BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAvdiivka: Ukraine troops leaving embattled eastern townPublished20 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, RL/SERHII NUZHNENKO/ReutersImage caption, Avdiivka has been almost completely destroyed during months of fierce fightingBy Jaroslav LukivBBC NewsUkraine’s military says it is withdrawing its troops from Avdiivka – the key eastern town besieged by Russian forces.Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said he acted “to avoid encirclement and preserve the lives and health of service personnel”.He added that the troops were being moved to “more favourable lines”.Avdiivka – a gateway to the Russian-seized city of Donetsk – has been engulfed in fierce fighting for months.The town – which has been almost completely destroyed – has been on the front line since 2014, when Russian-backed fighters seized large swathes of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.The fall of Avdiivka marks the biggest change on the more than 1,000km-long (620-mile) front line since Russian troops seized the nearby town of Bakhmut in May 2023.Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.Ukraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined town Nothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaIn a statement on Facebook early on Saturday, Gen Col Syrskyi said his decision was based on “the operational situation around Avdiivka”.”Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment.”Gen Syrskyi – who was only appointed as the country’s top commander a few days ago – said Ukrainian troops were “taking measures to stabilise the situation and maintain our positions.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, “I will die here”: Evacuation “angels” help front-line town’s last residents fleeUS National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had earlier warned that Avdiivka was “at risk of falling into Russian control”.He said this was largely “because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition”.”Russia is sending wave after wave of conscript forces to attack Ukrainian positions,” he said. “And because Congress has yet to pass the supplemental bill, we have not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults.”Earlier this week, the US Senate approved a $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid package – including $60bn for Ukraine – after months of political wrangling, but it faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives.Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to keep fighting Russia – a much bigger military force with an abundance of artillery ammunition.Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned on Thursday that the US failure to approve continued military assistance to Ukraine was already having an impact on the battlefield.Russian troops have been making significant gains in Avdiivka recently, threatening to encircle it.Some Ukrainian soldiers privately admitted the town could fall at any moment.”We’re upset,” Ukrainian officer Oleksii, from Ukraine’s 110th Mechanised Brigade in the Avdiivka area, told the BBC earlier this week, standing beside a huge mobile artillery piece as Russian guns boomed in the distance.”Currently we have two shells, but we have no [explosive] charges for them… so we can’t fire them. As of now, we have run out of shells,” said Oleksii. Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaUkraineMore on this storyUkraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined townPublished1 day agoNothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaPublished30 JanuaryFull cemeteries and empty homes: Ukrainians struggle to endurePublished2 days agoThe Ukrainians ‘disappearing’ in Russia’s prisonsPublished7 days agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Putin is responsible’ – Biden speaks out after report of Navalny’s deathNavalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’Published6 hours agoTrump ordered to pay $354m in New York fraud casePublished11 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Putin ‘must pay for Navalny’ and Harry reaches outAlexei Navalny: What we know about reports of his deathArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defiance. VideoArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defianceChris Mason: Tory gloom deepens after double poll blowTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutes. VideoTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutesWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanTrump must pay $354m. How could he do it?Is Russia about to win another victory in Ukraine?Elsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayer’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Ukraine troops pull out of key eastern town Avdiivka2Satellite images show construction on Egypt-Gaza border3Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year4Putin ‘must pay for Navalny’ and Harry reaches out5Six-time Olympic champion Hoy reveals cancer diagnosisAttributionSport6Two teenagers charged over Super Bowl parade shooting7Sarah Snook ‘unmissable’ in West End, critics say8Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face9Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow10King’s cancer may bring family closer, says Harry

[ad_1] Ukraine’s top commander says he has acted to avoid encirclement by Russian forces in the town of Avdiivka.

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: Satellite images show construction on Egypt’s borderPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, Maxar TechnologiesBy Alys Davies & Paul Adams, diplomatic correspondentBBC NewsSatellite images appear to show extensive construction work in progress along Egypt’s border with Gaza, which reports claim is being carried out in preparation for housing Palestinian refugees.Unnamed Egyptian sources reportedly said the work is being done in order to set up an isolated buffer zone containing a walled enclosure in Egypt’s North Sinai province in case Israel goes ahead with its planned ground offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city, Rafah.According to a report published by a human rights group, seven-metre-high walls are being constructed in the zone.Egypt has publicly denied making any such preparations.Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also said Israel “has no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt”.Since the start of the Gaza war following Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October, Egypt has consistently said it would not open its border to refugees.It has taken that stance partly because it does not want to appear complicit in the large-scale displacement of Palestinians, but also out of economic and security concerns.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears set on a major offensive in Rafah – where some 1.4 million people are sheltering – despite a chorus of international warnings.Israel claims Hamas forces are in the city and must be “eliminated”. It also believes Israeli hostages – of which 130 are still unaccounted for – are being held there.Ahead of the planned assault on Rafah, Israel is directing civilians to move to open ground north of the city.Mr Netanyahu has spoken vaguely of “areas that we’ve cleared north of Rafah”, but indications suggest planning is still at an early stage.Israel had earlier instructed Palestinians to head to Rafah while fighting went on in the north of the strip at the start of its offensive.”We will fight until complete victory and this includes a powerful action also in Rafah after we allow the civilian population to leave the battle zones,” Mr Netanyahu said on Thursday.The latest satellite imagery, released by Maxar Technologies, may suggest that Egypt has decided to take precautionary measures as a result of the impending offensive.In one image, dated 15 February, large areas of land close to the Rafah crossing into Gaza appear to have been cleared. The work appears to have been completed in the last few days, as can be seen when comparing the landscape with an earlier image of the same area from five days ago..flourish-container{position:relative;color:#404040;font-family:’Helmet’, ‘Freesans’, ‘Helvetica’, ‘Arial’, sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-height:1.4}.flourish-embed{position:relative} Your device may not support this visualisation Speaking to Saudi news network Al Arabiya Al Hadath TV on Thursday, the governor of Egypt’s North Sinai province, Mohammed Shousha, said the purpose of the activity in the area was “to conduct an inventory of the houses” destroyed during Egypt’s past campaign against Islamic State group in the area. Mr Shousha added that Egypt’s position is “not to allow the forced displacement of Gaza residents into Egypt”.But satellite imagery from 15 February also shows construction vehicles dotted along the road next to the cleared border area, with some of them appearing to be erecting a large wall. In the below close up, a vehicle can be seen next to wall panels which appear to be laid on the ground ready to be added to the wall.Image source, Maxar TechnologiesIn addition to the satellite images, photos and videos of the area captured and published by members of the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights also appear to show construction work taking place.The group said in a report earlier this week that the footage – which has not been verified by the BBC – shows an enclosure featuring seven-metre-high walls being constructed in the area.The report also quoted a source with knowledge of the matter saying that construction is being carried out with the aim of “receiving refugees from Gaza in the event of a mass exodus of residents of the Strip”.The Wall Street Journal confirmed the report with Egyptian officials and security analysts, stating that the enclosure being constructed is 8 sq miles (20.7 sq km) and could accommodate more than 100,000 people.Speaking to foreign reporters on Thursday, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was emphatic about the matter: “The State of Israel has no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt.”We respect and value our peace agreement with Egypt, which is a cornerstone of stability in the region as well as an important partner.”Israel knows that it cannot afford to be seen to be driving Palestinians out of their land, but that does not mean it will prevent people from leaving if they want to. Israel would not stand in the way if Egypt was willing to take some 100,000 refugees (as some estimates of the capacity of the enclosure being built in Egypt’s Sinai suggest).Netanyahu vows to press ahead with Rafah offensiveUN warns of ‘slaughter’ if Israel launches ground assault on RafahIsrael rescues two hostages in Rafah amid deadly strikesUN officials are deeply apprehensive, fearing that a mass evacuation may be looming. “It looks like it’s heading that way,” one official told the BBC on condition of anonymity. Speaking to Reuters news agency at the Munich Security Conference, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi warned that a spill-over of refugees from Rafah into Egypt would be “a disaster for the Palestinians… a disaster for Egypt and a disaster for the future of peace”.Expulsion into Egypt – which is how any evacuation across the border will feel – touches on the deepest Palestinian fears. Around 80% of the Gaza Strip’s population are descended from refugees who fled or were driven from their villages during Israel’s War of Independence.To leave Gaza, the last fragment of their ancestral home, would feel to many like a repeat of what Palestinians call the “Naqba”, or catastrophe of 1948.Even if a refugee camp just across the border is described as a temporary shelter, the sense of shock that would accompany their departure from Gaza is likely to be profound. And while Israel might want to portray this as a voluntary move – a response to an Egyptian invitation – Palestinians would struggle to see it as anything other than another forced expulsion, after more than four months of Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory reports that at least 28,775 people, mostly women and children, have been killed as a result of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.Israel took action after Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people and seized 253 hostages in a surprise attack on its territory on 7 October.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelEgyptPalestinian territoriesGazaMore on this storyNetanyahu vows to press ahead with Rafah offensivePublished1 day agoUN warns of ‘slaughter’ if Israel launches Rafah assaultPublished2 days agoBiden says Israel must protect vulnerable in RafahPublished3 days agoIsrael rescues two hostages in Rafah amid deadly strikesPublished4 days agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Putin is responsible’ – Biden speaks out after report of Navalny’s deathNavalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’Published3 hours agoLive. Trump ordered to pay $354m in New York fraud caseFeaturesAlexei Navalny: What we know about reports of his deathArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defiance. VideoArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defianceIs Russia about to win another victory in Ukraine?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Two by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutes. VideoTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutesWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanLondon Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiere. VideoZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiereElsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayer’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Satellite images show construction on Egypt-Gaza border2Six-time Olympic champion Hoy reveals cancer diagnosisAttributionSport3Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year4Sarah Snook ‘unmissable’ in West End, critics say5Two teenagers charged over Super Bowl parade shooting6Undertaker sorry for care home Valentine’s cards7Father jailed for life for toddler’s murder8King’s cancer may bring family closer, says Harry9Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face10Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow

[ad_1] Speaking to Saudi news network Al Arabiya Al Hadath TV on Thursday, the governor of Egypt’s North Sinai province, Mohammed Shousha, said the purpose of the activity in the…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTwo teenagers charged over shooting at Kansas City Super Bowl paradePublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Fans embrace shortly after gunshots rang out after a Super Bowl victory rally in Kansas City, MissouriBy Mike WendlingBBC NewsTwo teenagers have been charged over a shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City that left one person dead and 22 others injured.The two suspects, both aged under 18, are being held on gun and resisting arrest charges, a court statement said.Police earlier said the shooting was the result of an argument and was not connected to terrorism. A third person who was detained after the shooting has been released.A statement from the Jackson County Family Court on Friday said that additional charges were “expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues”.The names of the juvenile suspects have not been released. Juvenile court cases are kept private under Missouri law, and hearings are not open to the public.Kansas City Police have continued to appeal for information about the shooting, which occurred near the city’s Union Station just after a parade and rally for the Super Bowl champions. On Thursday, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said the injured victims ranged in age from eight to 47 years old and that at least half were under 16. The deceased victim was identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, 43, a local DJ. Ms Lopez-Galvan hosted Taste of Tejano, a Tex-Mex music show, on community radio station KKFI. Her son was shot in the leg but has been discharged from hospital. Two other family members were also injured in the shooting, according to the radio station.Ms Lopez-Galvan was hailed as a community leader who used her media profile to fundraise for Latino community events and organisations, toy drives for children with cancer and college scholarships.An online fundraiser in support of the DJ’s family raised more than $230,000 (£180,000) – including $100,000 from Taylor Swift.Further details have also emerged about the reaction of the crowd and the Kansas City Chiefs players, who were celebrating their second straight NFL championship. The parents of a 13-year-old who got separated from his father during chaos following the shooting praised a player who helped shelter their son.Zach Cotton got separated from his father inside Union Station and found himself behind the station, near where buses were waiting to pick up players after the victory rally. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Super Bowl Parade route in downtown Kansas CityChiefs’ running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and other members of the team sheltered the teenager before he was reunited with his family. Responding to a thank you note posted by Zach’s mother on Facebook, Mr Edwards-Helaire wrote: “Sorry the family and all of Chiefs Kingdom had to experience this. Just wanted to thank Zach for trusting me and knowing I’ll protect him.”Another teenager, Gabe Wallace, told the Kansas City Star that he and others were comforted by the Chiefs’ head coach in the panic after the shots rang out. “Andy Reid was trying to comfort me, which was nice,” Gabe said. “He was kind of hugging me, just like, ‘Are you OK, man? Are you OK? Just please breathe.’ He was being real nice and everything.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: The moment gunfire erupted in Kansas City shootingRelated TopicsMissouriUnited StatesMore on this storyA dispute led to gunfire in Kansas City, police sayPublished1 day agoOne dead and 21 injured in Super Bowl parade shootingPublished1 day agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Putin is responsible’ – Biden speaks out after report of Navalny’s deathNavalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’Published2 hours agoLive. Trump ordered to pay $354m in New York fraud caseFeaturesAlexei Navalny: What we know about reports of his deathArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defiance. VideoArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defianceIs Russia about to win another victory in Ukraine?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Two by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutes. VideoTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutesWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanLondon Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiere. VideoZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiereElsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayer’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Six-time Olympic champion Hoy reveals cancer diagnosisAttributionSport2Satellite images show construction on Egypt-Gaza border3Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year4Sarah Snook ‘unmissable’ in West End, critics say5Two teenagers charged over Super Bowl parade shooting6Father jailed for life for toddler’s murder7King’s cancer may bring family closer, says Harry8Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow9Undertaker sorry for care home Valentine’s cards10Navalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’

[ad_1] One woman died and more than 20 others were injured when gunfire erupted at the Kansas City parade.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlexei Navalny’s life in ‘Polar Wolf’ remote Arctic penal colonyPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Alexey Navalny had been in jail since February 2021 and arrived at IK-3 in DecemberBy Oleg Boldyrev and Laura GozziBBC NewsAlexei Navalny’s penal colony is the strictest penal colony you can get. Only those accused of the very worst crimes are sent to IK-3.Nicknamed “Polar Wolf”, it is located in Yamalo-Nenets region, well above the Arctic Circle. Conditions, needless to say, are very harsh.It is known for a culture of collective punishment and the average winter temperature there is -20C. Inmates have described being punished for the infringements of others by being made to stand outside in the winter without coats. Those who fail to stand still face being doused with cold water.Snow covers the ground for months at a time – only to be replaced by muddy slush when temperatures rise above freezing, around May. In the summer, prisoners are forced to strip to their waists in swarms of mosquitoes. With summer come long days with no nights. It all takes a heavy physical toll. Navalny’s day-to-day life will have been a lonely one, since December in IK-3 and before that at the IK-6 facility in Melekhovo, east of Moscow.Since 2022, he had spent nearly 300 days in in solitary confinement and lately he was allowed one daily stroll in a nearby cell where the floor was covered in snow. All he could see outside his window was a tall fence, and no light. In winter in the Arctic Circle, it’s only ever dusk at best.With years of jail ahead of him, Navalny had to find ways of remaining relevant.He filed complaints about prison conditions that would allow him to appear in court and deliver statements on camera on a regular basis. He tried to create a trade union for prisoners to campaign for better seats in the jail’s sewing factory. He made a noise so he wouldn’t be forgotten. Navalny was often asked: Do you fear for your life?Alexei Navalny in his own words – dark humour during dark timesNavalny was known for his acerbic wit. He always tried to make light of his situation, no matter how hard the conditions were. Through social media posts, written and posted by his lawyers, he talked about the conditions he was held in – often with more humour than many thought possible. He described New Year’s Day in the punishment cell, saying: “It goes like any other day: wake-up is at 05:00, bedtime at 21:00. So for the first time since I was six years old, I just slept the entire New Year’s Eve. Overall I’m pleased. People pay money to celebrate the New Year in an unusual way, but I did it for free.”But his day-to-day life must have been truly testing. In January 2023, he wrote about being assigned a new cellmate with severe mental health problems. “There are many videos online about people who believe that they are possessed by demons and devils,” he said. His cellmate was “very similar” – emitting “a growling, guttural scream that periodically turns on and doesn’t turn off for hours. He yells for 14 hours during the day and three hours at night.”Image source, ReutersImage caption, A view of penal colony IK-3, where Alexey Navalny had been held since DecemberOn another occasion, he was made to share a cell with a person who had “serious problems” with hygiene.”If you live in a cell, and some person lives at arm’s length from you 24/7, and you are both one or two meters from the toilet 24/7, and the toilet is a hole in the floor, maintaining hygiene is of fundamental importance. And a prisoner who is problematic in this sense will instantly make your life unbearable.” Navalny was sure that neither of his cellmates arrived by accident. He believed they were just another way for the Russian prison system to make life hell for an inmate if they wanted to.At 47 Navalny wasn’t old, but being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok and spending three weeks in a coma took its toll. Living a life of constant deprivation in jail only added to that. In December, he said his request to see a dentist had been denied for 18 months. He had also developed serious back problems, and recently had difficulties walking and standing. One of his legs was going numb, possibly indicating a herniated disk. Despite his smiles and relaxed air in court, with each appearance he became more gaunt. In 2023, more than 500 Russian doctors signed an open letter demanding to have him seen by a civilian doctor after he said he had been suffering from a cough and a fever and had to share a cell with an inmate with tuberculosis. Russian prisons have a long history of torture, both physical and psychological. Inmates are often abused by prisoners friendly to the administration, and rules that are impossible to follow add to the mental anguish.The federal prison system itself estimates there have been an annual 1,400-2,000 prison deaths over the last five years. The number one cause is invariably put down to cardiac problems. Lawyers treat this explanation with suspicion. “They can cover up anything as a cardiac arrest – even a suicide or a killing by other inmates or guards,” says lawyer Irina Birykova.In her experience, it’s nearly impossible to overcome the hurdles created by the prison system if authorities don’t want the cause of death to be independently verified.Navalny’s death has dealt an enormous blow to Russians who saw him as an emblem of resistance.It was clear he could no longer lead Russia’s opposition, but there was an underlying hope that one day the political situation would change and Navalny would be able to come back. If Vladimir Putin ever needed to negotiate his own freedom or safety, Navalny might have been part of the bargain. Most Russians now agree there is little hope now in protest. People will try to mark his death in their own way, laying flowers in locations where Navalny stood.Some brave souls will even come out on to the streets, and they will be punished. If shock following the Russian invasion of Ukraine failed to bring masses of people on to the streets, Navalny’s death won’t either. But privately, a lot of Russians are grieving. For them, this will just be another very dark day and a loss of hope. Related TopicsRussiaAlexei NavalnyMore on this storyWatch: BBC Russia Editor on news of Navalny’s deathPublished5 hours agoAlexei Navalny, Russia’s most vociferous Putin criticPublished6 hours agoPutin critic Navalny dies in Arctic Circle jail, says RussiaPublished2 hours agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Putin is responsible’ – Biden speaks out after report of Navalny’s deathNavalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’Published1 hour agoLive. Trump ordered to pay more than $350m in New York fraud caseFeaturesAlexei Navalny: What we know about reports of his deathArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defiance. VideoArrested and poisoned: See Navalny’s moments of defianceIs Russia about to win another victory in Ukraine?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Two by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutes. VideoTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutesWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanLondon Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiere. VideoZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiereElsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayer’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Six-time Olympic champion Hoy reveals cancer diagnosisAttributionSport2Satellite images show construction on Egypt-Gaza border3Starmer paid nearly £100,000 in tax last year4Two teenagers charged over Super Bowl parade shooting5Sarah Snook ‘unmissable’ in West End, critics say6Father jailed for life for toddler’s murder7King’s cancer may bring family closer, says Harry8Navalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’9Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow10Teenage victim of fatal stabbing named by police

[ad_1] Only those accused of the very worst crimes are sent to IK-3, the strictest penal colony imaginable.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlexei Navalny was often asked: ‘Do you fear for your life?’Published43 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A supporter holds a picture of Navalny in Berlin after news of his deathBy Sarah RainsfordBBC Eastern Europe correspondentThere was a time when journalists used to ask Alexei Navalny why he was still free. The next question was often whether he feared for his life. When Navalny was poisoned with a novichok nerve agent in August 2020, they stopped asking. Now Vladimir Putin’s most dangerous political opponent has been pronounced dead by the Russian prison service.For a long time, the Kremlin appeared to think he was too influential to touch. He had supporters across the country and a political network like that of no other rival to Putin. His films exposing high-level corruption were viewed and shared by millions and, every so often, he brought supporters out onto the streets in mass protest. The Kremlin loathed that, of course. Putin refused even to utter Navalny’s name. But the calculation seemed to be that jailing him might spark angry reaction that could spiral into something risky for Putin’s hold on power.Navalny got short spells in police custody. There were criminal charges, but no prison time. Then in August 2020 the Russian opposition activist collapsed on a flight from Siberia. If the pilot hadn’t made an emergency landing, Navalny would have died. Tests in Germany confirmed it was an attempted assassination, using a military-grade nerve agent developed in Soviet times. The attack happened just as giant protests were gathering force in neighbouring Belarus against the authoritarian rule of Putin’s great ally, Alexander Lukashenko. They were nervous times for the Kremlin. When Navalny recovered, he knew he would never be safe again in Russia. The state prison service had warned him he’d go to jail if he returned. But the life of a political émigré, increasingly out of touch and irrelevant, was not for him. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Navalny had the power to bring people out onto the streetIn Moscow, I reported from many of Navalny’s street protests, his court battles and his attempts to run for political office. He wasn’t universally liked – there was always rivalry among opposition ranks in Russia.But he was a powerful speaker – a master of social media – and he always struck me as extremely driven, energetic and passionate about his main cause. That was removing Vladimir Putin and a coterie of politicians that he denounced, loudly and repeatedly, as “crooks and thieves”.I wasn’t surprised when he returned to Moscow in January 2021, despite everything. And Navalny wasn’t surprised when he was arrested on arrival. First in court, and then from prison, he continued to speak out.He would appear via video link for hearings in the multiple criminal cases against him. The charges kept piling up, all excuses to keep a political opponent locked up.He looked gaunt, his head shaven and his prison uniform loose. But Navalny would sound as upbeat and defiant as ever, even speaking from behind bars.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Navalny waves from behind a prison barrier in one of the last videos he was seen inOn his last appearance, the day before he is said to have died, he was still joking. His persistent cheerfulness was itself an act of resistance, a refusal to be broken.Navalny never abandoned his belief in what his team called “the beautiful Russia of the future”: the end of Putin’s long and repressive rule and the prospect of political change in his country.But after the activist’s arrest, Putin launched his war on Ukraine, Navalny’s political organisation was banned as “extremist” and its members arrested. Other well-known critics of Putin have been imprisoned or they’ve fled the country for safety. For them, and all those who imagined a different Russia, the news of Navalny’s death means the outlook has never looked so bleak.For me, the most striking realisation is that such news is no longer even a shock.Related TopicsRussiaAlexei NavalnyVladimir PutinMore on this storyAlexei Navalny, Russia’s most vociferous Putin criticPublished5 hours agoWatch: Navalny seen in video link a day before his reported deathPublished5 hours agoWatch Yulia Navalnaya speak following report of husband’s deathPublished4 hours agoTop StoriesLive. ‘Putin is responsible’ – Biden speaks out after report of Navalny’s deathNavalny was often asked: Do you fear for your life?Published43 minutes agoLive. Trump ordered to pay more than $350m in New York fraud caseFeaturesAlexei Navalny: What we know about reports of his deathNavalny’s moments of defiance as Putin’s fiercest critic. VideoNavalny’s moments of defiance as Putin’s fiercest criticIs Russia about to win another victory in Ukraine?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Two by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutes. VideoTwo by-elections, two Labour wins… in two minutesWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanLondon Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiere. VideoZendaya channels cyborg chic at Dune premiereElsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayer’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Six-time Olympic champion Hoy reveals cancer diagnosisAttributionSport2Satellite images show construction on Egypt-Gaza border3Sarah Snook ‘unmissable’ in West End, critics say4Two teenagers charged over Super Bowl parade shooting5Teenage victim of fatal stabbing named by police6Father jailed for life for toddler’s murder7Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow8King’s cancer may bring family closer, says Harry9Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face10Brian Wilson’s family seeks conservatorship

[ad_1] Sarah Rainsford on how Putin’s opponent never abandoned his belief in “the beautiful Russia of the future”.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaChun Ki-won: Hero pastor jailed for sexually abusing North Korea teenage escapeesPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chun Ki-won, seen here in 2004, at a film festival promoting his mission’s rescuesBy Frances MaoBBC NewsA South Korean pastor once hailed as a hero for smuggling out hundreds of North Koreans has been jailed for sexually abusing teenage defectors.Chun Ki-won, 67, has been sentenced to five years for molesting minors at his boarding school in Seoul.The pastor had been viewed as a saviour figure for decades with people calling him an “Asian Schindler” and his operations an “Underground Railroad” for those fleeing the North’s regime.He was arrested in Seoul in September.Police accused him of molesting six North Korean teenagers, including defectors sleeping in the dormitories of the alternative school he had founded at his Durihana mission.Chun had denied the charges but a court on Wednesday ruled the victims’ evidence as irrefutable.”The victims are making consistent statements and it includes content that cannot be stated without first-hand experience of the circumstances”, Judge Seung-jeong Kim of the Seoul Central District Court said.The judge added that Chun had committed his crimes from “a position where he had absolute influence”.He was found guilty in five of six cases of abuse against the minors – some of whom had escaped alone and others with their families under the guidance of Chun’s mission.Chun founded Durihana, one of South Korean’s most prominent NGOs that helps North Koreans flee through routes in China. He claims to have helped more than 1,000 North Koreans escape the hardline regime of the Kim family over the past 25 years, and has personally been condemned by Pyongyang for his work.In 2002, he made headlines after being imprisoned in China for seven months during an escape mission.His work – which included the establishment of an alternative school for children of North Korean defectors – was widely covered, the subject of documentaries and news articles including by the BBC, CNN, The New York Times and National Geographic. Media reports often compared him to Oskar Schindler, a businessman who rescued more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.His arrest and conviction has shocked South Korea – where his trial was widely reported this week.TV bulletins showed the grey-haired Chun in a white outfit being brought to court in handcuffs and flanked by guards.Read more about North Korean defectorsPreparing N Korea’s traumatised defectors for new livesA family’s escape from North Korea through a minefield and stormy seasSecret calls and code names: How money makes it to N KoreaRelated TopicsNorth Korean defectorsSouth KoreaNorth KoreaMore on this storySecret calls and code names: How money makes it to N KoreaPublished30 JanuaryA family’s escape from North Korea through a minefield and stormy seasPublished5 December 2023Rare N Korea footage shows teens sentenced over K-dramaPublished18 JanuaryPreparing N Korea’s traumatised defectors for new livesPublished10 July 2023Top StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in by-election winsJohn Curtice: Results leave Tories with mountain to climbPublished59 minutes agoLabour scores double by-election victory over ToriesPublishedJust nowFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2’Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights3By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’4Labour scores double by-election victory over Tories5Xbox, Nintendo or PlayStation: does it still matter?6Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere7State school pupils back royals more than private8Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm9McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape10Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing

[ad_1] Hailed as “Asia’s Schindler” for helping North Koreans flee, he has been jailed for sexual abuse.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaJavier Milei: Argentines wait for ‘crazy’ president’s shock therapy to workPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Javier Milei wielded a chainsaw at one of his campaign rallies to symbolise his plans to slash public spendingBy Ione WellsSouth America correspondent, Buenos AiresThere is one thing that unites those who love and loathe Argentina’s new president – they both describe him as “crazy”.”Most people call him that. I think it’s good,” says 21-year-old Axel Uhrig of Javier Milei, who won the presidential election with 56% of the vote in November.Axel is part of Pibes Libertarios (libertarian lads) – a self-described “militant” group whose battleground is social media.They stick posters around Buenos Aires at night with QR codes linking to videos in support of President Milei’s policies.The new president is trying to get a package of reforms approved to shrink the state, but is struggling to get it through Congress, where he does not have a majority.Mr Milei may have won the election, but the Pibes Libertarios still feel they are fighting a battle for his sweeping reforms to privatise companies and cut regulations to be made into law.Image caption, The Pibes Libertarios support the president’s radical reforms and libertarian ideologyAfter a series of Argentine governments introduced widespread nationalisation, welfare benefits, subsidised prices, and powerful labour laws and unions, Axel feels Mr Milei gave those on the right an “identity” – a libertarian identity.He is keen to stress this is different from “liberals” in the West who are “progressive” and instead captures those who support “freedom from the state”.Axel is glad that the president was “crazy enough” to defy the status quo with a different approach to the economy.He adds he “saw no future in this place” before Mr Milei was elected and says his two best friends left Argentina seeking a better life in the US and Spain – a trend that is widely commented on here.Shock measuresMr Milei’s radically different approach to the economy is why a lot of people voted for him in a country where for many steep inflation feels like the norm. President Milei blames the country’s skyrocketing inflation on years of high government spending, high debt, and money-printing to service it.He argues “shock” measures are needed to tackle it.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The government argues inflation will get worse before it gets betterHe has already slashed the value of the currency, public spending and subsidies for transport, fuel and energy.These measures have in turn driven up prices.New figures published this week showed annual inflation in Argentina had hit more than 250%, making it the highest rate in the world.The monthly figure jumped to 25.5% in December after he came to power, though has since fallen to 20.6%.Mr Milei told the television station La Nación + the figure was “horrifying” but “you have to look at where we were.”Short-term pain, long-term gain?Many Argentines relish what they perceive as his honesty, saying they are willing to put up with more pain if it improves the economy in the long term.Adriana Ignaszewski, 33, runs a discount grocery store in the poorer suburb of El Jagüel.She says in the past “no-one gave us an answer” to inflation, but “today we have someone who tells it how it is.”Image caption, Adriana Ignaszewski is updating prices in her grocery store every dayArgentines will wait as long as they need to, she adds.”If it is the last thing we have to go through, let’s go through it.”Adriana likes the president’s focus on getting inflation down to help with the cost of living, instead of support from the government, because price rises affect her business and customers every day.But down the road her sister Silvia, 40, has relied on state support and fears she cannot afford to wait.She lives with their mother and three of her five children in a house comprised of a few small rooms where “the refrigerator is literally empty”.Silvia sews crates of hair accessories to sell at a market and says her sales have dropped by more than 50%.”People can’t buy food, fewer will be able to buy a hair accessory,” she says.Image caption, Silvia says sales of the hair accessories she sews have dropped because of rising pricesShe stresses that fruit and meat are luxuries and says she cannot even afford to buy basic items like milk, rice or bread. She believes the current price spikes Mr Milei’s plans have caused will lead to people going without anything.”The policies they are carrying out will kill the people, the workers,” she says.”He’s crazy.”Even some of those struggling, though, agree with Mr Milei’s recent argument to the World Economic Forum in Davos that “the state is not the solution, the state is the problem itself.”They don’t want support from the government, they think it is the cause of people’s woes.Cristina, a pensioner who sells old clothes for extra money at the barter market with Silvia, says she cannot afford her rent and living costs on her pension and blames former governments for making people accustomed to receive state support.”They got used to the benefits. Many prefer to steal or be at home and collect benefits without working. The government cannot be there for everything.”Lorena Giorgio, chief economist at the economic analysis centre, Equilibria, says Mr Milei has done good work in explaining to people why changes are needed.Image caption, Economist Lorena Giorgio thinks many Argentines are waiting to see if things improveBut, Ms Giorgio adds, “The problem is that Milei told them that the political sector and the richest were the ones who were going to pay.”This is not happening.”She predicts people may be willing to wait while things get tougher for six or seven months.But she argues that if inflation remains high, and salaries and pensions do not keep up, there could be “social problems” by Christmas.In the past, economic crises here have led to riots, protests and even the toppling of presidents.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Riot police guard the Argentine Congress during protests in Buenos Aires in JanuaryWith people like Silvia, the woman selling hair accessories, wondering how long they can wait, I asked Mr Milei’s spokesman, Manuel Adorni, when people would be able to judge whether the president’s measures were working.He would not commit to a timeframe but said that in a “short period” the government would begin to “show results in this fight against inflation”.Argentina for many years “swept the garbage under the carpet,” he added, “and we have decided to remove the garbage and always tell the truth.”President Milei’s popularity in part stems from the intense anger, especially from the young, about the country’s economic crisis, and what they perceive as his honesty about that.He has hinged his reputation on curing that by cutting the state, though he is already blaming opposition politicians – whom he calls la casta, the caste – for not letting him cut as much as he wants to.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Prices in Argentina rose by more than 200% last yearHis public support is likely to be defined by how quickly he can show results, when state support is being reduced and some already feel at their limit.At a supermarket where the price of meat has gone up 30% in two months, a woman, Anabela Acuña, break down in tears when asked how life is for her right now.”It’s very, very difficult. I have three jobs and I can’t make ends meet,” she says.”Many people are on the street. That breaks my heart.”All very crazy, very crazy.”Related TopicsArgentinaArgentina economyMore on this story’We’re the country of beef, but we can only afford chicken’Published30 JanuaryMilei’s radical proposals face test of reality in ArgentinaPublished26 November 2023Record inflation: Five ways Argentines try to copePublished17 May 2023Top StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in by-election winsLabour scores double by-election victory over ToriesPublished23 minutes agoParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished8 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1’Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights2Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan3BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show4Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere5McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape6Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm7Get back! 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[ad_1] The new president’s radical measures to overhaul the economy are loved by some, loathed by others.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine Russia war: US warns Avdiivka could fallPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, “I will die here”: Evacuation “angels” help front-line town’s last residents fleeBy Jaroslav LukivBBC NewsThe US has warned that Russia could seize Ukraine’s key eastern town of Avdiivka – the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in recent months. “Avdiivka is at risk of falling into Russian control,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, citing Ukraine’s ammunition shortages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to do everything to “save as many Ukrainian lives as possible”.Russian troops have made gains in Avdiivka, threatening to encircle it.The town – which has been almost completely destroyed – is seen as a gateway to nearby Donetsk, the regional Ukrainian capital seized by Russian-backed fighters in 2014 and later illegitimately annexed by Moscow.Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.Ukraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined town Nothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaAt Thursday’s briefing in Washington, Mr Kirby said Avdiivka could fall largely “because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition”.”Russia is sending wave after wave of conscript forces to attack Ukrainian positions,” he said. “And because Congress has yet to pass the supplemental bill, we have not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults.”Russian forces are now reaching Ukrainian trenches in Avdiivka, and they’re beginning to overwhelm Ukrainian defences.”Earlier this week, the US Senate approved a $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid package – including $60bn for Ukraine – after months of political wrangling, but it faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives.Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to be able to continue fighting Russia – a much bigger military force with an abundance of artillery ammunition.Nato Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg warned on Thursday that the US failure to approve continued military assistance to Ukraine was already having an impact on the battlefield.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Smoke rises over an industrial site in Avdiivka on ThursdayIn his video address late on Thursday, President Zelensky said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that our warriors have enough managerial and technological capabilities to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible.”On Friday, Mr Zelensky is visiting Berlin and Paris where is expected to sign security pacts with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.A similar agreement on security co-operation was signed between Ukraine and the UK in January.Late on Thursday, Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavsky admitted that “fierce battles” were taking place “within” Avdiivka.”We value every piece of Ukrainian land, but the highest value and priority for us is the preservation of the life of a Ukrainian soldier,” he said.Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy acknowledged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka were being forced to “sometimes move to more advantageous positions… in some places leaving positions”.Some Ukrainian soldiers have privately admitted the town could fall at any moment.”We’re upset,” Ukrainian officer Oleksii, from Ukraine’s 110th Mechanised Brigade in the Avdiivka area, told the BBC earlier this week, standing beside a huge mobile artillery piece as Russian guns boomed in the distance.”Currently we have two shells, but we have no [explosive] charges for them… so we can’t fire them. As of now, we have run out of shells,” said Oleksii. He suggested that the shortages were widespread and having a dramatic impact on the fighting in Avdiivka.”We feel a very strong responsibility for our guys fighting right now in the town, armed only with assault rifles.”Ukraine’s newly appointed commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited the frontline in the Avdiivka area this week, acknowledging that the situation there was “difficult”.He said the Russian military did not “count losses”, using its troops as cannon fodder.Kyiv says an elite Ukrainian brigade has now been sent to Avdiivka and reserve artillery has been deployed.In unverified reports, Russian military bloggers said on Thursday that a key Ukrainian defence position in southern Avdiivka – known as Zenit – was now under Moscow’s control.Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaUkraineMore on this storyUkraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined townPublished15 hours agoNothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaPublished30 JanuaryFull cemeteries and empty homes: Ukrainians struggle to endurePublished1 day agoThe Ukrainians ‘disappearing’ in Russia’s prisonsPublished6 days agoTop StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in thumping by-election winsParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished7 hours agoGaza hospital in ‘catastrophic’ state as Israeli troops raidPublished8 hours agoFeaturesWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raid. VideoWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raidWill TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Elsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show3Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere4Get back! 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[ad_1] The US and Ukraine admit Ukrainian troops are running out of ammunition in the eastern town of Avdiivka.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaRobert Hur: Biden special counsel to testify before House RepublicansPublished43 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, In his report, Robert Hur said president Joe Biden’s recall of certain events is “extremely limited”By Nadine YousifBBC NewsSpecial Counsel Robert Hur, who was tasked with probing president Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, is set to testify before Congress in March. US media reported that Mr Hur will testify before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee on March 12.The news follows Mr Hur’s report in which he raised questions about the president’s memory and mental fitness.The 345-page report provoked a strong reaction from Mr Biden.”I know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve been president and I put this country back on its feet. I don’t need his recommendation,” the president said last week. House Republicans have indicated that they intend to ask Mr Hur about his comments on the president’s memory.They have also asked him to turn over recordings and transcripts of his interviews with Mr Biden, which he made during his year-long investigation. The report, which was published by the US Justice Department last week, said that Mr Biden would not face any criminal charges over “willfully” retaining and disclosing classified materials as a private citizen. The bombshell aspect of the report centred on one of the reasons Mr Hur gave for not prosecuting the 81-year-old president: Mr Biden’s memory. The special counsel wrote that Mr Biden would likely be viewed as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” by a jury, not as an individual who had committed a crime.That characterisation – one of the biggest issues facing his re-election campaign – did not sit well with Mr Biden, his allies, or his attorneys.A letter sent by White House Counsel Ed Siskel to Attorney General Merrick Garland prior to the release of Mr Hur’s report accused the special counsel of “openly, obviously, and blatantly” violating the Justice Department’s own policies by making comments about Mr Biden’s mental capacity, according to reports by Politico and the New York Times. “The Special Counsel can certainly and properly note that the President lacked memory of a specific fact or series of events,” wrote Mr Siskel in the letter, which was penned on 7 February but first reported on Thursday. “But his report goes further to include allegations that the President has a failing memory in a general sense, an allegation that has no law enforcement purpose.”The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Mr Hur’s report was penned after a year-long inquiry into Mr Biden’s handling of classified documents from his time as vice-president, which included interviews with the president. In it, the special counsel concluded that Mr Biden, 81, had “wilfully” retained classified files after leaving the vice-presidency in 2017. He then emphasised he would struggle to secure a conviction because of Mr Biden’s age, mental fitness, and demeanour.At times, he used specific moments that Mr Biden and his allies said were deeply personal.In one passage, he provided a pointed example of the president’s memory, writing that Mr Biden did not remember “even within several years when his son Beau died”.The report has buoyed criticism by some Republicans, who questioned Mr Biden’s mental capabilities and his old age as he vies for a second term in the White House.Meanwhile, Democrats have accused Mr Hur, a Republican who was previously tapped by former president Donald Trump for the role of US attorney for the District of Maryland, of political bias.Following the release of the report, Mr Biden held a surprise news conference in which he forcefully declared: “My memory is fine.””How the hell dare he raise that?” the president added, referring to the claim that he could not remember when his son died.Related TopicsUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyProsecutor faces political glare after Biden reportPublished6 days ago’My memory is fine’ – Biden hits back at special counselPublished6 days agoFive things in the Biden classified documents reportPublished7 days agoTop StoriesLive. Labour secure thumping double by-election winParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished6 hours agoGaza hospital in ‘catastrophic’ state as Israeli troops raidPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raid. VideoWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raidWill TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Elsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show3Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere4McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape5Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm6Get back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bass7Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing8Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine9Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?10The KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elites for decades

[ad_1] In it, the special counsel concluded that Mr Biden, 81, had “wilfully” retained classified files after leaving the vice-presidency in 2017. He then emphasised he would struggle to secure…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAnders Breivik: Mass murderer loses lawsuit over prison isolationPublished9 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Anders Breivik appeared at a court hearing convened in Ringerike prison on MondayBy James GregoryBBC NewsNeo-Nazi Anders Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, has lost his case against the state in a bid to end his years of isolation in prison. Breivik had sued the Norwegian authorities, claiming his conditions were “inhumane” and he was suicidal.But a court ruled on Thursday that Breivik’s sentencing terms were “not a violation of human rights”. Breivik’s lawyer said his client was disappointed with the outcome and would appeal against the latest judgment.He has been held in isolation ever since he killed eight people with a car bomb and shot dead another 69, most of them teenagers, at a summer youth camp on the island of Utoeya on 22 July 2011. He is currently serving a 21-year sentence, the maximum a court in Norway can impose, though it can be extended for as long as he is deemed a threat.His lawyers claimed he had been living in a “completely locked world” and did “not wish to be alive any more”. They had asked the court to lift restrictions on his correspondence with the outside world.But judges at the Oslo District Court on Thursday said the restrictions placed on Breivik’s communications were justified because he remained a danger to society. They ruled that he enjoyed “relatively great freedom” at the facility and had access to many services in his everyday life. “He studies and works on his political projects,” the verdict said.Norway attacks: The victimsNorway mass killer Breivik sues over jail isolationMass murderer Breivik loses rights caseOeystein Storrvi, Breivik’s lawyer, told Reuters: “He has been in isolation for 12 years and easing of his conditions is vital for his wellbeing in the prison.”Breivik cried during his testimony in January, claiming he was sorry for the attack and that his life had become a nightmare that had left him suicidal. But the following day, a psychologist told the court that she did not consider him to be depressed and there was a “low risk” of suicide. Now aged 45, Breivik currently spends his time in a dedicated section of Ringerike prison – located on the shores of the lake that surrounds Utoeya. At the prison, Breivik has access to a training room, kitchen, TV room and a bathroom.Many of those killed on the island were teenagers involved with the Norwegian Labour Party’s youth wing, the AUF. The attacks remain Norway’s worst peacetime atrocity.Breivik has challenged the terms of his sentence before, winning part of his human rights case against the Norwegian state in 2016 before it was overturned the following year.He unsuccessfully applied for parole in 2022, with the court ruling he had not changed and remained a risk to society.Related TopicsNorwayAnders Behring BreivikMore on this storyNorway mass killer Breivik sues over jail isolationPublished8 JanuaryMass murderer Breivik loses rights casePublished1 March 2017Top StoriesLive. Labour wins Kingswood, as count continues in WellingboroughParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished5 hours agoGaza hospital in ‘catastrophic’ state as Israeli troops raidPublished6 hours agoFeaturesWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raid. VideoWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raidWill TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. 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[ad_1] Anders Breivik killed eight people with a car bomb in Oslo and shot dead 69 at a youth camp in 2011.

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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