How accurately does Blackadder reflect history?

Summary: As fans of Blackadder celebrate the 30th anniversary of the comedy's first broadcast, its stars Tony Robinson and Rowan Atkinson are recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Its fast-and-loose attitude to real events and characters is part of the appeal, but how close is any of it to real history?

By Finlo RohrerBBC News Magazine Think of the Prince Regent, later George IV, and what images flood your mind? For anyone who has seen Blackadder it's hard not to think of a bewigged Hugh Laurie shouting "tally ho". A World War I general? Does Stephen Fry's General Melchett lamenting the death of Speckled Jim come to mind? The four series of Blackadder are replete with history. "History was my big subject at school," says producer John Lloyd. "[Writer] Richard [Curtis] and I had curiously read the same book called Looking at History by RJ Unstead. It said things like: 'In the middle ages women wore wimples'." Ben Elton [writer from the second series on], being the nephew of eminent Tudor expert GR Elton, also brought a hefty dose of historical enthusiasm. The pilot episode, never broadcast, was very different to the Blackadder people know today. "It had a feeling of Game of Thrones, set in an indeterminate period of history, not rooted in real events," says Lloyd. "I said we have got to tell people where this is set." Thus The Black Adder was set in 1485. In this world, Richard III is succeeded by (the fictional) Richard IV, who is later written out of history by (the real) Henry VII. But the later series come closer and closer to reality. Blackadder II revolves around a childish and intensely capricious Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson). Blackadder The Third tackles the Regency period with a hapless Prince George. Blackadder Goes Forth is set mainly in a WWI trench. "In Blackadder Goes Forth they had no option," says Jem Roberts, author of The True History of the Blackadder. "They had run out of licence to be completely anarchic. There was so little they could get away with in 1989. Lots of people who had fought in the trenches were still alive." The end result of the four series can be viewed as a kind of satire of school history books and the weird mishmash of fact and exaggeration that is left in many people's heads a couple of decades after their last history lesson. The costumes were always accurately researched, says Lloyd, and while the dialogue had to be anachronistic to be funny, there were occasional bouts of fact-checking. A line from the first series was to be: "I curse you, and hope that something slightly unpleasant happens to you, like a potato falling on your head." As Walter Raleigh was yet to deliver the potato to England this was changed in the final draft to "onion", says Lloyd. And it's pleasing that more than two decades after the last series finished, it's still used to enthuse children about history, he says. Here are three bits of history from the series put under the microscope: The Prince Regent Blackadder portrayal: Drunken, philandering idiot of spectacularly limited grace and intelligence. Reality: Unfaithful and a drinker, but a noted patron of the arts with no reputation for stupidity. The Prince Regent of Blackadder the Third has only three life priorities - sleeping in, carousing and seeking out the company of as many ladies as possible. His limited intellect is spelt out by Blackadder in the following exchange: Prince George: Someone said I had the wit and intellect of a donkey. Blackadder: Oh, an absurd suggestion sir, unless it was a particularly stupid donkey. The Regent that Blackadder has to deal with can be relied on to do the foolish thing - whether it be ennobling Baldrick or confusing a play with real life. The real prince - who acted as regent for his mentally ill father, George III, and was later crowned George IV - certainly was a philanderer, both before and after his unhappy marriage to Caroline of Brunswick. "He had a miserable childhood without love," says Tom Ambrose, author of Prinny and His Pals. "His philandering was usually with very portly ladies - mother figures. He was looking for love and security." George's appetite for drink and tendency to spend money was also well known at the time. The day after his funeral, in July 1830, the Times was happy to label him an "inveterate voluptuary". It said: "Nothing more remains to be said or done about George IV but to pay - as pay we must - for his profusion; and to turn his bad example to some account, by tying up the hands of those who come after him, in what concerns the public money." But whatever his spendthrift bent, he was no idiot, says Lord Baker, a fan of Blackadder and author of George IV: A Life in Caricature. "When it comes to the Prince Regent he was presented as a dandified oaf - usually drunk and stupid. That's pretty unfair to poor old George IV." Instead, we might recognise his patronage of architect John Nash, his role in the reshaping of London and his major contribution to the royal collection of art. "He was the greatest town planner - everything from Regents Park to the Nash terraces, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, the Mall. He totally remodelled Windsor Castle," says Lord Baker. "He was a tremendous patron of the arts. He was also fat and a dandy and drank a lot." And at least one episode in Blackadder the Third is absolutely true to reality, says Jem Roberts. "When the Prince Regent became George IV he was known to dress up as a butler when guests came to his house, echoing Blackadder." Blackadder portrayal: Haig is callous, and fictional General Melchett is an unthinking upper class buffoon. Reality: Years of vigorous academic debate, but revisionist view of Haig now taken by many. In Blackadder Goes Forth, the eponymous infantry captain sums up his field marshal's strategic masterplan with the line: "Haig is about to make yet another gargantuan effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin." In the final episode, on the phone to Blackadder, Haig is seen casually knocking over model soldiers on a mock-up battlefield and sweeping them up with a brush and pan. The visual allusion to his callousness is obvious. It's in the tradition of Alan Clark's book The Donkeys, which follows on from critics like strategist and military historian Basil Liddell Hart and former Prime Minister David Lloyd George. In his diary, Hart wrote that Haig was "a man of supreme egoism and utter lack of scruple - who, to his overweening ambition, sacrificed hundreds of thousands of men". Haig's tactics were characterised by critics as reliant on massive bombardment and frontal assaults with little care for the casualties that resulted, such as on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. But there has been a wave of revisionist history about Haig in recent years. "The real Field Marshal Haig was certainly not a callous man," says Gary Sheffield, author of The Chief: Douglas Haig and the British Army. "He was commanding the largest British army ever. Whatever he did you ended up with lots and lots of casualties. "In the end he was a successful general. His record was no worse than most other commanders and rather better than many of them." The other general in Blackadder Goes Forth is even more cartoonish. Known for his catchphrase "Baaaaaah!", Gen Melchett with his exaggerated public school ethos and pitiful intelligence represents another side of the post-WWI criticism. "As far as the portrayal of Haig, Geoffrey Palmer plays Haig, but in effect Melchett is an amalgam of Haig and John French and the other generals so Haig appears twice," says Sheffield. But Haig and his fellow WWI generals were operating in a period unique in military history, he argues. Armies had grown so big that generals could no longer cover their whole extent in person, while the radio technology that made manipulating large armies in WWII possible was yet to be invented. Haig and the other generals learned lessons which led to the sweeping victories of 1918. Sheffield is still a fan of Blackadder and, having given lectures alongside John Lloyd, enjoys using it as a starting point when tackling preconceptions about Haig and the other generals. "It is a very good and clever satire not just of WWI but also the popular perception of WWI. "The problem is that it misses out 1918. The very final scene is set in 1917. It doesn't deal with the victory." Of course, the debate over Haig is still very much live and there will be plenty who dispute the revisionist view vehemently. But he certainly wasn't a Melchett-esque dolt. "Whatever else he might have been he clearly wasn't stupid," says Sheffield. "Haig must not be judged solely on his role as a battlefield commander. He reorganised the Army and trained the Army. To get a true picture we need to see him in the round." Blackadder portrayal: Jovial and pleasant, as played by Peter Cook. Reality: Recent excavation led to renewed interest in Richard's reputation and how it was besmirched by the Tudors. Still not cleared of murder of Princes in the Tower. "At the very, very start of the entire Blackadder saga, Peter Cook plays Richard III as a jolly king, loving his nephews," says Roberts, who believes the often less well-regarded first series is still a classic. When people think of Richard III, the portrayal from Shakespeare of a hunchbacked Machiavellian persists. Everyone knows that the Princes in the Tower were killed by Richard III. But, as anyone from the Richard III Society might ask, what is the concrete evidence against him? The historical revising of his reign has been going on for much of the 20th Century and reached its zenith in the recent tussle for the right to bury his body. Many more people are now familiar with the Tudor attempt to blacken Richard's name. "Who knew in 2013, Henry VII would be seen as a liar and a propagandist?" says Roberts. And there is something fundamentally comic about the fact that Richard's body had to be excavated from a car park in Leicester. "It echoes Blackadder rather brilliantly," notes Lloyd. You can follow the Magazine on Twitter and on Facebook

जैसा कि ब्लैकएडर के प्रशंसक कॉमेडी के पहले प्रसारण की 30वीं वर्षगांठ मना रहे हैं, इसके सितारे टोनी रॉबिन्सन और रोवन एटकिंसन को क्वींस बर्थडे ऑनर्स में पहचाना जाता है। वास्तविक घटनाओं और पात्रों के प्रति इसका तेज और ढीला रवैया अपील का हिस्सा है, लेकिन इनमें से कोई भी वास्तविक इतिहास के कितना करीब है?


2018 in news: The alternative end-of-the-year awards

Summary: Congratulations, you've made it through another year of news.

We know it wasn't easy, so we thought you deserved a reward: here's our round-up of the moments that put a little smile on our faces in 2018. Bungling criminal of the year Winner This was a hotly contested award in 2018, but in the end there could be only one winner. Watch as this Chinese would-be burglar arcs his arm backwards, lets go of the brick and...well, see the video for yourself. Runners-up Where do we begin? In second place, there is the gang who hoped to rob a shop in Belgium, were told by the owner that he would have more money if they came back later, and were promptly arrested when they returned. And bronze goes to this aspiring robber in Colorado who turned clumsiness into an artform. The year's bravest animal Winner Over several hours back in June, television viewers were gripped (pun intended) as an adventurous raccoon scaled the side of a 23-floor building in St Paul, Minnesota. Its motivation remains unclear, but its legend lives on to this day. Runner-up In April, three-year-old Aurora wandered out of her home in Queensland and into bushland. Her 17-year-old dog Max, who is partially deaf and blind, followed her for 16 hours, and eventually led rescuers to her. Max was later made an honorary police dog. What a *sniff* very good boy. Trumpian masterpiece of the year Winner This photo of various world leaders speaking to US President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in June was a masterpiece of timing and of body language. It was taken by German government photographer Jesco Denzel, and gained plenty of plaudits around the world (though other images taken soon after told a different story). Runner-up This is a painting called The Republican Club, by Missouri-based artist Andy Thomas, and it now hangs in the White House, as some eagle-eyed TV viewers spotted in October. It shows a number of Republican presidents sharing a drink and a joke, and was a gift to the US president from a congressman. Just don't ask why Trump's head appears to be on someone else's body. Or why everyone's eyes are looking in different directions. Hangry customers of the year Winner One French supermarket offered a 70% discount on Nutella in January and, somewhat inevitably, a riot broke out. Other hazelnut-chocolate spreads are available, people. Runner-up Not to be outdone by our friends across the Channel, Brits also had a bit of an over-reaction in February, when KFC had to briefly shut 900 stores over delivery issues. Police forces in England had to politely remind people that it's not really the done thing to make an emergency call if you can't find fried chicken. Again, other fried chicken restaurants are available. KFC, meanwhile, had a novel response to the "crisis". The "Fake Gnus" award for the year's most misleading animals Winner We should make one thing clear: the zoo in Cairo's International Garden Park has denied this is a painted donkey, and insist it is absolutely, indisputably, a zebra. But on the other hand...well, just look at it. Runner-up Unlike Cairo's phoney zebra, this anteater is real. There's just one problem though - it's dead. It is an ex-anteater. This anteater is no more. The photo above, showing an anteater moving towards a termite mound, was a winning entry in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. But it ended up being disqualified after scientists concluded the anteater was a stuffed animal (though the photographer, Marcio Cabral, says the photo was not staged). The Golden Cock-up Award Winner In a field rich with entries, please all give a round of applause to the person who accidentally sent an alert to every single person in Hawaii in January telling them to seek shelter because a ballistic missile was on its way. Needless to say, the false alarm created enormous panic, especially because North Korea was in one of its "let's-threaten-to-attack-the-United-States" moods at the time. Runner-up Is it the person who accidentally drained a canal in England back in July? Or is it perhaps the artist who botched the restoration of a statue in Spain, thanks to a garish paint-job? Or maybe the Japanese train driver who brought shame on their company by leaving a station 25 seconds early? Nope, it's the airline that can't spell its own name correctly. 2018's most astonishing discovery of a liquid Winner An unusual category, granted, but this is an unusual article, and you're still reading, so who cares. The winner is this: Sorry. What you're looking at is a particularly pungent red-brown sewage-broth, that gently simmered away for 2,000 years inside a sarcophagus in Egypt. The smell of the three rotten bodies was so bad that archaeologists had to abandon the relic as soon as they opened it this summer. No curses were unleashed, so mankind will have to face its reckoning in some other way. Runner-up Water on Mars! Actual water on Mars! Delicious, fresh water! On Mars! (Disclaimer: we cannot confirm whether it is safe to drink the water on Mars). 2018's most heated family argument Winner One wonders what Christmas will be like in the Rotondo household this year. In the summer Michael Rotondo, 30, was sued by his own parents, who wanted him to leave their house in New York state. They said he'd repeatedly ignored pleas to move out, but he eventually did so after he lost his court battle. But not before calling police in a row about Lego. Runner-up In July, Barbara Reddick posed for photos holding a big novelty cheque with her nephew Tyrone MacInnis. He was smiling, she wasn't. Then she turned to him, and said: "See you in court." They'd argued over whether she had agreed to split the Canadian lottery jackpot. In the end, they didn't need to go to court - MacInnis was given C$350,000 ($261,000; £207,000) in a settlement, so he had good reason to keep on grinning. The "Why didn't I think of that?" award for craftiness Winner Over New Year, there was a drinking ban in place on the Coromandel peninsula in New Zealand. So one group, somehow, built an artificial island in an estuary, claiming they were in international waters and exempt from the ban. Runner-up During the World Cup in June, there was plenty of speculation that France striker Antoine Griezmann might be set for a transfer to Barcelona. So when he took part in a press conference, Spanish reporters were keen to quiz him about this. France's national team officials didn't want the subject to be discussed, so set a French-only rule at the press conference. Here's what one Spanish journalist did next: We should also give an honourable mention to Tunisian football player Mouez Hassen. In the weeks before the World Cup, Tunisia's players were fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. They could eat only at sundown, and so, during matches against Portugal and Turkey, Hassen feigned injury when the sun went down so his team-mates could sneak off the pitch and eat dates. Now that's teamwork. The Charles Darwin award for the survival of the fittest Winner It's Knickers, the massive Australian steer. He went up for auction in October, but meat processors said he was too big for them to handle. Knickers survived to fight another day. Runner-up In August, a man in Germany called police because he was being terrorised and chased by a baby squirrel. Its reign of terror was brought to an abrupt end when the suspect fell asleep. Its persistence - and cuteness - may have paid off however - the local police office decided to adopt the rodent as their new mascot.

बधाई हो, आपने इसे समाचार के एक और वर्ष के माध्यम से बनाया है।


UK and CI Condor Ferries services cancelled

Summary: High speed ferry services between the UK and the Channel Islands have been cancelled due to the weather.

The Condor Express left Weymouth at 07:30 BST but turned back due to the "significantly worse than forecast" weather, arriving at 09:00. The company has amended its service between the islands and St Malo to carry people travelling inter-island. It expects conditions to improve late in the day and overnight, so services on Thursday should operate.

ब्रिटेन और चैनल द्वीप समूह के बीच तेज गति वाली नौका सेवाओं को मौसम के कारण रद्द कर दिया गया है।


Governor: interest rate rise on agenda at turn of year

Summary: It has been more than six years coming, but the Bank of England's governor has today almost put a date on the first change in the interest rate it controls - a rise of perhaps 0.25% - since March 2009.

Robert PestonEconomics editor In the unlikely setting of Lincoln Cathedral, Mark Carney has indicated that, barring some dramatic change in the health of the British economy, an interest rate rise will be on the agenda at the end of the year, when recent falls in oil and commodity prices will have washed out of the headline inflation rate. If rates were to rise early in the new year, from the current all-time record low of 0.5%, that would be three or four months after the expected equivalent move by the US Federal Reserve. Now for those of you with big debts looking for reassurance that you are not going to be financially crippled by the increase, he has said two other things of note about the so-called Bank Rate. First typical interest rate changes, increments, will be typically much smaller than the half of a percentage point that they used to be before the Crash of 2008 - so probably one quarter of a percentage point. Also he has signalled that the new normal rate of interest over the medium term after a succession of rises over two or three years will be perhaps half the 4.5% over rate of the past 300 years. So nearer 2%. The reason why interest rates, if all goes to plan at the Bank of England, would be much lower than in the past is that household indebtedness is still significantly above where it was before the madness of the boom borrowing years. So every little interest rate rise is much more expensive for many households than in the past. And also households and businesses have become much more risk averse than prior to the banking meltdown of seven years ago. Which means that smaller interest rate rises should be more effective in slowing down economic activity and curbing inflation than hitherto. All of which may reassure borrowers but will be toxic to savers. What is particularly striking about the timing of the Governor's remarks is it comes the day after unemployment data which saw the first rise in unemployment for more than two years and earnings data which saw pay adjusted for inflation rising at its fastest rate since before the demise of Northern Rock in 2007. That suggests the Bank's interpretation of those statistics is that unemployment falls are now being held back by skills shortages. And those skills shortages are also responsible for rising wage inflation. If that analysis is accurate, a gentle increase in the cost of money would be shrewd, to prevent wage inflation forcing a significant pick up in price inflation. All that said, some will argue the Governor is bonkers to be talking about increasing interest rates when the official inflation rate is precisely zero, two percentage points below target.

छह साल से भी अधिक समय हो गया है, लेकिन बैंक ऑफ इंग्लैंड के गवर्नर ने आज मार्च 2009 के बाद से अपने द्वारा नियंत्रित ब्याज दर में लगभग पहले बदलाव की तारीख तय कर दी है-शायद 0.25% की वृद्धि।


Five 'slaves' rescued in Walsall house raid

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking after another man, a woman and three children were taken from a West Midlands house in a raid.

The five people, who police said were being held "effectively as slaves", are now being cared for by the Red Cross after the raid at 06:30 BST in Walsall. West Midlands Police and officials from the UK Human Trafficking Centre carried out the operation in Wednesbury Road. A 37-year-old Romanian man was arrested at the scene. Police said the raid was prompted by a tip-off from the public and that the people being held at the address had been forced into begging and criminal activity. Tony Styles, from the Red Cross, said they were working with the Salvation Army and police to ensure those people had clothing and bedding, along with emotional support.

एक अन्य पुरुष, एक महिला और तीन बच्चों को एक छापे में वेस्ट मिडलैंड्स के घर से ले जाने के बाद मानव तस्करी के संदेह में एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


Where next for Ant and Dec and ITV?

Summary: Ant and Dec - you just can't imagine one without the other. The pair have been inseparable for years both professionally, as Britain's best-known presenting duo, and personally, through their longstanding friendship.

By Emma SaundersEntertainment reporter But there's trouble in the camp following Ant's recent arrest on suspicion of drink driving, after he was involved in a collision in south-west London on Sunday. He also spent a period in rehab last summer for painkiller and alcohol addiction. And now it's uncertain what the future holds. We look at the implications for the much-loved pair and ITV as Ant seeks further treatment. What will happen to future shows? This week's Saturday Night Takeaway has been cancelled. The following two programmes in the series, due to be broadcast on 31 March and 7 April - will be presented by Dec on his own, ITV announced on Tuesday. It's the first time he'll have presented without Ant. Audition episodes of the upcoming series of Britain's Got Talent have already been filmed, but The Sun reported on Tuesday that Ant will not front the live shows alongside Dec in May. The next series of the third show they jointly host, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, isn't due to air until November. Ant's publicist said on Monday that his client was taking time off "for the foreseeable future" and would have further treatment. What's the reaction been like? There's been a mixed reaction from both the public and fellow celebs following Ant's arrest. While there is evidently sympathy for the star, many have tempered their support with warnings about drink driving. On ITV's This Morning, Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield addressed the issue saying: "This is difficult for us, we're talking about a friend here… like many people we are shocked and saddened by Sunday's incident. "We want to wish those shaken and upset by the collision a quick recovery and personally for Ant we hope he gets some time and space to return to full health." Piers Morgan also spoke about the situation on Good Morning Britain, saying: "Dec's collateral damage. Dec's done nothing wrong. Ant is in control of his own behaviour and is making bad choices. "I've known Ant a long time, I did Britain's Got Talent with him for four years - he's a great guy, a down-to-earth lad. "He's definitely changed.... is he surrounded by people protecting the cash cow or surrounded by people who genuinely have his best interests at heart? This Ant McPartlin is not the guy I know." What could this mean for Ant's career? Entertainment commentator Caroline Frost says the situation is becoming more critical. "Even by the standards of his already tumultuous year, this latest incident has far more serious implications for Ant's career than anything previously," she told the BBC. "While his self-admitted battle with prescription drugs and other substances elicited a sympathetic response from his many fans, a drink-driving arrest has already garnered a far more mixed response. "The brand of Ant and Dec - cheeky chappies, boys next door - relies on wholesomeness and reliability, and both of those aspects of their singular appeal have taken a huge battering." Nevertheless, Ant is one of the UK's most popular stars and many people will be willing him to return to on our screens once he has made a full recovery. What does it mean for Dec? Caroline adds that Dec "will be having as hard a time as anyone". "In many people's minds, Ant and Dec is one unit - they share awards, social media accounts, 'they' are a single offering. "Their partnership is their superpower, and Dec will find it very hard to compete on primetime television with the yawning gap where his partner should be. Nor do I think he would want to try." Strategic PR consultant Mark Borkowski agrees: "Could Morecambe go on without Wise? They are a double act. Would Dec have the same impact? What would that say to his pal who's recovering (if Dec went on alone)? This is a very deep friendship that goes back to childhood." Mark says there's a lot riding on Ant's recovery. "It's incredibly difficult. They are proper A-list. It's not dissimilar to the problems with Jeremy Clarkson but look what happened when he overstepped the mark - you lost the potency of the format (the Top Gear line-up featuring Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond)," he explains. "Now it's about putting some context into these issues, trying to focus on his ill health." But he cautions that there's much more at stake in the modern age. "There are some real issues - the commercial pressures of putting people back on the screen. If someone says they're fit enough to go back on screen what are you going to do?" What are the implications for ITV, financially and creatively? The channel certainly has some thinking to do after issuing a statement on Monday saying: "We very much hope that he (Ant) gets the help that he needs." Sponsors and advertisers could be considering their positions. Suzuki, who have a deal with Saturday Night Takeaway, have issued a statement. "Suzuki GB PLC is aware of a statement issued by ITV. Suzuki will remain in dialogue with ITV and advise media when appropriate regarding the last two episodes of the series," it read. "Ant and Dec helm not one but three of their very biggest shows, around which so much of ITV's schedule is built," says Caroline. "While they will be crossing their fingers for Ant's healthy return, I would hope this is a lesson for all broadcasters not to put too many eggs in one basket in future." Mark adds: "I don't think two people have shouldered the commercial share price of ITV before. "Ant and Dec are unique, the most valuable property going." If you would like details of organisations which offer advice and support you can call for free, at any time, to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066, or click here. Follow us on Face book, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

चींटी और डेक-आप एक-दूसरे के बिना एक की कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकते। यह जोड़ी कई वर्षों से पेशेवर रूप से, ब्रिटेन की सबसे प्रसिद्ध प्रस्तुतकर्ता जोड़ी के रूप में, और व्यक्तिगत रूप से, अपनी लंबे समय से चली आ रही दोस्ती के माध्यम से अविभाज्य रही है।


Brit Awards 2012: List of winners

Summary: The Brit Awards have celebrated the best and biggest music stars from the UK and beyond at a ceremony in London. Here are the nominees and winners:

British male solo artist Winner: Ed Sheeran Also nominated: British female solo artist Winner: Adele Also nominated: British breakthrough act Winner: Ed Sheeran Also nominated: British group Winners: Coldplay Also nominated: British single One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful Also nominated: British album of the year Winner: Adele - 21 Also nominated: International male solo artist Winner: Bruno Mars Also nominated: International female solo artist Winner: Rihanna Also nominated: International group Winners: Foo Fighters Also nominated: International breakthrough act Winner: Lana Del Rey Also nominated: British producer Winner: Ethan Johns Also nominated: Outstanding contribution to music Blur Critics' choice Emeli Sande

ब्रिट अवार्ड्स ने लंदन में एक समारोह में यूके और उससे बाहर के सर्वश्रेष्ठ और सबसे बड़े संगीत सितारों को सम्मानित किया है। यहाँ नामांकित व्यक्ति और विजेता हैंः


Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe 'chained to bed' on Iranian psychiatric ward

Summary: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran for alleged spying, was kept in solitary confinement and chained to a bed in a psychiatric ward in Tehran, her husband has said.

Richard Ratcliffe said his wife was returned to prison after being discharged from hospital on Saturday. He says she described her treatment on the ward as "proper torture". Last month she went on hunger strike for 15 days to protest her detention. It comes amid escalating tensions between the UK and Iran over the seizure of oil tankers. In a press release, the Free Nazanin Campaign said Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, told her husband she was "broken" by the experience. 'Proper torture' Speaking to him on the phone on Sunday and Monday, he said she told him: "They did all they could to me - handcuffs, ankle cuffs, in a private room two by three metres, with thick curtains, and the door closed all the time. "I wasn't allowed to leave the room, as I was chained to the bed. It was proper torture. It was tough, and I was struggling." He said she continued: "I never thought I would end up there. I always found myself strong, and then finding myself there - it was really traumatising. "There was no justification for it. I am cross at them. I am not scared. The amount of scars I got. I have been put through hell." She was transferred back to Evin prison after breaking out of her bindings and telling security guards she was at risk of self-harming if she had to stay in the hospital, Mr Ratcliffe said. Speaking before her return to jail, he said he felt "euphoric" when he heard his wife had been moved to a hospital, thinking it could be a prelude to having treatment or even to her release. However, after her father was refused access to visit her in hospital or allowed to speak to her on the phone, the family grew increasingly concerned. Her admission to the mental health unit came after she went on hunger strike for 15 days last month in protest against her "unfair imprisonment". Mr Ratcliffe joined her protest, camping on the pavement outside the Iranian Embassy in London and not eating. In November 2017, then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson faced criticism for suggesting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was training journalists while in Iran - remarks he later apologised for and clarified, saying he had no doubt she was on holiday there. Former Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan, who resigned on Monday over the prospect of Boris Johnson as prime minister, said in his resignation letter he was "deeply upset" that discussions about her possible release had come to "an abrupt halt" during his time in government. Earlier this year, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt granted her diplomatic protection in a bid to resolve her case. Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who is Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's MP, last week questioned whether the detention of the Iranian Grace 1 oil tanker by Royal Marines was linked to the developments in her case. In response, Foreign Office minister Andrew Murrison said: "I don't believe the two are directly linked." Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport in April 2016 and has always said the visit was to introduce her daughter to her relatives.

जासूसी के आरोप में ईरान में जेल में बंद ब्रिटिश-ईरानी महिला नाज़नीन ज़घारी-रैटक्लिफ़ के पति ने कहा है कि उन्हें एकांत कारावास में रखा गया था और तेहरान के एक मनोरोग वार्ड में एक बिस्तर पर जंजीरों से बांध दिया गया था।


CCTV credited for Swindon's Railway Village clean up

Summary: The introduction of CCTV cameras and a scheme for residents to report fly-tipping has been credited for cleaning up Swindon's Railway Village.

Old mattresses, furniture and ironing boards were among the items regularly dumped at the roadside. A borough council spokesman said the area had been blighted by "selfish and idle" individuals. "They couldn't be bothered to use a household recycling centre less than two miles away," he said. "The Railway Village area is an important part of the town's heritage. "I'm delighted the amount of rubbish left has fallen. "Residents have commented on a noticeable improvement in their surroundings with even dog fouling being reduced," the borough council spokesman added.

सीसीटीवी कैमरों की शुरुआत और निवासियों के लिए फ्लाई-टिपिंग की रिपोर्ट करने की योजना को स्विंडन के रेलवे गांव की सफाई का श्रेय दिया गया है।


Q&A: Could social care charges in Scotland be abolished?

Summary: SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made a pledge that if her party is re-elected in 2021 it would scrap all non-residential social care charges. But what things do people currently get for free and what has to be paid for?

By Julie-Anne BarnesBBC Scotland The background to free care in Scotland Free personal care won the unanimous backing of Holyrood more than 17 years ago. The "flagship policy" enacted by a Scottish Parliament of just three years old meant people over the age of 65 were entitled to free services in their own home like help with getting in and out of bed, showering, bathing and eating. At this year's SNP conference in Aberdeen, Ms Sturgeon reiterated that commitment set in 2002. She told party members that the "the principle behind free personal care is the same as free health care - if you need help you should get it". The policy was enhanced in April when - under a move known as Frank's Law - free personal care was extended to people under the age of 65 who live with disabilities and degenerative conditions. The legal change was brought in memory of the late Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel. He was diagnosed with dementia at 59, but was too young to qualify for free care. So his wife Amanda campaigned over many years to have the law looked at again. Frank died in April 2014 and never benefited from the change. So what do people have to pay for now? While NHS care and personal care is free, fees are charged for a raft of services provided by local authorities in people's own homes. Councils have the power to charge for things like; Income from these types of care service is estimated to be in excess of £30m a year. How much are people charged? What councils charge per serving £3.45Edinburgh £3.33Glasgow £3.10Dundee £2.56Renfrewshire The fees vary across the country. Local authorities in Scotland set their own rules on charging and have their own charging policies. They can use their discretion about which services are charged for and the amount. For example, in Edinburgh meals at home are charged at £3.45 a community alarm is £4 per week and transport is £2 per journey. In Glasgow, the council charges £3.33 for every meal at home, alarms cost £3.37 a week, and home care services are £17.67 an hour. In Dundee the charges look like the following: delivered food £3.10 per meal, community alarm £2.85 per week, handyperson services £3.90 per 15 minutes. What's changing and why announce it now? Nicola Sturgeon said her government would abolish these fees for social care provided at home if she were re-elected first minister. It is unlikely the move would come into force immediately. Frank's Law, which was formally announced in September 2017 only came into effect in April this year. But making the pledge public now gives a two-year lead-in time and offers local authorities a chance to plan for the changes. Scotland's ageing population means people are living longer but with more complex needs. The Scottish government wants more people to stay at home for as long as possible and avoid lengthy or unnecessary hospital stays or nursing home stays. Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know from my own constituency experience that charges can be a barrier to people accessing the support they need. "And if they can't get that support in their own homes, they are more likely to end up in hospital." But there is huge uncertainty associated with projecting the future costs of long-term care and that probably means re-modelling regularly how it is delivered. Is it affordable and will it happen? At this stage this is a simple policy pledge and there is not much detail. Local authorities will have to provide the service and they are likely to put pressure on the Scottish government to help fund it. Cosla, the umbrella body that speaks for Scotland's councils said it would look closely at "any plans put forward by a future administration which have a direct effect on local government and the social care support our communities receive". A spokesman added: "We will continue to work with the Scottish government on implementing health and social care integration and reform in adult social care and, if necessary, will work with Scottish government to scope out this specific pledge. "It is important to consider this proposal in the wider context of Cosla's ask for a fair deal in this year's local government settlement." Big Scotland-wide policies, such as care for the disabled elderly, bring with them issues on implementation. Take the latest move to fund personal care for under 65s. Mrs Kopel said she was continuing to hear of cases where people are being denied free personal care, despite the new law.

एसएनपी नेता और स्कॉटलैंड की प्रथम मंत्री निकोला स्टर्जन ने प्रतिज्ञा की है कि अगर उनकी पार्टी 2021 में फिर से चुनी जाती है तो वह सभी गैर-आवासीय सामाजिक देखभाल शुल्क को समाप्त कर देगी। लेकिन वर्तमान में लोगों को कौन सी चीजें मुफ्त में मिलती हैं और किसके लिए भुगतान करना पड़ता है?


Limavady: Man dies after motorbike crash

Summary: A man has died following a motorbike crash near Limavady, County Londonderry.

He was 38-year-old Micky (Michael) O'Doherty from the Limavady area. Police said they were told about the collision at Glenhead Road at about 16:20 GMT on Saturday. Emergency services, including the NI Ambulance Service, responded, however, Mr O'Doherty was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have appealed for anyone with dash-cam footage of the collision to contact them.

काउंटी लंदनडेरी के लिमावडी के पास एक मोटरबाइक दुर्घटना में एक व्यक्ति की मौत हो गई है।


PC 'let everyone down' over failure to respond to theft

Summary: Three police officers failed to help stop a thief after being flagged down by a shop manager because they did not hear his pleas as they were gossiping about a colleague, a tribunal heard.

PC Paul Birch, 36, told a disciplinary hearing he did not hear Tesco manager David Markey requesting help from front seat passenger PC Jonathan Webb, 48. Four PCs are subject to a misconduct hearing after allegedly declining to catch a shoplifter in Liverpool. All four deny the claims against them. PCs Jonathan Webb, Mark Higgins, Joanne Parr and Paul Birch were in a car last December when Mr Markey allegedly asked them to help a security guard Shaun Rigby as he grappled with a shoplifter just feet away from their vehicle. The officers were discussing an incident at a Christmas works party before driving off, the tribunal heard. PC Birch told the panel: "It's horrendous to think that I was that close and I could have helped someone, and I didn't. My heart sank because we didn't do what we were there to do and that is protecting the public." He added his colleague PC Webb had "let everyone down" after claiming the officer failed to indicate there had been a request for assistance from the store manager. The tribunal earlier heard PC Webb told Mr Markey they were "not kitted up" to help him before driving off, later claiming that Mr Markey had fabricated his story to "save his skin". He claimed he was not asked to radio for assistance and Mr Markey called 999 for help. During cross-examination, PC Webb accepted the principle that, as a police officer, it was his duty to give assistance and failure to do so was a serious matter. When asked why he did not help, he said he got the impression "no offence had been committed" because of Mr Markey's demeanour and "softly spoken" voice. He denied that Mr Markey gave any information to draw his attention to the two men in the street. He told the hearing he did not mention the conversation to the other officers in the car because he "didn't think anything was going on". The panel, held in Wavertree, Merseyside, has retired to considered its decision.

एक न्यायाधिकरण ने सुना कि तीन पुलिस अधिकारी एक दुकान प्रबंधक द्वारा चिह्नित किए जाने के बाद एक चोर को रोकने में विफल रहे क्योंकि उन्होंने उसकी दलीलें नहीं सुनी क्योंकि वे एक सहयोगी के बारे में गपशप कर रहे थे।


Sheffield stabbing: Woman charged with assisting an offender

Summary: A woman has been charged with assisting an offender after a 23-year-old man was stabbed to death in Sheffield.

Jordan Marples-Douglas was found with multiple stab wounds at a property in Woodthorpe Road on 6 March. South Yorkshire Police said Dina Aweimrin, 21, of Sheffield, was due to appear in court next month. Aaron Johnson, 21, of Mawfa Crescent in Sheffield, and Ben Jones, 25, of no fixed abode, have previously been charged with murder.

शेफील्ड में एक 23 वर्षीय व्यक्ति की चाकू मारकर हत्या करने के बाद एक महिला पर एक अपराधी की सहायता करने का आरोप लगाया गया है।


London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident

Summary: Two people were killed and 12 were hurt when a helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London.

The helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf beside the Thames at about 08:00 GMT. Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze. The pilot, Capt Pete Barnes from charter firm Rotormotion, was killed, along with a person on the ground. Mr Barnes, 50 and who lived near Reading, Berkshire, had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather. Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse. Five people were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Seven people were treated at the scene. It is thought some of the injured were hit by falling debris. The Civil Aviation Authority said a warning about the crane involved in the crash had been issued to pilots in October and again on 7 January. But it confirmed that red aviation warning lights on tall structures only need to be turned on at night - and not during bad weather in daylight hours - because they are not visible in fog or low cloud. The rules mean the period defined as night would have ended about 30 minutes before the crash. Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the residential building, which is still under construction. London Fire Brigade said part of the tail section of the helicopter landed on roof of the building and the main section landed in Wandsworth Road, hitting two cars. The fire from the helicopter ignited two buildings. Jon Horne, chief executive of Redhill Aerodrome Ventures, said the helicopter had left Redhill in Surrey at 07:35 on a scheduled flight to Elstree in Hertfordshire. He said it was an Agusta 109, a lightweight, twin-engine helicopter, and that just the pilot was on board when it departed Redhill. Mr Horne said: "We believe it was unable to land in Elstree and was diverting to an alternate location. The next information we had was following the crash in south London." Mr Barnes is understood to have piloted helicopters in action scenes for films Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan. According to his LinkedIn profile he had also operated flights for the BBC and ITN during the Athens and London Olympics. A neighbour of Mr Barnes, who lived in Goddard's Green near Mortimer, said the pilot had lived in the village with his partner and their two children for about five years. David Sinclair, 66, said: "We saw the helicopter come and go every now and again, as he had a helipad in the garden and parked it there." Capt Philip Amadeus, managing director at Rotormotion, said Mr Barnes was a highly qualified commercial pilot with more than 12,000 flying hours. He had worked for the firm for more than 15 years. Mr Amadeus said: "We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with Peter's wife and children. "His death is a very great loss to the aviation community and Rotormotion." The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed. The Tube stations have reopened but Wandsworth Road is expected to remain closed in both directions between Vauxhall Cross and Queenstown Road until next week at least. London Fire Brigade said more than 50 other firefighters were at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane. The BBC weather centre said observations at the time of the crash showed very low cloud but not thick fog. The nearest observation site was London City Airport which at 08:00 reported 700m visibility with broken cloud at a height of 100ft. NATS, which runs air traffic control across the UK, said the pilot had been receiving assistance earlier in the flight but not at the time of the crash. Julian Firth, who is leading a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigating the crash, said the wreckage would be taken to its site at Farnborough, Hampshire. He said it would take several months to produce a full report into the incident. An RNLI lifeboat was initially sent to search the Thames near the crash scene following a request from London Heliport after it lost contact with the aircraft. Interactive map: Helicopter crash Fire brigade station manager Bruce Grain said crews arrived at the scene in four minutes. He said the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, hitting various vehicles and bursting into flames and there were also fires in nearby buildings. A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters. Wandsworth Road was blocked by the burning wreckage and aviation fuel and the side of a building also caught fire. A motorcycle was lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned. Witness Michael Krumstets said: "I was on my way to work this morning with my flatmate when the helicopter crashed right next to us. "We saw the helicopter clip the crane and heard a loud crack, it started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen. "We ran as it fell towards us. We got away just in time. "We were just feet away when it hit the ground and exploded." 'People screaming' Mark Osbourne, from a bike shop near the scene, said he ran to try to help the injured. "There was lots of wreckage and fire," he said. "I saw a woman on a motorcycle that must have missed the carnage by six feet. "It felt like a war movie, it was surreal." Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces. "And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming, shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. It's madness - absolute madness." Mark Correll was cycling along Wandsworth Road when debris from the crash started falling around him. "I heard a massive explosion and looked up to see debris falling everywhere from the sky," he said. "I didn't hang around as there was massive debris falling intermittently and if anything had hit me I would have been killed. "My first instinct was to dodge the debris - I thought the building was going to collapse. "It was easily the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed." Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground". He said the building the helicopter hit was "shrouded in mist". Market worker Andrew Ross said: "I heard a loud bang and I saw this helicopter falling out of the sky. "(There was) an orange glow and lots of smoke coming up. "It was flying below cloud cover - it was still foggy and a little bit dark." Michael Gavin, who was waiting for a train on a platform at Vauxhall station, said: "I heard the bang - the top of the crane was obscured by the fog so I did not see the impact but I did see the helicopter falling to the ground along with pieces of the crane, then the long plume of smoke from there. "It was really quite shocking. There was a group of us on the platform waiting, we could not see where it hit because it was blocked by a wall at the end of the station. "There were a lot of worried people around." Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, heard an "enormous bang" as she walked towards Vauxhall Tube before seeing "clouds of black smoke". Quinn Murray, who was cycling when he saw the crash, said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station. "There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area." Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor. "Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'. "It's something I will never forget for a long time." Rigorous controls The emergency services were praised for their swift response by Councillor Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council. She said: "I understand that swift action by the fire service may well have saved the life of one of the casualties of the crash. "The safety of Lambeth residents is my major concern and I will be seeking reassurances about the procedures governing helicopter flights." While visiting the scene, London mayor Boris Johnson said questions would be asked about how the accident happened. He also said the crane was now secure and would be dealt with soon. Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said : "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way. "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather." She told the BBC the rapid increase in the number of tall buildings in London meant more rigorous controls over who can fly where may be needed. At Prime Minister's Questions she asked David Cameron for a review of the rules on helicopters flying over central London. Mr Cameron said: "She's right that it's not an issue for today but inevitably it's something that has to be carefully looked at." The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 16,374 helicopter flights over London in 2012. It said single-engine craft were required to fly along certain routes, selected to provide safety, and while twin-engine helicopters could operate in wider areas, all were subject to air traffic control clearance. It said pilots were notified of very tall structures for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane involved in the crash. The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism.

मध्य लंदन में एक इमारत पर एक हेलीकॉप्टर के क्रेन से टकराने से दो लोगों की मौत हो गई और 12 घायल हो गए।


Covid: What will it cost students to return home?

Summary: University students in Scotland have been told they can return home on a permanent basis if they are "struggling" with life on campus due to coronavirus. The default position, however, is that they should remain in their accommodation if possible. While students weigh up "should I stay or should I go?", what are the financial implications of their decision?

By Calum WatsonBBC Scotland News website Can students end accommodation contracts early? Yes. Emergency legislation passed earlier this year gave students the right to end their agreements for a coronavirus-related reason. The Coronavirus (Scotland)(No2) Act applies both to university halls of residence and private purpose-built student accommodation. Those who signed their agreement prior to 27 May need only give seven days notice in writing to their accommodation provider If the agreement was signed after that date, they need to give 28 days notice. They will be entitled to a refund of any rent that was paid in advance for the weeks beyond the notice period. Two universities - University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University - have gone further and said students can leave their accommodation without giving notice. How much will students be out of pocket? Students typically pay between £110 and £150 a week for a room in shared facility, self-catering accommodation Universities Scotland says many students will have signed agreements prior to 27 May so will only lose a week's rent. But those who made arrangements later in the year could lose £500 or more. A majority of Scottish students apply for a university place after getting the results of their Highers which they took in S5, so in a normal year they apply for accommodation well in advance. However, this year the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic may have led greater numbers than usual to delay making arrangements. A substantial number may also have been waiting to see if they met conditional offers or were applying for a place using the clearing system. Will universities help students financially? The University of Glasgow has already recognised the difficulties facing this year's intake by offering a month's free rent to students who are self-isolating. These students will also receive a payment to their university accounts of £50. It will be up to individual universities to decide if they will offer extra reimbursement to those who no longer wish to stay on campus. The first minister has encouraged universities and other accommodation providers to be "as flexible as possible". Ms Sturgeon has welcomed the University of Glasgow initiative - but stressed this was a matter for universities themselves and the Scottish government has not committed to funding such measures. Will students get a place in halls of residence if they return later in the academic year? If a student terminates their accommodation agreement there is no guarantee they'll get into the same room or hall if they return later. The agreement will have ended - and the room itself may be reallocated. The only way to retain a room is to carry on paying the rent, even though the student has chosen not to occupy it. However, Universities Scotland says they can always reapply for a place in halls later in the academic year, and universities will do all they can can to support students. What else should students consider before making their decision? Nicola Sturgeon has urged students to "think long and hard" before deciding to return home on a more permanent basis. If a student was self-isolating prior to returning, their family will also have to self-isolate for 14 days after they return. The first minister said students should also consider how returning home might affect access to any in-person learning that was being offered. She advised students to discuss their options with their university or college, and to reflect on whether it might be better to wait "a few more weeks" before making such a long-term decision.

स्कॉटलैंड में विश्वविद्यालय के छात्रों को बताया गया है कि अगर वे कोरोनावायरस के कारण परिसर में जीवन के साथ "संघर्ष" कर रहे हैं तो वे स्थायी आधार पर घर लौट सकते हैं। हालांकि, डिफ़ॉल्ट स्थिति यह है कि यदि संभव हो तो उन्हें अपने आवास में रहना चाहिए। जबकि छात्र इस बात पर विचार करते हैं कि "क्या मुझे रहना चाहिए या मुझे जाना चाहिए?", उनके निर्णय के वित्तीय निहितार्थ क्या हैं?


'Giving babies with spina bifida a chance'

Summary: One in every 1,000 pregnancies in Britain is affected by a spine or brain defect such as spina bifida. Actress Ruth Madeley, who herself has the condition, looks at how things have changed since she was born, 31 years ago, and the groundbreaking surgery that is now possible while babies are still in the womb.

Spina bifida has always been part of my life and something that I have accepted - but it has never been something that I have fully understood. Things are very different now to when Mum was pregnant with me. She wasn't given much hope about what I'd be able to do - or even if I'd survive. Now parents-to-be are given much more information - and there's the possibility surgery could improve their babies' lives' I never thought I would have the opportunity to sit in and watch that revolutionary surgery being carried out - on a baby with spina bifida before it was even born - and see, in that very moment, the bravery of the mother who willingly underwent this huge procedure to ultimately help her child. In the operating theatre, the number of people wearing scrubs was more than I had ever anticipated - the team was made up of over two dozen medics - and outside the theatre doors, the mother was saying goodbye to her husband before she and her baby were put under anaesthetic. Watching the couple hug one another made it hit home that the mother wasn't just putting her own life in someone else's hands but her unborn baby's life too. 'Close to home' The surgeons' aim was to close the open hole in the baby's spine and push the exposed nerves back inside the membrane around the spinal cord - and each member of this extraordinary team was responsible for ultimately keeping both mum and baby alive during this major operation. A successful operation would help to alleviate some of the additional health complications that can come with spina bifida, such as hydrocephalus (where water accumulates on the brain), bladder, bowel and kidney problems and severe walking difficulties or paralysis. My experience of surgery has always been when I have been the one on the operating table; so, to be able to witness this ground-breaking surgery was somewhat surreal - and very close to home for me personally. I could only imagine what my own mum would have done in this position, if such surgery had been available when she was carrying me. For any parent, finding out that their child has spina bifida must be extremely challenging and worrying. My mum's experience from her obstetrician 31 years ago was very negative when they discovered I had spina bifida just six weeks before I was born. They told my mum that I would never walk and that I would have many other health complications - not offering my family much hope for me at all. Termination was never an option for my mum but, met with such negativity from professionals, she was naturally very worried about my health and whether I would live or not. 'Giving babies a chance' However, with the great medical and scientific advancements that have happened since I was born, many women expecting a child with spina bifida today should now have a much more positive and hopeful outlook for their babies. This surgery is not about eliminating spina bifida or saying it should not exist - it is about giving more unborn babies who are diagnosed with spina bifida the chance to reduce the other symptoms that come with this disability, while still being able to grow in the womb. There is no cure - babies who have the foetal surgery will still have spina bifida when they are born - but their physical strength and overall health are improved. So surely, having such ground-breaking surgery available for more people can only be a positive thing. Spina bifida is part of my DNA and something that I fully embrace in my life. Without it, I wouldn't be in the position I am to have created this documentary. I feel privileged to be able to share my own personal journey of learning more about foetal surgery, medical science and what spina bifida means in today's world. Horizon: Spina Bifida & Me is on BBC Two at 21:00 on Thursday, 26 July.

ब्रिटेन में हर 1,000 गर्भधारणों में से एक स्पाइना बिफिडा जैसे रीढ़ या मस्तिष्क दोष से प्रभावित होती है। अभिनेत्री रूथ मेडले, जिन्हें खुद यह स्थिति है, यह देखती है कि 31 साल पहले उनके जन्म के बाद से चीजें कैसे बदल गई हैं, और ग्राउंडब्रेकिंग सर्जरी जो अब संभव है जबकि बच्चे अभी भी गर्भ में हैं।


Carers in Oldham fear impact of council budget cuts

Summary: As local government budget cuts begin to bite, decision makers at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council are looking to save £40m. The BBC meets local families worried about the impact this could have on them and their loved ones.

By Sally ChesworthBBC Radio 4 Barbara Robinson is very tired. She was up several times in the night with her 86-year-old mum Lillian. Lillian moved in four months ago and needs round-the-clock care. Barbara and her husband take it in turns to sleep downstairs near the room they have converted for Lillian so they are close by when she needs to get up for the toilet. She does not always make it. Lillian has Alzheimer's and dementia and other complex health needs including diabetes which has to be carefully monitored. When Lillian could no longer look after herself in her own home, Barbara was happy to become her full-time carer and it is clearly a labour of love. "She's looked after me so I will look after her as long as I can," Barbara says. "And I want to feel that whenever I need a break and the family needs a break, to have little bit of normality, that my mum is looked after and we all have peace of mind." But Barbara is worried. Oldham Council is having to make cuts of £40m and is proposing to close all but one of its four respite care units for older people like Lillian, and to buy more care in from the independent sector. 'People are hurting' And while she hopes to be able to continue to use the remaining council-run unit she has been warned to investigate the private facilities just in case. Barbara has used private agencies before for other aspects of her mother's care and found them wanting. "I'm very concerned about the standards and who is going to monitor it. It's a case of being frightened of the unknown. I just hope they are aware of how the cuts are going to affect people. "You put things in black and white and they add up and that's fine, but it's not when people are hurting because of it." At times she gets desperate for a break but is adamant she will not use private respite care if she cannot be confident her mum will get the level of service she expects from the council. She is not the only one who has had bad experiences of the external sector. At one of a series of public consultation sessions held by the council in December another woman, Lorraine Hunt, broke down in tears as she explained her fears that her disabled husband's home care might move to an agency under the plans. "We have got fantastic carers and we don't want to change to an agency because we had one before and they haven't got a clue what they are doing. "They are paid less money, the experience isn't there. You pay peanuts you get monkeys, end of story." 'Stark decisions' Finding savings on this scale has been a painful process. Councillor Howard Sykes, the leader of Oldham Metropolital Borough Council, has led the search through a process known as the Star Chamber. Departments offer up ideas which are examined. If accepted, they make their way through the council's democratic process and are ultimately voted on by the full council. "You are down to some stark decisions about do you provide the service at all, do you charge a lot more for it, do you let the private sector provide it? "It's that sort of decision about whole services we are having to look at," said Councillor Sykes. "Adult social care is an area where we are saying actually there is quite a mature market out there in the private sector where this care can be provided a lot cheaper than we can do it ourselves. "Providing the choice exists out there for people and providing we are certain of the quality, it is a decision we will make." 'Angry with me' The cuts threaten to bite right across the council from school crossing patrols to the treatment of rats, mice and cockroaches to the cost of senior management. The council has already proposed making around 500 staff redundant. The final package of savings will be put to the vote on 23 February. And then the council has to find another £22m savings ready for 2012/13. "There are some good things we have done and managed to protect. We have left libraries and our leisure estate predominantly alone which is not happened in other authorities. "But I think people are going to get angry, and some are going to be angry with me, let's be honest," said Councillor Sykes. "But the question people have to ask is what would anybody else have done in this situation? Some of the choices I have had to make anyone would have made." Northern Exposure: A Cold Wind in Oldham is on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 1 February at 1600 GMT. Listen again via the BBC iPlayer.

जैसे ही स्थानीय सरकार के बजट में कटौती शुरू होती है, ओल्डहैम मेट्रोपॉलिटन बरो काउंसिल में निर्णय निर्माता 40 मिलियन पाउंड बचाने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं। बीबीसी स्थानीय परिवारों से मिलता है जो इस बात से चिंतित हैं कि इसका उन पर और उनके प्रियजनों पर क्या प्रभाव पड़ सकता है।


Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon: We're not just wives and girlfriends

Summary: "A lot of wives and girlfriends."

By Paul StanworthNewsbeat deputy editor Not exactly a great stretch - but those are the roles Reese Witherspoon says women used to be offered. Sitting alongside Jennifer Aniston, as stars and executive producers of The Morning Show on Apple TV+, she says streaming services are proving positive for women in their industry. "Audiences are very diverse and they're 50 percent women, their stories weren't being told. Women had a narrow range of things to play," she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. The #MeToo Movement The drama is one of the first series to be offered on the Apple service. Users have to pay £4.99 per month to access shows. Set behind the scenes of an American TV breakfast show, it uses the #MeToo movement as a fundamental part of the storyline. "It would feel irresponsible not to address it considering it was happening in the culture as we were telling the story," adds Jennifer. "We were all made very aware that darker stuff than I could ever imagine was going on." It's the first time Jennifer Aniston has starred in a TV show since Friends came off air in 2004. She plays presenter Alex Levy who's coming to terms with the news that her co-host of 15 years (played by Steve Carell) has been accused of sexually harassing junior members of their team.  It has parallels to the real-life story of former American host Matt Lauer, who was sacked by the NBC Today show in 2017. He denies all the allegations against him. "I think we're all finding our way in this cultural shift and learning what role we play, so it was important to have men be part of that conversation. Steve Carell being part of the show was a huge thing. It was how he decided to join the conversation about sexual harassment and sexism and ageism." The show only added in the #MeToo storyline later in the production process but, as executive producers, both stars believe their show has a role to play. "I think the show will move people to check themselves at the door and see what's going on at their work and what they have allowed to happen or turn a blind eye to," says Aniston. Both are adamant they're enjoying both filming and producing on the show - describing it in unison as "so fulfilling". According to Jennifer, "We were almost doing it without being given the title. I just like to be involved." However, the pair suggest it's only because of streaming that they've been given their production roles.  Reese Witherspoon says: "I've found with the emergence of streaming, we're getting much more diverse storytelling. "Creators like Jordan Peel and Lena Waithe. You have us as producers. Ten years ago, this isn't a project they'd let us spearhead". Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

"बहुत सारी पत्नियाँ और प्रेमिकाएँ।"


General election: Labour's £6,000 bill claim fact-checked

Summary: Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell says the Conservatives' failure to curb bills has cost the average household an extra £5,949 a year since 2010. But how has Labour arrived at this figure and do their sums add up?

By Reality CheckBBC News Labour has provided a breakdown of annual bills and costs, which it says have risen since 2010: That adds up to £5,949. But there are several factors to be considered. First, the overall figure assumes that every household consumes the same range of things. For example, Labour's average household has two people buying annual rail season tickets - but many people don't regularly travel by train. The Department for Transport estimates that in England in 2018, just 11% of trips were by rail or underground. Part of Labour's average cost is for childcare for a two-year-old, but not every household has children. The second point is that the report takes the difference in cost between 2010 and 2019 (or 2018) and comes up with a total that is applied to every year. "A decade of cuts and the Conservatives' failure to curb rising bills, have cost families almost £6,000, a year since 2010," the report says. But using Labour's figures, that sum really only works for the final year. The difference would be much smaller from 2010 to 2011, for instance. The final point is that the prices of most goods and services have risen over the past decade - that's inflation. Some of the things in Labour's report have risen less than the measure of wider inflation. £68 more for on dual-fuel energy bills Labour has used Ofgem data to arrive at this figure. Its data shows the average dual fuel bill was £1,116 in 2010, rising to £1,184 in 2018. So bills have risen by £68 over the period. However, that rise is below the wider rate of inflation. According to the Bank of England inflation calculator, a bill of £1,116 in 2010 would be worth £1,405 in 2018 prices. £75 more on water bills As before, Labour has not just adjusted its figures for inflation. Water UK - the source Labour has used for its claim - points out that bills are rising more slowly than inflation. "Bills are going down by more than 5% in real terms between 2015 and 2020, and by 2025 there will have been over a decade of falling bills once inflation is taken into account," it says. £204 more on broadband Labour says that broadband bills were £13.31 a month on average in 2010, rising to £30.30 a month on average in 2019. Once again, these figures have not been adjusted for inflation, but they also come from different data sources, so are not strictly comparable. £1,740 more for season rail tickets Rail fares do increase every year - in line with a measure of inflation called RPI. Since 2010, season tickets have gone up an average of 35%, according to industry body the Rail Delivery Group. Labour's report assumes that two people in the same household are purchasing annual season tickets, which may not be representative of all households. £22 more on yearly prescription charges Prescription charges only apply to England. Labour has arrived at the figure of £22 by multiplying the increase in the charge since 2010 (£1.80) by 12, so assuming one person in each household pays for a prescription once a month on average. Many people such as children, pensioners and new mothers do not pay for prescriptions. Going back to the Bank of England inflation calculator, the rise in prescription charges is actually slightly below the rate of inflation. The cost of prepayment certificates, which can significantly reduce costs for people who need to pay for a lot of prescriptions, has actually been frozen since 2011. £1,916 more on average for childcare per child On childcare, Labour says £1,916 more is spent on average for childcare per child, per year. The number comes from a well-known survey, which indicates that childcare costs have risen above inflation. But there's a big caveat here - that calculation only covers two-year-olds. For three and four-year-olds, the government has put money into providing free childcare. £1,924 more on rent Labour has used the English Housing Survey from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which is a national survey of people's housing circumstances in England, to arrive at their figure. The MHCLG data shows that in 2010 the average weekly rent was £156 and in 2018 it was £193. That's a difference of £37, which equates to £1,924 for a year. Again, there's no adjustment for inflation. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter

लेबर के शैडो चांसलर जॉन मैकडॉनेल का कहना है कि बिलों पर अंकुश लगाने में कंजर्वेटिव की विफलता ने 2010 के बाद से औसत परिवार को प्रति वर्ष 5,949 पाउंड अतिरिक्त खर्च किए हैं। लेकिन लेबर इस आंकड़े पर कैसे पहुंचा है और क्या उनकी राशि का जोड़ होता है?


Tour de France Grand Depart diary

Summary: With the world's biggest bike race starting in Leeds on 5 July, BBC Yorkshire's Tour de France correspondent Matt Slater rounds up the best of the gossip, opinion and stories, on and off the bike, and also tries to explain some of cycling's unique lingo. TOP STORIES

Pedal power Sensible stuff in the opinion pages of the region's paper of record. The Yorkshire Post agrees with the Grand Depart's organisers that the Tour can "set the pace for boosting the Yorkshire economy in the years ahead". But it goes on to warn that the race "must be a departure, not an end point", with "a whole series of events and initiatives to bring people back to Yorkshire time and again". Hear, hear. Full story: Yorkshire Post School's out Not everybody is so pleased to see Le Tour on English roads, though. Parents in Cambridge are angry at plans to close 37 schools in the area on the day the race starts in the city, Monday, 7 July. This, of course, is not a challenge for schools in Yorkshire, where the race takes place at a weekend, but is another example of the short-term problems this long-term positive throws up. There is no mention, however, of what the schoolchildren think. Full story: Cambridge News TWEET OF THE DAY "Has anyone got on-bike video from the descent on Sunday's stage? Last lap was warp speed behind @ThorHushovd @taylorphinney & @MarkCavendish" Australia's Mark Renshaw wants to re-live the heart-in-mouth thrills of the finale to the Tour of California. It has to be safer than actually doing it again. CYCLING ROUND-UP With a lull in proceedings at the Giro d'Italia, Monday was a quiet day on the global cycling calendar. The race resumes with a flat stage from Modena to Salsomaggiore Terme. As Team Sky's Ben Swift puts it in his excellent guide to the race for the BBC, "this stage has bunch sprint written all over it". But the most interesting bit of cycling news today is about F1 star Fernando Alonso's protracted attempts to set up a new team. The Spaniard is a keen cyclist and a very wealthy man, so he should be just what the sport needs. He is unhappy, however, with the hoops he is being made to jump through by the sport's governing body in terms of getting a place on cycling's senior circuit, the WorldTour. Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the governing body will make a decision on Alonso's proposal in the next two weeks. The paper says Alonso is claiming he is ready, and has signed a 20m-euro sponsorship deal with the Dubai government, but he will scrap the whole plan if the uncertainty drags on much longer. A TO Z OF LE TOUR K is for… King of the Mountains - A cycling term that has gone mainstream, it is the title given to the race's best climber, or more accurately the rider who wins the most points in the mountains classification, since they are not always the same thing. This is one of the races within the race that is usually contested by small but powerful riders who float up the various bumps and humps, collecting points for reaching the top first on a sliding scale based on the climb's toughness. The first rider to the summit of the easiest hills, a 4th category climb, earns a point; get to the top of a 3rd category climb first and you win two points, with a point for the runner-up. The big points are reserved for the hors categorie mountains - a 5th group of climbs that are "out of category". Bag an "HC" climb first and you get 25 KoM points, with two points going to the 10th-placed rider. If that mountain is the finish of the stage, too, you get double KoM points. This competition has existed since 1933, but its famous red polka-dot jersey did not make its Tour debut until 1975. France's Richard Virenque, a controversial figure (yes, another cyclist who doped), won a record seven KoM titles between 1994 and 2004. Kinderkopjes - A bit of a cheat this one, since it is a Dutch/Flemish word for cobblestones, which is relevant this year because the Tour's riders will be bouncing up the cobbles of Haworth's Main Street on stage two, and then again, for much longer, on stage five along the French/Belgian border. Many of the riders hate cobblestones, for obvious reasons, and there is something quite creepy about the thought of riding over "children's heads", which is the literal translation of kinderkopjes. But fans love them, because they are so often the cause of race-defining drama. TODAY'S TOUR TRIVIA English-speaking riders, and British ones in particular, might have made a recent habit of winning the Tour's main prize, the yellow jersey, but they have been a lot less successful in the race for the maillot a pois rouges of the KoM competition. In fact, only one Anglophone, Scotland's Robert Millar, has ever won it. Millar is, in many ways, Britain's great forgotten cyclist. Notoriously taciturn, infamously brusque, Millar did not make for easy copy, particularly as he was at his best in a decade, the 1980s, when Britain's interest in the sport was at a low ebb. But he was good; very good. His KoM win came in 1984, when he also finished fourth overall. That was British cycling's best result until Sir Bradley Wiggins' 2009 fourth-place was upgraded in the wake of Lance Armstrong's disgrace. Millar also won the mountains classification at the 1987 Giro d'Italia, finishing second overall, and claimed two second-place finishes at the Vuelta a Espagna, one coming in 1985 when he was robbed of victory by colluding Spaniards from rival teams. Little is seen or heard from him these days, although he does write the occasional piece in the cycling press, but Millar should be remembered for scaling heights no English-speaking rider has matched so far.

5 जुलाई को लीड्स में शुरू होने वाली दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी बाइक दौड़ के साथ, बीबीसी यॉर्कशायर के टूर डी फ्रांस संवाददाता मैट स्लेटर बाइक के अंदर और बाहर गपशप, राय और कहानियों का सबसे अच्छा दौर पेश करते हैं, और साइकिल चलाने की कुछ अनूठी भाषा को समझाने की भी कोशिश करते हैं।


Universities tackle sexual assault on campus

Summary: As new students arrive for the start of the academic year, they expect to have the time of their lives. But what should be a fun time is marred by a problem that is particularly evident among young people at university - sexual harassment and violence. This year, several of Scotland's universities have taken steps to tackle the problem.

By Claire DiamondBBC Scotland news website A report by the National Union of Students (NUS) suggests that one in five students experience some sort of sexual harassment during their first week of term. Sexual comments, wolf-whistling when students walked into lectures, heckling in nightclub queues and jokes about rape were all cited as examples. There are not specific statistics available to illustrate how big a problem there is with sexual violence among students, but earlier in 2016, Police Scotland said the number of recorded sexual crimes had increased by 6.2% on the previous 12 months - to 10, 273. However, they said many of these offences were historical. One student's story "I went on a night out with my friends and their flatmates. The more I think about it now, I think I might have had my drink spiked or something similar. I'm not sure. "I went home with someone, and I don't remember really agreeing to it... I remember not really knowing who he was. My mind kept jumping to being in a taxi with him then being at his house. There's no in-between in my memory. "And then I found myself being strangled and raped, basically. It was a very, very, scary experience. I thought I couldn't breathe. "I remember running out of the place. I ran into some workers who helped me get back to the friends who I was out with. "I didn't even want to phone the police. I didn't realise what had happened to me. It was my best friend at the time who really pushed me to report it. He was the one who dialled the number and calmed me down. He told me I'd been raped. I didn't want to believe it at first - I didn't want it to be real." Read more here. But some Scottish universities have taken steps to start tackling the problem - Glasgow University, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland are among the universities trying to address the situation on campus. This freshers' week, Glasgow University and Glasgow Caledonian University have trained up their freshers' helpers to give support and advice to survivors of sexual assault. The Let's Talk initiative is a joint project between the two universities, along with Rape Crisis Scotland and Police Scotland. The initiative is the outcome of a student-led campaign. It aims to do something to prevent sexual violence - a country-wide problem. It is part of a wider initiative led jointly by academics, students and staff from both universities who are working together to tackle gender based violence. Erin Ross is a member of Glasgow University's Students' Representative Council who is responsible for student support. 'Hidden problem' She said the move was a "significant step on the road to a culture change that will enable students to get involved in challenging attitudes towards sexual violence and be supportive to survivors and victims". The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has also launched a new awareness-raising campaign - Standing Safe. Dr Kallia Manoussaki, a lecturer in psychology at UWS, leads the project. She said that sexual violence was a "growing but largely hidden problem which is particularly prominent among young people between the ages of 17 and 25." She added that education institutions had a responsibility to address the problem and stressed the importance of a proactive approach to help students learn about, and prevent, the causes of sexual violence. Angela Alexander is women's officer at NUS Scotland. She said what was more worrying than the statistics was that many students didn't know how to report these incidents. She said: "Universities need to make sure that their reporting channels are made clear to students and that the students feel supported. "When students are starting university, it should be an exciting time. They have to make sure they are aware of what's going on round about them, and make sure they know the process for reporting these crimes if anything should happen to them."

जैसे-जैसे नए छात्र शैक्षणिक वर्ष की शुरुआत के लिए आते हैं, वे अपने जीवन का समय पाने की उम्मीद करते हैं। लेकिन एक मजेदार समय क्या होना चाहिए, यह एक ऐसी समस्या से प्रभावित है जो विश्वविद्यालय में युवाओं के बीच विशेष रूप से स्पष्ट है-यौन उत्पीड़न और हिंसा। इस वर्ष, स्कॉटलैंड के कई विश्वविद्यालयों ने इस समस्या से निपटने के लिए कदम उठाए हैं।


Young jobseekers on benefit shake-up plans

Summary: The government is planning major changes to the benefits system.

By Jim ReedNewsbeat reporter It's to try to save money and get more people back into work. A new single payment could eventually replace jobseeker's allowance (JSA), income support and housing benefit. The idea is to make it more attractive to find work by letting the unemployed keep some of their benefits, even after starting a low paid job. At the same time, tough rules could mean that anyone out of work for more than a year would be forced to do unpaid manual labour. Under the plan, the long-term unemployed could be put on 30-hour a week placements at a charity or the local council. Anyone refusing to take part or failing to turn up on time could have their jobseeker's allowance stopped for three months. Newsbeat went to Trowbridge in Wiltshire to ask what people thought about the state of the jobs market and the new plans. Coleen, 18, unemployed "I've been looking for work for almost two years now. "It's just knock-backs and knock-backs around here. "But if I want to get a job in a retail shop I don't know how experience of manual labour is going to help me. "I am not one of those people on jobseeker's allowance who just sits around all day. "Those 30 hours could have been spent looking for a job I want, not cleaning up the country." Victoria, 29, unemployed "I have professional qualifications and have been applying for loads of roles, anything from retail to teaching assistant. "The feedback is always the same - you were brilliant but there is someone else we wanted. "The plans sound sensible, especially if they get people who are not genuinely looking for a job off their backsides. "I would do anything at the moment, including manual labour, so I'm all for it." Anthony, 22, works in a factory (second right) "I had to force myself off jobseeker's allowance to get work. "It was a motivation killer for me, definitely. "You get used to it and you don't look for a job as hard. "I was just walking round town doing nothing and I was getting in trouble looking for money. "I decided to come off JSA and found work at a factory in a month." Alex, 27, unemployed "Forcing people to do manual labour is a bad idea. "Dictating the work people should do is just setting them up to fail. "Not everyone is suited to carrying bricks, in the same way as not everyone is suited to academic work. "It's just going to scare people off and they'll end up lying or committing benefit fraud because they are worried about what the job centre has told them to do." Joshua, 19, self-employed gardener "I think the idea of manual labour is brilliant. "The unemployed should get off their backsides instead of just watching TV all day. "You have to work hard and sometimes do things you don't want to do to learn new skills. "You have to get back into the routine of getting up on time and this scheme gives people the chance to do that."

सरकार लाभ प्रणाली में बड़े बदलाव की योजना बना रही है।


Chester stabbing: Teen, 15, charged with attempted murder

Summary: A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the attempted murder of another teenager.

Police were called to reports of a stabbing on Handbridge, Chester, on Thursday afternoon and a 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition. The 15-year-old has also been charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place. He was remanded in custody to appear before Crewe magistrates on Saturday.

एक 15 वर्षीय लड़के पर एक अन्य किशोर की हत्या के प्रयास का आरोप लगाया गया है।


Civil partnerships: 'I want it to happen before my partner dies'

Summary: Joanna and Stephen never wanted to marry.

By Gerry HoltBBC News But they have always wanted to make a "public declaration" of their relationship - and this became even more pressing when Stephen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer six years ago. They went to their local registry office and found, to their great surprise, that they weren't allowed a civil partnership. So they waited. And waited. Now it's been announced that all couples in England and Wales - not just same-sex couples - will be able to choose to have a civil partnership rather than get married. But for this couple, at least, it's not about finances or security. "It would just be nice to share some public declaration, particularly with our children," says Stephen Anderson, 57. "And there is urgency because I'm living with this illness. It would be a jolly nice thing to do." The couple have been together for 30 years and have three grown-up children. Joanna Christina, 63, a retired teacher who now runs a vegan street food business, and Stephen, a retired lecturer, are opposed to marriage because they feel it is outdated. For them the attraction of a civil partnership lies in the fact it "hasn't been socially defined yet - it leaves us to define what we want it to mean". "It is more egalitarian. It's a partnership… Civil partnerships are the way ahead for those who value liberalism," explains Joanna. When? When? When? There is no timescale for any law change - and the couple's disappointment at this is all too clear. "We want to know when - when, when, when - is this going to happen?" says Joanna. She is confident that without June's Supreme Court ruling the government "would be doing nothing". "We need a timetable now." "I'm fed up and frustrated," adds Stephen. "I'm not delighted that it's been announced because it's been a great frustration that it hasn't been allowed from the first instance." 'Jolly good party' The campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships says it now hopes Joanna and Stephen will be one of the first different sex couples to form a civil partnership. Stephen says he'd like the law change to happen "this afternoon" - but for now the couple, who live in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, simply "celebrate each day" they have together. And on the day the law changes? "We'd go and initiate the process immediately and then have a jolly good party!" says Stephen.

जोआना और स्टीफन कभी शादी नहीं करना चाहते थे।


St Abbs 'twinned' with Avengers village

Summary: Signs have been created proclaiming that the Borders village of St Abbs is twinned with the fictional movie village New Asgard.

The film Avengers: Endgame features New Asgard, and location filming took place at St Abbs. The lifeboat station was branded New Asgard Lifeboat Station during filming. Scottish Borders Council made up the signs and the lifeboat crew have been posing with them at locations featured in the film. According to the lifeboat's Facebook page, filmmakers Marvel made a "generous" donation to the lifeboat. Avengers: Endgame is one of the most successful films of all time, having already earned in excess of $2bn (£1.5bn). Related Internet Links St Abbs Lifeboat

यह घोषणा करते हुए संकेत बनाए गए हैं कि सेंट एब्स का बॉर्डर गाँव काल्पनिक फिल्म गाँव न्यू असगार्ड के साथ जुड़ा हुआ है।


New Worcester fire station plans are approved

Summary: A new fire station has been approved to replace Worcester's current "ageing" one in the city centre.

Sited off Tolladine Road, the new station will replace the existing Copenhagen Road station, which is 70 years old. Construction, by developers St Modwen, will take 12 months. The cost of the development is not yet known. Once the new station is built, the Copenhagen Road building will be sold off, a fire service spokesman said. Money from the sale will be used to off-set the cost of providing the new station, he added.

शहर के केंद्र में वॉर्सेस्टर के वर्तमान "पुराने" अग्निशमन केंद्र को बदलने के लिए एक नए अग्निशमन केंद्र को मंजूरी दी गई है।


Inspector Morse manuscript fails to sell at auction

Summary: An original autographed manuscript by Oxfordshire author Colin Dexter of the first Inspector Morse novel has failed to sell at auction.

Sotheby's auctioneers expected bids of £30,000 to £50,000, but it failed to reach the private owner's reserve price in the London sale. Handwritten in 1974 in ballpoint pen, he gave it to his friend, Ian Bradley at a pub in Lower Wolvercote. The manuscript is inscribed: "To my good friend at The Trout." The 280 page draft of Last Bus to Woodstock has handwritten revisions made by the author, including clue changes and story development notes.

पहले इंस्पेक्टर मोर्स उपन्यास की ऑक्सफोर्डशायर के लेखक कॉलिन डेक्सटर द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित एक मूल पांडुलिपि नीलामी में बिकने में विफल रही है।