Why is there stigma around male baldness?

Summary: Scientists say a drug normally prescribed for osteoporosis could potentially lead to a new treatment for hair loss . But why is there stigma around male baldness? And why do men try to "cure" themselves of it anyway?

By Alex TherrienHealth reporter, BBC News Whether it's actors Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Jason Statham or business titans Jeff Bezos or Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein, there is no shortage of men in the spotlight who are bald. Forget wigs, hairpieces or other attempts to hide their baldness, all of them have shaved heads that draw attention to, rather than disguise, their sparse locks. And it seems there may be good reason to embrace baldness rather than cover it up. Some studies have indicated that men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine and dominant than their full-haired counterparts. The video blogger Perry O'Bree, who started losing his hair at the age of 20 and recently took part in the BBC Newsbeat documentary Too Young to go Bald, says baldness is something we should "embrace and celebrate". Yet for many male pattern baldness is a source of emotional distress. Actor James Nesbitt said his hair loss had affected his confidence and career and credited his subsequent hair transplants with helping him to get better roles. "It was something I struggled with. And that was probably the vanity in me," he said at the time. So why does hair loss often hit men so hard? David Fenton, of the British Association of Dermatologists, says representations of physical perfection in the media lead many men to seek self-esteem in their appearance. "People create confidence and self-esteem from it, and when they lose even a little bit, if their character and confidence is based on that, they're going to have severe emotional and psychological impacts," he says. But is the pain some men feel about balding new or has it always existed? Magic potions Actors talking about hair loss affecting their confidence and ability to get parts sounds like a distinctly modern issue for our image-conscious times. But men's concerns about balding appear to go back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In the Bible, two bears mauled 42 boys after they mocked the prophet Elisha by calling him "Baldy". Baldness was also said to be an obsession of Julius Caesar, who reputedly tried all manner of things to get his hair back. Elsewhere, supposed cures for hair loss abound in history. The Vikings are said to have used a lotion of goose guano. The ancient Greek medic Hippocrates's "cure" involved pigeon droppings mixed with horseradish, cumin and nettles. And a rather gruesome 5,000-year-old Egyptian recipe suggested blending the burned prickles of a hedgehog immersed in oil with honey, alabaster, red ochre and fingernail scrapings. What is male pattern baldness? Source: NHS/NICE But where does man's preoccupation with hair loss stem from? "It depends on the society, but one of the important communications that hair gives - the style, the colour, the presentation - it's one of the most powerful means of communication," says Dr Fenton. "When you lose hair, one of the immediate messages is that you're perhaps ageing. And usually this is something people don't want. It goes along with superficiality and appearance in society." Scientific breakthroughs It wasn't until the 1980s that the first real breakthrough in the science of hair loss treatment took place, when scientists discovered the blood pressure drug minoxidil caused hair growth as a side-effect. This led experts to look for ways to repurpose the drug to treat hair loss, eventually creating a lotion that could be applied to the scalp. The next major treatment came when scientists found that some bald men given tablets aimed at preventing the prostate from enlarging started to re-grow their hair. The drug, now sold as finasteride, blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone - a process that happens in people who are balding. The two drugs are the most common treatments for male pattern baldness in the UK. But neither is prescribed on the NHS. And they're expensive. They're also inconsistent, Dr Fenton says. In some people, they don't work at all. In others, they slow down or stop hair loss. While in the lucky ones, there can be some hair re-growth. But any benefit will eventually reverse once treatments are ended. Hair transplants - used not only by James Nesbitt but also footballer Wayne Rooney - have become increasingly effective, to the point that they are often undetectable when done by a good surgeon. They work by transferring hair from another part of the body to the balding area. But they're also costly, ranging from £1,000 to £30,000 for the most comprehensive transplants. And they are generally better suited to older men or those whose hair loss has stabilised. One potential treatment showing promise is the injection of plasma-rich platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Though more studies on its effectiveness are needed, experts say. But will science reach the point in our lifetimes where it will be able to "cure" baldness? Dr Fenton believes it will be possible to reverse balding, at least to some extent, in most people eventually. But because baldness is a normal physiological process, rather than a disease, such a treatment would need to be taken continuously to prevent its effects wearing off. "You can't cure something that is a normal physiological happening," he says. "You're fighting your genetic programming. And to do that you have to do it forever or until you don't care." But is baldness something that even needs to be "cured"? Dr Fenton says the shaved look adopted by Dwayne Johnson and others is an approach that would best suit a lot of men. "It's a very convenient way of covering up that you're thinning in one area and not another," he says. "That's one way that some people cope satisfactorily. And that may be enough for them." Perry O'Bree says attitudes to baldness have improved. "The more you talk about it, the better it gets," he says. "At first, it's a bit of a shock to the system. But once you discover that so many other people your age have gone through a similar thing, it's not so bad. "It's part of a life-cycle." Follow Alex on Twitter.

वैज्ञानिकों का कहना है कि आम तौर पर ऑस्टियोपोरोसिस के लिए दी जाने वाली दवा से बालों के झड़ने का एक नया इलाज हो सकता है। लेकिन पुरुष गंजापन को लेकर कलंक क्यों है? और पुरुष इसे खुद ठीक करने की कोशिश क्यों करते हैं?


Man charged with assault after St Pauls unrest

Summary: A man has been charged after a police officer suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone amid disorder in Bristol last month.

Adelaja Brown, 30, of Chapel Road, Easton, is accused of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent - one with intent to cause serious harm and the other to resist arrest. It follows an incident involving several people in St Pauls on 29 May. He has been bailed to appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on 11 August.

पिछले महीने ब्रिस्टल में अव्यवस्था के बीच एक पुलिस अधिकारी के गाल की हड्डी टूटने के संदेह के बाद एक व्यक्ति पर आरोप लगाया गया है।


Covid: Local leaders react to the three-tier system

Summary: Negotiations with local leaders are a key part of deciding whether an area moves into a higher level of restrictions in England's new three-tier Covid alert system. But while some are resisting additional measures, others want them to be introduced urgently.

For Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, the new system of local coronavirus measures is "fundamentally flawed". The three-tier system was announced on Monday, with only the Liverpool region being placed in the highest level with the toughest restrictions. Andy Burnham told the BBC he "resisted" Greater Manchester being placed in the same category because it would cause "certain harm" to the economy. Downing Street has defended the system - which categorises every area in England as on medium, high or very high alert - as difficult but necessary "to protect the NHS and save lives". Meanwhile, Essex, which is currently in the medium tier, has become the first place to call for extra restrictions. The county said it should be moved to high alert to prevent "further escalation" into the very high tier later, leading to damage to the economy. And in London, the mayor Sadiq Khan has said that it is inevitable the capital will pass a "trigger point" in the next few days that should move the city from the medium level to the high level. The move would see nearly nine million people banned from mixing with other households indoors, including in pubs and restaurants. 'Fragile economies' Mr Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Emma Barnett Show, there was not "a proper economic support package" to help areas put into the highest tier. He added: "And they're trying to pressurise people into tier three, even though it will do certain harm to those economies, often quite fragile economies in the north. "That is why tier three as currently constructed is fundamentally flawed and why we have resisted being pushed into it." Manchester does not have Covid hotspots to the same degree as Liverpool, which is the only area to be placed in the highest tier, and the number of people admitted to hospital is lower, Mr Burnham said. And he said England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, had acknowledged he was not confident the base tier three measures "would be enough". Mr Burnham said that he would prefer a short "circuit-break" national lockdown to "reset things", including putting the Test and Trace system under local control. It was revealed on Monday that the government's scientific advisers had called for a short lockdown of this kind last month. A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection is required to view this interactive. What are the rules in your area? Enter a full UK postcode or council name to find out This information was updated on 15 December at 15:45 GMT. Leeds Council leader Judith Blake said they needed a better understanding of "the full implications" of moving from tier two to the highest level of alert, including the impact on the economy and the likely effect on reducing the number of infections. And Jamie Driscoll, the North of Tyne mayor whose area is also in the second tier, said the new system was like "whack-a-mole without knowing where the moles are", because of failings with the test and trace system. Recommendations over which areas are placed in particular Covid alert levels are made at a series of daily and weekly meetings involving NHS Test and Trace, Public Health England, the chief medical officer, the Department for Health and Social Care and ministers, along with the Joint Biosecurity Centre. A final decision is only made after consultation with local authorities and local leaders. Under tier three, or the very high alert level, these talks also decide any additional measures that are deemed necessary to bring the infection rate under control. But Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram said it was "totally false" that the new measures had been agreed to locally - instead they had been "dictated to us by the government". Downing Street said talks were continuing with local leaders in the north of England to agree tier three restrictions in more areas. "The PM said these are difficult steps - but we have to protect the NHS and save lives," a Number 10 spokesman said. But he said the government does have the power "to impose measures" if it deems them necessary. What are the restrictions? Most places are under the lowest tier, the medium alert level, with current restrictions continuing, including the 10pm hospitality curfew and the rule of six. Areas already under additional local restrictions are automatically in the high alert level, which means bans on household mixing indoors are extended to include hospitality venues. The very high alert level - at a minimum - sees pubs and bars close if they do not serve "substantial meals", almost all household contacts banned and advice against travel. The rule of six will continue to apply in outdoor public spaces such as parks. In Liverpool City Region, betting shops, gyms, leisure centres and casinos are also being closed as part of additional measures. Essex is calling for its 1.4 million residents to be placed on the high alert level after its director of public health warned the increase in cases would continue to accelerate without urgent action. Council leader David Finch said they wanted "above all" to avoid the economic damage of being placed in the highest tier of restrictions at a later stage. "Making these painful decisions now will, we hope, bring dividends later," he said. Bristol's mayor Marvin Rees called for local authorities to be given the power to impose additional restrictions themselves, as well as the resources to support businesses that have to close. He said the government is "lending its attention to the areas causing the most concern" so places such as Bristol, with lower infection rates, risked being overlooked, although their case numbers would have been considered "horrific" three weeks ago.

स्थानीय नेताओं के साथ बातचीत यह तय करने का एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा है कि क्या कोई क्षेत्र इंग्लैंड की नई तीन-स्तरीय कोविड चेतावनी प्रणाली में उच्च स्तर के प्रतिबंधों में चला जाता है। लेकिन जबकि कुछ अतिरिक्त उपायों का विरोध कर रहे हैं, अन्य चाहते हैं कि उन्हें तत्काल लागू किया जाए।


The art of the Christmas window display

Summary: You may still be wrapping this year's Christmas presents but window dressers throughout the land are already planning their festive displays for December 2019. Just how do they create these often impressive spectacles and how do they hook in the shoppers?

By Sue PazBBC News Christmas displays are a staple of many a High Street during the festive season. Alongside the more traditional sights rooted in the nativity and fairytales are the more unusual themes of sparkly sprouts, llamas and naughty polar bears. But the road to success starts not on 1 December, but far, far earlier. Mark Neilly, senior creative project manager at Hello Flamingo, which specialises in window display design for firms like Habitat and Selfridges, said UK retailers start planning in January. "Christmas window and in-store schemes are normally the biggest projects of the year for brands and retailers, and it is where most visual merchandising and marketing budgets are allocated to," he explains. Retailers often take a cue from the "world class and innovate" displays showcased in New York City, drawing inspiration from the exteriors of stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. At the Fenwick department store in Newcastle, they are already "well on the way with themes and creative concepts for 2019", says its head of creative, Paul Baptiste. "Theatre and storytelling [is] at the heart of what we do," he says. "The window displays create memories for generations of our communities and they will always have an important place in each of our stores." This year, scenes from Raymond Briggs's classic, The Snowman, fill the window. It is a celebration of the story's 40th anniversary and features some of the film's most well-known moments, including the ice-skating snowmen and the flight around the globe. Drawing on fairytales and well-known stories is a tried and tested route, but every year brings with it the desire to come up with something fresh. Even with 160 years of Christmas display experience behind them, Harrods in London tries to do something different with their 27 windows. "Every year we face the challenge of reinventing the magic of Christmas in a fun, imaginative way while staying true to the traditions of the season," says the shop's creative visual director, Alex Wells-Greco. "A big part of our inspiration has been the idea of festive feasting, something we also celebrated in a 1950s window display, which featured a giant Christmas cake, and a number of miniature chefs. "[This year] we've even erected an 8ft Christmas tree on Hans Crescent, covered in sparkling Brussels sprouts and embellished lobsters, and topped with a glitzy champagne bottle." Others favour a more immersive approach. At Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset, the display features music and smells, and is all about "tantalising the senses", says director Louise Burks. This year's display features a "unicorn dreamland", a 1980s-themed section, llamas, pom-poms and Frida Kahlo embroidered cushions. Izzy Pilcher painstaking hung slinky spring toys and suspending Rubik's Cubes from the ceiling, as well as making a wall of shiny tinsel. "It's a tactile area and we want visitors to touch everything, really be absorbed in it," she says. "But it's a weekly job just to re-hang and untangle them." You might also be interested in: Fancy advent calendars - rip-off or festive fun? Mulled wine... in a slow cooker- - BBC News 'Saving Christmas' for lonely cats - BBC News Straying from the traditional is increasingly common practice and Castle Gardens, for example, has featured Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Bake Off and I'm a Celebrity in its previous displays. But retailers are also focusing more on the idea of gifting, says Mr Neilly, promoting the season's "must-haves" which can handily be bought in store. However, this backfired in Nottingham when feminists branded a Marks and Spencer display suggesting women need "fancy little knickers" as "vomit-inducing". The shop's apparent display faux pas was not the only one to make headlines. A pair of stuffed polar bears re-arranged in a compromising position also shocked shoppers on the Isle of Man, giving - as one person quipped 0 "new meaning to riding the Polar Express". Meanwhile, on Oxford Street in London, a major retailer scrapped using fake snow after the store ended up resembling a "foam party", says Mr Neilly. "[It] had to be mopped out by store staff on an hourly basis." The windows of Christmas past With increasing pressure to improve on last year's display - and competition to attract shoppers to the High Street tougher than ever - perhaps it is to be expected that experimentation might occasionally lead to unintended results. So how can success be guaranteed? Lighting, for one, is key to a display, according to Mr Neilly. "The use of neon and faux neon has been on the rise, as it can be extremely adaptable to traditional and also very modern schemes," he adds. It has certainly worked for Harrods, whose 12,000 exterior light bulbs added as a decoration in 1959 became so popular that they made them a permanent fixture. "I think lots of stores try to totally modernise and rewrite Christmas, and it doesn't need to be rewritten," advises Mr Wells-Greco. "Christmas is Christmas - you just need to make it relatable to everyone."

हो सकता है कि आप अभी भी इस साल के क्रिसमस के उपहारों को लपेट रहे हों, लेकिन पूरे देश में विंडो ड्रेसर पहले से ही दिसंबर 2019 के लिए अपने उत्सव प्रदर्शन की योजना बना रहे हैं। वे इन अक्सर प्रभावशाली चश्मे को कैसे बनाते हैं और वे खरीदारों को कैसे आकर्षित करते हैं?


Cardiff bus driver opts to face jury over motorcyclist death

Summary: A bus driver accused of causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving has elected to have the case heard by a jury in crown court.

Michael Clark, 34, from Canton in Cardiff, died in a collision with a bus in Cardiff Bay on 3 April. Driver Charles Debreau, 63, from the Pentwyn area of the city, did not enter a plea during the hearing at Merthyr Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The case was transferred to Cardiff Crown Court and listed for 3 March. Causing death by careless driving is a so-called either-way offence in which a defendant can either be tried in a magistrates' court or by a jury in a crown court. Related Internet Links HM Courts Service

लापरवाही से गाड़ी चलाकर मोटरसाइकिल सवार की मौत के आरोपी एक बस चालक ने क्राउन कोर्ट में जूरी द्वारा मामले की सुनवाई करने का फैसला किया है।


How to weigh a whale without a scale

Summary: How do you weigh the largest animals on the planet?

By Helen Briggs@hbriggs Until now it has only been possible to weigh whales once they have washed up dead on beaches. Now scientists have solved the conundrum, with the help of aerial photographs taken by drones. Their model accurately calculated the body volume and mass of wild southern right whales. Already being used to assess the survival of calves, it has many potential uses in conservation. Body mass is a key factor in the success of whales as a group, determining their energy uses, food requirements and growth rates. Yet most of what we know about the body size of whales comes from old whaling literature or from animals that end up stranded on the beach or caught in fishing gear. "It is very difficult to measure a whale on a scale - I mean you have to kill it to do it and that's exactly what we're avoiding here," said study researcher Fredrik Christiansen from the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies in Denmark. The researchers studied southern right whales, which gather in large numbers at their winter breeding grounds off the coast of Argentina. Click here to see a 3D model of the whale. They flew a drone over whales swimming in clear water, capturing photographs when the adults and calves came up to the surface to breathe, including their backs and sides when they rolled over. From these, they were able to obtain length, width and height measurements for 86 individuals. They found they could get a good representation of the body shape of the whales, which they linked back to old whaling literature recording body length, girth and mass. They were then able to convert body shapes, or volumes, to mass. "The ability to predict body mass from free-living whales opens up the opportunity for us to look at animals over time and look at how they change, how they grow," said Prof Christiansen. Drone studies could help in conservation by monitoring the health of different whale populations in the oceans. The approach could also be used to estimate the size of other marine mammals by adjusting the model parameters. Baleen whales are the largest animals on this planet, ranging from the 3,500kg pygmy right whale to the 190,000kg blue whale. Their body mass is central to their success as an animal group. The research was carried out in collaboration with the Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Programme in Argentina and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the US. The work is outlined in the British Ecological Society journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution (MEE). Follow Helen on Twitter.

आप ग्रह पर सबसे बड़े जानवरों का वजन कैसे करते हैं?


Sark election: Chief Pleas' seats left vacant

Summary: Six people have been appointed conseillers in Sark's Chief Pleas after fewer people stood for election than the number of seats available.

The island elects nine of its 18 unpaid politicians every two years with each serving a four-year term. Recent elections have struggled to reach the numbers needed for a contested election. The last election in 2018 was contested but before that the previous time a vote was held was a 2013 by-election. It means Chief Pleas will be asked to set a new date for a further election in the hope of filling the three vacant seats. The successful candidates are:

उपलब्ध सीटों की संख्या से कम लोग चुनाव के लिए खड़े होने के बाद छह लोगों को सरकार की मुख्य याचिकाओं में संयोजक नियुक्त किया गया है।


Hawksmoor wine mistake: How is any bottle worth £4,500?

Summary: Wine lovers have reacted with shock, and perhaps some envy, after it was revealed that a customer at a Manchester restaurant was given a £4,500 bottle of wine - instead of the one they ordered.

By Lauren TurnerBBC News Why is some wine so eye-wateringly expensive though - and would most people notice a huge difference from their normal bottle? We spoke to wine experts Jilly Goolden and Joe Fattorini to find out. So, would you taste the difference? Fattorini, presenter of The Wine Show who goes by the nickname Obi Wine Kenobi, is certain the lucky customers at Hawksmoor would have known they had something special on their hands. "I suspect they would have gone: 'wow, that's extraordinary!'," he says. "It does taste different and it would taste fabulous so undoubtedly you would know." So for those of us who would struggle to justify spending quadruple figures on anything, let alone a single bottle of wine, how does this one - a Chateau le Pin Pomerol 2001- actually taste? "It's really, really good," enthuses Fattorini. "I haven't had the 2001, which is quite hard to get hold of. But it's the epitome of their house style. "It's glossy, rich and voluptuous with lots of cherries and leaves your mouth coated with a glycerine feel. It's exceptional." But Goolden disagrees - believing that quite simply, "you wouldn't know if you were tasting wine worth £4,500". "It would be much better than a house red - but then almost anything is better than that", the writer and television presenter said. "The other thing to consider is that a 2001 wine is obviously 18 years old, so it would be very unlike a wine you would buy just when you're out and about in a wine shop. "It's a very old wine. It would look different and would probably have lost quite a lot of fruit - those drinking it might even have been disappointed." How can it cost so much? Le Pin has been described as among the most expensive wines in the world. But why is that? "An enormous amount of the alleged value of the wine will be in the provenance and the pedigree and the rarity," says Goolden. "The rarity alone doesn't make it that expensive. But if it's something very sought-after, then it pushes the price up. "You have to take into account that restaurants hike the prices up hugely as well. It would not cost that much on a wine rack. "I think to the average punter in the restaurant, the nuance of it would go over their head." Fattorini explains: "They only made 500 cases of it, on a one-acre vineyard, so there isn't very much of it in the first place. "Most big Bordeaux chateaux will turn out 100,000 cases. So the cost of making it is higher, if each vine only produces a few glasses rather than a few bottles. "People want more the higher the price goes. It's almost deliberately expensive - it makes it more attractive. It's totally irrational, but it's why people want it even more." He adds of the Le Pin 2001 wine: "It's also very exotic. It's a really good vintage for them especially. There's an extraordinary mystique around Le Pin - there's a premium." The presenter and writer says there's a vast difference in taste between a £5 bottle of wine and a £20 bottle but that it isn't quite as drastically different once the cost gets up into the hundreds of pounds. If you had one bottle costing £500 and the other £2,500 while the pricier wine would be better, it wouldn't be "hugely different", he adds. Who would - or could - buy it? Goolden says these are "people on expense accounts, people who show off - there are a lot of them", adding that her "whole career has been spent trying to prick the bubble of mystique surrounding wine." "It's often people with company credit cards," Fattorini agrees. "And they would spend that much because they enjoy doing it." He said celebrities will also spend quite a lot of money on wine - pointing out David Beckham posted pictures of wine he was drinking with wife Victoria on Instagram when he was celebrating his wedding anniversary last year. Those are thought to have cost in the hundreds rather than the thousands, however. Fattorini says: "If you're that wealthy, it's the equivalent of spending £12.99 on a bottle for the average person. "I don't think it's showing off. There is that certain group of people, the kind who get on the rich list. If you have that kind of money, you're spending on it on something you love." He points out too that in the show Billions, a drama featuring a billionaire hedge fund manager played by Damian Lewis, bottles of Le Pin can be seen on tables as a prop. "Whoever the customer was, they would have had a taste of that Billions kind of lifestyle," he adds of the Hawksmoor diners. The bottom line - is it worth it? Asked if it's worth it, Fattorini doesn't have any doubts. "Yes," he says without hesitation. "I do think so. I believe it absolutely can be, for people with that much money. You don't know why someone would buy it. Often the reason is that it could be to celebrate an extraordinary event - a big business event, like closing a half-billion-pound deal, or celebrating the life of a much-loved relation. "I can imagine why you would want to spend that much. It would be about the moment - not just the taste of maraschino cherry." Goolden says: "It's arguable whether on taste, any wine is worth £4,500. But people who value the heritage and history and provenance might buy it - if they have money to burn. "Bordeaux is a swanky wine, but doesn't always deliver on taste. So it would be a show-off wine. I wouldn't pay that much." While she wouldn't shell out for such a bottle, would Goolden drink it herself? "Personally I would be delighted if someone gave me a sip - but I would probably feel quite guilty afterwards," she adds. And would they have got a hangover? Fattorini isn't sure the lucky wine drinkers at Hawksmoor would have suffered hangovers just as weighty as the price tag of the wine. He said some "very generous friends" opened some "very expensive" wine with him one night - and that he felt "fresh as a daisy" the next morning. He thinks that's due to the high-quality grapes being put through a mostly natural process, with the winemakers "doing as little as possible". "So perhaps the next morning, they were thinking: 'I feel so much better than I thought I would!'."

शराब प्रेमियों ने सदमे और शायद कुछ ईर्ष्या के साथ प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त की है, जब यह पता चला कि मैनचेस्टर रेस्तरां में एक ग्राहक को उनके द्वारा ऑर्डर की गई शराब के बजाय 4,500 पाउंड की शराब की बोतल दी गई थी।


Emma Stone is 2017's best paid actress making $26m (£20m), according to Forbes

Summary: Emma Stone has been paid more than any other actress this year.

The La La Land star earned $26m (around £20m) over a 12-month period from June 2016 to June 2017, mainly due to the success of the Hollywood musical. That puts her at the top of Forbes magazine's annual list, beating the likes of Jennifer Anniston and Emma Watson. Jennifer Lawrence, who topped the list in 2016, came third with earnings of $24m (£19m). Emma's earnings increased by 160% on 2016, when she made $10m (£8m). The 28-year-old recently spoke out about the gender pay gap in Hollywood, revealing her male co-stars had taken pay cuts so they could earn the same. Jennifer Lawrence has topped the Forbes list for the past two years, mainly because of her earnings from the Hunger Games franchise. In 2016 she made $46m (£36m), after the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, the last in the series. This year, the 10 top paid actresses made $172.5m (£134m) between them, before fees and taxes. All the actresses made more than $11.5m (£9m) each. Jennifer Aniston took second place with earnings of $25.5m (£20m), mainly from her endorsements for Smartwater, skincare brand Aveeno and airline Emirates. Emma Watson is the only British person to feature in the top 10, in sixth place. It's the first time she's made the list, even though she has an overall fortune of £39m, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Her role as Belle in Disney's live-action version of Beauty and the Beast contributed heavily to her $14m (£11m) earnings. Melissa McCarthy, Mila Kunis, Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts and Amy Adams also feature on the list. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson topped last year's male Hollywood rich list making $64.5m (£50m) between June 2015 and June 2016. This year's male Hollywood rich list is out later this month. Last year the 10 highest paid actresses in Hollywood were paid $205m (£159m) collectively - which was less than half than the top 10 male stars. The gender pay gap in the film business has been a hot topic ever since the Sony hack in 2014. Emails were leaked showing how Jennifer Lawrence and co-star Amy Adams were paid less than their male co-stars on American Hustle. Earlier this month, Girl With A Dragon Tattoo actress Noomi Rapace called the gender pay gap in Hollywood "disturbing". And Emilia Clarke said sexism in the entertainment industry was "like dealing with racism". Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat

एम्मा स्टोन को इस साल किसी भी अन्य अभिनेत्री की तुलना में अधिक भुगतान किया गया है।


Guernsey should reduce fossil fuel use, says energy plan

Summary: Guernsey will focus on reducing its dependence on fossil fuel in the next decade, if States members agree to the latest Energy Resource Plan.

The plan also suggested the island diversify between low carbon and renewable energy sources while ensuring a sustainable and secure energy supply. The Energy Policy Group has also called for greater transparency in decision-making about energy in future. It concluded changes in mindset and behaviour were needed. The report goes before the States later this month.

यदि राज्यों के सदस्य नवीनतम ऊर्जा संसाधन योजना पर सहमत होते हैं तो ग्वेर्नसे अगले दशक में जीवाश्म ईंधन पर अपनी निर्भरता को कम करने पर ध्यान केंद्रित करेगा।


Plan for new school campus in Flintshire put on hold

Summary: Plans for a new school for three to 16 year olds in Flintshire have been put on hold.

The Queensferry Campus project involved replacing John Summers High School and Queensferry Primary School with a new campus. However, Flintshire council has now voted not to proceed due to lower than expected pupil numbers. Councillor Chris Bithell said: "There are insufficient current and projected future pupil numbers to support this." Councillors agreed to open a formal consultation to look at the existing schools' future viability.

फ्लिंटशायर में तीन से 16 साल के बच्चों के लिए एक नए स्कूल की योजना को रोक दिया गया है।


Northwick Park: Killed teenager named as Jamalie Matthew

Summary: The family of a 17-year-old boy stabbed to death in north-west London say they are "utterly devastated".

Jamalie Matthew was found with fatal stab wounds at Northwick Park, Harrow, at about 15:50 GMT on 12 November. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made. "We all knew of his ambition to study law, and coming to terms with the tragedy that has unfolded still feels so surreal," Mr Matthew's family said in a statement. "The whole family is deeply saddened and utterly devastated about the passing of Jamalie."

उत्तर-पश्चिम लंदन में एक 17 वर्षीय लड़के के परिवार का कहना है कि वे पूरी तरह से तबाह हो गए हैं।


Aurigny airline route share could lead to Guernsey job cuts

Summary: Guernsey airline, Aurigny, has not ruled out making pilots redundant as a result of a route-share with Blue Islands.

The agreement means that passengers can pay for one ticket to Jersey, and then travel on either airline. Aurigny said a "small number" of pilot posts would be lost. Captain David Rice, Aurigny's director of flight operations, said the firm would, however, be hiring about ten people in ground handling operations. In January, the competition regulatory authority, CICRA, gave the airlines permission to share travel from Guernsey to Jersey for the next two years. The share means Aurigny will take some of Blue Island seats on Guernsey - Jersey flights. Aurigny will then pay Blue Islands a fixed charge for the seats.

ग्वेर्नसे एयरलाइन, ऑरिग्नी ने ब्लू आइलैंड्स के साथ रूट-शेयर के परिणामस्वरूप पायलटों को अनावश्यक बनाने से इनकार नहीं किया है।


EDL leader Stephen Lennon charged over false identification

Summary: The leader of the English Defence League has appeared in court charged with possessing false identification.

Stephen Lennon, 29, was charged at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday with possession of a false identity document with improper intention. Mr Lennon was remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 7 January.

इंग्लिश डिफेंस लीग के नेता झूठी पहचान रखने के आरोप में अदालत में पेश हुए हैं।


Back to school: It's time to challenge some age-old practices

Summary: With schools soon to return, and with exam results imminent, it's time to think again about the school year, and to challenge some age-old habits and practices. Young people should be enjoying spring, sitting exams in late autumn, and starting a new year in… the new year.

By Douglas FraserBusiness and economy editor, Scotland It's a bank holiday, and it's what journalists call the silly season. Working from home since March, it doesn't feel much like a holiday, and nor is there much silly to the current run of news stories. But in the spirit of the season, I have something to suggest. You might think it silly, but it's an idea raised with serious intent. And it should be of particular relevance to anyone planning to be back at school in a week: and anyone expecting their Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) Higher and Nationals results on Tuesday morning - or anyone who has ever done so. I was doing so nearly 40 years ago. In those days, we used to sit actual exams. Maybe next year, students will do so again. A feature of the academic year was then, and remains now, that revision for exams was stepped up at precisely the moment when young and not-so-young alike want to be outside, enjoying the light evenings and the spring weather. In April and May, there is a football season to see ended, and summer sports to take up. Outdoor education and exploration beckons. The summer ordeal I recall eight of my best years, when spring was spent either studying or not studying when I should have been doing so. There was a lot of the latter. Why spring? The timetable probably dates back to an ancient church calendar. Older universities name their terms after holy feast days. A year or so after I last sat an exam, I became education correspondent for The Scotsman, I recall reporting on a study carried out by one of the then education committee conveners, and a power in the land through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. It was possibly the late Elizabeth Maginnis of Lothian Regional Council, though I can't be sure. And going back to around 1991, it isn't within reach of a web search engine. The report led up to recommendations of a complete revamp of the school year. Instead of a long summer holiday, the idea was that there should be four holidays of roughly equal length, and four terms, also of roughly equal length. The main reason was that parents find the long summer holiday an ordeal if they're trying to balance it with work. It didn't add - but I will - that the autumn term can also be an ordeal for pupils and teachers, if there isn't much of a break between mid-August and Christmas. Flawed argument But there was a flaw in the parental stress argument. The childcare problem persists if holidays are rearranged: it just seems less of an ordeal if the summer holiday is shorter. There were at least three other flaws in the argument, as it turned out. People wanted to book their summer holidays when the packages and flights were available, went one response. And teachers need a long break if they're to be expected to mark all those exam scripts, process them through the qualifications authority, and get the leaving certificates printed out in time for university clearing. The third problem was related to the first two: hardly anyone was on board for it. Spidery handwriting Nearly 30 years later, times have changed. The travel industry is much more flexible about departure dates. It might appreciate a wider spread of business through the year, rather than the summer pressure it has to contend with. Parents would appreciate holidays at cheaper times for travel. Moreover, two or three holidays a year, and not necessarily in the summer sun, has become the norm for many people with money to spare, after taking care of the essentials. To listen to some of those unable to get to and from Spain due to the current quarantine restriction, it seems a miracle our forebears survived without at least one week a year in the Mediterranean sun. Also, exams have changed. They're less about spidery handwriting on exam script booklets, and the pressure to cram in marking between early May and results day in August ought to be less intense. And there's another change - an unexpected one. The entire school and academic year has been disrupted as never before. Schools, colleges and universities have missed months of conventional education, as well as a year's diet of exams. We can assume that many pupils have lost ground and momentum rather than just stalling. There has never been a greater need, nor opportunity, for a re-set of the system and of the school year. What every teenager needs So here's my suggestion, for your consideration on this August bank holiday: let's start the new school year next January, and have future exams in late November/early December. What better way to spend the dark, dank days of early winter than with one's head in books and revision notes, thus freeing up spring for enjoying that long light and a boost of warmth? And if neither colleges nor universities fall into line? That's a problem, but eight months of post-school break from studying could be just what teenagers need. It's up to them, and to the rest of us, to make good use of that time in a national programme of voluntary work with outdoor education.

स्कूल जल्द ही वापस आने वाले हैं, और परीक्षा परिणाम निकट होने के साथ, यह स्कूल वर्ष के बारे में फिर से सोचने का समय है, और कुछ सदियों पुरानी आदतों और प्रथाओं को चुनौती देने का समय है। युवाओं को वसंत का आनंद लेना चाहिए, शरद ऋतु के अंत में परीक्षा देनी चाहिए, और... नए साल में एक नया साल शुरू करना चाहिए।


Coronavirus: Three deaths confirmed in Somerset

Summary: Three people have died in Somerset after contracting coronavirus.

The patients, all of whom had had underlying health conditions, died in hospital, health bosses said. Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said: "Sadly, we can confirm that three people being treated at Musgrove Park Hospital who had tested positive for COVID-19 have died. "Our thoughts and condolences are with their families and friends at this difficult and distressing time." The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK has reached 1,019, according to NHS England, and more than 17,089 have tested positive for the virus. There are currently 25 confirmed cases in Somerset, out of a population of 559,399.

समरसेट में कोरोना वायरस से संक्रमित होने के बाद तीन लोगों की मौत हो गई है।


The rock and metal music channel Scuzz TV switches off

Summary: After 15 years on air, Scuzz TV is shutting down.

By Steve HoldenNewsbeat music reporter On Sky it had been a home to rock and heavy metal music since 2003, airing bands such as Korn, Slipknot and Enter Shikari. It was the first UK music channel to ever show a video by You Me At Six and lead singer Josh Franceschi says it'll leave a "great legacy". "Lots of bands in British rock and metal will look at Scuzz as the platform that many of their fans discovered them through," he tells Newsbeat. "I remember seeing Jealous Minds Think Alike on Scuzz for the first time. To see your music video on TV, you'd made it to another level." In a statement, Sony Pictures Television, which owns Scuzz TV, said: "After much consideration, the decision was made to close Scuzz on 15 November. "We'd like to thank our loyal Scuzz viewers for their support over the years." As well as You Me At Six, it was also the first UK music channel to air videos by Paramore, Avenged Sevenfold, Architects, PVRIS and Creeper. Sony Pictures Television hasn't elaborated on the exact reason why it's shut Scuzz TV or released ratings figures. The BBC understands the channel had a low weekly viewership. The first music video to feature on Scuzz was Funeral For A Friend's song This Year's Most Open Heartbreak at a time when the band only had a four track EP to their name. For many, the closure of Scuzz will bring back memories of discovering bands in the noughties, when YouTube was in its infancy. "I used to sit there with my notebook and write down all the songs that I loved," says Scuzz TV fan Sarah-Jayne Sealy. The 23-year-old from Cardiff says she took the batteries out of her TV controller so that her parents couldn't change the channel. "I found out about Slipknot, Disturbed, Korn and Asking Alexandria through Scuzz." The brand was a mainstay at events such as Download, Bloodstock and 2000 Trees and BBC Radio 1's Daniel P Carter was also the voice of the station for many years. The closure of Scuzz follows Channel AKA as another example of a specialist music TV station coming off the air. It also leaves Kerrang! as - arguably - the only TV channel dedicated to rock and metal after MTV Rocks was replaced on the schedule by VH1 Christmas. Josh Franceschi thinks it's part of a growing trend, as people's viewing habits have changed so much in a short period of time. "There was a point when a new music video premiered on Scuzz and you would tune in specifically at that time to watch it. That is redundant now." However, Kerrang! TV's Abbie Pink says Scuzz shutting down doesn't mean this is another nail in the coffin of music television. "We are sad to see it go. It's a fellow rock channel but music channels do still get 15 million viewers every month. "It's not in massive decline as some people might assume. Kerrang! certainly isn't going anywhere." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.

15 साल के प्रसारण के बाद, स्कज़ टीवी बंद हो रहा है।


Three arrested over dating app scam across Greater Manchester

Summary: Three people have been arrested over allegations fraudsters posed as women to steal thousands of pounds in a dating app scam in Greater Manchester.

Two men and a woman, aged 35 to 41, were detained in Gorton on suspicion of fraud following reports of 21 offences between October 2018 and March 2020. The victims were coaxed into paying up to £17,000, police said. After the first payment was made, the suspect would demand more money and threaten them with violence. The average loss was £3,000 and most victims reported the offence to the police, at which point there was no further contact from the suspects. Det Sgt Ian Thomas urged "anyone who thinks they have been a victim of this type of crime to report any suspicious messages or threats to police". Related Internet Links Greater Manchester Police

ग्रेटर मैनचेस्टर में एक डेटिंग ऐप घोटाले में हजारों पाउंड की चोरी करने के लिए महिलाओं के रूप में धोखाधड़ी करने के आरोप में तीन लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है।


Why India's aspiring engineers are killing themselves

Summary: The town of Kota in northern Rajasthan state is known for its numerous study centres which help students pass India's extremely competitive admission exams for medical and engineering colleges. But high stress levels mean that the town also has an alarming rate of suicide among students, writes the BBC's Shilpa Kannan.

"They suck," wrote a 17 year-old-girl in her suicide note recently, talking about the study centres in Kota. She killed herself by jumping from the fifth floor of her residential building on 28 April. In a five-page suicide note, she urged the government of India to shut down Kota's study centres, popularly known as coaching classes, as soon as possible. Revealing the details of her letter, senior police officer Harish Bharati said the "girl had in fact cleared the initial entrance test and was eligible for admission in an engineering college". "But she took the extreme step because she did not want to become an engineer. She said that she was facing unbearable stress because of coaching classes.'' Saurav Kumar, 19, knows such pressures too well. He faced a daily battle against thoughts of killing himself. Once a topper of his class in school, he grappled with acute stress and felt pushed to the brink in a study centre in Kota. Hoping to boost his chances of getting into a top college, he travelled more than 850km (528 miles) from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh state to a study centre in Kota. But he said he struggled to handle his parents' high expectations from him. "My parents thought I was doing very well and getting top marks in the study centre. But I just couldn't handle the pressure. Looking at all my peers, I felt depressed. I worried about about my future and I thought ending my life was the only option," he said. Cry for help Mr Kumar was lucky to be rescued and received treatment at the right time when he tried to kill himself. But many others were not. According to police data, 73 students - including five this year - have taken their lives in Kota in the past five years. But authorities have now taken measures to check the rising number of suicides. A 24-hour helpline called Hope has been set up for students. Counsellors say they get more frantic calls in the night when students are unable to sleep because of stress. ML Agarwal, a psychiatrist who manages the helpline, said "gruelling work schedules and frequent tests drive many to seek help". "We often get panic calls from students who are at the banks of the [Chambal], wanting to jump in. Some students also call from their rooms and say they are about to kill themselves. When we get such calls, a team of counsellors rushes to the spot while someone keeps them engaged on the phone," he explained. Town of dreams In Dr Agarwal's psychiatric hospital, many students are receiving treatment and one one of them is a 17-year-old girl from the nearby village of Bhunas. As her exams approached, she became withdrawn and lost appetite. Her parents found a suicide note in her notebook and brought her to Dr Agarwal's hospital. She was diagnosed with acute depression and put on a suicide watch. Her grandfather said he hoped that the doctor would treat her quickly and she would not miss her exams. Dr Agarwal said that very often the parents need counselling. He said he often tells parents to back off and have more realistic expectations from their children. Huge billboards dominate the skyline all around the town, celebrating students who have aced in their exams. Many students aspire to get their pictures on these boards. Even the local mall has an advertisement board featuring "star" teachers who are treated as celebrities. Coaching classes cost at least 200,000 rupees ($3,000;£2,000) for a two-year course, which is a significant amount for most Indian middle-class families. But parents don't think before investing such an amount because they desperately want their children to get into one of the top engineering or medical colleges. A degree from a prestigious college guarantees a plum job but chances of success are usually slim. About 1.4 million students every year take the admission test for the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). But fewer than 10,000 are accepted. But that doesn't deter students. Every year, more than 150,000 students come here to study. As the competition to get into elite colleges gets fiercer, the demand for such coaching centres has grown significantly in most parts of the country. Government estimates say it's a $4bn industry now. With no signs of the influx of students reducing in Kota, the local administration has asked study centres to introduce weekly breaks and reduce the focus on top ranks. "It is important to de-stress the city," says Ravi Kumar Surpur, Kota's senior-most official says.

उत्तरी राजस्थान राज्य का कोटा शहर अपने कई अध्ययन केंद्रों के लिए जाना जाता है जो छात्रों को मेडिकल और इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेजों के लिए भारत की अत्यंत प्रतिस्पर्धी प्रवेश परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण करने में मदद करते हैं। लेकिन उच्च तनाव के स्तर का मतलब है कि इस शहर में छात्रों के बीच आत्महत्या की दर भी खतरनाक है, बीबीसी की शिल्पा कन्नन लिखती हैं।


Johnston Press delays results for credit talks

Summary: Johnston Press has announced a three-week postponement of its annual results for last year.

The company, which publishes the Scotsman and nearly 300 local papers, had been due to unveil its figures for 2011 on 3 April. Publication will now not take place until 25 April. The company said it has been in discussions with its lenders regarding the extension of its credit facilities for a further three years. The credit facilities are due to expire in September. Johnston Press said it would provide a further update to the market as part of the preliminary results announcement.

जॉनसन प्रेस ने पिछले वर्ष के लिए अपने वार्षिक परिणामों को तीन सप्ताह के लिए स्थगित करने की घोषणा की है।


Coronavirus pandemic exposes rather than heals America's divisions

Summary: Take a devastating global pandemic. Add an economic crisis featuring unemployment and negative growth on a par with Great Depression. And have it all unfold during a US presidential election year, at a time when divisions within American society and politics are particularly acute.

Anthony ZurcherNorth America reporter@awzurcheron Twitter It's a recipe for partisan accusations, animosity and feuding - exacerbated by competing authorities at the national, state and local level, all vying to find solutions and avoid blame for the growing death toll and financial wreckage wrought by the pandemic. Here's a closer look at the ugly way that's playing out. Bailout or bankruptcy? The latest example of political friction broke out after Congress passed its third coronavirus stimulus bill. The $484bn (£391bn) measure injected $310bn into a small-business aid programme that had already burned through the $349bn allocated for it in the second stimulus bill. The rest of the funds went to hospitals, coronavirus testing and more small-business grants. So far, so good. Republicans had groused a bit about Democratic delays in approving the measure, but all sides agreed the money was necessary. It's what came next that had New York Governor Andrew Cuomo using words like "stupid," "irresponsible" and "reckless". And Republican Congressman Peter King - also of New York - referring to his own party's Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, as a beheaded French monarch with a reputation for callousness toward the downtrodden. Missing from that latest stimulus bill was any money for cash-strapped states, localities and Indian tribes that Democrats sought. And on Wednesday Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested that more money for the states may not be forthcoming - and Democratic governors like New York's Cuomo had themselves to blame. "My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now," he said in a radio interview. "That's not something I'm going to be in favour of." Up until now, Republicans had seemed unconcerned with the trillions of dollars of additional spending Congress has authorised to address the coronavirus outbreak, leaving some Democrats angry that budgetary concerns were being cited as a reason not to help them cover their financial shortfalls. Even more infuriating for them was McConnell's suggestion that states might be allowed to go bankrupt as an alternative to further federal aid. "McConnell's dismissive remark that states devastated by Coronavirus should go bankrupt rather than get the federal assistance they need and deserve is shameful and indefensible," said Congressman King, a moderate Republican who is retiring at the end of this year. "To say that it is 'free money' to provide funds for cops, firefighters and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate." When is it safe to reopen? Financial aid is just part of the growing dispute between the federal government and states, as well as among individual states. When, and how, to begin to lift the sweeping shelter-in-place orders that have blanketed the US have also become a contentious topic. For nearly a month Donald Trump has said the time for an economic reboot is near. He suggested Easter, in mid-April, as a possible date, criticised states for moving too slowly to respond to the outbreak, released reopening guidelines for the states to follow, and then tweeted about "liberating" Democratic-controlled states whose shutdown orders he has criticised as going "too far". The president has expressed support for the growing number of right-wing-organised protests in states against the government-ordered shut-downs. This all comes after Democratic-controlled states, such as California and Illinois, moved more quickly to institute shelter-in-place orders, while Republican-run Texas and Florida waited - and have expressed a willingness to reopen more quickly. The harsh political reality for the president is he faces a re-election contest in just over six months, and the longer the lockdown drags on, the less time the economy will have to recover before voters head to the ballot box. Current polling suggests he is trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden nationally and in key battleground states, and while the race is likely to tighten and the president has abundant resources to run a robust campaign, Trump appears destined for an uphill fight. The president also faces a flip-side risk of being seen as supporting re-opening too quickly and shouldering the blame if there is a subsequent spike in cases. That could explain why, just days after calling for states to begin reopening process, he criticised the Republican governor of Georgia for lifting restrictions on places like hair salons, bars and tattoo parlours, where social distancing guidelines would be difficult to follow. For the moment, surveys indicate majorities of both Republicans and Democrats view the existing stay-at-home measures as effective. As the economic consequences of the lockdown sharpen their bite, however, those opinions could change for those who are unable to work remotely or rely on consumer spending for their livelihood. It's a difficult line for any politician to walk, and in the days ahead the stakes will be at their highest. When the pandemic meets the culture wars The political confrontations that have arisen, or been exacerbated, by the coronavirus pandemic are not limited to debates over the details and scope of the immediate response, either. As the president's Wednesday order suspending some forms of immigration into the US demonstrates, the crisis will very easily consume just about every other existing political and policy debate with relative ease. The president's critics have been quick to accuse him of using the outbreak to justify draconian immigration cuts that he has backed from the beginning of his administration. Abortion rights groups have lashed out at conservative states for similar opportunism after they have used lockdown orders to shutter medical facilities that provide the procedure. Meanwhile pro-gun advocates have suggested that liberal states have violated their constitutional rights by shuttering firearm vendors. A battle between the Biden and Trump campaigns is also brewing over which candidate has the cosiest relationship with China - which many Americans view as responsible for the global spread of the virus that originated in Wuhan. In competing advertisements, both sides suggested their opponent is too soft to stand up to the Chinese government. The exchange is just a taste of the fury that is sure to come, as close presidential contests between campaigns that rely heavily on turning out their respective political bases tend to become very nasty, very quickly. With control of both chambers of Congress, numerous state legislatures and governorships in play, any sense of togetherness and unity of purpose will be difficult to maintain. Add in a voting population fearful for their health and economic security, and it makes for a politically unstable brew.

एक विनाशकारी वैश्विक महामारी को लीजिए। बेरोजगारी और नकारात्मक विकास की विशेषता वाले आर्थिक संकट को महामंदी के बराबर जोड़ें। और यह सब अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति चुनाव वर्ष के दौरान सामने आएँ, ऐसे समय में जब अमेरिकी समाज और राजनीति के भीतर विभाजन विशेष रूप से तीव्र हैं।


Joseph McCann: Alleged rapist 'hid in tree to evade police'

Summary: A man accused of a series of rapes stole a bike and climbed a tree in a bid to evade police after being caught with two 14-year-old girls in a car, a jury has heard.

A manhunt was launched after a string of women and children were abducted and sexually assaulted over a two-week period, the Old Bailey was told. Joseph McCann, of Harrow, is accused of 37 offences against 11 alleged victims in London and the North West. The 34-year-old denies all charges. On the second day of the trial, prosecutor John Price QC told the court how the net began to close on the defendant on 5 May after two 14-year-old girls were coerced into a stolen Fiat. The car had been taken from a 71-year-old woman who had been kidnapped and raped earlier that day, Mr Price said. That evening Mr McCann was captured on CCTV buying condoms at a petrol station on the Clayton Bypass in Cheshire. Shortly after a police officer spotted the Fiat at a roundabout on the bypass and set off in pursuit. The Fiat crashed and the suspect fled on foot, leaving the two "very frightened and distressed" girls in the car, jurors heard. After stealing a mountain bike and riding it to restaurant in Scholar Green, Cheshire, he called for a taxi, the prosecutor said. But police had set up roadblocks and the taxi was intercepted on the A34 south of Congleton. The man fled into fields and police helicopter found him hiding up a tree where he was eventually brought down at 02:36 on 6 May and arrested for rape and abduction. Mr McCann allegedly told the officer: "If you had caught me for the first two, the rest of this wouldn't have happened." Jurors were also shown a video interview with a woman who reported being "raped and kidnapped at knifepoint" by a man who told her he had just got out of jail "after doing 18 years". The 21-year-old was kidnapped by the defendant as she walked home from Pryzm nightclub in Watford in the early hours of 21 April, prosecutors allege. She said: "I felt the knife and he put his arm round me so I couldn't move. The knife is at my neck. I felt it, it was sharp. "He told me to shut up and walk to the car...I think he slapped me in the face because I was crying." The woman said he drove around and told her she had to "join the firm", before taking her back to her flat, where she was raped. She said: "He kept saying I was one of his 15 girlfriends and I would get on with his wife and kids." The defendant, who was not in court, is charged with: The trial continues.

एक जूरी ने सुना है कि बलात्कार की एक श्रृंखला के आरोपी ने एक कार में दो 14 वर्षीय लड़कियों के साथ पकड़े जाने के बाद पुलिस से बचने के लिए एक बाइक चुराई और एक पेड़ पर चढ़ गया।


Bloodhound Diary: How fast is your car?

Summary: A British team is developing a car that will be capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,610km/h). Powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine, the vehicle will first mount an assault on the world land speed record (763mph; 1,228km/h). Bloodhound should start running on Hakskeen Pan in Northern Cape, South Africa, later in the year.

By Andy GreenWorld Land Speed Record Holder While we're working steadily to get Bloodhound SSC ready for its first runs, our "Engineering Adventure" continues to captivate young audiences. Part of exploring the science and technology is to do-it-yourself, so it's no surprise that our Model Rocket Car Challenge is in huge demand. The idea for this goes back to 2011, when Joseph Leckie Community Technical College set a new Guinness World Record for model rocket cars, at a very impressive 88.9mph (you can watch the video here). That's almost 90mph in the school playground! (and, yes, they did do a risk assessment first). It was also a huge challenge to every other school out there - and so the competition idea was born. The Bloodhound Model Rocket Car Challenge has four classes, ranging from Class 1 (under 11s, small rocket, 25m track) to Class 4 ('Unlimited': anyone in full-time education, any age, any number of rockets). The Unlimited record now stands at an unbelievable 533.1mph (well done to the current world record holders, Joseph Whitaker School in Mansfield). Last week, I heard that someone is now designing a model to achieve 900mph - blimey. I'm more convinced than ever that the first "Bloodhound" car to go supersonic will be in a school playground somewhere. To understand the effect that this challenge is having on young people, you just have to listen to them. A young lady called Zoe, part of the Joseph Whitaker team (World Record holders!) summed it up: "I want to get into engineering in the future. I'd heard about Bloodhound and was watching Bloodhound over and over again on YouTube. I think everyone's going to be watching [the record attempt] - it's going to be amazing." That's the "Bloodhound effect" in action. Over the Christmas and New Year holidays, we ran a number of "Rocket Car Experiences", to give our young supporters a taste of model rocket car racing. These one-day events included a tour of the Bloodhound Technical Centre to have a look at the real thing, before building and racing your own rocket car. Not surprisingly, we were hugely over-subscribed, with over 400 "young" visitors (the oldest was actually 87) coming to see us. Thanks to the huge demand we're now holding Rocket Car Experiences during every school holiday, run by the tirelessly enthusiastic Rob Bennett (on behalf of the hundreds of young people you've excited and inspired already, thank you Rob). Want to give the kids (and yourself!) a really fascinating day out and have some fun as well? You can book here for the next one in February. A few months ago we invited a well-known motoring magazine to come and take part in one of our Rocket Car Challenge days, at Pimlico Academy. To give them a good chance, we sent them a kit of parts (wheels, axles, foam block for the body, etc.) several days in advance. Despite this, the journalist turned up on the day with a "finished" car that looked like a house brick on wheels. Looking round at all the carefully thought-out and well-engineered solutions from the pupils he was going to be racing, this distinguished journalist was heard to mutter "Oh dear, I think I've rather underestimated this one". Indeed he had. The AutoCar effort (yes, it was them) was a good 20mph slower than the winning student car. To give AutoCar some credit, the magazine is keen to have another go. Like Land Speed Racing, the Model Rocket Car Challenge seems simple enough at first glance. Take a block of modelling foam, two axles, four wheels. Design and make your optimum chassis shape. Attach the wheels and the metal loops for the guide wire (a key safety feature - not all of these cars run dead straight!). We then fit a small "Estes" rocket into the pre-drilled hole in the back end of the chassis, attach the battery wires, press the button and… whoosh! Anything between 29 and 53mph, based on the groups we had recently. This seems like a big speed range, so what makes the difference between a journalist-designed house brick and a 50+ mph winner? There's a lot to think about, which is what makes the challenge so interesting. Thrust, mass, drag and stability all make a difference, just like the real Land Speed Record. First the thrust. It's the same fixed amount for all the cars: for the Rocket Car Experience days, we use the Bloodhound Challenge Class 2 regulations, with a 50m wire and a B6-0 Estes rocket. The thrust curve for the B rocket shows the rocket burning for about 0.85 seconds, which is when the car's speed is at its peak. In theory, the fastest car will be the one that hits the time trap just as the rocket motor burns out. In practice, we use a radar gun, which measures the peak speed over the last few metres of the run, so we can largely ignore the thrust profile. The mass of the model is much more important. The lighter the model, the faster the car will accelerate and the higher the peak speed. For example, a mass of 200g under the average rocket thrust of 6 newtons will give you an acceleration of 3g (three times the force of gravity, which is the equivalent of 0-60mph in one second). If you can reduce the mass of the vehicle to 150g then you'll get a 4g acceleration - much better. There is a limit to how much foam you can cut away, though. To quote Mark Chapman, Bloodhound's Chief Engineer: "The trick is to find the right balance between strength and lightness." Of course, a theoretical 3g acceleration (60mph in one second) will not get you anywhere near 60mph, because your other big enemy is drag, which can (and will) reduce the acceleration dramatically. For example, the shape of the car will affect the aerodynamic drag. If this doesn't seem important, try putting your hand out of a car window at 60mph, and compare the (high) drag force when your hand is flat to the wind and the (much lower) force when it's edge-on. This drag effect will make a big difference to the way your lightweight rocket car runs. To make it bit more complicated, aerodynamics is not the only source of drag. The wheels and axles are another key area. If you just poke the axles through the foam block it will work after a fashion, but if you use axle tubes (plastic drinking straws, for instance) it works soooo much better. The other thing to think about is stability. If the car is running dead straight, barely touching the guide wire and skimming across the ground, it will be going as fast as it can. Bouncing around, or having crooked wheels pulling off to one side, will waste a lot of energy. Stability is a huge and complicated subject, often best solved by trial and error. Will a tail fin make your rocket car more stable? Try it and find out! Given the fixed thrust, what is the most important - drag, mass or stability? The simple answer is mass (but don't tell anyone else; this is your race-winning secret). For the very short burn time of the Estes rocket, acceleration is affected more by mass than anything else, so get carving, you've got to get rid of a fair chunk of foam block (journalists: please note for next time!). If mass is so important, then why aren't we trying to make Bloodhound SSC as light as possible? For Land Speed Record cars, there are a couple of important differences. With much higher speeds, the drag factor is much higher. Bloodhound is planning to travel at 1,000mph, about 20 times as fast as a model rocket car. Drag goes up with the square of the speed - so the drag will be about 400 times higher at 1,000 mph than it is at 50. Hence, keeping the drag low for Bloodhound SSC is more important than being very light. Stability and structural strength are also vital, so we need to have a car that is built to take the most extreme loads it will encounter, with a big safety margin. Speaking as Bloodhound's driver, this is really important. This balance of thrust versus strength versus mass is the challenge faced by all Land Speed Record teams. I saw an interesting figure recently, about the mass of the engine versus the mass of the whole car, which I'm still thinking about. Since 1963, the fastest cars have all been jet powered, with some very different designs, ranging from the single-engined American cars of the 1960s to the twin-engined, 10-tonne monster Thrust SSC, which still holds the record today (but not for much longer). Surprisingly, given how different all these cars were, the jet engine(s) make up roughly 30-40% of the car's mass, seemingly regardless of shape or design. Is this a design facet of jet-powered record cars, or just a coincidence? I'm not sure. What surprised me was doing the same sum for Bloodhound SSC. Bloodhound will weigh in at about 6,300kg empty, including 1,200kg of EJ200 jet engine and 1,000kg of rocket system, which makes a total of… 35% of the car's mass. That's the same as many of the previous cars, but there's one big difference. Bloodhound is designed to do 1,000mph, and going this much faster requires a much stronger chassis and bodywork, which (you might reasonably expect) would be heavier. The surprise is that Bloodhound has kept that same mass ratio as previous generations. The Bloodhound engineers have done a remarkable job of finding Mark Chapman's "balance between strength and lightness". At the same time, they are doing something perhaps more important - they are helping to share their "Engineering Adventure" with the next generation.

एक ब्रिटिश दल एक ऐसी कार विकसित कर रहा है जो 1,000 मील प्रति घंटे (1,610 किमी/घंटा) तक पहुंचने में सक्षम होगी। एक यूरोफाइटर-टाइफून जेट इंजन को बोल्ट किए गए रॉकेट द्वारा संचालित, वाहन पहले विश्व भूमि गति रिकॉर्ड (763 मील प्रति घंटे; 1,228 किमी/घंटा) पर हमला करेगा। ब्लडहाउंड को साल के अंत में उत्तरी केप, दक्षिण अफ्रीका में हक्सकीन पैन पर चलना शुरू करना चाहिए।


Would you follow this man on Instagram?

Summary: Bernard Looney had a great first day in his new job as chief executive of oil giant BP. We know this because he took to Instagram on Wednesday to tell us, posting a video of happy, smiling employees at one of the company's operations in Germany.

By Dan Ascher & Russell HottenBBC News We also know that Tidjane Thiam, until Friday boss of financial giant Credit Suisse, is worried about those suffering from coronavirus. Under an image showing Chinese President Xi Jinping - one of many pictures Mr Thiam posted of himself hobnobbing at last month's Davos World Economic Forum - he says solemnly: "Our employees' health and safety is our top priority." Mr Thiam has now suddenly quit Credit Suisse in the wake of a spying scandal. But as of Friday morning he had yet to change the job title on his account, no doubt due, understandably, to more pressing issues. Once the preserve of young people posting pictures of their lunch, Instagram is becoming part of the the corporate world's marketing machine. The app was where many of us turned to escape thoughts of work. Now it's where your company can boast about all the good deeds it does in the community, or where the boss can voice concerns over their employees' mental health. 'Dad dancing' Sara Tasker, an influencer and Instagram consultant, gives companies ten-out-of-ten for effort, but is less than impressed by some of the execution. She tells the BBC: "There is a slight sense of a dad dancing at a wedding when you see these chief executives posting on social media." BP's Mr Looney is a newcomer to the platform. As of Thursday morning he had posted six times, but had already accrued 3,533 followers. Clearly none of them were from Greenpeace, which turned up at BP's central London headquarters on Wednesday hoping to disrupt his first day at the office when Mr Looney was some 500 miles away in Germany. The boss of Spanish bank Santander, Ana Botín, has been on the Instagram platform a few months longer. Her account now features 272 posts, both in English and Spanish. But much of the content follows a familiar corporate formula: get yourself pictured in exotic locations and show plenty of corporate social responsibility. Climate change, micro-finance, healthy living and sustainability are all present and correct. But she also finds room for some atmospheric pictures of London's Hyde Park - "one of my favourite cities" - and similar shots in Madrid's Retiro park. There is a sense with some of these Instagam newcomers that they are dipping their toes nervously into a world they do not quite understand. In his first post, Mr Looney writes: "I've long been a fan of Instagram, but mainly in the background, so here goes with a new approach!" Alongside a picture of himself - wearing a navy jumper with his hands half tucked in to his jeans pockets - he says: "I look forward to sharing what I am up to, who I am meeting and offering a window into the decisions, challenges and opportunities that are ahead." He said he wanted to use the platform to talk "openly" about people's concerns over the oil and gas industry. "I encourage you all to be candid - I consider honest and open discussion crucial," he wrote. Ms Tasker says, done well, Instagram can be a great vehicle for giving people a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what they do. "It's a difficult one - if you can do it well, it's a great investment of your time and energy but it often means compromising on some of the PR machine that chief executives like," she says. "People are looking for a bit of authenticity and a connection they can't get elsewhere so you really need to share something above and beyond what you put on traditional communication channels." It's about putting a human face on the business, says Alexei Lee, a communications adviser at marketing firm Reading Room. But he says there's always a risk the executive might post something that creates a social media storm about something that does not represent the company. He suspects there are PR people working behind the scenes running these executives' social media accounts. As BP itself is only too well aware, shooting from the lip has serious consequences. Amid BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, then boss Tony Hayward made several gaffes, including saying "I want my life back" when asked about the personal toll of dealing with the crisis that killed 11 people. Luckily for Mr Hayward, social media was in its infancy in 2010, but the critical fall-out was huge and Mr Hayward's days at BP were numbered. 'Contentious' So, why take the risk? A big reason is the desire to connect with younger employees - and younger people in general, says Dave Endsor, who works for Tank PR. But he's sceptical they can win the hearts and minds of the younger generation by muscling in on their own turf (or platform). He, too, says the struggle to sound authentic could be insurmountable. "It's less authentic than someone who's got more of an engagement with the community, whether that is Melinda Gates or Arianna Huffington," he says, referring to the philanthropist and businesswoman. And BP is a prime example. The oil giant is a "contentious" business and trying to meet the likes of Greta Thunberg and her followers on the platforms like Instagram "could blow up in Mr Looney's face," said Mr Endsor. BP did not respond to an emailed list of questions. Mr Looney did not respond to an interview request sent on Instagram.

बर्नार्ड लूनी का तेल की दिग्गज कंपनी बी. पी. के मुख्य कार्यकारी के रूप में अपनी नई नौकरी में पहला दिन बहुत अच्छा रहा। हम यह इसलिए जानते हैं क्योंकि उन्होंने बुधवार को जर्मनी में कंपनी के एक संचालन में खुश, मुस्कुराते हुए कर्मचारियों का एक वीडियो पोस्ट करते हुए हमें यह बताने के लिए इंस्टाग्राम का सहारा लिया।


South Shields boy, 14, 'drives himself to school'

Summary: A 14-year-old boy who was spotted driving himself to school was reported to police, a force said.

Northumbria Police said the boy was seen driving a blue Renault Clio in South Shields at 10:10 GMT. A force spokesman said they found the car parked in a lay-by near Temple Park Road and seized it for not having insurance. In a tweet, the force's roads unit said the boy "denied all knowledge but forgot his books were in the boot". The spokesman said: "The male teenager has been spoken to by officers and inquiries into the incident are ongoing."

एक बल ने कहा कि एक 14 वर्षीय लड़का जिसे खुद को गाड़ी चलाते हुए स्कूल जाते देखा गया था, उसकी सूचना पुलिस को दी गई।


Porthcawl swimmers brave sea on Christmas Day

Summary: One of the UK's largest Christmas Day swims has taken place in Bridgend county.

The 52nd Porthcawl Christmas morning swim started at 11:45 GMT. Last year, more than 900 people took part - breaking the event's record. Organisers hope this year's event, which has an "All Things Christmas" theme and raises money for children's cancer charity Latch, has broken the record once more.

ब्रिटेन के सबसे बड़े क्रिसमस दिवस तैराकों में से एक ब्रिजेंड काउंटी में हुआ है।


Long Lartin prisoners arrested over John York murder

Summary: Two prisoners are being questioned over the death of a convicted murderer who was found seriously injured in his cell.

John York, 25, from Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, died after being attacked at HMP Long Lartin, Evesham, on Sunday. He was jailed for life in 2013 for beating a man to death. Two men, aged 30 and 46, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, West Mercia Police said. Det Insp Mark Bellamy, who is leading the investigation, said the force was working to ascertain "the exact circumstances surrounding the death of John York". "Our priority is to ensure those responsible are brought to swift justice," he added.

एक सजायाफ्ता हत्यारे की मौत पर दो कैदियों से पूछताछ की जा रही है, जो अपनी कोठरी में गंभीर रूप से घायल पाया गया था।


Ballet makes Glastonbury debut

Summary: The English National Ballet has made its debut at the Glastonbury festival.

By Mark SavageBBC News entertainment reporter It was the first act to take to the stage on Sunday, following Metallica's headline set on Saturday. The company performed Akram Khan's Dust, a piece commemorating the dead of World War One, and the families they left behind. Thousands turned up to watch the early morning performance, which was introduced by folk singer Billy Bragg. "The First World War was the most emotional thing that happened to our nation, and it was only four generations away," he said. "It shapes our lives even now. That stuff going on in Iraq is because of the borders drawn after the war." Clips of soldiers and families who had lived through the war were shown on video screens as the dancers lined up in single file. Suddenly, they gave a gunshot clap, sending a cloud of dust into the air, and throwing one of their number to the floor. As he writhed in agony, the company grasped each other by the elbow and a ripple ran through their limbs, lifting the victim towards the afterlife. Producer Louise Shand-Brown said she hoped it would be "a moving experience" for the early audience. "The music is very, very powerful," she said. "I think it will move people deeply and it will make them reflect that - only a few weeks away - the First World War would have started at that time 100 years ago." Speaking before the performance, James Streeter, who played the fallen soldier, added: "It's extremely exciting. This is really big for us. Really big. And fantastic for the company to be recognised as a company that is able to stand up next to the artists that are performing. "It's always incredible when you walk out on a stage and you feel the energy from an audience, and the power that they have. "It can almost knock you back, off your feet." After the ballet, the main stage gets back to a programme of pop music, with Dutch singer Caro Emerald first on the bill. Dolly Parton is set to be a huge draw in the mid-afternoon "legend" slot, with performances also due from Ed Sheeran, James Blake, Disclosure and main stage headliners Kasabian. Metallica played a triumphant, no-frills set to almost 90,000 people on Saturday night, becoming the first heavy metal band to headline the festival. After the performance, which included classics such as Enter Sandman, Master of Puppets and Nothing Else Matters, drummer Lars Ulrich said: "That was sensational. I don't remember much of it... the energy was fantastic." Speaking on Sunday morning, festival organiser Michael Eavis said he had no regrets about booking the band. "I thought they were excellent, and they filled the slot extremely well." Eavis, 78, confirmed that the festival would be back in 2015 and 2016 before taking a fallow year in 2017. And he said next year's headliners were already being lined up - with one band having agreed their appearance on Saturday night. "I had an agent on the platform watching Metallica with me last night and he said, 'My band want to play next year.' So that was done on the platform last night." Eavis wouldn't name any names but confirmed the band were not British. "Is it Abba? No!" he said.

इंग्लिश नेशनल बैले ने ग्लास्टनबरी महोत्सव में अपनी शुरुआत की है।


Craters of the moon, now viewable from Instagram and Reddit

Summary: Amateur space photographer Andrew McCarthy, or 'space nerd' as he calls himself on his Instagram account, has a passion for astronomy, thanks to his dad introducing him to the moon through his telescope when he was a child.

The Sacramento-based software worker has taken hundreds of thousands of photos, and one in particular that he shared on social media forum Reddit has gained 74,000 upvotes. His 81 megapixel shot came about after an evening's work on May 7, as part of his current project to take pictures of the moon every day for one month. "I take as many photos as possible, using two cameras and a telescope patched to a tracking mouse that compensates for the rotation of the earth," Andrew told the BBC, after which follows a lot of post production, "that gives me a nice clear, crisp image." His post also includes the ability for users to zoom in to see individual craters. It was thanks to a free telescope Andrew found on Craig's list two years ago, that his passion was reignited, and he started to share his images on social media. "I like to post in a variety of communities to introduce new people to this hobby," he said, "What I like might be different to what others like. I like the deep space stuff." One image in particular, which he posted on February 25, is one of his most popular and was even picked up by the media in Russia and India. So far, it has gained 23,000 likes on Instagram. Andrew says he tries to answer as many comments as he can and is impressed by the positive posts. "I take the time to reply, and for those who want more information about how to get started, I take those offline." He now has a massive queue of people in his inbox of people who want to talk to him about his creations. But how does the average person improve their pictures of the moon and planets? Andrew admits that photos taken by a mobile phone aren't so good. "My advice is to get into forums, communities and pick up tips from there." Of course, there have been many attempts at great photos of the moon and beyond, as Andrew says, "Practice makes perfect." Produced by the BBC's UGC team

शौकिया अंतरिक्ष फोटोग्राफर एंड्रयू मैकार्थी, या अपने इंस्टाग्राम अकाउंट पर खुद को 'स्पेस नेर्ड' कहते हैं, उन्हें खगोल विज्ञान का शौक है, क्योंकि उनके पिता ने उन्हें बचपन में अपने दूरबीन के माध्यम से चंद्रमा से परिचित कराया था।


Business rates - what do they pay?

Summary: A revaluation of the value of Scotland's non-domestic properties has led to concerns that some businesses will end up paying much more in rates this year. Hotels, tourist attractions and leisure facilities are reporting large rises in the rateable value on which their rates are based. However, some other businesses have seen their rateable value reduced.

Hotelier in business rates boycott call Why are business rates causing concern? The owner of the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, Stewart Spence, says his rateable value has risen from £497,000 to £575,000, while his turnover has slumped over the past three years from £7.5m to £4.5m. Search for a rateable value for a business The rateable value is not what the business pays but it is a substantial element in setting the rate. The rate in the pound, set by the Scottish government, is 46.6p, with larger businesses paying a supplement. There are also a range of rate reliefs, especially for small businesses. Here are the rateable values of some of Scotland's prominent businesses: Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire up from £2.3m to £3.66m Crieff Hydro up from £1.15m to £1.83m SEC campus in Glasgow down from £3.5m to £3.1m Trump Turnberry up from £1.034m to £1.477m Trump International Golf Resort at Menie in Aberdeenshire up from £205,000 to £235,000 Edinburgh Castle up from £326,000 to £1.795m Edinburgh Zoo up from £510,000 to £1.29m Hampden football stadium up from £1m to £1.35m Celtic football stadium down from £1.8m to £1.58m Rangers football stadium up from £1.1m to £1.27m Aberdeen football stadium up from £195,000 to £200,000 Ross County football stadium up from £20,600 to £32,250 Murrayfield rugby stadium up from £195,000 to £200,000 Scottish National Party HQ in Edinburgh down from £38,100 to £27,700 Scottish Tory HQ in Edinburgh down from £17,900 to £16,900 Scottish Labour HQ in Glasgow down from £47,250 to £29,500 BBC Pacific Quay up from £3.75m to £4.29m STV in Glasgow up from £900,000 to £965,000 SSE HQ in Perth down from £.385m to £1m Amazon distribution centre, Dunfermline, up from £3.776m to £4.098m Tesco Extra at Silverburn in Glasgow up from £3.130m to £3.225m Banff Springs hotel in Aberdeenshire up from £92,000 to £197,000 Marks & Spencer on Perth High Street down from £594,000 to £473,000

स्कॉटलैंड की गैर-घरेलू संपत्तियों के मूल्य के पुनर्मूल्यांकन ने चिंता पैदा कर दी है कि कुछ व्यवसाय इस साल दरों में बहुत अधिक भुगतान करेंगे। होटल, पर्यटक आकर्षण और अवकाश सुविधाएं दर योग्य मूल्य में बड़ी वृद्धि की सूचना दे रही हैं जिस पर उनकी दरें आधारित हैं। हालाँकि, कुछ अन्य व्यवसायों ने अपने दर योग्य मूल्य में कमी देखी है।


The 'love commandos' protecting young Indian couples

Summary: In India, "love" is still considered by many to be a dirty word with most marriages arranged by parents along religious or caste lines. But a group of "love commandos" are increasingly stepping in to protect Cupid and his targets.

By Anu AnandBBC, New Delhi Rajveer Singh is a handsome young man of 23. He has large, earnest eyes and hair that falls over his forehead. He is well-built, quiet, thoughtful. When Rajveer was 12, a new family moved into the house across the narrow alley. The first time he saw Madhuri, who was then 14, he says he fell in love. "I thought to myself 'this is the girl I want to marry'. She was mischievous, she had a beautiful smile, and I knew she would look after me." Madhuri, a petite, bright-eyed woman with a winning smile, says she felt the same. Over the years, as Rajveer and Madhuri went to school together and shared their best hopes and worst fears, they fell utterly in love. You know what happens next. This is India, where parents vet a potential marriage partner like Nasa scientists checking a space shuttle before lift-off: Love just does not get a look in. So when Rajveer and Madhuri told their families they wanted to marry, the answer was a resounding "no". Rajveer's family are Thakurs, or landowners. Madhuri's are Banias, or traders. Apparently incompatible. But they were undeterred. As Madhuri's family took her back to the village to forcibly betroth her to a more suitable boy, Rajveer hatched a plan. He called the Love Commandos. Perhaps you are picturing them now - tall, chivalrous men in tights, wielding swords and roses. Well, not quite. A group of aging businessmen and journalists, the Love Commandos began 10 years ago as a movement to protect lovers from harassment by both Hindu and Muslim hard-liners. One of their co-founders, Sanjoy Sachdeva, is a rumpled, white-haired hack whom I met after a series of phone calls. "Come to the Imperial Cinema. Come alone. One of my commandos will meet you." Down a fly-blown alley in Paharganj, near New Delhi railway station where backpackers sip mixed fruit juice at cheap open stalls and disembowelled televisions are repaired on the street, I met Sanjoy in one of the Love Commandos' secret shelters. It had all the charm of a broom closet. But in India, where falling in love is a provocative social and political statement, a safe broom closet can come in very handy. Sanjoy explained that the image of a commando is central to the helpline he and his colleagues operate. Indian lovers need protection and they need to believe that they will receive it. Madhuri managed to escape from her relatives' house in the village, and met Rajveer at the train station, knowing they were guaranteed sanctuary back in Delhi. That same evening, they arrived at the Love Commandos' shelter to find flowers, clothes and some simple jewellery for Madhuri. More importantly, they found smiles of encouragement and good wishes. Within hours they were man and wife. On paper it is very Romeo and Juliet - or the eastern equivalent Laila and Majnu - but in reality, rescuing lovers is expensive and difficult. In Delhi alone the Commandos' monthly operation costs up to $5,000. After pontificating about love over a cigarette, Sanjoy pins me with his green eyes and says, plaintively: "We need money. We are broke. Our friends are broke. I'm not sure how long we can sustain this." Still, he and his Commandos fervently believe that the only way to change India's caste-riven society is through love marriages. They hope that the children born of such unions will be freer and more equal. But, if Rajveer and Madhuri's story is any barometer, change will come grudgingly and violently. Last year, after the couple dared to move back to their old neighbourhood, Rajveer was held at knife point by four men. They drove him to a secluded spot, tied him up and beat him severely and left him for dead. At first, the police refused to act. With the Commandos' help, they did eventually file a report. No one has been charged. Madhuri is convinced her own family was involved. She says someone recently toppled a pile of bricks from a shared rooftop onto the couples' bed. Luckily they were not in it. According to Unicef, nearly 40% of India's billion-plus population is under the age of 18. Falling in love here is not easy, but more couples are choosing to brave the consequences. For the Commandos, love is war. And as long as they can afford it, they do not intend to surrender peacefully. How to listen to From Our Own Correspondent: BBC Radio 4: A 30-minute programme on Saturdays, 11:30 BST. Second 30-minute programme on Thursdays, 11:00 BST (some weeks only). Listen online or download the podcast BBC World Service: Hear daily 10-minute editions Monday to Friday, repeated through the day, also available to listen online. Read more or explore the archive at the programme website.

भारत में, "प्रेम" को अभी भी कई लोगों द्वारा एक गंदा शब्द माना जाता है क्योंकि अधिकांश विवाह माता-पिता द्वारा धार्मिक या जाति के आधार पर आयोजित किए जाते हैं। लेकिन "प्रेम कमांडो" का एक समूह कामदेव और उसके लक्ष्यों की रक्षा के लिए तेजी से कदम बढ़ा रहा है।


Poole's Twin Sails Bridge to stay shut indefinitely

Summary: Poole's Twin Sails Bridge will remain shut until further notice because of a technical fault.

Borough of Poole Council said it was unable to confirm when the lifting bridge would be back in operation. It said a problem affecting the lifting mechanism on the Hamworthy side of the bridge developed on 16 November. A further detailed inspection is required before a timescale on reopening can be determined, a spokesperson said. The authority has apologised for the inconvenience caused and advised people to use Poole Bridge instead until the problem has been fixed.

पूले का ट्विन सेल ब्रिज तकनीकी खराबी के कारण अगली सूचना तक बंद रहेगा।