interceptor systems and their associated radars - funded in large part by the US - have shown themselves spectacularly successful, even though against a full-scale onslaught even Israel's system would be sorely tested. In contrast the US's own defensive system, according to many critics, is not yet up to the job. Testing has provided mixed results. And there are frequent criticisms that even the most elaborate tests are not conducted in ways which fully resemble real-world conditions. Even US commanders accept that their defences are not fully missile-proof and that they might quickly be overwhelmed if a country possessed a sizeable arsenal of missiles. Whatever President Trump decides to do about North Korea and the growing reach of its missiles, time is running out. One option he may pursue is to step up the US's own defences, just as he has deployed interceptor missiles in South Korea to try to enhance its defences against missile attack.

उत्तर कोरिया के नवीनतम बैलिस्टिक मिसाइल परीक्षण की सटीक सीमा और क्षमता जो भी हो, इसमें कोई संदेह नहीं है कि यह महाद्वीपीय अमेरिका को खतरे में डालने में सक्षम परमाणु-सक्षम मिसाइल रखने के अपने लक्ष्य की दिशा में लगातार प्रगति कर रहा है।


Barrister in Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner bid

Summary: A barrister is likely to be put forward by Cumbria's Liberal Democrats as their candidate for the role of Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner.

South Lakeland Councillor Pru Jupe, 55, will be confirmed as the candidate if no other names are put forward. The first Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be elected in November in the 41 force areas in England and Wales. The commissioners will respond to the needs of the communities they cover. Nominations will open from 8 October and close on 19 October. Elections will take place on 15 November with the new PCCs expected to start in their roles on 22 November 2012. The commissioners will have the power to choose chief constables and will be expected to hold officers to account. Labour members have chosen Patrick Leonard, a director of a housing association in Carlisle as their candidate for the role. The Conservatives have not yet named a candidate.

कुम्ब्रिया के लिबरल डेमोक्रेट्स द्वारा कुम्ब्रिया के पुलिस और अपराध आयुक्त की भूमिका के लिए अपने उम्मीदवार के रूप में एक बैरिस्टर को आगे रखे जाने की संभावना है।


Birmingham Bullring stabbing: Man suffers serious injuries

Summary: A man has suffered serious stab injuries after being attacked near the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham.

Officers were called to Edgbaston Street in the city centre at about 23:00 BST on Saturday and the victim, in his 20s, was taken to hospital. Two men and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in police custody. CCTV footage is being reviewed, West Midlands Police said. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone

बर्मिंघम में बुलरिंग शॉपिंग सेंटर के पास हुए हमले में एक व्यक्ति को चाकू लगने से गंभीर चोटें आई हैं।


In pictures: Scotland marks 75th anniversary of VE Day

Summary: "To those who gave so much, we thank you."

At 15:00 on Friday, the UK was urged to toast all those who gave their all during World War Two, to mark the exact moment in 1945 when Winston Churchill broadcast his speech confirming the war in Europe was over. The whole day has been dedicated to remembering 8 May 1945 when people took to the streets to celebrate the end of six long years of war. The lockdown prevented the planned celebrations from going ahead but the anniversary has not been forgotten. Here is how Scotland commemorated VE Day. At 21:00 the Queen will deliver a pre-recorded address, broadcast on BBC One at the exact moment her father, King George VI, gave a radio address 75 years ago.

"जिन लोगों ने इतना कुछ दिया, हम आपको धन्यवाद देते हैं।"


Covid: God may punish Nepal for cancelling rites, religious leaders warn

Summary: A number of religious leaders in Nepal have strongly criticised the government for scaling down festivals and centuries-old rituals because of coronavirus fears. The leaders warned that "divine anger" could lead the country into catastrophe.

By Phanindra DahalBBC Nepali, Kathmandu Temples are closed and mass gatherings are prohibited following a lockdown since March. Officials say it is unlikely restrictions will be lifted ahead of the major festivals of Dashain and Tihar, which fall during the months of October and November respectively. Nepal, with its unique juxtaposition of Hindu and Buddhist culture and lifestyle, has seen few festivities during the pandemic. In the capital Kathmandu, rituals including chariot processions involving large crowds to honour different deities, were either cancelled or reduced to small ceremonies. Last month, clashes broke out in southern Kathmandu after angry protesters defied the government's lockdown orders to attend Rato Macchindranath Jatra, a chariot procession in honour of the god of farming. The ritual was conducted later - on a much smaller scale and with a police presence. Kapil Bajracharya, the main priest leading the Rato Machhindranath Jatra (a chariot procession in honour of the god of farming), says it is very irresponsible of the government to curb religious activities. "My family has been conducting the ritual for centuries. I feel very sad that in my tenure I was not allowed to carry out the chariot procession. As far as I know, it has never been cancelled before." The 72-year-old added: "I believe that Nepal is a sacred home for gods. If the gods are angry, we will land into more severe problems than coronavirus. I have a serious objection against the Nepali government's control of religions, which bounds on the sinful as far as I am concerned." Baburaja Jyapu, a 38-year-old businessman in Patan, also believes that the Nepali government's decision is hurting people's religious sentiments: "I have a strong belief in religion and I think not getting engaged in religious activities can invite a bad omen. "In my view elderly people are more eager to visit religious places. If the government continues restrictions, people will have mental health issues." Many community and religious leaders, however, say that this year should be considered an exception and any religious and festive activities should take place only after safety has been assured. Follow the science Gautam Shakya, a caretaker for Kathmandu's living goddess Kumari, who lives in a special temple near the traditional Palace Square - says they are abiding by safety protocols and it is unlikely that there will be a large-scale event this year. "We are yet to discuss with the government regarding the goddess's presence at Taleju temple during the eighth day of the Dashain festival. I think there will be no crowds this time like in the past. But we cannot take risks by taking her there." "Some people fear that bad things may happen if we don't worship properly," he adds. "But in my view, we should be realistic. We can organise festivals and rituals and preserve our culture for the future generation only if we survive." Kumari, believed to be the reincarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga, is worshipped both by Hindus and Buddhists. "Since the lockdown, we have not let anyone visit her. We are doing regular prayers and conducting the worship inside her residence by ourselves," Gautam said. He said the living goddess was also using masks and sanitisers inside her residence, popularly known as Kumari Ghar. Nepali cultural icon Satya Mohan Joshi says people should follow science rather than just talk about festivals or rituals. The 101-year-old cultural expert said: "In the past, pandemics were viewed as a curse from the gods. "People in Kathmandu would gather in alleys to offer food and conduct prayers to seek forgiveness. That's an outdated idea now. "In the name of conducting festivals and organising feasts, we cannot take risks that may cause the spread of coronavirus in Kathmandu. "That would shatter our economy and health service. We should keep ourselves safe by following the guidance issued globally by the medical community." Home ministry spokesman Chakra Bahadur Budha defended the government's decision to restrict group worshipping, fairs and festivals. "We have asked people to maintain social distance and self-discipline," added the Nepali official. Hari Shankar Prajapati, a shopkeeper in Kathmandu, agrees. "Any crowd could trigger a massive infection," he says. "For me health comes first. We cannot conduct our festivals or religious events if our health is not good." But Padma Shrestha is furious. "The government has created terror and people are angry," he says. "Prohibiting centuries-old worshipping or rituals could make people lose their faith both towards religion and the government," he warns. Occupying the middle ground, Bikash Karmacharya, a schoolteacher on the outskirts of Kathmandu, wants festivals to be held "by following safety and social distancing measures". "Our failure to offer due respect to gods and goddesses may backfire. We should agree that god is our source of strength." As of 30 September, there have been nearly 78,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 500 deaths due to coronavirus in Nepal. Infections are on the rise in Kathmandu and there are fears that the disease could spread further as people travel home during the festivals.

नेपाल में कई धार्मिक नेताओं ने कोरोनावायरस के डर से त्योहारों और सदियों पुराने अनुष्ठानों को कम करने के लिए सरकार की कड़ी आलोचना की है। नेताओं ने चेतावनी दी कि "दिव्य क्रोध" देश को तबाही की ओर ले जा सकता है।


Herefordshire Council jobs to go as budget set

Summary: Up to 250 jobs are set to go at Herefordshire Council.

The council announced the news as it set a new budget designed to save £10.3m in the coming financial year and £5.8m the following year. A spokesman said council tax would be frozen and management jobs cut but most frontline services would be safeguarded. Council leader Roger Phillips said the council had to absorb an "unprecedented level" of cuts. The 250 jobs will go over the next two years. More than 30 of these are management posts. Free travel Areas affected by the cuts include concessionary bus fares although free travel for bus pass holders will remain, except for during weekday morning commuter periods. Rural bus services may be affected with consultations being held over the spring and summer. The county's mobile library service is also under review. Councillor Phillips said the Conservative-run council's strategy was to cut the cost of services, rather than the services. "We have an unprecedented level of government cuts that we have to absorb but we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact on those front line services that are valued across the county," he said.

हेयरफोर्डशायर काउंसिल में 250 नौकरियां जाने वाली हैं।


'Op Silent Viper': How an Indian rape suspect was caught after 22 years

Summary: Police in the eastern Indian state of Orissa (also called Odisha) have arrested a man wanted in a notorious 1999 gang rape. The accused hid in plain sight for more than two decades - until a few days ago when his luck ran out.

By Geeta PandeyBBC News, Delhi When police approached Bibekananda Biswal's home last week in Pune district in the western state of Maharashtra, they say he tried to run away. "He saw the team coming and tried to escape. When he was caught, he told them, 'Take me away from here, I'll tell you everything'," senior Orissa police official Sudhanshu Sarangi told the BBC. Bibekananda Biswal was among three men accused in the brutal gang rape of a 29-year-old woman on the night of 9 January 1999. He denies the allegations against him. The other two men - Pradeep Kumar Sahu and Dhirendra Mohanty - were arrested, tried, convicted of rape and sentenced to life in jail. Sahu died in prison last year. The attack and the uproar The woman was travelling from the state capital, Bhubaneswar, to its twin city Cuttack, with a journalist friend and her driver when their car was intercepted by three men travelling on a scooter. The attackers forced them to drive at gunpoint to a secluded area where, according to court documents, she was assaulted multiple times over four hours. She and her friend were threatened and beaten up and their money and valuables were snatched. The crime made headlines and shook the state not only for the brutality of the attack but also because of the serious allegations the survivor made against some important people, including the then Orissa chief minister JB Patnaik. She accused him of trying to shield an official against whom she had lodged a complaint of attempted rape 18 months earlier. She alleged that the two had "a role" in her gang rape to "scare me into withdrawing my charges against the official". Mr Patnaik said her accusations were part of "a political conspiracy". A month later when the chief minister resigned, newspapers said the mishandling of the case was a major reason for his exit. A year later, the official was convicted of attempted rape and jailed for three years. India's federal police - the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - were called in to inquire into the gang rape case. But Bibekananda Biswal - described in the court order as "the main accused, the mastermind" who had "raped and ravished the victim mercilessly" - had disappeared without a trace. The case went cold, and the files lay gathering dust in a police station in Cuttack. 'Operation Silent Viper' In November, Mr Sarangi was visiting Choudwar jail in connection with another case where he had a "chance meeting" with Mohanty, one of the rapists. "While talking to him, I discovered that one of his co-accused had never been caught. The next day, when I got back to my office, I recalled the case files," Mr Sarangi told me. "When I read the details of the case, I felt he must be caught. It was a most heinous crime." Mr Sarangi, who's the police commissioner for the state capital, Bhubaneswar, and its twin city Cuttack, reopened the case and gave it a code name - "Operation Silent Viper". "A viper can blend in with its surroundings, not make any noises to avoid detection. So, I thought it was the perfect name for this operation since he hadn't been caught for 22 years," he says. A four-member police team was formed - they were the only people who knew about the case "to avoid any information leak". How did they find the suspect? "On 19 February, at 5:30pm, I was sure we had the right man. Just after 7pm, three of my officers were on a flight to Pune," Mr Sarangi says. "A joint team of Orissa and Maharashtra police carried out the raid the next day and he was arrested." It had taken police three months of information gathering and meticulous planning to find the man they were after. "Once we started investigating, we heard that he'd been in touch with his family, his wife and two sons. He was caught when the family tried to sell a piece of land that was in his name," Mr Sarangi told the BBC. Read more from the BBC's Geeta Pandey The small plot is near their home in the village of Naranpur in Cuttack district - an area becoming rapidly urbanised - and Mr Sarangi says the family was expecting to make some decent money from the sale. A breakthrough came when police took a closer look at the family's finances. They discovered that even though their suspect's wife or sons didn't have a job or a steady source of income, there was a regular flow of money into their account - from someone called Jalandhar Swain in Pune. Since Bibekananda Biswal's arrest, his wife Gitanjali had denied that the family had any contact with him in the past 22 years. "He had absconded after the gang rape and he did not contact us over the phone or secretly visit our home," she told The Times of India. She also denied receiving any money from him, but refused to answer questions about who Jalandhar Swain was or why he had been sending money to her family, police say. Where was he hiding? "India is a big country," says Mr Sarangi, and "Biswal had managed to find a job, he had a bank account, a PAN Card [a must for all tax-paying citizens] and an Aadhaar card [India's national identity card]." Since 2007, he had been living in the workers' barracks at the Aamby Valley - a posh township in Pune district that's home to some of India's super rich - more than 1,740km (about 1,080 miles) from his home village. "He was working there as a plumber and had taken on a whole new identity," says Mr Sarangi. "He was among the 14,000 employees of Aamby Valley, merging with the setting, hiding in plain sight, raising no suspicions - just like a viper." In his Aadhaar card, the suspect was named Jalandhar Swain and his father Purnananda Biswal had become P Swain - but his village was named correctly. A police investigation found no village resident by the name of Jalandhar Swain. Mr Sarangi says Bibekananda Biswal has denied the allegations of rape, but not his true identity. "He has also been identified by several sources, including his family members. We have now handed him over to the CBI for further investigation." On Monday, crews from local TV channels scrambled to get a glimpse as the suspect was brought to court in Bhubaneswar. Dressed in a blue t-shirt and grey trousers, he came barefoot, his face covered with a checked scarf as he was whisked away by policemen. The only description of Bibekananda Biswal's appearance comes from Mr Sarangi: "He's nearly 50, medium-built, bald, not very strong physically, he's pretty ordinary actually." What happens next? Mr Sarangi says there are a lot of questions that need answers - How did he escape? Where was he before 2007? How did he remain undetected for so long? How did he find a job? Did someone help him? The questions are significant, he says, especially because of the serious allegations the survivor of the attack had made against some influential people. Then, there are also a lot of challenges. To begin with, the survivor has to identify him, but it's been a long time since the crime was committed. Then a trial will begin, which may or may not lead to conviction. "We want to make sure that the case ends in conviction," Mr Sarangi says. "I want him to spend the rest of his life in jail, his body should leave the prison only after his death." The survivor thanked "Mr Sarangi and his team for delivering justice to me", saying she wants the death penalty for her attacker. She told a local TV channel she had not expected him to be arrested and was "relieved and happy" now that he was finally caught. You may also be interested in:

पूर्वी भारतीय राज्य उड़ीसा (जिसे ओडिशा भी कहा जाता है) में पुलिस ने 1999 के कुख्यात सामूहिक बलात्कार में वांछित एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया है। आरोपी दो दशकों से अधिक समय तक खुलेआम छिपता रहा-कुछ दिन पहले तक जब उसकी किस्मत खराब हो गई।


Swindon's Designer Outlet centre expansion begins

Summary: A £35m project to increase the size of Swindon's Designer Outlet centre is under way, a year after the expansion was given planning approval.

The work will add 50,000 sq ft (4,645 sq m) to make room for up to 30 new shops, creating an estimated 350 jobs. It will be carried out on the Long Shop building which was built in 1874 as part of the Grade II-listed Great Western Railway Works. According to site owner McArthurGlen, the work will be completed next autumn.

स्विंडन के डिजाइनर आउटलेट केंद्र के आकार को बढ़ाने के लिए 35 मिलियन पाउंड की परियोजना चल रही है, विस्तार की योजना को मंजूरी दिए जाने के एक साल बाद।


Unsafe abortions killing thousands in India

Summary: An inquest is being held in Ireland into the death last year of Savita Halappanavar, a pregnant Indian woman, after she was refused an abortion. The case has outraged India, but as the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports, an alarmingly large number of women die in India because of unsafe abortions.

Inside a small clinic in the town of Jalgaon in Maharashtra, a doctor and his medical staff comfort a young woman who has just come in. She is clearly in distress and traumatised. We are told the 22-year-old woman was raped in her village. Now she is five months pregnant and desperate to abort her unborn child, something that is completely legal under Indian law. But all the doctors she approached refused to help her and she has had to travel to this clinic 90km (56 miles) from her home "I am too frightened to speak about my situation openly in my village," she says. "My family will be shamed and no one will want to marry me." Dr Udaysingh Patil is the gynaecologist at the clinic. He tells me that he has treated many young women like her who cannot find someone qualified or even willing to perform an abortion because they think it will land them in trouble. Some of the women are forced to go to backstreet practitioners and by the time they come to him, they are often critically ill. "They're often bleeding heavily, in shock and sometimes develop infections, including septicemia. It can lead to their death." Social stigma Every two hours a woman dies in India because of an abortion that goes horribly wrong. The problem is particularly acute in rural areas where there is little access to quality healthcare. There is also a social stigma attached to abortion. "As a culture and society, we refuse to talk openly about abortion," says Vinoj Manning of Ipas, a global organisation that is working to prevent deaths due to unsafe abortions. "So a woman who wants to terminate her pregnancy often has no one to turn to." There is also a lack of knowledge about the law. "Many of our doctors do not even realise that abortion is legal in India," says Subhangi Bhosle, a trainer with Ipas. The problem is compounded by the fact that pre-natal sex determination tests are banned in India, to curb the practice of female foeticide. So doctors in small towns or rural areas often believe, mistakenly, that they will face action if they perform abortions. Inside an operating theatre at a government hospital in Nashik, Dr Vasant Jamdhade talks through a particularly complicated procedure with his young trainees. The woman he is treating underwent an unsafe abortion elsewhere and has now developed medical complications. Nurses try and comfort her as the doctor repairs the damage, with the trainees watching intently. Once they are qualified, his trainees will be sent to primary health care centres in villages, where they can carry out simple but safe abortions. But there are some who believe the biggest barrier to improving safe abortion practices is prejudice. "We need to change mindsets," says Dr Bhosle. "It's such a social taboo that even in our families we don't tell them that we are working to help women have safe abortions." Back at Dr Patil's clinic in Jalgaon, the 22-year-old woman gets her pregnancy terminated successfully and is recuperating after her ordeal. She got here in time and survived - she will even be able to have children again. But many others will not be as lucky.

आयरलैंड में पिछले साल एक गर्भवती भारतीय महिला सविता हलप्पनवर की मौत की जांच की जा रही है, जब उसे गर्भपात से इनकार कर दिया गया था। इस मामले ने भारत को नाराज कर दिया है, लेकिन जैसा कि बीबीसी के संजय मजूमदार ने बताया है, भारत में असुरक्षित गर्भपात के कारण बड़ी संख्या में महिलाओं की मौत हो जाती है।


Felix Tshisekedi steps out of his father's shadow to lead DR Congo

Summary: Felix Tshisekedi Tshilombo has been sworn in as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo after winning the disputed 30 December poll. Louise Dewast says until now he was better known for who he was related to.

A 55-year-old father of five, Mr Tshisekedi, was for a long time known for being the son of the late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, but he insisted that he was not trying to rival his father. Felix Tshisekedi's father founded the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (known by its French initials UDPS) in 1982, and was a feared rival of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who died months after being ousted in 1997, and later of Presidents Laurent and Joseph Kabila. Under his leadership, the UDPS became the country's largest opposition party, but he never succeeded in winning office. His legal challenge to the official results of the 2011 presidential election, which showed he won 32% of the vote to Joseph Kabila's 49%, failed. The veteran opposition leader died in 2017 leaving a big question over who would succeed him. 'No free pass' His former chief of staff Albert Moleka told the BBC that his son was not necessarily the obvious choice: "Etienne Tshisekedi was very vocal about his scepticism towards his son's abilities. He was very demanding of his son. "He was someone who fought for the people and so he wasn't going to give his son a free pass." Mr Moleka said it was the presidential hopeful's mother, Marthe Kasalu, who pushed for the son to become the leader. In March last year, he was voted in as the party's new head and became its de facto candidate for the presidential elections. But Mr Tshisekedi did not simply cash in on his name. He has been immersed in politics from a very young age, and had to work his way through the party. He also had to suffer the consequences of his father's political activism. When the UDPS was created, the Tshisekedi family was forced into internal exile to their home town in the central Kasai province. They stayed there until 1985, when President Mobutu allowed the mother and children to leave. His own man Felix Tshisekedi then went to the Belgian capital, Brussels. After completing his studies there he took up politics, working his way through his father's party to become national secretary for external affairs for the UDPS, based in Brussels. "He made powerful friends and allies among the diaspora there, but he was sometimes overlooked - and so it wasn't easy for him," said Mr Moleka. "Felix has always shown a lot of willingness. He's courageous but his problem is that he needs to figure out what his ultimate goal is." 'Perpetuating father's dream' The swearing in of Mr Tshisekedi saw the first peaceful transition of power in DR Congo since independence in 1960. He told the crowds at his inauguration that he wanted to "build a strong Congo, turned toward development in peace and security - a Congo for all in which everyone has a place". By becoming president, Mr Tshisekedi went one step further than his father, but speaking before the election he said he was not in competition with him. "I don't have any ambition to rival my father. He is my master, and you don't rival the master. "But I'm going to try my best to perpetuate his dream, his dream of a country of rule of law, of a better Congo, where our sons and daughters can flourish, that's what I am pursuing." Mr Tshisekedi has said he will make the fight against poverty a "great national cause". He aims, for example, to increase the average per person income to $11.75 (£9.30) a day, compared to $1.25 today. "It's really the minimum we can do I think, and the minimum people expect from us," the candidate earlier told the BBC in an interview in the capital, Kinshasa. He says his programme can be accomplished over two presidential terms - a period of 10 years - and will cost an estimated $86bn. 'Revenge' Mr Moleka also detected another force motivating the UDPS leader. "The Tshisekedis had a difficult life and so for Felix Tshisekedi, these elections are a bit of a revenge, for his family," he said. When presenting his programme during a press conference, the candidate was pressed about his lack of experience. Why DR Congo matters: "It's true I don't have experience in bad governance or in the pillaging of my country," he responded, "but I do have experience in the respect of human rights and civil liberties." In the months prior to the vote, opposition parties in the DR Congo - including the UDPS - had said that they would pick a joint candidate for the election to increase their chances of defeating the governing party. But after the opposition parties made the decision to pick Martin Fayulu as the unity candidate, Mr Tshisekedi backed out and decided to run. He was supported by Union for the Congolese Nation leader Vital Kamerhe - his running mate. Although Mr Tshisekedi argued he was simply following the wishes of the party base, many in the country criticised his decision not to support Mr Fayulu. Disputed result The electoral commission said Mr Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote on 30 December, compared to 34.7% for Martin Fayulu, another opposition figure. Ruling coalition candidate Emmanuel Shadary took 23.8%. But doubts were raised about the results include by the country's influential Catholic Church, international experts based in the US, and the French and German governments. Mr Fayulu accused Mr Tshisekedi of coming to a power-sharing arrangement with the outgoing president. He denied the accusation. The African Union also expressed doubts about the result, but later accepted Mr Tshisekedi's victory.

विवादित 30 दिसंबर के चुनाव में जीत हासिल करने के बाद फेलिक्स त्सेसेसेकेदी त्सिलोम्बो ने कांगो लोकतांत्रिक गणराज्य के राष्ट्रपति के रूप में शपथ ली है। लुईस डेवास्ट का कहना है कि अब तक वह बेहतर रूप से जाने जाते थे कि वे किसके लिए संबंधित थे।


Irish language library opens in east Belfast's Skainos Centre

Summary: A new Irish language library has opened in east Belfast.

By Robbie MeredithBBC News NI Education Correspondent The facility in the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road contains about 2,000 books. It has been opened due to the increasing number of people learning Irish at the centre. The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Féin's John Finucane, along with UUP and Progressive Unionist Party politicians, attended the opening of the library on Monday. The Skainos Centre began running Irish language classes seven years ago. Linda Ervine, from Turas, which runs the classes, said the number of language learners had grown substantially since then. "We started the classes seven years ago and there were about twenty-odd people," she said. "Last year was our biggest year yet, with over 270 people signing up. "We run our own GCSE class and a number of people got A* and A, and we also send people out to do A-Level and the diploma at Ulster University. "And now five people, who just happen to be all from the unionist community, will be starting degrees at Ulster University and Queen's University this September." Mr Finucane was making his first visit to the Irish classes at the centre for the opening of the library. He said he was impressed by the number of people learning Irish in east Belfast. "They have a real passion and commitment to the language and the language, as we know, is for everybody," he said. "I think the numbers are the envy of across Belfast. "I don't think Irish classes in north, south or west [Belfast] are getting over 270, so they need to be congratulated." Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen and PUP councillor Dr John Kyle were also among those at the event to mark the library's official opening. Meanwhile, an Irish language centre in Londonderry celebrated its 10th birthday at the weekend. Derry Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is housed in a striking building in Great James Street, which has won several architectural awards. It is named after the grandfather of its education officer Dáire Ni Chanáin. "I come in and chat to people and tell them that's my granda in that picture, and I'm hearing all these great stories about him and all the great works that he did," she said. "It's really inspirational and it inspires me to go and work really work hard to promote the language as well." According to the arts director Eibhlín Ní Dhochartaigh, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin has big plans for the future. "We've come from being this iconic building that opened 10 years ago to moving forward to developing a cultural quarter, a Gaeltacht quarter, here - a series of four buildings," she said.

पूर्वी बेलफास्ट में एक नया आयरिश भाषा पुस्तकालय खोला गया है।


Branching out: Major Oak aims to win 'Eurovision for trees'

Summary: Reputedly used as a hideout by Robin Hood and his merry men, Sherwood Forest's Major Oak has been picked as England's "Tree of the Year". In 2015 it will take on 13 trees from across Europe in what has been dubbed "Eurovision for trees".

By Eric SimpsonBBC News The Major Oak had to see off fierce competition to be chosen as England's "best". Both the tree which dropped an apple on Sir Isaac Newton's head, reputedly inspiring his Theory of Gravity, and the Runnymede yew, where King John signed the Magna Carta, were left in the shade. Perhaps more than 1,000 years old and weighing an estimated 23 tonnes, the Major Oak has been described as "a stately home" in the forest. "It is so impressive to look at and it is doing remarkably well," says Sherwood Forest site manager Izi Banton. "It still has a full canopy, which is amazing for its age." Ancient tree specialist Jill Butler, of the Woodland Trust, said it was "as stunning as many of our palaces or man-made wonders like Westminster Abbey." Named after historian Major Hayman Rooke, who wrote about it in the 18th Century, its history can be traced back as far as William the Conqueror. Its supporters are hoping it will emulate an elm from the Bulgarian town of Sliven which received more than 77,000 votes in an online poll to win the title of European Tree of the Year 2014. The competition, sponsored by the Environmental Partnership Association (EPA), a group backed by the European Commission, will announce the winner of the 2015 online vote in March. One of the Major Oak's competitors was nearly destroyed in last winter's storms. Standing on a hill above Llanfyllin, Powys, the Scots pine known as the Lonely Tree had dominated the skyline for more than 200 years. People would visit it to carve their initials, propose marriage or scatter ashes. However, in February, the tree was blown down in gales but the community came together to tip 30 tonnes of soil over the roots and there are hopes it will continue to live and grow from a reclining position. "When it fell I was shocked at how strongly the community felt about that tree - they rallied around it, it obviously means a lot to them," says tree campaigner Rob McBride, who is promoting for the Welsh entry. Mr McBride is hoping to visit all the entrants before voting starts in February. "It's like a Eurovision for trees - but without the bad music," he says. Organisers in the Czech Republic say the winner will not necessarily be the oldest, rarest, biggest or even the most beautiful specimen. Contest co-ordinator Andrea Krůpová said: "We are searching for the most lovable tree, a tree with a story that can bring the community together. "Trees are in the very heart of the European cultural landscape although they do not always have an easy life there. They deserve our attention and care." Scotland's entry, above, is another iconic Scots pine in a nature reserve in Perthshire. For the past 24 years an osprey affectionately known as "Lady" has been returning to a nest in its branches. Over this time, the osprey has laid 71 eggs and fledged 50 chicks, while a webcam attracts more than one million viewers a year from more than 160 different countries. This black pollarded poplar in Spain is one of more than 4,700 in Aguilar del Alfambra, which houses possibly the largest concentration of the species in Europe. In 2009, the first Black Pollard Poplar Festival was celebrated in the nearby village of Ejulve and this specimen was selected as a representative. Spain, England, Belgium and Estonia are new entrants to the 2015 competition, which has been running for five years. The Irish entry - a Cedar of Lebanon tree (left) was planted by farmer Matt Fogarty, of Ballinderry, County Tipperary, on his 50-acre woodland in memory of his wife Mary. "She was great support over our 45 years together and she is a great loss in my life," he says. On the right is a 200-year-old white mulberry in Senica, Slovakia. It is one of the area's "most beautiful and oldest trees looking patiently at a world, which is constantly changing", according to Ekopolis, an arm of the Slovakian Environment Agency, which organised the country's vote. An imposing chestnut tree known as the "bread tree" (left) has stood guard over its surroundings in Pianello, Corsica, for 1,000 years. The French magazine Terre Sauvage described the 15m circumference tree as "a fantastic being, half plant, half human, protector and guardian of the place". In Opatavice, Czech Republic, a pine tree (right) believed to resemble a five-headed dragon, has been popular with generations of children who climb its branches. St George, who is patron of the local church, is said to have fought the dragon, now cursed to forever remain a tree. The Slav Oak in Debina, Lower Silesia, left, is a symbol of Polish identity. Klub Gaja, a Polish environmental organisation, said the 450-year-old tree dated back to the Silesian Piast Dynasty and was a symbol of resistance during the Silesian Wars of the 18th Century. The Estonian entry is an oak situated in the middle of a football pitch. For players in Orissaare, it acts as an obstacle but sometimes an aid as they deflect passes off its trunk. "Before 1951 there was a small sporting area beside the oak tree and when it was expanded the tree ended up in the middle of the stadium," Mr McBride says. A plane tree, which stands in the grounds of a school in Archar (left) is the Bulgarian entry. In Hungary, on the banks of the Old Lake of Tata, a sycamore tree (right) has been here for more than 230 years. Along with several others, the tree was brought from the Palace of Versailles by a member of the Esterházy family. Photographs of Italy's entry, an olive tree from Sabina, and the Belgian Nail Tree have not been released yet.

रॉबिन हुड और उनके खुशमिजाज लोगों द्वारा एक गुप्त ठिकाने के रूप में प्रतिष्ठित, शेरवुड फॉरेस्ट के मेजर ओक को इंग्लैंड के "ट्री ऑफ द ईयर" के रूप में चुना गया है। 2015 में यह पूरे यूरोप से 13 पेड़ों को लेगा जिसे "पेड़ों के लिए यूरोविज़न" कहा गया है।


Southend hospital asks public to help fight norovirus

Summary: An Essex hospital which dealt with a severe outbreak of the winter vomiting bug earlier this year has asked for the public's help.

Patients and staff at Southend University Hospital were still being affected by the norovirus up until May. Managers have urged people to stay away from the hospital if they have an upset stomach. Doctors said this was the peak season for the norovirus and they were trying to prevent an outbreak in the wards.

एसेक्स के एक अस्पताल ने, जो इस साल की शुरुआत में सर्दियों में उल्टी करने वाले कीड़े के गंभीर प्रकोप से निपटा था, जनता से मदद मांगी है।


Two bodies found in Sunderland house

Summary: Two bodies have been found at a house in Sunderland.

The man and woman were found by police at an address on Satley Gardens just before 10:00 GMT, having responded to reports of concern for a woman. No details of their identities have been released, but their next of kin have been informed. Northumbria Police said inquiries were ongoing but there is not believed to be third party involvement and no threat to the public.

सुंदरलैंड में एक घर में दो शव मिले हैं।


'Cultural changes' needed to fight Wales' hate crime

Summary: Nearly 2,000 hate crimes were recorded in Wales in one year.

The 1,810 hate crimes reported in 2012-13 were just the "tip of the iceberg", said the Welsh government, as it launched a new helpline and website for victims. Wales needs "cultural changes" in order to tackle hate crimes, said Communities Minister Jeff Cuthbert. Andrew Davies from Swansea moved house after receiving anonymous homophobic threats for a year and a half. Mr Davies, chief executive officer for Unity Group Wales, said people would push notes under his door, saying they were worried about the safety of their children "because I was gay". He added: "It got to the point then when they actually killed my cat and sent me a sympathy card for the cat". 'Not judged' He said the popularity of social media has made hate crime more difficult to control. He added: "Social media is a fantastic thing when it's used properly... but it's also quite a nasty weapon of hate that is being used a lot more these days". Mr Cuthbert will launch the new framework tackling hate crime at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Monday. It will include a 24-hour helpline and website for victims. It will cover all hate crimes, including race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender and age. Victim Support will receive £488,000 of Welsh government funding to run the scheme. "Cultural changes are needed so that future generations can live in a Wales which is equal, fair and welcoming to people from different backgrounds and cultures," said the minister. "We want our young people and children to grow up in a Wales where people are accepted for who they are and not judged because of the colour of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their disability or their age." 'More windows' Mr Cuthbert added: "My message to all victims of hate crime is that action will be taken. Hate in any form will not be tolerated. A culture where victims feel that they have to suffer in silence will no longer be tolerated." The framework will be updated annually and an independent advisory group will be established later this year. Dr Ahmed Darwish, honorary chair of the Muslim Council of Wales, said: "Anything that would encourage the community to help each other is welcome and people need to be able to do that without being intimidated, or fearing retribution. "The point of the initiative is that people have a means of communication without fear of people looking at them. "I think the more windows we have, the better it is."

वेल्स में एक वर्ष में लगभग 2,000 घृणा अपराध दर्ज किए गए।


The problem with the skyscraper wind effect

Summary: The City of London is promising that high-rise buildings will be monitored to ensure they don't make conditions unbearably windy in surrounding streets. But why do skyscrapers have this effect and what can be done to alleviate it?

By Justin ParkinsonBBC News Magazine Anyone who has ever walked near a very tall building in the middle of a city on a windy day will have noticed a strange effect. The wind is often much more intense around the base of the tower. And the growth in high-rise structures is generating more concerns. The City of London Corporation has promised a more "rigorous" assessment of developers' predictions of ground winds, following complaints about strong gusts outside the 20 Fenchurch Street Building, better known as the Walkie Talkie. "I almost got blown over the other day walking up past the building," a sales assistant working nearby said earlier this year. "When I got around the corner it was fine. I was scared to go back." Toronto in Canada has suggested bringing in by-laws to ensure planning for skyscrapers takes into account the risk of street winds. In Leeds, 35-year-old Edward Slaney was crushed after strong winds toppled a lorry near the 32-storey Bridgewater Place, the city's tallest building, in 2011. This was one of several incidents, some resulting in injuries, reported to the council. Accelerated winds near skyscrapers are caused by the "downdraught effect", says Nada Piradeepan, an expert on wind properties at engineering consultancy firm Wintech. This happens where the air hits a building and, with nowhere else to go, is pushed up, down and around the sides. The air forced downwards increases wind speed at street level. There is also an acceleration of wind around the side of the buildings if it has completely square corners. And, if several towers stand near each other, there is an effect known as "channelling", a wind acceleration created by air having to be squeezed through a narrow space. This is a form of the Venturi effect, named after the 18th-19th Century Italian scientist Giovanni Battista Venturi. "These different effects can combine to create faster-moving wind. It's complex," says Piradeepan. "The downdraught effect is most strong where buildings stand face-on to the prevailing wind, which in London is from the south west." More rounded buildings, such as London's Gherkin, don't have quite the same downdraught effect and don't encourage an increase in wind speed around them, as the air doesn't accelerate around corners, he adds. The City of London has fewer skyscrapers than New York but much of its layout is based on medieval street patterns. Its narrower roads mean it concentrates the wind through channelling more than happens in New York's generally wider streets and avenues, says architect Steve Johnson. Architects test skyscraper designs in wind tunnels to ensure there would be no damage to structures. But the potential effect on people living and working down below is becoming more of a focus for study, says Johnson. Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 828m (2,716.5ft), underwent "micro-climate analysis of the effects at terraces and around the tower base" before opening in 2010. In Toronto, the broadcaster Global News measured gusts of between 30kmph (18.6mph) and 45kmph (28mph) at one corner of the 55-storey Four Seasons Hotel. It detected wind speeds of just 5kmph (3.1mph) slightly north of the building. As the air at higher altitudes is colder, it can create chillier micro-climates when downdraught from skyscrapers reaches street level. This can be welcome during hot spells, but less so in winter. And, as buildings go higher, the speed of air hitting them rises, increasing ground winds below. Skyscraper-affected airflow is a relatively new phenomenon in cities like London and Leeds, which were mainly low-rise until recently. This is not so in New York, where, more than a century ago, residents were complaining of the winds caused by the face of the Flatiron building, then considered tall at 93m (305ft). It was said to lift women's skirts above their ankles, attracting young men not used to such public exposure. In 1905, a salacious (for the time) film of this phenomenon was made. As long ago as 1983 in New York, engineering consultant Lev Zetlin called for laws to counteract the effects of buildings on street wind. The City of London Corporation is not going this far, but it is changing the way it works with developers. The level of wind predicted by developers and that which actually occurs can differ "somewhat", says the corporation's head of design, Gwyn Richards. So there's going to be independent verification of studies carried out by developers to ensure they're as "rigorous and resilient" as possible, he adds. The problem is that, where buildings causing downdraught problems have already been built at great expense, they can't simply be demolished. Among the solutions on offer are screens to shield people from the wind at street level or even the use of more trees and hedges to break up air flow. In Leeds, the city council last year granted permission for angled shelters near the base of Bridgewater Place, known as "baffles". But Lindsay Smales, senior lecturer in building, planning and geography at Leeds Beckett University, has said he doubts much can be done "once you've built a tall building like that to mitigate the problems of micro climate and the effect of the wind". Concerns were raised over the proposed 15-storey Lumina tower block in Birmingham and a 27-storey building in Manchester, both of which gained planning permission last year. As downdraught happens most where buildings are square-on to wind, would changing their angles be a good idea? Johnson is inspired by the example of a far more low-rise place, the seaside resort of Whitstable in Kent, famed for its oyster trade and now home to offshore wind farms. Some of its street layout was designed to be at 45 degrees to the prevailing wind so that there's not such a wide section facing it, he says. "None of these problems are new," Johnson says. "The ancient Greeks and Romans knew something about the effects of wind on buildings. It's just that, unlike today, they didn't try to build enormous skyscrapers." Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746-1822) Italian scientist who was a professor at the University of Modena in Italy Researched sound and colour, but is most famous for his work on hydraulics He first noted the effects of constricted channels on fluid movement Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

लंदन शहर वादा कर रहा है कि ऊंची इमारतों की निगरानी की जाएगी ताकि यह सुनिश्चित किया जा सके कि वे आसपास की सड़कों पर स्थिति को असहनीय रूप से हवादार न बना दें। लेकिन गगनचुंबी इमारतों का यह प्रभाव क्यों है और इसे कम करने के लिए क्या किया जा सकता है?


Burial at sea: Seven things you might not know

Summary: A 101-year-old Royal Navy sailor was recently laid to rest at sea. Bryan Clowes, a former Petty Officer and veteran of the Arctic Convoy , took his final voyage aboard East Sussex 1, an ex-naval Kiwi class vessel last week. But how unusual is a burial at sea?

By Bethan BellBBC News A dozen or so people every year are buried at sea off the British Isles, according to figures by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) service. Here are a few things you might not know about it. Anyone can be buried at sea Although many people who are buried at sea are former sailors or navy personnel, there is no need to have a connection with maritime life. Anyone can be buried at sea, so long as the person arranging it has a licence - available for £175 from the MMO - and complies with some environmental rules. Applicants must provide a certificate from a doctor that the body is clear of fever and infection, and the coroner may also need to be informed. The person being buried must not be embalmed and should be clad in light, biodegradable clothing. Some funeral directors will arrange the event, and the Britannia Shipping Company specialises in it. Charity organisation the Maritime Volunteer Service also helps carry out burials at sea. The navy conducts its own burials at sea, for those veterans who wish it. For more detailed information you should contact the chaplain at the base from which the dead person served. But you can't simply be buried anywhere There are only three designated burial sites in English coastal waters. They are at Newhaven in East Sussex, The Needles Spoil Ground near the Isle of Wight and Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. If you wish to bury someone in a location other than one of the three above, you can propose a new site when making your application. You will need to supply exact co-ordinates and evidence to demonstrate that the site is suitable for burials at sea. It must be somewhere there is a minimal risk of the body being returned to shore by strong currents or being disturbed by commercial fishing nets. In some rare cases, bodies do drift. Because of this, the person buried must have an identification tag attached to them. It can also take about five hours to reach the burial site and be quite choppy, according to David Hughes from the Marine Volunteer Service, which handled Mr Clowes' burial. For this reason, many families choose to have a ceremony on land, before saying goodbye from the quayside. Mr Hughes says he utters a short prayer as the coffin is committed to the sea. It could have become commonplace - or could it? During the Winter of Discontent, burial at sea was a method hypothetically suggested by the then medical officer of health for Liverpool, Duncan Dolton, in the case of an extended strike by the union representing gravediggers, the GMWU. However, in an interview Dr Dolton did for a Channel 4 documentary in 1998, [Secret History: Winter of Discontent] he said a reporter had "badgered" him about what would happen if the strike wasn't resolved. "The reporter said 'Come on. Come on. If this goes on for months what will happen?' I answer, 'If necessary, we'll have to bury them at sea.' "Now to me, that didn't sound strange. I had been a naval officer... and I thought that this was a dignified and honourable way of disposing of the dead. "So I was completely astonished the next morning with the headlines: 'Burial at Sea says Medical Officer.' And I have to confess, I was horrified." A special coffin is required The MMO specifies the coffin must be made from solid softwood and must not contain any plastic, lead, copper or zinc. This is to make sure it biodegrades and to protect the area from contamination. To make sure the coffin sinks quickly to the seabed and does not float around, two-inch (50mm) holes must be drilled throughout, and about 200kg (440lb) should be clamped to the base. You can find other coffin requirements here. Francis Drake wore a suit of armour to be buried The Elizabethan sailor and navigator died at sea in 1596 and his body, clad in a full suit of armour and in a lead coffin, is thought to be off the coast of Panama. In October 2011, the owner of a US pirate museum clamed to be close to finding Drake's remains as he'd located two ships - the Elizabeth and the Delight - that were scuttled shortly after the explorer's death. However, the coffin has not yet been found. Divers still search for it. Scattering ashes is easier Anyone can scatter ashes at sea, and you don't need a special licence or the involvement of an undertaker. Defra recommends the scattering of cremation ashes at sea, rather than burial, which alleviates the risk of bodies being washed up. There have been discussions about making the taking of DNA samples from bodies to be buried at sea a legal requirement. Famous people whose ashes were strewn upon the waves include Alfred Hitchcock and Janis Joplin (Pacific Ocean), Edmund Hillary (New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf), Robin Williams (San Francisco Bay) and Dad's Army actor John Laurie (English Channel). This quote is often cited at sea burials "The sea is the largest cemetery, and its slumbers sleep without a monument. "All other graveyards show symbols of distinction between great and small, rich and poor: but in the ocean cemetery, the king, the clown, the prince and the peasant are alike, undistinguishable." George Bruce, 1884, St Andrews

एक 101 वर्षीय रॉयल नेवी नाविक को हाल ही में समुद्र में दफनाया गया था। ब्रायन क्लोव्स, एक पूर्व पेटी अधिकारी और आर्कटिक काफिले के अनुभवी, ने पिछले सप्ताह एक पूर्व-नौसेना कीवी श्रेणी के जहाज ईस्ट ससेक्स 1 पर अपनी अंतिम यात्रा की। लेकिन समुद्र में दफनाना कितना असामान्य है?


Views sought on plans for Jersey's Millennium Town Park

Summary: People living and working in Jersey are to be asked for their views on plans for Millennium Town Park.

The development forms part of the States' North of Town master plan. The Transport and Technical Services department is sending feedback questionnaires about the park to 3,000 residents and businesses on Wednesday. As part of the public consultation, the department will also be staging three drop-in events for people to share their ideas about the park's design.

जर्सी में रहने और काम करने वाले लोगों से मिलेनियम टाउन पार्क की योजनाओं पर उनके विचार पूछे जाने चाहिए।


Structure fears at art deco Bon Accord Baths in Aberdeen

Summary: Structural surveys are being carried out at Aberdeen's historic art deco design Bon Accord Baths amid fears the building has a serious problem known as concrete cancer.

The swimming pool on Justice Mill Lane closed in 2008 because of local authority budget cuts. The council and Bon Accord Heritage - which is working on proposals to reopen the pool - have contracted engineers. Concrete cancer is where reinforcing steel within concrete begins to rust. This causes the concrete around it to disintegrate. It has been estimated millions of pounds would be needed to refurbish the building.

एबरडीन के ऐतिहासिक आर्ट डेको डिजाइन बॉन एकॉर्ड बाथ में संरचनात्मक सर्वेक्षण किए जा रहे हैं, इस आशंका के बीच कि इमारत में एक गंभीर समस्या है जिसे कंक्रीट कैंसर के रूप में जाना जाता है।


Jeremy Corbyn takes big risk with McDonnell appointment

Summary: Jeremy Corbyn said he would unite the party. Two days in he has two big problems - a lack of women in the top jobs, having promised a new equality, but a bigger one perhaps, his choice as shadow chancellor. The appointment of John McDonnell is a risk, a big risk.

Laura KuenssbergPolitical editor@bbclaurakon Twitter I understand that Jeremy Corbyn was warned by members of his own camp not to give the crucial role of shadow chancellor to his close friend and campaign manager, John McDonnell. There were concerns over how his appointment would appear and the impact it would have on the rest of the shadow team. He was also warned by at least one senior figure outside his campaign circle not to give him the job, the perception being that giving McDonnell the position would be a "declaration of war" on the rest of the Parliamentary Labour Party. And McDonnell's position was a factor in other MPs' decisions on whether to take a job. Corbyn's team are going to have to defend some of Mr McDonnell's more controversial positions - and they'll do that perhaps without widespread support from MPs. Some MPs are aghast - one told the BBC "it is a disgrace - there's only one thing worse than being ignored in politics and that's being laughed at". So Corbyn begins with a problem on his pick for the economy, that crucial area where Labour has struggled to build credibility. Another senior MP said, "the idea of having three men at the top of the party is ridiculous - we are the Labour Party, this isn't what we are about". Two days in Jeremy Corbyn has a significant problem he was warned to avoid, one of his own making. The size of his victory is an insurance policy - but my goodness, he's going to need it.

जेरेमी कॉर्बिन ने कहा कि वह पार्टी को एकजुट करेंगे। दो दिनों में उनके सामने दो बड़ी समस्याएं हैं-शीर्ष नौकरियों में महिलाओं की कमी, एक नई समानता का वादा किया है, लेकिन शायद एक बड़ी, छाया कुलाधिपति के रूप में उनकी पसंद। जॉन मैकडॉनेल की नियुक्ति एक जोखिम है, एक बड़ा जोखिम है।


Carroll murder accused 'have case to answer'

Summary: The judge in the Constable Stephen Carroll murder trial has rejected a defence application to throw out the prosecution case.

Neither defendant, Brendan McConville or John Paul Wootton, will be giving evidence. Constable Carroll was shot dead in Craigavon in March 2009 after responding to a 999 call. Dismissing the application, Lord Justice Girvan said he was satisfied the defendants had a case to answer. Mr McConville, 40, of Glenholme Avenue, Craigavon, and Mr Wootton, 20, of Collindale, Lurgan, deny the murder.

कांस्टेबल स्टीफन कैरोल हत्या मुकदमे के न्यायाधीश ने अभियोजन पक्ष के मामले को खारिज करने के बचाव पक्ष के आवेदन को खारिज कर दिया है।


'We cannot in good conscience open the pub'

Summary: Back in normal times, on match days, the pavement outside the Tollington Arms would be as crowded as a Tube station. The pub is right next to the Emirates stadium, Arsenal's home ground, and is a popular sports pub.

By Lucy HookerBusiness reporter, BBC News But although the Gunners are on the pitch this Saturday, the doors will remain firmly shut. The government has given pubs in England the go ahead to reopen from 4 July if they follow a strict set of social distancing rules, but last week the Tollington's manager, Martin Whelan, posted a message on social media announcing it would stay closed. "We cannot in good conscience open the pub when contracting a deadly virus is still possible under these guidelines," he tweeted. The decision was met with a flood of support on Twitter with customers praising it as a "wise" and "courageous" decision. Only a handful were scornful, urging them to be less cautious and open up. None of the other eight bars Mr Whelan runs around London will be opening either. "Some of my staff have had this virus and when you've seen them at death's door you take a different point of view," Mr Whelan says. "It's a very sobering position to be in." Once the virus is circulating at lower levels in the population and there's a "proper track and trace scheme" up and running then he would consider reopening, he says. In the meantime he couldn't look his staff in the eye and ask them to come back with confidence. "Nobody likes losing money but you have to have a conscience too." Britain's pubs were among the hardest hit businesses when lockdown came. Many had to pour away beer that grew stale, throw away food that couldn't be served, board up premises and furlough staff. Now social distancing rules have been reduced from two metres to "one plus" and the government has set out conditions, including taking the names and contact details of customers, to mitigate some of the risks. The big pub chains including JD Wetherspoon and Stonegate Ei are opening almost all of their sites with modifications including plastic screens, one way systems, reduced seating, and apps for ordering food and drink. 'Unique venue' Nevertheless only around half of the UK's pubs will be open this weekend, according to a survey by the industry body UK Hospitality. Pubs in Scotland and Wales haven't yet been allowed to reopen, accounting for a lot of those remaining shut, but still a large number of pubs in England won't be welcoming back customers either. For some it simply isn't economically viable to do so. Chris and Liz Smith run The Chambers which used to host live music and serve food in a packed basement in Folkestone. "We're quite a unique venue. We offer a bit of everything, but music is the key for us functioning," says Ms Smith. Without music they don't think the atmosphere would work, but there are also the insurmountable problems of a single narrow staircase down to the basement and a narrow corridor to the toilet. "We don't want to open if we can't do it properly," says Mr Smith, but he recognises there is a possibility they may never be able to reopen at all. Other pubs can accommodate guests more easily, like the Prospect in Exeter, which, even with reduced seating can manage space for 78 outdoors in the fresh air. But landlord Suzanne Abrey-Cameron is apprehensive about what the prime minister has dubbed "Super Saturday" after all these weeks of people being cooped up indoors. "There's a lot of expectation," she says. "It'll be worse than Black Friday." So the Prospect won't open until 9 July when she hopes things will have calmed down. "We've missed out on four months, one weekend is not going to make a difference." Moreover, the opening hours will be "weather permitting" since they are only serving customers al fresco. One of the large chains, Greene King, is also only opening its pubs after the weekend, not because of concerns over unruly behaviour, but to ensure staff and facilities are ready. "It wasn't a case of avoiding the hysteria, more making sure the teams were ready," says Karl Gibson, who manages Greene King's Trip to Jerusalem pub in Nottingham. He's taken down the boards protecting the pub during lockdown, which they'd decorated with messages of support for the NHS, and is preparing for a gradual return, spread out over ten days from Monday. But for some city centre pubs, especially in Nottingham, which is in striking distance of Leicester where pubs remain closed due to the local lockdown, there is a shadow of concern over this weekend's openings. The police have warned that pub-goers shouldn't treat it as an excuse for excess. Tony Cockcroft of the British Security Industry Association says security firms have seen a wave of enquiries ahead of the weekend. "We're looking at levels akin to a bank holiday weekend," he says. Extra security staff are likely to be needed if queues form outside pubs and possibly to administer and explain the new regulations to customers as they enter. But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, points out that this is all very familiar territory for a lot of city centre landlords, accustomed to managing anti-social behaviour at busy weekends. Moreover for the time being volumes are likely to remain much lower than usual. "In recent weeks we've seen what happens when you don't have facilities open, there is that pent-up demand," she says. "You have illegal raves in Manchester, you have crowding at beauty hotspots. "Reopening the pubs, bars and restaurants could be part of the solution not part of the problem. We can provide for people who want to get out of the house and make sure there's social distancing policed on premises."

सामान्य समय में, मैच के दिनों में, टॉलिंगटन आर्म्स के बाहर फुटपाथ पर ट्यूब स्टेशन की तरह भीड़ होती थी। पब अमीरात स्टेडियम, आर्सेनल के घरेलू मैदान के ठीक बगल में है और एक लोकप्रिय खेल पब है।


Cyclist knocked unconscious by car in Balfron hit-and-run

Summary: A cyclist was found unconscious at the side of a road after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run in Stirlingshire.

Police said the male cyclist was hit head-on by a black Range Rover which had been overtaking another vehicle on a blind bend on the A81 near Balfron Station. The crash happened at about 21:00 on Friday. Officers believe the occupants of the Range Rover would have known they had hit someone but failed to stop. A couple passing by discovered the bike lying on the road and the cyclist on the verge. He is not thought to have suffered serious injuries. Police have appealed for information as well as dash-cam footage showing the Range Rover or a small white car which it had been overtaking. They also want to trace the couple who initially helped the cyclist. Related Internet Links Contact Us - Police Scotland

स्टर्लिंगशायर में एक हिट-एंड-रन में एक कार की चपेट में आने के बाद एक साइकिल चालक सड़क के किनारे बेहोश पाया गया।


Shadows over Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka

Summary: The streets of Colombo are glistening for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm). But controversy still rages over war crimes allegations, press freedom, judicial independence and the safety of minorities. The BBC's Charles Haviland reports on the rights issues that refuse to go away.

New fountains are flowing, there are new pavements and new street lamps have been constructed. A motorway has just opened linking the airport to Colombo for the first time. Colombo's violence-scarred past is becoming a mere memory. Many Sri Lankans are proud to be welcoming the Commonwealth leaders and see the summit as a tribute to a president many revere for his victory after 26 years of conflict with separatist Tamil Tigers. But for all the burnished infrastructure, there is disquiet under the surface. The summit's attendance list has narrowed, with Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper boycotting the event over rights abuses. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also said he will not attend. Army demolition spree Visiting the Northern Province during its recent election, the BBC met 37-year-old Sujitharan in a refugee camp outside Jaffna. The children played in the dirt. The place felt temporary, prefabricated. Yet Sujitharan has been here since 1990 when his family fled their home because of fighting between the government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). The military keeps hold of their land, like other large tracts deemed high security zones. "We're living as second-class citizens with no facilities, no bathrooms. It's a very sad life. Our children need to live on their own land," he says. Sujitharan had decided to vote for President Rajapaksa in the hope of getting his land back. But in recent days - after the Tamil opposition's election victory in the North - the Sri Lankan Army has gone on a demolition spree, flattening the houses of people displaced long ago to consolidate these zones - which it says it needs "for security reasons". When journalists try to film or photograph it, their memory cards are seized and deleted and they are chased away. The demolitions continue. Then there are the unanswered question about possible war crimes and allegations of the indiscriminate bombardment of Tamil civilians as the war ended; of the summary killing of the captive LTTE members who surrendered. Grave war crimes accusations are also levelled at the LTTE, but as most of them did not survive, and as the Sri Lankan government has continued to justify its conduct, the spotlight is focused on the current leaders. Minorities targeted Journalists and human rights workers continue to report intimidation. A BBC correspondent based in northern Sri Lanka was recently questioned for hours by the anti-terrorism police. A senior Colombo-based journalist fled the island after two raids on her home: During one, she and her family were threatened at knifepoint. Disappearances remain unsolved and allegations of torture in state custody - often backed by forensic evidence - continue to emerge. And members of religious minorities are being attacked in a trend boosted by the war victory. The spate of assaults on Muslims and demonstrations against them by Sinhalese Buddhist hardliners have been well reported. But now Christians are coming forward to report attacks which have long been happening, but local media barely mention then. In Colombo I meet a pastor from a small church. He does not want his name used and is here because he is afraid to receive me in his village. "Two Buddhist monks rushed into the church," he says in Sinhala, recounting a recent incident during a service. "Twenty-five or 30 villagers followed. They yelled insults at us, calling us traitors for preaching the word of God. They shouted 'this is a Buddhist nation, a Buddhist village'. "They threatened to kill us, they said they would burn my house down when they came back." He says the monks started physically assaulting him. He knelt down facing the wall and prayed. The clergyman is from Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority - Christians straddle the ethnic divide. The pastor says he has since seen the monk who led the attack on television with President Rajapaksa. He was able to identify the attackers but says the police told him that if any of the attackers were arrested that would create religious controversy and an ugly scenario. Yamini Ravindran of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) has documented 65 attacks on Christians so far this year. "Pastors have been threatened, subjected to duress and forced closure of churches, various forms of discriminations... And even some Christian believers have been forced to recant their faith." Minorities feel uneasy because the government rarely condemns such assaults or apprehends the culprits. Hindus, who are Tamil, are in a similar situation. The government recently demolished a small Hindu temple in the town of Dambulla, in an area the authorities have declared sacred to Buddhists. A Tamil politician, N Kumaraguruparan, says the Hindus appealed to President Rajapaksa against the demolition, then asked for time to perform final religious rites. Both appeals went unheeded. In a recent visit to Sri Lanka, the UN's human rights chief, Navi Pillay, criticised what she called the "surge in incitement of hatred and violence against religious minorities... and the lack of swift action against the perpetrators". The government denies committing war crimes or trampling on human rights. Peaceful co-existence Udaya Gammanpila, a provincial minister from a Buddhist nationalist party in the government coalition, says Canada's leaders should come to Chogm, like their counterparts. "The reality is that Sri Lankans, as one family, we are trying to live together after a long civil war... If they just come to Colombo and go around they will find the co-existence of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims." The Sri Lankan state often stresses the co-operation between the island's four major religions. In the cities, churches, mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples sit side by side, with many devotees never facing problems. And it is certainly true that in Colombo you do find communities mixing quite happily - but critics say this should not mask deeper divisions and concerns. So what about the pastor's account of the church attack? "Frankly we are not aware of such incident," said Mr Gammanpila, adding that the victim could have complained to the Supreme Court if he felt the forces of the law were not doing their job. Mr Gammanpila also seemed unaware of the 65 attacks documented by the NCEASL, saying the accounts might be "made up" by the Christians. I asked him about Navi Pillay's assertion that Sri Lanka was drifting towards authoritarianism with the sacking of the former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and allegations of widespread impunity. Mr Gammanpila said this was "expected" as Ms Pillay was "from a Tamil ethnic origin. She was biased towards her community in the first place." While in Sri Lanka Navi Pillay, who is South African, deemed such remarks incorrect and offensive. Nor is the sacked chief justice from the Tamil community. But Mr Gammanpila insisted the UN rapporteur had no right to look at the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict. The Sri Lankan government does get solid support from many other Commonwealth states, especially in Asia and Africa, who do not want the organisation to intervene in human rights. But as the summit gets under way - minus several key leaders - it seems to be less about the actual Chogm agenda than about the host country and whether it lives up to the Commonwealth Charter.

कोलंबो की सड़कें राष्ट्रमंडल शासनाध्यक्षों की बैठक (चोग्म) के लिए चमक रही हैं। लेकिन युद्ध अपराधों के आरोपों, प्रेस की स्वतंत्रता, न्यायिक स्वतंत्रता और अल्पसंख्यकों की सुरक्षा पर विवाद अभी भी बढ़ रहा है। बीबीसी के चार्ल्स हैविलैंड उन अधिकारों के मुद्दों पर रिपोर्ट करते हैं जो दूर जाने से इनकार करते हैं।


George Floyd: Officer told dying man to 'stop yelling'

Summary: The US police officer accused of George Floyd's murder told him to stop talking as he repeatedly gasped under the man's knee, according to court documents.

The unarmed black man cried out for his late mother and children as he said the Minneapolis policeman would kill him, transcripts from body-cam footage show. They were disclosed in court by lawyers for one of the four officers involved. The documents offer the clearest picture yet of Mr Floyd's last moments. His death in May sparked global uproar. It led to a wave of anti-racism protests led by the Black Lives Matter movement, and stirred debate and reflection in the US over the country's history of slavery and segregation. All four officers involved in taking Mr Floyd into custody were fired and arrested. Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck, faces several charges including second-degree murder, while the other three - Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao - are charged with aiding and abetting murder. The transcripts were made public on Thursday as Mr Lane's lawyers asked for the case against him to be dismissed. Warning: Some readers may find the content below distressing. What do the transcripts show? Until now, eyewitness footage shared on social media revealed most of what was known about Mr Floyd's arrest and his final moments. The new transcripts give a more detailed account, shedding light on significant parts of the encounter, from the time Mr Lane and Mr Kueng arrived at the scene, to the point where Mr Floyd was given CPR in an ambulance. Transcripts of footage recorded by body cameras fitted to Mr Lane and Mr Kueng show Mr Floyd said more than 20 times he could not breathe as he was restrained by the officers in a Minneapolis street. They confronted him outside a convenience store where he was suspected of having used a forged $20 note to buy cigarettes. At one point, a handcuffed Mr Floyd, while pinned down on the road next to the police car, gasps that he cannot breathe, adding: "You're going to kill me, man." Mr Chauvin, who is shown in bystander footage appearing to kneel on Mr Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes, replies: "Then stop talking, stop yelling. "It takes heck of a lot of oxygen to talk." The transcripts show Mr Floyd appears co-operative at the beginning of the arrest, repeatedly apologising to the officers after they approach his parked car. Mr Lane asks Mr Floyd to show his hands at least 10 times before ordering him to get out of the vehicle. In response to one of the demands to see his hands, Mr Floyd says: "Man, I got, I got shot the same way, Mr Officer, before." It is not clear what he is referring to. At one point Mr Lane says: "Why's he getting all squirrelly and not showing us his hands and just being all weird like that?" The officers then handcuff Mr Floyd and try to put him into the back of their police car. As they do, Mr Floyd becomes agitated, repeatedly pleading that he is claustrophobic. Mr Lane asks if he is "on something". Mr Floyd replies: "I'm scared, man." According to another document, Mr Lane told investigators that once in the car, Mr Floyd began "thrashing back and forth". When asked "So he pushed himself out of the car?" Mr Lane replied: "Yeah". The investigator then asks: "Versus you guys pulling him out of the car?" and Mr Lane says: "Yeah, because the goal is to keep him in the car, we didn't want him coming out again." Pinned on the ground, according to the transcript, Mr Floyd cries out a dozen times: "Mama." He says: "Can't believe this, man. Mom, love you. Love you. "Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead." At one point, when Mr Floyd continues to plead he can't breathe, Mr Lane asks Mr Chauvin: "Should we roll him on his side?" Mr Chauvin responds: "No, he's staying put where we got him." Mr Lane then says: "Okay. Just worry about the excited delirium or whatever." Mr Chauvin replies: "Well that's why we got the ambulance coming," and Mr Lane says "Okay, I suppose". Mr Chauvin's lawyers have not commented on the documents since they were made public. Why are the transcripts coming out now? The transcripts were released in support of a legal bid to dismiss the criminal charges against Mr Lane, a new recruit only days into the job when Mr Floyd's death happened. Mr Lane's lawyer Earl Gray, who filed the documents, argued that it was "not fair or reasonable" for his client to stand trial on the charges. The new court documents include a transcript of Mr Lane's interview with investigators from Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In the interview, Mr Lane talked through the first crucial moments of his encounter with Mr Floyd. Mr Lane said he had pulled his gun out and ordered Mr Floyd to show his hands after approaching his car and seeing him "sitting with his hands down below the seat". Pictures from inside the car Mr Floyd was sitting in before his arrest show two crumpled $20 bills that, according to Mr Gray, were counterfeit. At the end of the interview, one of the investigators asked Mr Lane if he felt either he or Mr Chauvin had contributed to Mr Floyd's death. "I object to that. You're not going to answer that," Mr Gray said. What has happened since Mr Floyd's death? The incident and the bystander videos that exposed it highlighted deep wounds over racial inequality in the US. For many, the outrage over Mr Floyd's death also reflected years of frustration over socio-economic inequality and discrimination. Protests erupted and have continued since, across many US cities and also internationally. Police forces, governments and businesses pledged reforms in recognition of the racial inequality that fuelled the protests. Monuments to historical figures with links to slavery in the US and other countries were re-assessed. Some were toppled or vandalised, others were taken down by authorities and institutions. Mr Floyd's death followed the high-profile cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Eric Garner in New York; and others that have driven the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years. More on the US protests US protests timeline George Floyd dies after police arrest 25 May 2020 George Floyd dies after being arrested by police outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Footage shows a white officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for several minutes while he is pinned to the floor. Mr Floyd is heard repeatedly saying "I can’t breathe". He is pronounced dead later in hospital. Protests begin 26 May Four officers involved in the arrest of George Floyd are fired. Protests begin as the video of the arrest is shared widely on social media. Hundreds of demonstrators take to the streets of Minneapolis and vandalise police cars and the police station with graffiti. Protests spread 27 May Protests spread to other cities including Memphis and Los Angeles. In some places, like Portland, Oregon, protesters lie in the road, chanting "I can’t breathe". Demonstrators again gather around the police station in Minneapolis where the officers involved in George Floyd’s arrest were based and set fire to it. The building is evacuated and police retreat. Trump tweets 28 May President Trump blames the violence on a lack of leadership in Minneapolis and threatens to send in the National Guard in a tweet. He follows it up in a second tweet with a warning "when the looting starts, the shooting starts". The second tweet is hidden by Twitter for "glorifying violence". CNN reporter arrested 29 May A CNN reporter, Omar Jimenez, is arrested while covering the Minneapolis protest. Mr Jimenez was reporting live when police officers handcuffed him. A few minutes later several of his colleagues are also arrested. They are all later released once they are confirmed to be members of the media. Derek Chauvin charged with murder Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, 44, is charged with murder and manslaughter. The charges carry a combined maximum 35-year sentence. Sixth night of protests 31 May Violence spreads across the US on the sixth night of protests. A total of at least five people are reported killed in protests from Indianapolis to Chicago. More than 75 cities have seen protests. At least 4,400 people have been arrested. Curfews are imposed across the US to try to stem the unrest. Trump threatens military response 1 June President Trump threatens to send in the military to quell growing civil unrest. He says if cities and states fail to control the protests and "defend their residents" he will deploy the army and "quickly solve the problem for them". Mr Trump poses in front of a damaged church shortly after police used tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters nearby. Eighth night of protests 2 June Tens of thousands of protesters again take to the streets. One of the biggest protests is in George Floyd’s hometown of Houston, Texas. Many defy curfews in several cities, but the demonstrations are largely peaceful. Memorial service for George Floyd 4 June A memorial service for George Floyd is held in Minneapolis. Those gathered in tribute stand in silence for eight minutes, 46 seconds, the amount of time Mr Floyd is alleged to have been on the ground under arrest. Hundreds attended the service, which heard a eulogy from civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton. International protests 7 June As the US saw another weekend of protests, with tens of thousands marching in Washington DC, anti-racism demonstrations were held around the world. In Australia, there were major protests in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that focused on the treatment of indigenous Australians. There were also demonstrations in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. In Bristol, protesters tore down the statue of a 17th century slave trader and threw it into the harbour. Funeral service for George Floyd 9 June A funeral service for George Floyd is held in Houston, Mr Floyd’s home town. Just over two weeks after his death in Minneapolis and worldwide anti-racism protests, about 500 guests invited by the Floyd family are in attendance at the Fountain of Praise Church. Many more gather outside to show their support.

अदालती दस्तावेजों के अनुसार, जॉर्ज फ्लॉयड की हत्या के आरोपी अमेरिकी पुलिस अधिकारी ने उसे बात करना बंद करने के लिए कहा क्योंकि वह बार-बार उस व्यक्ति के घुटने के नीचे सांस लेता था।


Three charged with Wakefield murder after man dies in house

Summary: Three men have been charged with murder after a man was found dead at a house in Wakefield.

The body of Jonathan Dews, 42, was found at the property on Brighton Street after emergency services were called to a fire on Friday. Police have not released the cause of Mr Dews' death. Scott Crutchley, 24, Jordan Metcalfe, 24, and Nathan Redmond, 21, all from Wakefield, will appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court later. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.

वेकफील्ड में एक घर में एक व्यक्ति के मृत पाए जाने के बाद तीन लोगों पर हत्या का आरोप लगाया गया है।


Police probe after three rescued from Nottingham house fire

Summary: Two women and a man have been rescued from a house fire "caused by malicious ignition", police have said.

Firefighters were called to Cromwell Street in Nottingham at about 05:30 BST on Sunday. Two women and a man were pulled out at the house and one of them was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. Det Sgt Adam Taylor said "at the moment we do believe the blaze was started deliberately". Firefighters and police are carrying out an investigation and the blaze is being treated as "an isolated incident with no threat to the wider public". Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.

पुलिस ने कहा है कि दो महिलाओं और एक पुरुष को "दुर्भावनापूर्ण इग्निशन के कारण" घर में लगी आग से बचाया गया है।


Has Australia become a smuggler's paradise?

Summary: It is the stuff of gripping fiction - or high farce - where an alleged people-trafficking kingpin from Iraq poses as a refugee and runs his illicit business within a few kilometres of Australia's intelligence agencies' headquarters.

By Phil MercerBBC News, Sydney The Australian Broadcasting Corp made the allegations against Captain Emad. The news network accused him of captaining a boatload of unauthorised arrivals from Indonesia and impersonating an asylum seeker when the vessel was intercepted by the authorities in 2010. Criticism was heaped onto the country's police and spy services: how could an alleged criminal mastermind pass security checks and be allowed to run a people-smuggling operation from his home in Canberra? Immigration Minister Chris Bowen ordered an immediate investigation, declaring he had "no tolerance at all for people gaining refugee status based on false information". Captain flees But a day after the ABC exposé, called Smugglers' Paradise - Australia, was aired, Captain Emad, also known as Abu Khalid, had fled the country and his whereabouts were unknown. Senior police officers said they had Captain Emad and members of his alleged syndicate under surveillance, but did not have enough evidence to charge him. "When leaving Australia, the man triggered a long-standing alert at Melbourne Airport and at the time, there was an operational decision made by investigators that he could not be detained, as the officers had no lawful basis to prevent him from departing Australia," said federal police commissioner Tony Negus. In Canberra, the conservative opposition tore into the Labor government, claiming that budget cuts have hamstrung the police and that a prized catch was allowed to disappear overseas. However, lawyers concede that it is difficult for investigators to make charges stick against accused high-ranking traffickers. Most cases are based on eye-witness testimony of asylum seekers who pay thousands of dollars to travel to Australia by boat, mostly from Indonesia. It is a view shared by Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, who said: "Unfortunately, there is a difference between compiling information for a television programme and compiling information for court." 'Head of the snake' This embarrassing affair has caused a stir between Australia and its giant neighbour to the north, Indonesia. Both countries have vowed to stem a steady flow of asylum boats in recent years, but Tantowi Yahya, a member of Indonesia's parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, said the Captain Emad revelations undermined Canberra's claim to be fighting the smuggling trade. "We agree with the request from Australian government to be co-operative with them, but then we get the news that the Australian government is giving refugee status to the smugglers," said Mr Yahya. The ABC's Four Corners TV show team had documented "how the biggest people-smuggling networks in Indonesia have moved their operations to Australia". An Iraqi refugee, Hussain Nasir, claimed that "many, many smugglers or agents, they enter Australia, and now they live in Australia". His credibility has, however, been questioned by The Australian newspaper, which said he was "unreliable". The ABC responded by insisting that the attack on a "brave whistleblower" was "disgraceful". Emad was described as the "head of the smugglers, the head of the snake", by an informant who linked him to a powerful Indonesian ring behind two ill-fated boats that sank en route to Australia, killing almost 150 people. Even though one alleged kingpin has fled, Commissioner Negus says his officers will continue to pursue others. "The AFP [Australian Federal Police] currently has over a dozen active investigations into people-smuggling ventures being organised from Australia," he said. "We have over 100 investigators working with our partners in this area, both here in Australia and offshore." 'Hounded out' Questions remain about whether Emad's refugee protection visa will be revoked by the Australian government. Human rights campaigners believe that he has been unfairly hounded out of Australia by "unsubstantiated allegations". "I was extremely disappointed with the ABC story," explained Ian Rintoul from the refugee rights group Refugee Action Coalition. "It is very common for people who organise boats in Indonesia to be refugees. The majority of people who have been convicted of smuggling have been found to be genuine refugees," he said. When confronted by the ABC at a supermarket car park in Canberra, Emad had denied any wrongdoing. "I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted. The following day, he had left the country.

यह मनोरंजक कल्पना-या उच्च प्रहसन का सामान है-जहां इराक से एक कथित लोगों की तस्करी करने वाला सरगना शरणार्थी के रूप में पेश आता है और ऑस्ट्रेलिया की खुफिया एजेंसियों के मुख्यालय के कुछ किलोमीटर के भीतर अपना अवैध व्यवसाय चलाता है।