escorted by policemen in plain—clothes, they were the first to enter the sabarimala temple since theear. now they've been kept in a safe house by the government because their lives are under threat. bindu ammini explains why she entered the temple. the things that happened in sabarimala are a violation of equality, and i like to establish order and implement judgement given by the supreme court. the implementation of this judgement also helps to implement gender justice in our society. their entry prompted fierce protests around the state of kerala. violent clashes broke out, and one person was killed. demonstrations were also held in the national capital, delhi. a black day, yesterday. we never expected the government could do like this. the temple is devoted to a hindu god believed to be celibate. and so for decades, women between the ages of 10—50, considered impure because they menstruate, were not allowed inside. the issue has become politically contentious in the run—up to a national election later this year. the ruling bjp party, as well as the opposition congress, have both o

and this, sabarimala, a woman judge in the supreme court has made certain observations.eporter: the issue has sparked an outcry in india. on tuesday, over 5 million women formed a human chain, making a stand against gender discrimination. >> we don't want to walk back. we want to walk ahead. we want gender equality. reporter: but they face fierce opposition from traditionalists, women among them. protests are expected to continue as both sides voice their outrage. phil: let's get more from dw in delhi. tell us more about reactions to today's events. >> unfortunately the reactions to these women making history has largely been negative. they actually shut down the temple for over one hour for. occasion rituals. protests broke out across the state. the ruling party in the country actually called for protests and ended up clashing with the dueling party in the state, leading to police firing tear gas and water cannons. some have called for a strike for the next two days to protest women entering this temple. phil: so this is not the first time these women have tried to get

translation: the entry of women in sabarimala is a historic win for us. it's a victory of women power. but another group of women have protested against what they call is desecration of their faith. even the temple was shut down for a purification ritual and violent clashes were reported across the state — a sign that the fight for their right to pray is far from overfor women here. devina gupta, bbc news, delhi. smitha nair is a journalist for the independent indian news website scroll. in. thanks very much for your time. good to talk to you. what is really going on here? from outside of course it seems extraordinary this is raising such strong passions. right, we are of course just referring to one temple in the southern state of kerala. what we are seeing play out today is, in a sense, a reaction to what happened yesterday. despite the ruling support in 2015 which lifted what some traditionalists believe to bea what some traditionalists believe to be a centuries old ban on the entry of women into the shrine, women were not allowed to enter the temple.

translation: the entry of women in sabarimala is a historic win for us.equality and it's a victory of women power. but another group of women have protested against what they call is desecration of their faith. even the temple was shut down for a purification ritual and violent clashes were reported across the state — a sign that the fight for their right to pray is far from overfor women here. devina gupta, bbc news, delhi. let's get some of the day's other news. the acting us defence secretary, patrick sha na han, has started his first day in charge at the pentagon by stressing to his team, that while they were dealing with ongoing operations — in other parts of the world — they must always remember, "china, china, china." the american comedian hassan minaj has responded to a decision by netflix to remove an episode of his comedy from its service in saudi arabia. the edition of his show patriot act was highly critical of the kingdom. netflix said it backed artistic freedom but had to "comply with local law." in a tweet, mr minaj remarked that: five coun

translation: the entry of women in sabarimala is a historic win for us.nd it's a victory of women power. but another group of women have protested against what they call is desecration of their faith. even the temple was shut down for a purification ritual and violent clashes were reported across the state — a sign that the fight for their right to pray is far from overfor women here. devina gupta, bbc news, delhi. nasa has released images of the most distant object in our solar system ever to be explored. the new horizons probe is showing us the small, icy world known as ultima thule — about 6.5 billion kilometres — around 4 billion miles — from earth. 0ur science editor david shukman reports. power. go ahead, power. power is green. copy. power is green. mission control running through checks that confirm this incredible venture has worked. 0ur ssr pointers are right where we predicted. flying right beside the most distant world ever explored. we have a healthy spacecraft. the relief of decades of planning paying off, and the scientists proud of giving u

translation: the entry of women in sabarimala is a historic win for us.nd it's a victory of women power. but another group of women have protested against what they call is desecration of their faith. even the temple was shut down for a purification ritual and violent clashes were reported across the state — a sign that the fight for their right to pray is far from overfor women here. devina gupta, bbc news, delhi. thailand's royal household has announced that the country's new king will be officially crowned during three days of ceremonies from 11th may. king maha vajiralongkorn has been serving as monarch since shortly after his father died in 2016 — following a 70—year reign. his official coronation has been delayed until the mourning period was complete. let's get more from our correspondent in bangkok, jonathan head. how much does this coronation mean to the monarchy? symbolically, it is very important. he is already officially king, that happened not immediately after his father died. there was a delay when he was officially appointed king or recogn

escorted by policemen in plain clothes, they were the first to enter the sabarimala temple since thea safe house by the government because their lives are under threat. bindu ammini explains why she entered the temple. the things that happened in sabarimala are a violation of equality, and i like to establish order and implement judgement given by the supreme court. the implementation of this judgement also helps to implement gender justice in our society. their entry prompted fierce protests around the state of kerala. violent clashes broke out, and one person was killed. demonstrations were also held in the national capital, delhi. a black day, yesterday. we never expected the government could do like this. the temple is devoted to a hindu god believed to be celibate. and so for decades, women between the ages of ten to 50, considered impure because they menstruate, were not allowed inside. the issue has become politically contentious in the run—up to a national election later this year. the ruling bjp party, as well as the opposition congress, have both opposed the entry of women

supreme court allowed this through its verdict in 2018, for women of childbearing age to enter sabarimalapendent, that the judiciary is being independent and being able to make this law. and subsequently, as i mentioned, the enforcement of this law, enabling women actually to be able to enter this temple and actually pursue the faith as much as men can or women of non—childbearing age can. and briefly, doctor, what effect is changing rules such as these having for women in india, briefly? i think it's tremendous change for women to first of all feel confident that the law is behind them, and that they will actually be able to pursue things and the court will be behind them. but i think the other part here is to think about change as being slow. social change is never quick, and therefore you see the resistance from traditionalists here. but i think there have been many such traditions in the past aaa; aa aa aaa aaaa a: teaa:’§ change to actually occur. do you preferi fox or the resident pet. ten pet . ten downing street, larry pet of ten downing street, larry kick—out? pet of ten downing

the two were helped by indian police to enter the sabarimala temple in kerala, which is at the centret ruling last year ended the temple's long—standing ban on all women of menstruating age from worshipping there. but for months, protesters had continued to prevent women from visiting the shrine. devina gupta reports from delhi these women are moments away from breaking a centuries—old tradition at this hindu temple. in the cover of the dark, these two women in their 40s are seen going inside the sabarimala temple in the state of kerala, an act that has broken gender barriers. this temple is home to the hindu lord ayyappa, who is believed by devotees to be a celibate, so women of menstruating ages, defined as between ten and 50 by the temple, were not allowed here. although india's top court lifted the ban on women entering the temple last year there were protests by conservative hindu groups eventing woman of menstruating age from entering the shrine. activists have finally entered the temple but they we re finally entered the temple but they were escorted it policeman. the issue has

females aged ten between ten and fifteen on wednesday two other women offer prayers inside the sabarimala temple in the southern indian state of carola one person was killed in fighting between police and protesters who support the ban on women inside and the stop court had lifted the ban in september . in days gone by the holiday season would be a good excuse for a game in hong kong but the younger generation with their mobile phones and computer games often don't know how to play and craftsmen and women who hand make the tiles for the traditional table game are dying out to do gopalan reports. once a familiar sound in almost every hong kong neighborhood. was so widely played it became synonymous with the city's culture but over the years as gambling lost titans and the younger generation lost interest the mahjong tables got through one scene everywhere started to disappear and so did the intricate handmade tiles that define the game. is one of the last three modular artisans in hong kong and the only woman left chiseling away at the blocks so you know why i'm working on this it's like a

. >> reporter: bin ja amini says her pilgrimage to sabarimala was about gender justice. she was turned back by too many earlier protesters in an attempt to reach the temple in december. this time the police helped her through in the middle of the night after she threatened a hunger strike. amini, a legal professor, said she showed the law is on her side and that's why she went. >> our constitution and the decision verdict of supreme court and gender justice, because of that, the protection of all these things, i decided to go to sabarimala. >> reporter: in december india's supreme court overturned a ban that kept women of child-bearing age from entering the site believed to be the home of lord ayaba, a hindu god believed celibate. the issue has become political. india's prime minister narendra modi of the hindu nationalist bjp criticized the court's ruling calling this a matter of faith and tradition. but in the state of karala the governing party is for the order, even organizing demonstrations to show support. >> my message to politicians, they should obey the judgment

the sabarimala shrine was historically closed to women of menstruating age, defined as between 10 andd the ban in september, but protesters have since attacked female visitors. the family of an american arrested in russia for spying say he is innocent and was in moscow to attend a wedding. relatives of ex—marine paul whelan learnt of his arrest from news reports. the us state department has asked for consular access to mr whelan. if found guilty, he could be jailed for ten years. a nasa spacecraft has flown past the most distant world ever studied in our solar system some 4 billion miles away. there were celebrations from scientists at mission control when confirmation came through that the new horizons probe had achieved the historic fly—by of the mysterious, icy world known as ultima thule. our science correspondent palab ghosh reports. ten, nine, eight, seven, six... it's not the new year they‘ re counting in, but the arrival of nasa's new horizons spacecraft. ..one! go, new horizons! it's just arrived at the most distant object that humanity has ever explored. this simulation show

the sabarimala shrine was historically closed to women of menstruating age, defined as between 10 andop court overturned the ban in september, but protesters have since attacked female visitors. a 50—year—old german man is under arrest in north—western germany, suspected of making what officials say was a deliberate attempt to kill foreigners. the attack happened in the early hours of new year's day. at least four pedestrians, including syrians and afghans, were injured when a car drove into them. police say the suspect made racist remarks when he was arrested. the family of an american arrested in russia for spying say he is innocent and was in moscow to attend a wedding. relatives of ex—marine paul whelan learnt of his arrest from news reports. the us state department has asked for consular access to mr wheelan. if found guilty, he could be jailed for ten years. netflix has removed from its service in saudi arabia an episode of the comedy — patriot act with american comedian hasan minhaj — that was highly critical of the kingdom. saudi authorities complained that netflix had violate

to women in india have entered the sabarimala temple defying a local tradition banning women from one of hinduism holy sites at the same time thousands of women formed a human chain in support of a court order overturning the ban traditionalists of cold for protests against women. and cuba has celebrated sixty years of revolution them its economic crises and political reform the symbolic commemoration took place in santiago de cuba at the foot of the tombs of the country's socialist heroes it was a model t. and it cost. more and more migrants are risking their lives crossing the sea from france to britain over two hundred people have or thought to have made the boys since november now the british government is strengthening its coastal defenses in a move the opposition has condemned as politicizing migration. this little dinghy made it from france to england with twelve migrants huddled together on board the dangerous passage across the english channel is becoming more popular since strict road checks have made illegal crossing to britain by truck next to impossible. british home secr

translation: the entry of women in sabarimala is a historic win for us.rder investigation is under way in kirton, near boston in lincolnshire following a house fire that took place in the early hours of new year's day. three bodies have now been found inside the property that was gutted by the blaze. natasha turney reports from the scene. this charred building is all that remains of what was once a family home here in the village of kirton, where three people are now confirmed to have died. it started in the early hours of yesterday morning, on new year's day, when at around 3am, neighbours reported seeing smoke and fire billowing from the windows and the roof of this building, which they say very quickly engulfed the whole house. the east midlands specialist operations unit are now working with lincolnshire police to help identify the cause. they say they have now opened what they describe as a domestic related murder investigation. police are still appealing for witnesses and asking anyone who was at the scene at the time, or anyone who might have caugh