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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaTwo Sessions: China touts openness while tightening controlPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Premier Li Qiang – right, with President Xi Jinping – will not be giving this year’s closing speechBy Tessa WongBBC NewsAs China’s annual parliamentary sitting comes to a close after a hectic week of meetings, a glaring void looms on Monday’s final agenda.The National People’s Congress is usually capped off by the premier’s press conference. But this year, and for the rest of the term, the tradition has been mysteriously nixed.Officials have said there was no need for it given there were other opportunities for journalists to ask questions. But many observers saw it as another sign of consolidation and control, in what became a running theme for the congress, even as top officials preached openness.The cancellation of the press conference also effectively diminishes Premier Li Qiang’s profile. Though the event was scripted, it was a rare chance for foreign journalists to ask questions and gave the country’s second-in-command some room to flex his muscles.In years past, it even yielded some unexpected moments. In 2020 then-premier Li Keqiang disclosed figures that stoked debate over a government claim that they had eradicated poverty. The dimming of the spotlight on the premier, along with a shorter congress this year, are all signs of ongoing structural change within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) where President Xi Jinping is increasingly accumulating power at the expense of other individuals and institutions, noted Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore who studies Chinese governance.But to the outside world, the party is keen on projecting a different kind of image as it battles dwindling foreign investor confidence and a general malaise in its economy.Addressing international journalists last week, foreign minister Wang Yi insisted China was still an attractive place to invest in and do business. “China remains strong as an engine for growth. The ‘next China’ is still China,” he said, before citing ways in which “China is opening its door wider”. Who is China’s new foreign minister Wang Yi?Can a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?This year’s economic blueprint, delivered by Mr Li at the start of the session, laid out plans to open up more areas to foreign investment and reducing market access restrictions in sectors such as manufacturing and services.These moves come after foreign investors were spooked by recent anti-espionage and data protection laws, as well as several sudden high-profile detentions of Chinese and foreign businessmen. Foreign direct investment in China recently fell to a 30-year low.”There are fewer political checks and balances, there is no transparency. This is the bigger concern for investors… you cannot predict what’s going to happen, so you avoid the risk,” said Dr Wu.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared China was “opening its doors wider”But last week Mr Wang dismissed such concerns. “Spreading pessimistic views on China will end up harming oneself. Misjudging China will result in missed opportunities,” he said, as he focused on talking up China’s prospects.Both Mr Wang and Mr Li repeatedly used buzzwords like “high quality development” and “new productive forces” to signal a new stage in China’s development, though neither fully explained what they meant. China is aiming to hit an ambitious goal of around 5% GDP growth this year. “Beijing is changing how it opens to the world,” said Neil Thomas, a fellow in Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute.He said it is now focused on attracting high-end foreign technology and advanced manufacturing operations to help Chinese companies in key future industries. “Foreign investment and trade are less important for China’s economy than they once were, but Beijing still wants to avoid a rush to the exits that could further shake its growth prospects.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, China is focusing on boosting its high-end technology sectorAt the same time, officials were keen to emphasise the government’s ultimate goal.”Stability is of overall importance, as it is the basis for everything we do,” said Mr Li. Elsewhere in his report, he made it clear that while China pursues growth, it would also prioritise greater national security.Some may question how successfully China can achieve a thriving open economy while increasing control. But “from Beijing’s perspective, there is no contradiction between high-quality development, especially with foreign investment, and greater security needs,” said Jacob Gunter, lead analyst with Merics specialising in China’s economy.For instance, when it comes to critical technologies where Chinese firms have yet to catch up, it would want to ensure as much of it as possible is produced within its borders, pointed out Mr Gunter. This reduces the risk of rivals – such as the US and its allies – stealing the technology or blocking their exports to China.Beijing also signalled it would continue to clamp down on problematic areas in its economy, such as the floundering real estate sector and ballooning local government debts. Mr Li promised more measures to defuse financial risks and improve supervision, and pledged to crack down on illegal financial activities. While these problems have existed for several years, “the debt levels and size of the property bubble have gotten big enough that they have to solve it now and can’t back off”, said Mr Gunter.”The economy is performing really poorly right now. The fact that they haven’t gone back to kicking this can down the road signals this is a longer term priority and not something they will back off on.”Related TopicsXi JinpingAsiaChinaCommunist Party of ChinaMore on this storyCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?Published7 days agoChina sets ambitious economic target for 2024Published5 days agoXi arrives in US as his Chinese Dream sputtersPublished15 November 2023Belt and Road: Is China’s trillion-dollar gamble worth it?Published17 October 2023Do China’s vanishing officials spell trouble for Xi?Published22 September 2023Who is China’s new foreign minister Wang Yi?Published26 July 2023How a diplomat’s downfall leaves China red-facedPublished27 July 2023Top StoriesPalace faces questions as news agencies withdraw Kate’s Mother’s Day imagePublished59 minutes agoLive. 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[ad_1] China’s pushed duelling narratives of openness and control at the National People’s Congress.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIDF completes road across width of Gaza, satellite images showPublished9 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, עכשיו 14Image caption, Some of the work taking place in Gaza to build a new road as seen in the Israeli Channel 14 video uploaded to YouTube on 17 FebruaryBy Abdirahim Saeed, Tom Spencer, Paul Brown & Richard Irvine-BrownBBC Arabic & BBC VerifyThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has finished building a new road which runs across northern Gaza from east to west, according to satellite images verified by the BBC. The IDF told the BBC they were attempting to gain an “operational foothold”, and facilitate the movement of troops and equipment. But some experts fear it will used as a barrier, preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes in the north.Others said it appeared to be part of an Israeli plan to remain in Gaza beyond the end of current hostilities.In February, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a post-war vision in which Israel would control security in Gaza indefinitely. International leaders have previously warned Israel against permanently displacing Palestinians or reducing the size of Gaza. What do we know about the road?It runs across north Gaza, with central and southern areas lying below it. It starts at Gaza’s border fence with Israel near the Nahal Oz kibbutz and finishes near the coast.It also intersects with the Salah al-Din and al-Rashid roads, the two major arteries running through the territory. Although there is a network of roads which connect east and west, the new IDF route is the only one which runs uninterrupted across Gaza.Satellite imagery analysis by the BBC reveals that the IDF has built over 5km (3 miles) of new road sections to join up previously unconnected roads.The initial section of the road in eastern Gaza near the Israeli border was established between late last October and early November. But most of the new sections were built during February and in early March.The new route is wider than a typical road in Gaza, excluding Salah al-Din. Imagery analysis also shows that buildings along the route, which appear to be warehouses, were demolished from the end of December until late January. This includes one building several stories high. The road spans an area which previously had fewer buildings and was less densely populated than other parts of Gaza. It also sits below a makeshift and winding route which the IDF had been using to move from east to west.An Israeli TV channel reported on the route in February, saying it was code named “Highway 749”. A reporter from Channel 14 travelled along parts of the route with the Israeli military. In the video, road construction vehicles and diggers were seen preparing for the construction of new sections of the route.How ‘Highway 749’ could be usedAnalysts at Janes, a defence intelligence company, said the type of unpaved road surface seen in the Channel 14 footage, was suitable for tracked armoured vehicles.The IDF did not go into this type of detail in its statement. “As part of the ground operation, the IDF uses an operational route of passage,” it said.Retired Brig Gen Jacob Nagel, former head of Israel’s National Security Council and a former security adviser to Mr Netanyahu, told BBC Arabic that the objective of the new route was to provide fast access for security forces when dealing with fresh threats.”It will help Israel go in and out… because Israel is going to have total defence, security and responsibility for Gaza,” he told BBC Arabic.He described it as “a road that divides the northern part from the southern part”.”We don’t want to wait until a threat is emerging,” he added.Maj Gen Yaakov Amidror, formerly of the IDF, had a similar view. The primary purpose of the new road was to “facilitate logistical and military control in the region”, he said.Image source, עכשיו 14Image caption, The Gaza coastline lies in the distance while the Hebrew white text reads ‘All the way west into the Gaza Strip’Justin Crump, a former British Army officer who runs Sibylline, a risk intelligence company, said the new route was significant.”It certainly looks like it’s part of a longer-term strategy to have at least some form of security intervention and control in the Gaza Strip,” said Mr Crump.”This area cuts off Gaza City from the south of the strip, making it an effective control line to monitor or limit movement, and has relatively open fields of fire.”Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the US-based Middle East Institute, also thinks the road is a long-term project.”It appears that the Israeli military will remain in Gaza indefinitely,” he told the BBC.”By dividing Gaza in half, Israel will control not only what goes in and out of Gaza, but also movement within Gaza,” said the analyst.”This includes quite possibly preventing the 1.5 million displaced Palestinians in the south from returning to their homes in the north.”Additional reporting by Paul Cusiac, Alex Murray & Erwan Rivault Related TopicsIsrael-Gaza warMore on this storyWhat video and eyewitness accounts tell us about Gazans killed around aid convoyPublished1 MarchChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersPublished29 FebruaryWalled site grows at Egypt border near GazaPublished22 FebruaryTop StoriesFirst official picture of Kate since surgery releasedPublished10 minutes agoLive. Labour won’t be able to turn things around straight away, Rachel Reeves saysUS military ship heading to Gaza to build portPublished6 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gove’s extremism warning and Johnson in trip to VenezuelaGaza war fuels Jerusalem fears as Ramadan to beginIs Europe doing enough to help Ukraine?Your pictures on the theme of ‘speed’The people keeping the historic foot ferry afloatHow China’s boarding schools are silencing Tibet’s languageMan behind viral fake currency shocked by its successApple ‘like Godfather’ with new App Store rulesWhat a $1 deal says about America’s office marketElsewhere on the BBCHair-pulling, punching and kickingFootage from the moment a brawl erupts in the Maldives ParliamentAttributioniPlayerExploring the mysterious deaths of Nazi fugitivesThree brothers investigate whether a family connection may explain the truthAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan they take on an elite boarding school?Five black inner-city teens must leave their old worlds behind…AttributioniPlayerMost Read1First official picture of Kate since surgery released2Doctor reveals how ‘brutal’ therapy tackled Rhod Gilbert’s cancer3Johnson flew to Venezuela for unofficial talks4King gives Scotland’s top honour to Prince Edward5Man arrested after Buckingham Palace gate crash6What a $1 deal says about America’s office market7IDF completes road across Gaza, satellite images show8Gove’s extremism warning and Johnson in trip to Venezuela9Attack victims hit out at extremism in open letter10Earl Spencer reveals abuse at boarding school

[ad_1] The IDF says it is to facilitate troop movements but experts fear it could be used as a barrier.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSouth Africa’s ANC pitches for votes as majority threatenedPublished27 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa had made a lot of progress in the 30 years of democracyBy Damian ZaneBBC News, JohannesburgSouth Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) has launched its manifesto for the May elections, in which some some polls suggest its share of the vote could fall below 50% for the first time.President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed thousands of supporters at a rally in KwaZulu-Natal province.The area will be a key battleground.Dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, public services and corruption has eaten away at ANC support.The party of Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle against the racist apartheid system and oversaw the transition to democracy in 1994, has been the dominant force for the last 30 years.But stubbornly high unemployment, which now stands at more than 32%, frequent power cuts and high crime levels, among other issues, have led some to turn away from the ANC.There are challenges coming from the right, in the form of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), and the more radical left with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).Image source, ReutersImage caption, Nelson Mandela’s contribution to ending apartheid and serving as the first democratically elected president is still well rememberedKwaZulu-Natal is also the home of former President Jacob Zuma, disenchanted with the party and now suspended from the ANC. He has thrown his weight behind a new formation – uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) – which has already made some small inroads at byelections in the province.Speaking at a stadium in the city of Durban, with the crowd decked out in the ANC’s black, green and gold, President Ramaphosa promised that “we will do better”.It was an acknowledgement that there are problems, but he also emphasised the transformation that the country has made in the last three decades.”South Africans are more educated, empowered and healthier than they were under apartheid,” he said, urging people not to threaten that progress.Looking forward, his party promises to create 2.5 million “work opportunities”. It also pledges to boost investment and support the private sector as well as “eradicate corruption”.In his introduction to the manifesto, the president also wrote that “there are forces that seek to use this election to undo the progress of democracy. It is crucial that together we defend our hard-won freedom.”He did not name those “forces” but the ANC knows it faces its toughest electoral environment yet.Since 1994, it has polled consistently above 50% in national elections, enabling it to run the country without challenge. But with some opinion polls showing that that support has dipped below an absolute majority, South Africa is facing the possibility of a coalition government after the 29 May general election.Image source, ReutersImage caption, DA leader John Steenhuisen said last week that he had a blueprint to rescue South AfricaIn its party manifesto launched last week, the DA, under the leadership of John Steenhuisen, had a simple message: “Our country is in crisis.”It has promised to create two million new jobs, end the power cuts and halve violent crime. The DA wants a more liberal economic approach, including introducing privatisation, especially in the energy sector.On the opposite end of the political spectrum, the EFF’s diagnosis is that the ANC has failed to dismantle the economic system that existed under apartheid.Instead, the governing party has “reproduced and worsened apartheid economic inequalities”, the EFF’s high-profile leader Julius Malema wrote in his introduction to its manifesto.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Julius Malema’s EFF has said it wants to transform the economy and put more wealth into the hands of ordinary South AfricansThe EFF’s answer is to expropriate land without compensation and nationalise the “mines, banks and other strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation”.That wealth would then be used to benefit the majority of the population.The MK has not yet released its manifesto, but at the party’s launch last December Mr Zuma said the ANC had moved away from its roots and it was now his mission to “rescue” the “once-great movement”.There are more than 300 parties registered with the electoral commission, and though not all will necessarily take part in the May vote the stage is set for three months of hard campaigning.Related TopicsAfrican National CongressCyril RamaphosaSouth AfricaMore on this storyMurders, hitmen and South Africa’s electionPublished3 December 2023South Africa boosts welfare grants ahead of May pollPublished3 days agoSouth Africa country profilePublished24 July 2023Top StoriesLive. ‘You can’t destroy our dreams’ says Zelensky as war in Ukraine enters third yearKing praises Ukraine’s ‘determination and strength’Published1 hour agoKhan criticises PM for failing to condemn MP’s remarksPublished16 minutes agoFeaturesHow a gay TV drama changed people’s livesThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? 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[ad_1] Since 1994, it has polled consistently above 50% in national elections, enabling it to run the country without challenge. But with some opinion polls showing that that support has…

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaJohn Hlophe: South Africa’s parliament impeaches top judgePublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, John Hlophe, seen here in 2009, was accused of trying to influence judges at the country’s top courtBy Kyle ZeemanBBC News, JohannesburgIn a historic move, South Africa’s parliament has impeached one of the country’s top judges for misconduct.An investigation found that John Hlophe, the leading judge in Western Cape province, tried to influence justices at the country’s top court in a case relating to former President Jacob Zuma.He approached two justices in 2008 to see if they would support Mr Zuma in a decision relating to a corruption case.Mr Hlophe always denied the accusation.The long delay between the alleged offence and his impeachment was a result of a lengthy appeals and investigations.The removal of a judge is unprecedented since the start of the country’s democratic era in 1994.A second judge, Nkola Motata, was also impeached for disorderly conduct and racial outbursts relating to a 2007 drunk-driving accident. Mr Motata, who has since retired, was a High Court judge in Gauteng province at the time of the incident.He also denied the accusation.President Cyril Ramaphosa will now have to sign-off the decision and set a date for their formal removal.The judges will then lose all benefits, including a lifetime monthly salary worth over 1m rand ($53,000; £42,000), a car allowance and comprehensive medical care.Mr Hlophe was the first to be impeached on Wednesday evening with MPs voting by the required two-thirds majority. The decision was backed by the governing African National Congress (ANC) as well as the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) plus other minor parties.A last-ditch attempt by Mr Hlophe to halt his possible removal was thrown out by a court just hours earlier.His impeachment was quickly followed by that of Mr Motata.An investigation by an oversight body, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), found that in 2008 Mr Hlophe had made contact with two of the eleven judges of the Constitutional Court in an attempt to sway a ruling in Mr Zuma’s favour relating to a matter in his arms-deal corruption case.Mr Zuma has denied the corruption allegations and there is no suggestion that he had anything to do with Mr Hlophe’s actions.Neither impeached judges have responded to the MPs’ decisions, but Mr Hlophe had argued in court papers that the role of parliament was not simply to rubber stamp findings by the JSC but to do its own investigation.ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the party welcomed parliament’s decision, while the DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach said her party felt vindicated after “years of the ANC government dragging its feet” on the judges’ removal.”We may have waited 15 years for this moment, but the impeachment of Judge Hlophe, or any judge, has profound implications for judicial integrity in South Africa. It underscores the importance of upholding the highest ethical standards, the rule of law, and the constitution among judicial officers.”It also sends a clear message that no-one, regardless of their position or influence, is above the law,” Ms Breytenbach said.Opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters voted against the impeachments, with MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane arguing that the judges were remorseful and should be allowed to live the rest of their lives in peace.”Can we let Judge Motata, in his misjudgement, be left to enjoy his retirement at home. We know that Hlophe was highly qualified and did his work with dignity. Punish this ANC government,” she told parliament, to cheers from her party’s benches.Lawyer and the co-ordinator of advocacy group Judges Matter, Alison Tilley, told the BBC the removals were an important moment in the country’s history.”It has taken time but it shows the systems to hold the judiciary to account do work. There are mechanisms that are now in place that give us confidence that a similar process would not take as long.”Related TopicsSouth AfricaMore on this storySouth Africa country profilePublished24 July 2023Top StoriesLive. SNP’s Flynn says he has no confidence in Speaker after Commons chaosWhat does the Speaker of the House of Commons do?Published1 hour agoRosenberg: How two years of war have changed RussiaPublished6 hours agoFeaturesHroza, Ukraine’s village of orphansSahil Omar: The real story behind a fake criminalFamily share memories of Kenya’s marathon legendThe Papers: ‘Fury in Commons’ and ‘King’s tears’How AI is helping the search for extraterrestrial lifeWhy US politicians are on a pilgrimage to Taiwan’Recovering from food addiction is like walking a tiger’Olivia Colman on why sweary letters were original trollingMoment giant Antarctica drone takes off. VideoMoment giant Antarctica drone takes offElsewhere on the BBCFive geological wonders from around the worldFrom the very tip of the North Pole to the southernmost point of the AmericasAttributionBitesizeWhich classic did Elbow cover?The band join the BBC Concert Orchestra in Radio 2’s Piano RoomAttributionSounds’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsA tasty swap that could really improve our healthMichael discovers the benefits of incorporating wholegrains into our dietAttributionSoundsMost Read1Footballer Dani Alves guilty of nightclub rape2Warning over flooding as heavy rain lashes UK3Grandmother died from ‘unsurvivable’ XL bully bite4Kremlin lashes out after Biden aims barb at Putin5Rosenberg: How two years of war have changed Russia6Police force ‘failed’ women who were killed7Regulator sorry for past disciplining of gay doctors8First alopecia treatment recommended on the NHS9What does the Speaker of the House of Commons do?10Respect the menopause or face being sued, firms told

[ad_1] “We may have waited 15 years for this moment, but the impeachment of Judge Hlophe, or any judge, has profound implications for judicial integrity in South Africa. It underscores…

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaWhy India’s law against cheating could be ineffectivePublished59 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, DipankarImage caption, Students have smuggled in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight securityBy Nikhila HenryBBC News, DelhiIndia’s parliament has passed a stringent new law to prevent cheating in exams for government jobs and admission to public colleges. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 – which was passed on Tuesday – carries a jail sentence of three to 10 years for those who facilitate cheating. It also carries a fine ranging between 1 million rupees ($12,040; £9,551) and 10 million rupees. The new law does not impose penalties directly on test takers; instead, their punishments will be determined by the rules set forth by their respective testing authorities.A jobs crisis in India is driving workers to IsraelThe law will be applicable to most exams conducted by the federal government and its test agencies. All offences are non-bailable and will be investigated by senior police officials.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has said the act will bring “greater transparency, fairness and credibility” as it is the first federal legislation to prevent malpractices in examinations. But critics argue that severe punishment alone won’t effectively address the issue, noting instances of cheating and impersonation already punishable under India’s criminal laws.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aspirants protesting against exam paper leaks in India”The new law could prove to be ineffective because coaching centres collude with students to help them pass entrance examination,” says Ghanta Chakrapani, former chairman of a state-run organisation which recruits people for state government jobs. In 2022, India’s top investigative agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arrested a Russian hacker for reportedly breaching the entrance exam for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The hacker allegedly worked for a coaching institute. Cheating is prevalent in India due to the intensely competitive nature of government jobs and top college admission tests, where millions vie for a limited number of positions.Cheating plagues India jobs coveted by millionsFor the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam, the entrance test for the federal civil service, over a million people applied last year for just over 1,000 job vacancies. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), which determines admissions to IITs, sees tens of thousands of applicants annually for just over 15,000 available seats.In response to exam manipulation, several states have implemented laws to curb cheating. Rajasthan enacted an anti-cheating law two years ago, while Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have had such laws since 1998 and 1997, respectively. Last year, Gujarat and Uttarakhand also introduced laws to prevent cheating.Despite the existence of these laws, cheating cases have persisted in each of these states until recently, indicating their limited effectiveness.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aspirants waiting to appear for civil service exams in DelhiIndia also reports question paper leaks periodically, leading to cancellation of exams. An investigation by The Indian Express newspaper had found 41 documented cases of question paper leaks in job recruitment exams across 15 states over the last five years.However, “high quantum of punishment cannot be a one stop solution for the cheating menace,” says Jacob Punnoose who worked as a top ranking officer in the Indian police service before his retirement. Cheating can be prevented by tightening security at examination centres, Mr Punnoose says. “It’s possible to use mass surveillance digital technology to prevent cheating by just monitoring students who take the examination.” Indians caught ‘cheating’ in examsIndia, however, has reported an emerging trend of young candidates using inventive and mischievous ways of cheating using digital technology. In Rajasthan some used slippers with embedded Bluetooth devices to share test answers with accomplices outside the examination hall. Recently, 30 candidates were arrested in Tamil Nadu for using Bluetooth earphones to cheat in an Indian customs service examination, reports say.Laws targeting cheating have proven ineffective, partly due to “organised criminals” with influential connections disrupting examinations, say experts. People who facilitate cheating often have political ties. In Karnataka, a police recruitment exam was investigated last year as a governing party leader was accused of facilitating mass cheating at an examination centre, resulting in over 65 arrests.In India, disputes over public examination results can linger for years. Two years ago, violent protests erupted over alleged inaccuracies in the results of a railway recruitment test, leading to the suspension of the exam. Some 700,000 candidates were shortlisted for just over 35,200 posts in this exam.”The new law does not make it difficult to cheat. It just makes those caught, face stringent punishment,” Mr Chakrapani says. 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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureGrammys 2024: The highs, lows and why Taylor Swift won album of the yearPublished27 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsGrammy AwardsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, SZA was one of the big winners at the 2024 Grammy AwardBy Mark SavageBBC Music CorrespondentThe 2024 Grammy Awards ended with a bang: Taylor Swift taking home her fourth album of the year trophy.It cements her position as the one of the greatest songwriters of her era – although she was gracious enough to use her speech to praise fellow nominee Lana Del Rey, calling her “a legend in her prime” who has set the agenda for an entire generation of female artists.Despite Taylor taking the main title, it was a fairly even-handed night by Grammy standards. Favoured nominees like Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, SZA and Boygenius all went home with multiple prizes, while the best new artist went to R&B star Victoria Monét – the first time a female R&B act has scooped that award since Alicia Keys in 2002.Taylor Swift makes history at the Grammy AwardsGrammy Awards: The main winners and nomineesGrammy Awards red carpet and ceremony in picturesAlong the way, there were plenty of surprise appearances (Celine Dion!) and show-stopping performances (Burna Boy, Dua Lipa). Here are the highlights, lowlights and takeaways from “music’s biggest night”.TAKEAWAY: Taylor Swift wasn’t just recognised for her musicImage source, ReutersBy any metric, it’s an incredible feat: Taylor Swift has won album of the year three times more than The Beatles, two more than Adele and one more than Stevie Wonder.In fact, she’s won the prize more than anyone. Ever.Her latest honour is for 2022’s Midnights – a hazy, dream-scrubbed collection of songs about the late-night obsessions.At the time of release, it was not her best-received album. And for that reason, many people thought R&B star SZA or indie band Boygenius were more likely to win.But the Grammys aren’t simply about musical merit, and Swift is currently in the middle of an imperial phase. Her Eras tour has broken box office records, boosted local economies, prompted a government inquiry into Ticketmaster and even caused seismic activity. The singer has also been named Time Magazine’s person of the year, while her romance with Travis Kelce brought new eyes to American football.It’s hard to argue against her cultural dominance – but it all stems from the music.That’s a factor the Recording Academy’s 11,000 voters will have been keenly aware of. They take songwriting incredibly seriously, which means they take Swift – who exists at the crossroads of commercial success and sonic innovation – seriously as well. So her fourth Grammy win was all but inevitable, even if your preferred Taylor Swift album is Folklore (correct answer), 1989 (also acceptable) or Lover (we need to have words).HIGHLIGHT: A standing ovation for Joni MitchellImage source, ReutersJoni Mitchell’s music is like a language of its own. It’s raw, magical, almost painfully beautiful.But over the past 10 years, the singer was almost robbed of language after a life-threatening brain aneurysm. Following intensive rehabilitation, she returned to the stage in 2022 at the Newport Folk Festival – and a recording of that concert earned the singer the Grammy for best folk album on Sunday night.Mitchell followed that up with a performance of Both Sides Now, supported by musicians Brandi Carlile and Jacob Collier. At first, her voice seemed to catch – but as the song continued, she settled into a rich, dusky vocal tone. “They say, Joni, you’ve changed,” she sang, adapting the lyrics to the occasion. “Well something’s lost, but something’s gained / In living every day.”Rich with experience, and laden with significance, the performance was exceptionally moving. It rightly brought the crowd to their feet.LOWLIGHT: Travis Scott vs some chairsImage source, ReutersFor one of rap’s most physically intense performers, Travis Scott’s set was mystifyingly boring. The star performed a medley of My Eyes, I Know? and Fein (key lyric: “Fein, fein, fein, fein, fein, fein”) shrouded in shadow, while a dancer wandered around looking for something to do.There was a brief frisson when Playboi Carti joined him on stage in a burst of pyrotechnics, but it all fizzled out with Scott flinging around plastic chairs like a refugee from a 1980s wrestling match.HIGHLIGHT: Jay-Z goes off scriptImage source, ReutersI say off-script, but I’m not sure Jay-Z even prepared a script. Honoured with something called the Dr Dre Global Impact Award, the rapper used his allotted time to deliver a wide-ranging ramble about the Grammys in general. Straight off the bat, he reminisced about using one of his previous Grammy Awards as a “sippy cup” for his daughter Blue Ivy, who this time accompanied him to the stage.”Blue’s grown up now,” he added. “She doesn’t take a sippy cup and she has her own Grammys.”But he didn’t stop there. He joked about boycotting the 1998 Grammys because his friend DMX had been snubbed. And then he went for the jugular – bringing up Beyoncé.Famously, his wife has more Grammys than anyone in history, with 32 in total. But for all that apparent love, the big prizes have eluded her. Of the 16 times she’s been nominated in the major categories, she has won just once: song of the year for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) in 2010.”I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year,” said Jay-Z. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that.”HIGHLIGHT: Boygenius’s childhood ambitions Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Boygenius (L-R): Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien BakerAlt-rock supergroup Boygenius were also triple winners, for their debut album The Record, which updates the classic 1970s California rock sound with an emphasis on harmony, friendship and feminism.”We were all delusional enough as kids to think this might happen to us,” said Lucy Dacus, picking up their first prize – best rock performance for the song Not Strong Enough.”Phoebe [Bridgers] would sing at the Guitar Center, hoping that she would get discovered. Julien [Baker] wanted to play sold out stadiums. And I would practice writing an acceptance speech, and thank all the people who’d been nice to me – like my bus driver and the guy that held the door at church. “So I feel kind of like a kid, because that was the last time that something like this felt possible.”TAKEWAY: Women “stepped up”, but there’s more to doImage source, Rex FeaturesFemale artists thoroughly dominated this year, taking home all the major prizes and plenty more besides. Kylie Minogue won best pop dance recording, and South Africa’s Tyla (pictured) picked up the inaugural award for best African performance. Meanwhile, the formerly testosterone-soaked rock and alternative categories were dominated by Paramore (led by Hayley Williams) and Boygenius.It’s a reflection of a year in which women were incredibly successful in the charts, and a significant change for the Grammys. As recently as 2018, the ceremony was embroiled in controversy when former chairman Neil Portnow said women needed “to step up” if they wanted a nomination.So has the gap been closed? Far from it. By some counts, only 20% of artists signed to a major record label are female. Last year, only 19.5% of all songwriters across the Billboard Hot 100 songs were women. “What we want is to be seen as equals, not just on the creative side but on the business side,” said Dua Lipa on the red carpet. “We’re still figuring that out but it’s getting there slowly.”HIGHLIGHT: Billy Joel’s brutal honestyImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Billy Joel attended the ceremony with his wife Alexis RoderickSix-time Grammy winner Billy Joel was back at the ceremony this year to perform Turn The Lights Back On – his first new song in almost two decades. Speaking on the red carpet, he explained why it had taken so long to put pen to paper.”I gotta go into my cave and become a caveman,” he told CBS news. “It’s not a fun process for me. It’s very self-centred. It’s very lonely. And sometimes it’s torture. But afterwards, I love having written.”Joel added that he was surprised to be invited back to the Grammys after his last performance in 1994.Back then, he stopped his performance of River Of Dreams mid-song in protest at Frank Sinatra’s speech being cut short earlier in the show.”I looked at my watch and I said, ‘There is a lot of valuable advertising time going by here’,” he recalled. “I stopped for a long time… So they still might be mad at me for that.”HIGHLIGHT: Tracy Chapman joining Luke CombsImage source, ReutersIn a major coup for the Grammys, Tracy Chapman made her return to the stage to duet with country star Luke Combs.The singer, who had a run of successful albums in the 1980s and 1990s, has largely avoided the spotlight since her last tour in 2009.But she was tempted back after Combs covered her signature song Fast Car – a haunting folk-rock story about trying to escape poverty – and took it back into the US top 10 last year.Their performance opened with Chapman picking out the song’s unforgettable riff, then trading verses with Combs before they united on the chorus.Both singers looked delighted. Chapman grinned throughout, and Combs sang along off-mic during her solos.In a video clip ahead of the performance, Combs said: “Just to be associated with her in any way is super humbling for me.” In the audience, Taylor Swift and country star Jelly Roll sang along at the tops of their voices. A simple, but emotional, pleasure.LOWLIGHT: U2 in Las VegasImage source, Getty ImagesLook, I’m fond of U2. I’m from Ireland, where it’s practically a requirement. But sometimes… oh, man.The band beamed in live from The Sphere, the insane globular Las Vegas venue that’s made of 66ft LED screens and was built at a cost of $2.3bn (£1.83bn).U2 are playing a residency there, and if you dream of a gig where you spend more time watching TV screens than watching the band, then you’re welcome to the $750 ticket price.Their performance was basically a huge advert for the venue, set to Atomic City – an underwhelming single they put out to coincide with their opening night last year. Fair enough that the Grammys should highlight innovation in concert technology, but everything about this was disappointingly mediocre. If only they’d played Mysterious Ways.HIGHLIGHT: Practically every other performerImage source, Getty ImagesThe Grammys is always a mixed bag, but this year’s hit rate was high. Dua Lipa bravely opened the show with a brand new song, the pneumatic Training Season, while gyrating on metal scaffolding, and SZA recreated the Crazy 88 swordfight from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.Billie Eilish’s rendition of song-of-the-year-winner What Was I Made For? was suitably tear-jerking; and Burna Boy oozed charisma during his medley of On Form, City Boys and Sittin’ On Top Of The World.The In Memoriam section was particularly strong: Stevie Wonder paid touching tribute to his friend Tony Bennett, before Annie Lennox gave a stirring rendition of Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2U – backed by Prince’s musical foils Wendy and Lisa.But it was Fantasia Barrino who stole the show, racing through an electric performance of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary before walking into the audience and shimmying with Dua Lipa. The Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll would have been proud.LOWLIGHT: That one weird photo everyone’s forced to doImage source, Getty ImagesIt’s Grammy law. If you win a trophy, you have to pose awkwardly with it backstage. Bonus points if you kiss it. Double bonus points if you have an armful of the things. Who knows why at this stage? It’s probably some Illuminati thing.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Multiple award winners Boygenius, Taylor Swift and Jack AntonoffImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Victoria Monét won best new artist, best R&B album and best engineered albumImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Karol G became the first woman to win the award for best musica urbana albumImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jay-Z has won 24 Grammy Awards over the course of his careerImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kylie Minogue picked up her second Grammy, for Padam Padam, 20 years after winning best dance recording for Come Into My WorldImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Shankar Mahadevan of the band Shakti won the best global music album award for This MomentHIGHLIGHT: Miley Cyrus vindicatedImage source, ReutersIn her 17-year music career, Miley Cyrus has had dozens of hits – from Wrecking Ball and The Climb to Nothing Breaks Like A Heart and Midnight Sky. But she’d never won a Grammy… until now. The singer won two prizes: song of the year and best pop solo performance, both for the instant-classic break-up ballad Flowers. Cyrus marked the moment with a brilliantly tortured metaphor.”There’s a story I want to tell that sums up this moment,” she explained. “There was a little boy and all he wanted for his birthday was a butterfly. And so his parents gave him a butterfly net and he was so excited. He just went outside, out in the sun, and started swinging and swinging, but with no luck. “Then he sat down on the ground, and he finally let go and he surrendered. He was OK that he wasn’t going to capture this beautiful butterfly.”And right when he did, is when the butterfly came and landed right on the tip of his nose. And this song, Flowers, is my butterfly.”Later, Cyrus performed the song live for the first time, adding some parenthetical asides to the lyrics.”I didn’t want to leave you (but I did) / I didn’t want to fight (but we did) / Started to cry but then remembered… I just won my very first Grammy!”She ended with a mic drop. And rightly so.Related TopicsTaylor SwiftJoni MitchellMiley CyrusGrammy AwardsJAY-ZMusicMore on this storyGrammy Awards: The main winners and nomineesPublished10 hours agoGrammy Awards red carpet and ceremony in picturesPublished57 minutes agoTaylor Swift makes history at the Grammy AwardsPublished1 hour agoKylie wins second Grammy Award after 20 yearsPublished52 minutes agoTop StoriesLive. 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[ad_1] Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, SZA was one of the big winners at the 2024 Grammy Award By Mark Savage BBC Music Correspondent The 2024 Grammy Awards ended with…