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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityCultureMonopoly movie: Margot Robbie’s company LuckyChap to produce filmPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesA film based on the classic board game Monopoly is preparing to pass go – with Margot Robbie’s production company set to produce it.The Monopoly film has been in development for more than a decade, according to the Hollywood Reporter.But it was announced on Wednesday that Robbie’s production company LuckyChap will produce it.Hasbro Entertainment, part of the American toy company, will also be a producer.Robbie’s company most recently worked on Saltburn and last year’s hit Barbie, which the Australian actress also starred in.Speaking to Variety in February, Robbie, 33, said: “We want to make more films that have the effect that Barbie has.”I don’t know if it has to be Barbie 2. Why can’t it be another big, original, bold idea where we get an amazing filmmaker, a big budget to play with, and the trust of a huge conglomerate behind them to go and really play? I want to do that.” Adam Fogelson, chairman of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said they were “tremendously excited” about the project and believe it could be the next blockbuster.Zev Foreman, head of film for Hasbro Entertainment, said: “As one of the most iconic games in the world, Monopoly provides an incredible platform for storytelling opportunities.”Last December Lionsgate extended its development rights to the board game when it bought Hasbro’s Entertainment One (eOne).Barbie was the highest-grossing film last year, making $1.38bn (£1.1bn) globally.Listen: The secret history of MonopolyBestselling board game Monopoly has taught generations of children to buy up property, stack it with hotels and charge fellow players sky-high rents for the privilege of accidentally landing there.It was patented in 1904 by a left-wing American feminist called Lizzy Magie. She called it the Landlord’s Game and it evolved into what we now know as Monopoly. However it hit the mainstream 30 years later when Monopoly was first marketed in the United States during the Great Depression. An out-of-work salesman from Pennsylvania was credited with inventing it.Related TopicsFilmMore on this storyBarbie beats Super Mario Bros as 2023’s top filmPublished4 September 2023Top StoriesBiden vows ‘ironclad’ support for Israel amid Iran attack fearsPublished41 minutes agoMan charged over murder of mum pushing baby in pramPublished6 hours agoPressure grows to rethink rough sleeping clampdownPublished6 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Iron clad’ Biden support and ‘radical NHS plan’How gang violence gripped a tourist havenWhat is the minimum salary UK visa applicants need?Was South Korea’s president thwarted by a spring onion?Arizona pushes abortion to centre stage of 2024Local elections 2024: Is there an election in my area?The billionaire facing death over $44bn bank fraudAll you need to know for tonight’s Bafta Games AwardsThe Indian men traumatised by fighting for RussiaElsewhere on the BBCA man from 1979 takes on the modern worldSurely things can’t have changed that much? Comedy starring Mike BubbinsAttributioniPlayer’You’ll never meet anybody as miraculous as Sanjeev’Get to know Supermann on Da Beat: a prominent producer, songwriter and promoter of Scottish hip hopAttributioniPlayerFrom the Hubble Telescope to Take ThatRelive the major news and music events of 1990AttributioniPlayerWho are the women that have inspired Courtney Love?The iconic singer-songwriter shares the soundtrack to her life and reflects on her influencesAttributionSoundsMost Read1The billionaire facing death over $44bn bank fraud2Police to relook at Caroline Flack charge decision3’Ironclad’ Biden support and ‘radical NHS plan’4US vows support for Israel amid Iran attack fears5Man charged over murder of mum pushing baby in pram6Women lose bid to sue Qatar Airways over invasive exams7Pressure grows over rough sleeping clampdown8Margot Robbie’s company to produce Monopoly film9Donald Trump says Arizona abortion ban goes too far10First migraine pill could help 170,000 in England

[ad_1] A Monopoly movie has been in development for over a decade – but the Barbie star will now help produce it.

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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 & CanadaTrump faces a $370m fine in New York fraud trial. How would he pay it?Published3 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Former President Donald Trump speaks to the press before closing arguments at his civil fraud trial in New YorkBy Nada Tawfik, Madeline Halpert, & Kayla EpsteinBBC News, New YorkThe future of Donald Trump’s family business may be decided on Friday when a New York judge is expected to deliver a verdict in his civil fraud trial. The former president, his adult sons and his namesake company have already been found liable for fraudulently inflating the value of assets in statements to lenders. Prosecutors have asked the judge to fine Mr Trump $370m (£291m) and to put restrictions on his ability to conduct business in the state. That’s a lot of money, even for a billionaire. Legal experts told the BBC that a penalty that large, coupled with a potential final verdict that may greatly impact his real estate empire, could deliver a serious blow to Mr Trump’s finances.”He’s not going to suddenly become working class,” said former federal prosecutor Diana Florence. “But it’s just going to be a lot of cash. His fortune will be significantly reduced.”Why could Trump be fined $370 million?The New York Attorney General Letitia James told the court that $370m was the appropriate amount the Trumps should pay in disgorgement, a financial penalty that involves paying back the money gained through fraudulent means.She calculated the sum based on three factors: money Mr Trump allegedly earned in interest rate savings on loans due to misstating his assets; “bonuses” paid to Trump Organization employees who participated in the scheme; and profit realised from two property deals that Ms James alleges were obtained fraudulently.It is up to Judge Arthur Engoron to determine the financial penalties when he delivers his ruling. A guide to Trump’s four criminal casesWhatever the amount, Mr Trump would also have to pay annual interest on that fine, dating back several years to when the alleged offences took place. New York’s 9% interest rate means Mr Trump might have to pay an additional nine-figure sum on top of the penalty.Mr Trump denies committing fraud and says there was no crime because the banks made money on his investments. He is expected to launch an appeal, which would put the verdict on hold until a higher court reviews the case. But if he wants to avoid paying the fine or have personal assets seized while the appeal process plays out, he still has to deposit the full amount to be held by the court within 30 days.A punishing amount – but not a ruinous oneOne calculation from Forbes Magazine put Mr Trump’s total net worth at $2.6bn. The New York Attorney General’s Office estimated his annual net worth at $2bn in 2021. Based on those estimates, a penalty of $370m would cost Mr Trump roughly 15-18% of his wealth. On top of this looming penalty, however, he already owes the writer E Jean Carroll $83.3 million in damages from a separate defamation case that concluded in January. His legal fees are also mounting as he battles four criminal cases at the federal and state level.These combined financial burdens may constitute more cash than Mr Trump has available. Legal experts say he has several potential options.Image source, Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty ImagesImage caption, Judge Arthur EngoronTrump could secure a bond, but it will cost himTo avoid paying everything upfront, Mr Trump could try to secure a bond – a third-party guarantee that he can pay the full fine. That would cost him many more millions, with added interest and fees. He would also likely be required to put up collateral.To secure a bond from a bonding company, a person typically needs to put up about 10% of the total amount owed, Steven Cohen of the New York Law School explained. So if Mr Trump owed $370m in disgorgement, he might have to pay a bond company $37m (£29m) to issue the bond. And he will not get that fee back.Trump could sell assets to raise enough cashIn a deposition in this case, Mr Trump said he had $400m in cash on hand (the BBC could not verify that sum independently). With his other legal liabilities and fees, however, that would not be enough to cover a new $370m fine.”He’s got to think about what to do with his assets, how to perhaps liquidate businesses to come up with that money,” said Sarah Kristoff, a former federal prosecutor. Much of Mr Trump’s fortune is tied to his real estate ventures. Forbes found his New York real estate empire to be valued at $490m (£384m) including his flagship condominium skyscraper, Trump Tower, worth $56m (£44m) by the outlet’s count. The many lives of Trump TowerHis portfolio includes many other properties around the country, with golf courses, condominium towers, hotels and even a winery. His stake in the Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates the Truth Social messaging platform and is pursuing a public listing, is estimated to be worth almost $4bn. But how investors value that firm has swung wildly in recent months; and under the terms of the deal, he would not be allowed to sell shares to raise money right away. “Something is going to have to be sold or realised in order to get the money to pay for that kind of cost,” said William Thomas, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.Image source, Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty ImagesImage caption, New York Attorney General Letitia James sits behind Donald Trump in court during closing argumentsTrump could ask his loyal supporters for the moneyMr Trump may also turn to the massive fundraising engine he uses to pay his tens of millions in legal fees. According to the New York Times, 10% of every dollar that is raised from his supporters goes to pay for his defence in his civil and criminal trials.He has used two political action committees – Save America, which has been his primary vehicle for legal fees, and Make America Great Again, which funds his presidential bid – to raise money to cover the costs of these trials, even though such structures are typically used for political purposes. These entities are separate from his official presidential campaign account.Between his first indictment in March of 2023 to the end of the year, his Save America political action committee spent nearly $40m on lawyers and other related fees, Forbes calculated.Under federal campaign finance rules, Mr Trump could potentially use Save America to pay a court-ordered penalty, said Shanna Ports, a senior counsel at the Campaign Legal Center. He would not be allowed to make this payment with official campaign funds, she added.But fundraising might not be practical in Mr Trump’s case anyway, attorneys told the BBC.A large penalty would “create a real cash-flow crunch for him to come up with nine figures in cash in very short order,” said former federal prosecutor Michel Epner. He added it would be an extraordinary amount to fundraise from his supporters in a brief time period.According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, his Save America PAC started the new year with $5m in cash on hand. Mr Trump will only get a clearer picture of what this means for his business and personal fortune when Judge Engoron delivers his final ruling. But no matter how he chooses to pay, any major penalty will likely cause serious financial headaches for the former president.”Trump, for all of his misrepresentations and lies about his wealth, really is a wealthy person,” said Mr Thomas, the business professor. “But most people don’t have $400m lying around.”If you’re in the UK, sign up here.And if you’re anywhere else, sign up here.Related TopicsDonald TrumpMore on this storyA guide to Trump’s four criminal casesPublished1 day agoThe many lives of Trump TowerPublished4 JanuaryTrump blasts judge as New York fraud trial nears endPublished11 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny dead, says prison serviceJob not done despite huge poll wins over Tories, says StarmerPublished19 minutes agoChris Mason: Tory gloom deepens after double poll blowPublished1 hour agoFeaturesAlexei Navalny, Russia’s most vociferous Putin criticAlexei Navalny jokes in January video from penal colony. VideoAlexei Navalny jokes in January video from penal colonyWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ London Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineXbox games on Nintendo and PlayStation: Is the console war over?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Elsewhere on the BBCCutting through the headlines…Inside the real world of drug users and dealers in the UK todayAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Harry speaks for the first time about King’s cancer2Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face3Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow4Brian Wilson’s family seeks conservatorship5Shephard and Deeley named This Morning hosts6Six taken to hospital as migrants found in lorry7Jury told Emma Caldwell accused committed ‘appalling’ crimes8Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan9Putin critic Navalny, 47, dies in Arctic Circle jail10Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine

[ad_1] A New York judge is expected to rule in a civil fraud trial that threatens his family’s business empire.

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• February 16, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaCambodia jails Taiwanese YouTuber for fake kidnapPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Cambodian National PoliceImage caption, The two men were paraded in front of the media along with props found in their room.By George WrightBBC NewsA Taiwanese YouTuber has been jailed in Cambodia for attempting to stage his own abduction with a friend.Chen Neng-chuan was arrested with his friend, Lu Tsu-hsien, after posting a video of them apparently being detained and beaten up by security guards in the port city of Sihanoukville. The area has become notorious for gangs kidnapping people and then forcing them to carry out online scams.Both men have been sentenced to two years in prison.The pair were arrested after Chen – known online as Goodnight Chicken – posted videos on Monday, in which they claimed they had been kidnapped and needed help. The following day, Chen’s wife announced on social media that her husband had gone missing. He then posted another video claiming they were fleeing the kidnappers and said he had been injured in the ordeal, with part of his head shaved.But online sleuths quickly started casting doubt on the story.Online influencer Liu Yu managed to pinpoint Chen’s location using the footage he had posted, and showed that Chen appeared to have circled an area instead of running away as he claimed. He also questioned why his abductors would have allowed him to keep his equipment for live streaming. Soon after, the pair were arrested in their hotel room. They were then paraded in front of the media along with props found in their room. The provincial court said on Friday that they had been found guilty on charges of “incitement to cause chaos to social security”.The provincial government said the men produced videos with “fake content that affects the honour, order, and security” of the province.They were both handed two-year sentences and ordered to pay a combined fine of around $2,000 (£1,590).Lured and trapped into scam slavery in South East AsiaOnline scam-related human trafficking is a huge problem in Cambodia, and Sihanoukville is one of the worst areas for it. A UN report released last year estimated that around 100,000 people had been forced into working these scams in the country. Most victims are men from Asia, but some have come from further afield such as Africa and Latin America.Related TopicsCambodiaTaiwanMore on this storyLured and trapped into scam slavery in South East AsiaPublished21 September 2022Hundreds of thousands forced to scam in SE Asia: UNPublished30 August 2023Top StoriesLive. Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny dead, says prison serviceLive. Tories suffer two by-election defeats with big swings to LabourChris Mason: Tory gloom deepens after double poll blowPublished57 minutes agoFeaturesAlexei Navalny, Russia’s most vociferous Putin criticAlexei Navalny jokes in January video from penal colony. VideoAlexei Navalny jokes in January video from penal colonyWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?John Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ London Fashion Week celebrates 40 years of posingMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineXbox games on Nintendo and PlayStation: Is the console war over?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Elsewhere on the BBCCutting through the headlines…Inside the real world of drug users and dealers in the UK todayAttributioniPlayerCan dental chews really clean your dog’s teeth?Greg hears from a pet nutritionist and a vet who’s an expert in dental careAttributionSoundsTime-travelling back to 1984 through the BBC archivesHits from Wham!, U2, Madonna, Lionel Richie and moreAttributioniPlayerThe Swedish furniture king’s billionaire lifestyleDeconstructing IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad and his eccentric way of livingAttributionSoundsMost Read1Harry speaks for the first time about King’s cancer2Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face3Six taken to hospital as migrants found in lorry4Brian Wilson’s family seeks conservatorship5Tory gloom deepens after double poll blow6Shephard and Deeley named This Morning hosts7Jury told Emma accused committed ‘appalling’ crimes8Putin critic Navalny, 47, dies in Arctic Circle jail9Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan10Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine

[ad_1] The influencer was detained after claiming to have been abducted in the port city of Sihanoukville.

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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 & CanadaRussian opposition leader Navalny has died, prison service saysPublished3 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRussia’s most significant opposition leader for the past decade, Alexei Navalny, has died in prison inside the Arctic Circle, the prison service said.Seen as President Vladimir Putin’s most vociferous critic, Navalny was serving a 19-year jail term for offences widely considered politically motivated.He was moved to an Arctic penal colony, considered one of the toughest jails, late last year.The prison service in the Yamalo-Nenets district said he had “felt unwell” after a walk on Friday.He had “almost immediately lost consciousness”, it said in a statement, adding that an emergency medical team had immediately been called and tried to resuscitate him but without success.The causes of his death were being established, Tass news agency reported.This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.Related TopicsRussiaAlexei NavalnyTop StoriesRussian opposition leader Navalny has died, prison service saysPublished3 minutes agoLive. Tories suffer two by-election defeats with big swings to LabourMore to do despite by-election wins, says StarmerPublished50 minutes agoFeaturesJohn Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Weekly quiz: Who could join Sinéad in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Xbox games on Nintendo and PlayStation: Is the console war over?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Rafah images show huge blast craters close to campsListen: By-Election Newscast Special. AudioListen: By-Election Newscast SpecialAttributionSoundsThe epic voyage of a daring Mughal princessGet back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bassElsewhere on the BBCThe surprising health benefits of doing the plankMichael Mosley explores whether it outshines crunches or sit-ups…AttributionSoundsFrom musical pressure to creative differences…Music critic Pete Paphides tells the story behind Fleetwood Mac’s TuskAttributionSounds’If I can’t live with you, I don’t want to live anyway’The Hungarian footballer executed for loveAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Shephard and Deeley named This Morning hosts2Brian Wilson’s family seeks conservatorship3Harry set to speak on US TV about King’s health4By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’5Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine6Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan7McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape8Jordan North to leave Radio 1 after 10 years9Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?10US warns key Ukrainian town could fall to Russia

[ad_1] Jailed Russian politician and Putin critics Alexei Navalny has died, Russia’s prison service says.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaPakistan: Imran Khan picks Omar Ayub as PM nomineePublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Omar Ayub Khan said his first priority. if elected, is to free Pakistan’s political prisonersBy Kelly NgBBC NewsJailed cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has named a man in hiding as his pick for Pakistan’s prime minister.Omar Ayub Khan will run against the candidate of Imran Khan’s rivals.Mr Ayub, one of the former prime minister’s party leaders, is currently wanted by police on criminal charges. That does not bar him from running.However, despite Mr Khan’s independents unexpectedly winning the most seats in last week’s election, they do not have enough to form a government.Currently, the two main rivals appear on course to take control, after they formed a coalition – Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).A senior leader of Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Asad Qaiser, announced Mr Ayub as his pick for PM after meeting with the former premier in prison.Members of Pakistan’s National Assembly will elect the new prime minister and 56-year-old Mr Ayub will face off against the PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s brother.Mr Ayub is on the run from criminal charges over riots sparked by Imran Khan’s arrest in May last year. But that does not disqualify him from seeking the PM post.If elected PM, Mr Ayub said his top priority is to free political prisoners. He won last week as an independent backed by PTI.He is the grandson of Mohamed Ayub Khan, a military dictator and Pakistan’s president from 1958 to 1969.What now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?With the PPP’s support, Mr Sharif on Wednesday put forward his brother Shehbaz as the PML-N’s PM candidate.The vote for Pakistan’s next prime minister will take place after all new members of the National Assembly take their oaths, and the speaker and deputy speaker have been elected.Independent candidates – a majority affiliated with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – won 93 of the 265 National Assembly seats that were contested in last Thursday’s election. The PML-N won 75 seats while the PPP came third with 54 seats.Against the odds, election shows Imran Khan’s support is solidWho is really pulling the strings in a divided Pakistan? The PTI argues that its allies should have won even more votes and seats, alleging vote fraud and interference – which electoral officials have denied. Earlier this week, a politician from the Jamaat-e-Islami party gave up his seat because he says the vote was rigged in his favour.”We will not allow our mandate to be stolen,” Mr Ayub said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.”PTI as a party will work for strengthening democratic institutions in Pakistan so that the country’s economy can be put on a path of positive trajectory and we can initiate our reforms programme to benefit the people of Pakistan,” he said.Mr Ayub was first elected into the nation’s National Assembly in 2002 as a candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, a breakaway party from the PML-N.He joined PML-N in 2012, and then moved again in 2018 to join PTI. He was a minister in Khan’s cabinet from 2018 until the ex-PM’s ouster in April 2022. He was appointed PTI’s secretary-general since 27 May 2003, shortly after Khan’s arrest.Related TopicsPakistanImran KhanNawaz SharifAsiaShehbaz SharifMore on this storyWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Published4 days agoHow Imran Khan plans to win an election from jailPublished4 FebruaryPakistan’s king of comebacks looks set to win againPublished2 FebruaryThe cricket star and former PM dividing PakistanPublished1 FebruaryTop StoriesLive. Tories suffer two by-election defeats with big swings to LabourJohn Curtice: Results leave Tories with mountain to climbPublished3 hours agoLabour scores double by-election victory over ToriesPublished55 minutes agoFeaturesJohn Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Weekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?The epic voyage of a daring Mughal princessListen: By-Election Newscast Special. AudioListen: By-Election Newscast SpecialAttributionSoundsGet back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bassThe Argentines backing a ‘crazy’ president’s shock therapyThe KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elite for decadesElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Harry set to speak on US TV about King’s health2Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan3By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’4Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?5Labour scores double by-election victory over Tories6McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape7US warns key Ukrainian town could fall to Russia8Xbox, Nintendo or PlayStation: does it still matter?9Shopping rebounds on supermarkets and January sales10Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere

[ad_1] Omar Ayub will face off against the nominee of Khan’s rivals, who have joined forces.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaCongress: India opposition party claims bank accounts ‘frozen’Published24 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, The Congress is India’s main opposition partyIndia’s main opposition Congress party says its bank accounts have been frozen by the income tax (IT) department just months before the country holds general elections.The party later said that IT officials had given them access to funds in the accounts pending a hearing in court.Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called the freezing of funds as an “assault on democracy”.The government or the IT department have not responded to the allegations.Congress leader Ajay Maken told reporters on Friday morning that the party had been informed two days ago that the cheques it was issuing were “not being honoured” by banks. On investigating, the party was told that “all its accounts had been frozen”.Mr Maken said that the money in the party’s accounts had come through online crowdfunding while that in it’s youth wing’s accounts had come from membership fees. He said that accounts of its youth wing – Indian Youth Congress – had also been frozen.”We don’t have any money to spend, to pay electricity bills, to pay salaries to our employees,” Mr Maken said and added that all political activities of the party will be impacted.He said that the action had been taken on account of a 45-day delay in filing income tax returns of the party for 2018-2019.He added that the IT department has asked Congress to pay 2.1bn rupees ($25m; £20m) as a “recovery” amount.Congress leader Vivek Tankha has said the court will hear the party’s appeal for interim relief from the IT department’s action on Wednesday.Critics have accused Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using state machinery to target opposition leaders in the run-up to the elections. Mr Modi and the BJP have denied the allegation.Related TopicsAsiaIndiaMore on this storyWhat Gandhi’s justice march means for India electionPublished15 JanuaryRahul Gandhi blames India PM Modi for Manipur crisisPublished9 August 2023Top StoriesLive. Tories suffer two by-election defeats with big swings to LabourJohn Curtice: Results leave Tories with mountain to climbPublished2 hours ago’Disappointing’ night for Tories as Labour takes two seatsPublished1 hour agoFeaturesJohn Curtice: By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’ Weekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?The epic voyage of a daring Mughal princessThe Papers: ‘Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights Get back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bassThe Argentines backing a ‘crazy’ president’s shock therapyThe KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elite for decadesElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2’Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights3By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’4Labour scores double by-election victory over Tories5Shopping rebounds on supermarkets and January sales6Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?7Xbox, Nintendo or PlayStation: does it still matter?8US warns key Ukrainian town could fall to Russia9State school pupils back royals more than private10Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere

[ad_1] An hour later, the party said that income tax officials had unfrozen its accounts.

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• February 16, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaChun Ki-won: Hero pastor jailed for sexually abusing North Korea teenage escapeesPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Chun Ki-won, seen here in 2004, at a film festival promoting his mission’s rescuesBy Frances MaoBBC NewsA South Korean pastor once hailed as a hero for smuggling out hundreds of North Koreans has been jailed for sexually abusing teenage defectors.Chun Ki-won, 67, has been sentenced to five years for molesting minors at his boarding school in Seoul.The pastor had been viewed as a saviour figure for decades with people calling him an “Asian Schindler” and his operations an “Underground Railroad” for those fleeing the North’s regime.He was arrested in Seoul in September.Police accused him of molesting six North Korean teenagers, including defectors sleeping in the dormitories of the alternative school he had founded at his Durihana mission.Chun had denied the charges but a court on Wednesday ruled the victims’ evidence as irrefutable.”The victims are making consistent statements and it includes content that cannot be stated without first-hand experience of the circumstances”, Judge Seung-jeong Kim of the Seoul Central District Court said.The judge added that Chun had committed his crimes from “a position where he had absolute influence”.He was found guilty in five of six cases of abuse against the minors – some of whom had escaped alone and others with their families under the guidance of Chun’s mission.Chun founded Durihana, one of South Korean’s most prominent NGOs that helps North Koreans flee through routes in China. He claims to have helped more than 1,000 North Koreans escape the hardline regime of the Kim family over the past 25 years, and has personally been condemned by Pyongyang for his work.In 2002, he made headlines after being imprisoned in China for seven months during an escape mission.His work – which included the establishment of an alternative school for children of North Korean defectors – was widely covered, the subject of documentaries and news articles including by the BBC, CNN, The New York Times and National Geographic. Media reports often compared him to Oskar Schindler, a businessman who rescued more than 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust.His arrest and conviction has shocked South Korea – where his trial was widely reported this week.TV bulletins showed the grey-haired Chun in a white outfit being brought to court in handcuffs and flanked by guards.Read more about North Korean defectorsPreparing N Korea’s traumatised defectors for new livesA family’s escape from North Korea through a minefield and stormy seasSecret calls and code names: How money makes it to N KoreaRelated TopicsNorth Korean defectorsSouth KoreaNorth KoreaMore on this storySecret calls and code names: How money makes it to N KoreaPublished30 JanuaryA family’s escape from North Korea through a minefield and stormy seasPublished5 December 2023Rare N Korea footage shows teens sentenced over K-dramaPublished18 JanuaryPreparing N Korea’s traumatised defectors for new livesPublished10 July 2023Top StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in by-election winsJohn Curtice: Results leave Tories with mountain to climbPublished59 minutes agoLabour scores double by-election victory over ToriesPublishedJust nowFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2’Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights3By-elections leave Tories ‘with mountain to climb’4Labour scores double by-election victory over Tories5Xbox, Nintendo or PlayStation: does it still matter?6Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere7State school pupils back royals more than private8Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm9McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape10Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing

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

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 20.6.Mr
• 2023Record
• February 16, 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 & CanadaJavier Milei: Argentines wait for ‘crazy’ president’s shock therapy to workPublished23 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Javier Milei wielded a chainsaw at one of his campaign rallies to symbolise his plans to slash public spendingBy Ione WellsSouth America correspondent, Buenos AiresThere is one thing that unites those who love and loathe Argentina’s new president – they both describe him as “crazy”.”Most people call him that. I think it’s good,” says 21-year-old Axel Uhrig of Javier Milei, who won the presidential election with 56% of the vote in November.Axel is part of Pibes Libertarios (libertarian lads) – a self-described “militant” group whose battleground is social media.They stick posters around Buenos Aires at night with QR codes linking to videos in support of President Milei’s policies.The new president is trying to get a package of reforms approved to shrink the state, but is struggling to get it through Congress, where he does not have a majority.Mr Milei may have won the election, but the Pibes Libertarios still feel they are fighting a battle for his sweeping reforms to privatise companies and cut regulations to be made into law.Image caption, The Pibes Libertarios support the president’s radical reforms and libertarian ideologyAfter a series of Argentine governments introduced widespread nationalisation, welfare benefits, subsidised prices, and powerful labour laws and unions, Axel feels Mr Milei gave those on the right an “identity” – a libertarian identity.He is keen to stress this is different from “liberals” in the West who are “progressive” and instead captures those who support “freedom from the state”.Axel is glad that the president was “crazy enough” to defy the status quo with a different approach to the economy.He adds he “saw no future in this place” before Mr Milei was elected and says his two best friends left Argentina seeking a better life in the US and Spain – a trend that is widely commented on here.Shock measuresMr Milei’s radically different approach to the economy is why a lot of people voted for him in a country where for many steep inflation feels like the norm. President Milei blames the country’s skyrocketing inflation on years of high government spending, high debt, and money-printing to service it.He argues “shock” measures are needed to tackle it.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The government argues inflation will get worse before it gets betterHe has already slashed the value of the currency, public spending and subsidies for transport, fuel and energy.These measures have in turn driven up prices.New figures published this week showed annual inflation in Argentina had hit more than 250%, making it the highest rate in the world.The monthly figure jumped to 25.5% in December after he came to power, though has since fallen to 20.6%.Mr Milei told the television station La Nación + the figure was “horrifying” but “you have to look at where we were.”Short-term pain, long-term gain?Many Argentines relish what they perceive as his honesty, saying they are willing to put up with more pain if it improves the economy in the long term.Adriana Ignaszewski, 33, runs a discount grocery store in the poorer suburb of El Jagüel.She says in the past “no-one gave us an answer” to inflation, but “today we have someone who tells it how it is.”Image caption, Adriana Ignaszewski is updating prices in her grocery store every dayArgentines will wait as long as they need to, she adds.”If it is the last thing we have to go through, let’s go through it.”Adriana likes the president’s focus on getting inflation down to help with the cost of living, instead of support from the government, because price rises affect her business and customers every day.But down the road her sister Silvia, 40, has relied on state support and fears she cannot afford to wait.She lives with their mother and three of her five children in a house comprised of a few small rooms where “the refrigerator is literally empty”.Silvia sews crates of hair accessories to sell at a market and says her sales have dropped by more than 50%.”People can’t buy food, fewer will be able to buy a hair accessory,” she says.Image caption, Silvia says sales of the hair accessories she sews have dropped because of rising pricesShe stresses that fruit and meat are luxuries and says she cannot even afford to buy basic items like milk, rice or bread. She believes the current price spikes Mr Milei’s plans have caused will lead to people going without anything.”The policies they are carrying out will kill the people, the workers,” she says.”He’s crazy.”Even some of those struggling, though, agree with Mr Milei’s recent argument to the World Economic Forum in Davos that “the state is not the solution, the state is the problem itself.”They don’t want support from the government, they think it is the cause of people’s woes.Cristina, a pensioner who sells old clothes for extra money at the barter market with Silvia, says she cannot afford her rent and living costs on her pension and blames former governments for making people accustomed to receive state support.”They got used to the benefits. Many prefer to steal or be at home and collect benefits without working. The government cannot be there for everything.”Lorena Giorgio, chief economist at the economic analysis centre, Equilibria, says Mr Milei has done good work in explaining to people why changes are needed.Image caption, Economist Lorena Giorgio thinks many Argentines are waiting to see if things improveBut, Ms Giorgio adds, “The problem is that Milei told them that the political sector and the richest were the ones who were going to pay.”This is not happening.”She predicts people may be willing to wait while things get tougher for six or seven months.But she argues that if inflation remains high, and salaries and pensions do not keep up, there could be “social problems” by Christmas.In the past, economic crises here have led to riots, protests and even the toppling of presidents.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Riot police guard the Argentine Congress during protests in Buenos Aires in JanuaryWith people like Silvia, the woman selling hair accessories, wondering how long they can wait, I asked Mr Milei’s spokesman, Manuel Adorni, when people would be able to judge whether the president’s measures were working.He would not commit to a timeframe but said that in a “short period” the government would begin to “show results in this fight against inflation”.Argentina for many years “swept the garbage under the carpet,” he added, “and we have decided to remove the garbage and always tell the truth.”President Milei’s popularity in part stems from the intense anger, especially from the young, about the country’s economic crisis, and what they perceive as his honesty about that.He has hinged his reputation on curing that by cutting the state, though he is already blaming opposition politicians – whom he calls la casta, the caste – for not letting him cut as much as he wants to.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Prices in Argentina rose by more than 200% last yearHis public support is likely to be defined by how quickly he can show results, when state support is being reduced and some already feel at their limit.At a supermarket where the price of meat has gone up 30% in two months, a woman, Anabela Acuña, break down in tears when asked how life is for her right now.”It’s very, very difficult. I have three jobs and I can’t make ends meet,” she says.”Many people are on the street. That breaks my heart.”All very crazy, very crazy.”Related TopicsArgentinaArgentina economyMore on this story’We’re the country of beef, but we can only afford chicken’Published30 JanuaryMilei’s radical proposals face test of reality in ArgentinaPublished26 November 2023Record inflation: Five ways Argentines try to copePublished17 May 2023Top StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in by-election winsLabour scores double by-election victory over ToriesPublished23 minutes agoParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished8 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: ‘Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights Will TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmElsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1’Britain’s recession slide’ and caution on staff rights2Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan3BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show4Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere5McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape6Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm7Get back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bass8Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing9Robert Hur to testify before House Republicans10The KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elites for decades

[ad_1] The new president’s radical measures to overhaul the economy are loved by some, loathed by others.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 110th
• 2022.Ukraine
• February 16, 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 & CanadaUkraine Russia war: US warns Avdiivka could fallPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, “I will die here”: Evacuation “angels” help front-line town’s last residents fleeBy Jaroslav LukivBBC NewsThe US has warned that Russia could seize Ukraine’s key eastern town of Avdiivka – the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in recent months. “Avdiivka is at risk of falling into Russian control,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, citing Ukraine’s ammunition shortages. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to do everything to “save as many Ukrainian lives as possible”.Russian troops have made gains in Avdiivka, threatening to encircle it.The town – which has been almost completely destroyed – is seen as a gateway to nearby Donetsk, the regional Ukrainian capital seized by Russian-backed fighters in 2014 and later illegitimately annexed by Moscow.Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.Ukraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined town Nothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaAt Thursday’s briefing in Washington, Mr Kirby said Avdiivka could fall largely “because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition”.”Russia is sending wave after wave of conscript forces to attack Ukrainian positions,” he said. “And because Congress has yet to pass the supplemental bill, we have not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults.”Russian forces are now reaching Ukrainian trenches in Avdiivka, and they’re beginning to overwhelm Ukrainian defences.”Earlier this week, the US Senate approved a $95bn (£75bn) foreign aid package – including $60bn for Ukraine – after months of political wrangling, but it faces an uphill battle in the House of Representatives.Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to be able to continue fighting Russia – a much bigger military force with an abundance of artillery ammunition.Nato Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg warned on Thursday that the US failure to approve continued military assistance to Ukraine was already having an impact on the battlefield.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Smoke rises over an industrial site in Avdiivka on ThursdayIn his video address late on Thursday, President Zelensky said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure that our warriors have enough managerial and technological capabilities to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible.”On Friday, Mr Zelensky is visiting Berlin and Paris where is expected to sign security pacts with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.A similar agreement on security co-operation was signed between Ukraine and the UK in January.Late on Thursday, Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavsky admitted that “fierce battles” were taking place “within” Avdiivka.”We value every piece of Ukrainian land, but the highest value and priority for us is the preservation of the life of a Ukrainian soldier,” he said.Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s military spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy acknowledged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka were being forced to “sometimes move to more advantageous positions… in some places leaving positions”.Some Ukrainian soldiers have privately admitted the town could fall at any moment.”We’re upset,” Ukrainian officer Oleksii, from Ukraine’s 110th Mechanised Brigade in the Avdiivka area, told the BBC earlier this week, standing beside a huge mobile artillery piece as Russian guns boomed in the distance.”Currently we have two shells, but we have no [explosive] charges for them… so we can’t fire them. As of now, we have run out of shells,” said Oleksii. He suggested that the shortages were widespread and having a dramatic impact on the fighting in Avdiivka.”We feel a very strong responsibility for our guys fighting right now in the town, armed only with assault rifles.”Ukraine’s newly appointed commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited the frontline in the Avdiivka area this week, acknowledging that the situation there was “difficult”.He said the Russian military did not “count losses”, using its troops as cannon fodder.Kyiv says an elite Ukrainian brigade has now been sent to Avdiivka and reserve artillery has been deployed.In unverified reports, Russian military bloggers said on Thursday that a key Ukrainian defence position in southern Avdiivka – known as Zenit – was now under Moscow’s control.Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaUkraineMore on this storyUkraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined townPublished15 hours agoNothing but rubble: Ukraine’s shattered ghost town AvdiivkaPublished30 JanuaryFull cemeteries and empty homes: Ukrainians struggle to endurePublished1 day agoThe Ukrainians ‘disappearing’ in Russia’s prisonsPublished6 days agoTop StoriesLive. Labour overturn big Tory majorities in thumping by-election winsParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished7 hours agoGaza hospital in ‘catastrophic’ state as Israeli troops raidPublished8 hours agoFeaturesWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raid. VideoWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raidWill TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Elsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show3Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere4Get back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bass5Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm6Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing7McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape8Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?9Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine10The KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elites for decades

[ad_1] The US and Ukraine admit Ukrainian troops are running out of ammunition in the eastern town of Avdiivka.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 12.The
• 345page
• February 16, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaRobert Hur: Biden special counsel to testify before House RepublicansPublished43 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, In his report, Robert Hur said president Joe Biden’s recall of certain events is “extremely limited”By Nadine YousifBBC NewsSpecial Counsel Robert Hur, who was tasked with probing president Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, is set to testify before Congress in March. US media reported that Mr Hur will testify before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee on March 12.The news follows Mr Hur’s report in which he raised questions about the president’s memory and mental fitness.The 345-page report provoked a strong reaction from Mr Biden.”I know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve been president and I put this country back on its feet. I don’t need his recommendation,” the president said last week. House Republicans have indicated that they intend to ask Mr Hur about his comments on the president’s memory.They have also asked him to turn over recordings and transcripts of his interviews with Mr Biden, which he made during his year-long investigation. The report, which was published by the US Justice Department last week, said that Mr Biden would not face any criminal charges over “willfully” retaining and disclosing classified materials as a private citizen. The bombshell aspect of the report centred on one of the reasons Mr Hur gave for not prosecuting the 81-year-old president: Mr Biden’s memory. The special counsel wrote that Mr Biden would likely be viewed as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” by a jury, not as an individual who had committed a crime.That characterisation – one of the biggest issues facing his re-election campaign – did not sit well with Mr Biden, his allies, or his attorneys.A letter sent by White House Counsel Ed Siskel to Attorney General Merrick Garland prior to the release of Mr Hur’s report accused the special counsel of “openly, obviously, and blatantly” violating the Justice Department’s own policies by making comments about Mr Biden’s mental capacity, according to reports by Politico and the New York Times. “The Special Counsel can certainly and properly note that the President lacked memory of a specific fact or series of events,” wrote Mr Siskel in the letter, which was penned on 7 February but first reported on Thursday. “But his report goes further to include allegations that the President has a failing memory in a general sense, an allegation that has no law enforcement purpose.”The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Mr Hur’s report was penned after a year-long inquiry into Mr Biden’s handling of classified documents from his time as vice-president, which included interviews with the president. In it, the special counsel concluded that Mr Biden, 81, had “wilfully” retained classified files after leaving the vice-presidency in 2017. He then emphasised he would struggle to secure a conviction because of Mr Biden’s age, mental fitness, and demeanour.At times, he used specific moments that Mr Biden and his allies said were deeply personal.In one passage, he provided a pointed example of the president’s memory, writing that Mr Biden did not remember “even within several years when his son Beau died”.The report has buoyed criticism by some Republicans, who questioned Mr Biden’s mental capabilities and his old age as he vies for a second term in the White House.Meanwhile, Democrats have accused Mr Hur, a Republican who was previously tapped by former president Donald Trump for the role of US attorney for the District of Maryland, of political bias.Following the release of the report, Mr Biden held a surprise news conference in which he forcefully declared: “My memory is fine.””How the hell dare he raise that?” the president added, referring to the claim that he could not remember when his son died.Related TopicsUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyProsecutor faces political glare after Biden reportPublished6 days ago’My memory is fine’ – Biden hits back at special counselPublished6 days agoFive things in the Biden classified documents reportPublished7 days agoTop StoriesLive. Labour secure thumping double by-election winParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harmPublished6 hours agoGaza hospital in ‘catastrophic’ state as Israeli troops raidPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raid. VideoWhat we can see in video from Nasser hospital raidWill TikTok help take Saltburn from bathtubs to Baftas?Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?The brewing secrets behind tastier no-alcohol beerMillions of donkeys killed each year to make medicineWeekly quiz: Who could join Sinead in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?Methane mega-leak exposed in KazakhstanParents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm’Beyoncé can open UK country music floodgates’Elsewhere on the BBCThe biggest stories as you’ve never heard them beforeThe Asylum Seeker of Dibley, Rebel Without a Policy, and a nod to Steve WrightAttributionSoundsDouble lives, mental trickery, manipulation and loveVicky Pattison explores the story of a woman who was the target of an online fraudsterAttributionSoundsTime to turn your ‘side hustle’ into a full time job?Deborah Meaden talks about the positives and pitfalls of running your own businessAttributionSoundsThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsMost Read1Methane mega-leak exposed in Kazakhstan2BBC cuts Apprentice contestant from spin-off show3Chalamet and Zendaya fever hits Dune 2 premiere4McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated rape5Parents of Brianna and Molly join forces to combat online harm6Get back! Paul McCartney reunited with stolen bass7Two boys, 15, arrested over fatal Bristol stabbing8Millions of donkeys killed each year to make medicine9Trump faces a $370m fine. How would he pay it?10The KGB spy who rubbed shoulders with French elites for decades

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

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