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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 & CanadaLet individual states decide abortion rights, Trump saysPublished25 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS abortion debateImage source, Getty ImagesBy James FitzGerald & Sam CabralBBC NewsDonald Trump has said decisions about abortion rights should be left to the states, releasing a statement on the contentious election issue on Monday.Many in his Republican Party had wanted him to back a nationwide ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.But Mr Trump said policies should be set by individual states – as they have been since the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade decision in 2022.Since then, preserving abortion rights has become a top issue for many voters.Some states have been tightening restrictions on abortion, while others have moved to widen access. President Joe Biden, responding to Mr Trump’s statement, said his rival in November’s election was worried voters would punish him on the issue at the polls.In his video, Mr Trump declared: “My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint; the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both.”Mr Trump also said he was “proudly the person responsible” for the change brought about by the US Supreme Court two years ago, when it overturned the longstanding Roe v Wade decision that a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy was protected by the US constitution.In 2016, Mr Trump campaigned on appointing justices who would overturn Roe v Wade – and went on to put three conservatives on the court during his presidency.In his statement, he acknowledged this would create a piecemeal situation: “Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others. But he said it came down to “the will of the people”, adding: “You must follow your heart or in many cases, your religion or your faith.” Mr Trump added that he was in favour of exceptions when rape or incest were involved, or the life of the mother was in danger. Four ways the end of Roe v Wade has changed AmericaFlorida takes centre stage in US abortion battle19th Century law fires up anti-abortion pushHe also reiterated he was in favour of fertility treatments including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), a reference to the Alabama supreme court ruling that opened a new front in the battle over reproductive rights.The former president also falsely claimed that national Democratic leaders have a “radical” abortion position that includes “execution after birth”.Mr Trump, who is all but certain to be the Republican presidential candidate, acknowledged that the abortion issue has caused major problems for his party in elections held since 2022. Voters angry at the Supreme Court decision have showed up at the polls to support Democratic candidates, as well as ballot measures intended to preserve access to abortion. Democrats have seized on the issue as a way to help re-elect Mr Biden in November.On Monday the president sent out a lengthy response to the Trump statement, saying his rival was “scrambling”.”Having created the chaos of overturning Roe, he’s trying to say, ‘Oh, never mind. Don’t punish me for that. I just want to win,'” Mr Biden wrote.He also alleged that Mr Trump would sign off on a federal abortion ban proposed by congressional Republicans if he returned to the White House.Mr Biden has made universal access to abortion a central campaign issue and pledged that he will work to create a federal law based on the Roe decision.Conservative reaction to Mr Trump’s message was largely negative, with the conservative Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America group saying it was “deeply disappointed”.Some took issue with him not saying at what number of weeks he supports a ban – despite previously signalling support for a 15-week limit – and many also said abortion policy should be set by the federal government.South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally who has proposed a 15-week abortion ban, said he “respectfully [disagrees]” that abortion should be decided by individual states.”The pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).The head of the Students for Life of America reaffirmed her support for Mr Trump but said the group would keep pushing.”We clearly have some work to do to educate President Trump in the many ways that abortion has been made federal,” Kristan Hawkins wrote on X.While conservative states have moved to limit abortion access over the last two years, other states have passed laws to enshrine abortion rights in law. Last week, Florida became the latest state to chart its own course – setting up perhaps the highest-stakes political showdown on the issue so far. First, the state’s supreme court upheld the state’s right to prohibit abortion, giving the green light for a six-week ban to take effect on 1 May. This amounts to a near-total ban, given that many women do not realise they are pregnant at six weeks.But the court is also allowing Floridians to vote in November on whether abortion rights should be protected in the state constitution.Mr Trump, who resides in Florida, won the state in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections – but the Biden campaign says the abortion debate has made the state “winnable” in November.Related TopicsAbortionFloridaIVFDonald TrumpUS abortion debateMore on this storyFlorida voters to have say on six-week abortion banPublished6 days agoTop StoriesLive. Crowds in Mexico and Texas see partial solar eclipseLive. 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[ad_1] His statement on the contentious election issue was criticised by both conservatives and Democrats.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityPoliticsParliamentsBrexitLaura Kuenssberg: West facing ‘authoritarian’ alliance, says Nato chiefPublished7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineBy Laura KuenssbergPresenter, Sunday with Laura KuenssbergAn “alliance of authoritarian powers” is working more closely together against Western democracies, the head of Nato has warned.Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC that Russia, Iran, China and North Korea are increasingly aligned.He also said he was confident allies of the Nato military alliance would agree a long-term funding deal for Ukraine by July.But he suggested Ukraine might have to decide on some “kind of compromises”.Mr Stoltenberg was speaking to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday morning.On the Middle East conflict, he said it was “very important” that the US and other Nato countries conveyed “a very clear message to Israel” that they have to do “significantly more” to protect civilians and aid workers after the World Central Kitchen convoy attack. Mr Stoltenberg took over as the leader of Nato, the Western defence alliance, 10 years ago. Speaking to mark the 75th anniversary of the organisation, he told me the world was now “much more dangerous, much more unpredictable” and “much more violent”. He said there is an “authoritarian” alliance giving each other practical support that is “more and more aligned”. The Nato chief explained: “China is propping up the Russian war economy, delivering key parts to the defence industry, and in return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing.” This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Jens Stoltenberg says the West must stand up to “authoritarian alliance”Russia was providing technology to Iran and North Korea in return for ammunition and military equipment, he added. Mr Stoltenberg told me that Nato had to work with other countries beyond its geography – such as Japan and South Korea – to “stand up against this stronger alliance of authoritarian powers”. The Nato chief has been trying to persuade other countries to commit more money to the war effort in Ukraine in recent days in the hope of a five-year, 100bn euro (£86bn) fund. He said he was confident he would get an agreement by July, despite some countries expressing hesitation this week. Long-term support was vital now, and to rebuild the country after the conflict, he said.”Even if we believe and hope that the war will end in the near future, we need to support Ukraine for many years, to build their defences to deter future aggression,” he said.Sign up for the Off Air with Laura K newsletter to get Laura Kuenssberg’s expert insight and insider stories every week, emailed directly to you.However, while Mr Stoltenberg said that military support was vital to repel Russian forces from Ukraine and force Putin to give up his goals of occupation, he also suggested that Ukraine might ultimately have to make concessions too.”At the end of the day, it has to be Ukraine that decides what kind of compromises they’re willing to do, we need to enable them to be in a position where they actually achieve an acceptable result around the negotiating table,” he said.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Nato chief says that Ukraine may have to decide what compromises it wants to makeHe said he was not calling for Ukraine to offer concessions now, and added that “real peace” would be achievable when “Ukraine prevails”. But his language is notable because President Volodymyr Zelensky has always been adamant that he would never negotiate with Putin despite some calls on him to do so, including from the Pope.Mr Stoltenberg refused to be drawn on whether he was concerned about the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House, saying only that he was sure the US would continue to be an important ally, whoever was in charge. But his remarks about the way regimes around the world are working together are a reminder for Western leaders of the complicated and dangerous diplomatic jigsaw they have to piece together.On this week’s show is Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, David LammyWatch live on BBC One and iPlayer from 09:00 GMT on SundayFollow latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:30More than two years into the conflict in Ukraine, our politicians must grapple with the reality that what is happening there is affected by decisions not just in Moscow and Kyiv but also in Washington DC, Brussels and London, as well as Beijing, Tehran and even Pyongyang. Meanwhile, six months into the Middle East conflict in Gaza, as Jeremy Bowen writes, solutions are affected by decisions not just by Israelis and Palestinians, but also Iranians, politicians in the US, the Gulf States and the UK. Most recently, this has centred on a row over arms sales, prompting criticism of the government from all sides. The latest intervention came on Saturday morning from one former Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson, to another, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. Foreign policy is rarely the overwhelming driver of votes and public opinion in the UK. This is partly because opposition parties traditionally try to avoid fights at home about battles abroad. It’s also partly because voters’ top priorities normally centre on their own lives and the prospects for their families. But that does not mean that the public doesn’t care, or is immune from the horror they see unfolding on their screens every day, or hasn’t been affected by world events – take, for instance, the huge energy price rises caused by the Ukraine conflict. And conflicts around the world in all their complexities are increasingly occupying our politicians’ time, energy and effort. 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[ad_1] Nato head Jens Stoltenberg tells Laura Kuenssberg authoritarian powers are becoming more aligned.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & Canada’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealPublished15 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, Family handoutImage caption, Hersh Goldberg-Polin stands next to his mother Rachel. Hersh was last seen in a Hamas video after the 7 October attackBy Orla GuerinBBC News, Tel Aviv Rachel Goldberg-Polin now lives by a new calendar – not weeks, or months, but days of absence and anguish. Every morning when she wakes, she writes a number on a piece of tape and sticks it to her clothing. It’s the number of days since her son Hersh was taken hostage – she says stolen – by Hamas. When we meet in Jerusalem that number is 155.On the morning of 7 October, she turned on her phone to find two messages from Hersh. The first said: “I love you.” The second sent immediately afterwards read: “I’m sorry.” She called – no answer. “It rang and rang,” she says. “I wrote ‘Are you okay? Let me know you are okay.’ None of those (messages) were ever seen. My throat clenched and my stomach curled up. I just knew something horrible was unfolding, and I knew he knew.”Hersh was caught up in the carnage unleashed by Hamas at the Supernova music festival. He sought refuge in a packed bomb shelter. Hamas militants were just outside, throwing in hand grenades.The last image of the 23-year-old is in a Hamas video. He is being loaded onto a pickup truck, surrounded by gunmen. His left arm has been blown off. The Hamas attacks killed around 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians. Since then, Israel has bombed Gaza relentlessly, killing more than 31,000 people according to officials in the Hamas-run territory. 70% of the dead there are women and children. While the war rages in Gaza, Rachel’s battle is to bring home her son, and the other hostages.Hersh is among 130 hostages from the 7 October attacks remaining in Gaza. Israel believes at least 30 of them are already dead.”Every morning I make a concerted effort and say to myself, ‘now, pretend to be human so that I can get up and try to save Hersh and the other remaining hostages’,” she tells me. “What I want to do is lay in a ball on the floor weeping, but that won’t help them.” Rachel – a mother of three – is small and slight but she is a powerhouse. We meet at her family’s campaign headquarters – the office of a venture capital company, lent by a friend. Campaigning is now her full-time job. She hasn’t been back to work since the day of the attacks. Neither has her husband Jon.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Rachel Goldberg-Polin talks about Hersh’s kidnappingBut five months on, the focus on the hostages is fading – at home and abroad. Relatives are having to fight hard to keep them in the public eye.Ask about her Hersh, and a smile lights up her face. “That’s my favourite subject – my children,” she says. “Hersh is a happy-go-lucky, laid-back soccer fan. He’s wild about music festivals and he has been obsessed with geography and travel since he’s been a little boy. “Her son, who is an American-Israeli dual citizen, was due to leave for a round-the-world trip lasting a year or two. His ticket was already bought. The departure date was 27 December.Hopes were raised of a deal to get the hostages back before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan – in return for a ceasefire of about 40 days and the release of Palestinian prisoners. A bleak Ramadan has come, without a breakthrough. But talks on a possible agreement are due to resume in Doha in the next day or so. Rachel says she is always worried, scared, and doubtful – “You know the saying, don’t count your chickens before they hatch? I feel like don’t count your hostage until you’re hugging them.”But hope, she says, “is mandatory”.”I believe it and I have to believe it, that he will come back to us.”In the midst of her torment, she is quick to acknowledge the pain of families in Gaza.She says the agony must end, and not only for Israelis.”There are thousands and thousands of innocent civilians in Gaza who are suffering,” she says. “There is so much suffering to go around. And I would love for our leaders, all of them, to say, ‘we’re going to do what we have to do so that just the normal people can stop suffering’.”Experts say it’s not just the hostage families who are trapped in an anguishing wait. It’s also the 105 hostages who were freed in November during a week-long truce, leaving others behind.”Many of them keep telling us that they can’t even start grieving or healing until their friends or family members will be back,” says Professor Ofrit Shapira-Berman, a veteran psychoanalyst, and specialist in treating complex trauma. “Many still have a relative in Gaza,” she tells us. “Others have friends they made during captivity. Everyone is waiting. That’s one thing they have in common. Their trauma is being delayed.”On the morning of 7 October, Professor Shapira-Berman was already mobilising a volunteer network of physicians and mental health experts to provide support for survivors. Since November, they have also been treating returned hostages.In her book-filled office in a suburb of Tel Aviv she gives us a painstaking account of what the hostages endured. All were psychologically abused, she says, but not all were physically abused. /* sc-component-id: sc-bdVaJa / .sc-bdVaJa {} .rPqeC{overflow:hidden;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;background-color:#F2EFEC;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;box-sizing:border-box;} / sc-component-id: sc-bwzfXH / .sc-bwzfXH {} .hifkgW{width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:50% 50%;position:absolute;background-size:cover;background-position-x:50%;background-position-y:50%;background-image:url(‘https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/assets/135da7bc-1be1-431f-9dbe-5bda43e302f8’);} / sc-component-id: sc-htpNat / .sc-htpNat {} .kUePcj{max-width:743px;width:45%;position:relative;min-height:200px;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;} / sc-component-id: sc-bxivhb / .sc-bxivhb {} .huvKBR{max-width:100%;position:absolute;bottom:0;right:0;color:#ffffff;background:#000000;opacity:0.7;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;padding:5px;word-wrap:break-word;} @media (max-width:599px){.huvKBR{font-size:12px;line-height:16px;}} @media (min-width:600px) and (max-width:1007px){.huvKBR{font-size:13px;line-height:16px;}} @media (min-width:1008px){.huvKBR{font-size:12px;line-height:16px;}} / sc-component-id: sc-gzVnrw / .sc-gzVnrw {} .blLFIH{width:45% !important;position:relative;margin:0;word-wrap:break-word;color:#404040;font-weight:300;-webkit-flex:1 0 auto;-ms-flex:1 0 auto;flex:1 0 auto;padding:16px;} / sc-component-id: sc-htoDjs / .sc-htoDjs {} .kGbKV{display:block;} / sc-component-id: sc-dnqmqq / .sc-dnqmqq {} .dHUwnI{font-weight:100;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;padding:11px 0 25px 0;} .dHUwnI p{margin:0;} @media (max-width:599px){.dHUwnI{font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}} @media (min-width:600px) and (max-width:1007px){.dHUwnI{font-size:21px;line-height:24px;}} @media (min-width:1008px){.dHUwnI{font-size:20px;line-height:24px;}} / sc-component-id: sc-iwsKbI / .sc-iwsKbI {} .jiPRqw{display:block;} / sc-component-id: sc-gZMcBi / .sc-gZMcBi {} .honXkL{padding-top:10px;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} / sc-component-id: sc-gqjmRU */ .sc-gqjmRU {} .klLnaG{color:#404040;font-style:normal;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;} .klLnaG > strong{font-weight:bold;} @media (max-width:599px){.klLnaG{font-size:16px;line-height:20px;}} @media (min-width:600px) and (max-width:1007px){.klLnaG{font-size:18px;line-height:22px;}} @media (min-width:1008px){.klLnaG{font-size:16px;line-height:20px;}} @font-face { font-family: ‘ReithSans’; 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font-weight: bold; } @font-face { font-family: ‘NotoSansEthiopic’; font-display: swap; src: url(https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/graphics/static/media/NotoSansEthiopic-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”); } @font-face { font-family: ‘NotoSansEthiopic’; font-display: swap; src: url(https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/graphics/static/media/NotoSansEthiopic-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”); font-weight: bold; } @font-face { font-family: ‘Mallanna’; font-display: swap; src: url(https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/graphics/static/media/mallanna.ttf) format(“truetype”); } BBCWhat emerged is very clear evidence and testimony that some of the women (hostages) are being sexually abused.Professor Ofrit Shapira-BermanPsychoanalyst and trauma specialist”Some of them were beaten,” she says, “including the children. They were all given a very little amount of food, almost on the edge of starvation, very little water and sometimes water which was dirty. They were drugged. They were forced to take ketamine (used for anaesthesia). They were touched without consent, the whole variety,” she says, her voice trailing away.There is particular concern in Israel for the women being held – with reason, she says.”What emerged is very clear evidence and testimony that some of the women are being sexually abused,” she tells us, “not have been but are still being sexually abused”.She is measured about what the future may hold for those who have been freed. At least some of them “will be able to love and to trust someone”, she says, but it may take years.She warns that healing will be more difficult for those who were physically abused or came back to discover loved ones had been slaughtered and their home destroyed.For those who remain in Gaza, five months on, she tells us, recovery is far less certain, even if they are ultimately freed. At best, it will take years.And if they are not released, what does that mean for the hostages who have returned?”Well, apparently your heart can break into endless pieces,” Prof Shapira-Berman replies. “So even though it’s broken already, it will be broken again. It’s like beyond my imagination that there will be no ceasefire. Even and when the hostages are back, this is our modern Holocaust. “Family photos of Itai Svirsky show a dark-haired man with smiling eyes and full cheeks.In one picture, the 38-year-old is strumming a guitar. In another he sits on a bench with his arm around his grandmother, Aviva. In a propaganda video released by Hamas in January, there is a very different Itai – with sunken cheeks, bleary eyes, and a low voice. Image source, Family handoutImage caption, The Israeli military says Itai Svirsky was killed by his Hamas guard. Hamas claims he was killed in an air strikeHe won’t be coming home. All his family can hope for is to get his body back from Gaza for burial.They say Itai was killed by his guard – after an IDF air strike nearby – based on an investigation by the army.”Itai was executed two days after by the terrorist that guarded him,” says his cousin, Naama Weinberg. “We know he shot him. What would bring that man to shoot him after 99 days? It’s devastating. The disappointment is unimaginable. “The army has denied Hamas claims that Svirsky was killed in the air strike, though it admits another hostage held with him probably was.We first met Naama last November when she was campaigning for Itai’s release, and still had hope. Despite her loss she’s still campaigning – for the other hostages – though she is now wrapped in grief. Image caption, Itai’s cousin, Naama, says she’s disappointed by the response in Israel to the hostage situationWe caught up with her on a recent march by the hostage families from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “I’m angry and I am sad because Itai will not come back anymore,” she says. “They (the government) did not do whatever they can, and they are still not doing whatever they can. Obviously, Hamas is not the best partner to negotiate with, but we want them back, and we want them back alive.”Naama is pained by what Itai went through in his final months – witnessing the killing of his mother, Orit – a peace activist – on 7 October, and then languishing in captivity. And she’s pained by a sense that Israel is getting used to the hostage crisis.”I’m very worried about it,” she tells me. “I am worried about the nature of humankind to accept situations. I am disappointed from Israeli society. I am disappointed from the whole world that is sitting quiet and letting this happen.”Then she leaves us to rejoin the marchers on the road to Jerusalem.Days later, relatives gather on the roadway at dusk – forming a tight circle of loss – and bringing traffic to a standstill outside Israel’s defence ministry in Tel Aviv. Most carry posters with photos of sons, or daughters, or parents they have not seen or held since 7 October, when Hamas dragged them into Gaza.Then comes a sombre count (in Hebrew) “one, two, three” and onwards – a tally of the number of days their loved ones have been gone. That number is now 163 (as of 17 March).Each word from the loudhailer resounds like an accusation directed at Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Signs read “Deal refusal = Hostages’ death sentence”.Among the protesters we meet Amit Shem Tov, who wants his brother Omer back. He was taken from the music festival like Hersh Goldberg-Polin.Image caption, Amit Shem Tov’s brother, Omer, is among the hostages still believed to be in Gaza”As beautiful as he is from the outside, he is more beautiful from the inside,” Amit says, smiling at his brother’s bearded face in the poster by his side, “such a personality, too many friends, always making jokes, always laughs, always loves to dance, to live life. That’s him”.Then the counting comes to an end, the few dozen protesters clear the road, and the traffic moves on – something the families of the hostages cannot do. “For us, it’s still 7 October,” says Amit.Related TopicsIsrael-Gaza warIsraelGazaMore on this storyStories of the hostages taken by Hamas from IsraelPublished27 FebruaryGaza medics tell BBC that Israeli troops beat and humiliated themPublished4 days agoNetanyahu is a survivor, but his problems are stacking upPublished8 MarchTop Stories’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealPublished15 minutes agoIreland beat Scotland to retain Six Nations titleAttributionSportPublished5 hours agoEvacuations as Iceland volcano erupts againPublished1 hour agoFeatures’He will come back’ – Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a dealThe Papers: ‘Shapps missile threat’ and ‘Strictly stars summit’The ‘insane’ plan to save the Arctic’s sea-iceShould adult Harry Potter fans ‘grow up and get over it’?Chris Mason: How will Welsh Labour change under Gething?Born on 7 October: Gaza mum’s fight to feed her babyWorkaholics Anonymous: ‘I couldn’t step away from the computer’What we know about Meghan’s regal lifestyle brandRos Atkins on… Why one in five people do not work. VideoRos Atkins on… Why one in five people do not workElsewhere on the BBCThe ultimate bromanceWatch the masters of satire Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with a look back through the archivesAttributioniPlayerThe mystery of a devastating helicopter crash…A weekend away for those leading the intelligence war in Northern Ireland turns to disasterAttributioniPlayer’A few people laughed, a few cried, most were silent’The extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the inventor of the atomic bomb, J Robert OppenheimerAttributioniPlayerFancy a film tonight?There’s something for everyone on BBC iPlayerAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Derek Thompson’s Casualty exits after 38 years2Evacuations as Iceland volcano erupts again3Diana’s press attention more dangerous than Kate scrutiny – Spencer4Drivers delayed by ‘unprecedented’ M25 closures5Residents ‘terrified’ after crossbow attacks6Ed Davey calls for ‘once in generation’ election7Russian schools shut after air strikes in Belgorod8Siege ends after US gunman kills three in Pennsylvania9Sainsbury’s deliveries cancelled over tech issues10Vaughan Gething to become Wales’ first black leader

[ad_1] How months of trauma after seeing loved ones killed or held captive in Gaza is taking its toll.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaFrench citizenship row engulfs Indian Ocean island of MayottePublished13 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Residents on Mayotte have been setting up roadblocks to protest against living conditions and insecurityBy Hugh SchofieldBBC News, ParísA speck of France in the Indian Ocean has become the latest battleground over the laws on immigration.A French possession since 1841, the tiny island of Mayotte is now a département or county of the Republic which means, in theory, that the same rules apply there as in the Moselle or Maine-et-Loire, or anywhere else in France.But the territory’s difficult experience of mass immigration is pushing President Emmanuel Macron’s government to abandon the sacrosanct Frenchprinciple of equality for all.Visiting the island at the weekend, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that the automatic right to French citizenship by virtue of birth on the island is to be rescinded.A constitutional change to this effect is now to be pursued by the government. Crucially the end of “birthplace citizenship” would apply only to the island of Mayotte – not to France as a whole.But therein lies the rub. For different reasons, both the left and right of French politics see the reform as problematic.The left says it is a breach of the Republican principle of universality, and opens the door to a citizenship based on racial origin.The right says that changing the rules for Mayotte are fair enough, but it is in France as a whole that “birthplace citizenship” needs to be abandoned.The droit du sol – right of the soil, also known as jus soli – is the legal notion that a person born on the territory of a nation automatically becomes a citizen of that nation. Its opposing idea is jus sanguinis – right of blood which confers citizenship only on the children of citizens.For many, particularly on the left, the droit du sol is an important marker, confirming France’s status as a beacon of humanist values.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The French Air and Border Police have been carrying out operations to intercept migrants from the Comoros islandsIn fact, strictly speaking, the droit du sol is not an automatic right in France, as it is for example in the US where a birth certificate is enough to get a passport. A child born in France to foreign parents needs to apply for citizenship in his or her teens, and then prove continuous presence.However, the point still stands. Birth on the territory opens the way to membership of the nation.But events in Mayotte show how in modern times pressures of demographic change and mass migration are leading governments to question what had until recently been matters of consensus.Mayotte is currently prey to a wave of civil disobedience born of local fear of being overwhelmed by outsiders.Lying 70km (43.5 miles) from one of the poorest countries in Africa – the Comoros islands – Mayotte has a “small boat” problem that makes the UK’s, over the Channel from France, seem puny by comparison. Hundreds of people arrive every week in boats from the Comoros, in addition to whom there are now increasing numbers of asylum seekers from the Great Lakes region of Central Africa.In the island’s hospitals more than 10,000 babies are being born every year – the majority to mothers from the Comoros. Mayotte’s overall population is estimated at 300,000 – but only half of them bear French passports.Since mid-January “citizen’s committees” have set up roadblocks around the island, demanding a crackdown on immigration and the crime they say comes with it. From all political shades in Mayotte comes the same cry: end the droit du sol.”If not, we will be perpetually the prisoners of our geography,” says Estelle Youssouffa, a Mayotte MP from the independent LIOT bloc in the National Assembly.”We will end up welcoming all the misery of the Comoros and of Africa – all so that people in Paris can parade their grand principles.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Gérald Darmanin, the French minister of the interior and overseas territories, says abolishing the droit du sol would make Mayotte less appealing to migrants”The right to security is also a fundamental right,” argues Ms Youssouffa. “The right to move around freely is a fundamental right. But we are deprived of these rights – because the violence is now so bad we can no longer live normally.”The French interior minister says he is responding to the appeals of the Mahorais, as the people of Mayotte are known. He says that once the droit du sol has been abolished on the island, the lure will disappear.Currently most demands for regularisation are from the Comoran families of babies who are born on Mayotte and therefore French. When the babies are no longer French, the argument goes, the people will stop coming.No-one knows if that is true or not. For the left, it is not citizenship per se that draws immigrants to Mayotte, but the comparatively wealthier standard of living. And they warn that, for all the government’s promises to the contrary, what happens first in Mayotte could all too easily be followed in France as a whole.No-one knows if that is true either. What is undeniable is that both the mainstream and hard right in French politics are now talking openly about ending the droit du sol in France proper as well.For them it is exactly the kind of shock measure that the immigration crisis requires, as asylum requests reached a record 142,500 last year.The Macron government needs the political right to get through any constitutional change on Mayotte. Might they make their support conditional on the reform being broadened to France as a whole?Or might they contrive to block the constitutional change on the basis that for Mayotte alone it is too restrictive? And then at the next presidential elections ride – they hope – to power, promising a nationwide end to the droit du sol?The world is changing. It is possible.Related TopicsFranceMore on this storyFrance to tighten migrant law despite court rulingPublished26 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. 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AudioSteve Wright tributes and Labour suspends another candidateAttributionSoundsAI could ‘supercharge’ election disinformation, US tells the BBC’Like a friend’ – listeners’ tributes to Steve WrightTorvill, Dean and the death of romanceAttributionSportResignations of leading women give Hungary’s Orban his biggest crisisElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsOne of the most densely populated places on earthUncover the hidden systems and armies of people running Hong KongAttributioniPlayerThe surprising health benefits of sleeping moreCould going to sleep one hour earlier dramatically improve your mood and health?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Man poisoned couple and rewrote will – court told2Children of US mum arrested in London were shot3Gems stolen from British Museum seen for first time4Family members jailed after abusing son’s wife5Israel launches deadly air strikes in Lebanon6Critics savage Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web7Marten and Gordon jury shown how police found baby8MP says ‘we are not fair game’ after protest at home9Ukraine claims sinking of Russian ship off Crimea10’Meaty’ rice grown in lab for protein kick

[ad_1] The island of Mayotte becomes the latest battleground in France over the laws on immigration.

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February 12, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSenegal election crisis: ‘We feel betrayed by President Macky Sall’Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Nicolas NégoceBBC News, DakarSenegal appears to be having an identity crisis – its citizens are proud of the fact that it is considered one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, and many are outraged that this reputation is now on the line.”We feel betrayed by Macky Sall,” say a group of imams meeting in a mosque in the capital, Dakar, about the political crisis that hit the country a week ago when MPs backed President Sall’s decision to delay this month’s presidential election until December.”The president must review this. It’s unacceptable,” explains Ismael Ndiaye, the general secretary of Senegal’s League of Imams.”It never happened before. Senegal never had a presidential election delayed. We feel betrayed. We feel misunderstood.”Islam is the predominant religion in Senegal – and comments such as these from influential Muslim leaders, who have mediated to resolve previous political crises, carry huge weight.Their blunt words reflect the wave of anger gripping the country as protesters take to the streets.Image source, AFPImage caption, Protesters run past a mosque in Dakar as tear gas is fired by the security forcesPresident Sall has justified his move, saying time is needed to resolve a dispute over who is eligible to stand as a presidential candidate after several opposition contenders were barred.But those on the streets see the postponement as a way for Mr Sall to cling on to power beyond the end of his second term on 2 April.In his first interview since the announcement, President Sall denied that was his intention.”I am absolutely seeking for nothing except to leave a country in peace and stability,” he told the Associated Press over the weekend.”I don’t want to leave behind a country that will immediately plunge into major difficulties.”These words ring hollow to his critics given his stance before his election in 2012, when he strongly objected to then-President Abdoulaye Wade seeking a third term.”A president cannot extend his term of office. It’s not possible,” Mr Sall, who once served as Mr Wade’s prime minister, said during the 2011 election campaign.”He can’t extend his term by even one day, otherwise the country will be plunged into chaos because the people would not recognise his legitimacy and there would no longer be authority in the country.”This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: The president who vowed to play by the rules but isn’tThere have been violent protests across Senegal over the past week, reportedly leaving three people dead.One of them was a geography undergraduate who died in clashes with police on a university campus in the northern city of Saint-Louis.In Dakar, debris remains strewn across the streets after stand-offs with the security forces, who fired tear gas to disperse protesters.Many of the four million inhabitants of the city are upset by the turn of events.We met Fanta Diallo as she ventured out to buy provisions for what seem like uncertain times ahead.”I am hurt and ashamed,” she told the BBC. Scared of further violence, she wants civil society to call a “dead city” general strike to show their anger against parliament’s backing of the vote delay.”This is not normal. We are not in a monarchy. I came to town today so I could buy everything I need.”Adamadou Bayeshare, who was out in central Dakar on Saturday with his friend Aminata Issete, agreed.”We need to demonstrate peacefully for what we believe is right, but we absolutely need to do something. I am personally very, very upset,” he told the BBC.Ms Issete was a little shy about being interviewed at first and then became very animated.”We are exhausted, we are upset and deeply disappointed. What is wrong with our country? What is wrong with that man?” she asked about the 62-year-old president.”Why this disrespect towards Senegal’s own citizens? We don’t deserve this. We want to vote for a new president,” she said.Image source, AFPImage caption, More than 60% of Senegal’s population is under the age of 25Defeated, disappointed, upset. Those are the recurrent words on the streets, echoed on social media where videos and pictures are circulating showing alleged police brutality from the protests.These young people are those who voice frustration over a lack of jobs in the country, and who form the backbone of support for Ousmane Sonko, a popular opposition leader who has been excluded from the presidential race because of a defamation conviction. He has faced many legal battles in recent years and has been jailed in a separate case for calling for insurrection, conspiracy with terrorist groups and endangering state security. This was in July, when his party was also banned. The 49-year-old maintains all the charges are politically motivated. Even with the election delayed until 15 December, there is little chance he will be allowed to stand – but anyone he backs might have a chance of winning.It is his stance on the economy that has particularly worried Senegal’s elite – but has won him a huge amount of support. He criticises the country’s close relationship with France, the former colonial power.The former tax collector wants a withdrawal from the CFA franc – the regional currency used by 14 African countries, which is pegged to the euro under a French government guarantee. Critics fear such a move would spell economic disaster.The next nine months may give the weak ruling coalition a chance to bolster its chances in the election and perhaps consider a stronger candidate in place of Mr Sall’s chosen successor, Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who is felt by some to lack charisma.The postponement may also work in favour of another opposition leader Karim Wade, son of the former president, who was disqualified as he had not renounced his French citizenship in time – electoral laws do not allow dual nationality.Image caption, It is hard to see how a solution will be found that can calm tensionGovernment spokesperson Abdou Karim Fofana reiterated that President Sall would not risk his credibility for just a few more months in power.”When you’re a leader, you often have to take unpopular and sometimes misunderstood decisions,” he told the BBC. “It’s not a pleasure for [President Macky Sall] to do so. He did this to preserve his country as he is mature and responsible.” With Mr Sonko’s level of support and the feeling that the judiciary has been used to exclude him from the race, it is hard to see how a solution will be found that can really resolve the crisis.Law expert El-Hadji Omar Diop says another scenario could play out.”President Sall may decide to step down the day after 2 April. In this case, the National Assembly president would assume power and call a new election within two to three months,” the university lecturer said.More demonstrations are planned for Tuesday, though they have not yet been authorised by the authorities.Mamadou Faye, a father of three, hopes this will get their message across without any need for “dead city” strikes as he says he cannot afford not to work.”No-one is going to help me. We are tired of all of this. We just want to be able to feed our family.”More on Senegal’s crisis:Why West Africa’s united front is in tattersSenegal on the brink after elections postponed Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko – youth hero or rabble-rouser?Related TopicsSenegalAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesLive. Israeli strikes kill dozens in Rafah as raid rescues two hostagesIsrael says rescued hostages ‘in good condition’Published1 hour agoMarathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum dies in Kenya crashPublished32 minutes agoFeaturesUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showBeyoncé announces new album during Super Bowl breakNever a doubt in my mind – Kelce on star quarterback Mahomes. VideoNever a doubt in my mind – Kelce on star quarterback MahomesAttributionSportWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Jeremy Bowen: Is Rafah the new battleground? VideoJeremy Bowen: Is Rafah the new battleground?Shapps war on ‘woke’ Army and King’s ‘wave of hope’Wegovy, the weight-loss drug flying off the shelvesBagpuss, the old fat furry cat-puss, is 50Scherzinger leads winners at WhatsOnStage AwardsElsewhere on the BBCThe real, untold story of the Jack the Ripper victimsTold by historian Hallie RubenholdAttributionSoundsHair-pulling, wrestling and kicking!Watch the moment a violent brawl unfolded in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayerCan you sniff out the fib among the facts?Put your knowledge to the test…AttributionBitesizeSwapping balls for bricks…Ex-Premier League star Darren Ambrose shares his love for LegoAttributionSoundsMost Read1NHS ‘not ready’ for new Alzheimer’s drugs2Marathon record holder Kiptum dies in car accident3Four boys aged 12 to 14 arrested over rape4Police alerted to Harry Potter fan with wand5Sealed with a kiss – the Taylor Swift Super Bowl lives up to hypeAttributionSport6Shapps war on ‘woke’ Army and King’s ‘wave of hope’7Schools in budget crisis as PFI charges soar8Migrating species crucial to planet under threat9Inside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fight10Short-changed postmasters to get full compensation

[ad_1] “We feel betrayed by Macky Sall,” say a group of imams meeting in a mosque in the capital, Dakar, about the political crisis that hit the country a week…

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIs Canada vulnerable to foreign interference?Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Toronto Star via Getty ImageImage caption, Canadian member of parliament Michael Chong learned through media reports that China allegedly targeted himBy Nadine YousifBBC News, TorontoThe allegations kept mounting in Canada: Election-meddling by China, an Indian-backed assassination on home soil, and a campaign to harass Iranian dissidents. Is Canada especially vulnerable to foreign interference?Michael Chong said it did not take long for him to become a target of Beijing.In testimony before US lawmakers on Capitol Hill last year, the Canadian Conservative politician described how an alleged intimidation campaign against him was born after he spoke out against China’s human rights record in parliament.He said that a Chinese official in Canada began gathering details about his relatives living in Hong Kong shortly after, and that a smear campaign against him was launched on China’s most-popular social media platform, WeChat.”My experience is but one case of Beijing’s interference in Canada,” he said. “Many, many other cases go unreported and unnoticed, and the victims suffer in silence.”Canada launches inquiry into foreign interferenceThe alleged targeting of Mr Chong, which first became public when intelligence reports were leaked to Canadian media, unleashed a fierce debate in the country around its vulnerability to foreign interference and the safety of its citizens.On Monday, he and others will begin testifying before a public inquiry that will look into Beijing’s meddling in Canada, especially its alleged efforts to sway the country’s last two federal elections by backing certain candidates.China has denied any interference and the allegations have soured relations between Beijing and Ottawa. While the inquiry will focus on claims of election interference by China, Russia, India “and other foreign actors”, experts say the problem of foreign meddling in Canada is much more complex and widespread. Solving it, they say, demands a restructuring of the political and social DNA of the country, which has long-failed to prioritise matters of national security. “Generally speaking, we have been neglecting national security, intelligence, law enforcement, defence, and so on,” Thomas Juneau, a political analyst and professor at the University of Ottawa, told the BBC.While it is tough to determine whether Canada is uniquely vulnerable compared to its allies, Mr Juneau argued that other countries have done a far better job in addressing the issue.An outdated system that is slow to adaptOne glaring problem, Mr Juneau said, is the out-of-date act governing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (csis). It is almost 40 years old, designed with the Cold War in mind, “when the fax machine was the new thing”, he said. Because of this, he said, the nation’s primary intelligence agency has been limited in its operations, focused on sharing information solely with the federal government.This means possible targets are often left in the dark. That was spotlighted by Mr Chong’s story. He only discovered that he had been an alleged target of Beijing through the media, despite csis having monitored threats against him for at least two years.Canada has since launched public consultations into how the law governing csis can be amended to better inform and protect individuals who could be a target.The source of Canada’s security complacency, argued Richard Fadden, a former csis director and national security advisor to two prime ministers, is that Canada has lived in relative safety, largely protected from foreign threats by its geography: the US to the south, and surrounded by three oceans.”I mean, nobody is going to invade Canada,” he said. Canada’s allies – like the US and Australia – have been quicker to adopt certain tools to help catch bad actors, such as establishing a registry of foreign agents and criminalising acts that can be classified as interference.In December, Australia convicted a Vietnamese refugee who was found to be working for the Chinese Communist Party, thanks to a law it passed in 2018 that made industrial espionage for a foreign power a crime.Such laws are not only important for charging and convicting culprits, but can also help educate the public and deter other nations from interfering, said Wesley Wark, a leading Canadian historian with expertise in national security.Diaspora groups are especially vulnerableMr Wark said the country’s diverse population has also made it a convenient target for foreign states.”We are a multicultural society and we have gone to great lengths over decades to preserve and protect that,” he said.But diaspora groups, especially those vocally opposed to the government of their country of origin, have naturally become a target.British Columbia lawyer Ram Joubin has had a first-hand look at the threats facing dissidents in Canada, particularly those from Iran. While investigating people with ties to the Iranian regime who call Canada home, Mr Joubin said he has heard from Iranian-Canadians who say they have been followed and harassed by regime agents in their own communities.”We’ve had death threats, knock-on-the-door type of death threats,” he said. “And then we have a lot of people with their families in Iran being threatened because they engaged in some sort of activism.”Csis has previously said it is aware of alleged intimidation attempts. The Iranian government has not commented publicly on these allegations. In Mr Joubin’s experience, reporting these incidents to officials like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been a challenge, especially when additional work is needed to establish a credible criminal or civil case.Both the RCMP and csis were criticised after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist that was killed in June in British Columbia, which Canada has alleged was done with the involvement of Indian government agents – something India denies. Prior to his death, Mr Nijjar had said that police were aware he was a target of an assassination plot. Questions were raised about whether something could have been done to stop his killing after the FBI said it was able to foil a similar assassination plot in November against another Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Image source, Bloomberg via Getty ImagesImage caption, Richard Fadden says Canada is only now coming to terms with its vulnerability to foreign meddlingMr Fadden said the events of 2023 represented a seismic shift in Canada’s psyche, forcing the country to finally confront the issue of foreign interference.”Despite a deep reluctance on the part of the government to hold a foreign inquiry, they were compelled to do it,” Mr Fadden said. “I think if there hadn’t been that shift, we wouldn’t have an inquiry.”The inquiry, led by Quebec appellate judge Marie-Josée Hogue, will be conducted in two phases, ending with a final report in December that will include recommendations on what Canada can do to deter future interference.Some have expressed concern about the inquiry’s short mandate, and whether its recommendations will be wide-ranging enough and implemented as Canada inches closer to an election year that could see a change in government.But in the meantime, Mr Fadden and others said they believe urgent action is needed.”There are two big issues: there’s interference in our elections,” Mr Fadden said. “But there’s also interfering and scaring members of the diaspora in this country, which is a very serious matter.””We have a responsibility to protect people who are in Canada, and I don’t think we’re doing as good of a job on this as we could be.”Related TopicsChinaCanadaMore on this storyCanada launches inquiry into foreign interferencePublished7 September 2023US must work with Canada to stop China meddling – MPPublished13 September 2023The long fight for justice over downed plane in IranPublished8 January 2023Top StoriesThree US troops killed in Middle East drone attackPublished4 hours agoDisposable vapes to be banned over fears for children’s healthPublished8 minutes agoPost Office chairman had to go – BadenochPublished3 hours agoFeaturesBBC confronts man who abused boy in secretive Christian churchKey UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic stormWho invented butter chicken? 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[ad_1] A public inquiry launching on Monday could be a reckoning in the country on national security matters.

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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

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April 16, 2024

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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

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April 16, 2024

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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 & 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

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April 16, 2024

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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 & 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

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April 16, 2024

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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 & 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

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April 16, 2024

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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 & 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

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April 16, 2024

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