Loch Hill wind farm appeal rejected

Summary: A developer has lost an appeal against the refusal of a plan for a wind farm on land north east of St John's Town of Dalry in southern Scotland.

2020 Renewables wanted to build 11 turbines in the Loch Hill scheme. Dumfries and Galloway Council planning officials had recommended approval, but it was rejected by councillors due to its "visual and cumulative impact on the surrounding area". Now a Scottish government reporter has also turned down the plan. The appeal argued that the scheme aimed to minimise environmental impact. 2020 Renewables said it could have brought "substantial economic benefits" to the region. However, a reporter concluded that the "visual harm would be disproportionate to the renewable energy generation benefits".

दक्षिणी स्कॉटलैंड में सेंट जॉन्स टाउन ऑफ डेली के उत्तर पूर्व में भूमि पर एक पवन फार्म की योजना को अस्वीकार करने के खिलाफ एक डेवलपर ने अपील खो दी है।


Why do people still fly the Confederate flag?

Summary: A row has erupted in Virginia over a proposal to fly a huge Confederate flag outside the state capital, Richmond. One hundred and fifty years after the Civil War, the flag can still be seen flying from homes and cars in the South. Why?

By Tom GeogheganBBC News, Washington For millions of young Britons growing up in the early 1980s, one particular image of the Confederate flag was beamed into living rooms across the UK every Saturday evening. The flag emblazoned the roof of the General Lee, becoming a blur of white stars on a blue cross when at breathtaking speed, the Dodge Charger took the two heroes, Bo and Luke Duke, out of the clutches of the hapless police in The Dukes of Hazzard. Thousands of miles from the fictional county of Hazzard in Georgia, it seemed like an innocent motif but in the US, the flag taken into battle by the Confederate states in the Civil War is politically charged - not a week goes by without its appearance sparking upset. Recently, there's been a row in Texas over car licence plates bearing the flag, a man arrested after shouting abuse while waving it at a country music concert, and the ongoing fallout from South Carolina flying the flag in front of the State House. Now plans by a heritage group, the Virginia Flaggers, to erect a large Confederate flag on a major road outside Richmond has drawn considerable fire from critics who say it's a symbol of hate. That's not true, says Barry Isenhour, a member of the group, who says it's really about honouring the Confederate soldiers who gave their lives. For him, the war was not primarily about slavery but standing up to being over-taxed, and he says many southerners abhorred slavery. "They fought for the family and fought for the state. We are tired of people saying they did something wrong. They were freedom-loving Americans who stood up to the tyranny of the North. They seceded from the US government not from the American idea." He displays a flag on his car but lives in a street where the flying of any flags is not permitted. They are a dwindling sight these days, he thinks, because people are less inclined to fly them in the face of hostility - monuments honouring southern Civil War generals are, he says, regularly vandalised. Denouncing the "hateful" groups like the Ku Klux Klan who he says have dishonoured the flag, he adds that people should be just as offended by the Union Jack, the Dutch flag or the Stars and Stripes, because they all flew for nations practising slavery. Others strongly disagree with his analysis. African Americans, especially older ones, are traumatised when they see the flag, says Salim Khalfani, who has lived in Richmond for nearly 40 years and thinks it risks making the city look like a "hick" backwater that is still fighting the Civil War. "If it's really about heritage then keep the flag on your private property or in museums but don't mess it up for municipalities and states who are trying to bring tourists here because this will have the opposite effect." African-American author Clenora Hudson-Weens saw people waving the flags on the street in Memphis a few weeks ago. "I just said to them 'This is 2013' and they just smiled. I personally believe in some traditions but this is a tradition that is so oppressive to blacks. I wouldn't be proud waving a flag that has an ambience of racism and negativity." Many Americans will be familiar with the arguments on either side but perhaps not with the convoluted origins of the flag itself. The flag seen today on houses, bumper stickers and T-shirts - sometimes accompanied by the words "If this shirt offends you, you need a history lesson" - is not, and never was, the official national flag of the Confederacy. The design by William Porcher Miles, who chaired the flag committee, was rejected as the national flag in 1861, overlooked in favour of the Stars and Bars. It was instead adopted as a square battle flag by the Army of Northern Virginia under General Lee, the greatest military force of the Confederacy. It fast became such a potent symbol of Confederate nationalism that in 1863 it was incorporated into the next design of the national flag, which replaced the hated Stars and Bars. The saltire - or diagonal cross - on the battle flag is believed to have been inspired by its heraldic connections, not any Scottish ones. How a flag was born So has the flag historically been more about slavery or heritage? You could say that both sides are correct if you look at how the flag has evolved, says David Goldfield, author of Still Fighting The Civil War. When the Confederacy debated the adoption of a new flag in Richmond in 1862, it was clear this was to be a symbol of white supremacy and a slavery-dominated society, he says. After the war, the flag was primarily used for commemorative purposes at graves, memorial services and soldier reunions, but from the perspective of African Americans, the history and heritage that they see is hate, suppression and white supremacy, says Goldfield, and the historical record supports that. "On the other hand, there are white southerners who trace their ancestors back to the Civil War and want to fly the flag for their great-grandfather who fought under it and died under it." And for them, it genuinely has nothing to do with racism. However, he thinks they should respect the fact it does cause offence and not fly it in public. The flag wasn't a major symbol until the Civil Rights movement began to take shape in the 1950s, says Bill Ferris, founding director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, It was a battle flag relegated to history but the Ku Klux Klan and others who resisted desegregation turned to the flag as a symbol. He likens it to the swastika but others see it very differently. Indeed, the flag has been compared to a Rorschach blot because it means several things at all at once, depending on who is looking at it. "All symbols are liable to multiple interpretations but this is unique in its power and ability to inflame passions on all sides, and the volume of interpretations and preconceptions about it make it unique in American history," says John Coski, author of The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem. He has even seen it displayed in Europe, where it has become shorthand for "rebel". Since attempts by campaigners in the 1990s to remove the flags from public buildings, he thinks the issue has died down in the US. In 2001, Georgia changed the 45-year-old design of its state flag after pressure to remove the Confederate symbol. Although the number of incidents is diminishing it's not going away, he says, because it just takes a couple of well-publicised episodes to get it back on people's radars, and feelings inflamed. "We can all write the script ourselves - they will say this and they will say this." It's a predictable pattern, he adds. "I think it will die out," says Ferris, who thinks flag-wavers feel like an embattled minority. "The south is changing, with the growth of Hispanics and Asian and a growing black population, and you can be sure that the Confederate flag has no place in their world." The South, he says, needs a new emblem to reflect its changing character. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook

वर्जीनिया में राज्य की राजधानी रिचमंड के बाहर एक विशाल संघीय झंडा फहराने के प्रस्ताव पर विवाद छिड़ गया है। गृहयुद्ध के डेढ़ सौ साल बाद भी दक्षिण में घरों और कारों से झंडा फहराते देखा जा सकता है। क्यों?


Channel migrants: Children among 64 people to arrive by boat

Summary: More than 60 migrants have crossed the Channel in six boats.

Five vessels were intercepted by Border Force off the coast of Kent, with a sixth landing on a beach in Sussex. The Home Office said 53 migrants - including what it called six "claimed minors" - found in the Channel would be interviewed by immigration officers. A further 11 people, including four children, were detained by police and handed over to Border Force after arriving at Winchelsea Beach by boat. Sussex Police said it was "very concerned" for another group, which it described as "possibly a family including children", who may have left the beach before authorities arrived. Ch Insp Anita Turner said: "We want to make sure that these people are safely ashore and that they are okay." Meanwhile, two dinghies carrying a total of 19 adults, 10 children and a baby were picked up by French authorities attempting to cross the Channel. More than 900 people, including at least 80 children, have crossed the Channel in small boats this year. The Home Office said it was monitoring the "ongoing situation" and "working closely at all levels with French authorities," adding Home Secretary Priti Patel was due to "raise this issue with her French counterpart in the coming days". A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.

60 से अधिक प्रवासियों ने छह नावों में चैनल पार किया है।


Police confirm identity of body found on beach at Longniddry

Summary: A body found on a beach in East Lothian was that of a 79-year-old local man, police have confirmed.

He was discovered near Longniddry Golf Club on Wednesday morning. Police Scotland initially appealed for help in identifying the man but they confirmed later confirmed his identity. Officers said his death was not suspicious and a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

पुलिस ने पुष्टि की है कि पूर्वी लोथियन के एक समुद्र तट पर पाया गया एक शव एक 79 वर्षीय स्थानीय व्यक्ति का था।


Doctor Who: How was Peter Capaldi's debut series?

Summary: SPOILER ALERT: This article contains plot details Doctor Who's eighth series reached its finale on Saturday with an hour-long episode that saw Peter Capaldi's Time Lord battling two old foes: The Cybermen and Missy - a female incarnation of his arch-enemy The Master. So what do TV critics make of the Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Twelfth Doctor so far?

Death in Heaven had 5.45 million viewers, according to overnight figures. The story saw the Doctor being made President of the World and featured an affectionate tribute to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, a regular character from the classic era of Doctor Who. Hobbled by a later time slot and competition from The X Factor, the audience had dropped from the 7.3 million who watched Capaldi's season opener in August, Deep Breath, but critics have welcomed the Scottish star's tenure in the Tardis. "The fine first series of Peter Capaldi's tenure in the Tardis ended on a high," wrote Michael Hogan in The Telegraph, adding that Death in Heaven "provided a series denouement that really delivered". Noting that last week's episode, Dark Water, had attracted complaints from viewers disturbed by its plotline about death and cremation, Hogan said Death in Heaven "was lighter, less morbid and more of a sci-fi romp, but still chilling and shot in slate greys, like a Seventies horror film". He said that with its darker tone, it was right that Doctor Who had been shifted to a later time slot. "This has been a cracking series, with the show back to its darkly compelling best and Capaldi - clever, complex and unpredictably otherworldly - making the role truly his own." Den of Geek's Simon Brew said Death in Heaven served as a "fitting conclusion" to both the events set up in Dark Water and the entire series. "It feels like Doctor Who has undergone a real resurgence of sorts with him in the Tardis, and his Doctor remains one you can barely keep your eyes off." But The Mirror's Richard Beech looked back on series eight with mixed feelings. "I still have a weird and slightly confusing longing for Matt Smith, but I've accepted he's gone, and Capaldi is resplendently terrifying and entertaining," he said. "There were some real dud episodes in the series, but probably no more so than in series seven, which got a bit convoluted. And that's a big point we should be making. "This series was very easy to follow, is that good or bad? Everyone will have a different view on that, but nobody complained about it being confusing." The Independent's Ellen E Jones said that while the finale's zombie-Cybermen "weren't scary enough", Michelle Gomez as Missy was one of its triumphs. "Like Hannibal Lecter in a Mary Poppins outfit, Missy was an unsettling mix of prim and predatory, even while shackled to an upright gurney." Christopher Campbell, writing for Film School Rejects, agreed. "The female incarnate of the Master is one of the most enjoyable villains I've seen in a long time, on television or in the movies. She's a wicked blend of Bond nemesis and evil Mary Poppins (with a dash of Marilyn Monroe impersonation), and it's probably for the best that I was left wanting more". There was also praise for Jenna Coleman's portrayal of companion Clara from Digital Spy's Morgan Jeffery. "She's been a bit of a revelation these past 12 episodes, with Moffat and his writing team granting Clara all the vim, vigour and personality she was sorely lacking before," he wrote. He said series eight had delivered "thoughtful, emotional, stunning episodes" like Listen, alongside "complete clunkers" like In The Forest of the Night. "But just as Death in Heaven left me mostly satisfied, there's been enough right with this series to leave me optimistic for Doctor Who's future. "Chief among its selling points has been a fantastic, fascinating lead performance from Peter Capaldi and with the growing pains of this era out of the way, I have a feeling series nine could be something very special indeed."

स्पॉइलर अलर्टः इस लेख में कथानक का विवरण है डॉक्टर हू की आठवीं श्रृंखला शनिवार को एक घंटे के लंबे एपिसोड के साथ अपने समापन पर पहुंची जिसमें पीटर कैपाल्डी के टाइम लॉर्ड को दो पुराने दुश्मनों से लड़ते हुए देखा गयाः द साइबरमैन और मिसी-जो उनके कट्टर दुश्मन द मास्टर का एक महिला अवतार है। तो टीवी आलोचक पीटर कैपाल्डी के अब तक के बारहवें डॉक्टर के रूप में कार्यकाल के बारे में क्या सोचते हैं?


Super Puma fatal accident inquiry: Helicopter 'fell like a torpedo'

Summary: A seaman who saw a helicopter crash "like a torpedo", killing 16 men, has told a fatal accident inquiry the rotor blades came down several seconds after the fuselage of the Super Puma.

In a statement to the first day of the inquiry into the 2009 crash, Normand Aurora crewman Lidvar Olav Hildre said he heard the helicopter fly over his ship followed by a sudden silence. He saw "an oblong shape falling like a torpedo into the sea". Four rotor blades then landed. The statement read: "There was a big splash then white smoke. "I saw four black rotor blades falling out of the sky. It fell to about the same place." The ship then launched a fast rescue boat to the scene, where eight bodies were found floating on the water. Earlier, the sheriff refused a bid for technical logs to be produced for all Bond helicopters operating out of Aberdeen at the time of the Super Puma crash. The FAI was told a fault on the main gearbox was detected on 23 March 2009, eight days before the crash. The inquiry heard there was an initial view it should be replaced. It was not, and an investigation found it was the reason for the crash. The inquiry was asked to compel Bond to produce the documents to help determine whether workload was the reason the gearbox was not replaced. Derek Pyle, Sheriff Principal for Grampian, Highlands and Islands, refused the application. All 14 passengers and two crew lost their lives in April 2009, when the Bond helicopter came down in the North Sea. Relatives have said the FAI had been a "long, long time" coming. The inquiry, which is being held in Aberdeen Town House, is expected to last six weeks. The sheriff principal has said his determination will be released as early as possible. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report blamed a catastrophic gear box failure for the crash, which happened 12 miles off Peterhead and left no survivors. Safety paramount A police investigation ended with the Crown Office deciding there was insufficient evidence for any prosecutions - a decision that angered families of the victims. Eight of those who died came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia. Audrey Wood, who lost son Stuart, 27, from Aberdeen, told BBC Scotland before the FAI got under way: "It has been a long, long five years. The suffering is exceptional, the families should not have had to wait this long. "The FAI is used as a fact-finding inquiry, we look at it as a fault-finding inquiry. "Hopefully we will get answers. Safety should be paramount." She added: "Woody was always a fun-filled guy, very family-orientated. We dearly miss him." The two crew who died were Capt Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, who worked for Bond Offshore Helicopters. The KCA Deutag employees killed were Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; Nolan Goble, 34, of Norwich, and Mihails Zuravskis, 39, of Latvia. The other victims were James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd.

एक नाविक जिसने एक हेलीकॉप्टर को "टारपीडो की तरह" दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होते देखा, जिसमें 16 लोगों की मौत हो गई, ने एक घातक दुर्घटना जांच को बताया कि सुपर प्यूमा के धड़ के कई सेकंड बाद रोटर ब्लेड नीचे आ गए।


UKIP candidate investigated over far-right messages

Summary: A UKIP general election candidate is being investigated by the party over web messages backing far-right groups.

A posting in the name of Newport East candidate Donald Grewar praised a message on the BNP website calling gay people "perverts" and "paedophiles". Another comment backing the English Defence League statement "no surrender to militant Islam or political correctness" appeared on Facebook. A UKIP spokesman said the party was investigating the matter.

एक यू. के. आई. पी. आम चुनाव उम्मीदवार की पार्टी द्वारा दूर-दराज़ समूहों का समर्थन करने वाले वेब संदेशों पर जाँच की जा रही है।


Coronavirus doctor's diary: The 'moonshine weddings' breaking Bradford's lockdown

Summary: People are gathering in Bradford in ways that violate the local lockdown, for example by holding weddings in gardens and restaurants. Last month some even appear to have been held courtesy of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. And the task of enforcing the lockdown just got tougher, argues Dr John Wright of Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The lifting of restrictions on social gatherings in some areas of Bradford but not others has led to relief for some residents and resentment from others. The restrictions forbid people from different households from meeting in homes or gardens, or socialising together in pubs or restaurants, but it doesn't take much shoe-leather detective work on a sunny weekend to realise how little notice people are paying. Gardens blossom with boisterous gatherings, pubs and restaurants ooze chatter and cheer. Everywhere young people mingle with careless abandon. The hospital has transformed from the busiest place in the city during the peak of the pandemic to become the quietest. It was always going to be difficult to enforce these local restrictions, but the lifting of restrictions in nine of the 30 wards in Bradford on Wednesday makes the job much harder. How can you maintain adherence when on one side of the street you can have wild parties (no more than 30 people, of course) while on the opposite side of the street residents are told to live in isolated lockdown? We have created a disparity that will sow confusion and scepticism and undermine our efforts to build a united front against Covid-19. Bradford's lockdown 23 March The city goes into lockdown with the rest of the UK 1 June Non-essential shops reopen and some children return to school 4 July Cinemas, pubs and hairdressers reopen, and groups of up to 30 people are legally allowed to meet, as in rest of England 31 July New restrictions introduced - people from different households may not visit each other's homes or socialise in pubs or restaurants 2 September The new restrictions are lifted in nine of Bradford's 30 wards Weddings are just one of many forms of gathering that have been taking place. They've been planned for months if not years, everything's been paid for, and the young couple may be impatient. But any event that brings two or more households together - as weddings inevitably do - is a violation of the rules in the areas where the local lockdown remains in force. When Nadeem's son married on 7 August, the bride's family arranged for a marquee to be erected in their garden. The original plan had been for a huge wedding in a costly venue - the deposit alone had cost £1,000 - but the guest list had to be scaled down to 30 or 40 family members. It had already been delayed once, then the second lockdown came, and a further delay was a bitter pill to swallow. "It's hard for the youngsters, they just want to get on with their lives," Nadeem says. My colleague, consultant anaesthetist Fozia Hayat, has witnessed gatherings like this one first hand. "We had a huge wedding taking place in the houses behind us, with a marquee in the garden and fireworks, music and many, many guests," she says. "I'm also getting calls from people who have been to secret weddings, so I know it's happening. It's a really difficult area, as weddings and funerals are a really important part of our culture. I understand them wanting to go ahead. These celebrations are a big part of life. But it goes against the regulations, because you have people mixing, and it's also putting older members of the community at risk." Front line diary Prof John Wright, a doctor and epidemiologist, is head of the Bradford Institute for Health Research, and a veteran of cholera, HIV and Ebola epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. He is writing this diary for BBC News and recording from the hospital wards for BBC Radio. Bradford West MP Naz Shah says she has spoken with the city council and the police about ways to prevent these illegal wedding gatherings. "It's not just in the gardens, there are restaurants that are being used for weddings. So people are bypassing the regulations and going into the restaurant, but their family are all there - all of them dining in," she says. "If anyone came they'd say, 'We were all here by coincidence, it's not a planned reception.' But everyone knows what's going on. I've been to restaurants and seen the upstairs area being used for receptions." She fears that there were cases last month when the taxpayer was even subsidising these events. "We have the government Eat Out To Help Out promotion going on. I've heard that some of these wedding receptions are being held in restaurants covered by the scheme, which certainly will be helping out the families but it's not meant to be happening at all." Before the pandemic, hundreds of guests would often be invited to Asian weddings, and the fate of the venues that host these huge occasions also worries Naz Shah, who has written to the Chancellor seeking support to help them survive until the end of the lockdown. Summer would normally have been peak season for weddings, explains Ameer Hamza of the HQ Banqueting Suite, which typically hosts weddings for 500 to 1,000 guests but hasn't had one since 8 March. He's written to the city council explaining that it would be easy to hold a socially distanced wedding for a large group of people in his banqueting hall, if it was filled only to 30% or 40% of capacity. The closure of such venues, he argues, inevitably results in weddings without social distancing. "What they've done here is - like in America in the 1920s during Prohibition, when no alcohol was allowed - they've started a moonshine culture. They've started moonshine weddings, because what you're getting is people who have no other option." He points out that in Asian culture, and particularly Muslim culture, cohabitation before marriage is frowned upon; couples cannot start their lives together without weddings, so they will inevitably go ahead, one way or another. West Yorkshire police say officers have been called out to a number of weddings, as well as to other gatherings that breach the Covid regulations across the social spectrum, including illegal raves, student house parties and football-related gatherings. "People need to avoid unlicensed events and large gatherings to stop the spread of the virus," a spokesman said. The number of people with positive tests in Bradford remains stubbornly high, though they are mostly young people with mild or asymptomatic infection. The national NHS Test and Trace is slowly improving and new local systems are providing much needed community insight and coverage. The clear and consistent messages on social distancing, masks and hand washing seem to be working well for the most part, so we will have to keep our faith in the science of these core public health measures and their effectiveness in containing the virus - while striving to limit social gatherings such as weddings and parties, which have the potential to be super-spreading events. One thing we cannot help is the change of season. Outdoor spaces seem reassuringly safe in preventing transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but as the autumn weather creeps up on us and our social gatherings move indoors, the risk of spread will rise. Follow @docjohnwright and radio producer @SueM1tchell on Twitter

ब्रैडफोर्ड में लोग ऐसे तरीकों से इकट्ठा हो रहे हैं जो स्थानीय लॉकडाउन का उल्लंघन करते हैं, उदाहरण के लिए बगीचों और रेस्तरां में शादियां आयोजित करना। पिछले महीने कुछ लोगों को 'ईट आउट टू हेल्प आउट' योजना के सौजन्य से आयोजित किया गया था। और ब्रैडफोर्ड रॉयल इन्फर्मरी के डॉ. जॉन राइट का तर्क है कि लॉकडाउन को लागू करने का काम मुश्किल हो गया है।


Borders railway: Galashiels flats cleared from route

Summary: A block of flats in Galashiels has been torn down in order to make way for the reopening of the Borders to Edinburgh railway.

The properties at Beechbank Place had been earmarked for demolition for some time. Residents moved out of the buildings last year and the flats were pulled down at the weekend. It is hoped the £295m railway project will see trains running between the capital and Tweedbank by 2014. The flats were right on the route of the planned railway as it passes behind Galashiels town centre. Works were expected to have started on building the line by now but contractors have yet to begin. However, to speed up the eventual completion, trees and vegetation are being cleared from the side of the route, right down through the Borders.

एडिनबर्ग रेलवे के लिए सीमाओं को फिर से खोलने के लिए रास्ता बनाने के लिए गैलेशियल्स में फ्लैटों के एक ब्लॉक को फाड़ दिया गया है।


Harassment in Hollywood: Who's been accused?

Summary: Since October, some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment have been caught up in a Hollywood sexual harassment scandal.

Here, in alphabetical order, is a summary of some of the key people who have been accused to date and what they have said in response. Ben Affleck On 11 October, Oscar winner Ben Affleck "sincerely" apologised for acting "inappropriately" towards MTV presenter Hilarie Burton in 2003. Having condemned producer Harvey Weinstein for his "unacceptable" behaviour, the actor was reminded of and criticised for groping Burton on air. On 19 October, former model Natasha Prince came forward with claims that the illusionist David Blaine raped her in west London in 2004. Speaking through a representative, Blaine "vehemently" denied the allegations and pledged to "fully cooperate" with any police investigation. On 2 November, former girl band member and actress Melissa Schuman accused Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter of forcing her into a sex act against her will and raping her when she was 18. Later that month, Carter said he was "shocked and saddened" by the claims and said his accuser had "never expressed... that anything we did was not consensual". On 9 November, the New York Times reported on five women who had accused US comedian Louis CK of sexual misconduct. Four of the accusers told the paper he had masturbated during interactions with them, while a fifth said he had asked to do so. The comedian - full name Louis Szekely - admitted the allegations were true and said he had "wielded power irresponsibly". On 10 January, Michael Douglas issued a denial over a claim of improper sexual conduct, which has not yet been made public. The Hollywood star said he "felt the need to get ahead" of the situation and to share his "concerns" before a story was published. He said a former employee was accusing him of performing a sex act in front of her more than 30 years ago. Douglas told Deadline: "This is a complete lie, fabrication, no truth to it whatsoever." Five women have accused James Franco of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behaviour, including students from his acting school. After James Franco's appearance at the Golden Globes in January, wearing a Time's Up badge, his former student Sarah Tither-Kaplan spoke to the LA Times accusing the 39-year-old of sexual misconduct. Two other student actresses also claimed to have had negative on-set experiences, with both saying Franco became angry when no women at a shoot would agree to be topless. Franco's attorney, Michael Plonsker, disputed all of the women's allegations, with Franco himself claiming they were "not accurate". On 1 November, the Hollywood Reporter published a guest column by a former intern who accused Dustin Hoffman of sexually harassing her in 1985. Anna Graham Hunter accused the Oscar-winning actor of groping her and making inappropriate comments about sex to her when she was 17. In a statement, Hoffman apologised and said he felt "terrible that anything [he] might have done could have put [Ms Hunter] in an uncomfortable situation." In December, another woman came forward accusing Hoffman of an "horrific, demoralising and abusive experience" while on a Broadway production of Death of a Salesman. Kathryn Rossetter claims Hoffman regularly groped her and, during one encounter, exposed her to the rest of the crew by pulling her slip above her head. Hoffman has not commented on the latest claims - also published in the Hollywood Reporter. However, the website said it had spoken to several people who had worked on the 1984 production, who questioned Rossetter's account, saying they had not witnessed the conduct described. On 14 January, Eliza Dushku made claims in a Facebook post that she had been abused at the age of 12, while filming True Lies. The actress, famous for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bring It On, alleged that stuntman Joel Kramer sexually molested her. Kramer denied the claims saying they were "entirely untrue", and adding: "I never behaved in any way inappropriately with her." On 8 January, Australian actor Craig McLachlan denied allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by three women. The accusations against the 52-year-old concern his time performing in a 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show. Three cast members accused the former Neighbours actor of inappropriate touching and harassment. As a result, McLachlan stepped down from the Rocky Horror Show's current Australian run, but rejected the allegations as "entirely false". "Frankly, they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety," he wrote in an email to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in response to the allegations. Around 18 October, it emerged that Roy Price, the head of Amazon's film and television arm, had resigned after being accused of sexually harassing a television producer. Isa Hackett accused the Amazon Studios boss of repeatedly making unwanted propositions to her during a taxi ride in 2015. Price was also accused by actress Rose McGowan of failing to act on her claim that she was sexually assaulted by producer Harvey Weinstein. Price has not directly responded to the claims. On 1 November, the Los Angeles Times reported on six women who had accused director Brett Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct. Among them were Natasha Henstridge, who claimed she was forced into a sex act with Ratner when she was a teenager, and fellow actress Olivia Munn, who accused him of masturbating in front of her in 2014. Ratner, director of Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand and the Rush Hour films, denied the claims via his lawyer. On 23 October, the executive vice-president of Conde Nast International instructed staff to drop fashion photographer Terry Richardson from its titles, which include GQ, Vogue and Glamour. The move followed the publication of a Sunday Times article that claimed the photographer was "the subject of widespread allegations of sexually abusing models over many years". A representative for Richardson said his subjects had all "participated consensually" in his "sexually explicit" work and that the photographer was "disappointed" by Conde Nast's decision. On 8 November, actress Portia de Rossi accused action star Steven Seagal of unzipping his trousers while she was auditioning for one of his films. Actress Julianna Margulies also accused Seagal of inappropriate behaviour, while model Jenny McCarthy repeated an earlier claim she had made against him. Seagal's manager said the Under Siege star had no comment. In January, former Bond girl Rachel Grant accused the actor of sexual assault at a film rehearsal in Sofia in 2002. The British actress also alleged Seagal attempted to indecently expose himself and claims she later lost her job on the film, Out For A Kill. Lawyers for Mr Seagal say that he unequivocally denies Ms Grant's allegations in their entirety: "Our client denies having such contact with Ms Grant and further vehemently denies any alleged assault at all, in particular, the alleged assault occurring in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2002." In an interview published on 30 October, actor Anthony Rapp accused Kevin Spacey of making a sexual advance towards him when Rapp was 14. In the days that followed, a number of other allegations were made against the two-time Oscar winner by people who claimed he had groped, sexually harassed or made indecent overtures towards them. Spacey claimed to have no memory of the events Rapp described and later issued an "absolute" denial of the other allegations through his lawyer. The accusations have had a serious impact on his career, with Netflix pulling the plug on his House of Cards TV series and Sony announcing its intention to excise him completely from an upcoming film release. In December, the King of Norway's former son-in-law accused Spacey of groping him after a Nobel Peace Prize concert. The accusations have had a serious impact on his career, with Netflix removing him from the final series of House of Cards. He has also been replaced by Christopher Plummer in Ridley Scott's upcoming film All the Money in the World. A spokesman for Spacey said in November that he was "taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment" in the wake of the allegations. In December, Sylvester Stallone denied an allegation of rape after police in California opened an investigation. Santa Monica police said they were examining a complaint of sexual misconduct dating from the 1990s. The Rocky star said the allegation was "completely fabricated". His lawyer, Martin Singer, said a woman had filed a police report "alleging a rape that occurred 27 years ago". "My client categorically disputes the claim," Singer continued. On 8 November it was reported that Amazon Studios had launched an investigation into claims that Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor had acted inappropriately towards his personal assistant. Tambor himself called the allegations "baseless". The following week, transgender actress Trace Lysette claimed Tambor had "got physical" with her on set. In a statement, Tambor said he was "not a predator" and apologised "if any action... was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive". The 73-year-old subsequently expressed doubts that he could continue with the show amid reports that Amazon was exploring ways to continue the drama without him. On 22 October, the Los Angeles Times reported that 38 women had come forward to accuse film-maker James Toback of sexual harassment. The paper subsequently reported that more than 200 further women had come forward to accuse him of unwanted sexual advances, among them actress Julianne Moore. Actresses Selma Blair and Rachel McAdams made their own claims against the Oscar-nominated writer of Bugsy in a Vanity Fair piece. Toback denied the initial allegations but has yet to comment on the others. In an interview conducted before his accusers went public, though, he accused his accusers of spreading "pathetic lies". On 17 October, Variety reported on a woman who had accused Bob Weinstein - the brother of producer Harvey Weinstein - of making unwanted romantic overtures towards her. Amanda Segel, an executive producer of sci-fi series The Mist, claimed that Weinstein had repeatedly asked him to join him for private dinners and that he only desisted when she threatened to leave the show. Bob Weinstein, co-founder of The Weinstein Company, strongly denied Ms Segel's claims. The scandal that has engulfed Hollywood was set in motion on 5 October when the New York Times published a story detailing decades of allegations of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein. Many more allegations of sexual harassment followed, along with public denouncements from stars with whom the producer had worked. Weinstein was also accused of rape by a number of women. The producer issued an apology after the initial New York Times story, saying his past conduct had "caused a lot of pain". After the New Yorker published its own expose, he issued an "unequivocal" denial he had engaged in non-consensual sex through a spokeswoman. It was subsequently reported that a Canadian actress was suing Weinstein for two sexual assaults that allegedly took place in Toronto in 2000. A civil claim has also been made against Weinstein in the UK. British actor Ed Westwick issued a strong denial on 7 November after being accused of rape by an actress. The 30-year-old made another denial when another actress claimed she was raped by the actor at his home. The BBC subsequently announced that the actor had "paused" filming the second series of White Gold and been replaced in the Agatha Christie drama Ordeal By Innocence. In July 2018, the Los Angeles District Attorney said there was "insufficient evidence" for a prosecution to go ahead. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

अक्टूबर के बाद से, कला और मनोरंजन के कुछ सबसे बड़े नाम हॉलीवुड यौन उत्पीड़न घोटाले में पकड़े गए हैं।


Public to have say on Swansea's Castle Square revamp

Summary: People are being encouraged to have their say on plans to redevelop Swansea's Castle Square.

The square, which was developed from a gardens in the 1990s, is considered "tired" and councillors want to make changes to make it more vibrant. Swansea council has now published a public open spaces notice giving people the chance to give their views. Council leader Rob Stewart said it could become a "thriving, regenerated city centre". The public can put their views forward until Thursday, 18 August.

स्वानसी के कैसल स्क्वायर के पुनर्विकास की योजनाओं पर लोगों को अपनी बात रखने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया जा रहा है।


Pedestrian killed in Jersey taxi crash named

Summary: A pedestrian who died after being hit by a taxi in Jersey has been named.

Norman Dean, 48, was injured in a serious crash on Mont les Vaux in St Brelade at about 20:19 GMT on Sunday. He was taken to hospital following the collision with a black Mercedes, where he died shortly after. The States of Jersey Police said investigations were "ongoing" and officers shared their "thoughts and condolences" with the victim's family "at this very sad time".

जर्सी में एक टैक्सी की चपेट में आने से मरने वाले एक पैदल यात्री का नाम लिया गया है।


Coronavirus: Greece and Croatia acted fast, now need to save summer

Summary: Greece has always prided itself on its sunny weather, beaches and islands. And anyone familiar with the coast of Croatia will know that finding towel room on its increasingly crowded beaches is a challenge.

By Guy Delauney & Kostas KallergisBBC News But the coronavirus pandemic threatens to ruin the summer season, so vital to the economies of both countries, even though they moved fast to stop the spread. Their proximity to Italy concentrated minds, as Covid-19 started spreading rapidly. How did they react? Croatia was on alert soon after news of the Covid-19 epidemic emerged from China. The Institute of Public Health had published guidelines even before the arrival of a busload of tourists from Wuhan in late January. Local media raised concerns that Chinese workers constructing the Peljesac Bridge on the Dalmatian coast might have returned from virus-affected areas in China. In Greece, too, the government moved well before the virus reached its shores, as it saw infections spread in Italy. An ad-hoc scientific committee was set up with top epidemiologists, virologists and infectious disease experts. Some accused the government in Athens of not just entrusting the handling of the pandemic to scientists, but of handing over responsibility too. When did lockdown start? The first confirmed Croatian case came on 25 February, almost a month after Italy and the UK. It involved a man who had been in Milan six days earlier to see the now-notorious Champions League match between Atalanta and Valencia. The match has been linked to one of Italy's biggest outbreaks - in Bergamo, where Atalanta are based. The first confirmed case in Greece was recorded a day later than Croatia, on 26 February. And both countries reacted swiftly. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis imposed tighter restrictions over a period of weeks and it was made clear that no exceptions could be made: Greeks have since been allowed out of their homes only for essential work, buying food or walking the dog. It became more difficult to enter Croatia immediately after its first case. Although an EU member, it is not yet part of the Schengen border-free area. So, despite protests from neighbouring Slovenia, it had no compunction about imposing "health checks" at border crossings. By the end of February, a border queue of freight traffic stretched back for miles. Restrictions tightened rapidly. Within two weeks, arrivals from 18 countries would find themselves confined to quarantine or self-isolation if they entered Croatia. There were internal measures to match. Most commercial and cultural activity had ceased by mid-March. And on 23 March people were confined to their neighbourhoods unless they obtained an "e-pass" to travel. Greek enforcement was strict too. More than 60,000 fines were issued for violating the lockdown which, according to Greek police, totalled €9,247,800 (£8.1m). All this seems to have restricted the spread of Covid-19. Croatia's death rate currently stands at 18 per million, while Greece's stands at 13 per million. How Greece handled Easter One of the biggest challenges facing the Greek government came from the country's religious tradition. According to Greek Orthodox ritual, priests offer holy communion using the same spoon. The Church of Greece's leadership insisted for days that diseases could not be contracted from communion, which represents the blood and body of Jesus. Doctors and scientists immediately called on the Church to listen to science. The prime minister intervened with an emotional, televised speech. "Personally, in recent days I felt the need to invoke my faith in order to draw strength and stand up to the challenges," said Mr Mitsotakis. However, he said he had to "listen to scientists". "What applies to public gatherings will also apply to churches." As a result, and with only a handful of hiccups, all church Easter liturgies took place behind closed doors. Can they rescue summer? Now Croatia and Greece are moving to a gradual easing of those restrictions. For Croatia the problem is no longer how to keep foreigners out, but to bring them back in. About half of Croatia's 20 million annual visitors arrive in July and August and tourism is responsible for at least a fifth of its economic output. Those are the crucial months for Greece's tourist industry too. This year's motto, says Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis, is that Greece is coronavirus-safe. The Greek economy had only just begun to recover from an eight-year financial crisis when the lockdown was imposed. Tourism accounts for approximately 25% of Greek GDP and one in five jobs, so a new crisis is looming: 65% of Greek hoteliers say bankruptcy of their business is either "likely" or "most likely", according to a study by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels. Greek scientists are working on health requirements for visitors, the tourism minister says. "The basic principles behind the new rules are that social distancing will be required, and that more frequent and different kinds of cleaning procedures are to be followed." In other words, hotel staff will be tested regularly to ensure tourists and Greeks themselves are protected. Why Croatia needs open borders Croatia needs co-operation from its neighbours, Slovenia in particular. Slovenians rank second only to Germans in terms of the number of nights they spend in Croatia. If you travel by road from Northern Europe you have to cross Slovenia to reach the beaches of Istria, Dalmatia and the Kvarner Gulf. The two countries' tourism ministers met in Zagreb last week to sketch out a plan to allow Slovenians to travel across Croatia's borders by the end of this month, with other nationalities following in June. Czech travel agencies are keen to establish a "corona corridor" enabling quarantine-free travel to the coast, a plan warmly received by Croatia's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic. A survey in Austria too has indicated that people are still hoping to bask in the Croatian sun. Uncertainty over air travel With big questions over when holiday flights will resume, Greece too is initially looking for tourists who can reach the country by road. It is currently focused on getting the EU to set common rules that would allow people to travel for holidays. But if there is no consensus, Greece is prepared to go it alone, in order to "open up our economic activity as soon as possible and in a health-wise manner", says Mr Theocharis. "We will first see domestic tourism, then tourists from neighbouring countries, and then middle-distance countries and long-distance ones. Travelling by road will be safer initially than flying and we'll see that kind of tourists earlier." Traditional markets like Germany, the UK and the US may well be replaced by countries that are both closer and have not been hit hard by the pandemic. This may seem like an odd time to be thinking about holidays. But these are both countries with tourism-reliant economies and, having acted swiftly and thoroughly, a successful summer could be seen as a fitting reward.

ग्रीस ने हमेशा अपने धूप वाले मौसम, समुद्र तटों और द्वीपों पर गर्व किया है। और क्रोएशिया के तट से परिचित किसी को भी पता होगा कि इसके बढ़ते भीड़ वाले समुद्र तटों पर तौलिया कमरा ढूंढना एक चुनौती है।


President Wade's son named Senegal's energy minister

Summary: Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade has replaced the minister of energy with his son Karim, who is already in charge of several government portfolios.

The dismissal of the minister, Samuel Sarr, comes after a week of street protests against frequent power cuts. Correspondents say the move has added to speculation the 84-year-old leader is grooming his son as his successor. The president has said he plans to seek re-election in 2012 despite a dispute over him running for a third term. Some parts of the country suffer power cuts often lasting most of the day. Last week, the International Monetary Fund warned that insufficient electricity supply threatened Senegal's economic recovery. Mr Wade, a longtime opposition leader, came to power in elections in March 2000.

सेनेगल के राष्ट्रपति अब्दुलाए वेड ने ऊर्जा मंत्री की जगह उनके बेटे करीम को नियुक्त किया है, जो पहले से ही कई सरकारी विभागों के प्रभारी हैं।


Douglas lifeboat assists after fears car had fallen over cliffs

Summary: The Douglas lifeboat was launched in stormy conditions on Thursday after fears a car had gone over a cliff.

Crews searched the waters' edge from Douglas Head to Port Sodrick shortly after 23:00 GMT. The all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer assisted the coastguard after the car was suspected of going missing from Marine Drive. After an 18-minute search, the vehicle was located elsewhere and crews returned to their bases.

डगलस लाइफबोट को गुरुवार को तूफानी परिस्थितियों में एक कार के चट्टान के ऊपर से जाने की आशंका के बाद लॉन्च किया गया था।


Covid: What is council tax and should it go up in the pandemic?

Summary: With households budgets squeezed and many councils warning they're on the brink of bankruptcy dealing with the pandemic, Labour is calling on the government to cancel the planned hike in council tax bills set to kick in from April, in England.

The party says central government should be stepping up and providing extra funds to local authorities rather than leaving them to pass the cost on to families already struggling to make ends meet. But what exactly is council tax, how much is it and are steeper bills inevitable? What is council tax? Council tax is a compulsory charge on properties in England, Scotland and Wales set by local authorities to spend as they see fit in providing services in their area. That means most people, with a few exemptions we'll get on to later, have no choice about paying it. If you're not happy with a service provided, you can't ask for your money back. Homes are graded into what's known as "bands" or categories, according to how much they are worth at a specific point in time, with more expensive properties facing bigger bills. The average property in England is in Band D. Northern Ireland is not covered by the council tax system - it operates a domestic rating system instead. The matter is devolved in Scotland and Wales, meaning it is overseen by the national governments. Where does my money go? Everything from rubbish collection, street lighting, libraries, police and fire services to youth clubs, parks and recreation facilities. It's the main source of income for most local councils, although other money goes into the pot from business rates and government grants. You'll notice an additional charge on your bill, known as the social care precept. This is a separate fee for care homes and other adult social care services. Many councils have warned that dealing with the impact of coronavirus on top of central government cuts in funding has left big holes in their budgets and drained their reserves. Who pays council tax? As a rule of thumb, anyone who is over 18 and owns or rents a home has to pay but there are exemptions and discounts based on individual circumstances. If you live alone, for example, you're entitled to a 25% discount. A property occupied solely by students is exempt and you won't get a bill if you're living in halls of residence or a care home. If you work away from home and your property is empty, you can get a 50% discount. The key thing to remember is that it is the occupant of the property who is liable for the bill, so tenants rather than the landlord have to pay. Why is it going up? Local authorities in England will be able to increase council tax by up to 5% from April without needing to get approval from local taxpayers. That's 2% on bills for regular council services and an extra 3% for those authorities that provide adult social care. The government gives the go-ahead for the overall percentage increase and it's up to the local authority to decide if they want to raise bills by this amount. They don't have to impose any increases but the reality is most have no choice because they are already in financial trouble from lost income during the pandemic and the additional costs of keeping communities safe. As it is, many have already warned they could be stripped back to providing core services only - to help them balance the books. Figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies show councils received 77% less in central government grants per person in 2019-20 than a decade earlier, once inflation had been taken into account. What would Labour do? Labour has called the planned increases "absurd" and says they should be scrapped to ease the pressure on family budgets. The party argues that now is not the time to hit households with bigger bills. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says those living in a Band D property could see bills rise by an average of £90 a year. He argues that the prime minister should provide extra funding to councils to plug the gap - rather than offloading the burden to people already worried about their jobs and household budgets. What does the government say about all this? Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick says councils in England are enjoying a "real terms" increase in funding of 4.4%, once inflation has been taken into account. Government figures show that overall spending on local government rose in 2020-2021 to just over £49bn. Mr Jenrick told the House of Commons councils in England had access to a £7.2bn pot of money to respond to coronavirus as well as extra funds to provide critical services and adult social care. He added that councils would "have the resources they need" to serve communities and "deliver first-class public services". The Local Government Association, which represent councils, said local authorities are facing a "tough choice" because the additional support came with strings attached. It said: "More than 85% of the potential core funding increase next year is dependent on councils increasing council tax by up to 5% next year. "This leaves councils facing the tough choice about whether to increase bills to bring in desperately needed funding to protect services at a time when we are acutely aware of the significant burden that could place on some households."

परिवारों के बजट को दबाए जाने और कई परिषदों की चेतावनी के साथ कि वे महामारी से निपटने के लिए दिवालियापन के कगार पर हैं, लेबर सरकार से इंग्लैंड में अप्रैल से शुरू होने वाले परिषद कर बिलों में नियोजित वृद्धि को रद्द करने का आह्वान कर रहा है।


Murder arrest after man's body found in Stoke-on-Trent

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a 56-year-old man was found in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police said they were called to an address in Maud Street, Fenton at about 12:00 GMT on Sunday, where the body was discovered. The death is being treated as suspicious and a post-mortem examination is due to take place. The arrested 48-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, remains in custody for questioning. The address was cordoned off while a forensic examination was carried out. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone

स्टोक-ऑन-ट्रेंट में एक 56 वर्षीय व्यक्ति का शव मिलने के बाद हत्या के संदेह में एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


Irish election: Voters' views on Dublin's political impasse

Summary: Last month's general election in Ireland saw the governing coalition led by taoiseach Enda Kenny voted out of office, but no clear winner able to form a new administration. What do people in the capital make of the political impasse?

By Diarmaid FlemingBBC News, Dublin Dublin's Moore Street - the place where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising surrendered - is best-known for its street traders. Famed for their wit and for striking fair but hard bargains, they had little sympathy for Ireland's politicians seeking to do the same in forming a new government. In front of a fruit stall that looks more like a work of art, such is the pride in its presentation, Marie Cullen says she would rather have a strong government but credits the economic recovery as the work of Ireland's people rather than its politicians: "I think it's actually people that are turning the economy, the public that's turning the economy - not so much the government. "It's hard-working people that got us out of what we were in in the first place." "I'd like there to be a strong government but when they get into power, they just forget all about you," says Rose Kinsella, a fourth-generation street trader, manning her vast stall of fruit and vegetables. She says there has been no recovery for her, with more competition from cut-price foreign supermarkets. "I don't think it makes a difference who's in government, no, definitely not," she says. "They'll still do the same - they'll bring in something else for us - water charges, you name it. They'll have something up their sleeves for us. It's run by Brussels - and they don't give a damn." Shay Kenny jokes that he shares the same surname as the ousted leader of the country, emphasising that he is not related by blood or politics. He wants change away from the big parties and voted for Sinn Fein in the election: "I don't want Fianna Fail and Fine Gael again - we're after having that. They have to change it some other way. "They've done everything wrong. They've done everything to the poorer people who can't get this and can't get that - and people who are only starting, trying to buy houses. And you're paying water charges too." Chris Murray lives on the minimum wage of €9.15 (£7.10; $10) an hour. With rents in Dublin for apartments typically starting at €1,000 a month due to the housing crisis, he says life is a struggle for him and his friends. He voted for People Before Profit, a left-wing anti-austerity party which won three seats in the election. "Most people I've spoken to have very negative attitudes towards the recent government," he says. "They've got to be more on the people's side and we can come to better solutions and agreements to make Ireland a better place to live. "Definitely austerity has been a big factor. I work on the minimum wage like many of my friends. "In the last years I've been renting in very expensive situations. And most of the people around me, including the managers at work, feel that austerity has made a big impact. We need better solutions for Ireland."

आयरलैंड में पिछले महीने के आम चुनाव में ताओसीच एंडा केनी के नेतृत्व में शासी गठबंधन ने पद से मतदान किया, लेकिन कोई स्पष्ट विजेता नया प्रशासन बनाने में सक्षम नहीं था। राजधानी में लोग राजनीतिक गतिरोध के बारे में क्या सोचते हैं?


Australia terror probe: Does a surge in airport security help?

Summary: The uncovering of a suspected plot to bring down a plane in Australia has prompted heightened security measures at the nation's airports. It has also generated debate over the best way to protect passengers, writes Ian Lloyd Neubauer.

Queues so long people ran out of space to stand on the footpath. The screening and re-screening of the same luggage. An unusually large police presence with sniffer dogs and security vests. These and other scenes corresponding to the "new normal" of security arrangements have been playing out at airports across Australia since Thursday following the arrest in Sydney of four men over a suspected terror plot to blow up a plane. One person has since been released. "These operations are designed to disrupt and prevent plans to undertake terrorist attacks in Australia," said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he addressed the nation about the incident on the weekend. "Travellers should be prepared for additional scrutiny at screening points and while it is important that Australians are aware of the increased threat, be assured: we have the finest security and intelligence services in the world." The 2017 Independent Intelligence Review found Australian intelligence has "performed strongly since the most recent review of the intelligence community in 2011", citing counter-terrorism as one of three areas of particular success. The latest arrests mark the 13th suspected terror plot foiled by intelligence agencies since the terrorism threat level in Australia was raised to "probable" in 2014. To date, there have been no mass casualty terror attacks on Australian soil. But according to some counter-terrorism and aviation experts, the additional security measures put in place by the government last week do not necessarily make flying safer. 'PR' criticism Mr Turnbull would not elaborate on what the extra security measures entail. However, when asked by a reporter if it was just a general beefing up of safety or if a specific weakness in airport security had been identified, Andrew Colvin, the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, said: "The measures that were already in place were as good as you'd find anywhere else in the world." But Roger Henning, founder of Homeland Security Asia Pacific, a counter-terrorism consulting firm in Sydney, disagrees. "Our airports are OK, but they don't hold a candle to countries like Singapore where they're filming you from the second you step off your plane to the second you step into a taxi," he says. "Or Tel Aviv, where a student makes conversation with you while you're waiting for your luggage and by the time you pass through customs they know everything about your intended stay in Israel." Mr Henning described the beefing up of security measures at major Australian airports as a public relations exercise designed to make people feel safer, but with no demonstrable improvement in airport security. "There is no scanner in existence that can detect plastic explosives," he says. "You don't even need to be in a terminal to bring an aeroplane down. They [authorities] even had motorcycle police passing by traffic outside Sydney Airport looking inside cars. What were they hoping to find? All this extra security and screening and big beefy cops walking around - it's nothing but window dressing." Prof Geoff Dean, a criminologist who specialises in policing and intelligence, voices similar sentiments. "At the end of the day, it is a big public relations exercise by the government," he says. "You see it all over the world, whenever a bomb goes off or there is a threat, the only response governments can make to reassure the public is being more restrictive with freedom and sending more police walking around airports. It's an over-the-top paramilitary-style show of force to make the public feel confident." He adds: "There are loopholes in every system and all sorts of security breaches can happen." Different factors at play The Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection would not elaborate on airport security matters. The Department of Infrastructure and Transport did not immediately respond to inquiries. But Dr John Coyne, head of border security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a think tank, said although is an element of "theatre" in the ramped-up security measures, there's more to it than that. "You need to to understand that in the initial period after an attack or a disruption to a planned attack like this one there are a lot of factors that are unknown," he says. "So in the interim, they ramp up the level of security for many different reasons. "Yes, they want to show the public the government is doing something about an emerging threat and they want to make people feel safe. But it also allows them to collect as much new information as possible about vulnerabilities that may be mitigated, and to see what new permanent measures may have to be put in place. And it deters other terror groups that may be planning something similar to push their own plans forward." He adds: "So I don't think public relations exercise is the right way to describe it. It's more about the government and those accountable for airport security hedging their bets." Days on from the arrests, delays persisted at Sydney Airport as passengers underwent more frequent physical inspections of luggage, additional time spent electronically scanning luggage and explosives-trace detection. Dr Coyne says he doesn't expect the additional security measures to stay in place for more than a week or fortnight. "It takes police officers away from the city and away from ongoing investigations, it costs the airlines a lot of money, and while it may make people feel safe it also burns goodwill with the public," he says. "People are very supportive in the first 24 and 48 hours after an event, but as time goes on that changes. Things will probably go back to how they were but with some new procedures and protocols in place." He describes airport security as "not a one-dimensional thing". "It has to be constantly innovating to face new challenges and mitigate new threats when they arise," he says, pointing to a recent example of some nations banning laptops from cabin luggage. Mr Turnbull has pledged his nation will not sit idle. "The heightened security measures at the airport, as everywhere, are under constant review," he said on Monday.

इयान लॉयड न्यूबाउर लिखते हैं कि ऑस्ट्रेलिया में एक विमान को गिराने की संदिग्ध साजिश का खुलासा होने से देश के हवाई अड्डों पर सुरक्षा उपाय बढ़ा दिए गए हैं। इसने यात्रियों की सुरक्षा के सर्वोत्तम तरीके पर भी बहस छेड़ दी है।


Koala survives 16km ride on car axle in Adelaide, Australia

Summary: A koala has been released into the wild in Australia after recovering from a 16km (10-mile) car journey clinging to the axle of a four-wheel drive.

The female had crawled into the wheel arch of the vehicle while it was parked in the hills near the city of Adelaide last weekend. The driver was only alerted to the marsupial's presence when he stopped and heard her traumatised cries. Rescuers eventually came to take the wheel off and free the koala. "I could smell her burnt fur," Jane Brister from the Fauna Rescue charity told Reuters news agency. Coyote hitches ride in car grille After a few days of resting and feeding in captivity, the animal was released into the forest. Koalas are native to Australia and classified as a "vulnerable" species. There are fewer than 100,000 left in the wild, according to the Australian Koala Foundation.

ऑस्ट्रेलिया में 16 किलोमीटर (10 मील) की कार यात्रा से उबरने के बाद चार-पहिया ड्राइव के एक्सल से चिपके एक कोआला को जंगल में छोड़ दिया गया है।


Two men remanded after burnt body found in Bristol

Summary: Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man whose burnt body was found in Bristol.

The man, named as Bijan Ebrahimi, aged in his 40s, died at a property on Capgrave Crescent in Brislington in the early hours of Sunday. Stephen Norley and Lee James, both aged 24, also of Capgrave Crescent, were remanded to appear before Bristol Crown Court on 8 August. Two women who were arrested have been released on bail.

ब्रिस्टल में जिस व्यक्ति का जला हुआ शव मिला था, उसकी हत्या के आरोप में दो लोग अदालत में पेश हुए हैं।


Islamic State tries to shore up relevance with Iraq carnage

Summary: The Islamic State group (IS) has not gone away. The twin suicide bombing in Baghdad on Thursday was a hideous reminder that the group which once controlled a vast swathe of territory across Syria and Iraq is still capable of mounting high casualty attacks in the heart of a city.

By Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent In this case its target was the Shia community, whom Sunni jihadists refer to dismissively as rafidain - rejectionists. "Suicide bombings in major cities have always been a major part of IS strategy of creating sectarian tension and provoking retribution against Sunni populations," says Peter Neumann, professor of security studies at King's College London. "IS needs sectarian conflict, in which it can portray itself as a provider of order," he adds. 'Show of force' The market square that was hit was a target of convenience, the primary aim of the planners being to try to show they are still a force to be reckoned with after the loss of their physical territory in 2019. The attackers took advantage of the inherent good nature of Iraqis who crowded round to help a man who said he was unwell. He waited until enough people had gathered and then triggered his bomb. A secondary explosion then killed others still on the scene during the aftermath, a tactic similar to one used by the IRA to kill 18 British paratroopers at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland in 1979. The Baghdad bombing was "a show of force signalling to supporters and adversaries that IS still exists and has the capacity to launch major attacks", says Prof Neumann. Guerrilla tactics But the reality is that IS today, while still dangerous, is a pale shadow of the force it was when it controlled an area of land roughly the size of Belgium. For nearly five years, when it governed its self-declared "caliphate", it controlled the region's economy, extorting money from businesses, harvesting crops, pumping oil and selling it on the black market. Most importantly, it was able to lure thousands of recruits from the Middle East, Europe and Asia to join its cause. That all ended with its military defeat by the US-led coalition at Baghuz in Syria. But an estimated 10,000 IS members remain at large in Syria and Iraq, mostly hiding in the population and with easy access to weapons and ready to exploit any grievances or grudges held by local Sunni communities. So complete was the destruction of the IS physical caliphate that it is unlikely to re-emerge in a similar form, wary of presenting itself as a target. Instead, in the Middle East, the group has gone back to doing what its predecessor, the Islamic State in Iraq group, did with maximum effect: carrying out high-impact hit-and-run insurgent attacks, intimidating local populations and trying to disrupt any semblance of normal life. African battleground Beyond its core area of Syria and Iraq, IS affiliates have fared better than the centre over the past two years. In Afghanistan, IS has claimed to be behind some of the worst of the recent attacks. And as many analysts are now pointing out, Africa looks set to become the major battleground for jihad in this decade. There, IS is in direct competition with groups affiliated to its rival, al-Qaeda, with both groups exploiting poor governance, corruption and porous borders in regions like the Sahel. Almost unthinkable a few years ago, IS now has a sizable foothold in Mozambique's gas-rich northern province of Cabo Delgado, while to the north, the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab group controls much of the rural economy in Somalia. Both groups - al-Qaeda and IS - have seen their operations curtailed since 2020 by the restrictions imposed globally by the coronavirus pandemic. People are no longer gathering in close proximity in crowded places in the way they were, while travel is heavily restricted. But their desire to mount attacks, including in the West, is undiminished and they still have a pool of recruits willing to carry them out.

इस्लामिक स्टेट समूह (आईएस) नहीं गया है। गुरुवार को बगदाद में दोहरे आत्मघाती बम विस्फोट एक भयावह अनुस्मारक था कि वह समूह जो कभी सीरिया और इराक में एक विशाल क्षेत्र को नियंत्रित करता था, अभी भी एक शहर के केंद्र में बड़े हताहत हमलों को बढ़ाने में सक्षम है।


Brexit vote: Nine Tory tribes Theresa May needs to convince

Summary: With a Commons vote on her Brexit agreement set for 11 December, Theresa May has less than two weeks to turn her fortunes around.

By Georgia RobertsBBC News, Analysis and Research However, at this point, the prime minister's deal seems to have only further entrenched Tory battle lines against her. The number of Conservative MPs against the deal currently floats at around 93, according to the latest BBC tally. This only includes those who have explicitly stated they don't support it. Total opposition, including Tory MPs who have yet to publicly declare their position, is said to be well over 100. There are 315 Tory MPs in Parliament - not counting two who are currently suspended - and they have splintered off into a bewildering array of factions over Brexit. Here's a guide to the different groups. Ardent Brexiteers They're advocating, and have long advocated, leaving the EU without a deal in place, or on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms, and have categorically ruled out supporting the prime minister's deal. Made up of the most fervent and veteran Brexit supporters within the European Research Group, the Eurosceptic think tank headed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, these MPs view achieving their version of Brexit as more important than keeping Theresa May in No 10. Some, arguably, think it is even more important than keeping the Conservatives in government - although chances are you probably won't hear them admitting this publicly (the Democratic Unionist Party, who keep Mrs May in power, have recently hinted at this, if it means the deal's proposals for Northern Ireland can be ditched). They are only a handful in number, but given Mrs May's increasingly slim parliamentary majority - with the DUP also opposed to her deal - this troublesome tribe could prove numerous enough to sink her deal. 'No Dealers'/WTO terms This group thinks there is no longer enough time to realistically achieve a renegotiation of the deal on offer before the legislated exit day of 29 March 2019, as well as believing the prime minister has used up all her bargaining power and political capital in Brussels and has reached the point of no return, or, as numerous EU leaders stated last weekend: "This is it." These Conservatives argue that a no-deal Brexit - where the UK would leave the EU on WTO trading terms - is better than the deal Mrs May has put on the table and the only option left in the face of what they view as an inevitable defeat in parliament. Some cabinet ministers are rumoured to be quietly making the argument for a "negotiated no deal", whereby the UK's EU membership would be extended to allow the government to better prepare for leaving without a deal. According to Article 50 rules, leaving without a deal is technically the default option for the UK should a deal not be reached, bar a change in government. But despite this small group of advocates, a no-deal Brexit is not likely to get a majority of MPs in Parliament behind it. Many MPs have vowed to find a way to prevent the UK from "crashing out", should the prime minister's deal be defeated in parliament. 'Advanced FTA'/'Super Canada' Vocally-supported by the likes of Boris Johnson and former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who both resigned in July over Mrs May's Chequers blueprint, this group of mostly European Research Group members have been arguing for a Canada-style free trade agreement (also known as "Canada +++" or "Super Canada" in some circles) for some time. Some MPs who previously resided in this tribe have broken off to align themselves with the aforementioned No Dealers faction. Some at this point may be in favour of extending Article 50 in order to make room for renegotiation, despite extension being a previous red line for many in this group. The group recently set out their vision for the UK again in a document entitled "Your Right to Know: the case against Chequers and the draft Withdrawal Agreement in plain English". They claim a Canada-type deal - whereby the UK would be out of the single market and customs union, with no tariffs or quotas on any imports and exports between the UK and EU - is a "superior alternative" to the prime minister's deal. Mrs May claims their solution fails to adequately solve the Irish border question in that the plan would create a hard border. Many, if not all, in this group also have strong objections to the Irish backstop, and insist on it being binned in favour of no backstop at all. Tory backbencher Nick Boles has branded their proposal a "Fantastic Beast of Johnsonian Folklore". Mr Boles is among those Conservatives arguing for a Norway-style Brexit instead. 'Norway Plus'/European Free Trade Area (EFTA) The so-called "Norway Plus" option would see the UK retaining membership of the customs union and full access to the single market - meaning freedom of movement and the payments to the EU for market access the prime minister wants to end would likely continue. But Norway's advocates say we'd be outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and outside the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Current EFTA members include Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. This proposal has evolved since it was first put forward, when it said the UK should gain (or regain; we left in 1972 when we joined the EEC, under Edward Heath) temporary membership of EFTA for a few years until we negotiate a strong free trade deal. However, the consensus in European diplomatic circles is that current members as well as the EU would be against temporary UK membership of the bloc. Now, Norway is being pitched as an indefinite solution to a deal that looks likely to die on the doorstep of Parliament. Conservatives such as George Freeman are claiming this proposal enjoys cross-party support and is "the only sensible way to deliver the EU referendum result". Indeed, it's rumoured some cabinet ministers are willing to get on board with this option if the draft agreement falls in the Commons. Prime minister's deal The Conservatives who openly support the prime minister's deal are mainly made up of loyal government ministers. The trouble is, there currently still aren't enough of them to get the prime minister's deal through Parliament - and there's still no ruling out even more ministerial resignations than we've already seen in between now and voting day. Then there are the pragmatic backbenchers (see below for another breed of pragmatists who openly criticise the deal). This group would normally make up a large, silent majority chunk in the middle of the party, shielding themselves from the din of ardent Leavers and Remainers. They're normally loyal to party policy and vote accordingly on Brexit matters. However, Theresa May's deal has melted away support even from this tribe, who were in fact dangerously shaky in numbers even before the deal was unveiled thanks to the Conservatives' lack of a working majority. Renegotiated deal Though clear in their opposition to the prime minister's deal, not all Conservatives are giving up on it altogether. The bulk of this tribe are made up of MPs who have serious concerns about the backstop proposals for Northern Ireland. Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury, has emphasised the extent to which the backstop remains a sticking point with many backbenchers: "It is interesting the number of Conservative MPs that like me will swallow everything else they are not happy with, and may be persuaded. "But the issue of part of the country being treated different to the rest is something many of us find completely unacceptable." This group also includes the DUP, with leader Arlene Foster insisting that Theresa May can find "a third way, a better way". However, other recent comments by Ms Foster, suggesting a Jeremy Corbyn-led government is preferable to the prime minister's deal, would relocate the Northern Irish party into a far more extreme tribe than this one. Others have pointed to what they see as the positives in May's deal, such as ending freedom of movement and shielding the UK economy from the uncertainty of a no-deal Brexit. Some also stress that there is room for more manoeuvre on the details of the future relationship. But these upsides have so far failed to surmount other concerns, such as those surrounding aspects of the transition period, the role of the European Court of Justice and the £39bn "divorce payment". Pragmatists These are the Conservatives who despite their distaste for the deal, are supporting it through gritted teeth. It could be that many of these are choosing not to publicly state their position either way as of yet, but will begrudgingly cast their vote in favour when it comes to the day due to a lack of other options. Theresa May will certainly be hoping this group increases in number in the coming weeks, as it seems clear that winning over direct converts from either side in large numbers is unlikely. Lead pragmatist Nicky Morgan, previously of the Norway tribe, has called on MPs to discard their "entrenched positions" and back the prime minister. Ken Clarke dubbed the deal "a bit of a dog's breakfast", but has vowed to support it regardless - despite being a veteran Remainer. Remainers This tribe would probably have viewed any deal as worse than staying in the EU. Many privately support another referendum, but have yet to join the handful of Tory MPs who openly back the People's Vote campaign, alongside the likes of Justine Greening and Dominic Grieve. If the prime minister's deal is rejected, a large group of MPs currently keeping quiet could come out to publicly support another referendum, aligning themselves with many Labour MPs. Other parts of the tribe are hoping an EU Supreme Court ruling will see the UK being able to unilaterally revoke Article 50, potentially paving the way to cancel Brexit altogether. People's Vote After Jo Johnson's recent resignation as a government minister and support for this option, the People's Vote campaign has received a Tory boost. This option is being sold as the only way to solve the current impasse in Parliament. These Tories also campaign across party lines and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Labour MPs such as Chuka Ummuna. The People's Vote campaign's march in Westminster recently attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters. The campaign also has the support of former Prime Minister John Major, who told the BBC as early as July that the case for another referendum was "morally justified". Leading campaigner Anna Soubry told the BBC: "The best deal we have with the EU is the current deal…people are realising our country has made a terrible mistake."

11 दिसंबर के लिए निर्धारित अपने ब्रेक्सिट समझौते पर कॉमन्स वोट के साथ, थेरेसा मे के पास अपनी किस्मत बदलने के लिए दो सप्ताह से भी कम समय है।


Man faces trial after car driven into Gloucester rugby fans

Summary: A man accused of driving a car into crowds leaving a rugby match and then allegedly threatening people with a baseball bat is to stand trial.

The incident happened as fans left Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, at about 17:00 BST on 26 October. Aaron Anderson, 28, from Deans Way, Kingsholm, faces nine charges including dangerous driving, affray and possessing an offensive weapon. Mr Anderson entered no plea before Cheltenham magistrates earlier. He was remanded in custody and is expected to appear at Gloucester Crown Court on 15 May. Mr Anderson is also charged with possessing drugs with intent to supply.

एक व्यक्ति जिस पर रग्बी मैच से बाहर निकलने वाली भीड़ में कार चलाने और फिर बेसबॉल बैट से लोगों को कथित रूप से धमकी देने का आरोप है, उस पर मुकदमा चलाया जाएगा।


Ukraine conflict: Child soldiers join the fight

Summary: Child soldiers appear to be playing a part on both sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. A boy as young as 15 has been shown training pro-Russian separatist recruits in how to handle weapons, while Ukrainian media have told the story of a 17-year-old volunteer sapper.

By Vitaly ShevchenkoBBC Monitoring It is a development that particularly worries the UN children's agency, Unicef, which is investigating "anecdotal evidence that children have been recruited and may be directly involved in the fighting". The fighting, which erupted in April, has claimed more than 4,300 lives and left some 10,000 people wounded. "Armed groups should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities people under the age of 18 years," says the agency's Ukraine representative Giovanna Barberis. Early in November, Russian state TV carried a report about two "underage soldiers" serving alongside separatists in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Both are called Andrey and are members of one of the most widely-known rebel units, the Vostok battalion. As is common among fighters in Ukraine, they have their own noms de guerre - Royce and Stark. Royce leads a supply squad, while Stark is in charge of a munitions depot, official Rossiya 1 TV said. "Stark leaves his Kalashnikov behind only when he is on leave," it added. The battalion's commanders were like fathers to the boys now, the report said. "We need more guys like them and we won't be afraid of enemies. They are the future generation," said one Vostok commander. Battlefield training Russian TV did not specify the boys' exact age, but in an earlier interview broadcast on Finnish YLE television this year Royce said he was 15. He was shown flanked by two young men wearing balaclavas, one of whom claimed to be 17. Royce told YLE that he taught recruits how to handle weapons and move about on the battlefield. "I keep my eye on my trainees as if they were children," he said. A fighter with another prominent rebel unit, led by a Russian nicknamed Motorola, said he was serving alongside children as young as 16, according to Ukrainian daily Segodnya. The unnamed rebel told the paper that children were normally sent to training camps and were kept back from frontline combat. Under a UN definition, a child soldier is "any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity", such as fighters, cooks, porters or spies. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits the recruitment of soldiers under the age of 15. "Portrayed as heroes" Ukrainian media were outraged by the upbeat tone of the Russian reports. "Children who were recruited by militants and are now ready to kill Ukrainians in Donetsk region are portrayed as heroes by Russian TV," said popular TV channel One Plus One. But other Ukrainian TV channels have featured a pro-Kiev child soldier, without questioning whether it was right for him to be involved in the conflict. Their reports told the story of a 17-year old who had spent two months in the conflict zone. For a week, he was a sapper at Savur Mohyla, the scene of extremely heavy fighting, one report said. Eventually, he was wounded and taken to hospital in central Ukraine. Speaking from hospital, he told 5 Kanal that he had lied about his age to enlist in a volunteer battalion. But his commander seemed to be aware of how young he was. "He always tried to be right at the front, he had to be kept back. It's not a person's age that matters here, but how prepared they are to fight for their country," he told Ukrayina TV, his face concealed by a balaclava. Some, however, are sceptical about reports of the involvement of child soldiers in the conflict. One Donetsk resident who claimed to live next to a separatist base told the Segodnya daily that he had never seen children there. "The militants like claiming that children fight for them because it makes them look cool," he said. Human cost of conflict in east Ukraine 4,317 deaths since April, 957 of them since the 5 September ceasefire, and 9,921 people wounded 466,829 internally displaced persons within Ukraine 454,339 refugees living abroad, 387,355 of them in Russia UN data from 18 November Ukraine's year of chaotic events School is compulsory in Ukraine until the age of 17. Despite the hostilities, the education system in most rebel-held areas is still functioning and almost all children of the school age attend classes. Even Royce is reported to be doing his studies "remotely". However, in some cases, separatists have even taken to visiting schools to hold what they term "patriotic education lessons". There have also been reports in pro-Kiev media that children as young as 14 have been encouraged by the separatists to spy on Ukrainian troops. The direct involvement of children in the conflict is by no means widespread. But the chaos of war has meant that some have found themselves taking an active role alongside adults, and sometimes with their encouragement. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. For more reports from BBC Monitoring, click here. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.

पूर्वी यूक्रेन में संघर्ष के दोनों ओर बाल सैनिक एक भूमिका निभाते हुए दिखाई देते हैं। 15 साल की उम्र के एक लड़के को रूस समर्थक अलगाववादी रंगरूटों को हथियारों को संभालने का प्रशिक्षण देते हुए दिखाया गया है, जबकि यूक्रेनी मीडिया ने एक 17 वर्षीय स्वयंसेवक सैपर की कहानी सुनाई है।


Government legislates for £30bn of cuts or tax rises

Summary: In announcing new targets for reducing the deficit and debt as a share of national income in the next Parliament, have the Tories and Liberal Democrats put Labour on the spot or done the main opposition party a favour?

Robert PestonEconomics editor What they are proposing - and Parliament will vote on next year - is that the cyclically adjusted current budget should be in balance by 2017/18 and debt as share of GDP should be falling by 2016/17. Just to remind you in case you have forgotten (surely not) the cyclically adjusted current budget is all spending on day-to-day items - such as civil servant salaries and welfare - adjusted to exclude payments that rise and fall with the economic cycle and also excluding investment (in roads, hospital buildings, and so on). Now, as it happens, this law enshrines what the Office for Budget Responsibility, the government's forecasting arm, expects. The OBR forecast ten days ago that debt as a percentage of GDP would peak in 2015/16 at 81.1%, and that the cyclically adjusted current budget would be in surplus to the tune of 0.7% of GDP in 2017/18. Will Labour sign up? But that doesn't mean these targets are undemanding. The Treasury says that to meet these targets a new government would have to make additional tax rises or spending cuts of around £30bn - equivalent to 30% or so of the budget of NHS England. Now this target is more demanding than Labour's current plan - that is, to see debt falling as a share of GDP and a balanced unadjusted current budget by 2019/20 at the latest. Would it therefore be difficult for Labour to sign up for these new legislated targets, the new fiscal targets? Will Labour vote for the new targets? Risk I expect Labour probably will vote with the Tories and LibDems. Why? Because it would shoot the Tories' and LibDems' main pre-election fox, namely that Labour won't be tough enough on mending the public finances. Note that even if Labour does sign up to balance the cyclically adjusted current budget in three years and reduce debt as a share of national income in two years, it will still have £50bn more to spend than the Tories by £2019/20 - because the Tories want a big surplus on the overall budget, including investment spending by then (see The £50bn gap between Tories and Labour). So the risk for the Tories and LibDems is that their new Charter for Budget Responsibility would make a Labour government more credible as a prudent steward of the public finances, while still giving Labour plenty of scope to cut less than the Tories. Update: 16.18 GMT So, I have had it confirmed that Labour will vote for the updated Charter for Budget Responsibility. An excited senior member of the party said to me: "It's even worse for them than we thought. They have downgraded the goals from a target to an aim. And it's a rolling three-year target. Good grief." Or to put it another way, Labour is delighted to vote for a law that might make voters more confident the party is to be trusted as steward of the public finances, but doesn't appear to bind its hand in a severe way. Further update: 16.36 GMT The Tory Treasury makes the perfectly reasonable point that Labour deciding to vote for the updated Charter for Budget Responsibility does modify its fiscal position. "They have changed the core of their economic policy in the space of a few days," said a senior Tory official - adding that surely this would impair its credibility. Except that voters may care more that Labour is limiting its scope to tax and spend by backing the new debt and deficit objectives.

अगली संसद में राष्ट्रीय आय के हिस्से के रूप में घाटे और ऋण को कम करने के लिए नए लक्ष्यों की घोषणा करते हुए, क्या टोरी और लिबरल डेमोक्रेट्स ने लेबर को मौके पर रखा है या मुख्य विपक्षी दल पर एहसान किया है?