BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaRussia election: Putin hails illegal annexation of Crimea after claiming election winPublished10 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersBy Vicky WongBBC NewsRussia’s President Vladimir Putin has hailed the “return” of Crimea to Russia at a concert marking the 10th anniversary of the illegal annexation of the territory from Ukraine.He said Crimea had “returned to its home harbour” and that it would move forwards with Russia “hand in hand”. Mr Putin was addressing thousands in Moscow’s Red Square a day after claiming a landslide election win.The vote has been condemned by Western governments as a sham.UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the elections, in which serious opposition candidates were not allowed to stand, “starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin’s regime”.He also stressed that holding Russian elections in occupied Ukrainian territories was an “abhorrent violation of the UN charter and Ukrainian sovereignty”.Germany which called it a “pseudo-election”, while the US said it was “obviously not free nor fair.” Ukraine’s president accused Putin of “simulating” another election.China, Saudi Arabia and India all congratulated Mr Putin:In a message to the Russian president, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that under his leadership Russia would “certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction”Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to strengthening Delhi’s “time-tested special and privileged strategic partnership” with MoscowSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised the Russian president’s “decisive” victory.The Black Sea peninsula of Crimea was annexed by Moscow in 2014 – eight years before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the seizure of its Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. On Monday, Mr Putin said the “return” of those four Ukrainian regions to Russia had turned out to be “much more grave and tragic” than Crimea.”But in the end we did it. It is a big event in the history of our country,” he said, describing the occupied territories as part of “New Russia”. The crowd responded with chants of “Russia, Russia”. Mr Putin also announced a new railway that will run from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Crimea via occupied Ukraine – which would serve as an alternative to the current bridge which links the peninsula to Russia’s mainland.”This is how together, hand in hand, we will move on. This is what – not in words, but in deeds – makes us really stronger,” he said.The existing bridge, which opened in 2018, has been attacked and forced to close twice since the start of the war in Ukraine.Earlier during the rally, he said a rail line from Rostov to the occupied Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdyansk had been restored, and would now be extended to the Crimean port city of Sevastopol.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The president addressed thousands who had gathered in Moscow’s Red SquareMr Putin thanked the crowd for their support in his recent election success – which saw him claim a fifth term with a landslide 87% – and was joined on stage by the three opposition candidates who were permitted to stand against him.Russians had three days to vote and people in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine had even longer, in an attempt to persuade residents to take part.The president, who has ruled Russia since 2000, is now set to stay in power until at least 2030 – the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.Predicting Putin’s landslide was easy, but what comes next?Ukrainecast on BBC Sounds: Putin claims victory – what next for Russia?No choice for Ukrainians: More Putin means more warIndependent Russian watchdog, Golos, was barred from observing the vote but reports of irregularities have emerged, as well as pressure on public sector employees to vote either in polling stations or online.Voters were not able “to form and express their free will, or to establish the true outcome of the vote”, it said.The president praised opposition campaigners for encouraging voters to turn out in greater numbers, although he condemned those who spoilt their ballots and said action would be taken against them.Related TopicsChinaRussiaCrimeaIndiaVladimir PutinSaudi ArabiaUkraineMore on this storyPutin claims landslide and scorns US democracyPublished13 hours agoNo choice for Ukrainians: More Putin means more warPublished13 hours agoPutin: From Russia’s KGB to a presidency defined by warPublished1 day agoTop Stories’Only God can change this place’: Haitians see no end to spiralling violencePublished1 hour agoPutin hails Crimea annexation after claiming election winPublished10 minutes agoRwanda bill amendments overturned in Commons votePublished4 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘pictured in public’ and ‘key’ Rwanda voteWhy Gillian Anderson found it scary to play Emily MaitlisGaza faces famine during Ramadan, the holy month of fastingIs TikTok really a danger to the West?The highs and lows of First Minister Mark DrakefordBridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan: I hate vanity on screenPredicting Putin’s landslide was easy, but what comes next?No choice for Ukrainians: More Putin means more warThe US Navy’s relentless battle against Houthi attacksElsewhere on the BBCThe true story of the Army’s ‘golden egg’ agentThe Big Cases investigates the true story of a spy in suburbiaAttributioniPlayerA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayer’I will lie on my deathbed wishing I’d done more’Former spin doctor Alastair Campbell on what he’s learned from his life so farAttributionSoundsMost Read1Kate ‘pictured in public’ and ‘key’ Rwanda vote2Why Gillian Anderson found it scary to play Emily Maitlis3Rwanda bill amendments overturned in Commons vote4Trump unable to get $464m bond in New York fraud case5’Only God can change this place’: Haitians see no end to spiralling violence6Potholes leave nations’ roads at ‘breaking point’7Putin hails Crimea annexation after claiming election win8US reports death of senior Hamas military leader9Katie Price declared bankrupt for second time10Prince William back to work on homelessness project

[ad_1] Russia’s president addresses thousands in Moscow after official figures suggest he won 87% of the vote.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNigeria’s mass abductions: What lies behind the resurgence?Published37 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, Family members of those who had been abducted from a school in Kaduna gathered to meet the state governor on ThursdayBy Yusuf AkinpeluBBC News, LagosNigeria is once more being rocked by mass abductions.Twice in one week, gangs of motorcycle-riding armed men, operating from forests in two different places in the north of the country, kidnapped hundreds of people.First on Wednesday we got news from a remote town in Borno state in the north-east that suspected militant Islamists had seized women and children from a displaced persons camp who were searching for firewood. It took several days for the news to emerge because the local mobile phone masts had been destroyed.Then the following day, more than 280 children, aged between eight and 15, and some teachers, were taken away by gunmen from a school hundreds of miles away in the north-western state of Kaduna into a nearby forest.There are reports locally that this attack was carried out by militants from the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru group.In recent months, there had been a lull in this type of mass kidnapping that had plagued Nigeria since the notorious abduction of nearly 300 girls from a school in Chibok in April 2014 which captured international headlines. But now, it’s déjà vu as the 10th anniversary of that tragedy looms.The mass abduction in Kaduna is the biggest from a school since 2021.So why is there a resurgence of this kidnapping that is endangering the lives of the most vulnerable Nigerians?It is hard to discern a pattern from the coincidental timing of two apparently unconnected incidents, but it is a reminder that the threat has not gone away.The fact that they happened just days before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan may be significant.Those who have been kidnapped and freed in the past have talked about being forced to do cooking and other menial jobs in the forest camps.But in general, kidnap-for-ransom in Nigeria is a low-risk, high-reward business. Those abducted are usually freed after money is handed over, and the perpetrators are rarely arrested.This is despite the fact that paying a ransom to free someone has been made illegal.In all, more than 4,700 people have been kidnapped since President Bola Tinubu came into power last May, risk consultants SBM Intelligence have said.Image source, AFPImage caption, Campaigners have called on the authorities to do more to end the insecurityKidnapping has become a lucrative venture for people driven by economic desperation to raise funds. Apart from ransoms of money, gangs have in the past demanded foodstuffs, motorcycles and even petrol in exchange for the release of hostages.”Nigeria’s poor economy creates the conditions for kidnapping. Over the past year, the government has not been able to fix its foreign exchange problem,” William Linder, a retired CIA officer and head of 14 North, an Africa-focused risk advisory, told the BBC.”Food prices have skyrocketed, especially over the past six months. The perception of corruption continues.”Alex Vines, director of the Africa programme at the Chatham House think-tank agrees. He said that the recent attacks can be tied to Nigeria’s underperforming economy and the inability of the forces to disrupt the kidnapping gangs’ activities.Rising food costs have been worsened by the farmers not being able to access their fields to grow food as they fear being attacked or kidnapped.”In large swathes of these areas, armed gangs have supplanted both the government and traditional rulers as the de facto authority,” Dr Vines explained.The gangs often extort money from people, but the fact that they are unable to farm means there are fewer funds available, which may explain the gangs turning to kidnapping.Likewise, the shrinking of the Lake Chad basin and the spreading of the Sahara Desert southward has led to the disappearance of arable farmland and a scarcity of water.”These pressures only add to the woes of many, especially in the north. This pushes people to seek alternative means of income. Unfortunately, kidnapping for ransom is one,” Mr Linder said.The gangs are aided by the fact that Nigeria’s borders are porous and insecure. Islamist violence in the wider region has added to the insecurity.The vast forest reserves in the border regions have been turned into operational bases for the criminals.”Nigeria needs to work with its neighbours,” said Bulama Bukarti, a senior conflict analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. “Without transnational co-operation especially with Niger, Cameroon, Chad, including in the north-western part of Nigeria’s border, these incidents will continue to repeat themselves.” But that alone would not help Nigeria defeat the gangs, Mr Bukarti added. The authorities also need to be willing to bring perpetrators to justice. “We have never seen a gang leader arrested and prosecuted. It’s lucrative. More people will join, and impunity will increase,” he said.More about Nigeria’s kidnap crisis: What in the World Podcast: Nigeria’s kidnap crisisThe motorcycle bandits terrorising northern NigeriaWhy Nigeria’s economy is in such a mess’Why I returned to Boko Haram and how I escaped”How I survived my train hijacking’Kidnapping and debt: A Nigerian legacyRelated TopicsNigeriaAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesArmy’s top IRA spy ‘cost more lives than he saved’Published5 hours agoFertility clinic licence suspended over concernsPublished4 hours agoDestructive Joshua knocks out Ngannou in second roundAttributionSportPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Camilla to the rescue’ and ‘Budget falls flat’Why does International Women’s Day matter?Did State of the Union change how voters see Biden?Weekly quiz: Which billionaire hired Rihanna to celebrate a wedding?Singapore sting: How spies listened in on German generalMH370: The families haunted by one of aviation’s greatest mysteriesPride, pilgrims and parades: Africa’s top shotsWhy did the IRA not kill Stakeknife?’I’m really shy’ – The return of Gossip’s Beth DittoElsewhere on the BBCThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerDid one man from Iraq make Norway rich?Meet the man behind Norway’s rise to oil richesAttributionSoundsCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsMost Read1’Camilla to the rescue’ and ‘Budget falls flat’2University of Cambridge painting damaged by group3Meghan: ‘We’ve forgotten our humanity’ online4Destructive Joshua knocks out Ngannou in second roundAttributionSport5The Brit up for three visual effects Oscars6Fertility clinic licence suspended over concerns7Five killed in Gaza aid drop parachute failure – reports8New ‘national stadium’ task force unveiled9Boy, 11, found driving BMW towing caravan on M110Police investigate ‘care of dead’ at funeral homes

[ad_1] “Nigeria’s poor economy creates the conditions for kidnapping. Over the past year, the government has not been able to fix its foreign exchange problem,” William Linder, a retired CIA…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSuper Tuesday: Four things to watch out for as Americans votePublished7 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Why this Super Tuesday isn’t as exciting as past onesBy Anthony ZurcherNorth America correspondentUS voters head to the polls in 15 states spanning the breadth of the continent on Tuesday, from Maine to California and Alaska to Alabama. At stake are more than a third of the delegates to this summer’s Democratic and Republican conventions, which will determine the two major parties’ presidential candidates.It is the biggest one-day prize of the presidential nomination calendar, conducted in states (and American Samoa) with a total population of more than 134 million.This year’s Super Tuesday is not expected to generate many surprises, with Joe Biden and Donald Trump continuing their march towards a rematch of the 2020 election in November.As the results roll in throughout the evening, however, there will still be plenty to watch out for. Here are four key things to keep in mind.What is Super Tuesday and why is it important?1. A Trump rout in the making?Republicans have held nine nomination contests so far (with a 10th in North Dakota on Monday). In all but one – Sunday’s primary in Washington DC – Donald Trump has been victorious.Polls indicate that the former president will run the table on Super Tuesday, carrying the 15 states by a comfortable margin. If he does so, he will build up a near-insurmountable lead in convention delegates, given that many of the states allocate their entire slate of delegates to whoever wins a majority of the vote.While Mr Trump may not be able to mathematically guarantee that he is the Republican Party nominee, a strong Super Tuesday should eliminate whatever shadow of doubt there was remaining even after his early successes. Behind what should be formidable top-line numbers, however, keep an eye on exit polls that may reveal continued disaffection with the former president among some primary voters. Earlier surveys indicated a not insignificant minority would not support Mr Trump in November – or could turn on him if he were to be found guilty in one of his trials.Image source, Getty Images2. Nikki Haley’s exit planThe former South Carolina governor, Mr Trump’s sole remaining Republican opponent, has benefitted from the support of many of those anti-Trump primary voters, but it hasn’t been nearly enough. She has doggedly stayed in the race despite a streak of bad results (Washington DC, notwithstanding). Weeks ago she pledged to stick it out through Super Tuesday, hoping to add to her delegate totals, particularly in the 11 states holding primaries that are open to non-Republican voters, an area of relative strength for her.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Haley seen at a campaign rally in North Carolina on SaturdayAlready, however, rumours are floating that she is preparing to end her campaign in the days ahead.A particularly thorough drubbing on Tuesday may accelerate those plans or even lead her to throw in the towel that evening. Assuming she doesn’t do that, look for hints in her speech on Tuesday night as to her plans in the coming days.Will she ultimately endorse Mr Trump, as her fellow non-Trump presidential rivals have? Would she reconsider an independent presidential bid? Is she already positioning for a 2028 presidential run?At 53, Ms Haley is still young (for a national politician). But the decisions she makes after Super Tuesday could go a long way in determining what doors open and which are slammed shut.3. A Biden protest voteIf there’s little drama in the Republican primary race at this point, there’s practically none on the Democratic side. Joe Biden has rolled to comfortable victories against token opposition in South Carolina and Michigan (as well as a nonbinding vote in New Hampshire). He appears poised to continue his march on Tuesday.The most consequential obstacle to the president so far has come from those who oppose his Gaza policy. They accuse him of turning a blind eye to what critics regard as Palestinian genocide, an accusation which Israel vehemently denies, saying it is focused on destroying Hamas.In Michigan last week, more than 100,000 voters – 12% of the total – turned out to cast ballots for “uncommitted” instead of for Mr Biden, as part of an organised Gaza war protest.While there do not seem to be similar efforts in the 14 states that hold Democratic votes on Tuesday (Republicans are also voting in Alaska), watch the results to see if there are any significant non-Biden surprises. With its largest-in-the-nation Muslim and Arab population, Michigan’s results may be the high water mark for the Gaza protest. But turnout levels across the US, as well as opinions registered in exit polls by Democratic voters, could provide indications of the strength (or weakness) of Mr Biden’s campaign efforts so far.4. Down-ballot dramaIn several states, voters are casting primary ballots for more than just president. How those results shake out will help determine what kind of political environment Mr Trump or Mr Biden has to deal with after taking the oath of office next January.California is holding its non-partisan “jungle” primary, where the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. Voters there are deciding on candidates for the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, who died last year, and determining opponents for several Republican House incumbents who are high on the Democratic target list.In Texas, the big battles are within the Republican Party, as Attorney General Ken Paxton – with the help of Donald Trump – is targeting state politicians who unsuccessfully tried to remove him from office on corruption charges. The legislature in the second-most populous US state is already run by Republicans who have enacted aggressive legislation on voting rules, abortion and immigration. It could swing even further to the right if Mr Paxton’s efforts are successful.North Carolina is the only swing state voting on Super Tuesday and there’s a lot going on there. Its race for governor will be one of the closest watched in November and if they win their primaries it will pit the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, against Republican front-runner, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.North Carolina has primaries for five open House of Representatives seats. Because the state’s Republican-controlled legislature redrew the maps to favour their party and limit closely contested races, the votes on Tuesday will probably determine who goes on to comfortably win in November.If you’re in the UK, sign up here.And if you’re anywhere else, sign up here.Related TopicsUS election 2024Donald TrumpUS politicsUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhat is Super Tuesday and why is it important?Published5 hours agoWhere Biden v Trump will be won and lostPublished31 JanuaryA simple guide to the US 2024 electionPublished24 JanuaryIs it time for America’s elder statesmen to retire?Published20 November 2023Top StoriesToxic culture of fear in swimming clubs systemic, review findsPublished37 minutes agoCouncils to be told to cut diversity plans in BudgetPublished39 minutes ago’I earn £22,000 and want more cost-of-living help in the Budget’Published3 hours agoFeaturesFour things to watch as millions vote on Super TuesdayTax, childcare, vapes: What could be in the Budget?Moment astronauts hug as they arrive at space station. VideoMoment astronauts hug as they arrive at space stationThe sound that signalled death for IRA ‘informers’In Ukraine, the show must go on – even undergroundInside the Gaza camp for widows and childrenWatch: Chinese boats fire water at a Philippine vessel. VideoWatch: Chinese boats fire water at a Philippine vesselTransparency tool launched by BBC Verify. VideoTransparency tool launched by BBC Verify’We feel like it’s us repaying Birmingham’s debt’Elsewhere on the BBCCan you beat the energy price cut?Tune in to Martin’s advice on the latest energy cuts, train crises and money tipsAttributionSoundsThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerAgeing, nicknames and cinema shoutingComedian Frank Skinner dishes out laughs and wisdom in this latest interviewAttributionSoundsWet Wet Wet, The Pretenders and Bon JoviRevisit the original Top of the Pops archives for the biggest stars and most outrageous outfitsAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Woman yanked into air by shop shutters finds fame2One hurt as double-decker bus crashes into building3Councils to be told to cut diversity plans in Budget4’I earn £1,600 a month and two-thirds goes on bills’5Toxic culture of fear in swimming systemic – review6Kate’s uncle joins Celebrity Big Brother7The sound that signalled death for IRA ‘informers’8Far-left group says it targeted Tesla in arson attack9Girl held and stripped twice by male prison staff10Russian Black Sea ship ‘sunk in drone attack’

[ad_1] California is holding its non-partisan “jungle” primary, where the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. Voters there are deciding on candidates for the…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaAnant Ambani: World’s rich in India for tycoon pre-wedding galaPublished25 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Ambani family at the engagement of Radhika Merchant (third from left) and Anant Ambani (fourth from left) in January 2023By Zoya MateenBBC News, DelhiSome of the world’s most influential people have arrived in India’s Gujarat state to attend a wedding party thrown by Asia’s richest man.Mark Zuckerberg, Rihanna and Bill Gates are among the guests at the pre-wedding gala hosted by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani for his son.Anant Ambani, 28, is set to marry Radhika Merchant in July.Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are also at the three-day event in Jamnagar city.Mukesh Ambani, 66, is currently the world’s 10th richest man with a net worth of $115b according to Forbes. Reliance Industries, founded by his father in 1966, is a massive conglomerate that operates in sectors ranging from refining and retail to financial services and telecom.Anant Ambani is the youngest of his three children, all of whom are on the board of Reliance Industries. The 28-year-old is involved in Reliance’s energy businesses and is on the board of Reliance Foundation.The extravagant pre-wedding event is in keeping with the Ambani family’s record of hosting lavish wedding parties. The new generation taking over from Asia’s richest man India’s richest family caps year of big fat weddingsIn 2018, pop sensation Beyoncé performed at Mr Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding festivities held in Udaipur city. Former US Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were among the guests at the event.A Bloomberg report at the time cited sources who put the cost of Isha’s wedding at $100m – this was denied by a “person close to the family” who said the bill was around $15m. The current festivities kicked off earlier this week with an event where the Ambani family served food to the local people in Jamnagar.Image caption, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at the dinner organised for local villagersSome 1,200 guests are attending the pre-wedding party, which is being held in a township in Jamnagar near Reliance’s main oil refinery.Reuters reported that the guest list includes Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla. Disney CEO Bob Iger is also expected to be at the party, which comes days after his company announced a merger of its India assets with that of Reliance.Inside world’s ‘priciest house’Zuckerberg, who is on a busy Asia trip, reached Jamnagar on Thursday. Bill Gates, who arrived in India a couple of days ago, had earlier posted a video of himself having tea made by a local tea vendor in Maharashtra state – it later went viral. Other guests expected at the Ambani event include BlackRock co-founder Larry Fink and Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai.Image source, ANI news agencyImage caption, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla pose after arriving at Jamnagar”The guest list appears to have more RSVPs from global corporate titans than the weddings of Mr Ambani’s two older children in 2018 and 2019, underscoring Reliance’s growing clout and role as a conduit to the Indian economy for global tech, media and energy giants,” Bloomberg wrote.Among the entertainment on offer are performances by Rihanna and illusionist David Blaine. Guests are also expected to visit a rescue centre in Jamnagar, which is reportedly home to more than 2,000 animals. According to a planning document seen by Reuters, the dress code for this visit is “jungle fever”.Read more India stories from the BBC:Village in the eye of a political stormIndia names astronauts for maiden space flight’My bank manager stole $1.9m from my account’The Indians ‘duped’ into fighting for Russia in UkraineIndian zoo ordered to change lions’ ‘blasphemous’ namesRelated TopicsAsiaIndiaTop StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished38 minutes ago’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished6 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsWeekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?Why some singles are more likely to cut things off after bad datesWhere and when is Eurovision 2024 taking place?How three police forces failed to stop Sarah Everard killerRock star: I’ve spent 30 years making a Scotland map from pebblesChris Mason: Looming election takes centre stage in Budget weekWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookElsewhere on the BBCMead, Poirot, and a stinky brontosaurusLaugh along with Frank and his all-star panel as they decode the absurdity of online reviewsAttributionSoundsSoviet Russia’s most popular holiday campMaria Kim Espeland tells Lucy Burns about life in the camp in the 1980sAttributionSoundsBig Brother behind closed doorsHow Britain’s first ‘official’ reality show became a global phenomenonAttributionSoundsCan we really find Anglo-Saxon double entendre?Ian Hislop’s on the hunt for the earliest examples of enduring British jokesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC2Mystery sea creature discovered in UK waters 3Issa brother to step back after ‘fixing’ Asda4Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’5Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry6Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows7Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail8Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services9More than a billion people living with obesity10This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win

[ad_1] Mukesh Ambani, 66, is currently the world’s 10th richest man with a net worth of $115b according to Forbes. Reliance Industries, founded by his father in 1966, is a…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureOscars 2024: Barbie’s Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie miss key nominationsPublished33 minutes agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsThe OscarsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gerwig (left) and Robbie, pictured at the Golden Globes, missed out on best director and best actress respectivelyBy Steven McIntoshEntertainment reporterBox office smash Barbie has received eight Oscar nominations – but its star Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig were snubbed in some major categories.Gerwig missed out on being recognised in best director, but a nomination for Anatomy of a Fall’s Justine Triet meant the line-up was not entirely male. This is also the first year women have directed three best picture nominees.Oppenheimer scored the most nominations overall, followed by Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon.There were nods for Barbie’s star and director elsewhere – Robbie was recognised as a producer in the best picture line-up, while Gerwig was nominated for best adapted screenplay.Barbie’s best picture nod also means Gerwig is the first woman to direct three films which have been nominated for the top prize, following Lady Bird and Little Women.However, as Barbie was the highest-grossing film of 2023, taking $1.44bn (£1.14bn) worldwide, many expected Gerwig and Robbie to show up in the best director and best actress categories.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Barbie’s America Ferrera, who was seen as an outside bet, scored a nomination for best supporting actressWhile Robbie missed out on a best actress nod, her co-star America Ferrera scored a surprise supporting actress nomination.Fellow Barbie star Ryan Gosling was nominated for best supporting actor, while a track he performs in the film, I’m Just Ken, was nominated for best original song.It will face competition from another song from the same film – What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish. Barbie’s other nominations are for production design and costume design.But it was Oppenheimer that led the field with 13 nominations. Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic about theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer was both acclaimed by critics and a huge success at the box office.Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr were nominated for acting prizes, and Nolan for best director.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Oppenheimer’s Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr were all nominated for acting prizesPoor Things, about an infant whose brain has been transplanted into the body of a grown woman, was the second most nominated film, with 11 nods.The film’s star, Emma Stone, said the nominations felt like a “surreal dream”, adding she was “beyond grateful” to the Academy.Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, about the murder of members of the Osage Indian tribe by white settlers who are after their oil, scored 10 nominations. Maestro, a biopic about the composer Leonard Bernstein starring Bradley Cooper, received seven nominations.Jimmy Kimmel will host the Oscars ceremony from Los Angeles on 10 March.The top nominees:13 nominations – Oppenheimer11 – Poor Things10 – Killers of the Flower Moon8 – Barbie7 – Maestro5 – American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, The Holdovers, The Zone of InterestRead more: Oscars 2024: The list of nominationsThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Which films are the favourites for the Oscars?For the first time in Oscar history, three of the best picture nominees were directed by women: Past Lives (directed by Celine Song), Barbie (Gerwig) and Anatomy of a Fall (Triet).This is partly because the best picture category has been expanded in recent years, and there are now 10 slots available every year.In a statement, Song said: “Thank you so much to the Academy for this tremendous recognition – it’s such an unbelievable honour. I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. And for my first film… crazy.”In a video posted on social media, Triet was seen celebrating and becoming emotional as she found out about her nominations.The nominations also saw Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone become the first ever Native American actress to be recognised, while Jodie Foster received her first nomination in nearly three decades for Nyad.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Following two Golden Globe wins, Anatomy of a Fall scored five Oscar nominations (director Justine Triet pictured)Her co-star Robert De Niro broke the record of longest time between first and most recent Oscar nominations – 49 years – overtaking Katharine Hepburn’s previous record of 48. A best international feature nomination for The Zone of Interest, which follows a German family who live next to the Auschwitz Nazi death camp, marks the UK’s first appearance in the category in 24 years.Half of this year’s acting nominees are nominated for the first time. Scorsese secured his 10th nod for Killers of the Flower Moon, a record for a living director. But he has only won the award once, for 2007’s The Departed.Meanwhile, 91-year-old composer John Williams achieved his 54th nomination for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He is the second most-nominated person in Oscar history after Walt Disney, but has said the film will be his last major work.Snubs and surprisesImage source, EPAImage caption, Lily Gladstone became the first Native American actress to be nominated, but co-star Leonardo DiCaprio missed outIn the leading actress category, there was recognition for Nyad star Annette Bening – whose nomination had been seen as an outside bet. America Ferrera’s surprise supporting actress nomination for Barbie suggests her monologue in the film about what it means to be a woman clearly connected with Academy voters.But May December struggled – receiving one nomination for original screenplay but missing out on acting nominations for its stars Julianne Moore, Charles Melton and Natalie Portman.And there were no nominations whatsoever for All of Us Strangers or Saltburn, despite their strong performance at the Bafta nominations last week.Far less surprising, but still notable, were Leonardo DiCaprio’s absence from best actor for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things star Willem DaFoe’s miss in best supporting actor.Read more about the films in this year’s awards race:Poor Things: Emma Stone: Sex scenes in Poor Things are ‘honest’All of Us Strangers: Andrew Scott film an ‘unforgettable’ look at traumaThe Holdovers: The Holdovers: Could it be a new Christmas classic?Barbie: Billie Eilish dedicates award to people strugglingOppenheimer: Cillian Murphy film marches towards Oscars successAmerican Fiction: White audiences ‘too comfortable with black clichés’Rustin: The gay civil rights activist history forgotThe Color Purple: Stars want to make Oprah proudNyad: Netflix film follows woman who braved sharks and jellyfishPast Lives: The film on lost love that crosses continentsKillers of the Flower Moon: The Osage murders nearly erased from US historyMay December: Film explores ‘disquieting moral ambiguity’Society of the Snow: Society of the Snow film explores cannibalism and survivalMaestro: Why the Bradley Cooper nose row is complicatedPriscilla: Sofia Coppola on filming Priscilla in 30 days on tight budgetSaltburn: Director discusses ‘revolting’ bathtub sceneThe After: David Oyelowo – I had to crack open my heart for this roleRelated TopicsThe OscarsMore on this storyOscars 2024: List of nominations in fullPublished5 hours agoOppenheimer eclipses Barbie in Bafta nominationsPublished5 days agoOppenheimer and Succession sweep Golden GlobesPublished8 JanuaryHow to watch this year’s Oscar-nominated filmsPublished5 days agoCan anything stop Oppenheimer’s march to the Oscars?Published14 JanuaryView commentsTop Stories’Hero’ student died trying to save friend in Nottingham attackPublished51 minutes agoUK not seeking confrontation with Houthis – SunakPublished49 minutes agoFour family members found dead at Norwich house are namedPublished20 minutes agoFeaturesUS man to be executed by untested nitrogen gas tells of ‘panic’Bills and border crisis drive Trump voters to pollsMysterious killings in Yemen create climate of fearOscars 2024: List of nominations in fullUK weather: Why has it been so stormy this year?Watch shocking moment car crashes into café in Italy. VideoWatch shocking moment car crashes into café in Italy’Send back our husbands’ – Russian women in rare protestIs North Korea’s leader actually considering war?Rankin: I’m trying to change the whole idea of what beauty isElsewhere on the BBCConquering Everest’s ‘Death Zone’ on skisFind out how a Japanese alpinist became the first person to ski down Mount EverestAttributionSoundsInside the secret world of passport securityThe secret tech making the British passport one of the most secure documents on the planetAttributioniPlayerDid the Isle of Rum miraculously escape the Ice Age?Dr Tori Herridge investigates…AttributionSoundsA political thriller of cover-ups and complex charactersCan Kate escape her Rwandan past? 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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersCloseJury selection is under way in Donald Trump’s New York City hush-money trial, with hundreds of people selected as potential jurors.They must answer a questionnaire to determine, among other things, if they can be impartial about the former president.The BBC asked some of those questions to Manhattan residents.SubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New Yorkers. Video, 00:02:16Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes ago2:16Up Next. A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trial. Video, 00:01:15A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trialSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished19 hours agoUp Next1:15Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouse. Video, 00:01:12Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouseSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:12Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 seconds. Video, 00:01:00Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 secondsSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished31 March 20231:00Editor’s recommendationsCopenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fire. Video, 00:01:03Copenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fireSubsectionEuropePublished12 hours ago1:03Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchange. Video, 00:00:43Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchangeSubsectionEuropePublished11 hours ago0:43Dormice ladders built in the Forest of Dean. Video, 00:00:51Dormice ladders built in the Forest of DeanSubsectionGloucestershirePublished1 day ago0:51Liz Truss: The world was safer under Trump. Video, 00:00:35Liz Truss: The world was safer under TrumpSubsectionUK PoliticsPublished22 hours ago0:35Huge fires blaze along Miami highway. Video, 00:00:33Huge fires blaze along Miami highwaySubsectionUS & CanadaPublished12 hours ago0:33Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debate. Video, 00:00:34Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debateSubsectionEuropePublished21 hours ago0:34Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong wind. Video, 00:00:24Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong windSubsectionStoke & StaffordshirePublished1 day ago0:24Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazzi. Video, 00:00:28Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazziSubsectionEntertainment & ArtsPublished1 day ago0:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LA. Video, 00:01:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LASubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:28

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityUKEnglandN. IrelandScotlandAlbaWalesCymruIsle of ManGuernseyJerseyLocal NewsFirst product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealedPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Meghan pictured at a polo match in Florida last weekBy Sean CoughlanRoyal correspondentA first glimpse of the new business venture from the Duchess of Sussex has been teased on social media, with pictures of a jar of strawberry jam.In a bid to preserve a sense of mystery, the jam from the new American Riviera Orchard brand seemed to be spread among friends and influencers.Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam on Instagram.It was numbered “17 of 50”, suggesting the number of recipients of this first fruit of the new business.The arrival of Meghan’s new California-based lifestyle brand had been signalled on social media last month and this suggests that it will be selling food products.What do we know about Meghan’s new brand?Five things about Harry and Meghan’s brand revampWhy did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal Family?There seemed to be have been something of a re-launch for Meghan and husband Prince Harry’s brands and businesses this year, beginning with the overhaul of their regal-looking website under the sussex.com label.Their latest projects seem to be moving away from a previous focus on their time as working royals, such as their Netflix film Harry and Meghan and Prince Harry’s memoir Spare.The hint about the strawberry jam from Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand seems to fit with the couple’s latest Netflix plans.Meghan is going to launch a Netflix show which will “celebrate the joys of cooking and gardening, entertaining, and friendship”.Prince Harry will be involved in another Netflix venture showing the inside track on the world of polo. That’s the equestrian sport, not the mints.Delfina Blaquier, married to Prince Harry’s polo-playing friend Nacho Figueras, also posted a picture of the new jam, with hers labelled “10 of 50”.The social media trail for American Riviera Orchard evokes a sense of the couple’s home in California – and this soft launch for the jam show pictures of the jars in a sunny basket of lemons.It’s not known how much items from the new lifestyle brand will cost. Although there are already plenty of other royals getting into jams. Visitors to the gift shops in royal palaces can get a Buckingham Palace Strawberry Preserve for £3.95 or Windsor Castle Fine Cut Seville Orange Marmalade, also for £3.95.On both sides of the Atlantic they seem to be conserving their finances.Related TopicsUK Royal FamilyMeghan, Duchess of SussexMore on this storyWhat we know about Meghan’s regal lifestyle brandPublished16 MarchMeghan launches surprise new lifestyle brandPublished14 MarchTop StoriesMPs back smoking ban for those born after 2009Published8 minutes agoMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished2 hours agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished7 hours agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlinePlaying Coachella after cancer emotional, says DJHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Nursery boss ‘killed baby she strapped to beanbag’2Birmingham Airport flights disrupted by incident3Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge4First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed5MPs back smoking ban for those born after 20096Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference7Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames8Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline9Marten a ‘lioness’ who ‘loved her cubs’, court told10Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSupreme Court hears 6 Jan case that may hit Trump trialPublished2 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS Capitol riotsImage source, Brent StirtonImage caption, Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol after holding a “Stop the Steal” rally on 6 January, 2021By Nadine YousifBBC NewsThe US Supreme Court have begun hearing a case that could undo charges for those who stormed the Capitol in 2021. It focuses on whether a 2002 federal law created to prevent corporate misconduct could apply to individuals involved in the 6 January riots. More than 350 people have been charged in the incident under that law, which carries a 20-year prison penalty.Donald Trump faces the same charge in the pending federal case accusing him of election interference. The law makes it a crime to “corruptly” obstruct or impede an official proceeding. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justices heard two hours of arguments over the law’s interpretation. However, it remained unclear how they would rule. A lawyer for a man who stormed the Capitol and was prosecuted under the law argued before the Justices that “a host of felony and misdemeanour” crimes already exist to prosecute his clients actions.The 2002 law passed in the wake of the Enron accounting scandal, Jeffrey Green said, was not one of them. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar counterargued that rioters deliberately attempted “to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the election,” therefore obstructing an official proceeding. Both fielded sceptical questions from the Justices. At one point, Mr Green argued that there is no historical precedent in which the law was used to prosecute demonstrators.Justice Sonia Sotomayor replied: “We’ve never had a situation before where (there was an attempt) to stop a proceeding violently, so I am not sure what a lack of history proves.”On the other hand, Ms Prelogar fielded questions from Justice Neil Gorusch on whether the law could then be stretched to apply to a “sit-in that disrupts a trial” or “a heckler” at the State of the Union Address. “Would pulling a fire alarm before a vote qualify for 20 years in federal prison?” he asked, appearing to reference an incident in which Jamaal Bowman, Democrat House representative, pressed a fire alarm in the Capitol.How the top court rules could have wide-ranging effects on the hundreds of people charged, convicted or sentenced under the law, as well as the prosecution of Mr Trump. Here is a breakdown of the key players and the law being argued: What is the 2002 federal law at the centre of the trial?The law is called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It was passed in response to the Enron scandal in the early 2000s, after it was exposed that those involved had engaged in massive fraud and shredding documents. It criminalizes the destruction of evidence – like records or documents. But it also penalises anyone who “otherwise obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so.” How has it been used in response to the 6 January riots?Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has brought obstruction charges against those who participated in the storming of the Capitol. Federal prosecutors argue they did so to impede Congress’ certification of the presidential electoral vote count to cement Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Therefore, the latter portion of the law that deals with obstructing an “official proceeding” would apply, the DoJ says. Who is challenging the law’s use in this case, and why? The Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the law’s application brought forward by a former Pennsylvania police officer.Joseph Fischer was charged under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with obstruction of a congressional proceeding on 6 January, as well as assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. His lawyers argue that prosecutors overreached with applying the Act, which they say deals explicitly with destroying or tampering with evidence integral to an investigation. Those who challenge the law’s application in 6 January cases also argue that a broad interpretation of the law would allow the prosecution of lobbyists or protestors who disrupt matters in Congress.How could the Supreme Court ruling impact Trump?The former president is charged under the very same law in a federal case accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Mr Biden.If Supreme Court justices rule that the law does not apply to the 6 January rioters, Mr Trump could seek dismissal of half the charges he faces in that case.It also could be seen as a political win for the former president, who is seeking re-election in November, as he repeatedly has accused prosecutors of overreach. A final ruling is not expected until June. Related TopicsUS Capitol riotsDonald TrumpMore on this storySupreme Court to hear appeal over Capitol riot chargePublished13 December 2023A very simple guide to Trump’s indictmentsPublished25 August 2023Supreme Court asked to rule on Trump’s immunityPublished12 December 2023Top StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished1 hour agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoNo liberty in addiction, says health secretary on smoking banPublished4 minutes agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2Birmingham Airport suspends flights over incident3First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed4Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference5Marten a ‘lioness’ who ‘loved her cubs’, court told6Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline7Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames8No liberty in addiction, says minister on smoking ban9Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single10Boy, 4, dies after fire at family home in Wigan

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNational Conservatism Conference: Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels eventPublished4 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Nigel Farage said the decision to shut the conference down was as an attempt to stifle free speechBy Nick Beake in Brussels and Laura GozziBBC NewsBrussels police have been ordered to shut down a conference attended by right-wing politicians across Europe, including Nigel Farage and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.Organisers say the National Conservatism Conference in the Belgian capital is continuing, but guests are no longer allowed to enter. Local authorities had raised concerns over public safety.A UK spokeswoman called reports of police action “extremely disturbing”. She said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was a “strong supporter and advocator for free speech” and that he was “very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result”.Alexander De Croo, the Belgian prime minister, said that the shutting down of the conference was “unacceptable”.Referring to the fact that it was the local mayor, Emir Kir, who opposed the conference, Mr De Croo added that while municipal autonomy was a cornerstone of Belgium’s democracy it could “never overrule the Belgian constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech”. “Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop,” Mr De Croo wrote on X.In a message to organisers, Mr Kir had said some of the attendees of Tuesday’s conference held anti-gay and anti-abortion views. “Among these personalities there are several particularly from the right-conservative, religious right and European extreme right,” his statement said.Mr Kir also wrote on X: “The far right is not welcome.”Nigel Farage, who took to the stage this morning, told the BBC the decision to close down the conference because there were homophobes in the audience was “cobblers”, and that he condemned the decision as an attempt to stifle free speech. “Thank God For Brexit”, he said.Organised by a think-tank called the Edmund Burke Foundation, the National Conservatism Conference is a global movement which espouses what it describes as traditional values, which it claims are being “undermined and overthrown”. It also opposes further European integration.The conference said it aimed to bring together “public figures, journalists, scholars and students” who understood the connection between conservatism and the idea of nationhood and national traditions. French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, arriving for the conference after police had blocked the entrance, told journalists that Mr Kir was “using the police as a private militia to prevent… Europeans from taking part freely”.Organisers said Mr Zemmour was not allowed into the venue and that his address would be postponed.Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and far-right French politician Eric Zemmour were listed as keynote speakers. The National Conservatism Conference reportedly started around 08:00 (06:00 GMT) on Tuesday and carried on for three hours until police showed up and asked the organisers to make attendees leave.Later, organisers wrote on X: “The police are not letting anyone in. People can leave, but they cannot return. Delegates have limited access to food and water, which are being prevented from delivery. Is this what city mayor Emir Kir is aiming for?”Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki were due to speak tomorrow. Earlier, the organisers said on X that they would challenge the order to shut the conference down. “The police entered the venue on our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Is it possible they witnessed how peaceful the event is?,” they wrote on X.The Claridge event space – located near Brussels’s European Quarter – can host up to 850 people. Around 250 people were in attendance on Tuesday afternoon.Mohamed Nemri, the owner of Claridge, told the BBC he had decided to host the event because “we don’t reject any party…. even if we don’t have the same opinion. That’s normal”.”I am Muslim and people have different opinion and that’s it. We are living in a freedom country. I’d like to people to talk freely,” he added.It is the third venue that was supposed to hold the event, after the previous two fell through. Belgian media reported that one venue pulled out after pressure by a group called the “Antifascist coordination of Belgium”.Related TopicsBelgiumTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished43 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed3Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference4Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline5Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single10Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNasa says part of International Space Station crashed into Florida homePublished40 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NASAImage caption, The recovered object was part of a stanchion used to mount batteries to a cargo palletBy Max MatzaBBC NewsUS space agency Nasa confirmed that an object that crashed into a home in Florida earlier this month was part of the International Space Station (ISS). The metal object was jettisoned from the orbiting outpost in March 2021, Nasa said on Monday after analysing the sample at the Kennedy Space Center.The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object tore through two layers of ceiling after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Homeowner Alejandro Otero said his son was nearly injured by the impact. Nasa said the object was part of some 5,800lbs of hardware that was dumped by the station after it had new lithium-ion batteries installed. “The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry through Earth’s atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, a piece of hardware survived and impacted a home in Naples, Florida,” the agency said.The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet. The object, made from metal alloy Inconel, has dimensions of 4in by 1.6in (10.1cm by 4cm).Mr Otero told CBS affiliate Wink-TV that the device created a “tremendous sound” as it blasted into his home.”It almost hit my son. He was two rooms over and heard it all,” he said.”I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage,” Mr Otero continued.”I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt.”According to Nasa, the ISS will “perform a detailed investigation” on how the debris survived burn-up.What’s the risk of being hit by falling space debris?Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkSpace junk has been a growing a problem. Earlier this month, sky watchers in California watched mysterious golden streaks moving through the night sky.US officials later determined that the light show was caused by burning debris from a Chinese rocket re-entering earth’s orbit.In February, a Chinese satellite known as “Object K” burned up as it re-entered the atmosphere over Hawaii.Last year, a barnacle-covered giant metal dome found on a Western Australian beach was identified as a component of an Indian rocket. There are plans to display it alongside chunks of Nasa’s Skylab, which crashed in Australia in 1979. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Object thought to be a satellite burns up on re-entering Earth’s atmosphereRelated TopicsSpace debrisNasaFloridaUnited StatesMore on this storyIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkPublished3 AprilRobot dog trains to walk on Moon in Oregon trialsPublished3 days agoTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished50 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished4 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed3Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference4Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline5Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care10Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice forever

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaFormer Marine jailed for nine years for bombing abortion clinicPublished7 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS abortion debateImage source, CBSBy Max MatzaBBC NewsA former US Marine has been jailed for nine years for firebombing a California Planned Parenthood clinic and plotting other attacks to spark a “race war”.Chance Brannon, 24, pleaded guilty to the March 2022 attack on the healthcare clinic, which provides abortions in some of its locations.He also plotted to attack Jewish people and an LGBT pride event taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. At the time of his arrest, he was an active duty member of the US Marines. Prosecutors said Brannon was a neo-Nazi who frequently spoke of “cleansing” the US of “particular ethnic groups”. In November, Brannon pleaded guilty to conspiracy, destruction of property, possession of an explosive and intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility.Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said the attack “was designed to terrorise patients seeking reproductive healthcare and the people who provide it”.The explosion damaged the front entrance to the clinic in Costa Mesa, Orange County. No one was injured.However, Mehtab Syed, of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said Brannon’s “deep-rooted hatred and extremist views… could have killed innocent people”. Mr Syed added that Brannon plotted to rob Jewish residents in the Hollywood Hills, and had also discussed plans to attack the power grid. Further to this, in 2022, Mr Syed said Brannon, of San Juan Capistrano, placed calls to two US “adversaries” hoping to offer himself as a “mole” providing US intelligence.Two co-defendants, Tibet Ergul and Xavier Batten, have pleaded guilty to similar charges and will be sentenced next month.According to the National Abortion Federation, a group representing US abortion providers, there was a “sharp increase” in violence against clinics in 2022. Related TopicsAbortionUS abortion debateUnited StatesCaliforniaMore on this storyWhat is Planned Parenthood?Published25 September 2015Top StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished53 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished3 hours agoLive. Israel demands sanctions on Iranian missile projectFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference3Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism4First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed5Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9William to return to duties after Kate diagnosis10Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care