Does Australia's farm sector need foreign investment?

Summary: Foreign investment in Australia is rarely far from the headlines with claims offshore buyers are inflating house prices and controlling too much of the country's food production. But when it comes to the farm sector, there is another side to the story.

By Liz WellsToowoomba, Queensland Australians are adept at tut-tutting about how much of the country's agricultural land has been sold to foreigners. Fuelled by regular reports about China's growth, its appetite for Australian sugar, beef, sorghum and more, and its purchase in 2013 of Australia's biggest cotton producer and irrigator on the border of Queensland and New South Wales, it is perhaps not surprising. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, foreign investors own 10% of Australia's agricultural land, a figure little changed in 25 years. But that could soon rise thanks to two huge projects being developed in Northern Territory's Top End with the help of foreign investors. Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Zhongfu is developing 15,200 hectares (37,560 acres) of valuable agricultural land in Western Australia in what is known as the Ord Stage 2 project. It will grow sugar and sorghum. Australian company Integrated Food and Energy Developments (IFED) in North Queensland is looking for capital for a A$2bn ($1.6bn, £1.02bn) beef, guar bean and sugar venture. Public pressure This kind of development is crucial if Australia wants to realise what many believe is its potential to double agricultural production by 2030, says National Farmers' Federation (NFF) chief executive officer Simon Talbot. "Australians aren't falling over themselves to invest in agriculture," Mr Talbot explains. "When it comes to opening up northern Australia, we can't do that without foreign investment." But under public pressure to keep farms in Australian hands, as of 1 March the government is requiring cumulative sales of farmland to foreign investors worth more than A$15m to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Previously, approval was only required for deals worth more than A$252m. From 1 July, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will start collecting information on all new foreign investment in agricultural land, regardless of value - to take stock of what is owned by foreign investors. Uncertainty The FIRB threshold and the register should help give Australians the peace of mind they have been looking for without stemming the flow of foreign capital, says Mr Talbot. "There is massive demand for protein - dairy and beef - and horticulture, as well as grains and fibre, and China in particular is interested in areas like Tasmania and southern Western Australia. I don't think this is going to deter foreign investment," he says. He would like to see some assurances from investors about how they will engage with communities and industries they are investing in, and he says the NFF will be discussing that with the government. "We have learnt the hard way from early mining developments that agreements need to be in place post-investment," he says. Goondiwindi-based cotton and grain grower Peter Corish is another who says Australia needs to be careful not to put unnecessary impediments in the way of foreign investors. "There's a lot of uncertainty about foreign investment in agriculture," says the Queenslander. "A register will give us transparency. That's a more important step than lowering the FIRB threshold." Mr Corish is formerly chairman and managing director of Australian agricultural conglomerate PrimeAg, which sold most of its cotton and cropping properties to two US fund managers, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA-CREF) and Global Endowment Management, in 2013. He says domestic fund managers considered buying PrimeAg's assets but did not follow through. So, without a sale to the US funds, returns to shareholders would have been lower. "Australian superannuation [pension] funds are chasing much higher returns than overseas ones. It's as simple as that," he says. Quick expansion Control of food production does not have to come through land ownership. Paul O'Meehan farms 4,800 hectares of his own land in southern Western Australia and leases another 8,000 hectares from TIAA-CREF, making him one of the region's biggest producers of wheat, barley, canola, lupins and peas. "They own the land and we rent it from them at a percentage of the value. All the grain is ours, and they put in things like buildings, roads, silos," explains Mr O'Meehan. "If I tried to expand like this myself, I could buy 1,000 to 2,000 acres every few years. I've done what I wanted to do in two years instead of two generations," he says.

ऑस्ट्रेलिया में विदेशी निवेश शायद ही कभी सुर्खियों से दूर रहता है क्योंकि दावा किया जाता है कि अपतटीय खरीदार घरों की कीमतों को बढ़ा रहे हैं और देश के खाद्य उत्पादन को बहुत अधिक नियंत्रित कर रहे हैं। लेकिन जब बात कृषि क्षेत्र की आती है, तो कहानी का एक और पक्ष है।


Israelis find rare Roman fish sauce factory

Summary: Israeli archaeologists have discovered the well-preserved remains of a 2,000-year-old factory for making garum, the fabled fish sauce that the Romans took with them on all their journeys of conquest.

By News from Elsewhere......as found by BBC Monitoring The Israel Antiquities Authority came across the small cetaria, or factory for making the prized sauce, while inspecting the site of a planned sports park on the outskirts of the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel's Kan public broadcaster reports. The dig was funded by the local authorities, and young people and school children from the Ashkelon area came to help out. It is one of the very few garum factories found in the eastern Mediterranean, despite the Romans' long presence in the area and the premium they put on the pungent fermented sauce. Most surviving examples are to be found in the Iberian Peninsula and southern Italy. "We have something really unusual here," Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologist Dr Tali Erickson-Gini told The Times of Israel, as the Romans added garum to almost all their dishes to give them a salty savoury kick. "It's said that making garum produced such a stench that cetariae were located some distance from the towns they served, and in this case the factory is about two kilometres from ancient Ashkelon," Dr Tali Erickson-Gini said, according to Kan. You may also be interested in: Although the garum factory was gradually abandoned after the Romans left, later rulers found the site was also suitable for cultivating grapes. In the fifth century CE, a local Byzantine monastery made a living from producing wine there, and the remains of three winepresses have also been discovered at the site. Anyone curious to see what a garum factory looked like is welcome to visit on the afternoon of 22 December, when the Israel Antiquities Authority will open the site to the public free of charge. Reporting by Martin Morgan Next story: Canada's grizzly bears move into Arctic north Use #NewsfromElsewhere to stay up-to-date with our reports via Twitter.

इजरायली पुरातत्वविदों ने गरम बनाने के लिए 2,000 साल पुराने कारखाने के अच्छी तरह से संरक्षित अवशेषों की खोज की है, जो कि काल्पनिक मछली की चटनी है जिसे रोमन अपनी विजय की सभी यात्राओं पर अपने साथ ले गए थे।


Afghanistan: Over for some Britons, beginning for others

Summary: Thirteen years of fighting in Afghanistan are due to end for UK combat troops later this year. But while many will be dreaming of home, the men and women of 34 Squadron RAF Regiment are just arriving to oversee the withdrawal.

By Thomas MartienssenBBC News The call to prayer rings out across a compound surrounded by sand-coloured walls. Men clean Kalashnikovs with rags on a large wooden table. A pot boils in a corner, where an Afghan man stands dressed in a familiar blue police uniform. As traditional music rings out and sellers stand chatting outside shops, it's difficult to remember this is not Afghanistan but south-east England. Stanford Military Training Area is home to a series of towns and villages replicating those in Helmand province. This is the culmination of six months of training, a final exercise to assess the unit's capabilities. Far from finished "Well obviously it's a little bit warmer out there, but it's good a good set-up for training really," says L/Cpl Matthew Perry, comparing the training to a previous tour in Afghanistan. This isn't his first trip, but it will be the last of many. One of the RAF Regiment's roles is to protect aircraft leaving Camp Bastion as British forces bring their role to a close in Afghanistan. Bastion was placed in the centre of one of the most violent parts of Afghanistan, Helmand province. When paired with the US Marine Camp Leatherneck, the base sprawled to the size of Reading. At its height home to almost 30,000 Nato troops, it became one of the biggest bases in Afghanistan. Camp Bastion's flight movements equal that of Stansted Airport in south-east England, and every one must be looked after from the ground. Despite the obvious risks of being involved in the final stages of a conflict over a decade old and far from finished, Flying Officer Tom Bolland isn't worried. "I'm really looking forward to getting into a testing environment where you don't know what's going to happen," he says. He's the commander of C flight, 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, a group of about 30 gunners - most of which have never been to Afghanistan before "It's my first time out there and for a lot of the guy's it's their first time as well, I've got about five lads who've been before so I can use their experience to bring the younger ones on," he says. It will be Senior Aircraftsman Mark Goodall's first tour. And standing outside a tent in southern England, there's a strong feeling of apprehension - but he feels this training is helping to prepare him. Afghan volunteers are used to make the scenarios more realistic and add to the feeling of being in Afghanistan. "From what I can see they've brought hundreds of Afghans in. They don't talk a word of English, so you have to use the interpreters. They're cooking food how they would cook food, they're living in places like they'd live and they've actually got a working well and everything, so for me it's quite realistic. Finger along his throat "We've just been with the commander of the police and we moved into this village to find out what atmospherics are like on ground." He's referring to how the place feels. It becomes a sixth sense, and many troops will know an attack is coming. This time the gunners are well aware a simulation attack is imminent, and the feeling outside the tent is tense. This ability to know when something is going to happen is a skill that previously would be learnt through experience. At the beginning of British involvement in Helmand this could come at the cost of lives. But now as the men and women role play with the tens of Afghan volunteers, it can be learnt in the safety of Britain. But among the Afghan volunteers themselves there's another feeling, one of fear. They're scared, scared of the camera, scared of being recognised by the Taliban and scared of the consequences if they are. One who will remain anonymous for this very reason slides his finger along his throat. "You know what the Taliban will do to my family if they see me?" he says. The training isn't easy, the help from the volunteers is vital. In Afghanistan, the unit will be heading miles outside the main camp in order to stop the area surrounding it from falling into Taliban hands. In 2012 the fighting was much closer to home for the RAF Regiment. On a moonless night, heavily armed militants gained access through a fence, past an unmanned guard tower. Dressed in American military uniforms, they destroyed six US Marine harrier jets, damaging a further two. The RAF Regiment's quick-reaction force, together with US Marines and helicopter gunships killed 14 militants, leaving one wounded and arrested. Two US Marines were killed and a number were injured in the fire-fight that lasted more than four-and-a-half hours. This was the worst attack in Bastion's history. It called into question the security of the camp and highlighted flaws in the previously safe airfield. The Ministry of Defence insists the flaws have been rectified - but as the soldiers work in Helmand draws to a close, the RAF Regiment's job will continue to the very end.

अफगानिस्तान में तेरह वर्षों की लड़ाई इस साल के अंत में ब्रिटेन के लड़ाकू सैनिकों के लिए समाप्त होने वाली है। लेकिन जहां कई लोग घर का सपना देख रहे होंगे, वहीं 34 स्क्वाड्रन आरएएफ रेजिमेंट के पुरुष और महिला अभी वापसी की देखरेख करने के लिए आ रहे हैं।


Manchester taxi driver caught smoking must pay £520

Summary: A taxi driver has been ordered to pay £521 in a fine and court costs for smoking inside his vehicle in Manchester.

Mohammed Yousaf, 44, was alone in his taxi when council officers spotted him smoking on Oxford Road in January. He was cautioned and offered a fixed penalty notice of £50 which went unpaid. Manchester magistrates convicted Mr Yousaf, of Moss Bank, Crumpsall, in his absence of smoking in a public place. He was fined £120 with £411 costs.

एक टैक्सी चालक को मैनचेस्टर में अपने वाहन के अंदर धूम्रपान करने के लिए जुर्माना और अदालत की लागत में £521 का भुगतान करने का आदेश दिया गया है।


Kensington woman told to remove house stripes painted in protest

Summary: A woman in Kensington has been told to remove the red and white stripes she had painted on her house in protest over a rejected planning application.

Kensington and Chelsea council said it had given the owner a section 215 notice ordering the stripes' removal after neighbours complained. The stripes appeared earlier this month after plans to demolish the house and replace it with a new house and two-storey basement were refused. Neighbours said it looked "hideous". The house, in a quiet cul-de-sac, must be repainted by 3 July. The owner has until 5 June to appeal the decision. A council spokesman said: "The property is situated within the Kensington Square Conservation Area and its condition and appearance has attracted numerous complaints to the council's planning enforcement team."

केन्सिंगटन में एक महिला को एक अस्वीकृत योजना आवेदन के विरोध में अपने घर पर चित्रित लाल और सफेद धारियों को हटाने के लिए कहा गया है।


What's being done to combat Bradford's 'Wild West' driving?

Summary: Driving in and around Bradford has been described by some as "horrible, dangerous and like the Wild West". As part of the BBC's We are Bradford project we spoke to people about the standard of driving in order find out more about an issue which has prompted the city's police and council to take action.

In 2017 figures showed Bradford was the only district in West Yorkshire to see a rise in the number of people killed or seriously injured on its roads with the number rising from 178 the previous year to 192. The figures also showed the district was the only one to see a rise in the number of crashes owing to excessive speed and drinking. The city also featured heavily in a recent list of crash for cash hotspots, with five postcode areas - BD9, BD8, BD3, BD7 and BD5 - featuring in the top 25 worst affected areas, only Birmingham featured more often. Stacy, 41, from Pudsey - a few miles to the east of Bradford - said on Twitter "it's like the rules don't apply". She went on to say: "It's like it's every man for themselves, you have to be twice as alert. "Coming down Leeds Road into Bradford people will just pull out in front of you without any regard, just assuming that you are going to stop for them. "You see people on their phones - that tends to be the younger drivers - you see a lot of cars with a lot of people in - more than there should be - you see children with no seatbelts on. It just seems to be a way of life." Perwaiz Rajput, who has been a driving instructor in the city for almost 20 years, said he had noticed standards dropping. "It's gone from being safe and OK to a very dangerous situation in many areas of Bradford," he said. "People do not care how they drive or what they do, especially at peak times and around busy junctions. "I get out the house and I pray that I'm going to get back alive." 'Drivers need re-educating' Shad Miah, a 37-year-old restaurant manager, drops off and collects his children from school each day before driving to work in Wakefield. He said roads such as Manningham Lane, Midland Road and Leeds Road were bad for speeding drivers at times and inconsiderate drivers around schools often left the roads gridlocked. "I sometimes walk to the school because I do not have time to deal with the traffic," he said. "Midland Road can be like a race track. We've asked for speed bumps or speed cameras but we were told there had not been enough deaths. That sounded disgusting to me. "We've got some young drivers on the road that either need re-educating or they need to have their cars taken away." The issue has not gone unnoticed by those in authority. West Yorkshire Police's Operation Steerside has a team of 11 officers dedicated to tackling nuisance driving and the "fatal four" offences; drink/drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding and using a phone at the wheel. Supt Daniel Greenwood said while Bradford has a "bad reputation" for poor driving standards, provisional figures for 2018 suggest the number of people killed or seriously injured is in decline. "Whether it's real or perceived it's impacting on people's behaviour, they're saying 'I won't drive in Bradford' or 'I'm afraid I'm going to die [on the roads] and that's not helpful," he said. "My message to people is really simple, when you press that accelerator a little bit harder, when you go over the speed limit, you have no idea what's round the corner, or going to step out from behind that bus and split seconds can and do change lives for the worse." 'Racing cars' Bradford Council has also taken steps to clampdown on poor driving in the city. On 7 March, councillors sanctioned powers to impose fines on drivers caught making noise, including playing loud music, revving their engines, shouting, swearing or making sexual suggestions. The move came after more than two-thirds of people said they felt "unsafe" on the city's streets due to poor driving. Councillor David Warburton said: "Anti social behaviour of revving loud engines, playing loud music and groups congregating and some times racing cars on inappropriate streets at inappropriate times is clearly wrong. "We want to do everything we can, alongside the police, to combat that and make sure the public are safe at all times." This article was created as part of We Are Bradford - a BBC project with the people of the city to tell the stories which matter to them. Get in touch Have you got a story from Bradford or a question about the city you'd like us to answer? You can submit suggestions using the tool below. Your contact info Please don't publish my name I am over 16 years old I accept the Terms of Service If you are reading this page on the BBC News app, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question on this topic.

ब्रैडफोर्ड और उसके आसपास गाड़ी चलाना कुछ लोगों द्वारा "भयानक, खतरनाक और वाइल्ड वेस्ट की तरह" बताया गया है। बीबीसी की वी आर ब्रैडफोर्ड परियोजना के हिस्से के रूप में हमने लोगों से गाड़ी चलाने के मानक के बारे में बात की ताकि एक ऐसे मुद्दे के बारे में अधिक पता लगाया जा सके जिसने शहर की पुलिस और परिषद को कार्रवाई करने के लिए प्रेरित किया है।


Are in-app purchases ruining mobile video games?

Summary: We know more people are playing video games in the pandemic.

Not all of those will be sitting down to play on their consoles or PCs. Recent research suggests that one in two people with a smartphone will have played a game on their phone in the last week. How many of those games make money however has been a consistent talking point within the gaming industry for years. The techniques some developers use to hook and retain players, however, are controversial. Particularly when games advertised as "free" come with in-app purchases, sometimes known as microtransactions. "If money hinders you from playing this game that's posing as free-to-play, but it's not - that's what frustrates me," says Jay-Ann Lopez, founder of Black Girl Gamers, talking on this week's BBC Sounds Press X to Continue podcast. "If you want people to pay for your game, give [them] an upfront fee. I would gladly pay for a game to download onto my phone that I'm going to enjoy forever. "I don't want to be advertised to all the time. And I think it's becoming quite dangerous, how advertisements are everywhere. "When it comes to these mobile games, and they stop you from actually enjoying the game until you pay; I don't enjoy that kind of financial model." Research suggests that the amount of money players spent on mobile games globally increased by 13% year-on-year from 2017 to 2018 - with around £50 billion spent on them in total. Press X to Continue reviewer Inel Tomlinson, has some sympathy for studios trying to make mobile games: "I do think it's a lot harder for developers to charge upfront costs. "The latest Professor Layton game came out on mobile before it came out on the Nintendo Switch. And on mobile, it cost twenty quid, and everyone's like - 'I ain't touching that. Twenty quid for a mobile game? You're having a laugh'. "It came out on the Switch for £40 - the same game. Everyone bought it." Trying to stand out in a saturated mobile game market is hard. A recent trend in mobile games forces players to wait until they can access certain levels or items - unless, of course, they're prepared to pay for the privilege - and it's these kinds of techniques that irritate some gamers. "In certain mobile games, for instance, you play for ten minutes. And then it's like, 'oh, you've now run out of lives'," says comedian Glenn Moore. "Your lives replenish in 24 hours, or you can buy some now and I'm like, 'is this a game being really irresponsible about my finances? Or is the game being really responsible for my playtime?' "I think it's the first one. It's definitely the first one." "[Developers of mobile games] have got to make money. So I understand that you've got to think of new ways of doing it," says podcast host Steffan Powell. "When monetisation gets in the way of the experience? That's when I start questioning it." But while there is so much money to be made there will still be plenty of games that rely on this funding model. Jay-Ann hopes that she can overcome her frustration to experience some of the games that are out thereon mobile devices. "There are some beautiful gems out there," admits Jay-Ann. "[Created] with a lot of hard work. There are some really beautiful stories." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

हम जानते हैं कि महामारी में अधिक लोग वीडियो गेम खेल रहे हैं।


David McNarry will not attend UUP disciplinary hearing

Summary: The former Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry has declined to attend a party disciplinary hearing on Friday.

Mr McNarry has told his party in writing that he has a prior commitment. He resigned the Stormont whip when the party leader Tom Elliot demoted him from the deputy chair of the Education Committee over an interview he gave to the Belfast Telegraph. Mr McNarry resigned from the party's assembly group in January. However, he remains a party member.

अल्स्टर यूनियनिस्ट के पूर्व विधायक डेविड मैकनरी ने शुक्रवार को पार्टी की अनुशासनात्मक सुनवाई में भाग लेने से इनकार कर दिया है।


Channel migrants: Ten people found in a dinghy

Summary: Ten migrants have been picked up and brought to Dover after attempting to cross the Channel in a dinghy.

A Border Force vessel was sent to intercept the rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) after being alerted at about 08:00 BST. The occupants of the boat were given a medical assessment and later sent to be interviewed by immigration officials, the Home Office said. More than 1,300 people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year.

एक डिंघी में चैनल पार करने का प्रयास करने के बाद दस प्रवासियों को उठाया गया और डोवर लाया गया।


China: Does it have to become more like us?

Summary: Many in the West have a shaky grasp of China's internal power dynamics, but they are confident about one thing - that China is facing a key moment on its path to economic development, and that it will grow into a rich economy only by becoming a lot more like us.

Stephanie FlandersFormer economics editor In public, at least, China's leaders would sign up to the first part of that statement. But they don't seem to agree on the pace of reform that is required - or its ultimate direction. They think that China - the "middle kingdom" - can get rich on its own terms, not by simply mimicking everything that happened in the West. But of course, there is a third possibility, that it doesn't get rich at all. The lesson of centuries of economic history is that China is likely to get stuck in the middle: neither a poor economy nor a rich one. This chart, from the World Bank's China 2030 report earlier this year, makes the point. Of the 101 countries that were "middle-income" in 1960, only 13 had managed to break from the pack to become advanced economies by 2008. It's interesting to note that only three of those 13 countries has a population of more than 25 million. Less than a fifth of the 180 countries in the world have made it to being advanced economies. The rest are low-income or "emerging". You might say it's only a matter of time before others join the club. But most of the countries we now call "emerging" - especially in Latin America and the Middle East - would also have been put on that list, 40 years ago. One big economic reason why countries get stuck in this "middle-income trap" is that they reach what is known as the "Lewis Point". Put simply, this is the point at which a developing country stops being able to achieve rapid growth relatively easily, by simply taking rural workers doing unproductive farm labour and putting them to work in factories and cities instead. Then there is upward pressure on wages and prices, and growth starts to slip. Many economists think that China has now reached this point, while its population is ageing fast. Some slowdown in its growth is therefore inevitable. The question is how much. China has grown by just under 10% a year, on average, since 1980. If it can grow by at least 6% or 6.5% a year from now on, the World Bank reckons it can graduate to become a high-income country before 2030 and overtake the US as the world's largest economy. (China's income per head, of course, would still be much lower than America's.) Six or 7% growth doesn't sound so hard, for a country that has defied the sceptics for so many years with its continued economic success. But from where it is now, growing at that pace would mean China transforming itself from a country driven by exports, manufacturing and investment to one centred around domestic services and consumption. Investment and consumption each now account for around 50% of China's GDP. To achieve sustainable growth from now on, the World Bank thinks the consumption share needs to rise to about 66% - and investment to fall by a similar amount. Every developed economy has made this fundamental transition. But few, if any, have done it while continuing to increase productivity - output per head - by 6-7% a year. America, Europe and Japan had the advantage of a growing labour force for most of this stage in their development. China will not. Its population is ageing much more rapidly and its labour force will be shrinking after 2016. How will that happen, if at all? The World Bank has a long list of answers, but most of them come down to increasing the amount of competition in the economy and fostering innovation. This is where the "becoming more like us" part comes in. It's conventional wisdom in the West that you can't foster innovation without strong property rights, for example. Many would also put a free press on that list - and what the World Bank euphemistically calls "higher public participation in public policy formulation". The World Bank is prohibited - by its founding statutes - from saying that democracy is better than other forms of government. Instead, in its 2030 report the Bank offers China's leaders this deliciously delicate piece of wisdom: "As economies grow in size and complexity, the task of economic management becomes more complicated, and governments usually find that they alone do not, indeed should not, have all the answers. "Governments, therefore, tend to tap the knowledge and social capital of individuals and non-government agencies, including universities, communities and think tanks. "One of the hallmarks of advanced economies is their public discussion of public policies. Indeed, such discussions are already beginning in China, but there is a long way to go." You might be tempted to call all of that democracy. The World Bank couldn't possibly comment. But you can see why, to many outside experts and commentators, the job of transforming China's economy and its political system seem to run together. They don't see how you can become the kind of country that produces the Googles and Facebooks of tomorrow and puts the consumer in the driving seat without also becoming a more open and democratic society. China's leaders think you can have modern economic success without - in the medium term at least - a modern democracy. Many in the West disagree. That could be a reflection of Western arrogance. But it's possible that they're all wrong. China may well not look like us in 20 or 30 years' time, but it might not look like an advanced economy, either.

पश्चिम में कई लोगों को चीन की आंतरिक शक्ति की गतिशीलता की अस्पष्ट समझ है, लेकिन वे एक बात के बारे में आश्वस्त हैं-कि चीन आर्थिक विकास के अपने रास्ते पर एक महत्वपूर्ण क्षण का सामना कर रहा है, और यह कि यह हमारे जैसे और अधिक बनने से ही एक समृद्ध अर्थव्यवस्था के रूप में विकसित होगा।


Gerry Adams: Profile of Sinn Féin leader

Summary: He is one of the most recognisable and controversial figures in Irish politics.

But, after 34 years as president of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams has announced his intention to step down as leader. The move marks a historic shift in the political landscape in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. The 69-year-old Belfast native emerged from the turbulent history of Northern Ireland to become one the island's foremost figures in republicanism. To some he is hailed as a peacemaker, for leading the republican movement away from its long, violent campaign towards peaceful and democratic means. To others, he is a hate figure who publicly justified murders carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The paramilitary group is believed to be responsible for about 1,700 deaths during more than 30 years of violence, mostly in Northern Ireland, that became known as the Troubles. The Sinn Féin leader has consistently denied that he was ever a member of the IRA, but has said he will never "disassociate" himself from the organisation. Now, following the death of former deputy leader Martin McGuinness earlier this year and Mr Adams' decision to step down, Sinn Féin and the republican movement is facing a new era. Gerry Adams was born in October 1948 in Ballymurphy, west Belfast, and both of his parents came from families that had been active in armed republicanism. His father, Gerry senior, had been shot while taking part in an IRA attack on a police patrol in 1942 and was subsequently imprisoned. Influenced by his father, the young Adams became an active republican while still a teenager. He worked as a barman at the Duke of York pub in Belfast where he was fascinated by the political gossip traded among the journalists and lawyers who frequented the bar. Imprisoned However, as the civil rights movement gathered pace in the late 1960s, the young Adams did not spend long pulling pints. Soon he was out on the streets, involved in the protests of the time, and in 1972 he was interned - imprisoned without charge - under the controversial Special Powers Art. According to his own account, he was purely a political activist, but that same year, the IRA leadership insisted that the then 24-year-old be released from internment to take part in ceasefire talks with the British government. The talks failed and were followed by the Bloody Friday murders, when the IRA detonated at least 20 bombs across Belfast in one day, killing nine people and injuring 130. Acquitted Security sources believed Gerry Adams was a senior IRA commander at the time, but interviewed after the organisation's formal apology 30 years on, he adamantly denied this. In 1977, he was acquitted of IRA membership. At the height of the 1981 IRA hunger strikes, he played a key role in the Fermanagh by-election in which Bobby Sands became an MP a month before his death. Two years later Gerry Adams became MP for West Belfast on an absentionist platform, meaning he would represent the constituency but refuse to take his seat in the House of Commons. Also in 1983, he replaced Ruairí Ó Bradaigh as president of Sinn Féin. Three years later, he dropped Sinn Féin's policy of refusing to sit in the Irish parliament in Dublin. Despite the tentative moves towards democracy, the IRA's campaign of violence continued and Sinn Féin were considered political pariahs. In the late 1980s, Gerry Adams entered secret peace talks with John Hume, the leader of the Sinn Féin's more moderate political rivals, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Assassination bids The Hume Adams negotiations helped to bring Sinn Féin in from the political wilderness and paved the way for the peace process. But treading a line between politics and violence was risky. In 1984, Gerry Adams survived a gun attack by loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Freedom Fighters, in Belfast city centre. He and three companions were wounded but managed to drive to the Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment. A second murder attempt was made at Milltown cemetery, west Belfast, in 1988 at a funeral for three IRA members. Three mourners were killed but loyalist paramilitary Michael Stone said his real targets were Adams and Martin McGuinness. The 1993 Shankill bombing confirmed the tightrope Gerry Adams had to walk in order to keep hardline republicans on board with his political project. He expressed regret for the bombing that killed nine people and one of the bombers, but did not condemn it. Mr Adams then carried the coffin of the IRA man Thomas Begley, who died when the bomb exploded prematurely. But the Hume-Adams talks were beginning to bear fruit. US President Bill Clinton withstood pressure from London to grant Gerry Adams a 48-hour visa for a peace conference in New York. The visit attracted worldwide attention and Adams used it as justification to press on with politics. The Hume-Adams process eventually delivered the 1994 IRA ceasefire that ultimately provided the relatively peaceful backdrop against which the Good Friday Agreement was brokered. In 1998, 90% of the party backed its president in taking seats in the new Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont - a remarkable piece of political management given Sinn Féin's "no return to Stormont" slogan in the 1997 general election campaign. DUP deal Mr Adams stayed out of the Stormont power-sharing executive, letting Martin McGuinness take a ministerial post. When the power-sharing deal collapsed in 2003, Gerry Adams became a key player in the government's attempts to broker a new agreement between Sinn Féin and their one-time enemies, the Democratic Unionist Party. The negotiations foundered at the end of 2004, but in October 2006 both Mr Adams and DUP leader Mr Paisley indicated their support for the St Andrews Agreement, drawn up after intensive talks in Scotland. The deal led to a once-unthinkable situation, a Stormont coalition led by the DUP and Sinn Féin. A key element of the deal was Sinn Féin support for the police, whom the IRA had once deemed "legitimate targets". All-island strategy It was unthinkable in the days of the Troubles, but persuading Irish republicans to embrace policing was another step on Adams' personal and political journey between war and peace. In January 2011, Gerry Adams formally resigned as West Belfast MP in order to run for election in the Republic of Ireland. The move was believed to be in response to fears that the party was too narrowly focused on Northern Ireland and needed to boost its all-island strategy. The following month, he was elected as a Teachta Dála (member of the Irish Parliament), representing the border constituency of Louth and East Meath. Sex abuse However, closer to home, personal turmoil was unfolding in the Adams family. His brother, Liam Adams, was publicly accused of rape and child sexual abuse. The allegations were made by Liam Adams' adult daughter Aine, who waived her right to anonymity in a bid to bring her father to justice. Gerry Adams publicly named his own father as a child sex abuser as he spoke about the impact the allegations had made on his whole family. He then became embroiled in the police investigation, when it emerged his niece had told him she had been abused several years earlier. The Sinn Féin president said his brother had confessed the abuse to him in 2000 and added that he made his first report to the police about the allegations in 2007, shortly after his party voted to accept the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). In 2013, Liam Adams was jailed for 16 years for raping and abusing his daughter over a six-year period. The following year, Gerry Adams was arrested by detectives investigating the 1972 murder of Belfast woman Jean McConville. 'Innocent' The widowed mother-of-10 was abducted by the IRA in 1972 and later shot dead and secretly buried on a County Louth beach. Mr Adams said he was "innocent totally" of any involvement in the killing. He was questioned for four days, before being released without charge. The PSNI sent a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). At the time, Sinn Féin accused the PSNI of "political policing" and claimed the arrest was due to a "dark side" within the service, conspiring with enemies of the peace process. The PSNI said they had a duty to "impartially investigate serious crime" and said they were committed to treating "everyone equally before the law". Transition Recent years also saw different sides of Mr Adams, however. He fully embraced the potential of social media and is well known as an enthusiastic user of Twitter. He gained a reputation for quirky tweets, many focused on his teddy bear and rubber duck collection. This frankness has also led him into controversy, however, such as in 2016 when Mr Adams apologised for using the 'N-word' in a tweet comparing the plight of slaves in the United States to that of Irish nationalists. In the meantime, Mr Adams and Sinn Féin were beginning to make plans for his transition from leadership - and these plans would begin to become public just when Northern Ireland's political process once again hit the rocks. In January 2017, Martin McGuinness quit as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister in protest at the handling of a botched energy scheme. The move led to an ongoing political crisis that between Northern Ireland's two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, that has yet to be resolved. Soon after his resignation, Mr McGuinness confirmed that he was in ill health and would not be standing for re-election. Sinn Féin's deputy leader added that he and Mr Adams had devised a plan for the handing over of Sinn Féin's leadership. The first part of that plan became public later that month when Michelle O'Neill replaced Mr McGuinness as Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland. New era Martin McGuinness died two months later, a death that Mr Adams described in his final party conference speech as "a punch in the face". In September, Mr Adams dropped his biggest hint yet that he was set to step back from politics when he said he would outline the party's "planned process of generational change" if re-elected leader at the party's ard fhéis (party conference). Now, Mr Adams has confirmed that, after more than three decades, he will no longer be at the forefront of Irish republicanism. He will step down officially in 2018, when a new leader will be elected, but a long goodbye is not expected. Sooner rather than later, a new era in Irish politics without Mr Adams will begin. Family man Away from politics Mr Adams has been married to his wife Colette for 47 years; she does not have a public profile and does not appear with him at political events. They have a son, Gearóid Adams, a teacher well known for his involvement in Gaelic football. Mr Adams is known to enjoy walking, dogs, and Gaelic games, as well as spending time with his grandchildren.

वह आयरिश राजनीति में सबसे अधिक पहचाने जाने वाले और विवादास्पद व्यक्तियों में से एक हैं।


Trans soldiers speak of military as 'form of therapy'

Summary: The experiences of former soldiers who have struggled with their gender identity is being explored at an exhibition in Liverpool. Many transgender people joined the military as a "form of therapy", according to an academic who has interviewed a number of trans veterans.

By Emilia MinchevaBBC News The group, who described their experiences to historian Dr Emma Vickers, said they had to lie about women's clothing during their military life as men. The Museum of Liverpool's Dry Your Eyes Princess exhibition is named after a derogatory phrase meaning "toughen up", which participants say they "often heard" during their Army careers. Dr Vickers, from John Moores University, interviewed 20 people for the exhibition. She said: "Trans personnel in the UK were dismissed in significant numbers before 1999 and, because of the limited understanding of trans identities, officials tended to confuse gender identity with sexual identity." Dr Vickers found that many joined up in the hope the "hyper-masculinity" of the military would "rid them of discomfort they felt with their gender identity". Michaela's story: 'My biggest regret' Michaela joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1975 to "find the missing piece" in her life, as she felt she did not fit in. She said there was no awareness of transgender people, who were seen by authorities as "gay people wearing clothes of the opposite gender". "The view was that these people did not exist," Michaela said. While serving in Germany, she visited LGBT bars and dressed as a woman in private. She left the Army in 1981 because she felt she could not be who she was, and started a new life. "The biggest regret is that I did not do more in the forces and I was not able to officially be Michaela. "That is a regret that will stay with me till the end of my life," she said. Dawn's story: 'Being the guy everybody wanted me to be' Many trans veterans interviewed said they joined the military to prove their masculinity, but Dawn said the more she tried to become masculine, the worse she felt. She says she was "never happy". "I was playing a role. It was like the biggest camouflage I had ever put on in my life," said Dawn. "I was forced to join the Army Cadets when I was 16 to prove my masculinity and be the guy everybody wanted me to be. "I was beaten by my father after the doctor told him I wanted to be a girl. "It was decided in his head that we never mention this ever again. "He got me to say 'I am not a girl' and it was the biggest lie I ever came up with in my life." Dawn, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, served for more than 20 years, including a stint in Northern Ireland. "My father thought the Army would make a man out of me," she said. She said she explained the discovery of tights in her Army kit by saying she used them to store her muddy running shoes. The sergeants thought it was "a genius idea" - and so adopted the same method. Abi's story: Post-Afghanistan breakdown Abi knew from a very early age that she was different and "did not fit the norm", after joining the military in the 1980s, She lived in disguise for more than 40 years "desperately trying" to please society and her family. "Everything about the person that I am now was very carefully locked away in a little box somewhere never to be opened. Nobody knew about me at all," she said. Abi transitioned in 2007 after having a breakdown following her return from Afghanistan. She left the Army after she felt she was unable to serve as a woman. In 1999, a ban on trans personnel in the armed forces was lifted. Trans is a term that refers to a person whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex they were "assigned" at birth. The Ministry of Defence said in a statement: "Everyone now serves regardless of gender identity and we are all about making people feel comfortable being themselves." The exhibition continues at the Museum of Liverpool until 31 January.

लिवरपूल में एक प्रदर्शनी में अपनी लिंग पहचान के साथ संघर्ष करने वाले पूर्व सैनिकों के अनुभवों का पता लगाया जा रहा है। कई ट्रांसजेंडर लोग "चिकित्सा के रूप" के रूप में सेना में शामिल हुए, एक शिक्षाविद के अनुसार जिन्होंने कई ट्रांस दिग्गजों का साक्षात्कार लिया है।


How an agoraphobic travels the world

Summary: Jacqui Kenny's agoraphobia means a trip to the supermarket can trigger an anxiety attack and fears of impending "catastrophe". But she says her Instagram account is helping her and sufferers like her to explore remote corners of the world.

By Kate PalmerBBC News Jacqui, 43, takes shots from Google Street View - among them a group of nuns in Peru and high-rise flats in Russia - posting images to her 20,000 followers under the pseudonym "Agoraphobic Traveller". Since her 20s she has feared busy places and public transport - despite living in central London - but says the digital age has helped her travel to places she would otherwise never see. "I'll go anywhere that feels a little bit magical," she says. "They are places that would be incredibly difficult for me to travel to, so inevitably I'm attracted to them." Jacqui, who was diagnosed with agoraphobia in 2009, chooses remote, eerie places to capture and says she likes anywhere with an "other-worldly feel". "There's a lot of isolation in the shots but there is also colour and hope in there," she says. "The photos I take reflect how I feel and my agoraphobia is part of that." But her "thrill" at discovering faraway places contrasts with her fear of everyday situations. She describes going to the local supermarket as "a nightmare" and says she has not taken a Tube train in 10 years. "I'll start to panic - my palms are sweaty, I have a racing heart, I feel that my feet aren't touching the floor," she says. "Thoughts are racing through my mind - that I'm going to lose control, smash everything in the aisle - and everyone will see." Jacqui was 23 and living in Australia when she had her first panic attack during a busy day at work. "No one told me what it was and I thought I was dying," she says. "Later, a doctor said it must've been something I'd had for dinner. "He blamed it on the black bean sauce - no one was talking about mental health." Hidden illness Before starting the project in 2016, Jacqui managed to hide her symptoms from everyone except her family. At work, she ran a digital marketing company but only went to meetings in the office which was two minutes' walk from her house. She says finding and posting the images has helped her come to terms with being agoraphobic, which she had felt angry about for a long time. "Before my anxiety set in I dreamed of being a photographer," says Jacqui. "I'd resigned myself to this never happening." "Now I feel that the condition doesn't define me but is within a part of me," she says. But does spending hours online posting photos really help her condition? Jacqui admits she "thought it could be an unhealthy thing to do" to trawl the internet for hours at a time. But she says it has given her the confidence to speak about the condition and come to terms with it. "It's only when I started posting these photos I went beyond telling my family and really close friends," she says. "Before, nobody knew," she says. "Now people from all over the world are coming to me sharing similar struggles - it's amazing." She says many people misunderstand agoraphobia as a fear of open spaces, but she has discovered how varied people's anxiety can be. She has been contacted by an agoraphobic journalist who struggles in a busy newsroom and photographers who may fear travelling to a photo shoot. "Quite a few young women have asked me for advice," she says. "I tell them about my experience, but I can only offer my viewpoint as I'm obviously not a psychologist." She adds: "Everybody's dealing with something and I'm really starting to realise that." Jacqui now manages her anxiety with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which aims to change patterns of thinking - recently attending her sister's wedding in New Zealand. "I had therapy which involved a lot of anxiety and not sleeping for three months," she says. But she managed the flight after seeing a psychologist, who made her act out her worst fears. "I pretended to bang down the door of the plane, trying to get out of there," she says. "I realised how funny the situation was, and we both fell around laughing, and when I actually boarded the plane that humour helped me through it." It was not easy - but she says the trip has given her hope. "I try to do these things," she says. "There are times when I can't do it and I go home - but I know that is making it worse." What is agoraphobia?

जैकी केनी के एगोराफोबिया का मतलब है कि सुपरमार्केट की यात्रा एक चिंता के हमले और आसन्न "तबाही" के डर को जन्म दे सकती है। लेकिन वह कहती है कि उसका इंस्टाग्राम अकाउंट उसे और उसके जैसे पीड़ितों को दुनिया के दूरदराज के कोनों का पता लगाने में मदद कर रहा है।


Lesotho's murder mystery, Prime Minister Tom Thabane and his estranged wife

Summary: Lesotho's prime minister and his wife are caught up in a murder investigation involving allegations so sinister that they have the makings of a crime novel. Pumza Fihlani tries to unpack the mystery from the capital of the southern African nation, Maseru.

People are going about their business in the city, vegetable vendors line the streets, taxis whizz past each rushing to the next passenger. On the surface everything is in order but newspaper billboards plastered on shop windows and tied to lamp posts give the first indication that something is deeply wrong in Lesotho. One headline reads in bold type: "Police Hunt First Lady." Another says: "Embattled PM agrees to quit." The country's first couple - Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his current wife Maesaiah Thabane - are wanted for questioning in connection with the 2017 murder of Mr Thabane's then estranged wife, Lipolelo Thabane. The 58-year-old, who had been living apart from her husband since 2012, was killed just two days before Mr Thabane was sworn in as prime minister. One evening while returning home, she was ambushed, shot several times at close range and died on the side of a dirt road. The murder shocked the nation. At the time, Mr Thabane described it as a "senseless killing". At the time of her death, the attack was blamed on unknown armed men, but recent court papers filed by the country's police commissioner, Holomo Molibeli, have raised further questions. Among the court papers, seen by AFP news agency, was a copy of a letter, dated 23 December 2019, that the police chief wrote to the 80-year-old prime minister saying: "The investigations reveal that there was a telephonic communication at the scene of the crime in question... with another cell phone. The cell phone number belongs to you." First Lady missing A warrant of arrest of was issued for 42-year-old Maesaiah Thabane on 10 January after she failed to present herself to the police for questioning. She has not been seen publicly for two weeks and no-one seems to know where she is, well no-one willing to talk that is. Mr Thabane, who is still in the country, has avoided any questions about his wife's whereabouts. The BBC contacted government officials for comment but they were unwilling to take questions on the matter. A spokesman for the prime minister's party said "the matter has not been addressed". Population2.2 million Area30,355 sq km (11,720 sq miles) LandlockedEntirely surrounded by South Africa System of governmentConstitutional monarchy GDP per person$1,222 (£933) Last week, he reluctantly agreed to be questioned by the police. Neither Mr Thabane nor his wife have been charged. It says something about the separation of judicial and political power in Lesotho that a prime minister can be wanted for questioning but the police investigation has not been easy. Death threats The police commissioner, Mr Molibeli, told me the Thabane investigation was one of the most complex and dangerous cases he had worked on in his 32 years as a policeman. "It hasn't been easy, there have been many attempts for this investigation to not continue. "I believe what we are doing is right, as long as my conscious is clear. The people of Lesotho want to know the truth and it is our job to investigate and get to that truth," he said. People have made threats on his life for pursuing the investigation, he adds, but he insists he is not scared. "Not at all. I have people who support me. In the past the people who would've threatened me would be the army but no, I have a good relationship with them. "We all just want to get Lesotho out of this quagmire." While the police will not say what evidence they have, Mr Molibeli said the case was "strong". Those who knew Lipolelo say she shied away from the limelight and preferred her slow village life in Ha Masana on the outskirts of the capital. But the months prior to her death had been filled with turmoil. News of her protracted divorce from Mr Thabane frequently made headlines, as did a counter-suit from her to continue to be recognised as Lesotho's rightful First Lady. Divorce never finalised After he had separated from Lipolelo, Mr Thabane was living with Maesaiah as if she was his wife and she was enjoying all the perks that came with the position. Lipolelo on the other hand had been left high and dry. In 2015, after a long legal wrangle, the High Court ruled in Lipolelo's favour and ordered the government to stop using state funds to support Maesaiah. It further ruled that she was to stop "performing any functions and exercising any rights vested on the applicant [Lipolelo] as the First Spouse". It was a humiliating loss for the prime minister. The ruling meant that until the divorce was finalised, Lipolelo was still legally recognised as his spouse and his government was obliged by law to take care for of her. The divorce was never finalised. This small country is relatively peaceful, but does have a reputation for the killing of high-ranking officials. In the past, these have been as a result of a dispute within the military or political classes. Mr Thabane himself once fled to South Africa supposedly because there was a hit out on him. Mme Lipolelo, as she was known here, was neither political nor someone who had political enemies. For many her death was always suspicious. 'Lipolelo deserves justice' "I was so shocked when she died," Maseru resident Lebohang Liballo said. "What happened to her was so strange - even now the secrecy around it is strange. Mme Lipolelo deserves justice." Although people are intrigued by the case and are following each twist and turn, there is still a sense of fear. Those who agreed to speak to me asked not to have their pictures taken. "It's been a big embarrassment for the country," said Bakwena Mofoka. "It paints us as something we are not. The First Lady must come back." But Maesaiah does not appear to be backing down. Her legal team have been trying to have her warrant of arrest set aside. The court is yet to rule on the matter. Her lawyers told the Maseru High Court that the First Lady had always been willing to cooperate with the police but was busy with official duties on the day she was due to be questioned. They have not explained why she appears to have left. She is no stranger to controversy - in the last couple of years she has repeatedly been accused of interfering in the running of government, something the people of Lesotho have termed a "bedroom coup". Mr Thabane has denied the claims but the accusations have lost her favour with some in the party. Political divisions The scandal has also had political implications for the prime minister. While his supporters have questioned the timing of the investigation, claiming that their leader was the victim of a smear campaign, he has been forced to agree to step down, although he has not said when. He said he was resigning because of his age and made no link with the investigation. The governing All Basotho Convention (ABC) is deeply divided but in the days since the scandal erupted its members have tried to present a united front - if only to keep opposition parties at bay and buy Mr Thabane time to plan his next move. But he might not have too long. Hundreds of people, calling themselves "concerned citizens of Lesotho", marched in the capital last week, as part of what they promise will be a series of protests aimed at forcing the prime minister to leave immediately. "We are determined to keep protesting until he goes. "If that means that there is instability, so be it, it would have been brought on by the prime minister," protest organiser Ramahoana Mathlosa said. It was a sign of a people who are growing tired of Mr Thabane and perhaps one scandal too many. But his resignation would not be an end to the mystery surrounding who killed Lipolelo Thabane.

लेसोथो के प्रधान मंत्री और उनकी पत्नी हत्या की जाँच में इतने भयावह आरोपों में फंस गए हैं कि उनके पास एक अपराध उपन्यास का निर्माण है। पमज़ा फिहलानी दक्षिणी अफ्रीकी राष्ट्र, मासेरू की राजधानी से रहस्य को उजागर करने की कोशिश करता है।


SSE Airtricity lowers prices of gas and electricity for homes and small businesses

Summary: Energy provider SSE Airtricity is to drop natural gas prices by 7.8% and electricity prices by 8%.

The company, which supplies around 300,000 homes and small businesses in Northern Ireland, said it would save the average household over £100 a year. The reductions will come into effect on 1 April. Earlier this month, Power NI announced that it was reducing its prices for homes and small businesses by 9.2%. Budget Energy has also announced a 5% price cut.

ऊर्जा प्रदाता एस. एस. ई. एयरट्रिसिटी प्राकृतिक गैस की कीमतों में 7.8 प्रतिशत और बिजली की कीमतों में 8 प्रतिशत की कमी करेगी।


Murder arrest after woman's body found in Dudley

Summary: A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a woman's body in Dudley.

The victim was found at an address in Crossley Street, Netherton, just before 12:40 GMT West Midlands Police said. It is not yet known how she died and the death is being treated as "unexplained", the force added. The 38-year-old suspect is in custody for questioning and a cordon remains in place, officers said, as investigations continue at the scene. Anyone with information is being urged to come forward. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

डडली में एक महिला का शव मिलने के बाद हत्या के संदेह में एक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


The cases where US police have faced killing charges

Summary: A white South Carolina police officer has been charged with murder after a video of him shooting a black man running away from him became public - months after previous cases of police killings saw no charges against the officer. So when have police faced charges?

By Taylor Kate BrownBBC News, Washington In 2013, Russell Rios, 19, fled a Wal-mart in Conroe, Texas, after allegedly stealing about $50 (£32) in goods from the store. An officer, Sgt Jason Blackwelder, responded and chased Rios on foot to a wooded area. Blackwelder left the woods, Rios did not. Blackwelder later said in his report during a struggle Rios had choked him to the point of almost losing consciousness. Blackwelder fired his gun and killed Rios, arguing it was self-defence. But prosecutors said evidence from the scene contradicted that account, including the fact that Rios had been shot in the back of the head. Blackwelder was charged by a grand jury for manslaughter and making false statements. He was convicted in a jury trial. It is one example of the rare instances where police are arrested or charged for violent incidents related to their police work. "Everybody knows policing is violent, and [jurors] don't want to second guess those decisions," says Philip Stinson, a researcher at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and former police officer. Juries - both grand juries and trial juries - tend to "give every possible benefit of the doubt" when it comes to police officers who have killed while on-duty, Dr Stinson says. But the secrecy of the grand jury proceedings make it hard to know why that was. He adds this tendency to not charge does not exist as strongly for police officers investigated for non-violent crimes, including corruption cases. Comprehensive nationwide numbers of how many police officers kill individuals while on duty do not exist. The FBI does record "justifiable homicides" by police officers. There were 461 such homicides in 2013, but by definition, this doesn't include the number of police charged with a crime for on-duty actions. And reporting these statistics to the FBI is voluntary. In addition, even police agencies who report their overall crime numbers are not required to submit additional data on homicides, justified or not. Mr Stinson's own research found 41 police officers were charged with murder or manslaughter between 2005 and 2011. In the same time period, the FBI recorded several thousand justifiable homicides. And the process by which police officers face charges depends on the state. Some are charged by grand juries, others are charged directly by police through arrest warrants. In Baltimore in 2008, Police Officer Tommy Sanders was indicted for voluntary manslaughter while on duty when he shot and killed Edward Lamont Hunt. Mr Sanders told the court Hunt had been staring at him across a car park at a shopping centre. As he was searching Hunt, the officer said Hunt assaulted him and ran off. After giving chase, Sanders told the court he saw Hunt reach for something. Mr Sanders fired three shots, two hitting Hunt in the back. During the trial, multiple witnesses said Hunt had never assaulted the officer, nor did he reach into his coat while running. Hunt was unarmed. While the evidence led a grand jury to charge Hunt, he was eventually found not guilty. But the case was slightly different than recent cases of white police officers being accused of bias in handling of black suspects - Mr Sanders himself is black. More recently, two police officers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, have been charged with first degree murder after shooting a homeless man in the hills behind the city as he appeared to surrender, and a policeman in Alabama faces assault charges after shoving an Indian man to the ground, partially paralysing him. And in at least one case, when prosecutors do not get an indictment, they try again. Last September, Jonathan Ferrell, 24, a former college football player, was shot by Officer Randall Kerrick as he attempted to get help after being involved a car crash late at night in Charlotte, North Carolina. A woman alarmed by Farrell knocking and yelling at her door at two o'clock in the morning called police. By the time Mr Kerrick had arrived, Ferrell had walked away, looking for help elsewhere. What happened next is disputed, but it ended with Mr Kerrick shooting at the 24-year-old 12 times, 10 of the shots hitting Ferrell. Mr Kerrick's own police department said the shooting was "excessive" and said he "did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon" during the incident. Prosecutors brought the case to a grand jury, and when they did not charge Kerrick, the state argued the jury had not had enough people and convened a second grand jury, which did indict. Mr Kerrick faces trial for manslaughter next year. And once a case goes to court, and even a conviction, the tendency to give police officers every benefit appears to extend to the sentencing as well. After his conviction, Blackwelder was given five years probation for the crime. He had faced up to 20 years based on the charge. Additional reporting by Micah Luxen

एक श्वेत दक्षिण कैरोलिना पुलिस अधिकारी पर हत्या का आरोप लगाया गया है, जब एक अश्वेत व्यक्ति को उससे दूर भागने के लिए गोली मारने का एक वीडियो सार्वजनिक हो गया-पुलिस हत्याओं के पिछले मामलों में अधिकारी के खिलाफ कोई आरोप नहीं देखे जाने के महीनों बाद। तो पुलिस को कब आरोपों का सामना करना पड़ा है?


Chariots of Fire's Eric Liddell is Chinese 'hero'

Summary: The story of Scottish athlete Eric Liddell - a devout Christian who refused to take part in an Olympic race because it took place on a Sunday - became famous after being told in the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. But almost a century later, why is the athlete regarded as a hero in China?

By Glenn CampbellPolitical correspondent, BBC Scotland In the corner of a quiet Chinese courtyard, 5,000 miles from Scotland, stands a memorial in Isle of Mull granite. The stone commemorates Eric Liddell - one of Scotland's greatest Olympians - who is buried nearby. The stone was gifted by Edinburgh University after a Scottish engineer, Charles Walker, rediscovered his grave in the Chinese city of Weifang. Liddell, the son of Christian missionaries, had been born in China in 1902 and lived there until he was five when he returned to Britain to be educated. While he was at Edinburgh University, Liddell excelled at athletics and also played rugby for the Scottish national team - as well as being a noted evangelist preacher. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris, he famously refused to run on a Sunday, ruling him out of the 100 metres race to which he was best suited. Instead, he took part in the 400 metres race and, against the odds, still won a gold medal. Soon after his Olympic triumph, Liddell finished his studies and returned to China to become a missionary. As well as religious duties, he worked as a science and sports teacher at the Anglo/Chinese College in Tianjin. After the Japanese invasion in 1937, Liddell carried on his missionary work even when it became dangerous to do so. Liddell's wife and children left China for Canada in 1941 but he stayed to help in any way he could. In 1943 he was interned at Weifang and he died of a brain tumour just months before the end of World War II, at the age of 43. The prisoner-of-war camp which held about 2,000 Westerners is now a place of learning for 2,000 Chinese teenagers. Every new pupil at the school is taught about the camp and Eric Liddell's achievements on and off the track "This part of history is a great treasure for our school," said head teacher, Zhao Guixia. "We can see the great value of humanity, especially in Eric Liddell's stories." In the camp, Liddell was affectionately known as "Uncle Eric" because he spent most of his time teaching children, organising sports and helping others. Because he was born in China, some people regard him as the first Chinese Olympic gold medallist. "It is not a joke," said Wang Hao, Weifang's director of foreign affairs. "We are very proud of Mr Eric Liddell. He is a hero". A small internment camp museum features Liddell's story but the city has plans to pay a bigger tribute. The building where he died is to be converted into a new museum with a reconstruction of Liddell's prison room and a waxwork of him inside. It will be a remarkable honour for a Christian missionary in a Communist country. Outside China, his greatest monument is the movie he inspired. Chariots of Fire has been digitally remastered and re-released to cinemas to coincide with London 2012. Eric Liddell: A Champion's Life will be broadcast on BBC Two Scotland at 2200 BST on Monday 23 July.

स्कॉटिश एथलीट एरिक लिडेल की कहानी-एक भक्त ईसाई जिसने ओलंपिक दौड़ में भाग लेने से इनकार कर दिया क्योंकि यह रविवार को हुई थी-ऑस्कर विजेता फिल्म चैरियट्स ऑफ फायर में बताए जाने के बाद प्रसिद्ध हो गई। लेकिन लगभग एक सदी बाद, एथलीट को चीन में नायक क्यों माना जाता है?


David Brickwood: Man released over scrap dealer killing

Summary: A man has been released without charge over the killing of a scrap metal dealer who was stabbed and beaten in his own home.

David Brickwood, 74, died in hospital after being attacked at his house in Abington, Northampton, in the early hours of 26 September 2015. A man aged 51 from the town was arrested on suspicion of murder this week but police have now released him. Officers are continuing to appeal for information in the case. A coroner found 35 injuries on Mr Brickwood's body, including blunt trauma wounds, muscle tearing and stab wounds. So far police have arrested seven people in connection with the murder, but no-one has been charged.

एक व्यक्ति को एक कबाड़ धातु व्यापारी की हत्या के आरोप में बिना किसी आरोप के रिहा कर दिया गया है, जिसे उसके ही घर में चाकू मारकर पीटा गया था।


Europe's migrant crisis: Tricky business to resolve

Summary: European leaders are billing their new proposal to deal with the refugee and migrant influx as a "game-changer", but the scheme is not agreed yet and there are doubts about whether it it is practical or even legal.

Damian GrammaticasChina correspondent The centrepiece is a plan to take any refugees and migrants who cross the sea to Greece in smugglers' boats and return them, directly, to Turkey. European Union officials say whatever is finally agreed "will comply with both European and international law". Privately, though, some admit that, while the assessment of their lawyers is "quite promising", there are legal hurdles that must be overcome. So can Europe carry out mass returns of entire groups of people? UN officials have cited the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that it explicitly prohibits the collective expulsion of foreigners. And they say that under international law, it is not illegal for someone fleeing persecution and conflict to cross a border and ask for asylum. The problem with mass returns Around 90% of those arriving in the Greek islands say they are fleeing conflict, primarily from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. Under international law, each person's case must be heard on an individual basis, not as a group, because they may have very good reasons for seeking protection. The second difficulty, UN officials have said, is that while returns can be legal, people can only be sent back to a country that is safe, is able to care for them, give them full access to work, to education, to healthcare, and, most important of all, will take responsibility for processing the individual's asylum claim. Read more about the migrant crisis The reason many Syrians are leaving Turkey is that it can't provide work, education and healthcare for them all. A system to apply for asylum in Europe from Turkey doesn't exist yet. Until now, the EU has not returned people to Turkey. It hasn't viewed Turkey as what's called a "safe third country". Turkey is not a full member of the Geneva Convention. It does not offer Syrians asylum, only a lesser form of international protection. And other groups like Iraqis and Afghans don't even have that option in Turkey. So while returning Syrians is questionable, returning non-Syrians may be even more problematic. Even if all the legal issues are settled there remains the practical problem of how Greece would send back all those making the crossings. Desperate people, men, women and children would have to be rounded up, held and then transported back across the sea. One in, one out In exchange for the mass returns, the EU is offering to take in large numbers of asylum seekers directly from Turkey. So for every Syrian sent back to Turkey, one already in Turkey will be resettled in Europe. But finding EU countries willing to accept the new arrivals may not be easy. Last year, EU countries pledged to shift thousands of refugees directly from Greece, Italy, and Turkey and give them new homes in the EU. Just a few hundred have actually been moved. Could countries achieve now what they have failed to make happen so far? Hungary has made clear that it is not prepared to accept quotas under this new plan. Other countries in central and eastern Europe are also opposed. So to make this work, a "coalition of the willing" - countries prepared to welcome Syrians - will have to be assembled. Germany and the Netherlands may have to be the leaders here, but they will need support from other states too. Among Turkey's demands to secure a deal is visa-free access to the EU for Turks, ideally by the end of June, but there is significant political resistance. It would allow more than 70 million Turks to travel (but not work) visa-free in Europe's Schengen zone. That hasn't happened before now because some EU countries have worried about the political backlash at home from anti-immigrant parties. France in particular has been opposed. The indications from behind closed doors at the summit were that President Francois Hollande may be willing to accept a deal on visas. But then there is the problem that Turkey does not officially recognise the Greek-Cypriot government in Nicosia (Cyprus is an EU member). That's one issue to overcome, and there is also significant opposition to visa concessions for Turkey in the European Parliament, which would have to approve the change as well. Even if all of these issues are resolved, sources say that EU countries will probably still insist Turkey meet all the technical conditions necessary for visa-free access. The hurdles, such as Turkey introducing more sophisticated biometric passports, are significant. Serious concerns This is another of Turkey's demands. It may be largely symbolic, as most EU countries believe Turkey is years away from achieving EU membership, but making any headway on this will be even harder than on the subject of visas. Opposition from Cyprus is one big issue here. Turkey must recognise the government in Cyprus before any new discussions open. Cyprus has stated clearly that it has a clear understanding from other EU countries that "Turkey cannot use its role in the refugee crisis... to ask for exchanges as regards its EU accession course". Other countries like Italy and Belgium have doubts about making concessions at a time when there are serious concerns about Turkey's political direction, about declining media freedoms, and worries about a shift towards greater authoritarianism in Turkey's politics. Privately, EU sources say agreement even to open any new accession discussions will be "very difficult" and is one of the most important things to clarify if a deal is to be done next week. For all the difficulties, though, there are powerful, political reasons why all sides want a deal. The EU as a whole wants to regain control of events in this refugee crisis. There is a real concern that countries have started going it alone, consensus has broken down, and the EU has to find a plan that reverses that dynamic. There is also a fear that if the refugee crisis remains unresolved, it could affect Britain's EU referendum. Angela Merkel needs a deal as she's come under huge political pressure at home. And the crisis has caused a real rift between the leaders of Germany and Austria that needs to be mended. Other EU leaders want to show their electorates they can protect the EU's borders, fearing that otherwise anti-immigrant parties will seize the political initiative. Closing some border crossings to deal with the refugee crisis has had economic costs too. And a deal suits Turkey as well. It is hosting millions of refugees and is under serious pressure because of the way the war in Syria has shifted with Russia's involvement. Despite their difficulties, the EU and Turkey both benefit if they can make a strategic relationship work, and they need support from each other to deal with the crises they are facing. A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.

यूरोपीय नेता शरणार्थियों और प्रवासियों की आमद से निपटने के लिए अपने नए प्रस्ताव को "गेम-चेंजर" के रूप में पेश कर रहे हैं, लेकिन इस योजना पर अभी तक सहमति नहीं बनी है और इस बारे में संदेह है कि यह व्यावहारिक है या कानूनी भी।


Dates for A21 widening inquiry announced

Summary: The date of a public inquiry into improvements for a route linking London, Kent and the East Sussex coast has been announced.

The inquiry into widening the road between Tonbridge and Pembury will start on 14 May, the MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark said. "We have all been fighting so hard to get the A21 dualled," he said. The scheme is one of six priority road projects announced by the roads minister last year. The 2.5 mile stretch would be upgraded from a single to dual carriageway, with a lane added in each direction, the Highways Agency said. On 25 March the Highways Agency will be holding a pre-inquiry meeting at which the inspector will announce the procedure for submitting evidence. The inquiry is expect to last for between two and three weeks.

लंदन, केंट और पूर्वी ससेक्स तट को जोड़ने वाले मार्ग में सुधार के लिए एक सार्वजनिक जांच की तारीख की घोषणा की गई है।


Gangnam Style statue built in South Korea's Seoul

Summary: A statue dedicated to the South Korean music hit Gangnam Style is to be unveiled in the Seoul district made famous by the song.

The metal sculpture will show two fists overlapped in the style of the song's "horse-riding" dance move. It will be erected outside the COEX shopping centre, where part of the video was filmed. Gangnam Style was released by South Korean singer Psy in 2012 and remains the most-watched YouTube video ever. It has been viewed more than 2.4 billion times. Gangnam tourism director Park Hee-Soo said he hoped the statue would "become a landmark for our district". "Tourists can take pictures under the statue and the song will play automatically when you stand there," he added.

दक्षिण कोरियाई संगीत हिट गंगनम स्टाइल को समर्पित एक प्रतिमा का अनावरण सियोल जिले में किया जाना है जिसे गीत द्वारा प्रसिद्ध किया गया है।


Three of Wales' health boards overspend by total of £50m

Summary: Three health boards overspent by a total of £50m last year, despite the Welsh government giving the NHS an additional £240m to deal with extra pressures.

Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda and Cardiff and Vale boards did not manage within their allocated budgets for 2014/15. Health Minister Mark Drakeford told AMs on Thursday they needed extra money to pay for some services and salaries. All three must now draw up plans to recover the money. Overspends Mr Drakeford said recovery of the money must be achieved in a way "which will not prejudice the continued provision of safe, sustainable and quality healthcare". The remaining health boards - Powys, Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf and Abertawe - operated within their budgets for the financial year.

तीन स्वास्थ्य बोर्डों ने पिछले साल कुल £50m से अधिक खर्च किया, इसके बावजूद कि वेल्श सरकार ने अतिरिक्त दबावों से निपटने के लिए NHS को अतिरिक्त £240m दिया।


Labour MP quits Commons to run for seat in Cardiff Bay

Summary: Labour Ogmore MP Huw Irranca-Davies has officially stepped down from the House of Commons, to stand to represent the constituency in the Welsh Assembly.

Mr Irranca-Davies, a former minister, was appointed to the Manor of Northstead, the traditional process by which MPs are able to quit their seats. A by-election is expected to be held on 5 May, the same day as the assembly election. Labour's majority in Ogmore was over 13,000 at the 2015 general election. Mr Irranca-Davies entered Parliament in a by-election in 2002, following the death of Sir Ray Powell, and revealed he intended to stand down in October. He served as a minister in the Wales Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between 2007 and 2010 and was also a member of Ed Miliband's shadow team from 2010-15.

लेबर ओगमोर के सांसद ह्यू इरांका-डेविस ने वेल्श विधानसभा में निर्वाचन क्षेत्र का प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए आधिकारिक तौर पर हाउस ऑफ कॉमन्स से इस्तीफा दे दिया है।


The British police on armed routine patrol

Summary: In a little-noticed move, a small number of police officers are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in parts of the mainland UK. How did this come about, and does it alter the relationship between the constabulary and the public?

By Jon KellyBBC News Magazine Saturday night in Inverness. Outside a McDonald's restaurant, a scuffle between two men breaks out. Three police officers arrive to intervene. So far, so mundane. Except that strapped around the hips of each of the policemen approaching the brawl is a holstered Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol. It's a sight that once would have been unthinkable. In this corner of the Scottish Highlands - an area with one of the lowest crime rates in the UK - the officers showing up to a relatively workaday disturbance are armed. Although every police force has a firearms unit, for decades it has been an article of faith that in the mainland UK, almost uniquely among major industrialised nations, the police do not carry guns as a matter of course. But with little fanfare at first, a policy of routinely allowing specialist officers to wear sidearms as they walk the streets of Scotland has come into being. After the incident in Inverness was captured by a local photographer on 12 July, local politicians expressed fears that the tradition of an unarmed constabulary was being surreptitiously eroded - a charge that would have implications for everyone in the UK. John Finnie, an independent Member of the Scottish Parliament and former police officer, was approached by a constituent who said he had seen armed officers at the finishing line of the Highland Cross biathlon in the sleepy town of Beauly. The man told the MSP he "felt less safe", assuming some sort of major incident was under way. Other sightings of armed officers in incongruous settings had emerged - at a bakery in the village of Brora, at a branch of Aldi in Inverness. They were also photographed at a routine traffic incident in Glasgow city centre. Police Scotland, the single Scotland-wide force, says when specialist officers are not deployed on active firearms duty, it is expected that they carry out normal policing duties while carrying their sidearms. It says it is not the first force in the UK to routinely arm officers, and that 42 forces in England and Wales "carry the same standing authority and deploy similarly". There seems however to be a lack of clarity about how widespread the practice is. A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers says Police Scotland's policy has precedents in London in 2009 and Bedfordshire in 2012. The Metropolitan Police, however, says its officers on routine patrols are not armed. This policy was introduced by the former Strathclyde force in 2008, and followed by Tayside in 2009 and Northern Constabulary just before the single force was created in 2013. Hitherto, firearms officers had to retrieve their weapons under a senior officer's authorisation from a locked safe in an armed response vehicle. Until this point, most people hadn't actually noticed that the policy had altered. Jimmy Gray, the leader of Highland Council, says Northern Constabulary's Joint Police Board was not fully informed what the change would mean. "It horrifies most people around here," he says. The British position Why British police don’t have guns Following an outcry, however, the Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill addressed MSPs at Holyrood on Tuesday to defend it. He said the public "understands and accepts" the need for a "small number" of officers to be armed and for the chief constable of Police Scotland, Sir Stephen House, to have operational independence over their deployment. But in the Highlands, where 16 officers are authorised to routinely carry sidearms, hostility remains strong among elected representatives, who fear that the change in tactics will only encourage criminals to arm themselves more heavily. Finnie, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has led the opposition in the Scottish Parliament. He says it is unnecessary as officers are walking around "the safest place in the UK" with sidearms, and that the policy will only serve to frighten people. Critics pointed out the widening of the policy comes after figures for 2012-13 showed firearm offences in Scotland had fallen by 32% to the lowest for 10 years. Homicides, attempted murders and robberies in which firearms were involved were all down too. Petitions opposing the policy were started by local MP Danny Alexander and the Inverness Courier newspaper. Some 59 of 80 Highland councillors supported a motion tabled at the full council calling for a review. But following a meeting with Highland councillors in July, divisional commander Ch Supt Elaine Ferguson said the policy was unlikely to change. Ever since Robert Peel created the Metropolitan Police in 1829, the British force's unarmed status has been central to its identity. Some in London were issued with revolvers prior to 1936, but after that date only trained officers ranked at sergeant or above were issued with guns, and even then only if they could show a good reason. This was underpinned by the principle of policing by consent - the notion that officers owe their primary duty to those they serve, rather than to the state. Historically the only forces in the UK which were routinely armed were in Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Defence Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. According to Richard Garside, director of the Centre of Crime and Justice Studies, the sight of armed police has become more common in recent decades at airports and at places like the House of Commons. Cases like the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, shot dead during a robbery in 2005, or of the three plain-clothes officers murdered by Harry Roberts in west London in 1966, have led to calls for the police to be armed. The international model In November 2011, Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe called for police response officers to be routinely armed with Tasers and in 2007 the centre-right think-tank Policy Exchange found 72% of 2,156 adults wanted to see more armed police patrols. But a 2006 survey of 47,328 Police Federation members found 82% did not want officers to be routinely armed on duty, despite almost half saying their lives had been "in serious jeopardy" during the previous three years. Nonetheless, Garside says the policy in Scotland represents an "escalation" and will appear surprising to a public which still cherishes a Dixon of Dock Green ideal of policing. "It does change the dynamic between the police and the public," he says. "It's always slightly alarming or unusual to see police officers in the UK carrying guns." Police Scotland insists that it is a long way from routinely arming those who serve in it. There has been no increase in the number of armed personnel. Out of 17,318 Scottish officers, only 275 routinely carry guns while on duty - 1.6% of the total. Because they work shifts, a much smaller number will be on duty at any one time. In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Livingstone said the change in policy was necessary to correct a "previous postcode lottery of services", adding that shootings in Dunblane, Cumbria, Hungerford and Northumberland demonstrated that rural areas were not immune from the threat of gun crime. He added that it made sense for armed officers "to support their colleagues in local policing divisions through regular patrols and routine tasks" when they are not carrying out their specialist duty - citing the example of a 79-year-old woman who was rescued from the Caledonian Canal in Inverness by armed officers, who were the closest unit on hand to assist. But Finnie says it isn't necessary for them to wear sidearms strapped to their hips while they carry out this kind of assistance. During his 10 years as a dog handler, he says, he would regularly be called to assist colleagues dealing with robberies or domestic violence incidents, but "I didn't take my 90lb snarling animal along with me". In addition, Dr Mick North, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie died at Dunblane Primary in 1996, hit out at the force for citing the tragedy in support of its policy. He said changes to the system would not have helped as "the incident was all over in three minutes". Police Scotland say they have only received one complaint from a member of the public about the policy, but a quarterly review in September "will take account of the views raised so far". Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

एक छोटे से नोटिस में, पुलिस अधिकारियों की एक छोटी संख्या अब मुख्य भूमि ब्रिटेन के कुछ हिस्सों में गश्त करते समय नियमित रूप से साइडआर्म ले जा रही है। यह कैसे हुआ, और क्या यह कांस्टेबुलरी और जनता के बीच संबंधों को बदल देता है?


Why academics are taking comic books seriously

Summary: Thousands of comic fans are descending on a small Cumbrian town this weekend for an international festival. Among them will be a growing number of academics who are now taking the art form - previously regarded by many as "throwaway" - as seriously as other literature.

By Simon ArmstrongBBC News With Batman, Superman and The Avengers dominating box offices after making the leap from the page to the big screen, comic-inspired characters have been making a comeback for years. But it is not just cinema-goers who are drawn to the exploits of cartoon creations. Academics are also taking an increasing interest in the world of comics and graphic novels. There are now thought to be about 150 comic scholars in the UK - university lecturers, PhD students and independent researchers. They are exploring how subjects such as gender, feminism, history and mental and physical health are portrayed. Dr Mel Gibson, a comic book expert at Northumbria University, said the genre had "matured" in the 1980s, mainly thanks to British writers such as Bryan Talbot, Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. "That's also when academics got involved. But it's not ivory tower stuff, it's rooted in the real world. It has practical applications," she said. Dr Gibson is one of 50 leading figures from the world of graphic novels who will be appearing at the inaugural Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Kendal from Friday until Sunday. With writers, artists and industry figures coming from as far afield as Japan, the United States and Scandinavia, the event promises to transform the picturesque Cumbrian market town. While there are still only a handful of courses across the UK dedicated solely to comics and graphic novels, Dr Gibson says they find their way into many traditional undergraduate subjects. "Some of my final-year students are looking at children's literature and as part of that they will explore comics and graphic novels," she said. "They can even be included in social work studies and paediatric nursing - Bryan Talbot's The Tale of One Bad Rat has been used by health professionals around the world dealing with people who have suffered childhood abuse. "The victims might not want to or be able to talk about their situation, but through the story they can begin a discussion. That's a valuable tool for a health worker to have in their arsenal." The Tale of One Bad Rat, written in 1994, tells the story of a girl who flees London to escape sexual abuse at the hands of her father. "That is the graphic novel I'm most proud of," said Talbot. "I still get people today writing to me to say they were abused and that the book helped them cope." The 61-year-old - a founding patron of the Lakes event - is a doyen of the comic art world. Originally from Wigan, he has lived in Sunderland for the past 15 years with his wife Mary, an academic-turned-graphic novelist, and the pair won the Costa 2012 biography prize after teaming up for Dotter of Her Father's Eyes. It was with one of the first British graphic novels, The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, that Talbot made his name in the late 1970s. A story of parallel worlds, it features several nods to the poet William Blake. More recently, 2007's Alice in Sunderland explored the links between the North East city and author Lewis Carroll, mixing myth and history along the way. In recognition of his work, Bryan was given an honorary doctorate by Sunderland University in 2009 while last year he was presented with an honorary degree of doctor of letters by Northumbria University. "Academic interest has grown over the years and I'm proud," he said. "Someone once sent me a PhD thesis they had written about Luther Arkwright and its historical elements. "When I started working in comics it was almost like working at the bottom of the artistic barrel. To most people they were only just more interesting than patterned toilet paper. "Steadily they gained credibility, but that's down to the talent of the writers and illustrators. If the novels weren't any good then no one would be taking any notice of them." Taking inspiration from the annual Angouleme International Comics Festival in France - which draws 250,000 fans - the Lakes event will feature ticketed exhibitions, workshops and panels, as well as a programme of free family-friendly events. Venues across the town will stage sessions, shops are displaying artwork by schoolchildren and college students while the town hall will even replace its Union flag with one bearing the Batman logo. Talbot's latest work, again in partnership with his wife Mary, as well as illustrator Kate Charlesworth, is Sally Heathcote: Suffragette - a tale following a maid-of-all-work and the fight for the vote in Edwardian Britain. For academics such as Dr Gibson, gender is a key area of study. "Sally Heathcote is an example of a strong central female character - something comics are now very good at," she said. "For a while it was forgotten that girls read comics, much less that they were represented within them. "In the 1960s publications such as Jackie featured comic strips, but they disappeared over a period of 20 years and those titles began to steer girls towards magazines like Cosmopolitan rather than comics, which is different to the way boys' reading patterns were shaped." For Dr Gibson the move from a niche, underground offering to graphic novels being seen by many as having mainstream educational appeal is a welcome one. "Graphic novels were once seen as throwaway, but now they are more highly valued and viewed as things which deserve space on the bookshelf."

हजारों हास्य प्रशंसक इस सप्ताह के अंत में एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय उत्सव के लिए एक छोटे से कुम्ब्रियन शहर में उतर रहे हैं। उनमें से शिक्षाविदों की संख्या बढ़ रही है जो अब कला रूप को ले रहे हैं-जिसे पहले कई लोग "बेकार" मानते थे-अन्य साहित्य की तरह गंभीरता से।


Newspaper review: Election fever, Costa Del Craigavon

Summary: There's really only one story in town this morning.

By Amy StewartBBC News NI Northern Ireland went to the polls yesterday after a snap election called by Secretary of State James Brokenshire in January. The front pages focus on party leaders at polling stations, but it's Arlene Foster who features most prominently. The Irish News gives an air of courtroom drama, with a full page given to a picture of Mrs Foster headlined: "The Verdict." The News Letter reports "firm evidence" of a "bigger turnout," while The Belfast Telegraph suggests turnout is "set to top 60%". It features pictures of the leaders at polling stations above the bold headline: "Decision Day". But in an unusual turn, the paper even features an "on the red carpet" Joan Rivers style round-up of the candidates' fashion choices. Some highlights seem to be Mike Nesbitt's "near sky-blue suit," Arlene Foster's "great coat" and Michelle O'Neill's "wise choice" of red. The Daily Mirror takes a lighter tone, punning with the question "Arl be back?" The papers all feature colourful photos of voters - some dressed as crocodiles and even some actual clerics and policemen. 'Arrest over prison officer murder' The Mirror, The News Letter and the Irish News front pages report on the arrest of Damien McLaughlin. He had been charged in connection with the 2012 murder of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black but, after being granted bail in May 2014, had not been seen by police since last November. Mr McLaughlin was arrested on Thursday under a European Arrest Warrant by Gardai as part of a joint intelligence-led operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). On the weather front, it seems Doris may have been at it again, as The Irish News reports on damage caused to a listed building in Belfast. It reports that a construction firm has "blamed Storm Doris" after damage was caused to the former Bank of Ireland, near Royal Avenue during demolition of an adjacent building. An investigation has been launched by Belfast City Council planners after the Ulster Architectural Heritage society (UAHS) lodged a complaint. The Irish News says the firm responded with: "Due to the impact of Storm Doris..it became necessary to demolish the vacant and redundant premises at North Street. "During this process some minor damage was done to a previous repair". The firm says it is working with the council to ensure preservation of the building. 'Big hearted bikers' The Irish News, Belfast Telegraph and News Letter feature the story of a headmaster who's a bit cooler than your average principal. The headline is "Harley bikers bond with school principal over shared passion". Colm Davis, headmaster of Tor Bank School in Belfast suffers from motor neurone disease. He's a Harley Davison fanatic and was treated to a visit from some hairy and not-so-hairy bikers. The group of Harley Davidson bikers turned up at a teaching conference Mr Davis was attending. 'Truly heroic' There is news of a touching tribute to a life-long Ballymena United fan who passed away after a battle with cancer in The News Letter. Trevor Burns, who died on Wednesday was "first and foremost a Sky Blue fan", it reports. On his last attendance at a match, Ballymena manager David Jeffrey brought the league cup over to Trevor. It has been described as a "superb gesture which touched the family". David Jeffrey says he was "proud to dedicate the win to Trevor". 'Costa del Craigavon' There are many beauty spots in Northern Ireland, but it seems Craigavon has come out as the most desirable place to live in the region. In a survey commissioned by Royal Mail, the County Armagh town came out top, with The Irish News describing it as an "unexpected winner".

आज सुबह शहर में वास्तव में केवल एक ही कहानी है।