Coronavirus: Five ways virus upheaval is hitting women in Asia

Summary: Since its outbreak in China, the coronavirus has killed or infected tens of thousands of people across Asia, and is spreading worldwide.

By Lara OwenWomen's Affairs East Asia, BBC World Service As well as the health battle, the social impact of the virus is significant and across Asia, it is women who are being disproportionately affected. "Crisis always exacerbates gender inequality," says Maria Holtsberg, humanitarian and disaster risk advisor at UN Women Asia and Pacific. Here are five ways that women in Asia are bearing the brunt of the upheaval. 1. School closures "I have been at home for over three weeks now with the kids," says journalist and mother-of-two Sung So-young. She lives in South Korea, which recently announced it was postponing the start of the new school year by an additional two weeks, so children won't return to class until 23 March. As of 4 March, just more than 253 million children in South Korea, China and Japan who would normally attend pre-primary to upper-secondary classes were not attending school, according to Unesco's latest figures. This measure has been especially difficult for people like Ms Sung, as in many East Asian countries mothers shoulder a disproportionate burden at home, and she says she has been feeling "depressed". "To be honest, I want to go into the office because I can't really focus at home," says Ms Sung. "But my husband is the breadwinner and he can't really ask for time off." Ms Sung, her 11-year-old daughter and five-year-old son spend their days playing games and watching films. She tries to get some work done when they're asleep. Her situation is reflective of South Korea's poor record on gender equality at work. In 2020, the World Economic Forum ranked it 127 out of 155 nations for women's economic participation. Ms Sung has anecdotally heard of some companies cutting the wages of female employees who can't come into the office due to childcare following school closures. "Many companies don't say this but they still see working mothers as a burden, with a less competitive spirit. After all if you didn't have children you could come into the office more," she says. Japan's government announced this week it will pay businesses up to $80 per person per day if their employees take paid leave to take care of their children due to school closures. Day care centres and after-school clubs are exempt from the closure policy to help parents, but this has also prompted questions about the effectiveness of the shutdowns. "Having schools closed does not help stop the virus entirely from spreading. It only increases burdens of working mothers," says Natsuko Fujimaki Takeuchi who is small business owner. "It's especially challenging for my business, I don't get the same support as bigger companies do for economic damage." 2. Domestic violence With millions of people in China spending time indoors, rights activists say there have been increasing instances of domestic violence. Guo Jing, a female activist who had only moved to Wuhan - the origin of the virus - in November 2019, says she has personally received enquiries from young people living in the quarantined city about witnessing domestic violence between their parents. She said the callers had no idea where to turn to for help. Xiao Li, a Chinese activist living in Henan province wrote on Chinese social media of her concern after a distant relative was assaulted by her ex-husband and made a plea for help. "Initially we found it impossible to get a permit to allow her to leave her village," Ms Li told the BBC. "Eventually after much persuasion, the police finally allowed an exit and entry permit to be granted so my brother could drive and meet her and the children." As these individual reports of domestic violence surface on social media, some women have created posters reminding people to counteract domestic violence when they see it and not be passive bystanders. The hashtag #AntiDomesticViolenceDuringEpidemic #疫期反家暴# has been discussed more than 3,000 times on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Last week, Feng Yuan, the director of Beijing-based women's rights nonprofit Weiping, said her organisation had received three times as many inquiries from victims than they did before quarantines were in place. "The police should not use the excuse of the epidemic for not taking domestic violence seriously," she says. UN Women are also concerned about the possible diversion of resources with increased efforts to contain outbreaks. "Diverting resources from critical services that women rely on, such as routine health checks or gender based violence services, is something we are very concerned about," says Ms Holtsberg. 3. Frontline care workers Women form 70% of workers in the health and social sector, according to the World Health Organisation. Chinese media has been promoting stories praising the "saintliness" and "warrior-like" nature of women working on the frontline as nurses. But what is the reality for these female medical staff? A video showing female medical workers from Gansu province collectively having their heads shaved before being despatched to help fight the coronavirus outbreak gathered traction online this month. The story of a nine-month pregnant medical worker who had recently suffered a miscarriage but went back to work also sparked a huge backlash for being a show of propaganda and setting a dangerous precedent. Last month, the BBC spoke to one nurse who said hospital staff were not allowed to eat, rest or use the toilet during their 10-hour shifts. While that applies to all hospital staff, women also shoulder another layer of discrimination. Jiang Jinjing, the woman behind the Coronavirus Sister Support campaign, which is trying to deliver feminine hygiene products to front line workers in Hubei province, recently told online media publication Sixth Tone that women's menstruation needs are being overlooked. Writing on her Weibo page, she said: "As of 28 February, 481,377 period pants, 303,939 disposable pants and 86,400 pads have been donated." Jiang Jinjing says not many people thought of providing the right period products for the tens of thousands of female medical workers. After the volunteers' campaign was applauded by many on Chinese social media, the state-run China's Women's Development Foundation said it would send menstrual products to female medical workers. What do I need to know about the coronavirus? 4. Migrant domestic helpers An estimated 400,000 women work as domestic staff in Hong Kong, most of them coming from the Philippines and Indonesia. These women are growing increasingly anxious about not only their precarious work status, but also their ability to find protective items such as face masks and hand sanitisers. "The panic buying of masks has driven prices so high that they are no longer affordable for migrant workers," says Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, general manager for the charity Mission for Migrant workers in Hong Kong. "Not all migrant workers get masks from their employers, we have to buy them on our own expenses and it's very expensive. Some, who get masks from their employers, will use the same mask for a week," one Indonesian migrant worker in HK, Eka Septi Susanti told BBC Indonesia. Ms Abdon-Tellez says her organisation has started collecting masks to distribute to migrant workers, where employers aren't providing them. "The Indonesian consulate distributed free masks but it's not enough - it took an hour [to wait in line] to get three masks. We need at least six masks for a week," says Sring Sringatin, the chairperson of the Migrant Workers Association in HK. Advice from the Hong Kong government has also resulted in frustration among foreign domestic workers in the city. The government urged them to stay indoors on their one day off a week, in order to safeguard their health and reduce the risk of contamination. This removes precious social time from women living far away from their own families and loved ones, and puts them at risk of exploitation. "Migrant workers who stay home on off days because they can't go out are still working," says Ms Sringatin. "They will cook for their employers, babysit or care for the employers' parents, without compensation. Those who insisted on taking a day off were threatened with being dismissed." It's not just the women themselves that are impacted. Millions of people rely on their income that they send home to the Philippines and Indonesia. Personal remittances from overseas Filipino workers reached a record high of $33.5bn (£25.7bn) in 2019. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa says remittances from Filipino workers overseas account for roughly 9% of GDP, and the effect of the virus will likely be felt by the Philippine economy. "With consumers staying indoors, limiting demand for various services industries where Filipinos are generally employed, it is hurting their chances to send home funds. Travel restrictions and mobility are also affected , threatening pay checks and even job security," he told the BBC. 5. Longer term economic impact Economists and governments are discussing predictions that the global economy could grow at its slowest rate since 2009 because of the outbreak. "Overall, the coronavirus has an immense impact on travel, production and consumption, which has an impact on many sectors and thus women and men alike," says Christina Maags, a lecturer at SOAS University of London. "However, low income women are particularly affected by the slowdown in consumption as they tend to be employed in hospitality, retail or other service industries." In China, "since many migrant women do not have employment contracts, the coronavirus has meant that they do not receive any income - if they do not work, they do not get paid", she says. "With no social security to fall back on, they face the dilemma of either returning to work and potentially getting sick or needing to pay for other forms of accommodation. Alternatively, they might be forced to stay at home and live off the little savings they have. This puts them in a very difficult situation". And some South East Asian garment factories, which rely on raw materials from China, are being forced to close. According to the government in Myanmar, more than 10 factories have closed since January, though the labour ministry said not all were linked to the coronavirus. Ma Chit Su told BBC Burmese that her family had depended on her wages from her now-closed garment factory job. "I don't care about compensation, I just want my job back at the factory," she says. From UN Women's perspective these are the some of the women who will suffer the biggest impact, including daily wage earners, small business owners and those working in informal sectors. "The differential needs of women and men in long-and-medium-term recovery efforts also need to be considered," says Mohammad Naciri, regional director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. "Women are playing an indispensable role in the fight against the outbreak - as health care workers, as scientists and researchers, as social mobilisers, as community peace builders and connectors, and as caregivers. "It is essential to ensure that women's voices are heard and recognised."

चीन में इसके प्रकोप के बाद से, कोरोनावायरस ने पूरे एशिया में दसियों हज़ार लोगों को मार डाला है या संक्रमित किया है, और दुनिया भर में फैल रहा है।


E3: Views from the video games expo

Summary: It's an indisputable fact: E3 and Twitter are made for each other.

By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor The Los Angeles event packs a conference centre with oversized stands showing off over-the-top gameplay and then unleashes it upon thousands of the most opinionated tech writers and video games chiefs on the planet. Here's a selection of photos, fury, funny quips and even a few insightful thoughts posted online from those involved in this year's event.

यह एक निर्विवाद तथ्य हैः ई3 और ट्विटर एक दूसरे के लिए बनाए गए हैं।


The bike test that shows what we're really like at work

Summary: Cycling through the City of London to work on a dark morning recently, I was overtaken by a man in a black coat with no helmet, no lights, and listening to music through headphones, writes Lucy Kellaway.

Idiot, I thought. As he disappeared into the underground parking of a large bank, I wondered - what sort of banker does a man like that make? He got me thinking about the things we reveal about ourselves when we are on two wheels, and how useful that data could be to our bosses. I've always fancied that as a group, cyclists make relatively good employees. All of us are vaguely fit. We have the wherewithal to be reliable and punctual. We are risk-takers and ever so slightly rebellious, which works quite well - especially in a job like journalism. Different tribes Only 10 minutes on a London road shows that we aren't a group at all. Some of us are fast, some slow. Some wear helmets, some don't. Some break all the rules, some break none. If employers really want to know what prospective employees are like, they should forget psychometric testing and watch them ride a bike. Some cyclists may protest that they are aggressive in the saddle only to become pussycats at their desks, but I don't agree - on a bike you are close to death and so become a more intense version of your true self. After I left the banker and proceeded to work, I saw three other cyclists showing traits that should have interested their HR departments. The first had his right trouser leg rolled up to reveal a meaty calf. Such resourcefulness in the absence of a clip impressed me - I'd hire him as a problem solver. The next was a man balancing, stationary on a fixed gear bike at the lights - no-one likes working with a show-off. And then there was a woman on a baby-pink Brompton bicycle going through a red light just by St Paul's Cathedral forcing pedestrians to step out of her way. Clearly, it is the red light that is the richest point for data gathering. This woman comprehensively failed the job test. Co-operation or competition? The two-wheel test also weeds out those who are not team players. All cyclists view cars, lorries and buses as natural enemies, but the cyclist who is hostile to his own kind, and who squeezes past others on the inside is suitable only for solitary working. Not only does cycling show how competitive someone is, it shows how men feel about women being faster than them. On the - increasingly rare - occasions when I overtake a man on a bike, he almost always overtakes me back at once, just to make the point. It is not just the behaviour on the bike, it is the bike itself. The person with the carbon racer wants to impress. The person on the hybrid just wants to get the job done. The not terribly fit man in Lycra is all talk, no trousers. So what does my cycling style show? That I like being in control. That I'm cavalier about some rules and fairly selfish, but try not to be flagrantly obnoxious. I wear a helmet, a nasty fluorescent tabard and high heels - but to prevent any more pairs being destroyed by the pedals I have invented a heel condom made out of an old inner tube. Which shows I can be creative - but only when really desperate. Lucy Kellaway is an author and Financial Times columnist. Listen to her on Business Daily and World Business Report on BBC World Service every Monday.

लुसी केलवे लिखती हैं, "हाल ही में एक अंधेरी सुबह काम करने के लिए लंदन शहर में साइकिल चलाते हुए, मुझे बिना हेलमेट, बिना रोशनी और हेडफ़ोन के माध्यम से संगीत सुनने वाले काले कोट में एक आदमी ने पछाड़ दिया।"


Boris Johnson tries to look forward - but Covid is still here

Summary: Boris Johnson may have "had enough" of the Covid pandemic.

Laura KuenssbergPolitical editor@bbclaurakon Twitter He probably spoke for millions of people when he said that at the lectern, looking out at the non-existent crowd to the virtual audience on the other side of the lens. But while we all may choose to loathe the impact of the disease on our lives, the pandemic is far from done with us yet. Although the current situation is about as far from standard as anything in recent history, his conference speech was, well, rather standard. It was a familiar Johnson cocktail: the kind of gags you might hear during an after-dinner speech, and the political message we have heard from him already on several big set-piece occasions. Namely, that the government was fighting a war against this disease but it will be vanquished, and he will lead the country to a happier peace. The speech was not short of ambition - including promises on everything from green jobs, to education, productivity, housing, even to planting trees. It was though short on detail of how the country will make it to his "New Jerusalem", and how his promises would actually be made to happen. Does that matter? While conference speeches are often a big shop window for leaders to talk to the country, it felt today that the prime minister didn't really take that opportunity. Instead, perhaps to try to calm activists' nerves, he pointed out that he was uncomfortable with the expansion of the state to deal with Covid-19, still a believer in traditional Tory values, and even claimed it was "seditious" to suggest that he had lost some of his normal mojo. Familiar repartee He may have claimed this suggestion had been put around by his political opponents. In fact, it is a concern that has been shared privately by some of his supporters and colleagues. For many years, Boris Johnson was the darling of the Tory conference, packing sweaty fringe meetings and the main hall. His fans who flocked to see him could only dream he would win the party a victory of the scale they achieved at last year's general election. Activists may have been cheered by some of his familiar repartee today, and heartened by big promises for the future. But he is no longer just the party's star turn, but a prime minister grappling with what it means to govern, struggling to keep control of a crisis that has a long way to run. Trying to look forward to a world where the pandemic has disappeared doesn't make it go away.

हो सकता है कि बोरिस जॉनसन के पास कोविड महामारी "पर्याप्त थी"।


Democracy Day: Your protest posters

Summary: As the BBC marks the 750th anniversary of the first elected parliament at Westminster and 800 years since the signing of Magna Carta with a special Democracy Day , we show off the protest pictures you've been sharing with us from around the world.

Fifteen-year-old Mariama from Manchester, England, who is involved with the Reclaim project, holds a sign showing her solidarity with Pakistani children after a school was attacked in school attacks in Peshawar in December when at least 140 people were killed. Photo taken by Kwame Ibegbuna. Children in Wiltshire, South West England, demonstrate against their local park being earmarked for development. Anna Villette, who took the picture, says: 'Green spaces are part of the social glue that hold villages together." Anne Louise Kershaw took this photo of the 'No more Page Three' campaigners who were demonstrating about the lack of reporting of women's achievements in the media and the constant focus on their appearances. Page 3 in The Sun newspaper often features topless models. Mary Simpson tweeted this photo which she took in September 2014, of protesters in Glasgow, Scotland, speaking out against what they see as biased coverage from the BBC. BBC journalist Kevin Sharkey took this photo of members of local residents who oppose the plans to build a huge student campus in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They say it will destroy the character of an area which is already in desperate need of social housing. Protesters took to the streets in Bahrain, demanding the release of Sheikh Ali Salman, as this picture from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights illustrates. The opposition leader was arrested after a day of questioning at the interior ministry. Zhou Fang sent in this picture of her home in Tianjin, China, in November 2014 before, she alleges, the Tianjin Historical Architecture Restoration And Development Co. Ltd. took it away from her family by force. Robin Reeve took this photograph of a chalk drawing on a street in London, England, on 11 January at the demonstration in solidarity with the victims of the Charlie Hebdo shooting and related attacks in Paris. Produced by Sherie Ryder. Thank you for all of your contributions. Email yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, or tweet @BBC_HaveYourSay. Read our terms and conditions.

जैसा कि बी. बी. सी. वेस्टमिंस्टर में पहली निर्वाचित संसद की 750वीं वर्षगांठ और एक विशेष लोकतंत्र दिवस के साथ मैग्ना कार्टा पर हस्ताक्षर करने के 800 साल बाद, हम उन विरोध चित्रों को दिखाते हैं जिन्हें आप दुनिया भर से हमारे साथ साझा कर रहे हैं।


Eye risk from 'overstretched NHS'

Summary: Eye specialists say hundreds of patients suffer irreversible sight loss every year in England because services are overstretched and under-resourced. The president of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Prof Carrie MacEwen, writing for the BBC's Scrubbing Up, warns the NHS is struggling to keep up because of a "perfect storm" of increased demand, caused by more eye disease in an ageing population which requires requiring long term care. She says the current treatment targets fail to reflect the critical importance of follow-up appointments, which may be delayed for months or even years.

Prof Carrie MacEwenRoyal College of Ophthalmologists "Many eye diseases which can cause sight loss are more common in older people and our aging population means the demand on ophthalmology, like all areas of healthcare, is increasing like never before. Hospital attendances have increased year on year in the UK, with over 100m outpatient appointments made in England alone during 2013-14, of which nearly 10% are for eye care. Common eye conditions which were previously untreatable, such as age-related macular degeneration, can now be treated successfully, but this adds to the demand on eye clinics. Efforts to create more care in the community show no evidence of an actual reduction in demand for care in hospitals. With an increase of up to 30% in eye clinic attendances over the last five years, we can no longer ignore the pressure mounting in hospital eye services. Hospitals have targets - with fines if these are missed - to ensure patients avoid long waits for care. But these targets apply to 'new' patient referral, meaning this system can and does distort clinical priorities. In reality, the increasing demand for eye clinic appointments comes from existing patients which chronic eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. These "follow-up" patients are the most vulnerable and at the greatest risk of irreversible sight loss. These conditions require long-term repeat appointments for close monitoring and care. And it's these follow-up appointments that are more likely to be postponed or lost in the system for months - and sometimes years - to accommodate new referrals in already over-subscribed clinics. There are no targets for follow-ups, meaning data is not routinely gathered. This makes it difficult to determine the magnitude of the problem. However, a search undertaken by the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) identified nearly 500 incidents describing loss or deterioration of vision from such delays between 2011 and 2013 in England and Wales. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is carrying out a national study to identify patients who have come to harm due to hospital-initiated delays for follow-up appointments. This study has not yet formally reported, but preliminary results indicate that across the UK at least 20 patients per month suffer severe visual sight loss from such delays. Ophthalmologists want what is best for their patients and whilst many hospitals are taking positive action to deal with these delays, the response to the problem is variable across Britain. The NHS in Scotland and Wales has been working with ophthalmologists to address these problems, but the situation in England is much more fragmented. Solutions include recommended guidelines to optimise efficient care; the use of expanded skills and roles of other specialist eye staff such as ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and orthoptists; increasing networks between primary and secondary care. Finally, and importantly, giving patients a voice by improving understanding of their condition and the importance of their follow-up appointments being kept within the time recommended by their doctor. These recommendations may be seen as difficult, as often there are restricted resources and limited time for clinicians to work with those across the whole network of care, community and commissioners to develop strategies which can meet the ever increasing number of patients coming through clinics. At the same time there should be a review of current targets to encourage more equitable care, and follow-ups are recognised as equally important to patient care. A key part of the problem is lack of data. Data collection will identify patients who might otherwise fall between the cracks and enable those managing service provision to be able to plan more effectively. If these solutions are not urgently forthcoming, many hundreds more will needlessly experience sight loss."

नेत्र विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि इंग्लैंड में हर साल सैकड़ों रोगियों को अपरिवर्तनीय दृष्टि हानि का सामना करना पड़ता है क्योंकि सेवाएं अधिक फैली हुई हैं और कम संसाधन हैं। द रॉयल कॉलेज ऑफ ऑप्थाल्मोलॉजिस्ट के अध्यक्ष, प्रो. कैरी मैकवेन, बीबीसी के स्क्रबिंग अप के लिए लिखते हुए, चेतावनी देते हैं कि एनएचएस बढ़ती मांग के "सही तूफान" के कारण बनाए रखने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहा है, जो उम्र बढ़ने की आबादी में अधिक नेत्र रोग के कारण होता है जिसके लिए दीर्घकालिक देखभाल की आवश्यकता होती है। वह कहती हैं कि वर्तमान उपचार लक्ष्य अनुवर्ती नियुक्तियों के महत्वपूर्ण महत्व को दर्शाने में विफल रहते हैं, जिसमें महीनों या वर्षों तक देरी हो सकती है।


How to turn your child into a video games designer

Summary: "I want to make games when I grow up."

By Mark WardTechnology correspondent, BBC News It's an ambition voiced by many children. That is not surprising given that pretty much every one of them plays games on tablets, phones, consoles and PCs when they have a spare moment. It is certainly my son's goal. And like any dutiful parent, I'm keen to help him realise his ambition - or at least help him find out early on if it's not for him. I am also conscious that my lack of a formal technical background means that, at home, he'll struggle to get to grips with the core technical skill game making seems to demand - coding. This is a problem. What I know about the history of video games suggests many of those that made it in the industry started young. So, there was no better place to get answers about how to become a game maker than at Frontier Developments. The firm was founded by David Braben - the archetypal child programmer who, while still a teenager, co-wrote the legendary game Elite. Production values The latest version of Elite was released late last year and Frontier is now almost fully occupied with maintaining and expanding the space trading and combat game. Frontier employs a lot of programmers, says Adam Woods, a producer on Elite, and it has a well-established career path for them all the way from graduate-entry through to head of technology. However, he says, there are plenty of other people at the firm that went via other routes. The studio's audio head, Jim Croft, started out as a musician and composer creating tunes for TV ads. Top tips for game makers by Shaun Spalding - Indie developer Make Games. The best thing you could possibly do is start making games today. The reason I got my first job in the industry as a game designer was entirely down to the fact I was the only person who had his own finished video game to show off at interview. Not only did this demonstrate my ability, knowledge and experience far better than anything else I could show or say, but it shows an ability to finish what I start, and that I have a natural drive to develop video games. If you want to be a part of making games, make games today, and finish them. As many as you can. Show them to everyone you can and learn from everything you do wrong, which when you start off, will be almost everything. Nothing else you do is more important than this when it comes to succeeding as a game developer. Mr Woods knows his way around code but started out in QA - quality assurance - which involves playing Frontier games as they are being developed documenting bugs and crashes. "Now, as a producer, I help define the road map for the game for a set period of time - it could be for the next year or the next couple of weeks," he says. His job involves making sure the various teams at Frontier - coding, art, design, user interface, etc - are all on track to finish work on the next expansion or fix big bad bugs. "I break down the work that needs doing and get estimates about how long it is going to take," he says. "Towards delivery date I will chase bugs and make sure it all comes together." The producer role is just one of many that surrounds the programming heart of a game such as Elite Dangerous. Many of the people in those jobs are familiar with technology but coding is not essential to their day-to-day work. Frontier has product managers that help co-ordinate the overall direction of the game, community managers who handle player feedback, and lots of graphic designers who work on creating and animating all the bits that make up a modern title. Code course That kind of diversity is to be expected in a sizeable studio such as Frontier, says Dr Jake Habgood, a former game-maker who now heads the software and games development degree course at Sheffield Hallam University. "If you have more than 150 people in a team you get roles that are very specialised," he says. For Dr Habgood, aspiring game makers would do well to grasp the difference between playing and creating. "One of the common misconceptions that people who to this have is that making and playing games is synonymous," he says. However, he adds, experts make what they do look easy while hiding what it took to master a skill. A game that is easy and fun to play would not necessarily have been as much fun, or as easy, to code and create. For Dr Habgood, coding is the key skill to master for any aspiring game maker and the Sheffield course emphasises hands-on programming skills. For youngsters, such as my 11-year-old, getting to grips with proper programming might be formidable but there were plenty of other ways to get a taste of game making without having to learn C++ or grapple with a command line. Tools including Scratch, Kodu from Microsoft, Game Maker by YoYo and even Unreal Engine 4 make it more straight-forward to make games. The most basic of these involves snapping virtual coding blocks together and even the more advanced ones, such as Unreal, conceal a lot of the in-depth coding. That hands-on experience is key to understand the game-making process, says Dr Habgood, for no other reason than it will bestow an understanding of what is special about the craft. "If you can find the creativity in programming and games you may see how compelling it can be," he explains. Creative breakthroughs aside, seeing a game through to completion is quite an achievement for anyone at any age. It involves real work and exposes one other truth about the industry. "It's very competitive and you have to be prepared to work hard and put a lot of hours in," he says. "If you don't, you won't make it." "It's you that matters, not the degree," he adds. "The degree will help but if you are not committed it will not help you get into the industry."

"मैं बड़े होने पर खेल बनाना चाहता हूँ।"


Unexploded bombs shut Folkestone to Dover rail line

Summary: Rail services between Folkestone and Dover were suspended after two unexploded bombs were found near a railway station.

Bomb disposal experts were called after maintenance workers made the discovery close to Dover Priory, Kent, at about 10:16 GMT, on Wednesday. Southeastern services were suspended for about an hour while army experts dealt with the devices. The operator's high-speed rail services were also diverted for a time. Southeastern later posted an update on Twitter saying the Folkestone to Dover line had reopened. A spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed two devices had been found.

एक रेलवे स्टेशन के पास दो बिना फटे बम मिलने के बाद फोकस्टोन और डोवर के बीच रेल सेवाओं को निलंबित कर दिया गया था।


Mental health: Living with Borderline Personality Disorder

Summary: Two thirds of Welsh people have no one to talk to about their mental health concerns, according to fresh research from Time To Change Wales, a partnership of three mental health charities - Mind Cymru, Hafal and Gofal. On Time to Talk day, they are encouraging people to open up about their difficulties. Here, Bethan Rees, 30, from Caerphilly, explains how not being able to talk about her mental health condition left her misdiagnosed, isolated from work and wanting to take her own life.

For most young people, the start of their career is a time of excitement. But for me, with an undiagnosed mental health condition, it didn't turn out like that. The moods I had always struggled with came to the surface. Aged 22, I was working for a press agency in Cheltenham, writing press releases and copy for websites. It was high-pressured and demanding, with tight deadlines and a large workload. Yet, despite being qualified for it and excited by it, it became clear I was struggling. I kept getting behind with tasks and being overwhelmed by the workload. Colleagues accused me of daydreaming at my desk and being distracted and unable to concentrate. When bosses tried to give me feedback, I would burst into tears, or get very emotional and angry. The work place became increasingly unbearable and after 18 months I left. I moved back to Cardiff to live with my parents and secured another role in public relations. But the same thing happened and I began to get behind. Bosses asked me why I was struggling and I simply couldn't tell them. But because I knew I might be fired again, I became incredibly anxious. I felt guilty and panicky, but most of all I felt helpless. Once more, I would cry at the slightest bit of feedback, or at other times, I became manic - doing 100 things at once. I went to the doctor, who diagnosed anxiety and depression and put me on anti-depressants. But they made me sleepy, and my work place was so busy, I couldn't be accommodated and was forced out of that job too. By this point, my confidence was shattered and what had unfolded in my work life now spiralled into my personal life too. My parents were confused, not understanding why I couldn't hold down a job. My long-term partner at the time also ended our relationship because he couldn't cope with my erratic moods. I felt too ashamed of how I was feeling to talk to people and I thought that if I did, they would see me as weak and incompetent. I had suicidal thoughts and outbursts where I would throw stuff, dig my nails into my wrists or scream into the pillow to release my anger. It just felt like I would never be the person I wanted to be and I didn't understand what was wrong. Ultimately, things came to a head in October 2017. By then, I had a new boyfriend but one day, for no reason, I just exploded in front of him. There was no trigger - there rarely is - but I felt so intensely hopeless and miserable I told him I didn't want to live any more. As I viewed it, I didn't fit in, so what was the point of being around? Seeing how distraught I was, he made an emergency appointment with a different GP and insisted on coming with me. That doctor told me I should never have been on anti-depressants and that instead I needed mood stabilisers. A psychiatrist I was referred to then diagnosed Borderline Personality Disorder, otherwise known as emotional instability. I had never heard of this, but when I looked up the symptoms, I had them all. They included struggling to maintain stable relationships, having suicidal thoughts and intense emotions that would change rapidly. Then there was acting impulsively, feeling paranoid and suffering intense outbursts of anger. Reading the list of symptoms, I felt a wave of relief, because I had always felt there was more to it. But I was also surprised, because it had gone on for so long - how had no one spotted it before? Since my correct diagnosis, I have been put on mood stabilisers and life is much better. I've secured a new job in the charity sector and my bosses, aware of my diagnosis, have been incredibly supportive. Seeing a psychiatrist and counsellor have also helped, as has taking up running, as I find this greatly reduces anxiety. But importantly, I am now finally able to talk to people. I recently told my best friend everything and she said she was so relieved I'd finally spoken to her - she had known something was wrong but just didn't know how to help. Because of the importance of this, I've become a champion for Time For Change Wales, a partnership promoting mental health training in workplaces to end stigma and discrimination. On their Time to Talk day, I would just like to encourage people who know there is something wrong with their mental health but don't necessarily know what, to keep talking until they find someone who can help.

वेल्श के दो तिहाई लोगों के पास अपनी मानसिक स्वास्थ्य चिंताओं के बारे में बात करने के लिए कोई नहीं है, तीन मानसिक स्वास्थ्य दानों-माइंड साइमरू, हाफल और गोफल की साझेदारी टाइम टू चेंज वेल्स के ताजा शोध के अनुसार। टाइम टू टॉक डे पर, वे लोगों को अपनी कठिनाइयों के बारे में खुलकर बात करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित कर रहे हैं। यहाँ, कैर्फिली से 30 वर्षीय बेथन रीस बताती है कि कैसे उसकी मानसिक स्वास्थ्य स्थिति के बारे में बात करने में सक्षम नहीं होने के कारण उसका गलत निदान हुआ, वह काम से अलग हो गई और वह अपनी जान लेना चाहती थी।


Where next for the eurozone after the Greek vote?

Summary: So where does the eurozone go from here?

By Andrew WalkerBBC World Service Economics correspondent Syriza's election victory raises some difficult questions for the other countries using the currency and for the European institutions. The party's proposals represent a challenge to the austerity that has been a central feature of the eurozone's response to the financial crisis - bailout loans combined with spending cuts and tax rises to reduce borrowing needs and economic reforms to encourage growth. For the architects of that response - especially the European Commission and Germany - the idea of renegotiating the terms and reducing the debt is an unpalatable one. Germany and some other eurozone countries already have political problems with the bailouts - received by a total of five countries. Many voters resented the financial assistance, even though it was loans. Any suggestion that they won't be repaid in full will aggravate those concerns. The key to the Greek burden does lie with the eurozone and its taxpayers. Some 60% of the outstanding debt is bailout money provided either by the member states themselves or by the European Stability Mechanism, an official EU agency which gets its funds in the financial markets but is financially underpinned by the eurozone countries. Another 10% is owed to the International Monetary Fund which is ultimately backed by global taxpayers. It doesn't generally do debt relief. The European Central Bank accounts for 6%. It is banned from giving relief on that by EU law. The country's debt to private sector creditors has already heavily cut back in 2012. The remainder is a variety of creditors including banks, pension funds and other investors in Greece and abroad. After Greece, Spain? There is a fudge that could be used to ease the Greek debt burden, and it has already been used. That is to reduce the interest rate on its debts to the eurozone and extend the repayment period without actually cutting the nominal value of the debt to be repaid. To give ground to Syriza could also be read as suggesting that the austerity approach was a fundamental mistake. After all many economists argued that cutting government spending and raising taxes was exactly the wrong thing to do in economies that were already weak. Austerity aggravated the weakness, they argued, and so undermined tax revenue and exacerbated the government financial problems it was supposed to fix. Another problem for Germany and those that share its view is that concessions to Syriza might embolden anti-austerity political forces in other countries. Spain's Podemos party is a striking recent arrival on the political scene, but others will also be watching developments in Greece very closely. Risk reduction That potential for political "contagion" from Greece to other countries is probably more of a worry for the eurozone than a repeat of the kind of financial and economic contagion we saw when the crisis was at its most intense, in 2011. That's not to say that type of danger is absent. But the eurozone does have measures in place the reduce the risk. The key one is European Central Bank proposals to buy the debts or bonds of governments whose borrowing costs go too high. This is NOT the policy of quantitative easing announced last week as a response to deflation or falling prices. It is a proposal targeted at ensuring that countries such as Italy and Spain do not face unsustainably high borrowing costs as a result of fears they might end up leaving the euro. It's a policy announced by Mario Draghi in 2012. The mere announcement had the desired effect. It hasn't been used, but it is there if needed. But even if the eurozone can keep the lid on any financial market fears of a wider break-up, the possibility of Greece leaving can't be discounted. The Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras says he doesn't want it and nor does Greek public opinion. Even Germany doesn't want it, though there is a limit to the concessions that Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble are likely to make. So the odds are that some sort of compromise will emerge. It may well be messy and be slow to take shape. But then did the eurozone ever do anything that's difficult quickly or easily?

तो यूरोज़ोन यहाँ से कहाँ जाता है?


Polling ends with rigging allegations

Summary: Election Department says according to reports received at the close of the poll, the estimated voter turnout was approximately 65% ,55%,60% in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee respectively.

There have been widespread reports of irregularities during provincial elections in eastern Sri Lanka that are seen as crucial to the government's strategy for defeating Tamil Tiger rebels. An independent monitoring group said it had received forty complaints -- mainly of voter intimidation -- but there were also reports of ballot-stuffing, multiple voting and threats forcing observers to leave polling stations. The leader of the main opposition alliance, Rauff Hakeem, said police had ignored their complaints. All through the day people voted in eastern Sri Lanka, including in areas that were held by the Tamil Tigers until a military operation to drive them out ended in July. Rauff Hakeem, who hopes to become Chief Minister if his opposition alliance wins, said there was widespread intimidation, violence and harassment of voters, and police ignored their complaints. Key test This election is a key test of the Government's strategy in its long running war against the Tamil Tigers. They bill limited devolution to the provinces as the answer to the Tamil people's long standing demands for more autonomy. They hope it will negate the Tamil Tigers' fight for a separate state which is still going on in the north. Among the candidates running for office were former rebels who defected in 2004. The TMVP hasn't given up its guns and has been accused of killings, abductions and of recruiting children for military training. It took part in the elections under the banner of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling UPFA.

चुनाव विभाग का कहना है कि मतदान के अंत में प्राप्त रिपोर्टों के अनुसार, अम्पारा, बट्टिकलोआ और त्रिंकोमाली में अनुमानित मतदान लगभग 65 प्रतिशत, 55 प्रतिशत, 60 प्रतिशत था।


Colombia protesters: We're not scared anymore

Summary: Anti-government protests in Colombia entered their third week on Wednesday. The demonstrations were sparked by a government proposal to increase taxes as millions of people have seen their incomes shrink due to Covid. But they have continued for days even after the government withdrew its proposed tax plan.

By Manuel RuedaBogotá, Colombia Protest leaders say their demands now go much further and include calls for a basic income scheme, free tuition at public universities and a reform of the police. Forty-two people have been killed during the protests, according to Colombia's human rights ombudsman. Protesters spoke to the BBC about their reasons for keeping up the demonstrations, which are the largest to sweep through Colombia in decades. Yacila, political scientist There is a lot of discontent at the national level and it goes further than the issue of taxes. It's caused by all the injustices that have been taking place during the [Iván] Duque government and during previous governments. Hundreds of community leaders have been killed since the peace deal with the Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) was signed in 2016, including indigenous and black leaders. We have a poster here with the names of almost 300 former Farc fighters who were killed after laying down their weapons. On top of that what we are seeing is that when people come out to protest there is repression, so that just makes us want to continue to mobilise. I think that these protests should continue until people have satisfied their need to express their frustration with what is happening. Ramiro Velasco, art teacher I'm wearing a costume that represents death: it represents the massacres that have been occurring in Colombia under this government, the killings of community leaders in the countryside, deforestation, the growth of poverty and everything else related to death. At this moment there is a very strong lack of government in this country. The government has no clear plans on how to improve healthcare, it has let the peace deal with the Farc wither. For all those reasons, I'm here. We have to demand that the government do its job because at this moment they are making us an unviable country. They told us not to go out because we were going to get sick and we were going to die. But these demonstrations are proof that people are not scared anymore. We have to come out and express ourselves. Liliana Rodríguez, classical singer I'm showing my support for the protests by coming out here to sing opera. What you see people expressing here is general discontent. It's not just about a tax reform, or reform to the health system, and all the other laws. It's people showing the discontent that they have been feeling for a long time. Young people are especially frustrated because we study a lot, but we don't have a place to continue our careers afterwards. I used to sing for the choir at the Bogotá Philharmonic but that's just a youth choir. Now there is no choir where I can sing full-time, because in Colombia there are no choirs that pay professionals to sing. There's no work and things like food are more expensive now, there's government corruption, that's what makes people frustrated. The tax reform was just a fuse. But what is really going on is that we are tired of this bad governance we have. Ernesto Herrera, leader of the Santa Fé Football Club fan group We support these protests because we are victims of the state. We've had members killed by the police. Our youth have lots of needs that are not being met. There are drug addiction problems, economic problems, problems just not being recognised. But we want to get ahead and change things and have a different kind of government. We don't feel represented by politicians. But we want to sit down with them and show them that from our experience as football fans, we know what young people are going through. We have youth that need basic incomes, access to education, and need access to a decent healthcare system. Daniela Sánchez, hospital worker I am a clown, and I do laughing therapy for children in hospital as well as for older people with terminal illnesses. We decided to participate in these protests because we are fed up with inequality in this country. There are people in the countryside, and in cities, too, who can no longer afford three meals a day, people who have no access to education or to proper healthcare, we have seen that during our work as hospital clowns. The pandemic exposed the big differences between the rich and the poor in Colombia. It showed how many people have no access to the internet, for example, or how many people lack savings and need to work on the streets to eat. So I think this has to continue until the government shows remorse for its actions and hopefully it will show people that it is important to vote. We need to make good choices in next year's election. Miguel Morales, member of the Misak indigenous group This protest is not just about taxes. We are from the Cauca region, but we have about 200 families that have been here in Bogotá for 10 years because of the violence in our territories. We think that these protests must continue because the president must realise that his job is not to do what his party wants, or what [his mentor] former President Álvaro Uribe wants, but to carry out the will of the people. While he doesn't hold real conversations with the people the protests will continue. We have pulled down statues [of Spanish conquistadors] during the protests. These are symbolic acts of justice. In order for a country to live in peace, the histories of all its inhabitants must be heard. Wendy Monroy, student at a public university I was in the second semester of my teaching degree when the pandemic broke out. Classes got suspended for some weeks and then they adjusted things so that we would continue our studies online. I kept on studying but many of my fellow students dropped out. They dropped out because they had to work to support their families, because their parents didn't have money any more. So I'm here to ask for things like better healthcare but also to ask for better conditions for students. At my university, we haven't been able to go back to face-to-face classes yet. At private universities they're already having regular classes again, but that's because they have funds to take bio-security measures, simple things, like providing hand sanitizers, but at my university that hasn't been done. I believe that there are solutions for this country and we have to fight for that. These are the biggest protests I can remember. It shows that young people are willing to take control of this country and maybe in some years time, things can change.

कोलंबिया में सरकार विरोधी प्रदर्शन बुधवार को अपने तीसरे सप्ताह में प्रवेश कर गए। करों को बढ़ाने के सरकारी प्रस्ताव के कारण प्रदर्शन शुरू हो गए क्योंकि लाखों लोगों ने कोविड के कारण अपनी आय में कमी देखी है। लेकिन सरकार द्वारा अपनी प्रस्तावित कर योजना को वापस लेने के बाद भी वे कई दिनों तक जारी रहे हैं।


Who are the Pakistani group proposing to 'lightly beat' women?

Summary: A Pakistani group has come under fire for drafting a so-called women's protection bill that suggests a husband can "lightly beat" his wife to keep her in line. What is this body and does it have any real power? The BBC's M Ilyas Khan explains.

It is called the Council of Islamic Ideology Created by a military government in 1961, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is a 20-member constitutional body that advises the government on religious aspects of the law and society - but its recommendations are not binding. The constitution says CII members should be "well-qualified". It specifies that the council should have at least two retired judges, four members with a minimum of of 15 years of experience in Islamic research and teaching, and that members should have an "understanding of the economic, political, legal or administrative problems of Pakistan". In practice though, this definition has been stretched to include men from religious pressure groups whose careers have been limited to administering or teaching in religious seminaries where contemporary knowledge is looked down upon. So many of the CII's proposals have not been taken seriously by leaders. The proposal to 'lightly beat' women No stranger to controversy, the CII has faced unprecedented criticism as a result of the draft women's protection bill. Portions of the draft leaked to the media recommend a husband should be allowed to "lightly" beat his wife if, among other things, she refuses to dress properly or turns down overtures for sexual intercourse. It also prohibits female nurses from taking care of male patients, and bans the presence of women in receptions held for visiting foreign dignitaries. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah rejected the proposals, saying: "Islam does not allow any violence, whether against women or children." Lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir told Geo TV that the proposals amounted to "the humiliation of women". The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan termed the proposals "ridiculous", and recommended the abolition of the CII. So why did they come up with the recommendations? The CII proposals were a response to a women's protection law passed by the Punjab government in March. That law wanted to make it easier for female victims of domestic violence to report abuse, and introduced procedures to keep the perpetrator away from the victim until the dispute was resolved. The CII was opposed to the law, and declared it un-Islamic. The Punjab government has delayed enacting the law - even though the CII's rulings are not binding. The council has been issuing rulings for decades - with mixed results Pakistan Senator Farhatullah Babar says the group suggested, back in 1978, that the Pakistan flag carry the words "Allahu Akbar" (God is great). But nobody bothered to implement the ruling. In 1983, the CII ruled that political parties were contrary to the spirit of Islam, and that a presidential system was more Islamic than a parliamentary one. This suited the ruler at the time, General Zia, who then barred political parties from contesting elections in 1985. However, he stopped short of instituting a presidential system fearing wider political turmoil, In 1990s, the CII came up with another controversial ruling which successive governments have considered impractical. They declared monetary interest un-Islamic and suggested that it be replaced with a system of profit-sharing between banks and their depositors, by investing in businesses that are not run on interest-based loans. The ruling has not affected the banking system in Pakistan in any way except that interest is now called "mark-up" and some banks have set up separate desks of "Islamic banking" to cater to more "pious" depositors. But it has had some impact when it comes to family and society But while the CII has not been able to cut much ice with successive governments over matters of politics and finance, it has had more influence in matters concerning family life and social issues. In these areas, it has had the backing of some religious groups, as well as a sympathetic military. For example, in the mid-1970s, Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's secular government was forced to comply with the CII's ruling to ban alcohol after religious groups resorted to street violence in support of the decree. The CII has also thrown its weight behind groups that have discouraged parliamentarians from amending Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law. It has also made other 'recommendations' for women In January, a parliamentary committee dropped proposed legislation to increase the country's minimum marriageable age from 16 to 18, after the CII declared the move un-Islamic. The council has also been campaigning to lower the marriageable age to 12 and nine for males and females respectively, "provided there are visible signs of puberty". But successive governments have largely ignored that advice, so the minimum marriageable age in Pakistan has stayed at 16.

एक पाकिस्तानी समूह एक तथाकथित महिला संरक्षण विधेयक का मसौदा तैयार करने के लिए आलोचनाओं के घेरे में आ गया है, जिसमें कहा गया है कि एक पति अपनी पत्नी को कतार में रखने के लिए उसे "हल्के से पीट" सकता है। यह शरीर क्या है और क्या इसमें कोई वास्तविक शक्ति है? बीबीसी के एम इलियास खान बताते हैं।


Crufts' best in show won by poodle named Ricky

Summary: A poodle named Ricky has been judged this year's best-in-show at Crufts.

The two-year-old standard poodle beat six other best-in-group winners in the final event of the annual competition, which had more than 21,000 entrants. After the event at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre, Ricky's handler Jason Lynn, from Preston in Lancashire, spoke of his pride, and said Ricky would now be retired. A samoyed breed of dog named Dan the Man was runner-up on Sunday night.

रिकी नामक एक पूडल को क्रूफ्ट्स में इस साल के सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन के लिए चुना गया है।


Islamic State: 'Jihadi John''s background typical yet distinct

Summary: The background of "Jihadi John" - in an Arab family from west London - links him to a distinct cluster of British militants, writes Shiraz Maher, a senior fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London.

The identity of Syria's best-known jihadist is finally out: Mohammed Emwazi, better known as "Jihadi John", has been revealed as a former West London resident. He is middle class and well educated, which chimes with a lot of our research. Radicalisation is not principally driven by poverty or social deprivation. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of British individuals who go to Syria are from high-achieving backgrounds. The most interesting revelation about Emwazi is that he travelled to Syria in 2013 when the conflict looked very different to the way it does today. At that time the majority of British fighters did not join Islamic State (IS). Instead, they joined lesser known groups which were more focused on fighting President Bashar al-Assad. Around this time it is known that a group of fighters of Arab and North African origin travelled to Syria from West London. Many of them were connected to gangs and engaged in criminality. This is a distinct cluster given that the majority of fighters from Britain are typically of South Asian ethnic origin. Over time, IS has absorbed a number of different groups and fighters who are keen to join its success. It is likely that Emwazi travelled along a similar trajectory, as so many other European fighters have done. He has clearly actively sought to reduce his digital footprint on social media. This is not that surprising. It is exactly what would be expected of someone who has been a major asset to IS. Emwazi is confident, eloquent and self-assured. He is the ideal frontman to deliver the IS message in the dramatic videos for which it has become known. Fighters in Syria often try to hide their identity by wearing masks and adopting pseudonyms. The fact that Emwazi's identity has been revealed demonstrates that, despite the precautions taken by them, their names will eventually leak out. Emwazi is not the first foreign fighter to have been outed - and he will not be the last. This will not affect how IS operates but it may well deliver a psychological blow because of the lengths they have gone to in order to shield him from the limelight.

किंग्स कॉलेज लंदन में इंटरनेशनल सेंटर फॉर द स्टडी ऑफ रेडिकलाइजेशन के एक वरिष्ठ फेलो शिराज मेहर लिखते हैं कि पश्चिमी लंदन के एक अरब परिवार में "जिहादी जॉन" की पृष्ठभूमि उसे ब्रिटिश आतंकवादियों के एक अलग समूह से जोड़ती है।


Man shot in legs in Turf Lodge in west Belfast

Summary: A man has been shot three times in the legs in west Belfast.

The 37-year-old victim was walking in the Downfine Walk area of the Turf Lodge estate when he was approached by two men near the Holy Trinity Centre. They dragged him through an alleyway before shooting him once in each calf and once in the thigh. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The attack happened at about 18:30 GMT on Friday. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them. A 15-year-old boy was shot in the leg in the nearby Ballymurphy estate on Thursday morning. SDLP Councillor Tim Attwood said: "This is the second vicious gun attack in west Belfast in two days, following the shooting of a teenager in Ballymurphy on Thursday. "The cowardly men, wearing hoods, engaged in these attacks have no place in our community. "Everybody who believes in human rights and justice must condemn these attacks and give their unequivocal backing to the PSNI in their efforts to police our communities."

पश्चिम बेलफास्ट में एक व्यक्ति के पैरों में तीन बार गोली लगी है।


Enfield fatal shooting: Three men arrested over killing

Summary: A man has been found shot dead in the street in north London.

The victim died at the scene in Enfield, after Met Police officers responded to reports he had suffered a gunshot wound on St Joseph's Road, at about 22:10 GMT on Tuesday. Scotland Yard said three men - aged 17, 19 and 24 - had been arrested on suspicion of murder. A cordon has been put in place at the scene and is expected to be in place for some time, the Met said. Det Ch Insp Gary Holmes said the police were "particularly keen to hear from anyone who has information that could assist in identifying the victim who is a light skinned, possibly mixed race, black male aged around 20 years". The BBC has calculated that the death is the 131st homicide in the capital so far this year. Most killings in London involved knives BBC Research. Map built using Carto It means London's raw homicide rate has climbed to its highest level since 2008. Speaking to BBC Radio London on Tuesday evening, Sadiq Khan said he "probably will" be raising council tax to pay for more policing. It follows an announcement by the Home Office, that police and crime commissioners will be allowed to raise council tax for fund more officers.

उत्तरी लंदन की सड़क पर एक व्यक्ति की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी गई है।


Staffordshire bull terriers: A question of class?

Summary: Research by BBC News shows Staffordshire bull terriers are the third most popular dog in the UK. But why are they considered by some as the "chav dog" of choice and what does this tell us about British attitudes to class?

By Lauren PottsBBC News Bred originally as fighting dogs, the reputation of the Staffordshire bull terrier often precedes it. And when the BBC's Dog Map appeared on 18 January, a fierce debate broke out on social media. Painted by many as aggressive, vicious and worthy of a place on the "dangerous dogs" list, every negative view was in turn met by a barrage of positive praise citing the breed's loyalty and affectionate character. "No surprise to see Staffies popular in big cities where gangs of chavs live and people use them to guard homes," said one user. "The usual brush is tarring the Staffy," said another. "I'm not a chav and neither are the good people I know that also own Staffs." So why do the dogs have such a negative reputation? And why do we judge in the first place? "They're one of those breeds that has a negative stigma attached to them and one of those is around 'chav culture'," said Dr Thomas Fletcher, a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. "You hear stories about dangerous dogs and [people] being mauled and a pattern emerges about the type of breed that's [involved]. "Staffies do have a particularly bad reputation, but it is important to recognise that those we hear about represent the minority of the breed. I think it's as much to do with the owner. Animals are individuals and I think it's very much about nurture over nature." Dr Fletcher recently completed a study with dog-walkers about the relationships between humans and animals. Staffordshire bull terrier facts "The majority of coverage of Staffies represents them as the dog of choice among certain groups - white working class youths - or 'chavs' - being one of those," adds Dr Fletcher. "Rarely are Staffies portrayed in a domestic setting - i.e., in 'normal' family life. "Staffies come with a degree of baggage in that respect as they have emerged as a modern-day folk devil. Their reputation then may demarcate boundaries between social groups. Again, these boundaries may be defined along class lines. "But equally there are dogs that can be a marker of other [traits], like sexuality. "It comes down to social norms and the expectations - who should be walking the dog and what we associate with certain people, than the breed itself. "If a gang turned up with a dachshund it wouldn't have the same impact." Elvira Meucci, campaigns director for the Dogs Trust, said dog choice and image extended beyond Staffies and "chav culture". "There's no doubt that you're saying something about your personality [with your dog]," she said. "Staffordshire bull terriers are powerful-looking dogs and therefore they can be used to portray their owners as strong and macho, just as a Chihuahua is the choice of girls who want to look trendy. "If you look back at how dogs have been used, it does change. [At one time] it was Dobermans, because they're big and powerful dogs and that makes a statement." Staffordshire bull terriers are not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, but are often confused with banned breeds like pit bulls, Ms Meucci added. That being said, Staffies have made headlines for aggressive acts. In 2011 a girl's pet Chihuahua was mauled to death by four Staffies while a dog owner was given a suspended sentenced in 2013 after his dog decapitated another dog. The same year, teenager Jade Anderson was killed after she was attacked by four dogs in Greater Manchester, two of which were Staffordshire bull terriers. But Coroner Alan Walsh told her inquest the problem was not specific breeds, but the control of dogs in general. According to microchipping data, 356,000 Staffies have been tagged in the past decade by pet registration companies. The statistics perhaps fly in the face of concerns that Staffies should be given a wide berth. But being the dog de jour is a double-edged sword, with over-breeding, a saturated market and owners who do not commit long term contributing to the number of Staffies ending up in shelters. In 2013 more than a third of the dogs that came through the doors of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home were Staffordshire bull terriers. Bill Lambert, from the Kennel Club, said Staffies are not naturally aggressive and were one of the only breeds it recommended as suitable around children. "We have seen enormous growth in the popularity of Staffordshire bull terriers in the last 20 years and there's no doubt that some of that has come about because of an increase in status dogs," he said. "However, the fact is that they're a dog that doesn't deserve the image it's been given. They need a lot of socialising when they're puppies, but that's down to the owners. "Any dog can be trained to be a bad dog, just as they can trained to be a good dog."

बीबीसी न्यूज द्वारा किए गए शोध से पता चलता है कि स्टैफोर्डशायर बैल टेरियर ब्रिटेन में तीसरा सबसे लोकप्रिय कुत्ता है। लेकिन कुछ लोग उन्हें पसंद का "चाव कुत्ता" क्यों मानते हैं और यह हमें वर्ग के प्रति ब्रिटिश दृष्टिकोण के बारे में क्या बताता है?


Is Japan playing hunger games with climate change?

Summary: The impact of rising temperatures on the world's food supplies is a key issue for climate experts meeting in Japan. But food security is not just about developing countries. As environment correspondent Matt McGrath reports, a changing climate is one of a number of issues pushing Japan towards a food crisis.

By Matt McGrathEnvironment correspondent, BBC News, Yokohama, Japan In the historic Ueno Park in the middle of Tokyo, seemingly normal people are earnestly staring at trees. They are waiting for the first signs of cherry blossom, a spring event of special importance to the Japanese, who will turn out in their thousands to sit under the scented branches and drink themselves squiffy in a custom called Hanami. But bear hugs from drunken businessmen are a minor threat to the cherries compared to a warming world, according to research. "There are already reports that the cherry trees are not doing as well as they usually do because the climate is changing," said long time Tokyo resident Martin Frid, who works on food safety issues for the Consumer's Union of Japan. "They are blossoming at different times, there is now more irregularity." Because of their cultural significance, the appearance of the blossoms has been recorded in some parts of Japan for over a thousand years. These records have enabled scientists to work out the impact of global warming on the trees: In recent years they've been blossoming about four days earlier than the long term average. Experts fear that under some warming scenarios, it could be a fortnight earlier by the end of this century. While Japan could cope with this change, other impacts of rising temperatures may impose more significant costs. At his small farm near the city of Ishioka, an hour from Tokyo, Michio Uozumi proudly shows me an inked drawing he made, when starting his organic operation nearly 20 years ago. It's filled with loving details of compost heaps and free ranging chickens. But his sense of humour shines through, with an illustration of Brazilian soccer stars Pele and Zico, starring on top of one of the pages. Michio has made most of his field of dreams come true, building a successful small holding and becoming vice president of the Japanese Organic Agriculture Association. He has also seen changes in the climate first hand. "Recent early autumns are still summer, with high temperatures," he says. "Our spinach and other leaves were being hit by insects. We now have to delay their planting by two weeks." The changes being seen by Michio are likely to become more pronounced according to predictions being discussed this week by scientists at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Yokohama. While much of their report is still under wraps, some of the details contained in the chapter on crop yields have been published in a peer reviewed journal in recent weeks. "We conducted the analysis for the chapter," explains Prof Andy Challoner of Leeds University, one of the IPCC authors. "But the peer review took a long time, and we were unable to cite it in any way in the chapter, but the numbers are the same." These numbers, relating to rice, maize and wheat are pretty sobering. "The aggregate effect is now negative for even a degree or two of warming, which wasn't the case for the 2007 IPCC report," said Prof Challoner. "Where before we thought there were going to be benefits from a degree or two of warming, this is not the case with the latest data. If anything, we are talking about losing about 5% of yields on average." Some places will be hit more than others. With populations rising in Africa, the IPCC identify crop productivity there as a key risk. Much can be done to adapt, says the report. In the near term, with significant efforts and resources, a medium to high risk in many African states can be turned into a low one. However, wealthier countries could also be facing food risks from climate change that they are not fully aware of, and not taking steps to address. "The whole food system (in Japan) is not secure at all, "said Dr Raquel Moreno Penaranda, from the United Nations University in Yokohama. Japan imports more than 60% of the calories it consumes, she says. Affluence allows Japan to buy from world markets without concern, but climate change could alter that very quickly. "We don't know how long these countries are willing to export cheap food to Japan. If that situation changes, you will need to find new suppliers, fast," she explains. Consumers have also lost trust in the authorities since the Fukushima disaster and several Chinese food scares. Japanese farmers are getting older and their numbers are declining. "I think we are facing a crisis unless we do something. I think we need a fundamental change in the minds of consumers," says Martin Frid from the Consumers Union of Japan. "One of the solutions here in Japan is local consumption; local production, where consumers come and help out on the farm and bring their kids." Back in Ishiko, Michio Uozumi shows me box after box of musty leaves and other forest litter, painstakingly collected by hand from nearby woods. Containing large amounts of microbes and trace elements, Michio and his family turn the leaves into a dense, warming compost from which they grow a wide range of vegetables all year round. And it cuts their electricity bills to boot. "The natural organism's power is more powerful than electricity. Many other farmers heat their vegetables but we don't. We refuse to use that, we use our traditional, intelligent and scientific system," he tells me. Michio's leaves are in fact gathered by some of the 100 consumers who share some of his workload in return for supplies of vegetables and other products. Avoiding the internet and shunning farmers' markets, Michio's consumers, quite literally have to get their hands dirty to avail of his produce. "Everyone should contribute something, it is very natural," he explains. "I suggest to the consumer you should have your own farm, in your farmer. It's about relationships." Back in Ueno Park in Tokyo, young people are already sitting under the cherry trees, even if the blossoms haven't quite appeared. Martin Frid takes inspiration from the next generation that the challenges of providing enough to eat in a warming world can be met. "Kids in Japan don't grow up wanting a car anymore, car ownership among young people is going down, partly because of the environment and the climate," he says. "The car industry is having a lot of problems, because young people don't see it as a trendy thing to do." So the key is to make these tough choices somewhat fashionable. Will that work for food I ask? "Yes," he says. "It's cool to farm."

दुनिया की खाद्य आपूर्ति पर बढ़ते तापमान का प्रभाव जापान में जलवायु विशेषज्ञों की बैठक के लिए एक प्रमुख मुद्दा है। लेकिन खाद्य सुरक्षा केवल विकासशील देशों के बारे में नहीं है। जैसा कि पर्यावरण संवाददाता मैट मैकग्राथ ने बताया है, बदलती जलवायु जापान को खाद्य संकट की ओर धकेलने वाले कई मुद्दों में से एक है।


Remembering the days of 'frugal but healthy' meals

Summary: A Mori poll commissioned for a BBC investigation found the majority of Scots no longer cook for themselves, with more than half (55%) relying on ready meals or takeaways at least three times a week. Catherine Brown, author of Scottish Cookery, tells the BBC how the Scottish diet has changed over the decades.

"For dinner at one o'clock there was a plateful of thick meat and vegetable broth. Maybe a ham bone with lentils or the stock from a boiling chicken thickened with leeks and rice. Scotch Broth came with pearl barley and a piece of flank of beef or mutton. Always a small amount of the cheapest cut of meat. Fresh vegetables such as carrot, turnip, onion, leek and parsley were always a feature, as was some cereal. Always a warming meal-in-a-plate. Meat and potatoes were for Sundays. Perhaps an oxtail stew, tender meat sliding of its own accord from the sculptured bones left on the plate. Or it might be a plateful of rich brown oniony mince topped with misshapen mounds of fluffy suet dumplings instead of potatoes. Sometimes it was a plateful of chewy tripe surrounding a mound of mealy tatties. These were the dishes we ate at midday. All slow-cooked in the large pot which sat on a coal-fired, iron range in the cramped East End tenement kitchen of my Glasgow grandmother in the 1950s. Through two World Wars, and a depression which hit the urban population badly, I realise now how remarkable it was that she still hung on to these old Scots frugal but healthy eating habits. Her Highland counterpart did things differently. In the seven crofting counties where the rural population practiced self-sufficiency, meat was also a scarce item, eaten sparingly. For their Scotch barley broth, a small piece of their own salt mutton released its unique flavour. Their broth was also less meat than vegetable, their method the same. The tough cuts, with lots of bone and sinewy muscle, were simmered and stewed over the slow-burning peat fire in the big pot till tender and falling apart. Then the meat was cut up finely for adding later. If a less tough cut had been used, this was sliced and eaten separately, often with oatcakes or bannocks. Vegetables - mostly carrots, turnips, onion, leeks - might be joined at the end with finely chopped kale or nettles. In an age of fast and highly-processed food, this method of extracting maximum flavour from slow cooking with the minimum of fuel has several assets. But its greatest is that it ticks both the low-calorie and the high food value boxes. A sugary drink might provide an instant energy burst, but meals-in-plates from pots of broth have the power to sustain life." BBC Scotland Investigates: Scotland the Fat will be shown on BBC1 Scotland on Thursday 15 August, at 20:00, and for a week afterwards on the BBC iPlayer.

बीबीसी की जाँच के लिए किए गए एक सर्वेक्षण में पाया गया कि अधिकांश स्कॉट्स अब अपने लिए खाना नहीं बनाते हैं, आधे से अधिक (55 प्रतिशत) सप्ताह में कम से कम तीन बार तैयार भोजन या खाने पर निर्भर रहते हैं। स्कॉटिश कुकरी की लेखिका कैथरीन ब्राउन बीबीसी को बताती हैं कि दशकों में स्कॉटिश आहार कैसे बदल गया है।


Minimum pricing could see own-brand spirits rise by £3 a bottle

Summary: Scotland's supermarkets will have to increase the prices of some own-brand spirits by as much as £3 when minimum pricing becomes law next week.

A look at the big six supermarkets showed vodka and gin being sold for as little as £10 for a 70cl bottle. The new minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol would mean vodka could not be sold for less than £13.13 for a 70cl bottle and whisky would be £14. Large packs of beer, strong cider and some wine would also be affected. The cost of large bottles of cider at most supermarkets would more than double. The major supermarkets have been selling Tennent's lager, Carling and Carlsberg for as little as £10 for 20 large cans. Under the new law, which comes into effect on 1 May, 20 cans of 440ml lager at 4% abv (alcohol by volume) strength would have to cost at least £17.60 - or 88p a can. The new pricing scheme is designed to deter super-cheap alcohol such as strong cider, which can cost less than a bottle of cola, and cheap own-brand spirits. The new law is not a tax and does not generate income for the government. Instead its aims it to reduce the availability of cheap alcohol by setting a floor price. With the minimum price for a pint (568ml) of beer (4% abv) being about £1.14 and large glass of wine about £1.50, the move is unlikely to affect pubs and restaurants. But the snapshot study of alcohol being sold at branches of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl in Glasgow this week shows they currently sell a range of booze for below the minimum alcohol threshold. Ask about... Share this chatbot How minimum pricing works You can work out how many units there are in any drink by multiplying the total volume of a drink (in ml) by its ABV (Alcohol by volume - measured as a percentage) and dividing the result by 1,000. A bottle of 70cl (700ml) vodka at 37.5% abv is 26.25 units. At 50p per unit of alcohol that means a minimum price of £13.13. A two litre bottle of strong cider at 7.5% abv is 15 units of alcohol and should cost £7.50. How much will your booze rise by? In the week before the minimum pricing law was due to come into force, BBC Scotland news website undertook research on the price of alcohol in Scotland's leading supermarkets. Here are the results. Vodka All the supermarkets were selling vodka that was below the minimum price threshold. Aldi - Tamova vodka £9.99 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Aldi - Glens vodka £10.49 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Asda - Smirnoff vodka £12 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Asda - Select Vodka £10.50 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Tesco - Grain vodka - £11 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Lidl - Glen's vodka - £9.99 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Morrisons - Imperial vodka - £11 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Morrisons - Smirnoff vodka - £16 for 1 litre at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £18.75 Sainsbury's - Smirnoff vodka - £16 for 1 litre at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £18.75 Whisky The whisky industry was the main opponent of minimum pricing. Although the more expensive whiskies will not be affected, there are many whisky brands that will need to raise their prices or will be restricted in how much they can discount their spirits. Aldi - Castle and Crag whisky - £10.99 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Aldi - Highland Earl whisky - £11.49 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Asda - Famous Grouse whisky - £12 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Asda - Own brand Blended Scotch Whisky - £11.25 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Tesco - Bells Scotch whisky - £13 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Tesco - Whyte and Mackay - £12 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Tesco- Own brand special reserve - £12.50 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Lidl - Single grain Scotch - £10.99 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Sainsbury's - Famous Grouse - £13 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Sainsbury's - Whyte and Mackay - £12 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Sainsbury's - Basic Scotch - £11.60 for 70cl at 40% abv - new minimum price £14 Many whiskies are sold in larger 1 litre bottles Tesco - Grants Scotch whisky - £16 for 1 litre at 40% abv - new minimum price £20 Lidl - Queen Margot whisky - £14.99 for 1 litre at 40% abv - new minimum price £20 Morrisons - Label 5 blended Scotch whisky - £16 for 1 litre at 40% abv - new minimum price £20 Morrisons - Bells Scotch whisky - £16 for 1 litre at 40% abv - new minimum price £20 Morrisons - Whyte and Mackay - £16 for 1 litre at 40% abv - new minimum price £20 Wine The minimum price of a bottle of wine will vary depending on the strength. A 12% bottle of 750ml red wine will be a minimum of £4.50. The majority of supermarket wines are above that price but there are some that are lower. Asda - Rich and Ripe red wine £3.19 for 750ml at 13% abv - new minimum price £4.88 Asda - Shiraz £4.18 for 750ml at 13.5% abv - new minimum price £5.06 Asda - White wine £3.50 for 750ml at 11.5% abv - new minimum price £4.31 Tesco - Zesty white wine £3.65 for 750ml at 11% abv - new minimum price £4.13 Tesco - Chardonnay £4.15 for 750ml at 12.5% abv - new minimum price £4.69 Tesco - Merlot £4.25 for 750ml at 12.5% abv - new minimum price £4.69 Aldi - Crisp white wine £3.49 for 750ml at 10.5% abv- new minimum price £3.94 Aldi - Red wine Merlot £3.59 for 750ml at 13% abv - new minimum price £4.88 Lidl- Table wine £3.19 for 750ml at 11% abv - new minimum price £4.13 Lidl - Chardonnay £3.49 for 750ml at 11.5% abv - new minimum price £4.31 Lidl - Pinot Grigio £3.89 for 750ml at 12% abv - new minimum price £4.50 Lidl - Cabernet Sauvignon £3.99 for 750ml at 14% abv - new minimum price £5.25 Morrisons - Chardonnay £4.25 for 750ml at 13% abv - new minimum price £4.88 Morrisons - Fresh Australian wine £4 for 750ml at 12.5% abv - new minimum price £4.59 Morrisons - South African red £3.75 for 750ml at 13.5% abv - new minimum price £5.06 Sainsbury's - Wollemi Shiraz £4.35 for 750ml at 12.5% abv - new minimum price £4.69 Sainsbury's Castillo Du Lagomar £4 for 750ml at 10% abv - new minimum price £3.75 Wine boxes Boxes of wine are not as popular as they once were and could become even less so when their price rises Asda - Box of 2.25 litres of Chardonnay at 12.5% abv for £8 - new minimum price £14.06 Asda - Box of 2.25 litres of Shiraz at 13% abv for £12.50 - new minimum price £14.65 Lidl - Box of 3 litres of Pinotage Cabernet Sauvignon at 14% abv for £14.65 - new minimum price £21 Morrisons - Box of 2.25 litres Merlot at 12.5% abv for £12.50 - new minimum price £14.06 Sainsbury's - Box of 2.25 litres Sauvignon Blanc at 12.5% abv for £12.80 - new minimum price £14.06 Beer cans Cans are usually cheaper than bottles and it is the large packs of cans that will be most affected. Aldi - 12 cans of Hendry's Scottish 440ml lager at 4.1% abv for £6.29 - new minimum price £10.82 Asda - 20 cans of Tennent's 440 ml lager at 4% abv for £10 - new minimum price £17.60 Asda - 18 cans of Carling 440ml lager at 4% abv for £12 - new minimum price £15.84 Asda - 20 cans of Carlsberg 440ml lager at 3.8% abv for £12 - new minimum price £16.72 Tesco - 15 cans of Tennent's 440ml lager at 4% abv for £12 - new minimum price £13.20 Tesco 18 cans of Carling 440ml lager at 4% abv for £12 - new minimum price £15.84 Lidl - 12 cans of Tennent's 440ml lager at 4% abv for £8 - new minimum price £10.56 Morrisons - Tennent's - 20 cans of 440ml lager at 4% abv for £10 - new minimum price £17.60 Beer bottles Some offers on bottled beer may also fall under the minimum price. Aldi - Brassiere premium 10 bottles of 250ml lager at 4% abv for £3.29 - new minimum price £5 Tesco - Stella Artois - 20 bottles of 284ml lager at 4.8% abv for £11 - new minimum price £13.63 Tesco - Becks - 20 bottles of 275ml lager at 4.8% abv for £12.50 - new minimum price £13.20 Tesco - Budweiser - 15 bottles of 300ml lager at 4.5% abv for £9 - new minimum price £10.13 Morrisons - Stella Artois - 12 bottles of 330ml at 4.8% abv for £8 - new minimum price £9.50 Morrisons - Budweiser - 20 bottles of 300ml at 4.5% abv for £12 - new minimum price £13.50 Sainsbury's - Kronenburg 1664 - 15 bottles of 275ml lager at 5% abv for £9.50 - new minimum price £10.31 Cider Superstrength cider (7.5%) was one of the targets of the new law. However, under pressure from campaigners, most supermarkets no longer sell large bottles of strong cider. They do sell normal strength (5%) in two litre bottles for as little as £1.99 in Aldi and Lidl. This will rise to £5 under the new minimum price rules. Aldi - Taurus cider - 2 litres at 5% abv - £1.99 - new minimum price £5 Asda - Premium dry cider - 2 litres at 4.7% abv - £2.30 - new minimum price £4.70 Asda - Scrumpy cloudy cider - 2 litres at 7.5% abv - £4.55 - new minimum price £7.50 Tesco - Crofter's Apple Cider - 2 litres at 5% abv - £2.05 - new minimum price £5 Lidl - Woodgate's Apple Cider - 2 litres at 5% abv - £1.99 - new minimum price £5 Morrisons - Medium Dry Cider - 2.5 litres at 5% abv - £3 - new minimum price £6.25 Gin Like whisky and vodka, cheap gin will be heavily affected by the change. Asda - Gordon's gin - £12 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Tesco - £11 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Aldi - £9.99 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Lidl - £9.99 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Sainsbury's - Basics London Gin - £10.50 for 70cl at 37.5% abv - new minimum price £13.13 Morrisons - Gordon's gin - £16 for 1 litre at 37.5% - new minimum price £18.75 Alcopops Alcopops are not particularly strong and are usually fairly high-priced and will not usually be affected. Asda - WKD blue - £2 for 70cl at 4% abv - minimum price £1.40 Buckfast tonic wine Buckfast is often mentioned as one of the drinks associated with antisocial behaviour. However, at 15% abv for a 750ml bottle it's minimum price of £5.63 is lower than its usual retail price.

स्कॉटलैंड के सुपरमार्केट को अगले सप्ताह न्यूनतम मूल्य निर्धारण कानून बनने पर कुछ स्वयं के ब्रांड वाले स्पिरिट की कीमतों में 3 पाउंड तक की वृद्धि करनी होगी।


Baby for Sir Bryn Terfel and harpist Hannah Stone

Summary: Opera star Bryn Terfel has had a daughter with his fiancee, former Prince of Wales harpist Hannah Stone, their agent has confirmed.

The baby girl is a fourth child for Sir Bryn, 51, who has three sons from his first marriage to Lesley Jones. The singer from Pant Glas, Gwynedd, and Ms Stone, 30, began a relationship in 2014 and got engaged last year. Ms Stone, from Swansea, served as the official harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2011 to 2015.

ओपेरा स्टार ब्रायन टर्फेल की अपनी मंगेतर, पूर्व प्रिंस ऑफ वेल्स हार्पिस्ट हन्ना स्टोन के साथ एक बेटी हुई है, उनके एजेंट ने पुष्टि की है।


Birmingham park stabbing: Boy, 15, denies attempted murder

Summary: A 15-year-old boy has denied a charge of attempted murder after a teenager was stabbed multiple times in a park.

The victim, 14, was injured in Burbury Park in Lozells, Birmingham, on 13 April, and taken to hospital, said West Midlands Police. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at Birmingham Crown Court earlier. A trial has been scheduled to start on 6 December. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Related Internet Links HM Courts & Tribunals Service

एक 15 वर्षीय लड़के ने एक पार्क में एक किशोर को कई बार चाकू मारने के बाद हत्या के प्रयास के आरोप से इनकार किया है।


Relaxing visa rules for doctors and nurses

Summary: A letter to the prime minister from leading health think tanks is the latest plea for a rethink on visa rules that have affected NHS recruitment from outside the European Union. They argue that the NHS workforce is "facing a crisis" with shortages of key staff.

Hugh PymHealth editor@BBCHughPymon Twitter The chief executives of the King's Fund, the Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation have come together to make a joint submission to Downing Street ahead of the much-anticipated long-term plan for the NHS promised by Theresa May. A policy aimed at limiting the number of skilled workers from outside the EU has been criticised by employers. An annual cap of 20,700 has led to thousands of workers, including NHS staff, being denied visas. The BBC revealed that visas for 100 Indian doctors had been refused. They had been offered short-term contracts as part of a long-running scheme in the north-west of England that provides junior doctors to more than 20 NHS trusts. Another BBC investigation showed that genetic counsellors, who identify people at risk of hereditary cancer and other serious conditions, were being turned down for visas even though there were workforce shortages. The Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said he will review the visa system for skilled workers, after lobbying by some cabinet ministers. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme he was aware of the difficulties with NHS recruitment. "I see the problem with that. It is something I'm taking a fresh look at," he said. The think tanks' joint letter says there are "worrying shortages of nurses, GPs and hospital doctors". It adds: "There is no option but to recruit more staff from overseas and to relax controls on visas. "Nurses and some other health professionals, like radiographers, are on a shortage-occupation list, which means they are given priority in allocation of visas. "But most doctors are not. And there has been a campaign by health employers to put all medical jobs on the shortage list or to take all NHS jobs temporarily out of the visa system." The think tank Global Future has produced analysis looking at the extent to which the NHS relies on overseas workers. It says: Longer term, the lobbyists say, there needs to be a 10-year workforce strategy. And this must be given top priority and go "hand-in-hand" with the new funding settlement. They also call for real-terms funding increases of 4% per year. Anything less, they say, will compromise patient care and delay critical repairs to hospital buildings. NHS leaders, in what looks like a planned campaign, have united behind the 4% per year figure. They fear that anything closer to 3%, which ministers may want to trumpet as a significant boost to NHS finances, won't allow any improvement to current shortcomings in the system, such as rising waiting lists. They are up against the Treasury, which has wider issues to deal with in the public finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has noted that making a chunky new investment in the NHS will have to be accommodated in the government's plan to balance the books by the mid-2020s. "Unless it is able and willing to implement tax rises or further cuts to the social security budget over the rest of this Parliament, it is hard to see how a significant injection of additional cash into the NHS would be consistent with the government's stated fiscal objective," it says. The uncertainty over the path of the economy and future borrowing requirements, adds the IFS, will make the Treasury even more cautious. Expectation around the government's long-term NHS funding plan has been growing by the day. And now added to the calls for higher year-on-year spending are the demands for changes to immigration rules for health workers. That's a lot for Theresa May to think about.

यूरोपीय संघ के बाहर से एन. एच. एस. भर्ती को प्रभावित करने वाले वीजा नियमों पर पुनर्विचार करने के लिए प्रमुख स्वास्थ्य चिंतकों का प्रधान मंत्री को एक पत्र नवीनतम अनुरोध है। उनका तर्क है कि एन. एच. एस. कार्यबल प्रमुख कर्मचारियों की कमी के साथ "संकट का सामना कर रहा है"।