BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaHaiti gangs torch police stations as PM’s future hangs in balancePublished44 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, More than 15,000 people have fled their homes in the last week due to the violenceBy Vanessa BuschschlüterBBC NewsGangs pushing for the ouster of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry have been setting fire to police stations in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The police station located in the busy open-air Salomon market is the latest to be targeted, according to local media. The gangs in the violence-wracked city stepped up their attacks when Mr Henry left for a regional summit last week.The unrest has paralysed air traffic, which has prevented his return.Mr Henry attempted to fly back to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday but ended up in the US territory of Puerto Rico instead. He could not land in the Haitian capital because its international airport was closed as soldiers repelled attempts by gunmen to seize it. Civil aviation authorities in the neighbouring Dominican Republic also turned the prime minister’s plane away, saying that they had not been provided with the necessary flight plan.Mr Henry has not given any public statements since he visited Kenya, where he was trying to salvage a deal for the African country to lead a multi-national force to help restore order in Haiti. Gangs in the capital took advantage of his absence to unleash a series of co-ordinated attacks.How gangs came to dominate HaitiAmong their targets was the airport – which they want to control to prevent Mr Henry from flying back in – and two prisons, from which they freed thousands of inmates.They have also set the peace court in Croix-des-Bouquets on fire and looted or torched more than 20 other buildings, according to a tally compiled by The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH).At least six police officers have been killed while the National Police Academy has also been destroyed.The bodies of several prisoners were also left lying on the streets after the storming of the National Penitentiary.The violence has caused Haiti’s humanitarian crisis to deteriorate even further.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier has been holding news conferences as his G9 gang alliance has attacked key buildingsAid groups estimate that more than 15,000 people have fled their homes in the past week.The UN’s Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Haiti, Ulrika Richardson, told the BBC’s Newshour programme the situation on the ground was “extremely dire and very alarming”. “We have big parts of the capital paralysed: schools are closed, many hospitals have had to close, either because of a lack of equipment or simply that staff cannot get to work,” she said. The gangs have not said what their aim is beyond the ouster of Mr Henry. Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a former police officer who leads an alliance of gangs called G9, has threatened that if Mr Henry does not step down there will be a “civil war” which he said could end in “genocide”.Caribbean nations as well as the US have urged Mr Henry to take steps to “finalize a political accord”.Irfaan Ali, the president of Guyana who is currently chairing regional body Caricom, said there had to be “a political solution to anchor any stabilization of security and humanitarian efforts”.In a video message, Mr Ali said that Caricom had not been able “to reach any form of consensus between stakeholders in Haiti” despite round-the-clock efforts to get the government and key figures in the opposition, private sector, civil society and religious organisations to agree on the way forward.Related TopicsHaitiAriel HenryMore on this storyHaiti gangs threaten ‘civil war’ as unrest spreadsPublished17 hours agoHaitian gangs try to take over capital’s airportPublished1 day agoTop StoriesLive. Main parties in ‘conspiracy of silence’ about UK’s challenges, says think tankBudget leaves Labour seeking savings to fund pledgesPublished1 hour agoConstance Marten: ‘I did nothing but show baby love’Published24 minutes agoFeatures’I earn £70,000 and can now claim some child benefit’Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourWho will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?The world’s largest robots are setting sailAuthor Dame Jacqueline Wilson reads to zoo animalsDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSport’Stampede’ of kangaroos invade Melbourne golf course. Video’Stampede’ of kangaroos invade Melbourne golf courseThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Elsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance2Teens guilty of killing boy, 16, with zombie knife3Netflix hits make Adam Sandler the best-paid actor4Rust film armourer guilty over shooting death5BBC Scotland presenter dies after short illness6Nationwide strikes deal to buy Virgin Money7Budget leaves Labour seeking savings to fund pledges8Two Brighton fans stabbed before Roma match9’I earn £70,000 and can now claim some child benefit’10Constance Marten: ‘I did nothing but show baby love’

[ad_1] In a video message, Mr Ali said that Caricom had not been able “to reach any form of consensus between stakeholders in Haiti” despite round-the-clock efforts to get the…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNiger, Mali and Burkina Faso to form joint force to fight jihadistsPublished20 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsSahel Islamist insurgencyImage source, EPABy Basillioh RukangaBBC NewsThree West African countries run by military juntas say they will form a joint force to fight jihadist threats.Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced the formation of the force following talks in the Nigerien capital Niamey.Niger’s army chief Moussa Salaou Barmou announced it would be operational as soon as possible, without giving details of its size.Groups linked to both Islamic State and al-Qaeda have killed thousands of people in the region in the past year.The military regimes in the three countries have become increasingly close allies in recent months.Last September, they formed a mutual defence pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), withdrawing from an international force, G5, that was set up to fight Islamists in the region.Violence in West Africa’s Sahel region has worsened in recent years despite the military governments’ promises to deal with the decade-long conflict with jihadist groups.The three countries have all severed their ties with France, the former colonial power, which for years had a strong military presence across the Sahel.A UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, Minusma, that had been in place for over a decade was also ordered by the country’s leaders to withdraw “without delay”, and completed the exit in December.The military regimes have strengthened ties with Russia, which has moved in to fill the void.They have also announced they were leaving the West African economic bloc Ecowas.They had already been suspended from the bloc, which has been urging the military regimes to ensure a quick return to democratic rule and imposed travel and economic sanctions on them.Some of the sanctions were last month lifted or eased as Ecowas pushed for dialogue.More about the unrest in the Sahel:The doctor forced to go to the jihadist frontlineWhy Niger is saying goodbye to France but not the USDid coups in Mali and Burkina Faso halt jihadist attacks?Why young Africans are celebrating military takeoversWhy does France have military bases in Africa?’France takes us for idiots’ – Inside coup-hit NigerRelated TopicsBurkina FasoSahel Islamist insurgencyMaliNigerTop StoriesLive. Hunt hails National Insurance cut but Reeves says people still worse offWarning of almost 20 years of pay stagnationPublished2 hours agoRust film armourer guilty over shooting death on Alec Baldwin film setPublished32 minutes agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourWhat does the Budget mean for you?Who will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?The world’s largest robots are setting sailAuthor Dame Jacqueline Wilson reads to zoo animalsDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blankBudget: Key points at a glance’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Elsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust film armourer guilty over shooting death2Nationwide strikes deal to buy Virgin Money3Warning of almost 20 years of pay stagnation4’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance5The world’s largest robots are setting sail6Post Office ‘not fit’ to handle victim compensation7Budget: Key points at a glance8Body search case police speak to killer in Trinidad9Lives at risk due to Clare’s Law delays – daughter10Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?

[ad_1] Niger’s army chief says it will be operational as soon as possible, without giving details of its size.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaThailand revokes visa of Swiss man who allegedly assaulted local womanPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Phuket is one of Thailand’s most poular hotspotsBy Kelly NgBBC NewsThailand has revoked the visa of a Swiss man who faced growing backlash after reports that he allegedly kicked a local woman sitting on the steps near his villa in Phuket.Urs Fehr and his Thai wife Khanuengnit said they thought she was intruding on their property. They later apologised. Hundreds of angry locals later gathered in front of their seaside villa on Sunday demanding Mr Fehr’s expulsion.More than 100,000 foreigners are estimated to have settled in Phuket.The island is one of Thailand’s most popular hotspots, with millions of tourists visiting each year. According to local reports, the incident on 24 February unfolded after 45-year-old Mr Fehr, the managing director of an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, kicked Thandao Chandam in her back while she and her friend sat on the steps outside their rented villa. Ms Khanuengnit also allegedly berated Ms Thandao, who works as a doctor in Phuket.Mr Fehr said he believed Ms Thandao and her companion were intruders, and accused them of trespassing on his property. He also claimed that he did not kick Ms Thandao but had slipped while walking towards her, according to Bangkok Post.The incident sparked an angry backlash amongst locals, with many urging authorities to revoke Mr Fehr’s visa and also demanding the restoration of public access to the beach near his property. “It turns out that foreigners are occupying too many areas. Please resolve this,” Bangkok Post quoted one of the protesters as saying. An investigation later found that the villa’s steps were built illegally on public land. Authorities have ordered for them to be removed.The doctor has filed a complaint with police over the incident, and authorities said on Wednesday that he has been charged with assault.Immigration officials said they will detain Fehr, but he can remain in Thailand for the time being to defend himself in the assault case.Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said after the incident that he has instructed the police and tourism ministry to step up measures to ensure foreigners comply with Thailand’s laws.Related TopicsAsiaThailandMore on this storyRed panda found in luggage at Bangkok airportPublished18 hours ago10 million Thais had smog-related illness in 2023Published1 day agoWoman arrested after pet lion taken on car ridePublished25 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. Hunt hails National Insurance cut but Reeves says people still worse offWarning of almost 20 years of pay stagnationPublished1 hour agoRust film armourer guilty over shooting death on Alec Baldwin film setPublished7 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourWhat does the Budget mean for you?Who will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?The world’s largest robots are setting sailAuthor Dame Jacqueline Wilson reads to zoo animalsDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blankBudget: Key points at a glanceElsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust film armourer guilty over shooting death2Nationwide strikes deal to buy Virgin Money3Warning of almost 20 years of pay stagnation4Post Office ‘not fit’ to run pay-outs for victims5’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance6The world’s largest robots are setting sail7Budget: Key points at a glance8Body search case police speak to killer in Trinidad9Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’10Lives at risk due to Clare’s Law delays – daughter

[ad_1] According to local reports, the incident on 24 February unfolded after 45-year-old Mr Fehr, the managing director of an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, kicked Thandao Chandam in her back…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureOscars 2024: Are films now ‘too long’ as Hugh Grant suggests?Published7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsBafta AwardsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour nuclear epic, Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy (right), may dominate the Oscars this weekendBy Alex TaylorBBC Culture reporter”Oompa-loompa, doompity-dee, now the best director categor-ee. Oompa Loompa doompity-dong, most of these films were frankly too long.”Fresh from starring in Wonka, Hugh Grant’s (life-size) onstage appearance at the Baftas not only saw him revive his inner Oompa Loompa when delivering the award for best director, but also openly question the length of this year’s awards season contenders. He may have been thinking of the evening’s eventual winner, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic Oppenheimer, which is also expected to sweep the Oscars this weekend.But three of the five other Bafta nominees – The Holdovers, Maestro, and Anatomy of a Fall – likewise Oscar contenders, also clock in at over two hours each. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Hugh Grant revived his inner Oompa Loompa to swipe at film runtimes when delivering the Bafta award for best directorGood thing, perhaps, that Grant didn’t have to confront Martin Scorsese’s American introspective, Killers of the Flower Moon, an Academy favourite despite its 3hr 26min runtime – the longest of this year’s best picture contenders.But are this year’s nominated films part of a (growing) trend? If so, what does this mean for audiences, cinemas and directors?From intermission to toilet dashA rainy afternoon trip to the cinema may have reliably lured families, couples and single souls for decades, but film durations have fluctuated throughout this time. The sense of screenings themselves becoming an all-day event can first be traced back to the 1960s, as directors revelled in a golden age for the silver screen. Lawrence of Arabia ran beyond three-and-a-half hours in 1962. Cleopatra, released a year later, originally stretched to four before being cut down. Intermissions were central to this experience as projectionists transferred over physical reels, giving audiences a natural rest break for the loo and the chance to buy ice cream.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, British director David Lean filming Lawrence of Arabia in 1962But advancements in projector technology saw this staple of movie-going phased out by the early 80s, with 1982’s Gandhi thought to be the last major western feature to include an intermission as standard.In the intervening decades, film lengths have steadily increased, quite literally keeping audiences in their seats. Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association, told the BBC its members are engaged in “ongoing discussions” with studios, distributors and others relevant parties about potentially reintroducing “structured intermissions”, possibly for films lasting three hours or more.An analysis by The Economist of over 100,000 feature films released internationally since the 1930s found current popular movie runtimes to be the highest on record.And there’s been a significant spike in recent years. Statista research across the decades reveals that, on average, the highest-grossing movies in the US and Canada have grown by around 30 minutes since 2020 alone, hitting 2hrs 23mins by 2023.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Martin Scorsese (front) with some of this year’s other best picture directors, including Christopher Nolan (centre right) and Greta Gerwig (second left)It’s not only franchise blockbusters that are responsible (yes, Indiana Jones, John Wick and Avengers: Endgame, we’re looking at you), but Oscar nominated films. Avatar: The Way of Water, 2023’s longest best picture nominee also hit the three-hour mark.”We’ve seen epic filmmaking do well at the Oscars in every decade,” says Karie Bible, box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations. “The very first film to win best picture in 1927 was an aviation epic called Wings that ran for two hours and 24 minutes.” “Epic films often mean epic storytelling,” she explains. “These films are larger than life and often encompass a long, developed story that ask people to be emotionally invested.”But this artistic rationale is being pushed to its limits – with audience bladders left bursting as directors are empowered like never before.Streaming ‘Cold War’The Cold War between streaming and cinema over the past decade has made the name behind the camera almost as coveted as any A-list actor. As streaming services vie with Hollywood for credibility and prestige they’ve thrown huge amounts of money at directing talent – often far outmatching anything a legacy studio can offer – with success. Before Scorsese partnered with Apple for Killers of the Flower Moon, he turned to Netflix to fund his Oscar nominated three-and-a-half-hour mob movie The Irishman, telling the BBC he “couldn’t get financing” from Hollywood to match his ambition.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, “We could not get any financing” from Hollywood, says Oscar-winning director Martin ScorseseThe template has similarly tempted David Fincher, Rian Johnson and latterly Ridley Scott – who has hinted at releasing a four-hour cut of Napoleon on Apple TV, despite his original version already being nearly three hours.The dynamic can weaken producer control and inflate runtimes. In his podcast review for Killers of the Flower Moon, Mark Kermode explained: “We hear stories about… people making films for studios for theatrical exhibition, then you end up having fights with the producers about [length]. If you’re a streaming service, they don’t care.”Image source, AppleTV+Image caption, Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio, chronicles the Osage Nation murders over oil on tribal landThis challenge comes at a hefty price for traditional film studios, at a time when tinseltown is having to find a delicate balance between squeezed costs – exacerbated by the pandemic – last year’s strikes and the challenge of tempting people away from lockdown-inspired home streaming.”Casual moviegoing, where you wait until the weekend to pick what to see, has pretty much been supplanted by streaming,” Erin Brockovich producer Michael Shamberg told Vanity Fair’s Natalie Jarvey for her aptly named article: Why Are Movies Sooooo Long? “Now when you leave your house to pay to see a movie, you want an emotional sure thing for your time and effort. You also want a bigger experience than streaming a movie in your living room,” he added.The knock-on effect of “event” cinema, increasingly tied to social media buzz, sees the industry – and cinemas themselves – reliant on goldrush titles, be it Top Gun: Maverick post-lockdown or Oppenheimer last year, to mask over the cracks of reduced pulling power. Image source, Scott Garfield/Paramount PicturesImage caption, The vast blockbuster success of Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise, was credited with helping cinema stay afloat post-Covid lockdownAnd even taking Nolan’s popularity as a director into account, the mainstream success of Oppenheimer, on paper, a three-hour historical biopic, benefitted hugely from the Barbenheimer phenomenon: an accidental marketing dream.Barbenheimer was wonderful for cinema, Murphy saysImmersive screenings can weaken films – ScorseseOutside that near one-off event, the overwhelming temptation to “go long” seems to be partially wearing thin, with cinemas, audiences and directors.Cinema chains, says Clapp, can struggle with a flurry of longer films, as this “means less screenings”, choice and ultimately tickets sold – only a fraction of which can be made up by popcorn and fizzy drinks, or luxury seating. Image source, Warner BrosImage caption, Oppenheimer was released on the same day as Barbie – inadvertently creating the Barbenheimer phenomenon”We would never want to dictate creative licence, but there’s a desire amongst a proportion of the audience for a break,” he says, pointing to the potential for intermissions, and their confectionary window.Cinema chain Vue was among a handful worldwide to forgo distribution agreements and trial intervals during Killers of the Flower Moon. “Analysis showed customers would like to see the return of intermissions,” Vue’s chief executive, Tim Richards, told The Guardian last October. “We’ve seen 74% positive feedback from those who have tried our interval.”Clapp describes it as a “live debate” especially with intermissions remaining in other global markets. “The concern is that wherever you drop the curtain, so to speak, you’ll kill the narrative structure, but this doesn’t need to be the case with careful planning – arguably people getting up midway through a film causes more disruption,” he says.Image source, Universal PicturesImage caption, Oppenheimer’s runtime revived debate about audience intermissions, but Robert Downey Jr. also noted Nolan’s strictness about cast toilet breaks on setScorsese, for his part, urged viewers to show “commitment” to cinema, lambasting complaints in light of TV binge-watching at home.”You can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours… there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours … give cinema some respect,” he told Hindustan Times.But not every director agrees. As Holdovers’ mastermind Alexander Payne bemoaned: “There are too many damn long movies these days.” Lengthy runtimes, he added, should always be “the shortest possible version”.For Nolan, the relationship with the audience remains foremost in his mind: “I view myself as the audience. I make the films that I would really… want to watch,” he told BBC Culture editor Katie Razzall.For younger audiences however, frequently cast as rejecting long-form viewing in the age of TikTok and YouTube shorts, Nolan’s epics – often near three hours – should not appeal.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dune director Denis Villeneuve says younger audiences “crave meaningful content” over shorter runtimesBut Dune director Denis Villeneuve says Oppenheimer’s success proves the opposite. He argues younger audiences value watching and paying for longer films, provided they offer “something substantial”. “They are craving meaningful content,” he told The Times.Dune: Part Two, released last week, outlasts the original film’s 155-minute runtime by ten minutes, providing five hours of desert adventure in total.One nationwide chain, Showcase Cinemas, offered both instalments back-to-back across the opening night. Hopefully there was an intermission. Related TopicsStreamingBafta AwardsThe OscarsBritish cinemaFilmCinemasMore on this story17 facts you need to know about this year’s OscarsPublished23 hours agoBarbie misses key Oscar nods for Gerwig and RobbiePublished23 JanuaryBarbenheimer was wonderful for cinema, Murphy saysPublished7 FebruaryLily Gladstone: The actress who could make Oscars historyPublished30 JanuaryCan anything stop Oppenheimer’s march to the Oscars?Published14 January10 things we spotted in the Oscars class photoPublished13 FebruaryTop StoriesLive. Hunt hails National Insurance cut but Reeves says people still worse offWarning of almost 20 years of pay stagnationPublished13 minutes agoRust film armourer guilty over shooting deathPublished6 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourBudget: Key points at a glanceWho will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceThe world’s largest robots are setting sailDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Elsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust film armourer guilty over shooting death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3The world’s largest robots are setting sail4Budget: Key points at a glance5Australian charged over high-profile disappearance6Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour7Lives at risk due to Clare’s Law delays – daughter8Hottest February marks ninth new monthly record9Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case10Body search case police speak to killer in Trinidad

[ad_1] Actor Hugh Grant recently questioned film runtimes – but have they changed and if so, why?

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrump challenges Biden to debates ‘anytime’ after Super Tuesday winsPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image source, Getty ImagesBy Max MatzaBBC NewsDonald Trump has challenged Joe Biden to TV debates, as the rivals hurtle towards a White House rematch following their sweep of the Super Tuesday votes.The Republican said he would take part in a TV forum with the Democratic president “anytime, anywhere, anyplace” posting online in all capital letters.Mr Biden’s campaign said Mr Trump was “thirsty for attention and struggling to expand his appeal”.No debates have so far been agreed ahead of November’s election.Mr Trump’s challenge came hours after his last Republican rival, Nikki Haley, dropped out of the race to be the Republican nominee for the White House. Key takeaways from Super Tuesday results Who will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?Super Tuesday results in full”It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People,” Mr Trump posted on his social media website, Truth Social, hours after Ms Haley’s departure from the race. He added that such debates could be run by the Democratic National Committee, or the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has overseen presidential debates for the last 30 years. Mr Trump said the debate commission – which declares itself non-partisan, but is accused by conservatives of bias – was a “subsidiary” of the Democratic party.Mr Trump, 77, has repeatedly claimed Mr Biden, 81, is too old and forgetful to debate him. Mr Biden has in turn suggested it is Mr Trump who is senile.The White House press secretary was asked earlier on Wednesday whether refusing a debate could cast doubt on Mr Biden’s “acuity”. She suggested the reporter speak to the president’s re-election campaign.The Biden campaign did not say whether he would participate in a debate against Mr Trump, and instead suggested that the Republican tune in to the president’s Thursday evening State of the Union address to Congress. “That’s a conversation we’ll have at the appropriate time in this cycle,” said Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: The state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank”If he’s so desperate to see President Biden in primetime, he doesn’t have to wait! He can join the tens of millions of Americans who will tune in to watch the State of the Union tomorrow night,” he continued.On Wednesday, Mr Trump also said that he would watch the State of the Union and “will correct, in rapid response” Mr Biden’s speech. Mr Trump was fiercely criticised after he refused to take part in TV debates with his Republican rivals for the party’s White House nomination this election cycle.He argued at the time that he had nothing to gain from such forums, citing his wide lead in the polls. Mr Biden and Mr Trump debated each other twice during the 2020 election. More on the US electionExplained: A simple guide to the US 2024 electionAnalysis: Where Biden v Trump will be won and lostPolicies: What a Trump second term would look likeEconomy: Voters feel better – will that help Biden?Recap: The Trump life story to dateRelated TopicsUS election 2024Donald TrumpUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyKey takeaways from Super Tuesday resultsPublished14 hours agoWho will Haley voters support in Trump-Biden election?Published10 hours agoTop StoriesLive. Hunt to face BBC questions after Budget that cut National InsuranceChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished5 hours agoRust film armourer guilty over shooting deathPublished4 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The world’s largest robots are setting sail’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpElsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust film armourer guilty over shooting death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3Australian charged over high-profile disappearance4The world’s largest robots are setting sail5Budget: Key points at a glance6Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour7Hottest February marks ninth new monthly record8Lives at risk due to Clare’s Law delays – daughter9Three killed in Houthi attack on ship – US military10Police feared ‘brummie’ accent bias in new call bot

[ad_1] Donald Trump says he is ready to go toe-to-toe. The Biden camp says the Republican is “thirsty for attention”.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentMore climate records fall in world’s warmest FebruaryPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsClimateImage source, Getty ImagesBy Mark PoyntingClimate and environment researcher, BBC NewsLast month was the world’s warmest February in modern times, the EU’s climate service says, extending the run of monthly records to nine in a row.Each month since June 2023 has seen new temperature highs for the time of year.The world’s sea surface is at its hottest on record, while Antarctic sea-ice has again reached extreme lows.Temperatures are still being boosted by the Pacific’s El Niño weather event, but human-caused climate change is by far the main driver of the warmth.”Heat-trapping greenhouse gases are unequivocally the main culprit,” stresses Prof Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization.Carbon dioxide concentrations are at their highest level for at least two million years, according to the UN’s climate body, and increased by near-record levels again over the past year.Those warming gases helped make February 2024 about 1.77C warmer than “pre-industrial” times – before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels – according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This breaks the previous record, from 2016, by around 0.12C.These temperatures saw particularly severe heat afflict western Australia, southeast Asia, southern Africa and South America. The 12-month average now sits at 1.56C above pre-industrial levels – after the first year-long breach of 1.5C warming was confirmed last month.Back in 2015 in Paris, nearly 200 countries agreed to try to keep the rise in warming under 1.5C, to help avoid some of the worst climate impacts. That threshold in the Paris agreement is generally accepted to mean a 20-year average – so it hasn’t yet been broken – but the relentless string of records illustrates how close the world is getting to doing so.A really simple guide to climate changeWhat is the Paris agreement and why does 1.5C matter?Oceans and sea-ice under strainRecent records haven’t just been limited to air temperatures. Countless climate metrics are far beyond levels seen in modern times.One of the most notable is sea surface temperatures. As the graph below shows, the margin of records in recent months has been particularly striking.Researchers are keen to stress that the scale and extent of the oceanic heat is not simply a consequence of the natural weather event known as El Niño, which was declared in June 2023. “Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific clearly reflect El Niño. But sea surface temperatures in other parts of the globe have been persistently and unusually high for the past 10 months,” explains Prof Saulo.”This is worrying and cannot be explained by El Niño alone.”What are El Niño and La Niña, and how do they change the weather?Ocean warming has prompted concerns about the mass bleaching of coral reefs. It also raises global sea-levels and can help to fuel higher intensity hurricanes. Unusually warm waters may also have been a factor in another exceptional month for Antarctic sea-ice. The three lowest minimum extents in the satellite era have now occurred in the last three years.Scientists are struggling to explain exactly what’s going on. Until 2017, Antarctic sea-ice had defied predictions that it would shrink, unlike in the Arctic, where the downward trend has been much clearer. The apparent recent shift – occurring at the same time as other records are being broken around the planet – adds to concerns that Antarctic sea-ice may finally be waking up to climate change. “I don’t think you can say it’s coincidental,” Prof Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter, told BBC News. “It’s absolutely frightening. The records are just off [the] scale.” Is the world warming faster than expected?Antarctic sea-ice at ‘mind-blowing’ lowAn end to El Niño in sightThere are signs that the run of global temperature records may finally come to an end in the months ahead.The 2023-24 El Niño has been one of the five strongest such events on record, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Tuesday, but it is gradually weakening. El Niño will continue to have an effect on temperatures and weather patterns for the next few months. “We would expect [El Niño] to continue to keep 2024 temperatures elevated at least through the first half of the year,” Dr Colin Morice, a senior scientist at the UK’s Met Office Hadley Centre, told BBC News.However, a switch to neutral conditions in the Pacific is likely between April and June, according to US science body NOAA, and a further switch to the cool phase known as La Niña could then happen between June and August.This would likely put a temporary lid on global air temperatures, with a cooler sea surface in the East Pacific allowing less heat to escape and warm the air. But as long as human activities keep releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases, temperatures will continue rising in the long-term, ultimately leading to more records and extreme weather.”We know what to do – stop burning fossil fuels and replace them with more sustainable, renewable sources of energy,” says Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London.”Until we do that, extreme weather events intensified by climate change will continue to destroy lives and livelihoods.”Related TopicsAntarcticEl NiñoParis climate agreementClimateSevere weatherMore on this storyWhy is the world getting warmer?Published8 FebruaryEngland and Wales had warmest February on recordPublished5 days agoWorld breaches 1.5C warming threshold for full yearPublished8 February2023 confirmed as world’s hottest year on recordPublished9 JanuaryTop StoriesHunt cuts National Insurance and extends child benefit as election loomsPublished7 hours agoChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished4 hours ago’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advancePublished5 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The world’s largest robots are setting sail’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpElsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust armourer guilty of cinematographer’s death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3Australian charged over high-profile disappearance4’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance5The world’s largest robots are setting sail6Budget: Key points at a glance7Hunt cuts National Insurance again as election looms8Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour9Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case10Three killed in Houthi attack on ship – US military

[ad_1] It’s the ninth month of global temperature records in a row, driven by climate change and El Niño.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceOnline gambling firm Bet365 probed in AustraliaPublished12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Mariko OiBusiness reporterAustralia’s financial crime watchdog has launched an investigation into UK online gambling firm Bet365 over its compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac) had ordered an external audit of the firm in 2022.Bet365 did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.The industry has come under increased scrutiny after online betting surged in during the pandemic.”Businesses without adequate processes in place to manage those risks leave themselves vulnerable to exploitation by criminals,” said Brendan Thomas, the CEO of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac).Austrac investigates banks, casinos and betting companies to make sure they have robust compliance systems to prevent them from profiting from the proceeds of crime.Ladbrokes owner Entain has also been probed in Australia since 2022, while another rival Sportsbet is facing an external audit.Under Australian law, firms are required to assess customers and monitor their financial transactions in order to identify, mitigate and manage the risk that they might be engaging in money laundering or financing terrorism.Any companies found by Austrac to have weak compliance systems could be fined.In recent years the watchdog has hit major lenders Westpac and Commonwealth Bank with large fines for breaches of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.The online betting industry also faces other challenges in Australia such as new laws banning the use of credit cards for online gambling and stricter federal government rules on adverts.Last year, Bet365 reported a significant loss but its chief executive Denise Coates was paid around £221m.That was £7m higher than the previous year and Ms Coates also received at least £50m worth of dividends.The pay bump means that her total salary over the past four years surpassed £1bn.Ms Coates founded the Bet365 website in a portable building in a Stoke-on-Trent car park more than 20 years ago. It is now the biggest private sector employer in the UK.She is thought to be one of Britain’s richest women and among the best-paid executives in the world.Related TopicsSports bettingEntainMoney launderingGamblingMore on this storyBet365 boss Denise Coates’s pay jumps to £221mPublished8 January’I stole £1.3m and gambled it all away’Published1 JanuaryTop StoriesHunt cuts National Insurance and extends child benefit as election loomsPublished6 hours agoChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished3 hours ago’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advancePublished4 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The world’s largest robots are setting sail’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpElsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust armourer guilty of cinematographer’s death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3Australian charged over high-profile disappearance4’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance5The world’s largest robots are setting sail6Budget: Key points at a glance7Hunt cuts National Insurance again as election looms8Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour9Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case10Three killed in Houthi attack on ship – US military

[ad_1] The industry has come under increased scrutiny after online betting surged in during the pandemic.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlabama enacts fast-tracked law to protect IVF servicesPublished6 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Proponents of the law say it will allow families to re-start IVF treatments that were paused after the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling.By Bernd Debusmann JrBBC News, WashingtonAlabama lawmakers have passed a bill to protect in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics and doctors from lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Last month, the state’s supreme court ruled that frozen embryos had the same rights as children, and people could be held liable for destroying them.At least three IVF clinics paused treatments in the wake of the ruling, which divided Alabama’s conservatives. The new law will allow the clinics to resume services. The Alabama bill had overwhelming bipartisan support on Wednesday. It passed by a vote of 81-12 in the state’s House and 29-1 in the Senate. Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, quickly signed it into law.The measures are designed to shield IVF providers from legal action and prosecution for “damage or death of an embryo” during services. Proponents of the bill said they hoped this would allow IVF providers to re-start services. “The problem we are trying to solve right now is to get those families back on track to be moving forward as they try to have children,” state legislator Terri Collins told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. While the measure offers limited legal immunity to medical providers, it still allows – in some cases – for lawsuits to be filed against manufacturers of IVF equipment if they damage or destroy an embryo during the treatment process. ‘Fewer children will be born’: Alabama embryo ruling divides devout ChristiansWhat does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?The bill also did not weigh in on whether embryos can be legally classified as children. Alabama Democratic House minority leader Anthony Daniels told AL.com earlier on Wednesday that the bill did not sufficiently answer the question of whether embryos outside the womb are children. “Until that issue is addressed, it’s just putting a Band-Aid over something that requires stitches and surgery,” Mr Daniels said.The decision two weeks ago from the Supreme Court of Alabama stemmed from wrongful death lawsuits filed on behalf of three couples whose frozen embryos were accidentally destroyed at a clinic in 2020. The ruling sparked an immediate backlash, both in the southern state and nationally.With eight months to go until the US presidential election, President Joe Biden’s campaign has seized on the controversy. A Pew survey released last year found that 42% of Americans have either used IVF treatments or know someone who did. That percentage rises to 45% among middle-income Americans and 59% for those with high-incomes. Related TopicsRepublican PartyIVFAlabamaUnited StatesMore on this storyAlabama lawmakers race to protect providers of IVFPublished6 days agoAlabama’s legislature pushes to protect IVFPublished27 February’Fewer children will be born’: Alabama embryo ruling divides devout ChristiansPublished25 FebruaryTop StoriesHunt cuts National Insurance and extends child benefit as election loomsPublished5 hours agoChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished2 hours ago’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advancePublished3 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The world’s largest robots are setting sail’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpElsewhere on the BBCHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerThe surprising health benefits of sleeping moreCould going to sleep one hour earlier dramatically improve your mood and health?AttributionSounds’It was a song that broke all the rules’The epic story behind Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring Brian May and Roger TaylorAttributioniPlayer’If I can’t live with you, I don’t want to live anyway’The Hungarian footballer executed for loveAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust armourer guilty of cinematographer’s death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3Man arrested in high-profile Australian disappearance4The world’s largest robots are setting sail5’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance6Over 175 firefighters tackling police station fire7Budget: Key points at a glance8Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case9Hunt cuts National Insurance again as election looms10Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour

[ad_1] Its passage comes barely two weeks after a state ruling that frozen embryos are children sparked a political firestorm.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSamantha Murphy: Man arrested over disappearance of Australian womanPublished48 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Victoria PoliceImage caption, Samantha Murphy was last seen leaving her home on 4 February for a morning runBy Hannah RitchieBBC News, SydneyA man has been arrested over the disappearance of an Australian woman whose case has gripped national attention for a month.Samantha Murphy was last seen leaving her home in East Ballarat, Victoria, for a morning run on 4 February. It led to a massive search operation, but authorities have found no trace of the 51-year-old mother of three. A 22-year-old man was taken into police custody on Wednesday. He has not been charged.He was arrested at his house in Ballarat – roughly 115km (70 miles) northwest of Melbourne – said Victoria Police, adding their investigation “remains ongoing”. On the day of her disappearance, Ms Murphy was seen on security cameras in her driveway wearing a maroon running shirt and black leggings.After she failed to return that afternoon, authorities began scouring nearby areas and examining thousands of hours of CCTV footage. She was known to run in local bush areas called Canadian Forest and Mount Clear, which have been the focus of searches by hundreds of community volunteers. Ms Murphy’s phone, Apple watch and headphones – which she was carrying at the time – have not been located. Her family has continued to appeal to the public for any information regarding her case, describing her as a strong woman who would be determined to return home. “Mum we love you so much and we miss you. We need you at home with us. Please come home soon,” her daughter Jess Murphy said.Police have previously told the public they believe “another party” or “a number of people” may have been involved in the disappearance. They also warned that it was “very doubtful” that Ms Murphy was “still alive”. “Unfortunately, given the time, and the fact we have found no trace of her, we do have severe concerns,” Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Hatt told reporters on 23 February.However, detectives have also appealed for anyone who sees Ms Murphy to come forward. Related TopicsVictoriaAustraliaTop StoriesHunt cuts National Insurance and extends child benefit as election loomsPublished2 hours agoChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished20 minutes ago’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advancePublished1 hour agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceThe world’s largest robots are setting sailIs Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpGhana’s LGBT terror: ‘We live in fear of snitches’Is the tax take the highest for 70 years?Everything you need to know about the budget… and probably more. AudioEverything you need to know about the budget… and probably moreAttributionSounds’I earn £22,000. The Budget will leave me £188 better off’Elsewhere on the BBCHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerThe surprising health benefits of sleeping moreCould going to sleep one hour earlier dramatically improve your mood and health?AttributionSounds’It was a song that broke all the rules’The epic story behind Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring Brian May and Roger TaylorAttributioniPlayer’If I can’t live with you, I don’t want to live anyway’The Hungarian footballer executed for loveAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust armourer guilty of cinematographer’s death2The world’s largest robots are setting sail3Man arrested in high-profile Australian disappearance4Hunt cuts National Insurance again as election looms5Three killed in Houthi attack on ship – US military6Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case7Minister’s claim on academic cost taxpayer £15,0008K-pop star apologises after relationship goes public9Budget: Key points at a glance10Mother charged with murder of 10-year-old girl

[ad_1] Samantha Murphy has not been seen since leaving her home for a run more than a month ago.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlabama lawmakers race to protect providers of IVFPublished33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Supporters of IVF have lobbied Alabama lawmakers to act quickly to protect access to the fertility treatment in the stateBy Nadine YousifBBC NewsBoth chambers of Alabama’s legislature have voted to approve bills protecting doctors from prosecution if they damage or destroy an embryo created by in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The House and Senate need to vote on a unified bill before it can enter law. It follows a ruling by the state’s top court that frozen embryos have the same rights as children and people can be held liable for destroying them.The ruling created a legal headache for clinics, many of which pulled services.On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representative passed a bill to provide legal immunity “for death or damage to an embryo to any individual or entity” responsible for providing services related to IVF. Several hours later, the state’s Senate passed a similar measure. A unified bill could be put before both chambers for a vote by next Wednesday, before being sent to Gov Kay Ivey for her approval. Alabama’s legislature pushes to protect IVFWhat does Alabama ruling mean for fertility patients?Both bills come less than two weeks after the ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court that frozen embryos are considered children, which was met with backlash by medical experts, IVF mothers and reproductive advocacy groups. It has also divided devout Christians in the state, some of whom celebrated it as “a beautiful defence of life”, while others worried it could lead to restrictions for fertility patients who want to have children. The response has sent lawmakers scrambling to protect access to fertility treatments. It has also sparked political debates on women’s reproductive rights and how the beginning of life is defined by the state. The Republican-majority House passed its bill overwhelmingly with a vote of 94-6 after nearly three hours of debate, during which some lawmakers expressed concern that it could undermine Alabama’s status as a pro-life state.Mark Gidley, a Republican representative, said he was worried the bill is a “knee-jerk reaction” to the court ruling, and that it is important the law recognise that frozen embryos are human life.Another, Ernie Yarbough, asked if it is “possible to do IVF in a pro-life way that treats embryos as children”. Others, like Democrat representative Mary Moore, disagreed with the court’s ruling and said it is important to protect IVF treatments as they help many families who otherwise could not have children.Similar debates broke out in the state’s Senate. One senator, Republican Larry Stutts, described the issue as a “moral quandary”, but noted that discarded embryos through IVF are a “small percentage” compared to the ones that are used or kept. Lawmakers also heard from women undergoing fertility treatments, one of whom testified before a House committee that she had spent nearly $400,000 (£317,000) on IVF and that she hopes that the money was not wasted.Terri Collins, a Republican representative who initially brought the House bill forward, said her aim was to “at least keep the clinics open and the families moving forward” while lawmakers work on a longer-term solution. “This solution is for opening the clinics right away, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” she said.Related TopicsFertilityRepublican PartyIVFAlabamaMore on this storyAlabama IVF row an election-year political bombshellPublished6 days ago’Fewer children will be born’: Alabama embryo ruling divides devout ChristiansPublished4 days agoFour ways the end of Roe v Wade has changed AmericaPublished24 June 2023Top StoriesLive. Counting begins after polls close in Rochdale by-electionMore than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished5 hours agoSarah Everard killer should never have been police officer, says inquiryPublished7 hours agoFeaturesAnalysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows2Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’3’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral4TikTok singer Cat Janice dies of cancer, aged 315More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoy6At least 43 dead in Bangladesh building fire7Airport borders not working properly, report found8MP Julian Knight will face no criminal charges9Sarah killer should not have been in Met – inquiry10Horner reiterates denial after alleged messages leakAttributionSport

[ad_1] It follows a ruling by the state’s top court that frozen embryos are considered children.

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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