BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaThe Caitlin Clark Effect has made women’s basketball the hottest ticket aroundPublished22 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Caitlin Clark plays for IowaBy Brandon DrenonBBC News, WashingtonThe scene was described as “controlled chaos”.Dozens of people queued down the block and around the corner to get into the Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, the first bar in the world – according to owner Jenny Nguyen – to only show women’s sports.The fact that it was the middle of a Monday did not curb the crowd’s enthusiasm, nor did it slow them from consuming “three times” as many drinks as they normally would.They were there to witness an epic women’s college basketball tournament game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers, headlined by superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.From the Sports Bra crowd to celebrities Lebron James and Travis Scott, more than 12 million viewers tuned in. It was one of the most-watched college basketball games ever, men’s or women’s.”It was electric,” Ms Nguyen said, recalling the atmosphere as the University of Iowa beat Louisiana State University, a victory led by Clark who scored a whopping 41 points.”I’ve been watching women’s basketball for decades. It feels like everyone else is just catching up… it’s about damn time,” she added.The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been hosting the basketball tournament known as March Madness since 1939.In just three weeks, 68 of the best college teams are winnowed down to one champion.The annual event is a media frenzy where millions of fans watch games around the clock for days on end.For decades, that only applied to the men’s tournament. Not anymore.Caitlin Clark breaks college basketball points recordNBA legend James’ son Bronny to enter 2024 draftTicket prices for the women’s championship this year cost twice as much as the men’s on average, reaching as high as $11,000 (£8,736).One of the reasons for this “watershed moment in women’s basketball”, said Amanda Christovich, a reporter at Front Office Sports, is generational talent like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.The other, she said, is that the push for gender parity in college sports has reached a new height.In 2024, the NCAA signed a TV contract with ESPN that values the women’s tournament at $65m annually, more than 10 times the previous rate. Less than five years ago, it wasn’t even possible to watch every game of the women’s NCAA tournament on national broadcasts.The bigger stage has given a bigger platform to bigger stars. And Clark – who is arguably the biggest name in the sport right now – has been a main driver of the recent buzz.The college senior has scored over 3,900 points in her career, more than any other college athlete, male or female, in the history of the NCAA.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Caitlin Clark: The Iowa superstar breaking records on and off the courtWhat is the Caitlin Clark Effect?Caitlin Clark is the 22-year-old headline-grabbing, trash-talking, fan-charming Iowa guard who is considered one of the greatest basketball players in college history.She wins games. Lots of games. Breaks records. Lots of records. And fills stadiums with sell-out crowds eager to see her.Many are hoping to witness her renowned long-distance three-point shots.Standing dozens of feet from the basket, sometimes in the middle of the court, she shoots the ball over the heads of her opponents with ease. The distance often defies the average range of a collegiate female player.Clark recently broke the record for the most three-point shots made in a single season, a record previously held by professional player Steph Curry.Image source, USA TODAY SportsImage caption, Caitlin Clark hits a three pointerHer star power – punctuated by more than one million followers on Instagram – has drawn a multitude of new fans to the sport. People travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars just to see her.The phenomenon of her influence has been dubbed the Caitlin Clark Effect.As with Taylor Swift, her appearances not only drive ticket prices up, but also balloon hotel rates and strain restaurant reservation lists nearby.”She’s a once in a generation player. She’s incredible. She’s viral,” Ms Christovich said. “She’s the conduit by which a lot of people have discovered women’s college basketball this year.”However, Ms Christovich added, “Would Caitlin Clark have garnered the attention she’s getting now 20 years ago? Probably not”.”And that’s not because she wouldn’t have been as good. It’s because people weren’t paying attention,” she said.For decades, the women’s tournament had been “treated like a second-class event”, according to Ms Christovich.One example was that the women’s tournament was not allowed to use the NCAA’s trademarked March Madness logo until the 2022 season. And, until recently, it was also harder to find on TV, Ms Christovich said.Breaking down barriers”The moment upon us is one that has been a snowball building for the last generation or so,” said Kate Fagan, a former Colorado University basketball player, and author of the book Hoop Muses.There were three major turning points, separated by decades.First, in the 1970s the NCAA was forced to provide equitable athletic opportunities to women when the federal law known as Title IX went into effect. Then, in 1996, the creation of the Women’s National Basketball League gave young players a path to becoming professional athletes.The third major catalyst arrived more than 20 years later, on TikTok. In 2021, an Oregon University women’s basketball athlete posted a video that compared a NCAA tournament training facility for women to one provided for men.There were gross disparities. The men’s facility featured rows of workout platforms, outfitted with dumbbells, barbells and weights capable of going into the hundreds of pounds. The women’s facility had a single tower of dumbbells that topped out at 30 pounds (14 kg), and a few yoga mats. The video went viral.A follow-up investigation by an outside law firm found that the NCAA “prioritizes men’s basketball, contributing to gender inequity” and it was “significantly undervaluing women’s basketball as an asset”.The NCAA then carried out a complete overhaul that included allowing the women’s tournament to use the March Madness branding. The new media contract with ESPN, which now airs all of the women’s March Madness games across multiple platforms, was another by-product.”There were always great players. There were always great athletes,” Pamela Grundy, co-author of Shattering the Glass, a novel chronicling women’s basketball, said: “But now a greater group of people are seeing them.”And frankly it’s a lot better than people thought.”But, she noted, “sports is driven not just by tickets, but by sponsors”.Image source, USA TODAY SportsImage caption, New fans are drawn to the sportMillions of dollars paid to college athletesIn 2021 a combination of state laws and NCAA rule changes opened up never-before-seen opportunities for college athletes to make money by selling the rights to their name, image and likeness (NIL).Six-figure endorsement deals, inked by players – some of them still teenagers – soon followed. Top brands like State Farm and Nike began partnering with top athletes like Caitlin Clark.”There are a handful of women athletes that are earning millions of dollars through NIL each year,” said Blake Lawrence, founder and CEO of Opendorse.com, a platform for NIL contracts.National endorsement deals also put athletes in front of more people more often, broadcasting them on TVs across America in commercials and games.And women have an advantage with their social media presence, a “big component” in most NIL deals, Mr Lawrence said.Still, female college basketball players remain held back in many ways by the NCAA structure, Ms Christovich said.In the tournament, men’s basketball teams are able to earn money for their conferences the further they advance through the rounds. The women’s teams are not.For the top four teams that remain in each of the men’s and women’s tournaments this year, that equates to a roughly $40m difference.”What’s incredibly impressive about the women’s tournament success, is that it’s happening despite the barriers,” Ms Christovich said.More on this storyThe million-dollar hustle changing US sportAttributionSportPublished6 September 2023Caitlin Clark breaks college basketball points recordPublished4 MarchCaitlin Clark: The young superstar who will captivate the US this weekend. Video, 00:02:16Caitlin Clark: The young superstar who will captivate the US this weekendAttributionSportPublished1 day ago2:16NBA legend James’ son Bronny to enter 2024 draftAttributionSportPublished1 day agoTop StoriesTel Aviv protests: Thousands demand Netanyahu resign. 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[ad_1] There were gross disparities. The men’s facility featured rows of workout platforms, outfitted with dumbbells, barbells and weights capable of going into the hundreds of pounds. The women’s facility…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceDisney defeats critics after bruising battlePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty imagesDisney has won a boardroom battle against critics who had accused the media giant of botching its streaming strategy and losing its creative spark.Activist investors, including Nelson Peltz of Trian Management, had sought seats on the company’s board of directors, which they said was too close to Disney’s leadership.They pledged to push for priorities such as higher profits.A majority of shareholders voted to maintain the company’s current board.At its shareholder meeting on Wednesday, Disney said its board nominees had been elected by a “substantial margin” with a final vote to be disclosed later. But the hard-fought battle raised pointed questions about struggles at Disney’s film and television business, and cast a shadow over the legacy of long-time leader Bob Iger. “All we want is for Disney to get back to making great content and delighting consumers and for Disney to create sustainable long-term value for shareholders,” Mr Peltz said at the shareholder meeting on Wednesday.Mr Peltz is known for his fights with big companies such as fast food chain Wendy’s and Procter & Gamble, maker of brands such as Pampers and Vick’s.He had criticised Disney for responding too slowly as pay television subscribers started to flee in 2015 and said big gambles, such as Mr Iger’s decision to buy a hefty chunk of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in 2019, had not paid off.Trian and another firm, Blackwells Capital, said the board had overpaid executives and bungled its responsibility to pick a new chief executive. They also called for a review of Disney’s studio operations, noting a streak of films that have disappointed at the box office.Wish lacks Disney’s usual magic, say criticsThe debate coincided with pressure Disney has been under from right-wing activists, who have accused the firm of “going woke”.Concern about how Disney is handling culture wars issues prompted several questions from shareholders at Wednesday’s meeting, where separate shareholder proposals focused on Disney’s political and charitable donations and its policies for trans employees were also defeated.Disney had urged shareholders to vote against those proposals and to back the current board. It said new faces threatened to disrupt progress that the company has been making. “As we gather today, we stand on a far more solid foundation,” Mr Iger said in remarks at the meeting after the results were announced. “We have turned the corner and entered a new positive era for the Walt Disney company.”Mr Iger had retired as chief executive in 2020, but Disney’s board abruptly re-installed him as boss in 2022, ousting his successor amid complaints about the company’s streaming business and other issues. Soon after his return Mr Iger announced a reorganisation and thousands of job cuts in a bid to improve the company’s profits. He is now planning to step aside at the end of 2026.But the investor battle was costly for both sides.Trian estimated it would spend $25m million trying to win over shareholders, blitzing social media platforms with adverts aimed at everyday investors, while Disney claimed a spend of $40m. But Mr Iger won out – gaining support from major shareholders including Star Wars creator George Lucas, the widow of Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs, and members of the Disney family.Mr Peltz had been working with Ike Perlmutter, the former chair of Marvel, who was fired from Disney last year and had previously clashed with Mr Iger.Disney said Mr Perlmutter had “a longstanding personal agenda against” Mr Iger, which would have made it difficult for the two sides to work together.Related TopicsCompaniesDisneyInternational BusinessTop StoriesLive. Charity boss accuses Israel of targeting aid staff ‘car by car’Jeremy Bowen: The Israel-Gaza war is at a crossroadsPublished5 hours agoDozens trapped and 900 injured in Taiwan earthquakePublished2 hours agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: The Israel-Gaza war is at a crossroadsWho were the seven aid workers killed in Gaza?What we know about Israeli strike on aid convoySunak facing pressure over UK arms sales to IsraelBonsai and bowing: Japan’s royal family join InstagramChina will have 300 million pensioners. 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[ad_1] The investor boardroom battle raises difficult questions about whether the Hollywood giant lost its way.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaEthiopia’s CBE bank recovers $10m taken during technical glitchPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, The bank lost more than $14m during the glitch on 16 MarchBy Kalkidan YibeltalBBC News, Addis AbabaEthiopia’s largest bank says it has recovered almost three-quarters of the $14m (£12m) it lost in a glitch that allowed customers to withdraw more money than they had in their accounts. Abe Sano, head of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) said on Tuesday about $10m has been recovered. Thousands of customers returned the cash voluntarily. Mr Sano warned those who had not will face criminal charges.Most of the money was withdrawn by university students.On 16 March, news of the glitch spread across universities – largely via messaging apps and phone calls – and long lines were seen at campus cash machines.The bank has never explained exactly what the problem was, but the CBE said the glitch was not the result of a cyber-attack and that customers should not be worried as their personal accounts were intact.Latest updates from the African continentAt least three universities released statements advising students to return any money not belonging to them that they may have taken from the bank.In an interview with the BBC’s Newsday programme last week Mr Abe said the CBE was already in the process of reporting customers to the police.”There is no way that they can escape because they are digital [transactions] and they are our customers. We know them. They are traceable and they are legally accountable for what they did,” he said.Initial reports said that more than $40m was lost in the technical glitch. A CBE employee told the BBC it was harder to find money transferred to other banks than to trace sums moved to another CBE account. A total of 490,000 transactions were made before CBE realised there was a problem.More than 38 million people hold accounts at the CBE, which was established 82 years ago.You may also be interested in:Listen to Abe Sano’s Newsday interview -s’No escape’ for bank clients who profited from glitchEA quick guide to Ethiopia country profileRelated TopicsEthiopiaAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastTop StoriesLive. Ship that collided with Baltimore bridge lost power – governorWatch: The critical moments before ship hit Baltimore bridge. VideoWatch: The critical moments before ship hit Baltimore bridgePublished3 hours agoLive. Israel claims UN ceasefire resolution has damaged negotiations with HamasFeaturesWhat we know about Baltimore bridge collapseIn pictures: Baltimore bridge collapseKate rumours linked to Russian disinformationWho is Julian Assange and why is he facing extradition?How do I know if my smart meter is broken?Striking kite-flying picture scoops top prizeHow much is the BBC licence fee and what does it pay for?Bowen: Biden has decided strong words are not enough19th Century law fires up anti-abortion pushElsewhere on the BBCConquering Everest’s ‘Death Zone’ on skisFind out how a Japanese alpinist became the first person to ski down Mount EverestAttributionSounds’You do feel like you’re invincible’Why are so many young men risking their lives on the UK’s roads?AttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsHow many big hits from 1995 will you remember?Featuring Ace of Base, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, David Bowie and many moreAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Two junior ministers quit government2North Korea censors Alan Titchmarsh’s trousers3Kate rumours linked to Russian disinformation4Russia blames West and Kyiv for Moscow jihadist attack5Thief sold stolen gems to at least 45 buyers, museum says6Tory’s mayoral contest ad showed New York not London7BBC to explore reform of licence fee8Assange judges seek no death penalty pledge from US9Papa Johns pizza to shut nearly a tenth of UK sites10What we know about Baltimore bridge collapse

[ad_1] A technical problem at an Ethiopian bank allowed people to withdraw more money than they held.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentPoland’s ‘Heart of the Garden’ crowned Tree of the YearPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Marcin_KopijImage caption, The Heart of the Garden is thought to be 200 years oldBy Maddie MolloyBBC News Climate & ScienceA Polish tree nicknamed Heart of the Garden, pictured above, has won the 2024 European Tree of the Year contest.The monumental common beech tree grows in an old park in the University of Wroclaw’s botanical garden. It’s the third Polish tree in a row to win.The contest celebrates our relationship with nature by showcasing beautiful and unique trees from across the continent.Here are some other notable entries.Image source, Emmanuel BoitierTaking second place is the Weeping Beech of Bayeux in Normandy. Spreading over 40m wide, the city has provided structural support to keep it standing.Image source, Valerio Atzori Corpo forestale SardegnaIn third place is the 1,000-year-old Olive Tree of Luras in Sardinia, Italy. Estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000 years old, it’s one of the oldest specimens of wild olive on the island.Image source, José Couceiro da CostaThe curiously curated common camellia from Portugal was a strong runner-up. It stands out for centuries of careful shaping.Image source, Hannah FarnellThe UK’s entry, Wrexham’s sweet chestnut in Acton Park, came in tenth place. Thought to be almost 500 years old, this giant tree has weathered many storms and survived being pillaged for firewood in 1940s post-war Britain.The full results can be seen on Europe’s t Tree of the Year website.Related TopicsTreesNatureMore on this storyTowering sweet chestnut tree reaches UK finalsPublished1 October 2023New life springs from rescued Sycamore Gap treePublished9 MarchSycamore Gap tree: The story so farPublished9 MarchMore than 100,000 sign ‘Darwin Oak’ petitionPublished14 FebruaryTop StoriesThis will be year economy bounces back, Sunak says, after inflation fallsPublished2 hours agoFresh defeats in the Lords over Rwanda billPublished4 minutes agoI am no longer best man to be Irish PM – VaradkarPublished13 minutes agoFeaturesFamine looms in Sudan as civil war survivors tell of killings and rapesThe GP who became Ireland’s youngest taoiseachEmma Barnett: ‘Why I wanted a baby loss certificate’Bafta TV Awards: The list of nominationsWatch: An emotional farewell to the Hairy Bikers. VideoWatch: An emotional farewell to the Hairy BikersPain, anger and disquiet as new Welsh first minister takes the stageLondon Tube strikes: All you need to knowI took three bullets to stop Princess Anne’s kidnap. VideoI took three bullets to stop Princess Anne’s kidnapThe Staves: ‘The pressure to feel empowered is suffocating’Elsewhere on the BBCThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerAre you a descendant of royalty?Geneticist Dr. Adam Rutherford sets out to prove that we all are…AttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Ramadan message removed from King’s Cross board2Man given ‘wife’s ashes’ before her cremation3Harry Potter steam train service suspended4Man murdered couple with drug before re-writing will5Fresh defeats in the Lords over Rwanda bill6I am no longer best man to be Irish PM – Varadkar7Kate hospital responds after alleged privacy breach8Woman found with £2bn in Bitcoin convicted9Mystery solved after divers find German U-boat10Junior doctors vote to continue strike action

[ad_1] A monumental Polish beech has been crowned European Tree of the Year 2024.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCommercial Bank of Ethiopia glitch lets customers withdraw millionsPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, More than 38 million people hold accounts at Commercial Bank EthiopiaBy Kalkidan YibeltalBBC News, Addis AbabaEthiopia’s biggest commercial bank is scrambling to recoup large sums of money withdrawn by customers after a “systems glitch”.The customers discovered early on Saturday that they could take out more cash than they had in their accounts at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE).More than $40m (£31m) was withdrawn or transferred to other banks, local media reported.It took several hours for the institution to freeze transactions.Latest updates from the African continentMuch of the money was withdrawn from state-owned CBE by students, bank president Abe Sano told journalists on Monday. News of the glitch spread across universities largely via messaging apps and phone calls.Long lines formed at campus ATMs, with a student in western Ethiopia telling BBC Amharic people were withdrawing money until police officers arrived on campus to stop them.The student, who attends Jimma University Institute of Technology, said he “did not believe it was true” when his friends told him at around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT) that it was possible to withdraw large amounts from ATMs, or transfer the money using the bank’s app.Another student, at Dilla University in southern Ethiopia, said a number of his peers retrieved money from CBE between midnight and 02:00 local time.More than 38 million people hold accounts at CBE, which was established 82 years ago.Ethiopia’s central bank, which serves as the financial sector’s governing body, released a statement on Sunday saying “a glitch” had occurred during “maintenance and inspection activities”. The statement, however, focused on the interrupted service that occurred after CBE froze all transactions. It did not mention the money withdrawn by customers.Mr Sano did not say exactly how much money was withdrawn during Saturday’s incident, but said the loss incurred was small when compared to the bank’s total assets. He stated that CBE was not hit by a cyber-attack and that customers should not be worried as their personal accounts were intact.At least three universities have released statements advising students to return any money not belonging to them that they may have taken from CBE. Anyone returning money will not be charged with a criminal offence, Mr Sano said.But it’s not clear how successful the bank’s attempts to recoup their money has been so far. The student from Jimma University said on Monday he had not heard of anyone giving the money back, but said he had seen police vehicles on campus.An official at Dilla University said bank employees were on campus collecting money that some students were returning voluntarily.More BBC stories about Ethiopia:Ethiopia-Somaliland deal makes waves in Horn of AfricaFear of famine in Tigray growsWhy Ethiopia’s Amhara militiamen are battling the armyA quick guide to EthiopiaRelated TopicsUniversitiesBankingEthiopiaTop StoriesGaza faces famine during Ramadan, the holy month of fastingPublished4 hours agoNo choice for Ukrainians: More Putin means more warPublished8 hours agoTrump unable to get $464m bond in New York fraud casePublished4 hours agoFeaturesPredicting 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 attacksThe councils fighting to stop themselves going bustChris Mason analysis: Rwanda saga won’t be over even when law is passedWhat is a heat pump and how much do they cost?High-seas drama over an ocean treasure troveHow a WhatsApp group helped save trafficked womenOne Great Britain rower’s neurodiversity journeyAttributionSportElsewhere 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 Read1Katie Price declared bankrupt for second time2Oldest surviving England player dies at 943Trump unable to get $464m bond in New York fraud case4Zac Goldsmith banned after speeding seven times5’Harmless dye’ turns river ‘fluorescent green’6Customers withdraw millions after cash machine glitch7Mood among Tory MPs darkens as PM faces questions8’I sat inches away from US plane’s mid-air blowout’9Eight men sentenced over asylum hotel disorder10Banksy confirms London tree mural is his own work

[ad_1] The student, who attends Jimma University Institute of Technology, said he “did not believe it was true” when his friends told him at around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT)…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsLocal NewsStakeknife report: Operation Kenova to publish findingsPublished39 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsThe TroublesImage source, PacemakerImage caption, Belfast man Fred Scappaticci denied he was Stakeknife, an Army agent within the IRABy Julian O’NeillBBC News NI crime and justice correspondentA report on a major investigation into an Army spy who operated at the heart of the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles is to be published later. The investigation took seven years to examine the activities of agent “Stakeknife”, who was Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci.The “golden egg” intelligence asset has been linked to multiple murders.The £40m investigation, known as Operation Kenova, also looked at the role played by the Army and MI5.Who was Stakeknife and what did he do?Stakeknife was west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, though this has never been confirmed officially. He was unmasked in the media in 2003 and although he denied the allegation, he moved into hiding in England where he died in 2023. He joined the IRA in the 1970s and towards the end of that decade was recruited by the Army as an agent.Throughout the 1980s he operated within the IRA’s so-called internal security unit. Its primary purpose was to identify informers who were then kidnapped, tortured and shot dead. Scappaticci himself was implicated in multiple killings while at the same time working as a spy, passing on intelligence about the IRA. The IRA became suspicious of him around 1990 and stood him and his unit down.What is Operation Kenova?In 2016, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) asked the then-chief constable of Bedfordshire, Jon Boutcher, to investigate more than 50 murders and any connection to Stakeknife.The PSNI requested the external inquiry due to “its scale, size and complexity”. Called Operation Kenova, it had around 50 detectives from outside Northern Ireland. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Freddie Scappaticci threatens a BBC reporter outside his home in 2003.To further underline its independence, no-one had a military or intelligence service background. The Operation Kenova team was later tasked to examine other unrelated Troubles cases. It has cost in the region of £40m.Jon Boutcher, now the chief constable of the PSNI, will release his report at 11:00 GMT. What is the purpose of the report?Operation Kenova investigated the activities of Stakeknife, who was suspected of direct involvement in 18 murders. The IRA unit that Scappaticci was part of was known as the “nutting squad” and its chief purpose was to identify informers. Stakeknife ‘linked to 18 murders’Freddie Scappaticci: The Army’s golden egg in IRAThe IRA executioner next door in suburbiaCrucially, Mr Boutcher’s team looked at the conduct of Stakeknife’s handlers in the Army, as well as the security service, MI5. It has been examining if the state was complicit in a catalogue of serious crimes.Image caption, Fred Scappaticci left Northern Ireland in 2003 when he was identified by the media as StakeknifeThe “nutting squad” dealt with the informers, including those falsely accused of being traitors, by shooting them in the back of the head after interrogations, which involved torture. Bodies were usually dumped along rural border roads. Who were the victims?Operation Kenova is looking into more than 50 murders including that of Caroline Moreland, a Catholic mother of three who was abducted and murdered by the IRA in July 1994.The body of the 34-year-old was found near Roslea, County Fermanagh.Just before the ceasefires of 1994, she came under the suspicion of the IRA, was kidnapped, held for two weeks and shot dead.After she was kidnapped, her interrogators made a recording of her in which she can be heard “confessing” to having been an informer.Image source, PAcemakerImage caption, Caroline Moreland was abducted and shot dead by the IRA in July 1994Caroline Moreland’s daughter, Shauna, said she wanted to know why, if her mother was an informer, the state had not intervened to save her.Shauna was ten when her mother was killed. Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme, Shauna said her main goal was to “get someone to say that her life mattered”.”I didn’t want prosecutions, I didn’t care about that. I just wanted answers,” she said. “If she was informing then she would have had handlers who would have known she was missing and could have stepped in to save her.” Read more victims stories here – The sound that signalled death for IRA ‘informers’ Did the Army and MI5 co-operate with the investigation?Yes. Much of the material relevant to the investigation is held by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and MI5, as well as the PSNI. Operation Kenova agreed information protocols with each organisation. Mr Boutcher has stated getting access to all records was “challenging”, involving lawyers and took time to obtain. But as a result, he has said he has been able to search records “not previously given” to earlier investigations. Operation Kenova has involved “12,000 investigative actions”. More than 300 people were interviewed, 40 of them under caution. The first person it arrested for questioning was Mr Scappaticci in 2018. As a result of an associated search, he was charged with, and admitted to, possessing extreme pornographic images.Is anyone being prosecuted as a result?No. Mr Scappaticci died in April 2023, before the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) had made decisions on files submitted by Kenova relating to 17 murders and 12 abductions, which occurred between 1979 and 1994. Intelligence material made up much of the 60,000 pages of evidence it considered. Last December, it said 15 other people would not face any action.Following this, there were further decisions not to prosecute anyone, including people who are alleged to have been IRA members and retired soldiers involved in agent handling.Image source, PacemakerImage caption, Jon Boutcher, who led Operation Kenova, is now PSNI chief constableThe PPS said the evidence was “insufficient” to charge anyone. In February, the Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron said the value of Operation Kenova should not be measured solely in terms of prosecution outcomes, pointing to reports which are being prepared for families.Has the report been censored?No. Mr Boutcher put the finishing touches to the report in late 2022. However, there was an eight-stage process to publication, with the final say resting with the PSNI, as it commissioned the investigation. The stages included the government studying whether any of its contents compromised national security. Last August, Mr Boutcher said the checks had not resulted in any redactions. The report is an interim one, dealing with “high level themes and issues” concerning Stakeknife. It will not contain a case-by-case examination of murders and incidents, nor identify victims at the request of their relatives. Victims’ families will receive individual reports at a future point in time. There will also be a final report, likely to be published later this year, which will be more comprehensive.Related TopicsIRANorthern IrelandThe TroublesPolice Service of Northern IrelandMore on this storyThe IRA executioner next door in suburbiaPublished1 hour agoFreddie Scappaticci: The Army’s golden egg in IRAPublished17 hours agoWhy did the IRA not kill Stakeknife?Published17 hours agoThe sound that signalled death for IRA ‘informers’Published3 days agoAlleged top Army agent in IRA, Stakeknife, diesPublished11 April 2023Top StoriesBiden draws election battle lines in fiery speechPublished4 hours agoTheresa May to stand down as MP at next electionPublished1 hour agoMH370: Inescapable grief a decade on as families fight for answersPublished9 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Pension pinchers’ and Horner ‘Red Bullish’Singapore sting: How spies listened in on German generalWeekly quiz: Which billionaire hired Rihanna to celebrate a wedding?MH370: 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 DittoHow are the child benefit rules changing?The Iranian female DJs shaking the dance floorElsewhere on the BBCCrazy urban myth or legitimate punk-pop conspiracy?Comedian Joanne McNally investigatesAttributionSoundsA ball of fire in the skies of KentMust-see moments from news stories big and small, captured on cameraAttributioniPlayerA disturbing scandal, uncovered after 30 yearsHow coal miners’ organs were used for research without their consentAttributionSoundsFearless, unflinching, yet life-affirming stand-upJaney Godley spins bold comedy from her dark and difficult experienceAttributionSoundsMost Read1Theresa May to stand down as MP at next election2£40k orphanage donor feels ‘cheated’ by charity3’Pension pinchers’ and Horner ‘Red Bullish’4Biden draws election battle lines in fiery speech5London a ‘no-go zone for Jews every weekend’6Rape survivor says uni training may have saved her7Mass die-offs rising among farmed salmon8MH370: The families haunted by one of aviation’s greatest mysteries9Coroners’ death reports reveal NHS warnings rise10Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama dies at 68

[ad_1] The report into a top Army agent in the IRA codenamed Stakeknife, linked to 18 murders, will be released.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceWinklevoss crypto firm Gemini to return $1.1bn to customersPublished38 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron WinklevossBy Peter HoskinsBusiness reporterCryptocurrency exchange Gemini has agreed to return at least $1.1bn (£870m) to customers of its defunct lending programme as part of a settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).The company will also pay a $37m fine for “significant failures”.Gemini’s Earn programme was halted during a crypto crash in November 2022. The exchange was co-founded by twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss – known for their legal dispute with Facebook.”Gemini failed to conduct due diligence on an unregulated third party, later accused of massive fraud, harming Earn customers who were suddenly unable to access their assets after Genesis Global Capital experienced a financial meltdown,” NYDFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris said in a statement.”Today’s settlement is a win for Earn customers, who have a right to the assets they entrusted to Gemini.”The NYDFS also said it could bring further action against Gemini if it did not return at least $1.1bn to customers.In a blog post Gemini said it had “worked tirelessly over the past 15 months to advocate for Earn users and seek the return of their assets”.The company also said it would contribute $40m to the conclusion of Genesis’ bankruptcy in order to benefit Earn customers.The Earn programme was offered in partnership with cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global Capital.It was halted in November 2022, followed by Genesis filing for bankruptcy. Since then there has been extensive litigation between Genesis, Gemini and Genesis’ parent company, Digital Currency Group.Gemini Earn customers have been unable to access their funds in those accounts since late 2022. The settlement means they are one step closer to regaining access to their money.Gemini is run by the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron, who are also known for a long-running legal dispute with Facebook and its boss Mark Zuckerberg.In January 2023, Gemini and Genesis were charged by US regulators with illegally selling crypto assets to hundreds of thousands of investors.The companies were accused of breaking the law by offering and selling the products through Earn, which launched in 2021.The Securities and Exchange Commission is in charge of the case.Related TopicsNew York CityCryptocurrencyMore on this storyTop crypto firms named in $1bn fraud lawsuitPublished19 October 2023Crypto lender Genesis files for bankruptcyPublished20 January 2023Winklevoss firm charged in US over crypto salesPublished13 January 2023Top StoriesProtests descending into mob rule, PM warns policePublished4 hours agoWomen were ‘not believed’ on Emma killer warningsPublished4 hours agoMoon lander pictured on its side with snapped legPublished7 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Cut to non-dom status considered and Harry court setbackHow police missed the chance to catch Emma’s killerHow I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killer. 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It took 13 years to get home againFamily’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailedS Korea doctors face arrest if they do not end strikeWhy Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fixElsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Cut to non-dom status considered and Harry court setback2Illinois judge kicks Trump off primary ballot3Protests descending into mob rule, PM warns police4’Angry families turned up to find me dressed as Willy Wonka’5Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis dies aged 766McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader7Moon lander pictured on its side with snapped leg8Family’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailed9Harry loses court challenge over UK security10Born on 29 February: ‘Being a leapling feels special’

[ad_1] Gemini was co-founded by twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss – known for their legal dispute with Facebook.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrump faces a $370m fine in New York fraud trial. How would he pay it?Published3 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Former President Donald Trump speaks to the press before closing arguments at his civil fraud trial in New YorkBy Nada Tawfik, Madeline Halpert, & Kayla EpsteinBBC News, New YorkThe future of Donald Trump’s family business may be decided on Friday when a New York judge is expected to deliver a verdict in his civil fraud trial. The former president, his adult sons and his namesake company have already been found liable for fraudulently inflating the value of assets in statements to lenders. Prosecutors have asked the judge to fine Mr Trump $370m (£291m) and to put restrictions on his ability to conduct business in the state. That’s a lot of money, even for a billionaire. Legal experts told the BBC that a penalty that large, coupled with a potential final verdict that may greatly impact his real estate empire, could deliver a serious blow to Mr Trump’s finances.”He’s not going to suddenly become working class,” said former federal prosecutor Diana Florence. “But it’s just going to be a lot of cash. His fortune will be significantly reduced.”Why could Trump be fined $370 million?The New York Attorney General Letitia James told the court that $370m was the appropriate amount the Trumps should pay in disgorgement, a financial penalty that involves paying back the money gained through fraudulent means.She calculated the sum based on three factors: money Mr Trump allegedly earned in interest rate savings on loans due to misstating his assets; “bonuses” paid to Trump Organization employees who participated in the scheme; and profit realised from two property deals that Ms James alleges were obtained fraudulently.It is up to Judge Arthur Engoron to determine the financial penalties when he delivers his ruling. A guide to Trump’s four criminal casesWhatever the amount, Mr Trump would also have to pay annual interest on that fine, dating back several years to when the alleged offences took place. New York’s 9% interest rate means Mr Trump might have to pay an additional nine-figure sum on top of the penalty.Mr Trump denies committing fraud and says there was no crime because the banks made money on his investments. He is expected to launch an appeal, which would put the verdict on hold until a higher court reviews the case. But if he wants to avoid paying the fine or have personal assets seized while the appeal process plays out, he still has to deposit the full amount to be held by the court within 30 days.A punishing amount – but not a ruinous oneOne calculation from Forbes Magazine put Mr Trump’s total net worth at $2.6bn. The New York Attorney General’s Office estimated his annual net worth at $2bn in 2021. Based on those estimates, a penalty of $370m would cost Mr Trump roughly 15-18% of his wealth. On top of this looming penalty, however, he already owes the writer E Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages from a separate defamation case that concluded in January. His legal fees are also mounting as he battles four criminal cases at the federal and state level.These combined financial burdens may constitute more cash than Mr Trump has available. Legal experts say he has several potential options.Image source, Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty ImagesImage caption, Judge Arthur EngoronTrump could secure a bond, but it will cost himTo avoid paying everything upfront, Mr Trump could try to secure a bond – a third-party guarantee that he can pay the full fine. That would cost him many more millions, with added interest and fees. He would also likely be required to put up collateral.To secure a bond from a bonding company, a person typically needs to put up about 10% of the total amount owed, Steven Cohen of the New York Law School explained. So if Mr Trump owed $370m in disgorgement, he might have to pay a bond company $37m (£29m) to issue the bond. And he will not get that fee back.Trump could sell assets to raise enough cashIn a deposition in this case, Mr Trump said he had $400m in cash on hand (the BBC could not verify that sum independently). With his other legal liabilities and fees, however, that would not be enough to cover a new $370m fine.”He’s got to think about what to do with his assets, how to perhaps liquidate businesses to come up with that money,” said Sarah Kristoff, a former federal prosecutor. Much of Mr Trump’s fortune is tied to his real estate ventures. Forbes found his New York real estate empire to be valued at $490m (£384m) including his flagship condominium skyscraper, Trump Tower, worth $56m (£44m) by the outlet’s count. The many lives of Trump TowerHis portfolio includes many other properties around the country, with golf courses, condominium towers, hotels and even a winery. His stake in the Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social messaging platform and is pursuing a public listing, is estimated to be worth almost $4bn. But how investors value that firm has swung wildly in recent months; and under the terms of the deal, he would not be allowed to sell shares to raise money right away. “Something is going to have to be sold or realised in order to get the money to pay for that kind of cost,” said William Thomas, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.Image source, Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty ImagesImage caption, New York Attorney General Letitia James sits behind Donald Trump in court during closing argumentsTrump could ask his loyal supporters for the moneyMr Trump may also turn to the massive fundraising engine he uses to pay his tens of millions in legal fees. According to the New York Times, 10% of every dollar that is raised from his supporters goes to pay for his defence in his civil and criminal trials.He has used two political action committees – Save America, which has been his primary vehicle for legal fees, and Make America Great Again, which funds his presidential bid – to raise money to cover the costs of these trials, even though such structures are typically used for political purposes. These entities are separate from his official presidential campaign account.Between his first indictment in March of 2023 to the end of the year, his Save America political action committee spent nearly $40m on lawyers and other related fees, Forbes calculated.Under federal campaign finance rules, Mr Trump could potentially use Save America to pay a court-ordered penalty, said Shanna Ports, a senior counsel at the Campaign Legal Center. He would not be allowed to make this payment with official campaign funds, she added.But fundraising might not be practical in Mr Trump’s case anyway, attorneys told the BBC.A large penalty would “create a real cash-flow crunch for him to come up with nine figures in cash in very short order,” said former federal prosecutor Michel Epner. He added it would be an extraordinary amount to fundraise from his supporters in a brief time period.According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, his Save America PAC started the new year with $5m in cash on hand. Mr Trump will only get a clearer picture of what this means for his business and personal fortune when Judge Engoron delivers his final ruling. But no matter how he chooses to pay, any major penalty will likely cause serious financial headaches for the former president.”Trump, for all of his misrepresentations and lies about his wealth, really is a wealthy person,” said Mr Thomas, the business professor. “But most people don’t have $400m lying around.”If you’re in the UK, sign up here.And if you’re anywhere else, sign up here.Related TopicsDonald TrumpMore on this storyA guide to Trump’s four criminal casesPublished1 day agoThe many lives of Trump TowerPublished4 JanuaryTrump blasts judge as New York fraud trial nears endPublished11 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny dead, says prison serviceJob not done despite huge poll wins over Tories, says StarmerPublished19 minutes agoChris Mason: Tory gloom deepens after double poll blowPublished1 hour agoFeaturesAlexei Navalny, Russia’s most vociferous Putin criticAlexei Navalny jokes in January video from penal colony. 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[ad_1] A New York judge is expected to rule in a civil fraud trial that threatens his family’s business empire.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine says it has uncovered major arms corruptionPublished55 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, RFEImage caption, The SBU said defence officials signed a contract for 100,000 mortar shells in August 2022, but no arms were ever providedBy George WrightBBC NewsUkraine’s security service says it has uncovered corruption in an arms purchase by the military worth about $40m (£31m).The SBU said five senior people in the defence ministry and at an arms supplier were being investigated. It said the defence officials signed a contract for 100,000 mortar shells in August 2022.Payment was made in advance, with some funds transferred abroad, but no arms were ever provided.Corruption has been a major stumbling block in Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.The SBU said an investigation had “exposed” officials of the ministry of defence and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, “who stole nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias in the purchase of shells”.”According to the investigation, former and current high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence and heads of affiliated companies are involved in the embezzlement,” it said. The SBU said that despite the contract for the shells having being agreed six months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “not a single artillery shell” was ever sent.One of the suspects was detained while attempting to leave Ukraine and is currently in custody, the SBU said. Ukraine’s prosecutor general says the stolen funds have been seized and will be returned to the defence budget.Ukraine’s hopes of rebuilding rely on fighting corruptionIssues surrounding corruption have dogged Ukraine for years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cited the fight against corruption as one of his main priorities when he came to power in 2019.The latest allegations come as Republicans in the United States push back on President Joe Biden’s efforts to send more aid to Ukraine.In August, President Zelensky fired all the officials in charge of military recruitment to end a system in which some people were being allowed to escape conscription.Ukraine was ranked 116th out of 180 countries in a 2022 corruption perceptions index by campaigning and research organisation Transparency International.But anti-corruption efforts are beginning to make a difference. It is one of only 10 countries steadily climbing Transparency International’s ranking, rising 28 places in a decade.Related TopicsWar in UkraineCorruptionUkraineMore on this storyUkraine’s hopes of rebuilding rely on fighting corruptionPublished21 December 2023Ukraine fires army conscription officials for taking bribesPublished11 August 2023Ukraine declares war on its other enemy – corruptionPublished27 January 2023Top StoriesUN agency condemns aid halt after Hamas attack claimPublished8 hours agoPost Office chairman asked to step downPublished3 hours agoEx-minister of secretive sect admits child abusePublished6 hours agoFeaturesWho invented butter chicken? Creamy dish centre of court battleWhen Louis Vuitton tries to make you change your brand nameAuschwitz film was ‘like Big Brother’ in house next to campKuenssberg: What do voters think of party leaders? 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[ad_1] Ukraine’s security service accuses senior officials of trying to steal about $40m in an order for mortar shells.

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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