BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDozens die after bus falls off bridge in MaliPublished12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, A public transport station in Mali (file image)By Sofia Ferreira SantosBBC NewsThirty one people have died after a bus flipped over and plunged off a bridge in Mali on Tuesday.The bus had been en route to neighbouring Burkina Faso from the Malian town of Kenieba when it veered off a bridge crossing the Bagoe river.At least ten others were injured – some suffering serious injuries.Local officials said the likely cause was “the driver’s failure to control the vehicle”.The accident happened at around 17:00 local time (17:00 GMT).”A bus… that was leaving Kenieba commune for Burkina Faso tipped off a bridge. The likely cause is the driver losing control of the vehicle,” the transport ministry said in a statement.It added that the victims included Malians and citizens from other regions in West Africa.Road accidents are common in Mali because of the poor condition of many roads and vehicles, as well as overloaded and poorly regulated public transportation.Earlier this month, 15 people were killed and 46 were injured after a bus heading towards the capital Bamako collided with a truck, according to AFP news agency.Related TopicsMaliAfricaRoad safetyMore on this storyItalian family in good health as Mali kidnap ordeal endsPublished10 hours agoWhy West Africa’s united front is in tattersPublished10 FebruaryDozens reported dead in river boat attack in MaliPublished8 September 2023Top StoriesPost Office confirms boss is under investigationPublished3 hours agoNetanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war supportPublished4 hours agoGodson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murderPublished1 hour agoFeaturesGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Post Office confirms boss is under investigation3Godson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murder4Netanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war support5Four of couple’s children taken into care6Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK7Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park8Plaid Cymru joins calls for Speaker to quit9Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead10Lobbying scandal MP recall petition triggered

[ad_1] Malians and citizens from other regions in West Africa are said to be among the victims.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaThe Iranian women risking jail with daily act of defiancePublished12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated Topics2022 Iran protestsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Iranians took to the streets across the country following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022By Caroline HawleyDiplomatic correspondentAzad, Donya and Bahareh don’t know each other. But the three women – whose names we’ve changed for their own safety – share a fierce determination to resist Iran’s theocratic government, and the dress codes it has imposed on women and girls for 45 years. So, every day, they head out of their homes in the capital Tehran – without covering their hair – despite the potential risks. “It’s very scary,” 20-year-old music student Donya tells me over an encrypted app. “Because they can arrest you any minute and fine you. Or torture you with lashes. The usual penalty if you’re arrested is 74 lashes.”Last month, a 33-year old Kurdish-Iranian activist, Roya Heshmati, made public that she’d been given 74 lashes after posting a photograph of herself unveiled. But Donya, Azad and Bahareh say there is, for them, no going back. “It is symbolic,” says Donya. “Because it is the regime’s key to suppressing women in Iran. If this is the only way I can protest and take a step for my freedom, I’ll do it.” Image caption, Azad was left traumatised by her time in prison, saying: “The memory of jail is with me every moment.”The three women will also protest later this week by not turning out to vote in the country’s first parliamentary elections since authorities brutally repressed the women-led uprising that followed the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. She had been detained by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. Refusing to wear the hijab in public can lead to imprisonment and torture – yet many women do it anyway. “It’s true that there’s no longer a strong presence of people on the streets,” 34-year-old HR manager Azad tells me. “But in our hearts, the regime has been completely destroyed, and people don’t accept anything it does. So their way of showing their disapproval will be not to vote.”‘Solitary confinement was the worst you can imagine’Azad was arrested in October 2022 and imprisoned for a month. She was re-arrested in July last year, for social media posts criticising the government, and spent 120 days in jail – 21 of them in solitary confinement.”Solitary confinement was the worst place you can imagine,” she says. “The cell door was locked all the time. The cell was 1m (3.3ft) by 1.5m (4.9ft). There was no outside light, but artificial lights were on day and night. We were blindfolded when we went to the toilet.”Azad was so disturbed by the ordeal that she hit her head against the cell wall, and is still traumatised. “Sometimes now I start crying without any reason,” she says. “Sometimes I don’t want to open my eyes because I think I’m still there. The memory of the jail is with me every moment.”She described interrogations that lasted from 08:00 until night-time.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Refusing to wear the hijab in public can lead to imprisonment, yet many women are prepared to take the risk”It is called ‘white torture’ and it is worse than a thousand beatings. They would threaten and humiliate me. But I would mock them.”And despite all that she’s already endured, Azad’s still willing to risk jail again by going out without the hijab.”After we lost Mahsa Amini, I promised myself that I will not wear the hijab, or ever buy another one for myself or anyone else,” she says. “Every change has a price. And we’re ready to pay it.”Many women in Iran now go out without a headscarf, although some have one around their necks in case they’re stopped by the morality police. But I’ve been told that around one in five are not wearing one at all – in a daily act of bravery, defiance and principle.”I will never give up,” Azad messages me – followed by a heart emoji and a victory sign.’I’m not allowed to go to work without the hijab’But another woman I speak to in Tehran describes herself now as “worn out” by the struggle against the regime.Bahareh, a 39-year old reporter and film critic, has taken a massive salary cut to work from home, rather than going into her office – where she would be forced to wear the veil.”I’m tired and disappointed,” she tells me. “I’m not allowed to go to work without the hijab and I’m not willing to wear it.” She now has to rely on her husband’s salary.Iran’s defiant women: ‘I wear what I like now’ Iran stops families marking protesters’ deathsRecently, while out driving without a headscarf, she was stopped by the police and had her car confiscated.She was also arrested late last year, after posting pictures of herself without the hijab on her Instagram account and encouraging others to do the same. A Revolutionary Court gave her a six-month suspended sentence and a fine. “I was insulted and threatened, told I was wrong and accused of inciting people to revolution and nakedness.”Image caption, Bahareh was arrested last year after posting pictures of herself without the hijab on her Instagram accountI ask Bahareh why she thinks she wasn’t actually jailed. “Because the prisons are full of people and they prefer just to scare people like me,” she replies.”I still go out, but it’s difficult because restaurants and cafes and bookstores can be closed down for letting me in without the hijab,” she says. “It makes me feel very bitter.”We agree to delete our conversation as soon as we finish it, such is her fear of being caught talking to me. “Then I will block you,” she messages. “I have no choice. If I am arrested no-one can help me and I will be accused of spying and sentenced to death.”Terror and courage exist side-by-side for many Iranian women willing to defy the regime. Along with anger and hope.’I panicked and my dad got scared as well’Donya describes a recent theatre trip with her father to downtown Tehran. She was wearing a hat for warmth, and took it off in the metro, when she was yelled at by a group of men and women in black chadors – the full-body cloaks worn by female morality police – to put on her headscarf.”I didn’t have one. Only my hat. And a stubborn urge in me refused to put it on,” she says. “It was so scary. I kept walking, ignoring them. And there were so many of them, they’d occupied most of the station.”It was only when she heard one of them say to the other, “Please take this girl to the van,” that she reconsidered.”My blood ran cold. I panicked and my dad got scared as well. So I put on my hat!”The only other time Donya covers her head is to enter her university, because she wouldn’t be allowed in without it. However, she says she – and others – then take it off in the classrooms.”My friends and I wish we could wear cool clothes with gorgeous hairstyles at university – like in other countries.”People were asleep before Mahsa’s death – metaphorically – but now they’re more aware,” she adds. “The protests are the reason why so many women refuse to wear a headscarf on the streets. But they’re also tired of the pressure and all the news of executions. It’s a difficult and exhausting path.”But people still write graffiti on public walls, she says, and boycott state television.”I see people fighting for change every day,” she says. “I believe in my generation, Gen Z. We can’t stand oppression. People find every chance they can to dance and cheer or sing in the streets, because dancing is illegal.”Azad, too, is buoyed by the solidarity of strangers, and a new sense of unity against the regime.She says even hijab-wearing women encourage her for refusing to cover her hair. And she’s convinced that, after 45 years in power, the days of the Islamic Republic are numbered.”The revolution will happen,” she says. “But nobody knows exactly when.”Related TopicsIranMahsa Amini2022 Iran protestsMore on this storyIranian women face 10 years’ jail under hijab billPublished20 September 2023Protesters mark a year since Mahsa Amini’s deathPublished16 September 2023Iran’s defiant women: ‘I wear what I like now’Published15 September 2023Top StoriesPost Office confirms boss is under investigationPublished2 hours agoNetanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war supportPublished3 hours agoGodson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murderPublished33 minutes agoFeaturesGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Post Office confirms boss is under investigation3Netanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war support4Godson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murder5Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK6Four of couple’s children taken into care7Murder-accused mother ‘caned’ son as ‘bible allowed’8Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park9Plaid Cymru joins calls for Speaker to quit10Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead

[ad_1] Three women describe how they flout the hijab laws ahead of the first polls since nationwide protests.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael-Gaza war: Netanyahu and Biden spar over support for conflictPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersImage caption, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited a poll showing high levels of support for Israel in the USBy Bernd Debusmann JrBBC News, WashingtonPopular support for Israel in the US will help it fight “until total victory” over Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. In a statement, Mr Netanyahu cited polls showing that more than 80% of Americans support Israel during the conflict in Gaza. His comments come after US President Joe Biden warned that Israel risks losing global support in the war. US officials say they are working on a possible ceasefire deal. In his statement on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said that, since the beginning of the conflict, he has been leading a campaign “countering international pressure to end the war ahead of time and mobilise support for Israel.””We have significant successes in this area,” Mr Netanyahu added, citing a recent poll showing that 82% of the American public supports Israel. “This gives us more strength to continue the campaign until complete victory.” On Monday, Mr Biden said the US hopes to have a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza “by next Monday.”The US president also suggested later on that Israel could “lose support from around the world” if it “keeps up with this incredibly conservative government they have”.’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says BidenDemocrats brace for Gaza backlash in Michigan vote Another poll, from the Associated Press and Norc, found that about half of US adults in January believed Israel had “gone too far” – up from 40% in November. White House and State Department officials on Tuesday confirmed that negotiations on a temporary ceasefire were continuing, but declined to give details on the substance of the talks or potential timelines.John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council spokesperson, said that “significant progress” had been made towards a deal last week to allow hostages to leave Gaza and let humanitarian assistance in. “We’re building on that progress this week and the president and his team remain engaged around the clock with multiple partners in the region,” Mr Kirby added. “But as the president said just in the last 24 hours or so there’s no deal as of yet. And there’s a lot more work to do.”The ceasefire, Mr Kirby said, would “hopefully” allow for a six-week pause, significantly longer than previous pauses in the fight. “Maybe that could lead to something more in terms of a better approach to end the conflict,” he said. At the State Department, spokesman Matthew Miller said that US diplomats – working with Qatar, Egypt and Israel – are “trying to push this deal over the finish line”, but that “ultimately, we would need Hamas to say yes.” A Hamas official had earlier told BBC News the group’s priorities were on ending hostilities, rather than the release of hostages.Israel launched a large-scale air and ground offensive in Gaza after Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 253 hostages, some of whom have since been released. The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip says at least 29,878 people have been killed in the territory since then – including 96 deaths in the past 24 hours – in addition to 70,215 who have been wounded.Related TopicsIsrael & the PalestiniansIsrael-Gaza warIsraelUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says BidenPublished4 hours agoDemocrats brace for Gaza backlash in Michigan votePublished1 hour agoPalestinian PM resigns over new Gaza ‘reality’Published1 day agoTop StoriesPost Office confirms boss is under investigationPublished1 hour agoSixth person charged with spying for Russia in UKPublished2 hours agoNetanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war supportPublished2 hours agoFeaturesGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Post Office confirms boss is under investigation3Godson and friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murder4Four of couple’s children taken into care5Murder-accused mother ‘caned’ son as ‘bible allowed’6Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK7Netanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war support8Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park9Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead10Plaid Cymru joins calls for Speaker to quit

[ad_1] Israel’s PM says Americans back the war with Hamas, despite President Biden arguing it could “lose support”.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaMichigan vote to test anger over Biden’s Israel policyPublished56 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: Biden’s support for Israel has lost him votes among Arab AmericansBy Brandon DrenonBBC News, in MichiganVoters in Michigan have been organising for months to send Joe Biden a message during the state’s primary on Tuesday: “No ceasefire. No vote.”After President Joe Biden narrowly defeated Donald Trump in Michigan in the last election in 2020, a protest vote tied to events in Gaza is a real concern for the White House.Mr Biden and Mr Trump are on course for a rematch in November, and in a close presidential election – as is predicted by most polls – experts say Michigan is a must-win state.With the largest Arab-American population in the US, the state poses a crucial test as to the impact the Biden administration’s policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict could have on Democrats. The anger it has created among many in that community has been festering for months, and the Democratic primary on Tuesday offers the first chance for the party’s voters to register that discontent by withholding their vote from the president.He is largely unopposed in the Democratic Party’s search for their presidential nominee, but that has not stopped those opposed to his Middle East policy from taking action.In the final hours on the eve of Tuesday’s primary election, Khalid Turaani stood outside the Islamic Center of Detroit and distributed pamphlets encouraging people to vote “uncommitted” on their ballot papers.”We’re doing all that we can to ensure that Biden is a one-term president,” Mr Turaani, the co-organiser behind Abandon Biden, told the BBC.”In November, we will remember. When you stand against the will of the people, you’re going to lose.”Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Khalid Turaani, a co-organiser of Abandon Biden, says his group has made over 30,000 calls petitioning people to vote uncommitted on TuesdayTwo grassroots organisations, including Mr Turaani’s group, Abandon Biden, and a second, Listen to Michigan, are urging Democrats to choose “uncommitted” in Tuesday’s primary. In the state, each party’s candidate list includes an “uncommitted” option, which allows a voter to exercise a party vote without selecting a candidate – in this case, Mr Biden. The movement has gained endorsements from at least 39 state and local elected officials. These include congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Michigan state legislator Abraham Aiyash and Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.”I was proud today to walk in and pull a Democratic ballot and vote uncommitted,” Ms Tlaib said in a video shared to social media. Lexis Zeidan, a co-organiser for Listen to Michigan, said they’re hoping to get at least 10,000 people to vote uncommitted. “We want to wake up the next day on Wednesday, and we want to be able to claim Michigan as a pro-Palestinian state,” she said. “And we want to inspire communities across the nation to know that, at the end of the day, America is beholden to its people.”Life inside Gaza – a day of BBC coverageWhy are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza?Biden losing Arab-American voters in swing stateMr Biden’s victory in this primary election is assured, but Democrats will be watching how many vote “uncommitted” to see what electoral harm has been done by the president’s support of Israel in its months-long war against Hamas in Gaza. Recent national opinion polls suggest a majority of Democrats disapprove of the president’s handling of the crisis. In places like Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit where a large concentration of the state’s Arab-American population lives, discontent with Democrats appears to be widespread. Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Dozens gathered at the Islamic Center of Detroit were handed pamphlets on Monday encouraging them not to support Joe BidenThe president has attempted to walk a tightrope between sending aid to Israel, a longstanding US ally with historically strong support from Democrats, and appeasing those in his party who want the devastation in Gaza to end now. Senator Gary Peters, from Michigan, told the BBC and other reporters at a meeting arranged by the Biden campaign on Monday that the president understands voters’ concerns about the situation in Gaza.”[President Biden] hears loud and clear what folks are saying. He cares deeply about innocent civilians being caught in that crossfire,” Sen Peters said. “And he’s going to do everything in his power to bring that to an end as quickly as he can.”The Biden team has pointed to domestic achievements like job creation, investment in poorer communities and lowering healthcare costs as ways the president has helped voters in Michigan.In one attempt to pacify their frustrations, Mr Biden’s campaign staff attempted to organise an in-person meeting with Arab-American leaders in January, a request denied by Dearborn’s mayor. “This is not the time to talk about elections,” Mayor Hammoud said at the time.Instead, he and other community leaders met senior staff from the White House in February. Mr Aiyash, the state representative, told the New York Times after the meeting: “We emphasised that beyond communication, there needs to be a change in policies.” However, the White House has been reluctant to reel back its support, sending billions of dollars in military aid to Israel and three times blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Instead the US has called for a pause in fighting and defended Israel’s right to hunt down the Hamas gunmen who killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October. The death toll in Gaza is nearly 30,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-led health ministry.Gazans surviving off animal feed and rice as food dwindlesHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says Biden’Evacuating was a mistake’: Israelis push to return to border homes Samraa Luqman, another member of Abandon Biden who described herself as a far-left Democrat, said: “And yet today I stand before you telling you that I am considering voting for Trump in 2024.”Irrespective of the price I may pay as a Muslim woman in this country, I’m still willing to draw the red line and say that the commission of genocide is more of a priority to me,” she said. Israel vehemently rejects allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Khalid Turaani distributed flyers on Monday encouraging people not to vote for Joe BidenMichigan is one of six major swing states that experts say Mr Biden will need to win to defeat Mr Trump in a likely November rematch. The others include Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Arizona.Michigan has flipped twice in the last two presidential elections, from a Trump-led Republican victory in 2016, back to Democrats under Mr Biden in 2020.The president’s 2020 victory was by nearly 155,000 votes – fewer than the total number of registered Muslim voters in Michigan. Nationwide, 64% of Muslim voters backed Mr Biden in 2020, according to Associated Press, but that figure rose to nearly 70% in Michigan counties with large Arab-American populations.President Biden and his campaign surrogates have made repeated visits to Michigan, looking to shore up support and remind voters of his commitment to blue-collar workers, a key Democratic voting bloc from whom Mr Trump has increasingly drawn support.In September, President Biden joined the picket lines in Detroit with members of the United Auto Workers union, a first for a sitting president in over a century.Four months later, the UAW officially endorsed the president’s re-election bid, which was welcomed by the Biden campaign amid waning voter enthusiasm. Polls suggest that Gaza is just one vulnerability – voters are also increasingly concerned about the president’s age and are pessimistic about the economy, despite strong growth and low unemployment.Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Nate, who asked the BBC not to use his last name, estimated he had about $2,000 worth of metal to recycle on MondayThe sceptics include blue-collar workers from the metro Detroit area, like Nate. Standing in a metal scrapyard recycling facility in Dearborn, less than a mile from a Ford car plant where plumes of smoke billowed into the air, he told the BBC he feels “like the economy is getting worse”.He’s been the owner of a dumpster rental and heavy-trash collecting business for over 10 years, but he said lately “I’ve seen less business, less people”. “Things have slowed down since Biden took office,” Nate said. “I’m not sure who I’m voting for this year.”Farther down the road, Adam Abusalah, an organiser with Listen to Michigan who was a member of Mr Biden’s campaign staff in 2020, told the BBC: “People are voting uncommitted for several reasons.”He said his organisation was making calls to more than just Arab Americans but also other members of Michigan’s black and brown communities and “voters across the state who are not happy with Biden”. Mr Abusalah said people were upset with the president before 7 October, the start of the Israel-Gaza war.”People were seeing how Biden handled the Ukraine war and seeing him send so much money but not being able to invest that into our communities,” he said. “There’s a city here in Michigan – Flint – that hasn’t had clean water for over a decade.”Image source, Brandon Drenon/ The BBCImage caption, Adam Abusalah worked for Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020 but says he will never vote for Mr Biden againIt’s an increasingly common complaint heard from many US voters who often express frustration over federal spending on wars while their communities struggle. For Mr Abusalah, however, Mr Biden’s support of Israel amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and skyrocketing death toll was the ultimate catalyst that turned him from the president – even if it means a president who once enacted a Muslim travel ban takes his place.”If we have another Trump presidency, that’s not on me. That’s not on voters. That’s on Biden,” he said.”[President Biden] cannot win back my vote. Absolutely not. It’s 30,000 lives too late.” More on the US electionExplained: A simple guide to the US 2024 electionAnalysis: Where Biden v Trump will be won and lostPolicies: What a Trump second term would look likeEconomy: Voters feel better – will that help Biden?Recap: The Trump life story to dateRelated TopicsMichiganUS election 2024US politicsUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhy these Arab Americans say Biden lost their votePublished1 FebruaryBiden losing Arab-American voters in swing statePublished6 November 2023Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primaryPublished4 FebruaryWhere Biden v Trump will be won and lostPublished31 JanuaryA simple guide to the US 2024 electionPublished24 JanuaryHow does US electoral college choose presidents?Published30 JanuaryTop StoriesPost Office confirms boss is under investigationPublished21 minutes agoSixth person charged with spying for Russia in UKPublished1 hour agoNetanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war supportPublished1 hour agoFeaturesGazans in survival mode with cold nights and food rationsWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Post Office confirms boss is under investigation3Boys arrested after animals killed at college4Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead5Two men convicted of Run-DMC star’s murder in 20026Four of couple’s children taken into care7Murder-accused mother ‘caned’ son as ‘bible allowed’8Netanyahu and Biden spar over Israel-Gaza war support9Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK10Lobbying scandal MP recall petition triggered

[ad_1] Voters in the critical swing state have been organising for months behind a push to oust Joe Biden.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaJam Master Jay: Godson and childhood friend guilty of Run-DMC star’s murderPublished5 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jam Master Jay’s murder shocked the music world in 2002The godson and a childhood friend of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay have been convicted of his murder in New York City more than two decades ago.Karl Jordan Jr, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, targeted the musician at his recording studio after being cut out of a drug deal, the trial heard.The hip-hop pioneer, real name Jason Mizell, was 37 when he was shot in the head in Queens on 30 October 2002.Jordan and Washington now face 20 years to life in prison. Mizell was a founding member of Run-DMC, the influential hip-hop group known for 1980s tracks such as It’s Tricky, It’s Like That and Aerosmith collaboration Walk This Way.But as the group’s popularity faded, he got involved in cocaine trafficking. Prosecutors said Jordan and Washington thought they would be part of a drug deal worth nearly $200,000, and were angry when they were cut out.The murder went unsolved for years before the pair were charged in 2020.Another man, Jay Bryant, will face a separate trial in 2026. He is accused of entering Mizell’s studio through the front door and letting Jordan and Washington in through a locked back fire exit.Related TopicsNew York CityHip-hopMusicMore on this storyRun-DMC DJ shot by godson for revenge, court toldPublished30 JanuaryTop StoriesPost Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chairPublished40 minutes agoHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says BidenPublished2 hours agoSixth person charged with spying for Russia in UKPublished48 minutes agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Royals mourn Prince Michael of Kent’s son-in-law2Two men convicted of Run-DMC star’s murder in 20023Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead4Boys arrested after animals killed at college5Post Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chair6Four of couple’s children taken into care7Murder-accused mother ‘caned’ son as ‘bible allowed’8Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK9Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park10MP tries to block cat abduction offence

[ad_1] Karl Jordan Jr, 40, and Ronald Washington, 59, targeted the musician after being cut out of a drug deal.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlexei Navalny: Opposition leader’s lawyer reportedly arrested in MoscowPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Alexei Navalny’s mother Lyudmila and lawyer Vasily Dubkov (right) in a town close to the penal colony where the opposition leader diedBy Ido VockBBC NewsA lawyer for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison this month, has reportedly been arrested in Moscow.According to Russian media sources, Vasily Dubkov was detained for “violating public order”.Following Navalny’s death, Mr Dubkov accompanied his mother to the Arctic prison colony where he died on 16 February.The Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the arrest of Mr Dubkov. In October 2023, other lawyers for Navalny – Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Aleksei Lipster – were arrested on charges of “extremism”. In January, Olga Mikhailova, another lawyer for the opposition leader, said she had been charged with the same crime and decided to remain in exile.Russian authorities banned the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the organisation led by Navalny, for “extremism” in 2021.The opposition leader’s body was held by prison authorities for more than a week following his death. His mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, travelled to the remote “Polar Wolf” jail where he died to retrieve his body, accompanied by Mr Dubkov. The body was handed over to his mother eight days after his death. Mrs Navalnaya said she was threatened by authorities, who wanted her son to be buried in “secret”. Navalny’s allies have said they are looking for a place to hold a public memorial for the former opposition leader. However, Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, said on Tuesday that most funeral locations they had contacted had refused to allow a ceremony on their premises. “Some places say that the premises are occupied, some refuse when the name Navalny is mentioned. In one place we were directly told that funeral agencies were prohibited from working with us,” Ms Yarmysh wrote.Related TopicsRussiaAlexei NavalnyMore on this storyNavalny was to be freed in prison swap – colleaguePublished1 day agoDissent is dangerous in Putin’s Russia, but activists refuse to give upPublished2 days agoTop StoriesPost Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chairPublished2 hours agoHope for Gaza ceasefire by next week, says BidenPublished1 hour agoSixth person charged with spying for Russia in UKPublished49 minutes agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Palace announces death of Thomas Kingston2Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead3Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park4Post Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chair5Four of couple’s children taken into care6Sixth person charged with spying for Russia in UK7Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild8MP tries to block cat abduction offence9Nato allies reject Macron idea of troops to Ukraine10’Hero’ binman rescues man, woman and dog from fire

[ad_1] Vasily Dubkov, who represented the Russian activist, was arrested for “violating public order”, reports say.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNato allies reject Emmanuel Macron idea of troops to UkrainePublished5 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Getty ImagesBy Lipika Pelham & Lou NewtonBBC NewsSeveral Nato countries, including the US, Germany and the UK, have ruled out deploying ground troops to Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron said “nothing should be excluded”.Mr Macron said there was “no consensus” on sending Western soldiers to Ukraine.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has warned of direct conflict if Nato troops deploy there.Russian forces have recently made gains in Ukraine and Kyiv has urgently appealed for more weapons.Mr Macron told a news conference on Monday evening: “We should not exclude that there might be a need for security that then justifies some elements of deployment.”But I’ve told you very clearly what France maintains as its position, which is a strategic ambiguity that I stand by.”The French leader was speaking in Paris, which is hosting a crisis meeting in support of Ukraine, attended by heads of European states, as well as the US and Canada.A full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin is now in its third year, with no signs that the biggest war in Europe since World War Two could end soon.Mr Macron’s comments prompted responses from other European and Nato member countries.US President Joe Biden believes the “path to victory” is providing military aid “so Ukrainian troops have the weapons and ammunition they need to defend themselves”, a statement said.”President Biden has been clear that the US will not send troops to fight in Ukraine,” it added.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there had been no change to the agreed position that no European country or Nato member state would send troops to Ukraine.UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said the country had no plans for a large-scale military deployment to Ukraine, beyond the small number of personnel already training Ukrainian forces. The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy’s “support does not include the presence of troops from European or Nato states on Ukrainian territory”.Mr Peskov, on behalf of the Kremlin, called Mr Macron’s suggestion “a very important new element” adding it was absolutely not in the interests of Nato members. “In that case, we would need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability [of direct conflict],” he said.Earlier, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg denied considering whether troops would be sent to Ukraine, although he insisted the alliance would continue to support Ukraine, which is not a Nato member.That position has been echoed by a number of Nato member states including Spain, Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia has an abundance of artillery and is a far bigger military force than Ukraine, whose troops are critically dependent on modern weapons being provided by Western allies, particularly the US.But the approval of a much needed $95bn (£75bn; €69bn) US aid package – including $60bn for Ukraine – has been facing an uphill battle in the US House of Representatives.The US is by far the largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine and had committed €42.2bn (£36bn; $45bn) as of 15 January, Kiel Institute data showed.Germany ranks second with commitments of €17.7bn in the same time period, followed by the UK which provided €9.1bn of military aid.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who took part in Monday’s meeting in Paris by video link, said that “everything we do together to defend against Russian aggression adds real security to our nations for decades to come”.How significant are Russia’s recent gains on the battlefront? Listen to the latest episode of Ukrainecast on BBC SoundsRelated TopicsWar in UkraineFranceEmmanuel MacronNatoUkraineMore on this storyZelensky says 31,000 troops killed in war in UkrainePublished2 days agoTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished3 days agoZelensky insists Ukraine will win on war anniversaryPublished2 days agoRosenberg: How two years of war have changed RussiaPublished5 days agoUkraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advancesPublished6 days agoBiden assures Zelensky US will send $60bn in aidPublished18 FebruaryShell shortages force us to limit firing, Ukrainian troops tell BBCPublished14 December 2023Top StoriesPost Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chairPublished1 hour agoPrince William pulls out of memorial service due to ‘personal matter’Published5 hours agoFour of couple’s children taken into carePublished1 hour agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Prince William pulls out of memorial service2Murder probe launched after dog walker shot dead3Post Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chair4Four of couple’s children taken into care5Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park6Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild7Nato allies reject Macron idea of troops to Ukraine8Dutch mega-trial exposes brutal gangland underworld9BBC sorry over handling of Huw Edwards complaint10Celtic boss didn’t mean to offend, says journalist

[ad_1] The US and the UK are among those to say they will not deploy troops after remarks by Emmanuel Macron.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlabama’s legislature pushes to protect IVF after court rulingPublished33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Some hospitals and clinics pulled fertility services after the court ruling on 16 February (file image)By Nomia Iqbal & Alex LedermanBBC News, AlabamaRepublicans in Alabama will introduce a bill designed to protect access to IVF treatment, after a court ruling cast doubt on its availability.The state’s top court ruled earlier this month that frozen embryos have the same rights as children and people can be held liable for destroying them.While it did not ban or restrict IVF, it created a legal headache for clinics and some pulled their services.The bill is expected to be introduced in the Alabama Senate on Tuesday.Republicans hold a majority in the chamber and Senator Tim Melson, who is putting forward the bill, said he was confident “reasonable minds” would come together to pass it.Mr Melson, who is also a doctor, told the BBC that the issue became his priority after “a lot of people came into my office in Montgomery and explained that this is the only option they have for a family and it’s in jeopardy”.”We need to make sure that clinics are not put in jeopardy for manslaughter, or some criminal homicide or negligent homicide when an unused embryo is discarded,” he said. “I think we need to make it clear that when embryos are discarded, it was because it was not the optimal embryo to use.”Alabama’s attorney general earlier said he had no intention of prosecuting clinics, but many are still waiting for legal clarity.Mr Melson expects the bill to progress quickly. “It’ll get introduced on Tuesday, be in a committee on Wednesday and then on the special order calendar on Thursday,” he said.The whole process should take two to three weeks, he said, before the bill is eventually signed into law by the governor.Image caption, Republican Senator Tim Melson put forward a bill which is set to be introduced on TuesdayA separate bill was put forward by Democrats in the Alabama House shortly after the ruling on 16 February. That bill states that any fertilised embryo outside a uterus is not an unborn child. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, who introduced the bill, told the BBC it “essentially pauses the Supreme Court decision” and makes it law that “a fertilised embryo cannot be considered a child”.”Alabama is ground zero,” he said. “Those other countries and other places that consider themselves to be extremely conservative could follow suit. And so we must address this head on.”His office told the BBC that it received more than 600 emails related to IVF in the 48 hours after he introduced the bill.Mr Daniels said he “sees an opportunity for Democrats to have a seat at the table in addressing this issue”. That’s often not the case, with Democrats outnumbered in the Alabama by a significant margin.”If we don’t have a seat at the table, then we’re going to be very vocal,” he said.But given the Republican supermajority in Alabama’s legislature, Mr Melson’s bill is much more likely to pass than Mr Daniels’.The Republican bill is not likely to fully oppose the Supreme Court ruling, in order to avoid alienating conservatives who believe an embryo is a human life regardless of its location. But crucially it has to also satisfy those who disagree with the ruling and its implications.”I know my bill works,” Mr Melson said. “I’ll be glad to listen to the House bill. But I know mine works. And that’s after talking with some of the greatest minds in Montgomery.”Among those minds are legislative experts, lawyers and physicians.’Fewer children will be born’: Alabama embryo ruling divides devout ChristiansWhat does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?Clinics pause IVF treatments over court rulingOne of the doctors is Beth Malizia, the co-founder of Alabama Fertility Specialists which has put new IVF treatments on hold.”I’ve spoken with Senators,” she said. “I’ve spoken with many, many people in that area to offer our support and whatever we can do to help them to move this process along. So, I’m feeling cautiously optimistic.”Meanwhile, Eric Johnston, the president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, told the BBC he has been speaking to lawmakers about finding a legislative solution.”If we can have an agreement between the pro-life community and the medical community, then the bill will be introduced in the legislature,” he said. “It will go through the processes very quickly and can be done within two weeks once we come to an agreement.”There are broader political considerations in passing legislation too, especially for Republicans.The court decision in Alabama risks setting up a political backlash heading into the November presidential election. It threatens to undermine the party’s attempts to court suburban women and independent voters, especially those who are already uncomfortable with abortion restrictions.Democrats, meanwhile, have said the ruling is a major reason for voters to come out in support of them. They believe the reproductive rights debate includes increasing concerns over access to medication, care and now IVF treatment.Former President Donald Trump, the clear front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination, called on Alabama lawmakers to preserve access to the treatment. Has that pressure impacted Republicans? Mr Melson is emphatic it has not.”No. No… President Biden came out, Nikki Haley commented. And if they thought we should go the opposite way, I’m still going to do what I think is right,” he said.Is he worried about losing votes if Republicans do not get it right?”‘I’m not worried about it. Every decision we make, I’m sure we lose votes,” he said. “And you know, it’s okay. Let’s just get it right.”You may also be interested in:This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Manon and Chris have been unable to conceive since having their daughter EfaRelated TopicsIVFAlabamaUnited StatesMore on this storyTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished3 days agoWhat does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?Published5 days agoAlabama IVF row an election-year political bombshellPublished4 days agoTop StoriesPost Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chairPublished22 minutes agoLive. ‘We keep our bags packed in case we need to flee’: Follow daily life in GazaPrince William pulls out of memorial service due to ‘personal matter’Published4 hours agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Post Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chair2Prince William pulls out of memorial service3Eleven customers broke backs at trampoline park4Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild5Four of couple’s children taken into care6DNA test confirms dying man was Japan’s most wanted7BBC sorry over handling of Huw Edwards complaint8Nato allies reject Macron idea of troops to Ukraine9Celtic boss didn’t mean to offend, says journalist10Dutch mega-trial exposes brutal gangland underworld

[ad_1] Republicans will introduce a bill designed to protect access, after a court ruling cast doubt on its availability.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityTechnologyPlayStation to axe 900 jobs and close London studioPublished2 minutes agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Insomiac GamesImage caption, Insomniac Games, which developed Spider-Man 2, is one of the studios affected by the cutsBy Tom GerkenTechnology reporterSony has announced it will lay off 8% of PlayStation employees globally, amounting to approximately 900 people.In addition to cuts in the US and Japan, the gaming giant said this would mean closing PlayStation’s London Studio entirely.In a blog post sharing an email sent to employees, boss Jim Ryan called the move “sad news” and said it was “a difficult day at our company”.”We have concluded that tough decisions have become inevitable,” he said.”The leadership team and I made the incredibly difficult decision to restructure operations, which regrettably includes a reduction in our workforce impacting very talented individuals who have contributed to our success.” The cuts come a month after rival Microsoft revealed plans to lay off 1,900 people in its gaming division, which included those at recently-acquired Activision-Blizzard.”Sony is one of the big pillars of UK game development culture so it’s massive to see the legendary Sony London studio close in particular,” said Halli Bjornsson, head of UK developer Lockwood Publishing. “It’s a challenging time for our industry as it continues to go through major changes. “However, UK games talent and heritage is world class, and if we continue to foster it, we’ll rebound and be in a good place to build upon the opportunities that are on the horizon.”Karaoke and footballSony’s London Studio was founded in 2002 as a result of the merging of two other London-based studios under the PlayStation brand. Over the past two decades, it created several series including karaoke game SingStar and 2000s football title This Is Football. More recently, it made virtual reality (VR) games exclusive to Sony’s headset, including VR Worlds and the well-received shooter Blood & Truth.According to LinkedIn, the studio has between 51 and 200 employees, and it was working on “an unannounced online co-op combat game” set in London before the announcement.Sony’s PlayStation 5 has sold more than 50 million units worldwide, more than double Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S sales.But another gaming rival, Nintendo, which released its Switch console three years earlier, has sold almost 140 million units worldwide.And Sony said in its earnings report in February that it now expected to sell four million fewer consoles than expected by the end of March.Despite PlayStation’s revenue being up by 16% compared to the same period one year earlier, its operating income had fallen by a quarter.”Sony Interactive Entertainment becomes the latest in a long list of games companies that have laid off a significant number of staff in the last 12-18 months,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, gaming industry analyst at Ampere Analysis.”The cost of developing big-budget games has reached unsustainable levels and these costs have come when the games sector is going through an adjustment post-pandemic.”Many companies have been responding to that more commercially risky market.”Related TopicsGamingSonyPlayStationNintendoMore on this storyXbox games coming to Nintendo Switch and PS5 namedPublished5 days agoCritics say Final Fantasy Rebirth a stunning sequelPublished5 days agoView commentsTop StoriesPost Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chairPublished9 minutes agoLive. ‘We keep our bags packed in case we need to flee’: Follow daily life in GazaPrince William pulls out of memorial service due to ‘personal matter’Published3 hours agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. VideoHear the fish louder than a jackhammer’Daily life is a struggle without my ADHD medicine’How dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Listen: No Apology by Lee Anderson. AudioListen: No Apology by Lee AndersonAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Prince William pulls out of memorial service2Post Office boss under investigation, claims ex-chair3Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild4BBC sorry over handling of Huw Edwards complaint5Celtic boss didn’t mean to offend, says journalist6DNA test confirms dying man was Japan’s most wanted7Alleged Red Army Faction member held after 30 years8Dutch mega-trial exposes brutal gangland underworld9Hunt considers National Insurance cuts at Budget10PlayStation to axe 900 jobs and close London studio

[ad_1] The layoffs are the latest to hit the tech sector, which has seen big cutbacks worldwide since 2023.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDutch mega-trial exposes brutal gangland underworldPublished6 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Armed police guarded the “Bunker” high-security courthouse in AmsterdamBy Anna HolliganBBC News, The HagueThree members of a drug cartel involved in a series of gangland killings have been jailed for life, in the biggest criminal trial in Dutch history.The gang’s “undisputed” ringleader, Ridouan Taghi, was for years one of the Netherlands’ most-wanted fugitives. Taghi was jailed for murder, firearms offences and aggravated robbery. Two other men, Said R and Mario R – whose full names cannot be revealed under Dutch law – were also given life sentences.They were convicted of complicity in murder, attempted murder, preparation for and complicity in murder.In total, 17 people were handed sentences ranging from life in prison to one year and nine months. The nature and scale of this case is unprecedented in the Netherlands. It took 142 hearing days spread over almost six years, 800 pages of pleadings and more than 3,000 pages of documents from the lawyers to arrive at today’s verdicts.From the outset the “mega-trial” – which began on 11 March 2021 – has been shrouded in secrecy and security. The court president said the “Marengo” trial – named after the codeword for the police operation which led to the arrests – was about “ruthless, disruptive violence”. “When we read the messages in the file, we end up in a world where human life has no value,” he said.Is the Netherlands becoming a narco-state?The trial has captivated a country that has recently been forced to confront its violent underworld. The gang’s murders were well prepared by using “spotters” or using sophisticated sounding beacons. According to the court, the organisation counted not only gunmen and drivers among its many members, but also corrupt officials who provided vital insider information.Taghi, 46, was found guilty of being the undisputed leader of the criminal organisation, which is thought to have been one of the Netherlands’ biggest drug cartels.Image source, Dutch policeImage caption, Dutch police and EU law enforcement agency Europol shared this picture of Ridouan Taghi while he was a fugitiveHe was the subject of an international arrest warrant and was eventually arrested in Dubai in 2019, where he had been living below the radar in a suburban villa.Under his leadership, five people were assassinated over the course of 18 months. There were also two attempted murders and more were planned. An attack was also prepared on a “spy shop” selling sophisticated surveillance gear where the gang were regular customers. For years, Taghi and his gang seemed to operate with impunity – their crimes shrouded by a culture of fear and silence.Criminal rivals, associates who defaulted on debts or talked to the gang’s enemies or the police were all at risk of ending up on a death list. Taghi’s methods belonged to a new type of Dutch mobster that grew up in the vacuum left behind by the notorious old-school Dutch gangsters like Willem Holleeder – and signalled a worrying escalation in the drugs war. The ease with which Taghi decided that someone should be killed was described by the judges as “shocking” and ruthless. In some cases, young children were present when their fathers were shot dead. Taghi was not among the eight suspects who attended court on Tuesday. Those who did were brought to the high-security courthouse – nicknamed the “Bunker” – in armoured vehicles. Heavily armed police stood guard outside the building, wearing body armour and balaclavas as surveillance drones buzzed overhead. The court noted it was significant that none of the surviving relatives of the gang’s victims made use of the right to speak or submitted a claim as an injured party, such is the fear and vulnerability they still feel. One person who did speak out was a man called Nabil B, who became the key witness at the heart of the mega-trial. Court cameras only filmed him below the neck, so as to conceal his identity.Nabil B was found guilty of being complicit and an accessory to murder, but handed a lesser sentence of 10 years due to personal circumstances and the role he played in bringing his former accomplices to justice.Just before reading out the verdict, the court reflected on three targeted killings of people close to Nabil B – which all occurred while the investigation was under way. A week after it became public knowledge, in early 2018, that Nabil B had turned informant and cut a deal with prosecutors as a key witness, his brother was shot dead. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Peter R de Vries, a confidante of state witness Nabil B, was killed in 2021A year later, Nabil B’s lawyer, Derk Wiersum, was murdered outside his home.Then, in July 2021, his confidante, the investigative journalist Peter R de Vries, was shot on a summer evening after leaving a TV studio in central Amsterdam. He died soon after. Nabil B called the Marengo case “the most diseased and poisoned trial ever”. Before the sentences were read out today, the court said these three killings added a “dark edge” to the proceedings. Those murders are now being dealt with in separate trials. Related TopicsCrimeNetherlandsMore on this storyIs the Netherlands becoming a narco-state?Published19 December 2019Shock at murder of Dutch lawyer in gangster casePublished18 September 2019Dutch crime reporter de Vries dies after shootingPublished15 July 2021Top StoriesLive. ‘Trying to keep children busy so they don’t hear bombs’: Follow daily life in GazaPrince William pulls out of memorial service due to ‘personal matter’Published2 hours agoHunt considers National Insurance cuts at BudgetPublished2 hours agoFeatures’Who will call me Dad?’ Tears of Gaza father who lost 103 relativesWhy firms are racing to produce green ammoniaSecondary school places: What parents need to knowWalkers spot ‘breathtaking’ cloud inversionsThe young refusing to become Myanmar’s ‘human shields’Hear the fish louder than a jackhammer. 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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