lavish – Page 2 – newsinsightplus

newsinsightplus.com
1.8bn
1980s
March 4, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIran elections: Record low turnout in polls as hardliners winPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated Topics2022 Iran protestsImage source, EPAImage caption, Run-offs will be held for more than half of the 30 seats in Tehran after winning candidates failed to win 20% of the votesBy David GrittenBBC NewsHardliners have won a majority of the seats in the parliamentary elections in Iran, which saw a record low turnout of 41% after calls for a boycott.Most moderate and reformist figures were disqualified from standing in Friday’s polls, which were the first since the 2022 nationwide protests.Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told a news conference that 25 million of the 61 million eligible voters took part.He also revealed that about 5% of the ballots cast were “invalid”, or spoilt.Hardline President Ebrahim Raisi earlier praised the “passionate turnout”, which he described as an “extreme blow” to opponents of the Islamic Republic.Analysts said a low turnout would be a show of disenchantment with politics, after the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had urged people to vote.Some 42% of those eligible voted in the last parliamentary elections in 2020. Turnout had been consistently above 50% before then.Iranian voters tell BBC: ‘We need to be decisive for Iran’s future’Why Iranians look dimly on first chance to vote since unrestIranian women ‘ready to pay the price’ for defying hijab rulesIran’s election headquarters announced on Monday that 245 of the 290 seats in parliament had been decided in the first round. The remaining 45 seats will go to second round run-offs because the winning candidates had not received the 20% of the votes required.Only 14 candidates reached the threshold in the capital, Tehran, and its surrounding province, meaning that run-offs will be held for more than half of the 30 seats there.Most of the winning candidates nationwide are considered to be conservative hardliners, who are staunchly loyal to the Islamic ruling system and are opposed to political or social freedoms.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: The BBC’s Carrie Davies visits a Tehran polling station as voting beginsConservatives also dominated separate elections held on Friday for the Assembly of Experts – an 88-member clerical body that is responsible for appointing the next Supreme Leader when the time comes.Ayatollah Khamenei – the Islamic Republic’s most powerful figure and commander-in-chief – is 84 and the new assembly will sit for eight years.As with the parliamentary polls, many prospective candidates were disqualified by the Guardian Council, a hardline watchdog made up of theologians and jurists. Among those barred was former president Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who had previously served on the assembly for 24 years.Mr Rouhani warned in January that such decisions would “undermine the nation’s confidence in the system” but still turned out to vote on Friday.Another former president, the reformist Mohammad Khatami, was among those who did not vote, having warned last month that Iran was “very far from free and competitive elections”. Imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Narges Mohammedi denounced the elections as a “sham”, following what she called the “ruthless and brutal suppression” of the 2022 protests. The unrest was triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands detained in a continuing crackdown by security forces, which have portrayed the protests as “riots”.Related TopicsIran2022 Iran protestsTop StoriesLive. US Supreme Court rules Trump can remain on presidential ballotSarah Everard detective recalls shock at learning killer was PCPublished15 minutes agoGeorge Galloway vows to take Angela Rayner’s seatPublished31 minutes agoFeaturesCelebrity Big Brother: The rumoured line-upThe Ukrainian teenagers who returned for their school promDid the last Budget deliver growth and cheap beer?In pictures: Bollywood stars and billionaires at lavish partyTrump supporters target black voters with AI fakesMystery of giant star sand dunes solvedCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?A pioneering women’s World Cup erased from history’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’ Video’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’Elsewhere on the BBCWhat went wrong that fateful night?A new two-part documentary series examines the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crashAttributioniPlayerThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsGary Neville returns to the Den…Can the aspiring entrepreneurs win him, and the fiery five over?AttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsMost Read1George Galloway vows to take Angela Rayner’s seat2Stop ‘rude’ vicar behaviour, wedding photographers say3Rare Ferrari recovered after being stolen in 19954Germany under pressure to explain leaked phone call5Sarah Everard police recall learning killer was PC6O’Connor’s estate asks Trump not to use her music7Celebrity Big Brother: The rumoured line-up8Record find leads to record deal for 1980s band9Apple fined €1.8bn for breaking streaming rules10Church fund ‘not enough’ to right slavery wrongs

[ad_1] Most reformists were barred from the elections, which saw a turnout of only 41% after boycott calls.

newsinsightplus.com
1.8bn
1980s
March 4, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaHaiti gangs: The spiralling power of criminal groupsPublished12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Protests against Prime Minister Ariel Henry have been mounting in recent weeksBy Vanessa BuschschlüterBBC News Online Latin America and Caribbean editorThousands of prisoners on the loose after gangs stormed the jails they were in, a government without a single elected official and a gang leader who openly threatens the prime minister. The scenes unfolding in Haiti are shocking even to those who have been following the seemingly unstoppable rise of armed groups in the country in recent years. Here we take a closer look at how gangs have come to dominate huge swathes of the capital and, increasingly, of rural areas of this Caribbean country.Armed groups have long played a bloody role in Haiti’s history. During the 29 years of the dictatorship of François Duvalier, known as Papa Doc, and his son Jean Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, a paramilitary force called the Tonton Macoutes used extreme violence to stamp out any opposition to the Duvalier regime.The younger Duvalier was forced into exile in 1986, but gangs have continued to exert varying degrees of power, sometimes shielded and encouraged by the politicians with whom they forged alliances.The most recent widespread outbreak of gang violence has been fuelled by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jovenel Moïse was shot dead in July 2021The president was shot dead by a group of Colombian mercenaries at his home outside of Port-au-Prince after he had started denouncing “dark forces” inside Haiti.While the Colombians and a number of other suspects have been arrested, an investigation into his killing has still not determined who ordered the president’s assassination. Gang violence had already been rampant under President Moïse, but the power vacuum created by his murder allowed these gangs to seize more territory and become more influential.And it is not just the position of president which is vacant. Following repeated delays to hold legislative elections, the terms of all elected official have run out, leaving the country’s institutions rudderless. Since Jovenel Moïse’s murder, the country has been governed by Ariel Henry.Mr Henry had been designated by President Moïse as his prime minister shortly before he was killed, but he is unelected and some therefore question his legitimacy. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ariel Henry has been serving as prime minister since 2021 – the post of president has remained vacantOpposition to Ariel Henry’s leadership has been increasing as the elections he promised to hold have failed to materialise.Moreover, insecurity has spiralled, forcing hundreds of thousands of Haitians to flee their homes.One of the most outspoken rivals of Mr Henry is Jimmy Chérizier, a former police officer who became a gang leader after he was fired from the police force. Also known by his nickname of Barbecue, the ex-cop leads G9, an alliance of nine gangs founded in 2020 which reportedly has links to late President Moïse’s Tèt Kale Party.Barbecue has opposed Prime Minister Henry from the start. The gang leader used Moïse’s assassination, which he blamed on the “stinking bourgeoisie”, to encourage his followers to engage in what he called “legitimate violence”. Brutal attacks and looting spread, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where Barbecue has his power base.In October 2021, Ariel Henry was prevented from laying a wreath at a monument, when heavily armed members of Jimmy Chérizier’s gang suddenly showed up and fired shots into the air.Dressed in a pristine white suit and flanked by his men, the gang leader then proceeded to lay a wreath at the monument – an extraordinary show of force.His G9 gang has also been fighting a bloody war with G-Pèp, a rival gang which is reportedly linked to the parties who opposed murdered President Moïse.Shootouts and battles over territory between the two groups are common and have spilled over from the poorer neighbourhoods into the centre of Port-au-Prince. Schools and hospitals have had to close and more than 100,000 people fled their homes in 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration. The International Committee of the Red Cross told the BBC its staff had to talk to hundreds of gangs in order to be able to deliver humanitarian aid.Where aid delivery depends on talking to 300 gangsIn a further flexing of its muscles, the G9 gang also blocked access to the Varreux fuel terminal in 2022, causing fuel shortages and hampering other key deliveries, such as medicines and drinking water. Haiti’s national police force – which according to 2023 figures only has 9,000 active-duty officers in the country of 11 million inhabitants – has struggled to confront the gangs, which are well armed with high powered weapons smuggled in from the US.Eighty percent of the capital is now estimated to be under gang control and the people living in these areas face “inhuman” levels of violence, according to the United Nations’ humanitarian co-ordinator, Ulrika Richardson.Ms Richardson said that there had been a 50% increase in sexual violence between 2022 and 2023 with women and young girls in particular targeted by the gangs. Mr Henry has repeatedly called for international support to combat the violence, but so far only The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad have formally told the UN that they plan to send security personnel.But none have arrived so far. During this latest spike in violence, Mr Henry went to Kenya to lobby officials there to make good on their promise to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti. While Haitian civilians are desperate for more security, the deployment of foreign security personnel is viewed with concern by some.Haiti, which became independent from France after the successful 1791 slave revolt, was occupied by the US from 1915 to 1934. Subsequent US military interventions between 1994 and 2004 have also made many wary of outside “meddling”.Some critics of Mr Henry fear he wants to use the Kenyan police force to prop up his power, just as protests calling for his resignation are mounting.Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier is one of those who has accused Ariel Henry of trying to cement his power by inviting in foreign security personnel.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier is a gang leader who likes to style himself as a revolutionaryIn 2022, the gang leader put forward his own plan for “peace”, suggesting members of his gang be offered an amnesty and a “council of sages” be created with representatives from Haiti’s 10 regions. At the time he also suggested that his gang be given posts in the cabinet. Since then, he has been ratcheting up the pressure, trying to present himself as a “revolutionary” who aims to overthrow what he says is an “illegitimate” leader. On 1 March, Chérizier said he would “keep fighting Ariel Henry”. “The battle will last as long as it needs to,” he added.It is not currently clear where Mr Henry is, but with thousands of prisoners on the run and the powerful leader of the G9 openly calling for him to step down, the odds of the prime minister quickly re-stablishing order have just become more remote. Related TopicsHaitiGangsMore on this storyGangs threaten Haiti takeover after mass jailbreakPublished3 hours agoHaiti leader urges calm as violent protests mountPublished8 FebruaryTop StoriesSarah Everard detective recalls shock at learning killer was PCPublished5 minutes agoLive. US Supreme Court rules Trump can remain on presidential ballot£100m Church fund not enough to address slavery links, says reportPublished4 hours agoFeaturesThe Ukrainian teenagers who returned for their school promDid the last Budget deliver growth and cheap beer?In pictures: Bollywood stars and billionaires at lavish partyTrump supporters target black voters with AI fakesMystery of giant star sand dunes solvedCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?A pioneering women’s World Cup erased from history’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’ Video’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winnerElsewhere on the BBCWhat went wrong that fateful night?A new two-part documentary series examines the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crashAttributioniPlayer’Bob’s music is an attempt to redeem us’How has Bob Marley’s Redemption Song inspired generations around the world?AttributionSoundsGary Neville returns to the Den…Can the aspiring entrepreneurs win him, and the fiery five over?AttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Stop ‘rude’ vicar behaviour, wedding photographers say2Rare Ferrari recovered after being stolen in 19953Sarah Everard police recall learning killer was PC4Germany under pressure to explain leaked phone call5O’Connor’s estate asks Trump not to use her music6George Galloway sworn in as MP for Rochdale7Church fund ‘not enough’ to right slavery wrongs8Apple fined €1.8bn for breaking streaming rules9Paul Scully to stand down at general election10Record find leads to record deal for 1980s band

[ad_1] Gang leaders have seized control of large swathes of Haiti, a country without any elected officials.

newsinsightplus.com
1.5bn
1.8bn
March 4, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityTechnologyApple fined €1.8bn by EU for breaking streaming rulesPublished10 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Shiona McCallumTechnology reporterApple has been fined €1.8bn (£1.5bn) by the EU for breaking competition laws over music streaming.The firm had prevented streaming services from informing users of payment options outside the Apple app store, the European Commission said.Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Apple abused its dominant position in the market for a decade.She ordered the US tech giant to remove all the restrictions. Apple has said it will appeal against the decision.The European Commission’s decision was triggered by a complaint by Swedish music streaming service Spotify, which was unhappy about the restriction and Apple’s 30% fee..Ms Vestager said Apple had restricted “developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem”. “This is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” she said.However, Apple said it would appeal, adding there was no evidence consumers had been harmed. “The decision was reached despite the Commission’s failure to uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm, and ignores the realities of a market that is thriving, competitive, and growing fast,” the company said in a statement.”The primary advocate for this decision, and the biggest beneficiary, is Spotify, a company based in Stockholm, Sweden.”Spotify has the largest music streaming app in the world, and has met with the EC [European Commission] more than 65 times during this investigation,” it said.Spotify attacks Apple’s ‘outrageous’ 27% commissionSpotify called the fine handed out to Apple “an important moment” and said it sent “a powerful message” that “no company, not even a monopoly like Apple, can wield power abusively to control how other companies interact with their customers”.Apple said the Swedish company pays no commission to them as it sells its subscriptions on its website and not on the app store. Spotify had argued that the restrictions benefit Apple’s rival music streaming service, Apple Music.Digital Markets Act In January, Apple announced plans to allow EU customers to download apps outside of their own app store, as the introduction of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) drew closer. The aim of the European Union’s DMA is to help competition in the technology sector and to try to break down the stronghold the likes of Apple and Google have on the market. The tech companies were given six months from August last year to comply with a full list of requirements under the new legislation, or face a fine of up to 10% of their annual turnover. The firms have until later this week to comply with a raft of changes announced since the start of the year, as Apple, Meta and TikTok pursue challenges to aspects of the law.Last week, Spotify and 33 other companies operating across a wide range of digital sectors wrote to the European Commission with a renewed attack on Apple’s “lack of compliance” with the DMA. “Apple’s new terms not only disregard both the spirit and letter of the law, but if left unchanged, make a mockery of the DMA and the considerable efforts by the European Commission and EU institutions to make digital markets competitive,” it said. Related TopicsSpotifyMargrethe VestagerEuropean CommissionAppleMore on this storyApple unplugs electric car project, reports sayPublished5 days agoDon’t dry your iPhone in a bag of rice, says ApplePublished21 FebruarySpotify attacks Apple’s ‘outrageous’ 27% commissionPublished18 JanuaryTop StoriesSarah Everard detective recalls shock at learning killer was PCPublished41 minutes ago£100m Church fund not enough to address slavery links, says reportPublished3 hours agoGermany under pressure to explain leaked phone call over Ukraine warPublished29 minutes agoFeaturesThe Ukrainian teenagers who returned for their school promDid the last Budget deliver growth and cheap beer?Bollywood stars and billionaires at lavish pre-wedding partyTrump supporters target black voters with AI fakesMystery of giant star sand dunes solvedCan a rubberstamp parliament help China’s economy?A pioneering women’s World Cup erased from history’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’ Video’I embrace my alopecia, but I’d love my old hair back’Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winnerElsewhere on the BBCWhat went wrong that fateful night?A new two-part documentary series examines the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook helicopter crashAttributioniPlayer’Bob’s music is an attempt to redeem us’How has Bob Marley’s Redemption Song inspired generations around the world?AttributionSoundsGary Neville returns to the Den…Can the aspiring entrepreneurs win him, and the fiery five over?AttributioniPlayerHow Trump’s golf dream turned into a nightmare…His controversial golf development in Aberdeenshire was greenlit with awful consequencesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Stop ‘rude’ vicar behaviour, wedding photographers say2Rare Ferrari recovered after being stolen in 19953Sarah Everard police recall learning killer was PC4Germany under pressure to explain leaked phone call5O’Connor’s estate asks Trump not to use her music6Record find leads to record deal for 1980s band7Church fund ‘not enough’ to right slavery wrongs8Paul Scully to stand down at general election9Dan Wootton show in breach of rules, Ofcom says10Trump supporters target black voters with AI fakes

[ad_1] It comes after Spotify complained about a block on telling users about cheaper alternatives to app store.

newsinsightplus.com
1.9m
100m
March 1, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaAnant Ambani: World’s rich in India for tycoon pre-wedding galaPublished25 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Ambani family at the engagement of Radhika Merchant (third from left) and Anant Ambani (fourth from left) in January 2023By Zoya MateenBBC News, DelhiSome of the world’s most influential people have arrived in India’s Gujarat state to attend a wedding party thrown by Asia’s richest man.Mark Zuckerberg, Rihanna and Bill Gates are among the guests at the pre-wedding gala hosted by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani for his son.Anant Ambani, 28, is set to marry Radhika Merchant in July.Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are also at the three-day event in Jamnagar city.Mukesh Ambani, 66, is currently the world’s 10th richest man with a net worth of $115b according to Forbes. Reliance Industries, founded by his father in 1966, is a massive conglomerate that operates in sectors ranging from refining and retail to financial services and telecom.Anant Ambani is the youngest of his three children, all of whom are on the board of Reliance Industries. The 28-year-old is involved in Reliance’s energy businesses and is on the board of Reliance Foundation.The extravagant pre-wedding event is in keeping with the Ambani family’s record of hosting lavish wedding parties. The new generation taking over from Asia’s richest man India’s richest family caps year of big fat weddingsIn 2018, pop sensation Beyoncé performed at Mr Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding festivities held in Udaipur city. Former US Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were among the guests at the event.A Bloomberg report at the time cited sources who put the cost of Isha’s wedding at $100m – this was denied by a “person close to the family” who said the bill was around $15m. The current festivities kicked off earlier this week with an event where the Ambani family served food to the local people in Jamnagar.Image caption, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at the dinner organised for local villagersSome 1,200 guests are attending the pre-wedding party, which is being held in a township in Jamnagar near Reliance’s main oil refinery.Reuters reported that the guest list includes Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla. Disney CEO Bob Iger is also expected to be at the party, which comes days after his company announced a merger of its India assets with that of Reliance.Inside world’s ‘priciest house’Zuckerberg, who is on a busy Asia trip, reached Jamnagar on Thursday. Bill Gates, who arrived in India a couple of days ago, had earlier posted a video of himself having tea made by a local tea vendor in Maharashtra state – it later went viral. Other guests expected at the Ambani event include BlackRock co-founder Larry Fink and Alphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai.Image source, ANI news agencyImage caption, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla pose after arriving at Jamnagar”The guest list appears to have more RSVPs from global corporate titans than the weddings of Mr Ambani’s two older children in 2018 and 2019, underscoring Reliance’s growing clout and role as a conduit to the Indian economy for global tech, media and energy giants,” Bloomberg wrote.Among the entertainment on offer are performances by Rihanna and illusionist David Blaine. Guests are also expected to visit a rescue centre in Jamnagar, which is reportedly home to more than 2,000 animals. According to a planning document seen by Reuters, the dress code for this visit is “jungle fever”.Read more India stories from the BBC:Village in the eye of a political stormIndia names astronauts for maiden space flight’My bank manager stole $1.9m from my account’The Indians ‘duped’ into fighting for Russia in UkraineIndian zoo ordered to change lions’ ‘blasphemous’ namesRelated TopicsAsiaIndiaTop StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished38 minutes ago’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished6 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsWeekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?Why some singles are more likely to cut things off after bad datesWhere and when is Eurovision 2024 taking place?How three police forces failed to stop Sarah Everard killerRock star: I’ve spent 30 years making a Scotland map from pebblesChris Mason: Looming election takes centre stage in Budget weekWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookElsewhere on the BBCMead, Poirot, and a stinky brontosaurusLaugh along with Frank and his all-star panel as they decode the absurdity of online reviewsAttributionSoundsSoviet Russia’s most popular holiday campMaria Kim Espeland tells Lucy Burns about life in the camp in the 1980sAttributionSoundsBig Brother behind closed doorsHow Britain’s first ‘official’ reality show became a global phenomenonAttributionSoundsCan we really find Anglo-Saxon double entendre?Ian Hislop’s on the hunt for the earliest examples of enduring British jokesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC2Mystery sea creature discovered in UK waters 3Issa brother to step back after ‘fixing’ Asda4Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’5Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry6Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows7Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail8Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services9More than a billion people living with obesity10This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win

[ad_1] Mukesh Ambani, 66, is currently the world’s 10th richest man with a net worth of $115b according to Forbes. Reliance Industries, founded by his father in 1966, is a…

newsinsightplus.com
1980s
1Xtra
February 23, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaJury finds NRA and ex-leader Wayne LaPierre liable for corruptionPublished3 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesThe National Rifle Association and its ex-leader, Wayne LaPierre, have been found liable in a civil corruption trial.A New York jury found Mr LaPierre cost the gun rights group millions of dollars through lavish spending on himself.New York Attorney General Letitia James had accused the NRA and Mr LaPierre of violating state laws. Mr LaPierre stepped down from his job just before the trial began. On Friday, the jury found that Mr LaPierre cost the group a total of $5.4m (£4.26m), of which slightly more than $1m has already been repaid. He must now bay $4.35m. While former NRA finance chief Wilson “Woody” Phillips, general counsel John Frazer and the NRA itself are also co-defendants, Mr LaPierre has been characterised as the “central figure” of the case. The jury found that Mr Phillips cost the NRA $2m through mismanagement. Mr Frazer was found to not have cost the organisation financially. In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, after the trial, Ms James said that Mr LaPierre and the NRA “are finally being held accountable for this rampant corruption and self-dealing”. Altogether, she said the group and two executives must pay $6.35m.”In New York, you cannot get away from corruption and greed, no matter how powerful or influential you think you may be,” she wrote. “Everyone, even the NRA and Wayne LaPierre, must play by the same rules.” In the trial, defence attorneys for the three men and the NRA sought to portray the proceedings as a “baseless, premeditated attack” and politically-motivated “witch hunt” by Ms James, a Democrat. But during closing arguments, assistant attorney general Monica Connell said that the NRA, a registered charity, should have spent the funds on its primary mission, rather than on lavish expenses, and of trying to shift responsibility after the fact. “Saying you’re sorry now, saying maybe you’ll put back a couple of those cookies, doesn’t mean you didn’t take the cookies,” Ms Connell said. Over the course of the six-week trial, prosecutors detailed several specific expenses that they said showed that Mr LaPierre and other top leaders used NRA funds as their “personal piggy bank”. One example of misconduct alleged in the lawsuit stated that Mr LaPierre visited the Bahamas more than eight times by private plane using funds intended for the NRA, for a total cost of $500,000 (£380,000).The evidence also included helicopter trips to car races to avoid being stuck in traffic and expense reports for reimbursement of money spent on landscaping and mosquito treatment at his home, as well as gifts for friends and family and “out-of-pocket” expenses such as hair and makeup styling for Mr LaPierre’s wife. The judge must now determine – without a jury – whether independent monitors and experts will be installed to oversee the NRA’s charitable assets and administration, and whether Mr LaPierre and Mr Phillips should be barred from re-election or appointments as officers in the NRA or other New York-based non-profits. Additionally, the judge must determine whether the NRA and Mr Frazer should be barred from soliciting or collecting funds for charities in New York.Though based in Virginia, the NRA is incorporated in New York City. The attorney general’s Charities Bureau is responsible for oversight of any non-profit organisation, which has strict state and federal rules governing spending.Founded in 1871 as a recreational group designed to “promote and encourage rifle shooting”, the NRA has grown into one of the most powerful political organisations in the US.The NRA now lobbies heavily against all forms of gun control and argues aggressively that more guns make the country safer. It relies on, and staunchly defends, a disputed interpretation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution that individuals are guaranteed the right to own guns.But the NRA has taken a back seat within the gun rights movement in recent years, as its legal costs soared while revenue and membership dues plummeted.Related TopicsNRAUnited StatesMore on this storyWhy is US gun lobby group NRA so powerful?Published13 April 2023When parents get the blame for a child’s mass shootingPublished6 FebruaryMexico can sue US gunmakers, court rulesPublished23 JanuaryTop StoriesWW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through cityPublished50 minutes agoSpanish police search gutted flats after nine killedPublished2 hours agoTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished1 hour agoFeaturesWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic faster. VideoWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic fasterAttributionWeatherFrom crying in the toilets to cycling world titlesFrontline medics count cost of two years of Ukraine warWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Special year ahead for R&B, says new 1Xtra hostFirst private Moon mission marks new era for space travelThe young Bollywood star taking on HollywoodListen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsThe ‘mind-bending’ bionic arm powered by AIElsewhere on the BBCHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerThe good, the bad and the bafflingWhen the British public leave a review, they almost always write something hilariousAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through city2Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease3Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment4King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support5US jets intercept high-altitude balloon over Utah6Ukraine says it downs second A-50 Russian spy plane7Cat killer found guilty of murdering man8Navalny’s mother ‘given hours to agree to secret burial’9Spanish police search gutted flats after nine killed10Germany legalises cannabis, but makes it hard to buy

[ad_1] The jury found former CEO Wayne LaPierre cost the guns group $5.4m through lavish spending on himself.

newsinsightplus.com
2010By
2020.Prosecutors
February 21, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAlexander Smirnov: FBI source accused of Biden lies ‘linked to Russian intelligence’Published6 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, President Joe Biden (left) with his son, Hunter, photographed in 2010By Mike WendlingBBC NewsAn ex-FBI informant accused of lying about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter has high-level ties with Russian intelligence, US prosecutors say.The allegations against Alexander Smirnov, 43, were outlined in new Department of Justice filings in the case on Tuesday.Mr Smirnov is accused of lying when he claimed bribes were paid to the Bidens via a Ukrainian energy firm, Burisma.He was charged last week with giving false statements to the FBI.Mr Smirnov’s claims were part of an ongoing effort by Republicans to impeach President Biden. He was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday after returning from an overseas flight, the justice department said. Prosecutors had asked for Mr Smirnov, a dual US-Israeli citizen, to be held without bail, arguing that he has no ties to Las Vegas, but does have contacts with Russian intelligence agencies. But on Tuesday US Magistrate judge Daniel Albregts allowed the defendant to be released from custody and be monitored by GPS until his trial. He must remain in Nevada’s Clarke County and is banned from applying for a new passport. Mr Smirnov – who had been held at a jail in Pahrump, about an hour from Las Vegas, since his arrest – did not speak to journalists as he left court.The justice department says that he disclosed his intelligence contacts to his FBI handler, saying he could use those connections – which prosecutors described as ” extensive and extremely recent” – to leave the US. In court documents filed Tuesday, prosecutors also alleged that Mr Smirnov told authorities he had only $1,500 in cash and $5,000 in a bank account, when in reality he had access to about $6m in “liquid funds”.”The fact that Smirnov misrepresented his assets alone should cause Smirnov to be detained because it shows that, at the first opportunity, he did not provide true and complete information to pretrial services,” the filing says. In December 2023, the legal filing says, Mr Smirnov attended an overseas meeting with “a high-ranking member of a specific Russian foreign intelligence service”.Mr Smirnov told his FBI handler that he learned Russian intelligence had intercepted “several” phone calls made at a certain hotel by prominent US people, according to the justice department. Neither the hotel nor its location is specified.Mr Smirnov allegedly said the eavesdropped recordings could be used as “kompromat” (compromising material) during the 2024 election campaign. He was charged by Special Counsel David Weiss – who has overseen the investigation of Hunter Biden – with providing “false derogatory information” to the FBI about the president and his son in June 2020.Prosecutors allege that Mr Smirnov was motivated by his dislike of the president. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison. In a separate court filing on Tuesday, Hunter Biden’s attorneys sought to have federal tax charges dismissed, arguing that he was the victim of politically motivated “selective and vindictive prosecution”. Additionally, the filings argue that the prosecutors’ assertions that the younger Mr Biden lived a “lavish” and “extravagant” lifestyle were “irrelevant and prejudicial” to the case. Related TopicsHunter BidenUnited StatesJoe BidenTop StoriesPatient care hit by disrepair in NHS buildingsPublished2 hours agoHospitals may introduce Martha’s rule from AprilPublished2 hours agoChina says US veto sent wrong message over GazaPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe strangers who saved each other’s livesThe Papers: Prince’s call for peace and Labour revolt threat’The Premier League caught my online troll. Should I forgive him?’The secret to my Mr Universe title? Potatoes and porridgeWindsor was ‘a brilliant dancer and a lovely man’The awful conditions that cattle are kept in on shipsBeef trade risks key Brazil ecosystem – campaignersNavalny’s widow faces daunting challengePrince William speaks out on Israel-Gaza conflict. AudioPrince William speaks out on Israel-Gaza conflictAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCFacing impossible choices, what would you do?An ordinary family take on the extraordinary battle of life, death and survivalAttributioniPlayerIs nature better off without us?Discover the wonder of nature and meet the people determined to keep it wonderfulAttributionSounds’I regret posting online that I was Madeleine McCann’Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hateAttributionSoundsSix places you might not know were named after peopleDiscover the human stories behind the names of these famous tourist destinationsAttributionBitesizeMost Read1Trident missile test fails for second time in a row2Hospitals may introduce Martha’s rule from April3Prince’s call for peace and Labour revolt threat4Handwritten Hotel California lyrics at heart of trial5China says US veto sent wrong message over Gaza6Parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke jailed for child abuse7Families’ shock as cost to take pets abroad hiked8Rust armourer set to go on trial in New Mexico9Supermarket boss quits days after interview backlash10Tesco changes how it shows Clubcard prices after row

[ad_1] Alexander Smirnov is charged with making false statements about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

newsinsightplus.com
1927.While
1995.But
February 4, 2024
0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureGrammys 2024: Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, SZA and Joni Mitchell to star at ceremonyPublished33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsGrammy AwardsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish are both up for song of the year for their contributions to the Barbie soundtrackBy Mark SavageBBC Music CorrespondentWhisper it quietly… but could the Grammy Awards get it right this year?The ceremony, which takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday, is notorious for scoring own goals, often rewarding middle-of-the-road heritage acts over cutting-edge, contemporary pop.But this year’s nominees are straight-down-the-line populist picks, with R&B star SZA leading the field on nine.There will also be performances from big names ranging from Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish to Joni Mitchell and U2.Comedian Trevor Noah will host for the fourth year running, overseeing a staggering 94 categories, from best contemporary Christian album to best audiobook, where Michelle Obama will square off against Meryl Streep.Elsewhere, Phoebe Bridgers’ indie-rock supergroup Boygenius, and pop star Victoria Monét have seven nominations each. Chart stars Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey and Ice Spice also have multiple nominations in a female-led field.Grammy Awards: The main nomineesTaylor Swift breaks record with Grammy nominationHere are nine things to know ahead of the event.1) How to watch the GrammysImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Comedian Trevor Noah is hosting the show this yearFirst of all, brew a strong pot of coffee. The Grammys are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States for outstanding achievement in music. More than 80 will be handed out in what’s called the “premiere ceremony” at 20:30 GMT on Sunday (12:30 in Los Angeles). It’s often worth tuning in. The winners in the more obscure categories are less polished and more excited about winning, and the performances are looser and, dare I say it, more musical than the Hollywood-scale set pieces you’ll see later.You can watch the whole thing on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.grammy.com.The main show, which will start at 01:00 Monday GMT, will be broadcast live in the US on CBS and streamed on Paramount Plus. Speeches and select performances are usually uploaded to YouTube the following day.2) Will Taylor Swift overtake Ol’ Blue Eyes?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Taylor Swift already has 12 Grammys – which is more than any human can reasonably hold at onceIf Swift wins album of the year for Midnights, she will become the first ever artist to lift the prestigious trophy four times.At the moment, she’s tied with Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra, who each have three wins. But the Grammys have typically been less interested in Swift’s pop records than her forays into country and folk.Her competition for album of the year is strong. Here’s the full list of nominees:Boygenius – The RecordJanelle Monáe – The Age of PleasureJon Batiste – World Music RadioLana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean BlvdMiley Cyrus – Endless Summer VacationOlivia Rodrigo – GutsSZA – SOSTaylor Swift – Midnights3) Joni and Tracy could put young stars in the shadeImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Joni Mitchell will continue her live comeback at the ceremonyModern-day superstars Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo will no doubt put on lavish performances of their big hits. But the show is likely to be stolen by two other female artists who have largely been out of the public eye in recent years.Joni Mitchell is guaranteed a reception worthy of a living legend when she makes her debut Grammys performance at the age of 80.And Tracy Chapman is heavily rumoured to be making a very rare public appearance to join country star Luke Combs on her 1988 classic Fast Car, which he took back to the charts last year.The night’s other performers will include Billy Joel, Travis Scott and Burna Boy.4) A win for SZA is a win for ScotlandImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, SZA’s second album SOS was one of 2023’s biggest sellersIn the US, SZA’s second album SOS topped the charts for 10 weeks and marked the singer’s ascension to the major league.Born in Missouri and raised in New Jersey, the singer – real name Solána Imani Rowe – trained in marine biology before launching her music career. If her latest album picks up a Grammy, it will also mean a win for a 20-year-old music producer from Scotland.Blair Ferguson, who writes under the name BLK Beats, wrote the music for her hit single Snooze in his Glasgow bedroom, and it went on to sell more than two million copies in the US.”SZA is just a genius and she’s able to transform any record with the way she comes up with a melody,” he told BBC News. “I don’t think any other artist could have made that track.”5) Who’s a bigger rock star: Mick or Olivia?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Rolling Stones are nominated for the first time in six yearsThe best rock song category is a culture clash for the ages, as Olivia Rodrigo’s punky Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl faces off against The Rolling Stones’ Angry, a tale of a lovers’ quarrel.So who is the face of rock ‘n’ roll in 2024? The Grammys like to reward longevity, but maybe they’ll be swayed by Rodrigo’s rock revivalism, which has helped to ignite the first resurgence in guitar music in over a decade.It’s a strong field, with Foo Fighters, and Queens of the Stone Age also in the running. But the real contenders have to be Boygenius. Formed by indie songwriters Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, last year they made an era-defining guitar album, stacked with spectral harmonies and poetic lyrics.Nominated in all the major categories as well as the rock subgenres, it could be this year’s runaway winner.6) A first for AfricaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Nigeria’s Burna Boy has become one of the world’s biggest starsA new category, best African music performance, reflects the growing prominence of genres like Afrobeats and Amapiano but also “Africa’s profound influence on music history”, according to the Grammys.The inaugural nominees – who would previously have slugged it out in the world music category – include Nigerian stars Burna Boy, Asake, Ayra Starr and Davido, alongside breakout South African singer Tyla.”Honestly, specifically the Grammys is a huge accolade,” said Tyla, who scored a global hit with Water at the end of 2023.Two other new awards have also been introduced for 2024 – best alternative jazz album and best pop dance recording. 7) Justice for Miley!Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Miley Cyrus has never won a GrammyDespite her storied career, Miley Cyrus is yet to win a Grammy, and had only been nominated twice in the past.However this year, the SFKAHM (Singer formerly known as Hannah Montana) has six nominations for her all-grown-up pop album Endless Summer Vacation.Lead single Flowers, which was the biggest-selling song in the UK last year and topped the US Billboard charts for eight weeks, is up for record and song of the year, and best pop vocal performance.But in a strong year for sad girls singing pop songs, she could leave empty-handed all over again.8) Are the Grammys ghosting country music?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Morgan Wallen’s album sold more copies than any other last year, but he only has one nominationCountry had a huge resurgence in the US last year. Streams of the genre rose 20%, and last August the top three positions in the Billboard Hot 100 were occupied by country songs for the first time.But none of those artists – Morgan Wallen, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan – are nominated in the Grammys’ biggest, all-genre categories. In fact, no country album has been nominated for album of the year since Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour five years ago (which won the award). So what’s going on? It seems to be a reaction to the political and racial undertones of the genre’s biggest stars.Voters are cautious about Wallen because of a headline-making incident in 2021, where he was caught on camera using a racial slur. With Aldean, the politics were embedded in his song, Try That in a Small Town – a story of vigilante justice that some listeners interpreted as having racial undertones.Aldean denied those accusations, but apologised when it transpired he’d filmed the video in front of a Tennessee courthouse that had been the scene of a brutal lynching in 1927.While stars like Jason Isbell and Zach Bryan made thoughtful songs that challenged Nashville’s more regressive tendencies, they were also shut out of the big prizes. It seems the Academy, with typical caution, has decided to steer clear. 9) How new does the best new artist have to be?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jelly Roll recently won best new artist at the Country Music Association AwardsA mere 21 years after releasing his first song, Tennessee singer Jelly Roll is up for best new artist.The musician, whose real name is Jason DeFord, isn’t a traditional contender for the category, but his recent move from the underground to the mainstream makes him eligible under Grammy guidelines.A convicted criminal and former drug dealer, he has served multiple stints in prison and recently testified before the US Congress in support of anti-fentanyl legislation.His emotional tales of addiction and redemption finally propelled him into the charts last year after a later-career pivot from rap into country music.At 39, he would be the oldest-ever winner of the best new artist trophy – overtaking Sheryl Crow, who was 33 on the night of her victory in 1995.But that’s nothing compared to the Latin Grammys, which gave a best new artist trophy to 95-year-old Angela Alvarez in 2022.Related TopicsAfrobeatsCountry musicTaylor SwiftOlivia RodrigoBillie EilishJoni MitchellMick JaggerMiley CyrusGrammy AwardsThe Rolling StonesAfrican MusicMusicMore on this storyI wrote a Grammy-nominated hit in my Glasgow bedroomPublished18 November 2023Taylor Swift breaks record with Grammy nominationPublished10 November 2023Grammy Awards: The main nomineesPublished10 November 2023Top StoriesI would speak to killer’s mother – Brianna’s mumPublished6 minutes agoLive. US and UK strike Iran-backed Houthi targets in YemenWoman dies after being attacked by dogsPublished42 minutes agoFeaturesCan Musk’s Neuralink brain chip really change the world?The Papers: ‘We’ll hold Iran to account’ and O’Neill ‘steps into history’Did bodybuilding bring on my early perimenopause?How Imran Khan plans to win an election from jailI almost died up a mountain scattering dad’s ashesThey fled as lava spilled into town – and they may never returnDoes Germany’s economy need more than a cup of coffee?One of worst halves of my coaching career – GatlandAttributionSportHistoric moment stirs painful memories and hope for change in NIElsewhere on the BBCA Scottish wild swimming road-trip!Julie Wilson Nimmo and Greg Hemphill take the plunge at Scotland’s breathtaking wild swimming spotsAttributioniPlayer’I never tried to be famous…it was accidental’Michael Parkinson with guests Ricky Gervais, Michael Palin and Kate AdieAttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerBritish television’s greatest double actEric and Ernie share their remarkable journey through TV appearances, rare radio material and BBC archivesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Woman dies after being attacked by dogs2I would speak to killer’s mother – Brianna’s mum3Did bodybuilding bring on my early perimenopause?4No more easy deals for Russian convicts freed to fight5They fled as lava spilled into town – and they may never return6I almost died up a mountain scattering dad’s ashes7’We’ll hold Iran to account’ and O’Neill ‘steps into history’8UK forces not ready for intensive war, MPs warn9Video released of search for Clapham attack suspect10Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish and SZA to star at Grammy Awards

[ad_1] Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish are both up for song of the year for their contributions to the Barbie soundtrack By Mark Savage BBC…