Australian bushfires fan global warming debate

Summary: Australia has been battling unseasonably bad bushfires for weeks. The flames have destroyed hundreds of homes - and have also intensified a political debate about whether there is a link with global warming.

By Jon DonnisonBBC News, Sydney Australia's Blue Mountains get their name from the eucalyptus trees that coat their slopes. On a warm day the sun heats up the oils in the trees' vibrant green leaves. As those oils evaporate into the atmosphere it gives the range a shimmering blue hue. For much of this week though the Blue Mountains were more a shade of grey, cloaked in smoke, the air acrid and woody. And of course there is no smoke without fire. These have been the most devastating bushfires New South Wales has seen in decades Tens of thousands of hectares have been burned. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed - and they are still burning. In the small community of Winmalee, an hour's drive from Sydney, I looked on as Chris Muller stood, head in hands, in front of what was left of her house. And what was left was pretty much nothing. A once-beautiful property looking out over the bush reduced to little more than rubble, twisted metal and ash. Many of the houses on the suburban street had suffered the same fate. Chris's daughter, picking through the debris, tried to cheer up her mother. "Look mum," she shouted, holding up a few metal spoons and an old blue coffee pot. "I guess we are all still here, that is the main thing," Chris said, before heading off to start again from scratch. A local sports club was transformed into a disaster welfare centre offering food and advice to those who had lost their homes. Families could be seen poring over long to-do lists. The question was surely, where to begin? Of course, Australians are used to the threat from bushfires. And there have been much more deadly ones than these. More than 170 people were killed in 2009 in the "Black Saturday" fires in the state of Victoria. But this year the fires have come unusually early after unseasonably hot weather. It is still only spring here. The full heat of summer is months away. And according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, they follow the country's hottest year on record. It has given these fires a political edge. Environmentalists have referred to Australia as the Petri dish of climate change, a place where the global warming "experiment" is actuality being tested out in reality. Australia's new conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sometimes seemed reluctant to accept that view. Mr Abbott, a volunteer firefighter himself who gave up his day job to man the hoses on occasion this week, once described the science behind human-induced climate change as "absolute crap". He's since refined that opinion and now accepts global warming is happening. But this week he was quick to dismiss comments from a senior United Nations official who had linked the fires to the changing climate. "She's talking through her hat," Mr Abbott said, saying that fire had always been part of the Australian experience. He listed a whole host of major fires across the country stretching back more than a century. His comments drew the ire of environmentalists. The former US vice president and climate change campaigner, Al Gore, said denying the link between this week's fires and global warming was like claiming smoking didn't cause lung cancer. People like Gore, a Nobel laureate, are already dismayed that since coming to power last month, Mr Abbott has pledged to dismantle Australia's carbon tax. The tax introduced last year by the Labor government makes the country's biggest polluters pay for the amount of greenhouse gases they produce. Instead the prime minister favours what he calls "direct action", giving businesses financial incentives to adopt green technology if they choose to. Within days of taking office he shut down the country's Climate Commission, set up to compile scientific research into the issue. All this has put the prime minister at odds with environmentalists. It is a divisive issue in Australia, but up in the Blue Mountains most people I spoke to this week tended to side with Mr Abbott. This year's fires were "all part of the cycle," Col McDonnell told me as he prepared to defend his farmhouse while thick white smoke billowed from the hillside behind him. He said fires like this had been going on throughout the ages and that it was just part of living in the bush. If the fire season continues as it has started, the heat of the argument over the causes is also likely to intensify. From Our Own Correspondent: Listen online or download the podcast. BBC Radio 4: Saturdays at 11:30 and some Thursdays at 11:00 BBC World Service: Short editions Monday-Friday - see World Service programme schedule.

ऑस्ट्रेलिया कई हफ्तों से जंगलों में लगी भीषण आग से जूझ रहा है। आग की लपटों ने सैकड़ों घरों को नष्ट कर दिया है-और इस बारे में राजनीतिक बहस भी तेज कर दी है कि क्या इसका ग्लोबल वार्मिंग से कोई संबंध है।


Autumn heatwave takes England by storm

Summary: England is in the grip of a late September heatwave.

After another poor summer, temperatures have soared to almost 28C (82.4F) and are expected to carry on getting higher over the weekend. The top temperature seen in England on Wednesday was in Gravesend, Kent, where it reached 27.1C (80.78F). The Met Office said the hot weather was caused by a high pressure system pushing warm air north across France and towards the UK. The high pressure is holding rain and wind coming in from the Atlantic away from the west. Heatwave to continue Paul Mott, meteorologist for MeteoGroup, the Press Association's weather arm, said the top temperatures would continue over the weekend. "We are still on for some exceptionally warm weather, temperatures will probably reach 28C (82.4F) over the London area," he said. "Central and eastern England could reach up to 27C (80.6F), so it is very warm indeed. "That is a good 10C to 11C (18F to 20F) warmer than what we would expect for this time of year." Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to high-20s until next Tuesday. In Northumberland, a lamb has been born early and a field of about 100 sunflowers have blossomed near Bamburgh castle. However no records have yet been set, temperatures exceeded 28C (82F) on 21 September 2006 and the all-time high in the month of 30.6C (87F) was achieved in Hampshire in 1895. Hotel chain Travelodge reported record occupancy levels for the weekend with a "stampede of bookings" for the weekend. Winter preparations Charlie Herbert from the firm said: "The unexpected heatwave this week has been fantastic for business, our coastal hotels across the UK are totally booked out." The English wine industry is predicted to have had a good year with the late sunshine helping. Robert Boutflower from Tanners Wine Merchants said: "An Indian summer is fabulous for English wine producers." But despite the souring temperatures, councils are this weekend gearing up for the winter. Plymouth City Council is putting its gritters on standby from 1 October due to the last two harsh winters. While Sutton Council is making grit available to residents from Saturday. Councillor Simon Wales from Sutton Council said: "It might seem a little strange to be handing out the free grit already, particularly when we're enjoying an Indian summer, but we have to be prepared."

इंग्लैंड सितंबर के अंत में गर्मी की चपेट में है।


London stabbings: Man charged with murder in Anerley

Summary: A man has been charged with the murder of a 22-year-old who was stabbed to death in south-east London.

Ayodeji Habeeb Azeez was knifed multiple times in Samos Road, Anerley, and died at the scene on 4 November. Chase Grey, 23, of South Norwood, has been charged with Mr Azeez's murder and will appear at Bromley Magistrates' Court, police said. Three other people arrested - two men aged 19 and 21, and a girl, 16 - have been released under investigation. Related Internet Links HM Courts Service

दक्षिण-पूर्वी लंदन में चाकू मारकर हत्या किए गए 22 वर्षीय युवक की हत्या का आरोप एक व्यक्ति पर लगाया गया है।


HMP Risley drone: Three charged with smuggling cannabis and phones

Summary: Two men and a boy have been charged with attempting to smuggle cannabis and mobile phones into a prison after a drone was spotted hovering above.

The machine was seen flying over to HMP Risley in Warrington at about 23:20 BST on Wednesday, Cheshire Police said. Following a search of the area, officers arrested four people. The men, aged 31 and 41, and the 17-year-old, all from Merseyside, are charged with attempting to smuggle phones and Class B drugs into the jail. The 41-year-old has also been charged with driving without a valid licence or insurance. They are due to appear before North Cheshire Magistrates' Court. An 18-year-old Kirkby man who was also arrested has been released pending further investigation.

दो पुरुषों और एक लड़के पर एक जेल में भांग और मोबाइल फोन की तस्करी करने का प्रयास करने का आरोप लगाया गया है, जब एक ड्रोन को ऊपर मंडराते हुए देखा गया था।


RNLI 'tombstoning' warning after Porthcawl injuries

Summary: The RNLI has warned people of the dangers of jumping into water from height - or "tombstoning" - after a man seriously injured his leg at Porthcawl Harbour, Bridgend county, on Monday.

Lifeboat volunteers said the man, in his 30s, jumped from about 6ft (1.8m) into murky water he thought was deeper, but hit the rocks below. He broke his ankle and sustained cuts, but managed to swim to safety. The RNLI administered oxygen until paramedics arrived. Phil Missen of Porthcawl RNLI said: "This incident reminds us how dangerous jumping into water from height - or tombstoning - can be. "Water changes depth with the tide, so the water may be shallower than it looks. Submerged items may not be visible and can cause serious injury or paralysis if you hit them. "The water can be a lot colder than it looks so the shock of cold water may also make it difficult to swim and strong currents can sweep you away."

सोमवार को ब्रिजेंड काउंटी के पोर्थकॉल हार्बर में एक व्यक्ति के पैर में गंभीर चोट लगने के बाद आर. एन. एल. आई. ने लोगों को ऊंचाई से पानी में कूदने के खतरों के बारे में चेतावनी दी है।


Karuna "voice of democracy"

Summary: The defected faction of the LTTE led by Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna has become the “voice of democracy” of the people in the eastern Sri Lanka, Jathika Hela Urmaya (JHU) has said.

JHU parliamentary group leader Athuraliye Rathana thero told BBC Sandeshaya that Tamil Tigers should themselves be disarmed if they demand the disarmament of the Karuna faction. He stressed that any disarmament should include the LTTE and they should be banned as a terrorist organisation, if they violate the agreement by starting killings again, should they agree to disarm. Disarming paramilitaries He denied that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) pledged to disarm paramilitary forces in their territory in Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed with the Tamil Tigers in 2002. Paragraph 1.8 of the CFA states : Tamil paramilitary groups shall be disarmed by the GOSL by D-day + 30 days at the latest. Karuna, a former senior commander of the LTTE, was accused of masterminding major attacks against Sri Lanka security forces and civilians, before defecting in March 2004. Karuna truce A close confidante of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, he also represented the military wing of the Tigers in peace talks held in Japan. The Sinhala nationalist, all Buddhist-monk party said separate militant groups are emerging in the east among Tamil and Muslim communities against the Tamil Tigers. Rathana thero warned that militant groups might emerge from Sinhala community also against the “activities of LTTE.” Meanwhile, Asian Tribune (AT) website reported that Karuna group has unliterary declared a cessation of their attacks against Tamil Tigers. In a statement published in AT, Karuna has decided to help President Rajapaksa to engage in talks with the LTTE by creating a “conducive environment.”

जातिका हेला उरमाया (जे. एच. यू.) ने कहा है कि विनयगमूर्ति मुरलीधरन उर्फ करुणा के नेतृत्व में एल. टी. टी. ई. का दलबदल गुट पूर्वी श्रीलंका में लोगों की "लोकतंत्र की आवाज" बन गया है।


Scott Fletcher murder probe: Two further arrests made

Summary: Police have made two further arrests in connection with the suspected murder of a 27-year-old Hartlepool man who has been missing since May 2011.

Scott Fletcher was last seen in a lay-by opposite the Jet garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill, near Durham. Five men have already been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and are currently on bail. Two other men, aged 31 and 32, have now been arrested on the same charge and have also been bailed. Det Supt Jon Green of Cleveland Police said: "Scott's family has been informed of the arrests. However, I would like to stress that a body has not yet been located."

पुलिस ने मई 2011 से लापता 27 वर्षीय हार्टलपूल व्यक्ति की संदिग्ध हत्या के संबंध में दो और गिरफ्तारियां की हैं।


Russian nationalist thinker Dugin sees war with Ukraine

Summary: A prominent Russian ultra-nationalist philosopher has told BBC News that war between Russia and Ukraine "is inevitable" and has called on President Vladimir Putin to intervene militarily in eastern Ukraine "to save Russia's moral authority".

By Dina NewmanBBC News Alexander Dugin is the founder of Russia's Eurasian movement. His views are believed to be popular among the hawkish Russian elite. Until recently, he was also a professor at Moscow State University, but he says his current status with the university is unclear. His views have not changed, he says, but attitudes towards his views among those in power may be shifting. The centrepiece of his geopolitical theory is that Russia's mission is to challenge US domination of the world, with the help of Iran, as well as Eurosceptic parties, which are currently on the rise in Europe. He has been labelled the brains behind President Putin's wildly popular annexation of Crimea. The next step, he proclaims, is military intervention in eastern Ukraine, which he regularly calls Novorossiya (New Russia). It is a name that has also been used by President Putin. Dugin believes the "Russian spirit" has been re-awakened by the separatist struggle there, which he calls the "Russian Spring". The symbol of that spirit is rebel commander Igor Strelkov, backed by Dugin who keeps in regular touch with the fighters in Donetsk. Speaking on the phone from Moscow, in clear English and with a sense of urgency in his voice, Dugin fears that the "Russian Spring" is about to lose its momentum: "It is a real mess. "The liberals are against Putin, and the patriots support him, but only if he continues with his patriotic policies. While he is hesitating, he is losing the support of both sides. It is a dangerous game. But maybe he has a solution?" Alexander Dugin called for the annexation of Crimea as far back as 2008, during Russia's war with Georgia. He travelled to the disputed region of South Ossetia, where he was photographed with a rocket launcher. Back then, he thinks Russia should have taken its troops all the way to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. They should have then overthrown President Mikheil Saakashvili and moved to take over Crimea, "which is part of Russia anyway". Such views will offend most in Ukraine and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union. At the time, many Russians would have found them extreme. But not any more. Since Russia's annexation of Crimea, President Putin's approval rating has soared as high as 86%. According to the independent Levada Centre in Moscow, two-thirds of Russians approve of the separatists in eastern Ukraine and most believe that Moscow should offer support. 'Liberal shadow' Now, with Ukrainian forces on the offensive against rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Dugin blames "the liberals" for President Putin's reluctance to send troops. The "liberals", in his view, are mainly businessmen who made their fortunes in the 1990s. If further economic sanctions are applied to Russia, they are the ones who stand to lose most because they are "integrated into the world economy". President Putin's apparent hesitation, in Dugin's view, is due to an internal struggle in the Russian government - and in President Putin's own mind. "This is the struggle between the patriotic, Orthodox, conservative forces - and the liberal forces, which are also very strong," he says. In effect, he thinks, there are two conflicting sides of Vladimir Putin. "Putin's patriotic side is supported by most Russians, and his liberal shadow is represented by most of the political elite, the oligarchs and his Prime Minister, Mr [Dmitry] Medvedev." This anti-establishment note is popular with most Russians, who do not trust the "liberal elite", blaming them for the chaos of the 1990s. Not only do many Russians sympathise with Alexander Dugin's new brand of militaristic patriotism, some go as far as buying their own kit and travelling to eastern Ukraine to join the rebel groups.

रूस के एक प्रमुख अति-राष्ट्रवादी दार्शनिक ने बीबीसी न्यूज को बताया कि रूस और यूक्रेन के बीच युद्ध "अपरिहार्य है" और उन्होंने राष्ट्रपति व्लादिमीर पुतिन से "रूस के नैतिक अधिकार को बचाने के लिए" पूर्वी यूक्रेन में सैन्य हस्तक्षेप करने का आह्वान किया है।


Solihull woman denies cruelty towards horses charges

Summary: A woman has denied animal cruelty charges after eight horses were found neglected at a farm yard.

It is alleged Annette Nally, from Solihull, failed to feed or water the animals properly at Stoke Prior in Worcestershire, last summer. The 49-year-old pleaded not guilty to four charges of causing unnecessary suffering to horses when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates' Court. The case was adjourned for a trial date to be fixed. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.

फार्म यार्ड में आठ घोड़ों को उपेक्षित पाए जाने के बाद एक महिला ने पशु क्रूरता के आरोपों से इनकार किया है।


In pictures: Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya minority

Summary: Myanmar's military has brutally evicted more than half a million Muslim Rohingya people from the country's northern Rakhine state. The UN human rights office says their homes and villages have been burned down, and their crops and livestock destroyed to stop them coming back.

Rohingya who fled to neighbouring Bangladesh say that the security services' "clearance operations" involved mass civilian killings, torture, and child rape. The military denies committing genocide, insisting it has only targeted Rohingya militants. But for those who fear being homeless or worse, the semantics are immaterial. Bangladesh's UN ambassador says more than 600,000 people have crossed the border since late August, joining the 300,000 or so who fled earlier outbreaks of violence. They are starving and exhausted. Many are traumatised, and most have children with them. BBC photographer Salman Saeed took these pictures near the refugee camps in Palongkhali, Kutupalong and Balukhali, in the Cox's Bazar area of Bangladesh. These Rohingya families have been walking for more than a week without food, but have finally arrived in Bangladesh after witnessing atrocities in Myanmar's Rakhine state. They carry their few belongings and blankets on sticks over their shoulders. Thirteen-year-old Mobin walked for 12 days to reach safety. UN experts believe it is "highly likely" that Myanmar's security forces planted landmines along the border in recent weeks, making an arduous journey yet more fraught with danger. The owner of these weary legs waded through mud to reach a refugee camp. International observers say some Rohingya people have walked for up to three weeks before arriving at government-run settlements like Kutupalong. The children have welts on the soles of their feet. Rohingya people are using any available transport to escape Rakhine. Some are trekking to the Naf River, which forms the border, while others are sailing up the coast. Dozens have already died trying to cross into Bangladesh in small, rickety fishing boats. The Dhaka Tribune reports that 28 boats have capsized since 24 August, killing 184 people - mostly women and children. The boats are often overcrowded, and the risk of disaster considerable. Some of those on board are unable to swim. This man, Abu Tabel, arrived in Bangladesh with his few salvaged belongings gathered in sacks and a basket. The caged chicken below was his only companion on the long journey to find a new home. When they reach the camps, the displaced people find - and build - makeshift accommodation along the roads and hillsides around the border town of Cox's Bazaar. The settlements are muddy, wet and overcrowded, with a shortage of clean water and poor sanitation. There are very few toilets. Torrential rain has increased the hardships - and the risk of diseases like cholera. Many of those crossing the border already have relatives in Cox's Bazar, whom they are desperate to find. On 16 October, the Red Cross opened a 60-bed field hospital in Cox's Bazar the size of two football fields. It has three wards, an operating theatre, a maternity ward, and a psychosocial support unit. This young Rohingya boy is comparatively lucky - he has received some medical treatment. Bangladesh has announced plans to build a refugee camp that could ultimately accommodate about 800,000 Rohingya. It would be the largest such settlement in the world. This family was photographed resting and having their first meal in several days. Survivors say starvation had helped drive them from their villages, as food markets in Rakhine state have been shut and aid restricted. Rasida, who is nine months pregnant, is one of thousands of mothers-to-be who have fled - knowing they could give birth any day. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that of the nearly 150,000 Rohingya women of reproductive age (15-49 years), some 24,000 are pregnant and lactating. Some have had no choice but to give birth by the roadside. On 17 October, the United Nations warned that thousands of Rohingya were still stranded near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. It urged Bangladesh to speed up the vetting of up to 15,000 affected people, and move them inland to safety. Andrej Mahecic, a UN refugee agency spokesman, said it wanted Bangladesh to "urgently admit these refugees fleeing violence and increasingly difficult conditions back home". He added: "Every minute counts, given the fragile conditions they're arriving in." For now, the influx continues. Thousands on thousands, caught in the world's fastest-growing humanitarian crisis. All pictures were shot by Salman Saeed in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

म्यांमार की सेना ने देश के उत्तरी रखाइन राज्य से पांच लाख से अधिक मुस्लिम रोहिंग्या लोगों को बेरहमी से बेदखल कर दिया है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र मानवाधिकार कार्यालय का कहना है कि उनके घरों और गांवों को जला दिया गया है, और उन्हें वापस आने से रोकने के लिए उनकी फसलों और पशुधन को नष्ट कर दिया गया है।


Penally: Two arrested after 'disturbance' at asylum centre

Summary: Two men have been arrested following a disturbance at a Pembrokeshire military training camp, where asylum seekers are being housed.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray and a 25-year-old on suspicion of assault. Dyfed-Powys Police said it was called to the Penally Asylum Accommodation centre at 13:45 BST on Tuesday. A force spokesperson said nobody was taken to hospital, and the investigation was ongoing.

पेम्ब्रोकेशायर सैन्य प्रशिक्षण शिविर में अशांति के बाद दो लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है, जहाँ शरण चाहने वालों को रखा जा रहा है।


Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in full swing

Summary: The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has opened.

Veteran US group Sister Sledge and Swedish folk act First Aid Kit were headline acts on Thursday night. Two full days of performances are to be held at the festival near Beauly on Friday and Saturday. Headline acts over the weekend include The Pretenders, Franz Ferdinand, Twin Atlantic and KT Tunstall.

बेलाड्रम टार्टन हार्ट फेस्टिवल शुरू हो गया है।


Norfolk County Council social worker Pete Barron sacked

Summary: Update September 2016: In June 2016, an employment tribunal ruled that Pete Barron had been unfairly dismissed. The tribunal judge found the investigation against Mr Barron had been "far from reasonable". A social worker at the centre of an investigation into the wrongful removal of children from foster care has been sacked, the BBC can reveal.

By Julian SturdyBBC Look East Team manager Pete Barron has been suspended from Norfolk Children's Services since December. The inquiry centred on the case of a four-year-old boy in care who was accidentally bruised while being clipped into a car seat belt. Doctors said there was no deliberate harm, contradicting Mr Barron's report. 'Torturous process' Following the report, a long-serving foster carer was deregistered by Norfolk County Council. She made complaints about her treatment, which have yet to be resolved. Ian Mcgee, who is acting for the foster carer, told the BBC: "We are glad we have been vindicated but I am sorry it has taken so long. We have been put through a torturous process. "It should never have taken this long and that is down to senior management. The previous report was a white-wash." The BBC found that a few months before the seatbelt incident in 2010, Mr Barron had been disciplined following bullying and harassment allegations from his staff. The original grievance heard 34 complaints including concerns raised about "intimidation", "forgetfulness" and "autocratic decision-making". 'Right to appeal' The chairman concluded there was "some evidence to support the allegation of bullying and harassment, but my recommendation is that this is not serious enough to be construed as gross misconduct". Following another disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, Mr Barron was dismissed. He has 10 days to lodge an appeal. Mr Barron could not be contacted by the BBC. Interim director of social services Sheila Lock said: "A disciplinary hearing has now taken place, following a thorough and independent investigation. The member of staff concerned now has the right to appeal the outcome of that hearing, in line with ACAS guidelines. That appeal has to be lodged within two weeks. "It would be unfair to prejudice or prejudge the outcome of any appeal by commenting further. Our policies allow any member of staff the right of appeal whatever the outcome of the hearing." Norfolk Children's Services has been rated "inadequate" by Ofsted and is facing repeated calls from some MPs and county councillors for a public inquiry over other allegations that children were wrongly taken from foster carers. Norfolk Foster Carers Association (NFCA) said it had many more cases where foster carers have been deregistered in disputed circumstances. NFCA chairman Ray Bewry said: "This is the tip of the iceberg. "Norfolk children's services routinely removes children without first holding the legal requirement of a statutory looked after child review meeting when there is no risk of significant harm, often on the pretext that the removal is only temporary. This is naturally devastating for the fostering household." Ms Lock said: "We totally refute any suggestion that the council is not acting within the law. Indeed, we have received explicit legal advice which confirms the approach we have taken in relation to the removal of children is entirely appropriate. "We hugely value the tremendous work of Norfolk's foster carers and are completely committed to supporting them in looking after some of the county's most vulnerable youngsters."

अद्यतन सितंबर 2016: जून 2016 में, एक रोजगार न्यायाधिकरण ने फैसला सुनाया कि पीट बैरन को अनुचित तरीके से बर्खास्त कर दिया गया था। न्यायाधिकरण के न्यायाधीश ने श्री बैरन के खिलाफ जांच को "उचित नहीं" पाया। बीबीसी खुलासा कर सकता है कि बच्चों को पालक देखभाल से गलत तरीके से हटाने की जांच के केंद्र में एक सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता को बर्खास्त कर दिया गया है।


Benjamin Clementine: From busker to Mercury winner

Summary: Singer-songwriter Benjamin Clementine has won the 2015 Mercury Music Prize for his searingly personal debut album, At Least For Now. It is a remarkable turnaround for the 26-year-old, who was sleeping rough in Paris six years ago.

By Mark SavageMusic reporter Clementine's record is a "stunningly original and emotionally gripping album that offers endless and surprising delights", said the Mercury Prize judges - but that captivating music came from some "very dark places", the musician told the BBC. The opening track repurposes one of Winston Churchill's most famous speeches to address his unhappy childhood: "Never in the field of human affection / had so much been given for so few attention." Another, Cornerstone, contains the bleak lyrics: "I am lonely / Alone in a box of stone / They claimed to love me, but they're all wrong." "My music is not mainstream music," Clementine told the BBC - but its raw honesty, delivered in a rasping tenor over dramatically-played piano, has captivated many fellow musicians, including Paul McCartney, Charles Aznavour and Bjork. Born in Ghana, Clementine moved to Edmonton in north London as a child. His parents - strict and religious - divorced when he was 13 years old. He no longer speaks to them, telling the Evening Standard their relationship had always been fractious: "I got into a lot of trouble. Maybe that's why my parents didn't really like me and I didn't blend in with my family. I was always the naughty one." It was his elder brother Joseph who provided support and encouragement as he grew up. "My father was never there, so Joseph stood up and taught me to respect people, to be humble. "His hobby is reading [and] he gave me a lot of dictionaries to read. He helped me quite a lot." Bullied at school for being effeminate, Clementine walked away from education aged 16 and was effectively homeless in Camden, living in a friend's flat and working as a model for Abercrombie and Fitch. An argument with his flatmate prompted him to flee to Paris in 2009, with just £60 and a packet of spaghetti to his name. "I actually took a bag of uncooked spaghetti, thinking I was going to get a place to cook it," he recalled. After realising how naive he had been, the teenager "threw it away and started begging". "I was living nowhere - in doorways, on streets, in the snow in winter. I couldn't speak the language. So I just had to get on." He began to busk at the Place de Clichy metro station, making what money he could from music. At first, he sang unaccompanied, learning to project his voice down the corridors and carriages. Within six months, he had scraped enough cash together to move into a hostel. There, he taught himself guitar, piano and drums, slowly finding his calling as a musician. Clementine is careful not to romanticise this period in his life, stating bluntly: "This sleeping rough, a lot of people do it, so I'm not going to milk it." What he does admit is that the experience showed him where his talents lay. "In Paris, I was really singing for the sake of living. But eventually people said, 'keep going, you've got a great voice' and I started having confidence in my voice all of a sudden. That's when I started creating my own music." That voice - an intense, cracked baritone - is astonishing. He has been compared to Nina Simone, Nat King Cole and his inspiration, Antony Hegarty. It was his vocals that caught the attention of his manager at an impromptu gig at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. Soon, he was recording an EP and being hailed as the "English revelation of the Francophiles festival". The success of those EPs led to a full record deal with EMI and his debut album, released earlier this year. His music is inspired by the melodramatic French compositional style nouvelle chanson, and provides a fitting backdrop to his overwrought, painful lyrics. But while Clementine admits the album comes from "dark places in my life and other people's lives" he maintains that "there is a bit of hope". "I believe when the music is being sung or being played, at the end of it there's some sort of grace and understanding. "And that's all I want for humanity. I just want us to understand each other. That's the point of my music." That is why he dedicated his Mercury Prize to the victims of last week's terror attacks in Paris - regular people who Clementine described as "heroes". "The greatest in heroes in life are the anonymous," he said. "That's what I believe. Your neighbours are heroes. People who, when you walk down the street, you see them feeding their little baby - these people are heroes because they are living under difficult situations but they're still trying to save a life. "I couldn't have dedicated the prize to a much better person that those heroes who died."

गायक-गीतकार बेंजामिन क्लेमेंटिन ने अपने व्यक्तिगत डेब्यू एल्बम, एट लीस्ट फॉर नाउ के लिए 2015 का मरकरी संगीत पुरस्कार जीता है। यह 26 वर्षीय के लिए एक उल्लेखनीय बदलाव है, जो छह साल पहले पेरिस में बुरी तरह सो रहा था।


Condor Ferries apologies for clipper cancellations

Summary: Condor Ferries has apologised to customers for cancelling most of its conventional ferry services between the Channel Islands and the UK next month.

The Commodore Clipper will be withdrawn from service from 9-25 September for maintenance work. However, customers had still been able to book places on the services. James Fulford, chief executive, said customers would be contacted about transferring to the company's fast ferry services. He said: "Commodore Clipper provides an all-weather, lifeline service for freight and passengers and it would be irresponsible for us to take her out of service during the winter. "We always planned for our maintenance to be around September. "It is normal in the shipping industry to only get firm dates for the dry dock about two months before."

कोंडोर फेरीज ने अगले महीने चैनल द्वीप समूह और ब्रिटेन के बीच अपनी अधिकांश पारंपरिक नौका सेवाओं को रद्द करने के लिए ग्राहकों से माफी मांगी है।


Prince Philip: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award 'saved me from jail'

Summary: What does the Duke of Edinburgh's Award mean to you? For many it will conjure memories of hauling a badly-packed rucksack across rainy British countryside in the hope of adding some sparkle to their CV. Yet for some of the millions of young people who have taken on the self-improvement challenge, it has brought truly life-changing opportunities.

By Alice EvansBBC News Without the award, James says he'd "probably be in jail". At the age of 15, James and his friend Nathan, then 16, had had more run-ins with the police than they care to remember. As bored mates growing up in Darlington, north-east England, they felt they had "nothing else to do" but to cause mischief. Illegally riding motorbikes for a bit of fun in their early teenage years turned into a succession of petty crimes - theft, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage. James describes his behaviour as "causing mayhem". Nathan adds: "Wherever I was, I was causing trouble." After being caught for separate offences, in 2018 the friends were both ordered to do hours of community service, or "reparations". The stint the pair enjoyed the most was being taught how to fix bikes by youth offending officer Dave Kirton, for a community project. Dave, who is also a Duke of Edinburgh leader, arranged with those on the reparations panel to strike a deal with the boys: if they did their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, they'd get five hours taken off their community service orders. "It was a little bit of a reward, a carrot incentive," Dave says. "Both the lads were a bit reluctant at first, but they agreed and two or three weeks in they realised the opportunity they had - and they got stuck right into it." It takes about six months for most participants to complete the four sections of the bronze award: volunteering, a physical challenge, developing a skill and taking part in an expedition, which usually consists of two days of walking and a night of camping. The silver and gold awards are more challenging and take longer to complete. James says the commitment needed for his bronze award - the first of three achievement levels - forced a change in his behaviour: "It just stopped me being naughty." Nathan says learning expedition skills such as navigation made him realise how quick he was at picking up new things. "There's potential that you don't know you've got until you actually try it," he says. Nathan's realisation is exactly the kind of boost Prince Philip wanted to give young people when he first established the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for Boys in 1956. The idea, as expressed by the duke himself, was simple: "If you can get a young person to succeed in any one activity, then that feeling of success will spread over into many others." The roots of this idea lay in the self-reliance that helped Philip through his sometimes troubled childhood, and the experience of his time at school. Gordonstoun, the school both Prince Philip and Prince Charles attended, had a tough physical regime with an emphasis on self-development - as depicted in the Netflix series The Crown. In the beginning the duke's award was confined to boys, with 7,000 signing up in the first year. Girls were allowed to take part from 1958, but to begin with their programme had more emphasis on domestic skills and community service. The programme was made the same for girls and boys in 1980 - a move towards equality that helped one girl to overcome part of her traumatic childhood. Lauren (not her real name), was abused by her parents as a child. She says they used to dangle her from a balcony - an abusive pastime that left her terrified of heights. During Lauren's bronze award expedition in 2018, when she was 14, she was given the opportunity to take part in a high ropes course as an extra activity. "I had a friend there that I'd met, and they were egging me on," she says. "I finally did it and I felt so relieved." That day on the high ropes, Lauren's fear of heights disappeared. "I can do anything now," she says. Lauren says the friends she made through the scheme have helped her gain the social skills needed to pursue a future career in social work. She says her aim is to help others who have had difficult childhoods. Those who complete the gold award get to experience a high of a different kind - being invited to a presentation ceremony at a royal residence. Several are held each year, either at St James's Palace or in Buckingham Palace gardens, in London, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, or at Hillsborough Castle, in County Down. Prince Philip attended more than 500 of gold award presentations himself - and other Royal Family members stood in if he was absent. He remained a patron of the organisation until his death. Mohammed Leily says he was "thrilled" to meet "the man himself" at one of Philip's final presentation events before he retired from royal duties in 2017. "He went around and had a chat with each group," says Mohammed, who is still in touch with the friends he made through the programme. "I remember he told us to make sure we are as active as we could possibly be, and to make sure we made use of our youth now while we have the energy." Mohammed arrived to the UK from Syria as a refugee in 2013, aged 17, and decided to sign up for the bronze award as a way of meeting new people and improving his English. He revelled in the opportunity to volunteer for the Red Cross and help other refugees and asylum seekers settle into new homes. He credits his gold award with helping him to get a place to study medicine at the University of Southampton - and says he still can't believe he got to meet Prince Philip. "When I left Syria I would never have imagined I'd do that, or see him." As of early 2021, more than 3.1 million Duke of Edinburgh's Awards had been achieved by people like Mohammed, Lauren, James and Nathan. The international arm of the scheme means more than a million people more are currently taking part in programmes in more than 130 countries. But if the numbers have grown dramatically, the ideas remain simple. "One of the perpetual problems about human life is that young people of every generation have to discover for themselves what life is all about," the duke said in 2010. "These experiences teach more general lessons and serve as a practical demonstration of what can be achieved through determination and persistence." Back in Darlington, those lessons have certainly been learned by James and Nathan. Neither has reoffended since completing their bronze award. "It makes you happy knowing you're pal's all right and doing well for himself," says Nathan. "And it makes us happy knowing that we've both changed together." Did you take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme? Did you meet Prince Philip? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Related Internet Links The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

आपके लिए ड्यूक ऑफ एडिनबर्ग पुरस्कार का क्या मतलब है? कई लोगों के लिए यह अपने सीवी में कुछ चमक जोड़ने की उम्मीद में बरसात वाले ब्रिटिश ग्रामीण इलाकों में एक बुरी तरह से भरे हुए रकसैक को घुमाने की यादों को ताजा करेगा। फिर भी लाखों युवाओं में से कुछ के लिए जिन्होंने आत्म-सुधार की चुनौती को अपनाया है, यह वास्तव में जीवन को बदलने के अवसर लेकर आया है।


Missionary of Mercy: Cuba prepares for Pope Francis visit

Summary: In what will be the third papal visit to Cuba in less than two decades, Pope Francis is set to be in Cuba from 19 to 22 September. Will Grant spoke to Cubans about his forthcoming visit and how the island has changed over the years.

Mercedes Hernandez doesn't remember her university days with much affection. "I suffered at that time," the retired accountant tells me after Sunday Mass in the small Parish of San Agustin in Havana. Openly Catholic in Fidel Castro's Cuba, she says she could never get out from under a cloud of suspicion. "I'd often be called in by the authorities. Any time that anything happened against the government, as Catholics we were suspected of being involved. Even though I've never participated in any anti-government acts in my life." Things started to become so stressful, Mercedes says, she eventually dropped out of university. Talking about it years later, it still brings a lump to her throat. But as the conversation turns towards today's Cuba, she brightens immediately. Religious tolerance on the communist-run island is now incomparable to that of Mercedes' youth and she is heartened by the experience of her Christian grandchildren. "I sense real change in the young people, particularly those in this parish", she says. "They are transmitting God's love in their places of work and study. A lot of youth in Cuba have embraced the Lord and I think Pope Francis is going to give them the little lift they need." Among them is Eliani Diaz, a 19-year-old medical student. She's one of a handful of young Catholics who've been invited to greet the pontiff at the airport. All the Church's literature and paraphernalia for Pope Francis' trip describes him as a "missionary of mercy" and mercy is likely to be the central tenet of his homily in Revolution Square on Sunday. The government recently released 3,522 prisoners in a goodwill gesture intended to coincide with the pope's theme. But for Eliani the key word in the papal message is "dialogue". "It's our mission - the mission of Cuba's youth - to build a better society. The Pope constantly reminds us that we must create a greater dialogue, that's important. Both as Cubans and inside the church itself, as Christians." Reading between the lines, that appears to refer to the most diplomatically sensitive part of the papal visit - openly talking of human rights and democracy in front of the huge crowds and live on state TV. The auxiliary bishop of Havana, Juan de Dios Hernandez, says that Pope Francis will be free to speak as he wishes, as he has already done much to sway favour with his hosts. "Sometimes I compare Pope Francis to the fall of the Berlin Wall. We never could have imagined that suddenly one day that wall would become a bridge." "Well, from my point of view, on 17 December, Pope Francis did the same thing: he became a bridge between President Obama and Raul Castro." The bishop is referring, of course, to the Vatican's role in brokering the recent US-Cuba thaw. Pope Francis was personally crucial in bringing Havana and Washington to the negotiating table. Dissident groups are certainly hopeful that the Pope will go further than the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, did on his historic visit to Cuba last month. Bishop Juan de Dios says Pope Francis is arguably a revolutionary in his own right and won't shy away from tackling the difficult issues during his private talks with Raul Castro. "Clearly all human actions have a political dimension and the Pope's visit will have one too. Particularly because of His Holiness' character and his way of influencing the different spheres in which he moves with the only objective he has: to unite peoples, build bridges and break with realities that belong in the past." As a Latin American pontiff too, Pope Francis can expect a particularly warm welcome in Cuba, a country which prides itself on its hospitality. This is the third papal trip that Mercedes has seen - "I never thought I'd live to see even one!" she exclaims - and compares the sense of expectation to January 1998 when Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit the island. At the time, relations between the Vatican and Havana were beginning to warm with Cuba having removed a commitment to atheism from the Constitution and reinstated Christmas as a public holiday. With then-president Fidel Castro watching on, Pope John Paul urged further reform: "Cuba must open herself to the world and the world must draw close to Cuba and its people" he said to rapturous applause. Today, that process of bringing Cuba out of its isolation is well under way. Sanctions have been eased in a host of areas including foreign travel and private ownership, diplomatic ties with its Cold War enemy, the United States, have been re-established and embassies reopened in their respective capitals. Though his tactics differ to those of his openly anti-communist predecessor, Pope Francis may already see in Cuba much of John Paul II's call for reform.

दो दशकों से भी कम समय में क्यूबा की तीसरी पोप यात्रा में, पोप फ्रांसिस 19 से 22 सितंबर तक क्यूबा में रहने वाले हैं। विल ग्रांट ने क्यूबा के लोगों से अपनी आगामी यात्रा और वर्षों में द्वीप कैसे बदल गया है, इसके बारे में बात की।


Radio 1 announces who its 2017 teen heroes are

Summary: Radio 1 has announced its four teen heroes of 2017.

The winning teenagers have set up a mental health charity, provided a voice for children in care and inspired others to tackle obesity, anxiety and depression. They've been picked by a judging panel made up of Radio 1 DJs and former teen hero winners. The ceremony will be part of BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora, on Sunday 22 October. The event will include performances from Liam Payne, The Vamps, Camila Cabello and Dua Lipa. Here are the winners of the three categories. The My Mind & Me Teen Hero Award for Mental Health - Holly and Oliver Brother and sister Holly, 15, and Oliver, 13, care for their mum, who suffers from associative identity disorder with complex post-traumatic trauma. Along with their older brother, they set up a charity called The Adams Movement. The charity focuses on supporting other young carers who have a parent or guardian with mental health difficulties. It also offers one-to-one mentoring with other young people with similar experiences. The One Million Hours Teen Hero Award for Volunteering - Charlotte Charlotte, 17, is a nationwide advocate for young people in care. Having been in the care system herself, she uses her own experiences to give a voice to children and young adults and change the future of care. She's worked with the children's commissioner for England, and for the last three years has been part of the Lancashire Children in Care Council. Charlotte has used her position to influence policy around the country. The Generally Amazing Teen Hero Award - Harrison Harrison, 12, turned his life around through diet and exercise, documenting his journey on social media. Having been through it himself, he now inspires other children to tackle obesity, anxiety and depression. Harrison helps to create healthy packed lunches and works with caterers at his school to make sure others are eating healthily. He's also worked with health food campaigners Jamie Oliver and Joe Wicks. The BBC Radio 1 teen awards will be held at Wembley Arena on Sunday 22 October. Along with the teen heroes, winners will be announced for categories across music, film, TV, sports, gaming and celebrities. The Vamps, who are up for Best British Group, will be playing the awards for the third time. They say: "The teen awards is always a great time to celebrate incredible young individuals and we are extremely proud to be a part of such an important celebration." Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat

रेडियो 1 ने 2017 के अपने चार किशोर नायकों की घोषणा की है।


Anglican agonies over women bishops

Summary: The thorny issue of women bishops may finally be decided at the Church of England general synod which gathers at the end of the week. BBC Radio 4's Charlotte Smith, a regular church-goer herself, samples the views of clergy and congregations.

The Church of England is in crisis, again. Because of women, again. For those of us who have not been paying close attention, the current row over women bishops may seem a bit odd. Surely when women were first ordained back in the 1990s the Church sorted this out? But no, it fudged it, and so now faces a really tricky situation, and one which even this organisation surely cannot swerve? The issue was certainly enough to bemuse the 10 and 11-year-old girls at a recent schools day at Winchester cathedral. They were not really planning careers in the church. Singing and doctoring seemed better options to them. But they could not understand why women could be vicars but they could not be bishops. Some of the volunteers working in the cathedral were equally mystified. "If women are made priests, inevitably, if they're good, they should become bishops," one said. 'Equal but different' But there are groups within the Church of England who are firmly opposed to women bishops - traditionalists and evangelicals. "The bible very clearly teaches that men and women are totally equal but that their roles are different," says Andrea Trevenna from the evangelical wing, who oversees women's bible teaching at a thriving church in Sevenoaks. "A man is the head of the family and head of the Church, and women can't be either." Andrea acknowledges this is a difficult sell in a modern world, where women are leaders of schools, businesses and countries. But, even if it is inconvenient, she says, "It's the truth." For Anglo-Catholic traditionalists like Father Martyn Neale of Holy Trinity church in Farnborough, it is a question of sacramental assurance. "When you receive a sacrament, particularly Holy Communion or ordination, you have to be absolutely certain that the person who celebrates that sacrament is a priest or a bishop," he says. "As far as a woman bishop ordaining a man goes, of course you'd have doubts about the validity of her orders as a bishop and inevitably have doubts about the validity of the man she ordains." 'Stupid situation' Many Anglicans worry about the damage being done to the image of the Church of England, which only hits the headlines with rows over gay marriage or women bishops. At Holy Trinity and St Mary's in Guildford, their female curate is about to be ordained and the local congregation were passionate about the need to move forward. "It is absolutely ridiculous," one churchgoer told me. "It looks like we are stuck in the 1740s." "My daughter loves this Church because of our attitude towards women but says she is not going to come back to the Church of England 'til they actually get this sorted out." The Church had got itself in "a stupid situation", another told me. After years of discussion about women bishops, draft legislation now allows for women as bishops, but says that a parish could request a male bishop if it wanted. "The dioceses accepted it almost unanimously - 42 out of the 44," says April Alexander. She has campaigned for women bishops and is a member of the synod, so will be voting on the issue when it meets next week. Impossible to reconcile? But at the last moment, the House of Bishops added amendments which have succeeded in uniting the Church - now everyone dislikes the legislation. A parish could ask not just for a male bishop, but for one who matches their particular theological convictions. So not just a woman, but also a man who had ordained women, could be avoided. For April Alexander this simply undermines the authority of any woman bishop. "It is a concept that we find difficult to take anyway... but to have it on the face of legislation forever… feels by much a step too far," she says with tears glistening in her eyes. With a heavy heart, she may have to vote against. In most other settings this sort of rule would be illegal, as it clearly discriminates on the grounds of gender. But there are women in the Church on both sides of the debate, including those who are fighting for the right to be discriminated against. It is hard to see how the circle will be squared. Would it be more honest and brave for the Church to simply say: "We're going to have women bishops and, if you do not like it, you can leave." That was what was wanted by most of the Church accepts the Reverend Claire Edwards, Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. But she argues it was right and reasonable to be generous to those who objected. "Women and those supportive of women's ministry have been incredibly generous," in the accommodations that have been made, she says. Others believe the compromise has been extended too far. But no one I have spoken to was clear about what they were going to do, whatever way the Synod vote goes. The different views may be almost impossible to reconcile, but if there is a fudge to be had, they will find it. BBC Radio 4's Charlotte Smith presents The Frock and The Church on Radio 4 at 13:30 BST on Sunday 1 July

महिला बिशपों के कांटेदार मुद्दे पर अंततः चर्च ऑफ इंग्लैंड के सामान्य धर्मसभा में निर्णय लिया जा सकता है जो सप्ताह के अंत में इकट्ठा होती है। बीबीसी रेडियो 4 की शार्लोट स्मिथ, जो खुद एक नियमित चर्च जाने वाली हैं, पादरी और मंडलियों के विचारों का नमूना हैं।


Greenbrier Valley floods: Confronting climate change in Trump's coal country

Summary: It was the day the UK voted to leave the European Union but nobody cared about that in White Sulphur Springs.

By James CookChief news correspondent, BBC Scotland On 23 June 2016 the residents of this small West Virginia town were fighting to survive. They had been engulfed by a flash flood after torrential rain described by the US National Weather Service as a "one-in-a-thousand-year" storm. Water, mud and debris coursed down from the steep, thickly-forested slopes of the Appalachian mountains into Greenbrier Valley where the town sits. It smashed into homes and businesses, rupturing gas lines and setting properties ablaze. One video posted on a local news website showed a burning house, ripped from its foundations, floating through the town. By the time it was all over, 23 people across West Virginia were dead, most of them in Greenbrier County. Ronnie Scott's wife, Belinda, was one of them. The 54-year-old was preparing pork chops for dinner when the floodwater hit. Amid the confusion she ended up trapped in the attic while her husband, unaware of her plight, helped to rescue other people. When she told him by telephone that she was trapped, Mr Scott tried to get back to help her. In the chaos, it proved impossible. "It causes nightmares," he tells the BBC, "when you hear people screaming 'please help me.'" As he tried in vain to battle through the mud, "I heard 'kaboom,'" says Mr Scott. The house had exploded. Badly burned, Belinda ended up trapped above the water in a tree which her husband had planted years before. More than three years later Mr Scott breaks down as he describes the moment he saw his wife in the specialist burns unit of a local hospital. "It was really nasty. I ended up on the floor crying," he says. "The 2016 flood in the Greenbrier Valley was absolutely catastrophic," says Professor Nicolas Zegre, director of the Mountain Hydrology Laboratory at West Virginia University (WVU). "Twenty three people killed. Millions of dollars worth of damage. Total disruption of the social system as well as economic system within that area. And incidentally we've had very large storms and floods almost every year since 2016 as well." While scientists tend not to link individual weather events to climate change, they have published a wealth of evidence that rising global temperatures make catastrophic floods such as the one which struck White Sulphur Springs more likely. "With warming air temperatures the atmosphere can hold more water and there's more evaporation," says Prof Zegre, whose work is funded by the National Science Foundation. And that means "more frequent intense precipitation events". West Virginia is actually one of the few US states which does not, on average, show significant warming over the past century. Nor is there an overall precipitation trend during the 118-year period on record. However the wider region, the country and the world have recorded rapidly rising average temperatures in recent years and the number of "extreme precipitation events" such as the 2016 downpour has been above average since the late 1990s. In the northeastern region of the US, which in this context includes West Virginia, "extreme precipitation" increased by 71% from 1958 to 2012 according to the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive US government study. Those extremes are driven, says Prof Zegre, by mass production of energy and food pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As a result, he says, the US is experiencing not only more-frequent, more-intense rainstorms, but also longer periods of drought. "The critical thing to understand is that the entire system... is becoming more variable," he says. "With the amount of people we have on this planet it is impossible to not have an impact on the earth and impact on the atmosphere." And yet many West Virginians seem to be struggling to come to terms with climate science, an attitude which appears to be tied to the state's strong identity as a producer of coal. A study for the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication suggests a majority of Americans (53%) now think global warming is caused mostly by human activities. But the researchers report that denial remains highest in the two states which produce the most coal, with just 38% of those surveyed in Wyoming and 39% in West Virginia agreeing that human activity is mostly to blame for rising temperatures. Both states voted for the self-styled champion of coal, Republican Donald Trump, as president by large margins. "Coal is the single largest economic activity that occurs in the state of West Virginia," says Jason Bostic, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, a trade body. "About 50,000 folks are directly employed in the coal industry," he says, adding that those jobs are often well-paid and support many more throughout the state. For student campaigners here who joined in the global "climate strike" and rallied in the sunshine outside their university in Morgantown over the weekend, raising awareness about climate change here can be difficult. "You can't ignore that this state was built on coal," says Abby Minihan, president of the student chapter of an environmental group, the Sierra Club, at West Virginia University. "It's sometimes very hard to be an environmentalist in West Virginia because you can't say to someone whose whole family has made their entire living off of coal, like, 'well you're wrong,'" she adds. Ms Minihan may be struggling to find the most diplomatic way to deploy the message but that is, in fact, what the students are saying. After all, she says, "nothing else matters if you don't have a planet to live on". According to Olivia Young, a student of astrophysics at WVU who also works as a science educator for a team funded by the US space agency, Nasa, a lack of decent scientific education is part of the problem. "Not many places in West Virginia offer physics programmes in their high schools and those who do very few of them are taught by people actually trained in physics," she says. That is where the Nasa programme comes in. "We go out into schools and give science presentations and demos to little kids," explains Ms Young. One such experiment involves using glass beakers of bright bubbling liquid to demonstrate how carbon emissions warm the atmosphere. Sometimes, says the scientist, young children are confused and ask why their parents have told them that climate change isn't real. "I don't try to step on parents' toes," she says, delicately, but "with the older students we do try to engage more in active conversations. "We focus on showing the science, the scientific process, that this is why we're thinking the way we are. We didn't just come up with an idea. We actually have evidence to back it up." These young environmentalists are being challenged by the industry which they criticise. "If they turn off the televisions, put their phones down, quit driving their cars, quit buying carpet, quit building houses, go live in a cave, that'll solve the problem because nobody will make anything," says Mr Bostic of the West Virginia Coal Association. He tells us he does not accept the global scientific consensus on climate change and even if he did he would still argue that American coal "is not the problem". "Emissions in this country have dropped consistently since the 1970s," he says, adding "they need to focus on the emerging economies of China, India and Africa." He is scornful too of the alternative energy solutions proposed by the climate strikers. "You have to have consistent reliable electric power. That doesn't come from windmills, doesn't come from solar panels, doesn't come from pixie dust, doesn't come from unicorns and doesn't come from well-wishes. That comes from fossil fuel, comes from coal, natural gas and even nuclear." Donald Trump recognises this, says Mr Bostic, praising the president's roll-back of environmental regulations brought in by his predecessor Barack Obama. "West Virginia came through a really difficult period during the Obama administration where good hard-working men and women lost their jobs for no other reason than for a short-sighted political agenda," he says. "So President Trump has been a relief to us. He's been a breath of fresh air. We think he shares our values and we think he cares about the ability of this country to produce coal... and in turn produce goods for the American economy so that everybody's a step closer to realising the American dream. Personally I love the guy." However, official data do not appear to support claims of a major mining boom under President Trump. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50,800 people were directly employed in US coal mining in January 2017, the month Mr Trump took office. By June this year, the last month for which confirmed figures are available, the number had risen by just 2,200 to 53,000. Nationwide there are 43 times as many people working for Walmart than are directly employed in the entire US coal industry. Coal production edged up nationally from 660m tonnes (728m US tons) in 2016 to 703m tonnes (775m US tons) in 2017 before dropping back to 685m tonnes (756m US tons) in 2018. So far in 2019 it is down again, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) website and remains well below both recent and historical averages. And domestic coal consumption has actually fallen since Mr Trump took office. Still, the president continues to prioritise the extraction of fossil fuels over environmental concerns as he campaigns for re-election next year. That may play well with Republicans but it could be a message which makes it harder for him to win over other voters. The share of Americans who say climate change is a "major threat" to the well-being of their country rose from 40% in 2013 to 57% in 2019, according to a poll for the Pew Research Center. For Ronnie Scott, the issue is deeply personal. In the memorial park where his home once stood he hugs the tree where rescuers found his wife. Mr Scott, like so many of his fellow Americans, is a devout Christian. "I'm going to be with Belinda again," he says. "And when we meet we won't have to worry about floods, fires, all of the bad stuff that goes on in this world." And then, tears in his eyes, he asks: "I want to know what we're going to do about this global warming? "It's terrible. People need to change their way of living."

यह वह दिन था जब ब्रिटेन ने यूरोपीय संघ छोड़ने के लिए मतदान किया था लेकिन व्हाइट सल्फर स्प्रिंग्स में किसी ने इसकी परवाह नहीं की थी।


Analysis: Tax powers for Wales

Summary: The Welsh government has got most of what it wanted - the big prize is early access to borrowing powers, initially using defunct powers inherited from the Welsh Development Agency, but then full borrowing proportionate to those held by Scotland.

By Toby MasonPolitical reporter, BBC Wales Scotland got £2.2bn in borrowing headroom under the 2012 Act - an equal proportion for Wales would be around £1.1bn - that's the basis on which the Welsh government is working. It also understands that there will be no obligation to take income tax powers to access this full amount - the sums generated by Stamp Duty and Landfill Tax will be sufficient as income streams. It is disappointed not to get long-haul Air Passenger Duty - but it was always a bit of a flier (if you'll pardon the pun) as the tax with the greatest potential to put airports like Bristol and Manchester at a competitive disadvantage. The Aggregates Levy probably will be devolved but further work needs to be done on state aid issues. First Minister Carwyn Jones was at pains to stress in his press conference that the M4 relief road is only "an option" for the use of borrowing powers, also citing improvements to the A55 and other non-transport infrastructure projects - for example, he said building a hospital the size of Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales now would be impossible without borrowing powers - basically it would mean going down the PFI route. M4 timescale I think the Welsh government has realised that in seeking to make the case for borrowing powers they may have over-emphasised the M4 relief road aspect and are now seeking to demonstrate they would have more Wales-wide benefits. Today's announcement doesn't necessarily change the timescale for the M4 relief road - it means the current consultation can continue but with certainty that there will be funds to begin construction when that becomes possible. In terms of income tax, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg were very clear that they will legislate during this Parliament to give the Welsh government and the assembly the powers to trigger a referendum on whether Wales should have income tax varying powers. But they said the timing of that referendum is solely a matter for Wales - they would not seek to influence it in any way. The first minister's position on income tax devolution is that it would "lock in" what he considers the underfunding of Wales under the current Barnett formula. He says that he could not "hand on heart" recommend to the Welsh people that income tax should be devolved as he could not then continue to argue with the UK government that the block grant should be increased to meet Wales' needs. Scottish independence I put it to him that if agreement was reached on "fair funding" then did he agree that in principle that Wales should have some income tax varying powers? He said he could not answer hypothetical questions, but that it would be up to each of the parties contesting the next assembly election to put their proposals in their manifestos in 2016. If Labour were to rule out income tax devolution for the next assembly (2016-2021) then the only thing that could change that is if holding a referendum in that period became a "red line" in coalition negotiations with Plaid Cymru and/or the Liberal Democrats, in the event that Labour fails to win an overall majority. The Welsh Conservatives are also in favour of income tax powers for Wales. The backdrop to all of this is the looming Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Carwyn Jones made it clear to David Cameron at a meeting in Downing Street last month that although he was staunch supporter of the Union, he could not in all conscience travel to Scotland and campaign without being clear that the UK government had failed to deliver the extra powers that Wales wanted - something which would have resonance for Scottish voters trying to decide whether Scotland would be better or worse off outside the UK. Mr Jones will now travel to Scotland at an early opportunity to give a speech in strong support of the Union, using today's Silk announcement as an argument for Scottish voters to have confidence that they can gain more powers while voting No and remaining within the UK. All of today's announcements (apart from the early borrowing powers) will now be put into a new Government of Wales Act to be passed through Parliament before the 2015 election with the intention to come into force for the new assembly elected in May 2016.

वेल्श सरकार को वह मिला है जो वह चाहती थी-बड़ा पुरस्कार उधार लेने की शक्तियों तक जल्दी पहुंच है, शुरू में वेल्श विकास एजेंसी से विरासत में मिली निष्क्रिय शक्तियों का उपयोग करना, लेकिन फिर स्कॉटलैंड द्वारा रखे गए लोगों के अनुपात में पूर्ण उधार लेना।


Nokia: The rise and fall of a mobile giant

Summary: From market domination to sell-off in less than 10 years. As Microsoft swoops in to buy Nokia's mobile business for £4.6bn, what happened to Finland's most beloved company, and why would Microsoft take it on?

By Dave LeeTechnology reporter, BBC News Whenever you turned on one of Nokia's legendary handsets, you always got the same thing: that famous signature logo, holding hands. And for more than one generation, it was hand-holding Nokia did best - carrying people through, bit by bit, the mobile revolution. Because way before we were shouting, "Damn you autocorrect", we were grappling with new-fangled predictive text. In the days before highly customisable backgrounds and operating systems, there were swappable (and very, very cool) fascias. And, of course, more than 12 years before anyone ever made birds angry, there was the mobile game to rule them all: Snake. Nokia were by no means the first company to release a commercially available mobile phone, but it was the first to do it really well, and with true mass appeal. "Back in the 1990s there weren't these other big brands," says Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight. "Nokia were so dominant. People didn't talk about what brand, it was just about the number, 3210, or whatever you had. They took users on a journey." Era of complacency So far, so good - but then one presentation changed everything. "Complacency had kicked in," Mr Wood continues, "they felt they could do no wrong. "Then all of a sudden, in January 2007, Steve Jobs walked on to a stage and pulled an iPhone out of his pocket and changed the world forever." The fall was swift. According to figures from analyst firm Gartner, Nokia's smartphone market share in 2007 was a dominant 49.4%. In subsequent years, it was 43.7%, then 41.1%, then 34.2%. In the first half of this year, it had plummeted to just 3%. Many blame this decline, at least in the initial stages, on Symbian, the firm's mobile operating system. It was, to paraphrase a welter of expert opinion, simply not up to the job. "They missed the importance of software," Mr Wood says. "Nokia make great phones, they still do. They went through this incredible decade of innovation in hardware, but what Apple saw was that all you needed was a rectangle with a screen, and the rest was all about the software." Windows gamble It took just a few years for Nokia phones to go from being the must-have handset in your pocket, to being the long-forgotten handset, nestled in that eternal graveyard of the mobile phone - the kitchen drawer. So why would Microsoft spend £4.6bn on a business that looks like it's on the way out? To use a romantic analogy: they were the only two left at the party who hadn't paired up with anyone. "They were left dancing together, and thought they might as well go home," jokes Mr Wood. "Microsoft was left with few alternatives, because they've got to succeed in mobile." But far from facing an awkward morning after, buying up Nokia's phone business does make a lot of sense for both parties. For starters, Nokia's flagship smartphones already use Windows Phone, Microsoft's operating system which, although still way behind its competitors, is at least gathering some modest momentum. With Nokia's phone business moving in-house, Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer tells the BBC that the acquisition means they can "improve the agility" of innovation in mobile. Roberta Cozza, an analyst with Gartner, agrees. "I think that for Microsoft to compete in today's mobile market against Apple and Google they needed to be more than just a software company," she tells the BBC. "Depending on the way they figure out the organisational structure with the Nokia people inside, they can allow Nokia to innovate around hardware, and get input from them on the operating system, and gain the opportunity to deliver more competitive products." Additionally, Ms Cozza says, Microsoft gains key expertise in emerging markets. "Nokia has know-how of this market that goes beyond the hardware," she says. Reinventing Nokia It's hard to imagine Nokia as anything other than a mobile phone company. But a peek into its history shows a deep-rooted ability to reinvent itself. Indeed, there was a time when Nokia was famous for its durable rubber boots and car tyres. "I wouldn't be against the 'new' Nokia managing to pull something off," says CCS Insight's Mr Wood. Clues to the company's future lie with recent strategic movements. One recent deal, for example, saw Nokia buy up Siemens' share in Nokia Solutions and Networks, a mobile broadband company. Also remaining in Nokia's portfolio is its well-regarded maps division - Here - which is the mapping software of choice in 80% of cars that feature built-in dashboard navigation. And then of course, there are those all-important patents. Thanks to Nokia's early dominance, it owns many crucial patents on which the mobile industry relies. Forbes estimates that Nokia's portfolio is worth somewhere in the region of $4bn (£2.6bn). So while this may signal the beginning of the end for Nokia as a well-known brand in the hands of millions, many believe it is in good shape to move forward and build as a key player behind the scenes - without the distraction of chasing mainstream popularity. "Essentially what's left is a new Nokia," Mr Wood concludes. Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

बाजार के प्रभुत्व से लेकर 10 साल से भी कम समय में बिकवाली तक। जैसे ही माइक्रोसॉफ्ट नोकिया के मोबाइल व्यवसाय को £ 4.6bn में खरीदने के लिए आगे बढ़ रहा है, फिनलैंड की सबसे प्यारी कंपनी का क्या हुआ, और माइक्रोसॉफ्ट इसे क्यों लेगा?


The Indian street food bringing theatre to your plate

Summary: Chole bhature is street food as street theatre.

By Justin RowlattSouth Asia correspondent Chole is a spicy chickpea curry and comes accompanied with a very special kind of fried bread called bhature, and that's where the spectacle comes in. The dish originated in the proud north Indian state of Punjab, but is now so popular across India that any number of interlopers try and claim it as their own - including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Don't believe them. Chole bhature is Punjabi through and through: as stout and hearty as the famed warriors the state has produced throughout history. You'll never forget the first time you see it being made. This is the sixth article in a BBC series India on a plate, on the diversity and vibrancy of Indian food. Other stories in the series: Inside India's 'dying' Irani cafes What Indians have done to global cuisine The story of the samosa Cooking the world's oldest-known curry Why India is a nation of foodies The chefs - because proper preparation takes real skill - slap and pound a ball of leavened dough before rolling it into a thin disk or oval shape. Then they toss it into a great smoking pan of hot oil. And here's where the magic happens. The bread sizzles and froths angrily for a moment before the bubbles of air trapped within begin to expand. Then, before your eyes, the bhature inflates like a balloon. The chef will turn it in the hot oil to ensure the surface is evenly crisp and golden. Then he (Indian street food is almost exclusively prepared by men) will pop a couple on a plate with a generous scoop of the spicy chickpea stew. I guarantee you'll burn your fingers in your desperation to tear open the hot bread and scoop up a generous mouthful of curry. And if chole bhature scores high on spectacle, it also rates very highly for what food scientists call, rather clinically, "mouthfeel". Mouthfeel is exactly what it sounds like: the way the food feels in your mouth. Giant food businesses like McDonalds, Nestle and Kraft spend hundreds of millions of dollars making sure the physical and chemical properties of their new food products interact in your mouth to create the most satisfying sensations as you gobble them up. But the ancient chefs of Punjab did it by instinct: the combination of crisp fatty bread with soft spicy curry makes for a heavenly combination. By tradition this is a breakfast food - and would last most of us all the way through to supper - but the truth is food this good can be eaten at anytime so you'll see chole bhature chefs working their magic all day long. If there is an Indian street food you think Justin needs to taste contact him @BBCJustinR

छोले भटूरे स्ट्रीट थिएटर के रूप में स्ट्रीट फूड है।


D-Day anniversary: France's forgotten Blitz

Summary: It has been a taboo subject in France for 70 years but in his D-Day commemoration speech on 6 June, President Francois Hollande will pay tribute to the terrible civilian casualties suffered by the French due to Allied bombing up to and during the liberation of France.

By John LaurensonBBC News Historians believe Allied bombardments killed almost as many French people as German bombs killed Britons during the Blitz. According to research carried out by Andrew Knapp, history professor at the UK's University of Reading, British, American and Canadian air raids resulted in 57,000 French civilian losses in World War Two. "That's a figure slightly below, but comparable to, the 60,500 the British lost as a result of Luftwaffe bombing over the same period," says Knapp who is the co-author of Forgotten Blitzes and a book just published in France called Les francais sous les bombes alliees 1940-1945 (The French Under Allied Bombardment). "It is also true that France took seven times the tonnage of [Allied] bombs that the UK took [from Nazi Germany]," says Knapp. "Roughly 75,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on the UK [including Hitler's V missiles]. In France, it's in the order of 518,000 tonnes," he says. 'War crimes' Winston Churchill, who addressed the French over the airwaves with confidence and even a certain relish in their own language, spoke to them as Allies despite the collaboration with the Nazis of a part of the French population. But the bombing tactics employed did not always reflect this. Knapp divides the Allied bombardments into three categories: "Some did manage to be accurate and cause minimal civilian casualties. "The second category, you can see why they did it but the level of civilian casualties might be considered disproportionate to the military advantage. And the third category it's really quite hard to understand, even with hindsight, why they did it at all." The most disturbing example is the bombing of Le Havre in September 1944. Nearly all of the city was reduced to ash and 5,000 French men, women and children were killed. Allied infantry took the port a few days later but, many believe, they would have done it without the bombardment. "It's fairly clear," says Knapp, "that on the basis of the treaties we have signed now - not the treaties we had signed then - some of these raids would be eligible for the category of war crimes." Silence 'amazing' Catherine Monfajon, author of a documentary on the subject that has just been shown on French TV, says the French often showed great spirit. At the funeral for more than 100 French apprentices killed in an Allied air raid on St Nazaire, when a Vichy official started speaking about "birds of death", a whistle of disapproval rose from the very gallery where the parents of the dead boys were standing. At the end of the War, St Nazaire was recorded as "100% destroyed" but talking about the destruction in this and 1,500 other towns was taboo. "That silence is amazing and amazed me," says Monfajon. "France was the third country most bombed by the Allies after Germany and Japan and it is hardly mentioned in our history books." This was largely because of the way the collaborationist Vichy regime used these casualties in their propaganda in order to turn public opinion against the Allies. Even so much as questioning the bombing was considered suspect, she says. "And people were split between their pain, their anger and their gratitude towards these pilots who brought them freedom. Who died for that." Rubble and ash As the bombing of French cities intensified around D-Day, Churchill expressed concern that the scale of civilian casualties could durably damage Anglo-French relations even after the war was won. Arthur "Bomber" Harris, head of RAF Bomber Command, wanted all his bombers pounding Germany. Although apparently untroubled by the carnage inflicted on German civilians, he was pained by French casualties to the point of collecting money to send to help Allied bombing orphans. Almost half of Bomber Command's airmen were killed in action. Their missions, their commanders argued, would help win the war more quickly. But as the French are finally daring to say, the liberation of Normandy towns like Saint Lo, Caen and Le Havre turned them into wastelands of rubble and ash. On D-Day itself, 2,500 Allied soldiers were killed. About the same number of French civilians were killed also. Not heroes perhaps. But as the French president will affirm on the landing beaches on 6 June, their sacrifice for freedom was great.

यह 70 वर्षों से फ्रांस में एक वर्जित विषय रहा है, लेकिन 6 जून को अपने डी-डे स्मरणोत्सव भाषण में राष्ट्रपति फ्रांस्वा ओलांद फ्रांस की मुक्ति तक और उसके दौरान मित्र देशों की बमबारी के कारण फ्रांसीसी लोगों को हुए भयानक नागरिक हताहतों को श्रद्धांजलि देंगे।


Isle of Wight oil tanker stowaways bailed by police

Summary: Seven men detained after special forces stormed an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight have been released on bail by the police, but remain in Border Force custody.

The Nigerian nationals were arrested on suspicion of seizing or exercising control of the Nave Andromeda. The Special Boat Service landed on the ship when the stowaways reportedly became violent on Sunday night. The tanker later docked in Southampton with all 22 crew members reported safe. Hampshire Constabulary was granted extra time to question the suspects following their arrests on Monday, but released them on bail late on Thursday. While the investigation continues, the men will remain detained under Border Force powers. The Southampton-bound ship had left Lagos on 5 October.

आइल ऑफ वाइट के पास एक तेल टैंकर पर विशेष बलों के हमले के बाद हिरासत में लिए गए सात लोगों को पुलिस ने जमानत पर रिहा कर दिया है, लेकिन वे सीमा बल की हिरासत में हैं।


Muna interview: Defiant pop from LA rising stars

Summary: LA pop trio Muna have been singled out as one of the most exciting new bands of 2016, mixing 80s pop melodies with a uniquely powerful message. They talk to the BBC about their origins and taking a millennial approach to girl power.

By Mark SavageBBC Music reporter For a band who specialise in dark pop, Muna are surprisingly chatty. On a conference call from Los Angeles, singer Katie Gavin and guitarists Naomi McPherson and Josette Maskin are all talking at once, stumbling over each other's words until the conversation grinds to a halt and someone has to be nominated to finish the answer. As an interview, it is utter chaos - but the band's camaraderie is infectious. It all stems from their origins at the University of Southern California. The trio lived in the same apartment building, discovering their musical and mutual chemistry at a late night party. "We just got together and jammed," says McPherson, "and we kind of just wrote our first song as soon as we did that." "We wrote three parts - a verse, chorus and bridge," continues Maskin. "Katie took it away and the next day she came back with a melody and we were like, 'Oh God, this is a pop song!' It was something of a shock for the guitarists, who had previously been playing progressive rock and ska. "But Katie just said, 'I'm pop, deal with it,' and walked away. It was very funny." The ice duly broken, the band continued to refine their sound - a spiky-but-polished take on 1980s soft rock. Imagine a goth version of Haim and you'll be half-way there. Their songs are instantly relatable, discussing heartbreak, rejection, self-worth and female identity without shying away from the complexities of those topics. Early single So Special, for example, is a percolating synth-pop confessional with a devastating lyric about a girl who is judged for her sex life. "There's a few bad things I've done, that nobody made me do," sings Gavin. "Most just to get myself off, and the rest to get over you". The band describe the song as a "drunken reckoning of oneself" but, more importantly, "an anthem for the slut-shamed girls of the world who have to assert their own value". Revolution Strength in the face of adversity and ridicule emerges as a theme in their music, And nowhere is that more true than on Loudspeaker, the lead track of the band's recent EP. At first glance, it seems like a standard issue break-up song, but Gavin says it emerged from a much darker episode in her life. "I was really, really drunk at a party and somebody had sex with me in a way that I didn't want to happen, that I didn't give consent for," she explains. "And then my group of friends at the time - they didn't know any better but they all made fun of me because there was someone else at the party that they thought I should have been with - and instead I was with this other person. "It was just this giant [disaster] where something bad happened to me and then, on top of it, I was made to feel like a bad person. And I just took it and dealt with it privately and minimised it." The song came out years later, when Gavin realised the assault had "had a deeper emotional effect on me than I was allowing myself to feel". "That happens a lot in situations like that. When you're taken advantage of, it's never as clear as it would be on TV. So a lot of times, with women, we don't even identify that we've been sexually violated. So it can be months, it can years after the fact. "That song was the start of a difference. It's about making a commitment to talk about the stuff that I'm going through. I'm not going to behave in a way where I feel ashamed." One line in particular - "every time I don't shut up, it's a revolution" - has stuck a chord with fans, says Gavin. "People will make art and that's the line they'll take out and use. That really warms my heart." Her willingness to address thorny issues is what earns Muna their "dark pop" epithet - but that's not to say their music is hard work. The rippling, radio-friendly harmonies and fizzing production will have you dancing long before the lyrics engage your brain. And that's partly the point. "When I talk to a taxi driver and they ask me what kind of music my band makes, I just say 'pop'," says Gavin. "But when you consider the multiple meanings of our music - it's just dark. The things that drive us to write songs can sometimes be really heavy." If you search for Muna online, you will quickly find them described as a "queer band", a label which, bizarrely, focuses on their sexuality above their music. The three members all identify as queer - a broader, more fluid term that resists categorisations like straight or gay - but they resist the idea that it should affect the perception of their music, while allowing that other queer or marginalised people might relate to the lyrics on a different level. As if to prove it, the song that provoked the biggest response from fans is Winter Break - a familiar tale about two exes who find themselves irresistibly pulled back into each other's orbit. "It's about a high-school relationship - but then you go to college and, even though it's been a year, there's still something there and it's totally misleading," says Gavin, who deliberately avoided using personal pronouns like "he" or "she" in the lyrics. "We've had people get really emotional about it." The strength of people's reactions to Muna's self-produced EP piqued the interest of record labels, and Sony offshoot Columbia eventually signed the trio. This summer, they've been hard at work on their debut album which, as of August, is in the bag. The highlight, they say, is a new song called I Know A Place. "It's just kind of a banger," says McPherson. "We've played it live a lot and it's kind of the turning point in the set. If people aren't sure if they like us or not, they usually come to the dark side after that track." British fans will get a chance to hear it in full when the band play their first UK headline show at London's Notting Hill Arts Club on Wednesday night. "I've heard it's a good venue," says Gavin, questioningly. "Is there a stage, or are you right in there with the crowd?" Reassured that there is, in fact, a small platform for the band to stand on, McPherson seems relieved. "We started playing at parties so we like when people are close. But two or three feet off the ground is just enough to have a bit of mystery!" Most of all, though, the trio are excited to be sharing their success with each other. "We're very close and we get emotional a lot over it," says Gavin. "It's one thing for you to feel that you're doing well - but it's another thing to turn around and see two of your best friends in the entire world, and we're doing it all together. It's very special to us." Muna's Loudspeaker EP is out now. They play the Notting Hill Arts Club on Wednesday, 28 September and support Grouplove on their US and European tour for the rest of the year. Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

एल. ए. पॉप तिकड़ी मुना को 2016 के सबसे रोमांचक नए बैंडों में से एक के रूप में चुना गया है, जिसमें 80 के दशक की पॉप धुनों को एक अद्वितीय शक्तिशाली संदेश के साथ मिलाया गया है। वे बी. बी. सी. से अपनी उत्पत्ति और बालिका शक्ति के लिए एक सहस्राब्दी दृष्टिकोण के बारे में बात करते हैं।


Investors weigh up China bank options

Summary: It has not been a good year so far for Chinese investors.

By Chris HoggBBC News, Shanghai The Shanghai stock market has lost 26% of its value since the start of the year - far more than most others across the globe. One reason for the fall has been anticipation of a big event - the listing of the Agricultural Bank of China (AgBank) this month in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The bank is selling at least 22 billion shares in Shanghai and 25 billion in Hong Kong. It has an option to increase those figures by 15% if the share offer is oversubscribed. It is the last of the big four Chinese banks to hold an initial public offering (IPO) and it has sucked liquidity out of the markets both here and Hong Kong, as investors have sold stocks to raise the cash they needed to get a stake in the flotation. Reports say that in Hong Kong, the shares have been priced for HK$3.20 each (41 US cents), the midpoint of the expected range, while in Shanghai, the shares are priced for 2.68 yuan (40 US cents), the top of the expected range. If the extra 15% is taken up by underwriters, the issue will beat the previous record of $21.6 billion, set by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, four years ago. 'Low expectations' In the Shanghai Hongyuan Stock Exchange - a private stock dealing firm - a huge room is filled with computer terminals. Sitting behind them are investors - many of them retirees. They come to keep an eye on their stocks, to trade, and to debate with each other the merits or otherwise of the shares on offer. Lin Ming is in his fifties and retired. He has been coming to the exchange along with one of his neighbours, a fellow investor, ever since he left his job. He says he is planning to buy shares in the AgBank "as long as the dividends it pays are higher than bank interest". And he is convinced the bank is a good investment because it is state-owned. "It has support from the state, as well as from government-owned funds," he says. "I'm not sure if the share price will soar or not, but I think it's very unlikely to fall below its opening price." Li Guohong, who worked in finance before she retired, is more pessimistic about the AgBank's prospects. "It has so many bad debts, accumulated over the past few years," she says. "I have low expectations". 'Popular' Many commentators would agree with her. They describe the AgBank as the "weakest" of the big four banks in China. Its chairman, Xiang Junbo, a war hero before he was a banker, has worked hard to turn it around in recent years. Two and a half years ago, more than a quarter of its loans were "non-performing" (in other words, the customers could not pay). It took time to transfer that bad debt to a government-backed asset management company. Only now that these loans have been offloaded can the flotation go ahead. AgBank is offering a 15% stake in its business to private and institutional investors, but this will not be the only opportunity to take a stake in a Chinese bank this year. The banks need to raise billions of dollars from the stock markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The government had ordered them to lend freely to help get businesses through the global financial crisis, but now its telling them to strengthen their balance sheets. Some analysts that together they need to raise more than $74bn. "These share issues have such a big effect on the markets because bank shares are popular and are seen as relatively safe, says Ken Peng, of Citibank in Beijing. "They are attracting way more funds than are actually needed for the flotation, which is why you see the People's Bank of China [the Central Bank] needing to inject one trillion yuan ($147.6 billion) into the markets over the last few weeks just to maintain liquidity." Slowdown risk The question is whether the markets can absorb these demands for funds. In recent weeks some other big IPOs have been shelved. Swire Properties in Hong Kong, for example, abandoned a $2.7bn flotation in May citing deteriorating market conditions. The draining of funds from the market ahead of the AgBank IPO is partly to blame although other factors such as the sovereign debt crisis in the Eurozone have not helped market sentiment. Investors are not sure whether China's economy is sufficiently isolated or "decoupled" from the problems in the Eurozone. The worry is that if markets here continue to fall, making it harder for Chinese banks to raise the funds they need in the coming months, they will have less money to pump into the economy, risking a slowdown in the recovery. But not everyone believes this will happen. PricewaterhouseCoopers has raised its prediction of funds likely to be raised through IPOs in Shanghai and Shenzhen (the two mainland China exchanges) this year to 500bn yuan. The firm expects at least 300 new listing, making China the number one in the global flotation market, both in terms of the number of IPOs and the funds raised. Hong Kong has seen an increase of 186% in funds raised by IPOs in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period in 2009. "The China IPO market has picked up significantly… despite the uncertainties on global recovery and the Euro debt crisis" PwC's Frank Lyn said in a statement. Excitement? Chinese banks do not yet offer their customers the same kind of sophisticated financial products on offer in western economies. So those with money to invest are left with the property market, now subject to tighter restrictions as the government tries to cool rising prices, and the stock markets. The pricing of the AgBank shares, and their performance in the first few days and weeks of trading, will be watched closely by others planning IPOs in the second half of the year. They will be looking for any indication of investor sentiment. Will there be excitement at the opportunity to invest in a major state-owned bank, whatever the concerns about its efficiency and profitability? Or will fears about slowing growth here, the worry about the bad loans on AgBank's books and those of other banks and volatility in stock markets, lead investors to hang on to their cash and stay out of the market?

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