bbc--2020-03-01--Gender clinic 'should have challenged me more'

A 23-year-old woman who is taking legal action against an NHS gender clinic says she should have been challenged more by medical staff over her decision to transition to a male as a teenager .
A judge gave the go-ahead this week for a full hearing of the case against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust .
Lawyers will argue children can not give informed consent to treatment delaying puberty or helping them to transition .
The Tavistock said it always took a cautious approach to treatment .
Gender identity charity Mermaids said that people face a long wait for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can save lives and that very few people regret their decision .
The clinic based in Hampstead , north-west London , which runs the UK 's only gender-identity development service ( GIDS ) , added that it welcomed an examination of the evidence in this contentious area .
Keira Bell is one of the claimants and will give evidence in the judicial review , which is likely to be heard in early summer .
The second claimant , known only as Mum A , is the mother of a 15-year-old girl with autism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinic .
Keira describes being a tomboy as a child .
When asked how strongly she felt the need to change her gender identity , she replied that it gradually built up as she found out more about transitioning online .
Then as she went down the medical route , she said `` one step led to another '' .
She was referred to the Tavistock GIDS clinic at the age of age 16 .
She said after three one-hour-long appointments she was prescribed puberty blockers , which delay the development of signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair .
She felt there was n't enough investigation or therapy before she reached that stage .
`` I should have been challenged on the proposals or the claims that I was making for myself , '' she said .
`` And I think that would have made a big difference as well .
If I was just challenged on the things I was saying . ''
They are drugs which can pause the development of things like breasts , periods , facial hair and voice breaking They can be prescribed to children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at birth does n't match up with their gender .
This is meant to give them more time to weigh up their options before they go through the physical changes of puberty .
Although puberty blockers are described by the NHS as reversible , GIDS acknowledges that their impact on brain development and psychological health is not fully known .
A year after starting the puberty-blockers she said she was prescribed the male hormone testosterone , which developed male characteristics like facial hair and a deep voice .
Three years ago , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Initially I felt very relieved and happy about things , but I think as the years go on you start to feel less and less enthusiastic or even happy about things .
`` You can continue and dig yourself deeper into this hole or you can choose to come out of it and have the weight lifted off your shoulders . ''
She decided to stop taking cross-sex hormones last year and said she was now accepting of her sex as a female .
But she was also angry about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade .
`` I was allowed to run with this idea that I had , almost like a fantasy , as a teenager ... .
and it has affected me in the long run as an adult .
`` I 'm very young .
I 've only just stepped into adulthood and I have to deal with this kind of burden or radical difference - in comparison to others at least . ''
Keira 's lawyers will argue that children can not weigh up the impact such a treatment might have on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their fertility .
Former staff at the clinic have raised concerns that teenagers who want to transition to a different gender are being given puberty blockers without adequate assessment or psychological work .
It has been claimed that children as young as 12 have received the drugs , which block the hormones that lead to puberty-related changes like periods or facial hair .
But she also understands why teenagers arrive at the clinic deeply distressed and desperate to change their gender .
`` I did say the same thing years ago when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would say it was saving me from suicidal ideation and depression in general and at the time I felt it relieved all those mental health issues I was feeling , alongside gender dysphoria . ''
She described her family life as difficult .
She also believes if she had felt more accepted by society as she was then , she might not have wanted to changer her gender .
She added that she would n't have wanted to listen to voices of caution when she was younger .
`` I feel I could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I might not necessarily listen at that time .
And that 's the point of this case , when you are that young you do n't really want to listen .
`` So I think it 's up to these institutions , like the Tavistock , to step in and make children reconsider what they are saying , because it is a life-altering path . ''
Dr Polly Carmichael is the consultant clinical psychologist who runs the Gender Identity Development Service .
She praised Keira for speaking out , but insisted the clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She described their approach as cautious and said they work closely with children and their families to reach the right decisions for them , with fewer than half of those seen going onto take puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones .
`` This is a really complex area with strong feelings on all sides .
And at its centre , the young people we work with - they come to us in often really great distress around their sense of themselves .
`` We 're talking about identity here , their identity , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not match that body . ''
She believes the judicial review , when it happens , will be an important opportunity to ensure the evidence around treatment and a child 's ability to consent is thoroughly examined .
`` This is a heated debate at the moment .
And I think taking a step back - and having an external considered review of the evidence and people 's feelings about the most appropriate way to support young people - can be nothing but beneficial at this point . ''
Gender identity charity Mermaids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and their families .
Its chief executive , Susie Green , has defended the current process , which she said was based on years of research , and said she hoped the judicial review would `` shine a light '' on young people 's experiences .
She told BBC News that many people who approached the charity were `` very distressed '' and that research had suggested puberty blockers could help reduce rates of self-harm and suicide .
And she said it was `` not proportionate '' to take away services because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people who regretted undergoing medical intervention .
`` In the first instance the waiting time is well over two years and when young people get into the service there is then a process which takes well into a year before medical intervention is considered , '' she told BBC News .
`` The process is very detailed they get a lot of information about the benefits , the pitfalls and the projected outcomes of what comes of any kind of medication .
So they make informed consent and that underpins the NHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party in the legal case .
It has already announced an independent review of its policies on the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones .
It describes this as part of a planned examination , which will be undertaken by a panel of independent experts .

She described her family life as difficult. She also believes if she had felt more accepted by society as she was then, she might not have wanted to change her gender. She added that she wouldn't have wanted to listen to voices of caution when she was younger.


bbc--2020-03-01--Malaysia gets new PM, Muhyiddin Yassin, after week of turmoil

Malaysia has a new prime minister , less than a week after the unexpected resignation of Mahathir Mohamad plunged its politics into turmoil .
Muhyiddin Yassin , backed by the corruption-tarnished former governing party , was sworn in by the king .
Mr Mahathir , 94 , who has dominated Malaysian politics for decades , described the appointment of Mr Muhyiddin as illegal and a betrayal .
He vowed to seek a vote in parliament to challenge Mr Muhyiddin 's support .
Mr Mahathir , who was the world 's oldest elected leader , had returned to power in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anwar Ibrahim .
In a surprise victory , he ousted then-prime minister Najib Razak , who is on trial charged with taking millions of dollars from a government wealth fund .
Mr Mahathir threw the country 's politics into turmoil last weekend when he resigned , breaking his alliance with Mr Anwar .
But the move backfired , as Mr Anwar initially decided to run for prime minister while Mr Muhyiddin built his alliance .
`` This is a very strange thing ...
Losers will form the government - the winners will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , referring to the outcome of the 2018 election .
This level of political uncertainty is without precedent in Malaysia , where one party , UMNO , ruled for more than 60 years , until its defeat in the election two years ago on a wave of public anger over corruption and abuses of power .
Mr Muhyiddin defected from Mr Mahathir 's coalition a week ago , and has allied himself with his old party , UMNO .
Many Malaysians fear the new government will rely heavily on ethnic Malay support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also fears it will row back on the corruption investigations into UMNO leaders , thought to have cost Malaysia many billions of dollars over the past decade .
Mr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 .
Mr Anwar was his deputy but the relationship soured when Mr Anwar was sacked in 1998 after a leadership dispute .
Mr Anwar was later jailed on corruption and sodomy charges , which were widely regarded as politically motivated .
• Najib Razak : The fall of Malaysia 's former PM But in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that he was teaming up with Mr Anwar .
He said he was doing so to oust the government of Mr Najib , who had become embroiled in the 1MDB corruption scandal .
Mr Mahathir and Mr Anwar 's alliance won - and Mr Mahathir agreed to eventually hand power over to his partner .
But Mr Mahathir repeatedly refused to say when he would transfer power - stoking tensions within the opposition alliance .
After Mr Mahathir 's resignation last weekend , he and Mr Anwar then announced on Saturday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again and commanded majority support .
But the king , Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah , who had ultimate say on who should form a government , chose Mr Muhyiddin .
A former interior minister , Mr Muhyiddin once controversially described himself as `` Malay first '' and Malaysian second .

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bbc--2020-03-01--Home Secretary urged to respond to bullying claims

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has defended Priti Patel as `` courteous '' following bullying claims made by the ex-top civil servant in her department .
Sir Philip Rutnam , the Home Office 's most senior official , resigned on Saturday citing a `` vicious and orchestrated '' campaign against him .
The BBC has also learnt that a formal complaint about Ms Patel 's conduct was made when she was employment minister .
The home secretary has previously denied she mistreated staff .
Responding to Sir Philip 's departure , shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky News the situation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patel was `` on the way out '' .
In his statement , Sir Philip said he received allegations that Ms Patel 's conduct towards employees included `` swearing , belittling people , making unreasonable and repeated demands '' .
He said he now intended to take legal action against the Home Office on the basis of constructive dismissal .
The BBC 's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw has also learnt that a formal complaint about Ms Patel 's conduct was made when she was employment minister at the Department for Work and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not known , nor whether it was substantiated or followed up .
The complaint is believed to have been made by a member of her private office - a team of six to eight civil servants which works closely with an individual minister .
A spokesman for Ms Patel said she was `` not aware '' of the complaint and the government , while it did not deny the claim , said it would not comment on personnel issues .
One Whitehall insider said Ms Patel had created a `` hostile and unhappy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioning their capability and undermining their performance .
`` I felt very sorry for people in her private office - they felt bullied , '' they said .
David Penman - head of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants - said no formal complaints had been made about Ms Patel in her time at the Home Office but added `` that needs to taken in the context that there is no formal policy for making complaints against ministers : no code , no procedure , no transparency . ''
`` Staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is basically 'trust the Cabinet office behind closed doors to deal with it ' . ''
Speaking to the BBC 's Andrew Marr Show , Mr Hancock described Ms Patel as `` very determined '' but also `` extremely courteous '' .
He added that she was `` probably closer to where the public are on the issues of law and order than any home secretary in recent history '' .
Labour leadership contenders have also commented on Sir Philip 's departure , with Rebecca Long-Bailey calling it `` an example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa Nandy saying the Home Office was `` in chaos '' .
Labour 's Sir Keir Starmer called for an immediate investigation and said Ms Patel should come to Parliament to `` explain the allegations '' .
And the former head of the civil service , Lord Kerslake , argued that the home secretary might have to resign if Sir Philip wins his legal action .
Lord Kerslake , who has previously advised the Labour Party , said the resignation - and the way in which Sir Philip left - was `` extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` shockwaves '' through most of the civil service .
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Sunday he said : `` Every institution can do better and that 's true for the civil service as well , but what you do n't do is go to war with the civil service . ''
According to BBC correspondent Iain Watson , allies of Ms Patel are privately suggesting that Sir Philip was not up to the demands of the job .
The Home Office has to deliver on two key election pledges - recruiting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , post-Brexit immigration system .
It will also have to respond to a soon-to-be published independent report on the Windrush scandal - which saw many of those who had arrived in Caribbean countries between 1958 and 1971 detained or deported despite having the right to live in the UK .
Asked if the prime minister had full confidence in Ms Patel , a Downing Street source said Mr Johnson had full confidence in his cabinet .
Head of the civil service Sir Mark Sedwill thanked Sir Philip for his `` long and dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he received the resignation `` with great regret '' .
He said Shona Dunn , who had been Sir Philip 's deputy , will become acting permanent secretary .
Sir Philip 's departure , and the manner of it , goes way beyond any normal policy problems or clashes .
He took aim not just at Priti Patel , but alluded to what he said was a `` wider pattern '' in government .
Add this to the resignation of Sajid Javid , the former chancellor who expressed concerns about how the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unhappiness with how Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his team are running things .
Certainly it is a government in a hurry , willing to rattle cages in order to get things done .
But governments who want to get things done need an effective civil service to make things happen .
A very public breakdown in trust like this does not help that cause .
Indications at this early stage are that Ms Patel 's position is secure .
But with an employment tribunal in the offing , pressure may well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sir Philip pursues his case as he says he will , exactly what happened behind closed doors may soon be out there for all to see .
Read more from Laura here .

The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw has also learnt that a formal complaint about Ms Patel's conduct was made when she was employment minister at the Department for Work and Pensions. The substance of it is not known, nor whether it was substantiated or followed up.


bbc--2020-03-01--US election: Is this the best way to pick Trump's challenger?

The US primary campaign season is long , costly , and leads to relatively low turnout rates .
So is @ @ @ @ @ pick a contender to take on Donald Trump in November 's election ?

The US primary campaign season is long, costly, and leads to relatively low turnout rates. So is this the best way to pick a contender to take on Donald Trump in November's election?


bbc--2020-03-01--South Carolina primary: Winner Biden says he can beat Trump

Joe Biden romped to a massive win in the fourth state to pick a Democratic candidate to take on Donald @ @ @ @ @ speech in South Carolina , he vowed to beat Mr Trump and had a dig @ @ @ @ @ .

Joe Biden romped to a massive win in the fourth state to pick a Democratic candidate to take on Donald Trump.
Giving his victory speech in South Carolina, he vowed to beat Mr Trump and had a dig at his rival Bernie Sanders.


bbc--2020-02-27--Your pictures on the theme of 'railways'

Barbara Fuller : `` Heritage railways in the UK and around the world could not operate without the continued dedication @ @ @ @ @ who turn up come rain or shine .
This photo shows the engine driver and @ @ @ @ @ a very murky day in 2017 , on the Llangollen Railway in Denbighshire . ''

Image caption,
And finally a picture by Peer Kugler. The next theme is "circles" and the deadline for entries is 3 March 2020. Send pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or follow the link to "Upload your pictures here" below. Further details and terms can be found by following the link to "We set the theme, you take the pictures," at the bottom of the page.


bbc--2020-02-29--Making chopsticks into house furnishings

ChopValue collects 350,000 used chopsticks from Vancouver restaurants every week .
The bamboo utensils are cleaned and transformed into new @ @ @ @ @ .
The company 's aim is to reduce waste and create a `` viable business @ @ @ @ @ product .

ChopValue collects 350,000 used chopsticks from Vancouver restaurants every week.
The bamboo utensils are cleaned and transformed into new products like kitchenware and tabletops.
The company's aim is to reduce waste and create a "viable business" out of an everyday product.


bbc--2020-02-29--Latvia railway: Why I love living in an old train station

Milda Romanova , 88 , lives in an old railway station in the town of Auce , in Southern Latvia @ @ @ @ @ the railway since she was a little girl and loves everything to do with trains @ @ @ @ @ has been out of use since 1995 , the former station attendant doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ has bought a part of the station building and is determined to stay .
Milda @ @ @ @ @ Gusev around Auce station , where time stands still .

Milda Romanova, 88, lives in an old railway station in the town of Auce, in Southern Latvia.
She has worked on the railway since she was a little girl and loves everything to do with trains.
Even though the station has been out of use since 1995, the former station attendant doesn’t want to leave.
She has bought a part of the station building and is determined to stay.
Milda showed BBC Russian reporter Alexey Gusev around Auce station, where time stands still.


bbc--2020-02-29--Margaret Thatcher: Former PM named outfits after Gorbachev and Reagan

Margaret Thatcher named some of her outfits after other world leaders , including Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan , newly released documents show .
A 1990 diary entry records she wore her `` Pink Chanel Gorbachev '' suit during a visit to the set of Coronation Street .
Records reveal the Conservative prime minister also named several outfits after BBC broadcaster Terry Wogan .
Other papers show Mrs Thatcher was warned over a 1990 newspaper article on Europe written by Boris Johnson .
A Foreign Office memo shows an official thought the report by the current PM , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not accurate .
The incident is detailed in the latest release from the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust , which is overseeing the gradual publication of her private files .
Files show Mrs Thatcher , the UK 's first woman prime minister , named more outfits after Soviet leader Mr Gorbachev than any other leader , followed by US President Ronald Reagan .
An entry from her private diary records that she wore her `` Pink Chanel Gorbachev '' during a visit to Granada Television Studios in Manchester in January 1990 .
Eight months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress when she hosted Mr Gorbachev in London .
Chris Collins , from the Margaret Thatcher Archive Trust , said `` only certain men '' received the accolade of having an outfit named after them .
He noted , for example , that she chose to name a dress she wore when she met French President Francois Mitterrand after Waddesdon Manor , the Buckingham country house where the meeting took place .
And when she met President George HW Bush in 1990 , she is recorded as wearing her `` Black Dull Suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ christening of her wardrobe was not limited to foreign leaders she admired .
Another entry from 1990 details that she wore her `` Wogan Burgundy '' to the Bank of England .
The BBC broadcaster , who interviewed Mrs Thatcher in January of that year , had several outfits named after him including a `` Wogan Long '' and a `` Wogan Short '' .
Mr Collins says Mrs Thatcher appeared to start taking her appearance more seriously after a visit to Moscow in 1987 .
`` She 's suddenly , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` She begins then to see that this is actual serious politics and she 's got more clothes and she 's monitoring what she 's doing with them . ''
He added that keeping a record of her fashion choices may have been suggested to her by her `` dress adviser '' Margaret King , who was also a director of the Aquascutum fashion house .
The latest release of documents also shows Mrs Thatcher was warned against taking at face value an article on Europe by Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Daily Telegraph .
In the report , the current prime minister described comments by then-European Commission President Jacques Delors ahead of a summit on reform of the European Economic Community ( EEC ) due to take place later that year .
Mr Delors , he suggested , had unveiled plans for an EEC `` super-state '' , paving the way for a `` Federation of Europe '' .
Files show Mrs Thatcher marked the comments on a cutting of the article , written on 24 October 1990 , along with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official advised in a memo to Mrs Thatcher 's private secretary Charles Powell that what had been reported was not in the Commission 's official document .
`` It does not propose any radical change in the present institutional plans of the Community - although it does contain a lot of other horrors , '' he added .
A week after the article was published , Mrs Thatcher made her famous `` No , No , No '' speech in the House of Commons , in which she rejected Mr Delors ' plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

"She's suddenly, I think, aware of the power of clothes," he said. "She begins then to see that this is actual serious politics and she's got more clothes and she's monitoring what she's doing with them."


Saving the banana

Scientists around the world are working on ways to stop banana crops being wiped out by a new strain of @ @ @ @ @ , which has so far affected farms on four continents , reaches the banana plants @ @ @ @ @ the soil is almost impossible .
One idea under development in the Netherlands is to @ @ @ @ @ and replace it with something produced in a factory - such as loft insulation .
@ @ @ @ @ the People Fixing the World podcast

Scientists around the world are working on ways to stop banana crops being wiped out by a new strain of Panama disease.
The disease, which has so far affected farms on four continents, reaches the banana plants through infected soil.
Cleaning the soil is almost impossible.
One idea under development in the Netherlands is to take away the soil altogether and replace it with something produced in a factory - such as loft insulation.
Hear the full story in the People Fixing the World podcast
Video filmed and edited by Daniel Gordon


bbc--2020-02-29--Week in Pictures: 22-28 February

Week in Pictures: 22-28 February

Competitors from the opposing teams , the Up'ards and the Down'ards , reach for the ball during the annual Royal @ @ @ @ @ , England .
The aim of the mass-participation game is to score a `` goal @ @ @ @ @ at millstones which are at opposite ends of the town - about three miles apart @ @ @ @ @ has very few rules , is played over two eight-hour periods on Shrove Tuesday and @ @ @

Image caption,
Competitors from the opposing teams, the Up'ards and the Down'ards, reach for the ball during the annual Royal Shrovetide Football Match in Ashbourne, England. The aim of the mass-participation game is to score a "goal" by aiming the ball at millstones which are at opposite ends of the town - about three miles apart. The game, which has very few rules, is played over two eight-hour periods on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.


bbc--2020-03-01--Afghan conflict: What will Taliban do after signing US deal?

US , Afghan and Taliban officials have all been careful to avoid calling Saturday 's agreement in Doha `` a peace deal . ''
But in Afghanistan , a sense of cautious optimism has been rising ever since a week long `` reduction in violence '' or partial truce leading to the signing came into effect .
How did we get here ?
And why did it take so long ?
The Afghan war has been a bloody stalemate for years now , with the Taliban increasingly controlling or contesting more territory , yet unable to capture and hold major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a growing realisation , both amongst the group 's leadership and in the US that neither side is capable of an outright military victory .
President Trump , meanwhile , has been clear about his desire to withdraw American troops from the country .
• The Afghan war : The short and long story • Who are the Taliban ?
One key concession by the US , which allowed negotiations to take place , was the decision in 2018 to change its longstanding policy that the Taliban should talk first of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgents dismiss as illegitimate .
Instead the US sat down directly with the Taliban to address their chief public demand - the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan .
Those negotiations led to Saturday 's accord , with the Taliban agreeing in exchange to address the core reason for the US invasion in 2001 , the group 's links to al-Qaeda .
This deal now opens the door to separate , wider talks between the militants and other Afghan political leaders - including government figures .
Those discussions will be much more challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reconciliation between the Taliban 's vision of an `` Islamic Emirate '' and the democratic modern Afghanistan that has been created since 2001 .
Where does that leave women 's rights ?
What is the Taliban 's stance on democracy ?
These are questions that will only be answered when the `` intra-Afghan talks '' begin .
Up until now , the Taliban have been , perhaps deliberately , vague .
There are possible obstacles even before those talks begin .
The Taliban want 5,000 of their prisoners released before they start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those detainees as a bargaining chip in the talks to persuade the Taliban to agree to a ceasefire .
Then there 's the ongoing political dispute over the results of the presidential election - with Ashraf Ghani 's rival Abdullah Abdullah alleging fraud .
A backdrop of political instability could make it harder to establish the `` inclusive '' negotiating team international observers want to see sitting across the table from the Taliban .
One Afghan official admitted to me that even when they start , the `` intra-Afghan '' negotiations could take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its intent to withdraw all its forces within 14 months if the Taliban fulfil their side of the agreement .
It is not immediately clear if that means the US will stay on beyond that time , if no settlement has been reached .
Afghan officials have emphasised the pullout is `` conditional '' , but one diplomat told me withdrawal was only contingent on the `` intra-Afghan talks '' starting , not concluding .
He expressed concern that if the US were to pull forces out and the Taliban decided to up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces would be left extremely vulnerable .
Other analysts have warned that the Taliban does n't appear to be in the mood for concessions , presenting the agreement today to their supporters as a `` victory '' .
The Taliban do however appear to want international legitimacy and recognition .
The fanfare around the ceremony in Doha has given them that , and they may feel negotiations offer the best chance of achieving their aims .
The priority for many ordinary Afghans , at least in the short term , is a substantive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in the coming weeks , when the warmer spring weather generally heralds the start of `` fighting season '' , if that will happen .

Other analysts have warned that the Taliban doesn't appear to be in the mood for concessions, presenting the agreement today to their supporters as a "victory". The Taliban do however appear to want international legitimacy and recognition. The fanfare around the ceremony in Doha has given them that, and they may feel negotiations offer the best chance of achieving their aims.


bbc--2020-03-01--Setomaa: The Estonia-Russia border tearing apart an ancient people

`` It 's much more than a frustration , it 's a very strong feeling , '' says community leader Oie Sarv , who spent much of her childhood in Russia .
`` It 's like your roots have been cut through . ''
She is one of the people of Setomaa , a traditional region that straddles Estonia and Russia , but who now struggle to maintain their way of life because the border is becoming increasingly hard to cross .
For a while a visa agreement between the EU and Russia made it relatively simple for people living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side .
But since the start of 2018 , the Russian authorities have greatly restricted the number of visas issued .
Relations have always been fraught between Russia and its Baltic neighbour , but worsened in recent years .
For the Seto people , the inability to cross the border can be heartbreaking .
Eevi Linnamae lives in the tiny hamlet of Serga where she looks after a small Orthodox chapel .
She laments that , because of the border , her mother and father are buried apart , which she says is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the years , the difficulties of living in the border area have led many families to move away , leaving a succession of `` ghost villages '' with 10 or fewer inhabitants .
Who are the Setos ?
Setos have a unique culture with their own language and traditions .
Seto Leelo , a type of polyphonic singing specific to the region , is listed as a form of Intangible Cultural Heritage by Unesco .
Seto ancestral territory covers an area of around 17,000 sq km ( 6,550 sq m ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Estonia and Russia 's Pskov Oblast ( region ) .
At least two-thirds of the land is on the Russian side , along with the historical capital of Petseri .
But around 4,000 people live on the remaining Seto land in Estonia , with just 300 in Russia , according to a 2013 census .
There is also a sizeable Seto diaspora , with around 10,000 Seto-speaking people elsewhere in Estonia and worldwide .
Unlike most of Estonia , which is nominally Lutheran and mostly atheist , Setos are overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ predate Christianity .
One crucial custom is visiting the burial sites of ancestors , including sharing food at the graveyard on holidays .
The land is integral to Seto identity .
`` For the Seto people , and also for Estonians , they do n't say that home is just anywhere , '' says Helen Kulvik , a tour guide and co-leader of the Seto Institute , which co-ordinates and promotes research into Seto culture .
`` The soil and [ physical place ] matter , '' she insists .
Setos also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ god of crops and fertility .
Peko is said to sleep beneath the monastery , over the border in Petseri .
Why is the territory split in two ?
Until Estonia 's independence in 1918 , all of Setomaa was part of the Russian Empire .
In 1920 , the Treaty of Tartu was signed , demarcating the two states so Setomaa was ceded to Estonia .
After World War Two , Estonia came under Soviet occupation .
After Estonia 's independence was restored in 1991 , a formal border split Seto communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As well as creating difficulties for families , the border is a problem for business owners .
Reika Horn runs a restaurant in the town of Obinitsa and serves traditional Seto food .
Many of her ingredients can only be bought in Petseri and , even though she has a commercial visa , they can not be brought back across the border .
Where it all went wrong In the 1990s , crossing the border remained straightforward .
Estonian and Russian municipalities drew up lists of people living in the region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , many Setos on the Russian side took advantage of a resettlement program offered by the Estonian government .
When Estonia joined the European Union in 2004 , border crossing became more complicated , requiring the use of visas .
An agreement for multi-entry `` cultural relations '' visas for local people was drawn up and accepted by Russia in 2009 .
Cultural relations visas were officially used for school and museum visits , and for performances by singing and dancing groups .
Unofficially , they were also used by many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says Andy Karjus , a visa co-ordinator for south-eastern Estonia .
`` [ It ] worked really well until the beginning of 2018 , '' he explains .
Then the Russian consulate began asking for extra documentary proof , including references from `` cultural group '' leaders and evidence of the groups ' official registration , despite the EU-Russia agreement clearly stating that only a letter of invitation was required .
Russian authorities also began rejecting applications , even when all the requested documentation was provided .
The BBC has approached the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where we are now In a typical year , says Mr Karjus , around 2,000 cultural relations visas were issued .
In 2019 , however , only 430 came through the system .
In the last four months of 2019 , all multiple-entry visas applications made through the visa co-ordination service were rejected .
As well as the heightened political tensions , another reason for the sudden restriction is probably financial .
Cultural relations visas must be free , but the Russian state can charge for commercial and tourism visas .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtaining cultural visas .
But Reika Horno says the alternative is frustratingly inflexible .
`` If you have a commercial visa , you are not allowed to visit the cemetery , '' she says .
`` I 've been fined for taking part in cultural events with a commercial visa .
My friends have been fined . ''
Eevi Linnamae can not get hold of a commercial visa as she is a pensioner , so now she is faced with either buying a tourist visa or not crossing the border at all .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicated .
For old people ... they 're just kind of giving up . ''
Even though for the moment much of the Setos ' ancestral territory is out of reach , interest in Setomaa is seeing something of a resurgence .
Tourism is on the rise and some of the Setos who live outside the region are buying holiday homes to reconnect with their roots .
More stories from the Baltics and Russia • How boom-time Estonians embraced far right

Eevi Linnamae lives in the tiny hamlet of Serga where she looks after a small Orthodox chapel. She laments that, because of the border, her mother and father are buried apart, which she says is "very tragic for the family".


bbc--2020-03-01--Into the Wild: Why tourists are risking their lives to visit a bus

Almost 30 years ago , a young American graduate gave all his belongings to charity and set off into the wilderness , alone , to invent a new life for himself .
After reaching Alaska , Chris McCandless settled in an abandoned Fairbanks bus usually used by hunters .
He was living his dream of living off the land .
But within four months , he had died .
His diary entries inspired a book and then a film , both titled Into the Wild .
The book and film have since gone on to influence a new generation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and set out in search of adventure in the wilderness .
Many of these people attempt to reach the bus and witness the stunning scenery and deserted location where McCandless , who also went by the name Alexander Supertramp , spent his last months .
But in doing so they are putting their lives at risk , as a group of tourists found out this week .
Despite increasingly stark warnings by the authorities , people still appear determined to visit .
The bus is found deep in central Alaska , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The closest town is about 30 miles away and to reach it , visitors have to cross the fast-flowing Teklanika River .
Two people have died trying to do so .
The most recent was newlywed Veramika Maikamava , 24 , who was killed when she was swept underwater while trying to cross the river with her husband last July .
Then earlier this week , five tourists looking for the bus were rescued - one with frostbite - after becoming lost 13 miles from where they were supposed to be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations by the state between 2009 and 2017 .
So what keeps people coming to the bus despite the danger ?
`` There 's the idea of running away from society and not being bound by what everybody wants from you and getting lost in the wilderness and connect with yourself again , '' says Martina Treskova , who travelled to the bus with her now-husband .
`` I think everybody has this .
We all feel like we understand him , '' she tells the BBC .
`` My dad was asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bed where somebody died ? '
and I said 'yeah ' , but it did n't feel like that .
We felt connected to him and felt really happy there . ''
Ms Treskova says she was aware of the danger involved in getting to the bus but says she had prepared for the challenge and if anything felt like a bad idea , the couple would n't have done it .
McCandless was passionate about leading an outdoor life .
In the months after selling his belongings , he kayaked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his way across the US .
It was this passion for travel and the outdoors that enticed Gavin Brennan to pick up the book 'Into the Wild ' by Jon Krakauer .
Then one day he booked a three-week-long trip to Alaska .
`` I was willing to risk it all to see and feel the magic and it really is magic at the bus , '' he said .
`` My Alaskan journey had many twists and turns from snowstorms to moose encounters and bear prints .
I left my book on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never to return and my journey into the Alaskan wilderness was done . ''
Some locals , however , view it differently .
`` I would say that most people who live out here want the bus gone , '' Jon Nierenberg told the Anchorage Daily News .
`` I used it many times over the years , and it was good to have it there in case someone got into trouble and needed an emergency shelter .
`` I think it should be hauled out and put somewhere in [ nearby ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Clay Walker , the Denali borough mayor , wonders whether removing the bus will solve the issue .
`` Maybe there will always be a segment of people who are drawn to the site and want to test themselves against Alaska 's elements . ''
He suggested a sign could be erected with river crossing tips .
`` I do think there 's this perception that anyone who goes out there is this diehard follower of McCandless , '' says Paxson Woebler , an Alaskan who has his own website about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not really the case .
`` The debate will probably be moot in the long run , as I 'd imagine someone will eventually take matters into their own hands and destroy it .
This is Alaska after all . ''
These days , the bus is in poor shape : the number on its side has been shot out and the windows are all gone .
`` The roof is starting to rust through , meaning that it wo n't be long before it 's unusable as a backcountry shelter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Healy has already installed a duplicate of the bus which was used in the film .
Tourists short on time choose to venture there instead of trekking to the original , and the message from locals is getting across to some visitors .
Antonette Spaan decided to visit the bus outside the brewery after talking to locals .
`` I 've been to Alaska seven times and I have a lot of respect for Alaska and its people and basically they advise you not to go because it 's too dangerous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't want to go first of all to a place that is unsafe , I do n't want to risk my life , and I want to respect the local people .
`` Unless you 've been to Alaska , you really do n't know what Alaska is like , what the wilderness is like and what it is like if nature is against you . ''

Many of these people attempt to reach the bus and witness the stunning scenery and deserted location where McCandless, who also went by the name Alexander Supertramp, spent his last months. But in doing so they are putting their lives at risk, as a group of tourists found out this week.


bbc--2020-03-01--War of words as Nigerian English recognised by Oxford English Dictionary

Nigerian English words have recently been added to the Oxford English Dictionary ( OED ) , but there is still a debate in the country about what constitutes proper English , as the BBC 's Nduka Orjinmo writes from Lagos .
`` Come to an all-night prayer vigil to welcome the ember months , '' read a text from my mother .
It was an August ritual she had reminded me about severally .
`` I have something to do next tomorrow , '' I texted back from the barbing salon .
`` You sef , '' came her instant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I considered to be a conversation in perfect English between my mother and me would have been regarded as wrong by the self-appointed language police here .
But now I have something with which I can defend myself , thanks to the OED , which calls itself `` the definitive record of the English language '' .
The Oxford lexicographers have updated the dictionary with 29 Nigerian words , recognising the `` unique and distinctive contribution to English as a global language '' of Africa 's most populous country .
I wish I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my former boss .
Once , when I was a radio presenter , he came rushing into the studio after I had used `` severally '' on air , which I had always thought was `` proper English '' .
He saw himself a stickler for what was correct and gave me an earful about my education that left me flummoxed .
But it is unlikely that he , and others like him , will be satisfied with the OED 's intervention .
The OED 's move has divided opinion in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who between them speak more than 250 languages .
English is the official language in this polyglot nation and the one used in schools .
There are those who think the idea that an expert sitting in Oxford can define how it is spoken is outmoded .
`` I do n't care what the Brits think of Nigerian English , '' one writer curtly replied when I asked his opinion .
He declined to be interviewed , as did two other writers .
But there are the fundamentalists befuddled by what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into the dictionary .
`` What we expected was a formalisation of Pidgin , '' said Uzoh Nwamara , chairman of a local authors ' organisation .
Pidgin , a mix of local languages and English , has become the lingua franca here and is gaining respectability , not least from the BBC , which has its own Pidgin service .
`` But to leave Pidgin and go tamper with the [ colonial ] master 's language ... well , '' Nwamara hissed as we spoke over the phone .
I imagined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nigerian way that means `` What nonsense ! ''
.
Some of the words now included in the OED , for example `` sef '' , `` chop-chop '' and `` gist '' , have derived their meaning from the way that Pidgin speakers use them .
The OED has described most of the 29 new entries as `` either borrowings from Nigerian languages or unique Nigerian coinages '' .
The publishers say its dictionary has been the `` last word on words for over a century '' and entries are considered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence .
But Nigerian historian , Timi Soleye , thinks the OED may have gone too far .
`` It is possible that in an attempt to be inclusive , they have made wrong calls , '' he said .
He told the BBC that he had no problem with the nouns , such as `` okada '' and `` danfo '' , but he had issues with the addition of some of the verbs and adverbs .
`` They added 'sef ' .
'Sef ' is like a verbal exclamation to add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry , 'sef ' has no etymological roots , '' he said .
`` It does n't mean anything .
It is completely useless .
It is not even a corruption from another language .
What is 'sef ' ?
`` This amounts to accepting the debasement of English grammar , '' he added with a deep sigh .
He described it as the `` Pidginification '' of the English language and that the OED has gone down the wrong path for the wrong reason .
`` People should feel free to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' For the record , the OED cites the use of `` sef '' by author Ben Okri in his 1980 book Flowers and Shadows .
But in accepting Nigerian words , along with past inclusions from the rest of the English-speaking world , the lexicographers have recognised what this country 's literary giant Chinua Achebe wrote in 1975 .
`` The price a world language must be prepared to pay is submission to many different kinds of use , '' he said in a passage about how an African writer should use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incorporate the rhythms and accents of indigenous languages and developed new pronunciations .
Nigerian writers began to reflect this in their published works from the middle of the last century , and that has continued to this day .
`` When I wrote my novel , I wrote in the language I knew how to speak which I later learnt was Nigerian English , '' author and publisher Eghosa Imasuen said .
Imasuen 's book Fine Boys , which was published in 2012 , is about freshmen in a Nigerian university who got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` okada '' and many other Nigerian English words such as `` konk '' ( meaning knock ) and `` ruggedity '' ( a Pidgin noun deriving from rugged ) .
`` The fact that some of these words are only just being included in the dictionary does not mean that people have not been using them , '' Imasuen said .
And more Nigerian English words are being considered for inclusion , Kingsley Ugwuanyi , the Nigerian consultant who worked with the OED on the 29 words , told the BBC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ map of the English-speaking world .
[ But ] Oxford is not validating Nigerian English , only recognising previous efforts made by researchers , '' he said , trying to correct the impression that the OED is telling people how to speak .
You may also like : • The Nigerian royal who loved to lampoon modern life And can I suggest a couple of words to be added ?
It is about time the rest of the English-speaking world had the actual names for things I have heard called `` bean cake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither of which sounded right to me .
And as for my mother and her ember months ' all-night prayer vigil , I never did make it .
We rubbed minds over Sunday dinner where , as the wine and gist flowed , I failed to convince her that parte after parte was the ultimate all-nighter for millennials .

It is about time the rest of the English-speaking world had the actual names for things I have heard called "bean cake" and "bean puddle", neither of which sounded right to me.


bbc--2020-02-29--Syria war: Refugees eye Europe as Turkey hits breaking point

Halil stands on a small , deserted beach on the western coast of Turkey , at the edge of the water .
`` Look !
it 's so close '' he says , `` but reaching it is so hard . ''
The Greek island of Samos is clearly in sight , only a few miles away .
Halil fled Syria for Turkey four years ago , and he 's lived here since , with his wife , mother and five young children .
But last week he gave a smuggler the little money they had , to take them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a job in a year so my financial situation is bad .
I 'm the only one who can work .
If I 'm stuck at home , my children ca n't eat .
What choice do I have ? ''
But his attempt to escape failed .
`` We heard shouting and we realised the Turkish soldiers had found us .
They captured all of us , they did n't let anyone escape . ''
During the 2015 migrant crisis , Turkey struck a deal with the European Union .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in return for billions of euros .
For years that deal has held , with Turkish guards policing the borders and patrolling the sea .
But on Thursday night , following the killing of dozens of Turkish soldiers in an airstrike in Idlib , Turkey said it was opening its western land and sea borders to allow migrants and refugees to travel on .
Turkey has taken in 3.7 million Syrian refugees since the start of the war .
For months President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been threatening to send some of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Syria .
`` The refugee crisis is growing , it 's getting worse , '' his chief adviser , Ibrahim Kalin , told the BBC .
`` For many European countries their approach seems to be that as long as they do n't come our way , they do n't come to our cities , it 's somebody else 's problem . ''
Turkey is coming under increasing pressure .
There are nearly a million people stuck along its border with Syria , who have been displaced by the recent fighting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 're taken out there by Abdullah al-Hussein , the head of the White Helmets rescue organisation in the opposition-held Syrian province of Idlib .
`` The land is shrinking and the number of people is growing , '' he says .
`` We 're asking the international community , not just Turkey , to open their borders to the civilians of Idlib , otherwise there will be a massacre .
A big one . ''
• Why does the battle for Idlib matter ?
Back along the coast we find thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without even basic facilities .
They are exploited for cheap agricultural labour .
Some tell us they earn as little as £5 ( $ 6 ; €6 ) a day .
All of them are desperate to escape to Europe .
`` I tried to get out four times but every time I was caught , '' Fathi tells us .
`` I do n't have any money left , but if I did , I would keep trying .
I 've spent everything .
I even sold my wife 's gold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ islands are filling up , as the Turkish coastguard appears to turn a blind eye .
Upon hearing the news that guards were no longer pushing people back , hundreds started making their way to the border .
There are networks of smugglers , primed and ready to take people across .
Some are openly advertising on social media and one of them agrees to talk to us on the phone .
`` We send about two or three boats a day when the sea is calm , '' he tells us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ much at the moment , '' he says .
`` It 's not as risky to cross . ''
The Turkish government has said there has been no change to its refugee policy , but that the influx of migrants from Turkey towards Europe may continue if the situation in Idlib continues to worsen .
Greece has stepped up police patrols at its border checkpoints , but for now the road to Europe looks easier .
Halil is determined to try again .
`` I 'll do it all over again , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his mother bursts into tears beside him .
You do n't want him to go ?
I ask .
`` Oh , let him try , he ca n't feed his children here . ''

"We send about two or three boats a day when the sea is calm," he tells us. "We're not being watched as much at the moment," he says. "It's not as risky to cross."


bbc--2020-02-29--Delhi riots: Muslim women recall horror of Molotov cocktails and arson

The deadly religious riots that have swept parts of the Indian capital are proving that women and children are often the most vulnerable victims in any conflict , writes the BBC 's Geeta Pandey in Delhi .
The violence in north-east Delhi has left more than 40 people dead and the victims include both Hindus and Muslims .
For the thousands of Muslim women and children left homeless , the future appears bleak .
In a crowded large hall in the Indira Vihar area , scores of women and children displaced by the riots are sitting on carpets and mats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying babies , but there are also toddlers , and slightly older children playing in groups .
The hall belongs to a Muslim businessman .
It has been turned into a refuge for the displaced .
The women and children here fled rioting Hindu mobs who attacked their homes in Shiv Vihar , one of the worst-affected areas .
A working class Hindu-dominated neighbourhood with a sizeable Muslim population , Shiv Vihar is a maze of narrow bylanes situated next to a filthy drain .
A couple of hundred metres , along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chaman Park and Indira Vihar .
Separating the Hindu and Muslim majority areas is just a road and the two communities have co-existed peacefully for decades .
But all that has now changed .
Nasreen Ansari , who is among those who fled their homes in Shiv Vihar , says their ordeal began on Tuesday afternoon , when only women were at home .
Their menfolk were miles away in another part of Delhi , attending an Ijtema , a Muslim religious gathering .
`` We saw about 50-60 men .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had never seen them before , '' says Nasreen .
`` They told us they had come to protect us and told us to stay indoors . ''
As she and other women watched from their windows and terraces , they soon realised that the men were not there to protect them .
She shows me a video she shot from the window .
It shows some of the men , they are all wearing helmets and carrying long wooden sticks .
Nasreen says the men were shouting Hindu religious slogans like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and reciting lines from Hanuman Chalisa ( a hymn praising the powers of Hanuman , the monkey god ) .
Her mother , Noor Jehan Ansari , says a Muslim neighbour called her to say that her house had been set on fire .
`` From our window , we could see another Muslim neighbour 's home and his medicine shop burning . ''
The attackers , she says , vandalised the electricity transformer and as dusk approached , the area plunged into darkness .
`` Soon , there were fires burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molotov cocktails and cooking-gas cylinders , targeting shops and homes belonging to Muslims .
Hindu homes were unharmed , '' she says .
`` We never thought something like this will happen to us .
Our only fault is that we are born Muslim . ''
Nasreen says the women made dozens of calls to the police .
`` Every time they would assure us that they 'd be here in five minutes . ''
At one point , Nasreen says she called some relatives and told them that they were `` not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were finally rescued at 03:00 , 12 hours after the siege of their homes began , when police , accompanied by Muslim men from Chaman Park and Indira Vihar finally arrived .
`` We ran for our lives , with just our clothes on our backs .
We did n't even have the time to put on our shoes , '' she says .
Several other women at the shelter recounted similar stories of what they were subjected to that night .
Shira Malik , 19 , said she and her family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We were trapped .
Stones and Molotov cocktails were raining in from the outside . ''
Many of the women told me how close they had come that night to being sexually assaulted .
The attackers , they said , pulled their scarves and tore their clothes .
A mother of a one-year-old wept as she narrated how her clothes were torn to shreds by several men who entered her house .
Another woman , in her early 30s , said the only reason she was alive was because of help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbours told the mob , 'She is one of us .
There is no Muslim woman here . '
When the mob went towards the back lane , they helped me escape , '' she said .
The senseless violence of the past few days began on Sunday evening as a small clash a few kilometres from Shiv Vihar between supporters and opponents of a new controversial citizenship law .
Within hours , it had affected many other neighbourhoods , including Shiv Vihar and Chaman Park .
As I walk around the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chaos that was visited here .
Dozens of riot policemen keep a watch , ensuring no fresh violence occurs .
Bricks and stones are strewn everywhere , there are burnt vehicles , shops and homes .
In Shiv Vihar , facing the drain is a mosque that was also set on fire by the vandals .
Back at the shelter in Indira Vihar , the women say they have no idea when - if at all - they will be able to return home .
Shabana Rehman says her three children keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` My home was burnt down by the arsonists .
Where will we go now ?
What 's the future of my children ?
Who will look after us ?
We have lost all our documents , '' she says , tears flowing down her cheeks .
Her home of decades in Shiv Vihar is just a short walk away , but the gap seems unbridgeable .
Read more on the Delhi riots : • Why Delhi violence has echoes of the Gujarat riots

"Soon, there were fires burning all around us, they were hurling Molotov cocktails and cooking-gas cylinders, targeting shops and homes belonging to Muslims. Hindu homes were unharmed," she says. "We never thought something like this will happen to us. Our only fault is that we are born Muslim."


bbc--2020-02-29--Free transport, but what's the cost?

Free transport, but what's the cost?

It has had months of hype and now finally Luxembourg 's free public transport has begun .
With a population of only 614,000 , it may be one of Europe 's smallest countries and the idea is not unprecedented .
But the `` free mobility '' drive has captured the imagination .
Buses , trams and trains are now free to ride on and you do n't need a ticket .
One aim is to ease traffic congestion but critics see it as a PR stunt .
`` The government wants Luxembourg to become a laboratory for mobility , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points to the grand duchy 's fast-rising population , with a rise of 40 % in 20 years .
Some 200,000 workers - almost half of Luxembourg 's workforce - commute from Belgium , France and Germany , attracted by high salaries and a wealthy economy .
The big day is being heralded on Saturday with concerts at four train stations and numerous other events .
Markus Hesse , professor of urban studies at the University of Luxembourg , says the `` bling bling '' they have organised is the wrong solution to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether free public transport will really be free .
What is the cost ?
Travelling on transport will be free for residents and visitors alike , except for first-class train passengers .
The price of the project will be the €41m ( £35m ; $ 44m ) in lost ticket fares , but that will be shouldered by the taxpayer .
`` Of course , just because I call it free transport does n't mean nobody pays , '' said Mr Bausch , who is part of Luxembourg 's green party , déi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the service is more than €500m so the government sees the lost fare revenue as relatively small .
Transport staff will not lose their jobs , they will merely spend less time checking tickets .
It was not exactly pricey before 29 February .
A fare cost €2 , and double for a day pass .
Many workers have their annual travel pass subsidised in Luxembourg , so few people spend much on transport anyway .
Why do it ?
The government has several reasons : • It talks of a social measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others • It wants to get cars off the road - as Luxembourg has more cars per 1,000 people than anywhere else in the EU • It aims to have 20 % more passengers on public transport within five years • It will alert Luxembourgers to their country 's environmental problems • It wants to invest in the transport network to cope with an already big increase in passengers What 's not to like ?
Luxembourg has a terrible traffic problem .
Major roads are snarled up in the rush-hour , buses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its delays .
Diesel and petrol costs are cheap in Luxembourg , compared with its neighbours , so not only do many commuters from neighbouring countries drive to work .
but `` fuel tourists '' cross the border to fill their tanks .
The free public transport will not really deal with the car problem , according to Prof Hesse , because Luxembourg has `` high salaries and low petrol prices so people buy cars '' .
Many of those commuting from neighbouring countries live in areas without decent public transport so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Luxembourgers who currently cycle may now get off their bikes to enjoy the free travel too .
He also believes the government has picked the wrong moment .
The new tram network is being expanded , and money is going into the trains and bus system , but it will take time , he argues .
`` They 're investing so much that while the total system is being overhauled the delays are actually increasing , because they are working on tracks trying to fix it . ''
One of the key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a promise of almost €4bn on trains between 2018 and 2027 .
The government estimates that the number of transport users will rise by 20 % in the next five years and that the expansion of the tram network and buses will be able to deal with that .
Luxembourg spends more of its economic output on transport that most other European countries , with a reported €600 a year per person .
Critics complain the scheme will not tackle the lack of housing , which has forced thousands of Luxembourgers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while keeping their jobs .
Who else does free transport ?
Estonia 's capital , Tallinn , introduced free public transport in 2013 but only for residents .
It has not ruled out extending the scheme to non-residents but does not want to pay the extra €20m it would cost .
The northern French city of Dunkirk ( population : 200,000 ) also introduced free travel in 2018 and hailed a dramatic increase in bus passengers .
It was such a success that it caught the eye of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wants to introduce free travel for under 18s .
She has previously mooted the idea of free transport for all Parisians , but that would work out at around €500 per household , which is widely seen as too expensive .
More stories on the challenges of transport • Green Swedes shun holiday flights for lure of the train • Cubans storm public transport to get to work • How to travel by train - and ditch the plane

The northern French city of Dunkirk (population: 200,000) also introduced free travel in 2018 and hailed a dramatic increase in bus passengers. It was such a success that it caught the eye of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. As part of a mayoral campaign pledge she wants to introduce free travel for under 18s. She has previously mooted the idea of free transport for all Parisians, but that would work out at around €500 per household, which is widely seen as too expensive.


bbc--2020-02-29--Real Madrid v Barcelona: El Clasico 'more important' for Real than Barca - Setien

Barcelona boss Quique Setien thinks Sunday 's El Clasico is more important for Real Madrid than his side .
Barca are two points clear of Real at the top of La Liga going into one of world football 's great fixtures at the Bernabeu .
`` For them it 's a key game , maybe not decisive , but more important than for us because if we win we 'll go five points clear , '' said Setien .
Real manager Zinedine Zidane says his side are in a `` delicate moment '' .
Madrid 's 2-1 home defeat by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday was their third consecutive game without a win in all competitions .
Their last home win was a month ago , against city rivals Atletico Madrid .
• What next for newly empowered Messi ?
• The key questions facing both sides in El Clasico Barcelona , who drew 1-1 at Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday , are unbeaten in four games .
Zidane said : `` What we need to ensure is our mood is positive .
It 's by sticking together that we 're going to get out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's being said .
`` What we need is for our fans to be with us from the first minute to the 90th .
I can understand if they are frustrated or annoyed , but we need them . ''
Zidane hopes his side can play as they did against City - except for the closing minutes when they conceded twice .
`` Anything can happen in a game against such good opposition , but the important thing is how we react and we 'll have to play how we did for 78 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Barca are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Madrid .
Former Real Betis manager Setien , who only replaced the sacked Ernesto Valverde in January , is preparing for his first Clasico .
`` In these games the past is forgotten , '' the 61-year-old said .
`` It 's a Clasico , both teams will always give their all regardless of the situation they 're in .
`` I 'm expecting a tightly contested game , very evenly matched .
And it 's a question of who gets things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Euro Leagues : End of an era at Real Madrid ?
Barcelona could hand a first start to striker Martin Braithwaite , who the Spanish champions were allowed to signed from Leganes in an emergency transfer .
The 28-year-old Dane made his Barca debut as a substitute in a 5-0 win over Eibar last weekend .
The champions will be without the injured Luis Suarez , Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto but left-back Jordi Alba has recovered from a thigh problem .
Eden Hazard may not play again this season for Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play .
His red card against City means he will miss their next Champions League match .
Gareth Bale is also in Real 's squad .
• Barcelona have won more La Liga games against Real Madrid than any other side ( 72 ) , while Real have beaten Barcelona more than any other side in the competition ( 72 ) .
• Real have not won any of their last seven La Liga games against Barcelona ( D3 L4 ) - should they fail to win this game , they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition in Clasico history .
• Barcelona have won their last four Clasicos at the Bernabeu in La Liga , becoming the only team to win four consecutive away games against Real Madrid in the competition 's history .
• Barcelona have only won one of their last four away La Liga games , conceding two goals in each of those four .
• Lionel Messi ( 42 ) is looking to become the Barcelona player with the most appearances in Clasico history in all competitions , surpassing Xavi .
• Real Madrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without scoring against Barcelona , his worst run in El Clasico .
• Barcelona 's Quique Setien has won just two of his eight managerial La Liga games against Real Madrid ( D2 L4 ) , however both wins came against Zinedine Zidane , making him the only manager to win twice against him in the league .
• Zidane has lost just two of his eight managerial games against Barcelona ( W3 D3 ) , with both defeats coming at the Bernabeu in La Liga ( 3-2 in April 2017 and 3-0 @ @ @ @ @

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Vinicius Junior scored the opener in a second half where Real created several chances
Real Madrid beat Barcelona in a captivating El Clasico to move above their rivals at the top of La Liga.
Vinicius Junior drove in via a deflection in a second half packed with chances after Isco saw a shot saved and an effort cleared off the goalline.
Karim Benzema volleyed over for Real and substitute Martin Braithwaite went close for Barca moments before Vinicius sparked celebrations at the Bernabeu.
Substitute Mariano struck in added time as Real moved a point clear of Barca.
Mariano had not played a single minute in La Liga for Zinedine Zidane's side this season until being brought off the bench in injury time to seal a memorable win.
Los Blancos finished third last season - 19 points behind champions Barca - but the tight nature of the title race this time around placed added significance on the fixture in the Spanish capital.
Zidane had said his side were in a "delicate moment" as a result of picking up one point from their last two league matches and having suffered a home defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek.
And Real's task looked ominous given they had not beaten Barca in the league in their last seven attempts.
Quique Setien's side also arrived having won four league games in a row at the Bernabeu but they will rue missed opportunities in the first half.
Mariano came off the bench in added time to seal the win
Antoine Griezmann fired over from a Jordi Alba cut-back, Arthur was denied by Thibaut Courtois after breaking through on goal and the Madrid keeper parried a Messi effort when the Barca talisman broke the offside trap.
Going into the break, Courtois had saved 30 of the last 36 shots he had faced in La Liga and his interventions were built upon as Zidane's side carried more threat in the second period.
Isco curled an effort at the top corner to force a fine save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen before heading low past the keeper, only for Pique to intervene.
Karim Benzema could not end a five-game goal drought when he volleyed over when unmarked before former Middlesbrough forward Martin Braithwaite had a chance to win it, only for his shot to be saved.
Vinicius then pounced, firing in from a narrow angle, the 19-year-old Brazilian becoming the youngest scorer in a league game between the sides this century as he surpassed Lionel Messi's record set in 2007.
His side never looked back and Mariano put the finishing touches on a win which gives them real hope of landing a first league title since 2016-17.
'Worst I have seen Madrid play at the Bernabeu' - reaction
Mariano's goal sparked wild celebrations at the Bernabeu
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane: "We deserve our victory for everything we did, in attack and defence. It has been a complicated week for us and we had the chance to turn things around, and we did that.
"But this win also doesn't change anything. We have a long way to go and we have to continue. We've got three important points but we'll have more difficult games and we will be criticised again."
Barcelona manager Quique Setien: "We were clear about what we had to do. We had to wait for our moment and be patient and try to keep the ball.
"In the second half I can't understand why we started to lose the ball easily. We were able to breathe life back into Real Madrid. It was a shame we weren't to take the form of the first half into the second."
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique: "We controlled the game in the first half, which was the worst I have seen Madrid play in all the years I have played at the Bernabeu.
"We had a chance to make a real statement and if we had taken our chances they would have had a mountain to climb.
"They come out of this game feeling very strong while we feel down but we are not out. I think there is still time for us to win the league."


bbc--2020-02-27--Real Madrid v Barcelona: The key questions in Sunday's pivotal El Clasico

With 13 games remaining and Barcelona leading Real Madrid by two points , El Clasico at the Bernabeu on Sunday could be pivotal in deciding the most compelling La Liga title race for years .
Neither team has looked particularly convincing this season , both have been hit by significant injury blows , and Real now have a Champions League home defeat to bounce back from , so there are plenty of uncertainties heading into a game that is likely to be tense and closely contested .
Here are some of the key storylines to look out for on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot-shy Real ?
A notable aspect of Real 's season has been their struggle in front of goal , which came to light once again during last weekend 's shock 1-0 loss at mid-table Levante - the eighth time this season they have failed to score .
During the early phases of the campaign , Karim Benzema carried the load almost single-handedly .
The Frenchman netted 13 goals in the first 16 league games , masking the team 's overall deficiencies inside the penalty area .
But Benzema has mustered only one league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , winning last month 's local derby against Atletico Madrid - and none of the team 's other forwards have stepped up to play their part .
A remarkable stat this late into the season is that excluding penalties no other Real player has scored more than three league goals .
Sergio Ramos is the team 's second-highest scorer with five , but three of those came from the spot .
The team 's forwards are , to be blunt , having very bad seasons in front of goal : Gareth Bale ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1 ) , Luka Jovic ( 2 ) , Rodrygo ( 2 ) and Vinicius Junior ( 1 ) have all massively underperformed , making the ability of midfielders like Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde ( and , of course , Ramos ) to chip in with their fair share of strikes extremely important .
To an extent , injuries can be blamed for the forwards ' lack of goals , and last weekend 's loss at Levante provided another major setback as Hazard - in just his second game since returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a fractured ankle that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season .
In stark contrast to the Real team of Zidane 's previous managerial stint , which often struggled to play cohesive football but never lacked goalscoring prowess - largely thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo - the current side are more than capable of knitting together pretty passing patterns but regularly fail to be effective where it matters the most .
Barca 's injuries at the back , options up front Barcelona will be missing their first choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alba injured .
They will be replaced by the uninspiring duo of Nelson Semedo and Junior Firpo , and there is also a doubt over Gerard Pique after he hurt his ankle during Tuesday 's draw at Napoli .
Further forward , recently installed manager Quique Setien has plenty of options to support key man Lionel Messi , who has again carried the team this season by recording league-high totals of 18 goals and 12 assists .
Against Napoli in midweek , Setien opted for Messi and Antoine Griezmann in attack , stacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergio Busquets , Ivan Rakitic , Frenkie de Jong and Arturo Vidal .
He may opt for a similar selection this weekend , but a pair of intriguing options are available .
Firstly , teen star Ansu Fati offers width , goalscoring and a welcome dose of the unpredictable , and his inclusion would add another dimension to the team 's otherwise undermanned attack .
The real wildcard , however , could be former Middlesbrough misfit Martin Braithwaite , who became a surprise emergency signing last week after Ousmane Dembele was sidelined for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debut off the bench against Alaves last weekend , assisting the last two goals .
The Danish striker still has to prove that he can make a meaningful contribution at moments that matter , but he does offer the pace and directness which are otherwise lacking .
December 's meeting was the first goalless draw between the teams since 2002 , and this weekend 's showdown could well be a similarly cagey affair .
With just two points between them at the top of the table , the stakes are high - especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , separate teams level on points in La Liga .
That means Sunday 's game is effectively worth an extra point to the winner , so avoiding defeat will perhaps be more tempting than chasing victory .
A key tactical question will be whether managers Zidane and Setien pursue cautious control or take risks to find penalty box penetration .
In the same way that the Barca boss must choose how to complement Messi and Griezmann , Zidane 's dilemma is how he can build his team 's attacking play around Benzema .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially with Hazard out , but the Welshman has done little in recent weeks to justify starting .
Wingers Vinicius and Lucas Vazquez could also be used , but Rodrygo is unavailable through suspension after getting sent off with the club 's B team last weekend .
Zidane , who loves varying his team selections and springing surprises , could also follow Setien 's method and overload his midfield , with Casemiro , Kroos , Valverde , Isco and Luka Modric all doing more in recent weeks to earn a starting spot than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , is an avid adherent of possession football : his team attempted more than 1,000 passes in a home win over Granada , while his insistence on building from the back led to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen making 69 passes earlier this month against Getafe .
So Barca could well dominate possession , but can they use it to provide Messi and Griezmann with ammunition ?
This Clasico comes with many unknowns .
The answers could go a long way towards deciding this season 's champions .

Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, Lionel Messi and Martin Braithwaite are all talking points going into El Clasico
With 13 games remaining and Barcelona leading Real Madrid by two points, El Clasico at the Bernabeu on Sunday could be pivotal in deciding the most compelling La Liga title race for years.
Neither team has looked particularly convincing this season, both have been hit by significant injury blows, and Real now have a Champions League home defeat to bounce back from, so there are plenty of uncertainties heading into a game that is likely to be tense and closely contested.
Here are some of the key storylines to look out for on Sunday.
Can Benzema carry the load for shot-shy Real?
A notable aspect of Real's season has been their struggle in front of goal, which came to light once again during last weekend's shock 1-0 loss at mid-table Levante - the eighth time this season they have failed to score.
During the early phases of the campaign, Karim Benzema carried the load almost single-handedly. The Frenchman netted 13 goals in the first 16 league games, masking the team's overall deficiencies inside the penalty area.
But Benzema has mustered only one league goal since Christmas - an important one, winning last month's local derby against Atletico Madrid - and none of the team's other forwards have stepped up to play their part.
Real's La Liga scorers, excluding penalties 11 - Benzema 3 - Casemiro, Kroos, Modric 2 - Bale, Ramos, Rodrygo, Varane, Vazquez, Jovic, Valverde 1 - Vinicius, Carvajal, Nacho, Isco, Hazard, Rodriguez
A remarkable stat this late into the season is that excluding penalties no other Real player has scored more than three league goals. Sergio Ramos is the team's second-highest scorer with five, but three of those came from the spot.
The team's forwards are, to be blunt, having very bad seasons in front of goal: Gareth Bale (two league goals), Eden Hazard (1), Luka Jovic (2), Rodrygo (2) and Vinicius Junior (1) have all massively underperformed, making the ability of midfielders like Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde (and, of course, Ramos) to chip in with their fair share of strikes extremely important.
To an extent, injuries can be blamed for the forwards' lack of goals, and last weekend's loss at Levante provided another major setback as Hazard - in just his second game since returning from a three-month absence - limped off with a fractured ankle that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.
In stark contrast to the Real team of Zidane's previous managerial stint, which often struggled to play cohesive football but never lacked goalscoring prowess - largely thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo - the current side are more than capable of knitting together pretty passing patterns but regularly fail to be effective where it matters the most.
Barca's injuries at the back, options up front
Could Martin Braithwaite, who ended the transfer window with Leganes, play in El Clasico?
Barcelona will be missing their first choice full-backs, with Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba injured. They will be replaced by the uninspiring duo of Nelson Semedo and Junior Firpo, and there is also a doubt over Gerard Pique after he hurt his ankle during Tuesday's draw at Napoli.
Further forward, recently installed manager Quique Setien has plenty of options to support key man Lionel Messi, who has again carried the team this season by recording league-high totals of 18 goals and 12 assists.
Against Napoli in midweek, Setien opted for Messi and Antoine Griezmann in attack, stacking the midfield with a narrow quartet of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Frenkie de Jong and Arturo Vidal.
He may opt for a similar selection this weekend, but a pair of intriguing options are available. Firstly, teen star Ansu Fati offers width, goalscoring and a welcome dose of the unpredictable, and his inclusion would add another dimension to the team's otherwise undermanned attack.
The real wildcard, however, could be former Middlesbrough misfit Martin Braithwaite, who became a surprise emergency signing last week after Ousmane Dembele was sidelined for six months.
Braithwaite made a promising debut off the bench against Alaves last weekend, assisting the last two goals. The Danish striker still has to prove that he can make a meaningful contribution at moments that matter, but he does offer the pace and directness which are otherwise lacking.
Maintaining control or risking penetration?
The top of La Liga before any of this weekend's games
December's meeting was the first goalless draw between the teams since 2002, and this weekend's showdown could well be a similarly cagey affair.
With just two points between them at the top of the table, the stakes are high - especially as head-to-head records, not goal difference, separate teams level on points in La Liga. That means Sunday's game is effectively worth an extra point to the winner, so avoiding defeat will perhaps be more tempting than chasing victory.
A key tactical question will be whether managers Zidane and Setien pursue cautious control or take risks to find penalty box penetration.
In the same way that the Barca boss must choose how to complement Messi and Griezmann, Zidane's dilemma is how he can build his team's attacking play around Benzema.
Bale should be the obvious option, especially with Hazard out, but the Welshman has done little in recent weeks to justify starting. Wingers Vinicius and Lucas Vazquez could also be used, but Rodrygo is unavailable through suspension after getting sent off with the club's B team last weekend.
Zidane, who loves varying his team selections and springing surprises, could also follow Setien's method and overload his midfield, with Casemiro, Kroos, Valverde, Isco and Luka Modric all doing more in recent weeks to earn a starting spot than any of the forwards.
Setien, meanwhile, is an avid adherent of possession football: his team attempted more than 1,000 passes in a home win over Granada, while his insistence on building from the back led to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen making 69 passes earlier this month against Getafe.
So Barca could well dominate possession, but can they use it to provide Messi and Griezmann with ammunition?
This Clasico comes with many unknowns. The answers could go a long way towards deciding this season's champions.


bbc--2020-03-01--Ancelotti shown red card after game as Everton denied late winner over Man Utd

Everton had a late winner against Manchester United ruled out and had manager Carlo Ancelotti sent off in an entertaining game where both teams were undone by goalkeeping mistakes .
The hosts made a dream start thanks to a calamitous error by United 's David de Gea , whose clearance cannoned straight into Dominic Calvert-Lewin and then into the net for the striker 's 15th goal of the season .
United responded from that early setback when Nemanja Matic 's shot smacked against the Everton crossbar , and they equalised after 31 minutes when Everton 's Jordan Pickford failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 yards .
Everton upped the tempo following the break in a feisty game where seven players were booked , and the hosts came close to scoring when Gylfi Sigurdsson hit the post with a dipping free-kick .
But there was late drama as both keepers redeemed themselves with fine saves and Calvert-Lewin had a goal ruled out for offside via the video assistant referee in added time as Sigurdsson lay on the ground in front of De Gea .
That led to Ancelotti confronting the referee and being shown a red card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ringing around Goodison Park .
The result means United extended their unbeaten run to eight games and remain fifth , while Everton 's chances of reaching the Europa League were dealt a blow following Wolves ' win at Spurs .
• Reaction from Goodison Park plus Wolves ' win at Tottenham Calvert-Lewin 's goal was his eighth in 10 Premier League games , but few have been as easy or fortunate as the game 's opener after only three minutes .
De Gea had plenty of time to clear following Harry Maguire 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Everton forward 's willingness to press from the front would have impressed the watching England manager Gareth Southgate , who will pick his squad to play Italy and Denmark later this month .
The United keeper atoned for his mistake when he saved smartly from Calvert-Lewin moments later , but it means that no player has made more errors leading to goals since the start of last season than De Gea 's seven .
Pickford then contributed to his own team 's downfall by letting Fernandes ' shot bounce under his outstretched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same category as De Gea 's , but with Southgate watching on , it may lead the England boss to consider Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the forthcoming friendlies .
The fact he is on loan at the Blades from Manchester United may also offer Solskjaer food for thought .

Last updated on .From the section Premier League
Everton thought they had clinched all three points late on but the goal was ruled out by VAR
Everton had a late winner against Manchester United ruled out and manager Carlo Ancelotti was sent off in an entertaining game in which both teams were undone by goalkeeping mistakes.
The hosts made a dream start thanks to a calamitous error by United's David de Gea, whose clearance cannoned straight into Dominic Calvert-Lewin and then into the net for the striker's 15th goal of the season.
United responded from that early setback when Nemanja Matic's shot smacked against the Everton crossbar, and they equalised after 31 minutes when Everton's Jordan Pickford failed to stop Bruno Fernandes' bouncing shot from 20 yards.
Everton upped the tempo following the break in a feisty game where seven players were booked, and the hosts came close to scoring when Gylfi Sigurdsson hit the post with a dipping free-kick.
But there was late drama as both keepers redeemed themselves with fine saves, and Calvert-Lewin had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee in added time because Sigurdsson had been lying on the ground in front of De Gea in an offside position.
That led to Ancelotti confronting the referee and being shown a red card after the final whistle, with boos ringing around Goodison Park.
The result means United extended their unbeaten run to eight games and remain fifth, while Everton's chances of reaching the Europa League were dealt a blow following Wolves' win at Spurs.
Ancelotti cements bond with Everton fans
Ancelotti was pulled away by Everton assistant manager Duncan Ferguson after Calvert-Lewin's challenge on Shaw
Everton have flourished since Ancelotti took charge in December, putting them in touch of a Europa League place - and they extended their unbeaten home run to seven games with this point.
But after Calvert-Lewin's second goal was ruled out, there was a sense of injustice from the manager, the Everton players and a raucous crowd, who all thought they deserved victory.
De Gea appeared to have redeemed himself when he saved Sigurdsson's shot in injury time, but he protested that the Everton midfielder was in his line of sight when Calvert-Lewin followed in.
Referee Chris Kavanagh initially awarded the goal, creating pandemonium inside Goodison - but the mood threatened to boil over once VAR intervened.
Despite being dismissed - Ancelotti became the first Premier League boss to be shown a red card - his passion at full-time delighted the home fans, and only cemented his bond with them.
Earlier, he had steamed onto the pitch to break up a melee after a strong Calvert-Lewin tackle on Luke Shaw led to several players squaring up to each other.
There will be disappointment about the manner of the result among Everton fans, but they had a clear demonstration that as well as possessing urbane charm, Ancelotti is willing to fight for their cause.
On a day when former striker Dixie Dean was remembered and midfielder Andre Gomes made his first start since a horrific ankle injury almost four months ago, it made it an occasion to remember.
Henderson's relish as keepers struggle
David de Gea has made seven errors leading directly to an opposition goal in the Premier League since the start of last season
Calvert-Lewin's goal was his eighth in 10 Premier League games, but few have been as easy or fortunate as the game's opener after only three minutes.
De Gea had plenty of time to clear following Harry Maguire's careful backpass, but he dithered and the Everton forward's willingness to press from the front would have impressed the watching England manager Gareth Southgate, who will pick his squad to play Italy and Denmark later this month.
The United keeper atoned for his mistake when he saved smartly from Calvert-Lewin moments later, but it means that no player has made more errors leading to goals since the start of last season than De Gea's seven.
Pickford then contributed to his own team's downfall by letting Fernandes' shot bounce under his outstretched arms.
His mistake was not in the same category as De Gea's, but with Southgate watching on, it may lead the England boss to consider Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for the forthcoming friendlies.
The fact he is on loan at the Blades from Manchester United may also offer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer food for thought, although the United manager insisted afterwards that he wasn't worried by De Gea's errors and said the Spaniard was "the best keeper in the world".
Solskjaer will once again be delighted by the form of Fernandes, who was the visitors' most creative outlet and scored his third goal since joining the club for £47m at the end of January.
Man of the Match - Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
The in-form Everton striker (right) has now scored three goals in his last three Premier League appearances
'Disappointed with red card' - what they said
Carlo Ancelotti to Match of the Day on his red card: "When I saw the red card it was a disappointment. I asked for an explanation and afterwards I had a conversation with him - I want to keep that private."
Gylfi didn't affect De Gea's vision for winner - Ancelotti
On Everton's disallowed goal: "The decision was difficult. From our side we say Gylfi [Sigurdsson] didn't affect the vision of the goalkeeper and they decided differently. Sometimes it is right sometimes it is wrong. But the performance gives us more confidence that we can compete with these teams.
"I don't think [David de Gea's view was obstructed]. His vision was clear, but the ball moved past really close to [Sigurdsson] - it's really difficult, it is not an objective decision, it is subjective."
Ole Gunnar Solskaer to Match of the Day on David de Gea's error: "It's something that happens in football once in a while if you take too long on the ball. Calvert-Lewin always chases everything and it's unfortunate that it goes in the goal. We responded and got the goal we deserved."
On the impact of Bruno Fernandes: "He's a good player and we have been missing that type of player to do that for us, I'm very pleased with his contribution."
Solskjaer 'sympathises' with Everton after late VAR drama
Fortress Goodison since Silva sacking
Since Carlo Ancelotti's first game with Everton on 26 December, only Liverpool (30) and Manchester City (19) have won more points in the Premier League than the Toffees (18).
Everton have yet to lose at Goodison Park in the Premier League since sacking Marco Silva, winning four and drawing three games since his departure.
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 11 games against Everton in all competitions (W6 D4 L1), losing 0-4 at Goodison Park in April 2019.
Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 19 goals in 21 league games this season for Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United (10 goals & 9 assists).
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored 13 Premier League goals this season - the last English player to score more in a single campaign for the club was Paul Rideout in 1994-95 (14).
Since Ancelotti's first game in charge, Calvert-Lewin has scored more Premier League goals than any other player in the competition (8).
David De Gea has made seven errors leading directly to an opposition goal in the Premier League since the start of last season, the joint highest alongside Jordan Pickford, Martin Dubravka and Bernd Leno.
What's next?
Everton travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League next Sunday, 8 March (14:00 GMT).
Manchester United are in action in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Thursday, 5 March (19:45 GMT), before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, 8 March (16:30 GMT).