BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael-Gaza war: UN chief urges probe into deadly aid convoy incidentPublished16 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, AFPImage caption, Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia said it had received dead and wounded from western Gaza CityBy Thomas MackintoshBBC NewsThe head of the UN has called for an independent investigation into the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians during an aid delivery in Gaza. At least 117 people were killed and more than760 injured on Thursday as they crowded around aid lorries.UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the incident and said “desperate civilians” need urgent help.Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after it fired warning shots.On Thursday international criticism of Israel mounted with French President Emmanuel Macron saying civilians had been “targeted by Israeli soldiers”.The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, described the incident as “totally unacceptable carnage”.Reacting to the incident, Mr Guterres wrote on social media: “I condemn Thursday’s incident in Gaza in which more than 100 people were reportedly killed or injured while seeking life-saving aid.””The desperate civilians in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the north where the UN has not been able to deliver aid in more than a week.”Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry called the incident a “massacre”.The UN Security Council scheduled a closed-door emergency meeting to discuss the incident, during which Algeria – the Arab representative of the body – put forward a draft statement blaming Israeli forces for “opening fire”.While 14 of the Council’s 15 members supported the motion, the US blocked it, according to AP news agency, citing the Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour who spoke to reporters afterwards. US envoy Robert Wood said the facts of the incident remained unclear.More than 30,000 killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry saysChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersThursday’s incident took place shortly after 04:45 (02:45 GMT) at the Nabulsi roundabout, on the south-western edge of Gaza City.A convoy of 30 lorries carrying Egyptian aid was making its way north along what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as a “humanitarian corridor” which it said its forces were securing. IDF’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said civilians surrounded the convoy and people began climbing on the lorries.”Some began violently pushing and even trampling other Gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies,” he said. “The unfortunate incident resulted in dozens of Gazans killed and injured.”Image source, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCESImage caption, The Israeli military released aerial video showing hundreds of Palestinians crowding round aid lorriesIsraeli tanks, he said, “cautiously tried to disperse the mob with a few warning shots” but pulled back “when the hundreds became thousands and things got out of hand”.Hamas rejected the IDF’s account, citing “undeniable” evidence of “direct firing at citizens, including headshots aimed at immediate killing”.The incident came hours before Gaza’s health ministry announced that more than 30,000 people, including 21,000 children and women, had been killed in Gaza since the start of the current conflict on 7 October. Some 7,000 were missing and 70,450 were injured, it said.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Devastation after dozens killed at Gaza aid dropMr Gutteres added: “I am appalled by the tragic human toll of the conflict in Gaza – more than 30,000 people reportedly killed and over 70,000 injured.”I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.”The executive director of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the UK, Natalie Roberts, said delivering aid to a starving population without adequate security was risking disaster.Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she said: “We know that there have been very few aid convoys in the last weeks in the north, people have been unable to get anything to eat.”We know from our own colleagues that they’re having to eat animal food, that they go without food for days on end sometimes. And so people are just completely desperate, and the minute you start trying to deliver food to the region without any sort of security for the convoy, then this was always going to happen.”The UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the territory, where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK and others – after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 back to Gaza as hostages.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelGazaUnited NationsMore on this storyGazans surviving off animal feed and rice as food dwindlesPublished10 FebruaryMore than 100 killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished2 hours agoWorld Food Programme stops deliveries to northern GazaPublished20 FebruaryMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysPublished15 hours agoTop StoriesLive. This is for Gaza, says Galloway on Rochdale by-election winChris Mason: Rochdale shows how Gaza is shaping UK politicsPublished25 minutes agoLive. Heavy police presence as people gather for Navalny’s funeralFeaturesWeekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?George Galloway: Latest win for political maverickWhere and when is Eurovision 2024 taking place?Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsWhy some singles are more likely to cut things off after bad datesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’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 weekElsewhere 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 BBC2Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows3Eleven people hospitalised after Kensington fire4Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry5This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win6Parts of UK may have had wettest February on record7Weekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?8Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’9Mystery sea creature discovered in UK waters 10More than one billion people now obese – study

[ad_1] At least 117 people were killed on Thursday as crowds gathered round aid lorries in Gaza City.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaGhana’s ECG cuts electricity to parliament over $1.8m debtPublished9 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, A back-up generator was used to power parliament’s main chamber until electricity was restored later in the dayGloria Aradi & Thomas NaadiBBC News, Nairobi & AccraThe state-run Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Thursday cut power supplies to the parliament over a debt of 23m Ghanaian cedi ($1.8m; £1.4m).The outage interrupted a debate on the president’s State of the Nation speech.A video shared by local media showed MPs in the dimly lit chamber chanting: “Dumsor, dumsor”, which means power outage in the local Akan language. Local media reported that a back-up power generator restored power to the chamber a few minutes later.But other parts of the parliament building remained without power for most of the day before supplies were restored.MPs and parliamentary staff who were using the elevator when the abrupt blackout hit were stuck, Ghana’s TV3 channel reported.The power company’s communications director William Boateng told Reuters news agency it had resorted to disconnecting power because of parliament’s refusal to “honour demand notices to pay up”.Electricity was restored later in the day after parliament paid 13m cedi and made a pledge to settle the remaining debt within a week, Mr Boateng added.Parliamentary finance official Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror denied that parliament owed the amount quoted by the power company.He said that the company’s system failed to record recent payments made by parliament and insisted that the outstanding power bill was about $950,000.Ghana’s electricity company, which is facing crippling financial difficulties, frequently disconnects power from indebted clients.”Disconnections are for everybody; anyone who doesn’t pay and fails to make arrangements, the team will disconnect,” Mr Boateng told Reuters.In recent years, power shortages have worsened as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in a decade, and these have become even more frequent in the past few months.Private electricity suppliers are owed $1.6bn by the state power company, according to Elikplim Kwabla Apetogbor, the head of the organisation representing them.Last July, they threatened to shut down operations over the arrears.Opposition MPs have urged the government to invest in the power sector to prevent it from collapsing. They have attributed the current challenges to a lack of funds to purchase fuel for the country’s thermal generation plants. More BBC stories from Ghana:Ghana IMF loan: Will $3bn solve the economic crisis?How Ghana’s central bank lost $5bn in one yearGhana passes bill making identifying as LGBTQ+ illegalBlitz Bazawule – the Ghanaian who dazzled Beyoncé takes on The Color PurpleTop StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished33 minutes agoSuicide poison seller tracked down by BBCPublished8 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?George Galloway: Latest win for political maverickWhy 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 weekElsewhere 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 BBC2Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows3Mystery sea creature discovered in UK waters 4’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral5Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’6Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry7This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win8Eleven people hospitalised after Kensington fire9Parts of UK may have had wettest February on record10Weekly quiz: What word had Mary Poppins reaching for a spoonful of sugar?

[ad_1] The outage interrupted a debate on the president’s State of the Nation speech before a generator kicked in.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael-Gaza war: More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished7 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Devastation after dozens killed at Gaza aid dropBy Paul Adams & David GrittenBBC News, in Jerusalem and LondonAt least 112 Palestinians are said to have been killed and 760 injured trying to get desperately needed aid in Gaza.Crowds descended on a convoy of lorries on the coastal road south-west of Gaza City, in the presence of Israeli tanks.Israel’s military say tanks fired warning shots but did not strike the lorries, adding may of the dead were trampled or run over.Hamas rejected Israel’s account, saying there was “undeniable” evidence of “direct firing at citizens”.The UN Security Council scheduled a closed-door emergency meeting to discuss the incident, during which Algeria – the Arab representative on the body – put forward a draft statement blaming Israeli forces for “opening fire”.While 14 of the council’s 15 members supported the motion, the US blocked it, according to AP news agency, citing Palestinian UN ambassador Riyad Mansour, who spoke to reporters afterwards. US envoy Robert Wood said the facts of the incident remained unclear.United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the incident, saying “the desperate civilians in Gaza need urgent help, including those in the north where the UN has not been able to deliver aid in more than a week”.Earlier US President Joe Biden expressed concern the incident would complicate efforts by mediators to broker a temporary ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas while France said “fire by Israeli soldiers against civilians trying to access food” was “unjustifiable”.Hamas has warned that talks in Qatar to try and secure a new ceasefire along side the release of Israeli hostages it is holding could now be jeopardised. Image source, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCESImage caption, The Israeli military released aerial video showing hundreds of Palestinians crowding round aid lorriesIsraeli aerial footage shows hundreds of people on and around the lorries, while graphic videos posted online show bodies loaded on to emptied aid lorries and a donkey cart.Thursday’s incident took place shortly after 04:45 (02:45 GMT) at the Nabulsi roundabout, on the south-western edge of Gaza City.A convoy of 30 lorries carrying Egyptian aid was making its way north along what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as a “humanitarian corridor” when it was surrounded by civilians, with people climbing on to the trucks.”Some began violently pushing and even trampling other Gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies,” said the IDF’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari. “The unfortunate incident resulted in dozens of Gazans killed and injured.” Israeli tanks, he said, “cautiously tried to disperse the mob with a few warning shots” but pulled back “when the hundreds became thousands and things got out of hand”.”No IDF strike was conducted towards the aid convoy,” he said, insisting the Israeli military had been trying to help the aid convoy reach its destination.A Palestinian witness, speaking to the BBC, described panic in the crowd and among the drivers, who tried to move forward. Most of those who died were run over, the witness added.Dozens of casualties in a critical or severe condition were brought to the nearby al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where medics were unable to cope with the number and severity of cases.One man at the hospital who was cradling the body of this dead friend, Tamer Shinbari, told the BBC he had gone to the Nabulsi roundabout hoping to get a bag of flour for his family. He said Israeli soldiers had opened fire “and the aid lorry ran over the bodies”.All or most of the casualties being treated at two other hospitals, Kamal Adwan and al-Awda, were said by officials there to have bullet or shrapnel wounds.Image source, AFPImage caption, Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia said it had received dead and wounded from western Gaza CityThe incident came hours before Gaza’s health ministry announced that more than 30,000 people, including 21,000 children and women, had been killed in Gaza since the start of the current conflict on 7 October. Some 7,000 were missing and 70,450 were injured, it said.The UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the territory, where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.The Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK and others – after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 253 hostages.More than 30,000 killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry saysChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersReacting to Thursday’s incident, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a rival of Hamas based in the occupied West Bank, accused Israeli forces of a “heinous massacre”.A spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres said he condemned the incident and called again for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages”.The north of Gaza suffered widespread devastation after being the focus of the first phase of the Israeli ground offensive and has been largely cut off from humanitarian assistance for several months.Last week, the World Food Programme said it had been forced to suspend aid deliveries to the area after its first convoy in three weeks had been surrounded by crowds of hungry people close to an Israeli checkpoint and had then faced gunfire in Gaza City. On Tuesday, a senior UN aid official warned that at least 576,000 people across the Gaza Strip – one quarter of the population – faced catastrophic levels of food insecurity and one in six children under the age of two in the north were suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting.Ten children died from dehydration and malnutrition at hospitals in northern Gaza in recent days, the health ministry said.Related TopicsIsrael & the PalestiniansIsrael-Gaza warIsraelPalestinian territoriesMore on this storyGazans surviving off animal feed and rice as food dwindlesPublished10 FebruaryWorld Food Programme stops deliveries to northern GazaPublished20 FebruaryTop StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished1 hour agoSuicide poison seller tracked down by BBCPublished6 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?George Galloway: Latest win for political maverickWhy 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 weekElsewhere 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 3Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’4’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral5Son of killed farmer describes devastation of TB6Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry7Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows8This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win9Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail10Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services

[ad_1] The incident came hours before Gaza’s health ministry announced that more than 30,000 people, including 21,000 children and women, had been killed in Gaza since the start of the…

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…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIran elections: Polls open in first elections since mass protestsPublished43 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated Topics2022 Iran protestsImage source, Majid Asgaripour/WANA via ReutersImage caption, Two men put up campaign posters on the last day of election campaigning, Wednesday, in Tehran.By Sofia Ferreira SantosBBC NewsVoting is under way in Iran as the country holds its first elections since the 2022 anti-government protests.Friday’s elections are seen as a crucial test of legitimacy and national support for Iran’s leadership – but a low turnout is expected.Voter apathy remains high following a period of unrest after the death of a young woman detained by morality police for wearing “improper” hijab.More than 61.2 million people are eligible to vote.Two separate polls are taking place on Friday: one to elect the next members of parliament, and another to elect members of the Assembly of Experts.The assembly selects and oversees Iran’s most powerful figure and commander-in-chief, the supreme leader – who makes key decisions on issues important to voters, such as social freedoms and economic conditions.On Thursday, current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who has held the position for more than three decades – encouraged voters to cast their ballots.Refraining from voting “would not solve anything”, he said.In the run-up to the elections, state media tried to encourage voting and build enthusiasm by airing dozens of elections specials and creating new channels to give candidates airtime.Voter turnout is expected to be low, however, with a state-linked polling agency projecting a 41% turnout for the parliamentary elections – which, if accurate, will be the lowest turnout in the past 12 such ballots.Many Iranians are reluctant to vote – or choosing not to – following the mass protests of 2022, which were triggered by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.A really simple guide to Iran’s protestsIran executions surged to ‘spread fear’ – reportIdentifying those killed in Iran’s protestsIran’s harsh crackdown on protesters saw hundreds of people killed and thousands injured. Many were arrested and remain in prison – and in some cases, received the death penalty.Since then, Iran’s political and social atmosphere has become more repressive and the public has become further dissatisfied with the government.This year, a record number of 15,200 candidates were approved to stand for the 290 seats in the parliamentary election – but only 30 were from the reformist camp.Reformists have described the elections as “meaningless, non-competitive, unfair, and ineffective in the administration of the country”.On Thursday, US spokesperson Matthew Miller said a “great number of Iranians” had no expectation that the elections would be free and fair.”The world has long known that Iran’s political system features undemocratic and non-transparent administrative, judicial and electoral systems,” he added.Polls opened at 08:00 (04:30 GMT) and are expected to remain open for 10 hours – though in previous elections voting time was extended up to midnight in some cases.Related TopicsIran2022 Iran protestsMore on this storyWhy Iranians look dimly on first chance to vote since unrestPublished19 hours agoIranian women ‘ready to pay the price’ for defying hijab rulesPublished2 days agoIran stops families marking protesters’ deathsPublished21 September 2023Top StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished27 minutes ago’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished5 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?Elsewhere 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 Read1Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail2Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC3Mystery sea creature discovered in UK waters 4Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’5Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services6Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows7’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral8Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry9Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’10This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win

[ad_1] A low voter turnout is expected in Iran’s elections following the 2022 protests over headscarf laws.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaWhite Island volcano: Tour operators ordered to pay millions to victimsPublished47 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, 22 people died in 2019 when the White Island volcano eruptedBy Frances MaoBBC NewsA New Zealand court has ordered NZ$10m (£4.8m; $6m) in compensation to the victims of the White Island volcano disaster, where 22 people died.In December 2019, 47 people were touring the volcano when it erupted, killing nearly half of the group and gravely injuring everyone else.The firms which owned the island and operated tours were found guilty last year of negligence and safety breaches.Their failure to provide proper checks had ruined many lives, the court said.The volcano had been showing signs of heightened activity in the weeks leading up to the eruption but operators ignored these, the court said.On Friday, the Auckland District Court ordered the company which owned the island, Whakaari Management Limited, to pay NZ$4.57m in damages to victims.Whakaari Management – named after the Maori name for the island – licenced tour groups to visit the volcano.The court also ordered White Island Tours, the company which had brought the tourists to the island for a walking tour, to pay NZ$4.68m in reparations. Three other tour companies, Volcanic Air Safaris, Aerius Limited and Kahu NZ Limited, were also ordered to pay damages. The privately owned volcano that is always activeSeventeen of the tourists who died were from Australia, with the others from the US, New Zealand and Germany. Affected visitors on the day had also come the UK, China and Malaysia.Judge Evangelos Thomas said in his judgement on Friday that the compensation was “no more than a token recognition” of the victims’ suffering. Families were broken after the death of loved ones, he acknowledged. Many of the survivors suffered terrible burns and were still enduring a painful toll.”The treatment was often painful, arduous, disheartening. For many it remains ongoing,” he said. “Many people grapple with disfigurement of one kind or another. It’s not just simply the physical injury that has caused such harm… the emotional consequences deepen the suffering. We acknowledge that harm.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A 2021 memorial in the New Zealand town of Whakatane to the tourists affected in the disasterPayments will be divided among the victims, with greater amounts to the families of the 22 people who were killed.In testimonies earlier this week, relatives of those who died told the court the “grief never goes away”.The mother of Hayden Marshall-Inman, a 40-year-old tour guide killed in the eruption, said: “When Hayds died on White Island, a part of me died. My heart carries the loss of him day and night.”The owners of the island, Whakaari Management, were also fined NZ$978,000 for breaching workplace safety laws.The firm’s owners previously faced individual criminal prosecutions over the deaths, but the charges were dropped last year.The disaster prompted the most extensive and complex investigation ever undertaken by WorkSafe NZ, which was also criticised for failing to monitor activities on the island between 2014 and 2019.Tourism activities on White Island have not resumed since the eruption.Some of the tourists who bought their tour ticket to Whakaari through Royal Caribbean Cruises have already reached settlements after suing the Florida-based company in the US.Related TopicsVolcanoesNew ZealandMore on this storyCompany found guilty over NZ volcano disasterPublished31 October 2023Top StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votesThis is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election winPublished24 minutes ago’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished4 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?Elsewhere 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 Read1Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail2Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC3Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’4Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services5Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows6Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry7Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’8’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral9This is for Gaza, says Galloway on by-election win10’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoy

[ad_1] The 2019 New Zealand volcano eruption killed 22 people and gravely injured 25 others.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityBusinessMarket DataEconomyYour MoneyCompaniesTechnology of BusinessCEO SecretsArtificial IntelligenceIndia economy beats expectations with 8.4% growthPublished48 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Mariko OiBusiness reporterIndia has retained its title of the world’s fastest growing major economy as it expanded by 8.4% in the last three months of 2023.The data comes as the country is set to hold a general election this year.Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that it shows “the strength of Indian economy and its potential”.India is forecast to overtake Japan and Germany as the world’s third biggest economy in the next few years.The better-than-expected growth was led by a strong performance by the country’s manufacturers, with the sector expanding by 11.6% in the period.Private consumption, which makes up almost two-thirds of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), also rose by 3.5%.People’s spending power was affected last year due to high prices of staple foods such as onions. That led to the government introducing a number of measures to help curb food price inflation.In recent years, Prime Minister Modi has raised government spending on infrastructure and offered incentives to boost the manufacturing of phones, electronics, drones and semiconductors to help India compete on the international market.On Thursday, the government gave the greenlight to the construction of three semiconductor plants worth 1.26 trillion rupees ($15.2bn; £12bn) by firms including Indian conglomerate Tata.But the agricultural sector, which accounts for about 15% of the $3.7tn (£2.93tn) economy, continued to struggle because of monsoon rains.Some farmers have been protesting to demand minimum crop prices.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects India’s economy to expand by 6.5% in 2024, compared with 4.6% for China.Beijing is under growing pressure to unveil stimulus measures to support the world’s second biggest economy which is facing a number of challenges including a property market crisis, high youth unemployment and falling prices, known as deflation.More on this storyIndia farmers to resume Delhi march over crop pricesPublished20 FebruaryCash rules in India despite digital payment boomPublished19 December 2023Why India’s soaring food inflation is a global problemPublished30 August 2023Top StoriesLive. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election by nearly 6,000 votes’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished3 hours agoSuicide poison seller tracked down by BBCPublished2 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC2Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail3Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows4Olly Alexander reveals the UK’s Eurovision entry5Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’6Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services7Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’8’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral9’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoy10Airport borders not working properly, report found

[ad_1] The strong figures come just months before the country is due to hold a general election.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaBiden and Trump make competing trips to US-Mexico borderPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Biden and Trump at the border: How the visits played outBy Angelica Casas, Sarah Smith & Tom Bateman in Texas & Mike Wendling in Chicago, IllinoisBBC NewsPresident Joe Biden and Donald Trump have made competing visits to the US border in Texas, each seeking to stress they can tackle illegal immigration.The issue is one of the most polarising in US politics, and will be central to this year’s presidential election.November’s contest looks likely to be another showdown between the two men.Mr Biden accused his Republican rival – who spoke of the “very dangerous” situation at the border – of hindering his efforts to crackdown on crossings.Republicans in the House of Representatives have blocked bipartisan border reforms, in what Democrats say is an effort masterminded by Mr Trump to deny them a win before the election.In Texas, Mr Trump said he would “take care” of the issue of illegal immigration if he was re-elected. He has previously promised mass deportations if he wins power again. The issue is an intense focus because more than 6.3 million migrants have been detained crossing into the US illegally during Mr Biden’s tenure – a higher number than under previous presidencies. However, experts say the reasons for the spike are complex – with some factors pre-dating his government and sitting outside American control. Why do so many migrants want to cross from Mexico to the US?In his speech, Mr Trump said “thousands” of migrants from the Middle East and Africa were illegally crossing from Mexico. In fact, the majority of those caught doing so are from Latin America.He also attacked what he has recently termed “Biden migrant crime”, although there is no national data giving evidence of migrant-driven crime waves in US cities. Supporters and protesters alike assembled during Mr Trump’s visit to Eagle Pass, a Democrat-run town where Republicans are making political headway by attacking Mr Biden’s running of the border.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The president met border officials in Brownsville, and urged Mr Trump to join him in his plans for border reformsEnriqueta Diaz, 81, told the BBC she backed Mr Trump’s proposals to further militarise the border. “You have to follow the law,” she said, pointing out that her own mother, a Mexican, had gone through a citizenship process herself. Mr Trump met the state governor, Republican Greg Abbott, who has battled the federal government by trying to use powers of his own to halt illegal crossings – as well as bussing migrants to northern cities.Meanwhile, Mr Biden – who quipped that he did not realise his “good friend” Mr Trump was due to visit Texas on the same day – headed to meet border officials in Brownsville.Speaking after Mr Trump, he stressed the urgency of action and need for more resources to police the border. The bipartisan border reform bill had been “derailed by rank partisan politics”, he said.He launched a direct appeal to his rival to “join me” on the issue. The president travelled to Texas with Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has became the target of Republican fury over the illegal immigration issue.Earlier this month, Mr Mayorkas became the first US cabinet member to be impeached over accusations from his political adversaries that he had failed to do enough to stop illegal migration.Mr Biden has defended his colleague, who is unlikely to be convicted because the US Senate is narrowly controlled by members of his party. Image source, ReutersImage caption, Mr Trump met the state’s Republican governor Greg Abbott (in a white shirt) in Eagle Pass, where he attacked Mr Biden’s running of the borderMr Trump has made the issue of illegal immigration central to his political career, and embarked on the building of a border wall with Mexico during his 2016-20 presidency.He is only opposed by Nikki Haley in his quest to win the Republican nomination to run for the White House again. On the Democratic side, Mr Biden is largely uncontested in his own presidential bid.Where Biden and Trump differ – and overlap – on immigration policyThe importance of the border issue has been highlighted by polling. More than two-thirds of respondents to a poll in January by the BBC’s US partner CBS said they disapproved of Mr Biden’s handling of it.In another Texan border city, Laredo, the manager of a community centre described to the BBC how border agents were bussing migrants and asylum centres because they were “overwhelmed”.Far beyond Texas, the influx of illegal migrants has pushed processing facilities and social services in major American cities to the brink – straining Mr Biden’s ties with some Democratic state officials.Image caption, Dilcia Guillen-Oliva, from Venezuela, was struggling to find a place in a shelter after arriving in ChicagoMigrants who recently arrived in Chicago – having been sent there from Texas under the initiative of Mr Abbott – described to the BBC their struggles finding shelter and work.Karen Diaz, who entered the US last month from Venezuela with her three young children, said she simply wanted a steady job rather than handouts.Dilcia Guillen-Oliva, who arrived from Honduras just five days ago, said she had been sleeping in a church and on public buses as she struggled to find place in a shelter. In a separate development on Thursday, a federal judge blocked a controversial new law planned by Mr Abbott in Texas that would criminalise illegal border crossings under the threat of jail-time.SB4, as it is known, intends to give officials sweeping powers to arrest anyone suspected of illegally crossing from Mexico. But in his ruling, the judge sided with the Biden administration, which argues that the planned legislation would interfere with the powers of the federal government. Mr Abbott has vowed to appeal.Related TopicsDonald Trump’s border wallMexico–US borderUS election 2024Donald TrumpJoe BidenMore on this storyJudge blocks controversial Texas SB4 border lawPublished6 hours agoThree reasons why US border crossings at record highPublished3 days agoWhere do Biden and Trump differ on immigration?Published1 day agoTop StoriesLive. Result in Rochdale by-election expected shortly’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished2 hours agoSuicide poison seller tracked down by BBCPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Papers: Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail2Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows3Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services4’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral5Suicide poison seller tracked down by BBC6Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’7Gaza convoy ‘chaos’ and rogue police ‘hiding in plain sight’8’More than 100’ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoy9TikTok singer Cat Janice dies of cancer, aged 3110Airport borders not working properly, report found

[ad_1] The two likely presidential candidates make speeches in an effort to show they can tackle illegal crossings.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityUKEnglandN. IrelandScotlandAlbaWalesCymruIsle of ManGuernseyJerseyLocal NewsPoison seller tied to suicide forum tracked down by BBCPublished14 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: BBC doorsteps Leonid ZakutenkoBy Angus Crawford and Tony SmithBBC NewsA Ukrainian man selling a poison thought to be linked to at least 130 UK deaths has been identified by the BBC.Leonid Zakutenko advertised his services on a website promoting suicide and he told an undercover reporter he sends five parcels a week to the UK. He has been supplying the same substance as Canadian Kenneth Law, who was arrested last year and is now facing 14 murder charges. Mr Zakutenko denied the claims when challenged by the BBC.He was tracked down to his home in Kyiv and denied that he sold the deadly chemical, which the BBC is choosing not to name. However, our investigation found that he has been supplying the substance for years.The chemical can legally be sold in the UK, but only to companies using it for a legitimate purpose. Suppliers must not sell to customers unless they have carried out basic checks on what the substance is to be used for.It can prove fatal if ingested in even small doses.’Contemptible’Zakutenko was described as a “contemptible and evil human being” by the family of twin sisters Linda and Sarah, who died in London last year after the Ukranian supplied them with poison. Linda was given “easy access to a ‘death kit’ for a few pounds” after finding out about the seller on a well-known suicide forum, according to sister Helen Kite. She described her sisters, 54, as “intelligent, caring and articulate”. If you’ve been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action LineMs Kite said that the lack of action by the authorities to prevent her sisters and many others getting access to the chemical was “a national disgrace”. The chemical Zakutenko sells is openly discussed on the forum used by Linda, with members advising one another on how to buy and then use it. The chemical may be linked to more than 130 UK deaths since 2019, according to scientist Prof Amrita Ahluwalia, an expert in vascular pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London. She analysed blood and other samples from people who had died, which were sent to her from pathologists and police around the UK.Image source, Lee DurantImage caption, Prof Ahluwalia’s analysis indicates more than 130 deaths could have been caused by the chemicalOf 187 tests she found 71% showed high traces of the chemical, indicating that at least 133 people may have died as a result of ingesting it.”Something needs to be done,” Prof Ahluwalia said. “With what it’s being used for, there has to be a full investigation of the issues. It has to be regulated so that its use is for its intended purposes.”Murder chargesChef Kenneth Law was arrested in Canada in May 2023 and has now been charged with 14 counts of murder and of aiding suicide.. He is thought to have sold the chemical more than 1,200 times to buyers in 40 countries around the world and is linked to at least 93 deaths in the UK.Our investigation found that Zakutenko has been selling the same chemical since at least November 2020.He also offers three different prescription medicines, referred to in online suicide guides.He even briefly promoted his service on the same suicide forum as Mr Law.Since then, users have passed on his contact details through direct messages.Image caption, Zakutenko was confronted in Kyiv by the BBCWe traced Zakutenko to a small flat in a Soviet-era tower block in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.We challenged him outside his local post office where he had been posting more parcels.We asked him why he was sending a poisonous chemical to people who wanted to end their lives.”That is a lie,” he told us, before putting his hand over our camera and trying to walk away.We know that at least one of the parcels contained the chemical because we placed an order that day and received a tracking number shortly after Zakuetenko left the post office.When asked what he had to say to the families of the dead, he replied: “I don’t understand what you are talking about”.Firmer actionDavid Parfett’s son Tom, 22, bought the same chemical from Kenneth Law, and used it to end his life in October 2021.Mr Parfett now campaigns to shut down the suicide forum and stop sellers like Zakutenko.The British authorities have known about the chemical and the online trade since at least September 2020, when they were alerted by a coroner who examined the death of 23 year-old Joe Nihill. Image caption, Tom Parfett and Joe NihillThe coroner wrote to police, the chief coroner and a chemical supplier warning them about the lethal trade in the substance. Suicide website linked to 50 UK deaths still active despite warningsSince then, coroners across England have written to different government departments on at least five occasions recommending action be taken about the chemical and the suicide forum. Mr Parfett bought a consignment from Zakutenko in December 2023 because he wanted to test the system to see if the authorities would intercept the parcel. He had a “welfare check” from police a few days after placing the order, but he still received the chemical within weeks and did not receive another police visit. “I still can’t believe that was happening today, with everything we know now about the number of deaths,” said Mr Parfett.Similar welfare checks on UK buyers were carried out after Kenneth Law was arrested in Canada.The National Crime Agency has confirmed that there are cases of people – who bought the substance from Law – dying after police had carried out welfare checks.”Such cases are addressed by police forces in line with their policies and national guidelines,” a spokesperson said. Image source, FacebookImage caption, Kenneth Law traded on the same forum as Zakutenko and is linked to at least 93 deaths in the UKMr Parfett and Ms Kite are both calling for firmer action to be taken against the forum where their loved ones Tom and Linda found out about the chemical.Ms Kite described the site as “an abomination, preying, unimpeded by the authorities, on the most vulnerable and causing untold misery and suffering for those left behind”. The government says the new Online Safety Act, which became law last year should help restrict access to this kind of forum.Related TopicsSocial mediaUK governmentSuicide preventionMental healthUkraineMore on this storyCanadian ‘poison killer’ to head straight to trialPublished2 FebruarySuicide website linked to 50 UK deaths still active despite warningsPublished24 October 2023Top StoriesLive. Results just hours away in Rochdale by-election’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoyPublished1 hour agoSarah Everard killer should never have been police officer, says inquiryPublished8 hours agoFeaturesAnalysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate growsChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersMore than 30,000 killed in Gaza, health ministry saysWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady Cook. VideoWatch: Hairy Biker Dave Myers rides on to Ready Steady CookListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + Islamophobia. AudioListen: Sadiq Khan on Sarah Everard Murder + IslamophobiaAttributionSounds’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeralUK asylum backlog falls with record approvalsPostcode check: How’s the NHS coping in your area?What are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1Trans prisoner Tiffany Scott dies in jail2Analysis: A royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate grows3Nineteen councils can sell assets to cover services4Dave Myers’ wife remembers ‘wonderful, brave man’5’No hearse’ for Navalny as family prepares funeral6TikTok singer Cat Janice dies of cancer, aged 317’More than 100′ die in crowd near Gaza aid convoy8Airport borders not working properly, report found9MP Julian Knight will face no criminal charges10Sarah killer should not have been in Met – inquiry

[ad_1] Ukrainian Leonid Zakutenko sells a type of chemical online thought to be linked to at least 130 UK deaths.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWilliam Ruto and Bola Tinubu: Africa’s ‘flying presidents’ under firePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Critics have targeted both Kenyan President William Ruto (L) and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (R) for the number of trips they have madeBy Basillioh RukangaBBC NewsSince Kenya’s William Ruto and Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu became presidents, they have faced similar criticism over their frequent trips abroad.The two men have been the subject of unflattering descriptions – the costs associated with their alleged penchant for air travel often contrasted with tough economic conditions at home.A Kenyan newspaper, the Standard, nicknamed Mr Ruto the “Flying President”. It said “so great is his love for flying that it appears that he cannot pass up any opportunity” despite pressing domestic demands, such as dealing with the high cost of living.Last month, as Mr Tinubu made yet another trip to Europe, Nigeria’s opposition leader Atiku Abubakar said on social media that Nigeria does not need a “tourist-in-chief”. He criticised the president’s private visit “while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity”. This in some ways can be seen as a cheap shot, easily levelled by any critic. Presidents need to attend heads-of-state meetings and nurture foreign relations. This is important not only for diplomatic reasons, but also economic ones, as lucrative investment deals can be negotiated.But some have pointed out that late Tanzanian President John Magufuli never travelled outside Africa in his six years in office.’Personal glorification’Kenyan foreign policy analyst Prof Macharia Munene acknowledges that some trips are necessary but says others are undoubtedly “wasteful”.”You have presidents who love to be in the air… Some of these trips are personal glorifications, not so much for the country,” he told the BBC.Mr Ruto and Mr Tinubu and their spokespeople defend their trips as being vital to help address the very problems they are accused of ignoring.In the eight months since his inauguration, Mr Tinubu has made 14 trips – an average of just under two a month – but this is dwarfed by Mr Ruto, who has made about 50 journeys abroad since he became president in 2022 – averaging more than three a month.In comparison, Mr Ruto’s predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, averaged just over one foreign trip a month in his decade in charge, similar to the record of Nigeria’s previous president, Muhammadu Buhari. Other world leaders have also notched up the air miles, but Mr Ruto and Mr Tinubu face continued questions over whether every trip is necessary.The Nigerian and Kenyan leaders were both in Europe at the end of last month – Mr Ruto in Italy attending the Italy-Africa summit while Mr Tinubu was continuing his unexplained “private visit” to France, the third time he has been in the country since last May. Since then, Mr Ruto has been on other trips. In June 2023, just three weeks after assuming office, Mr Tinubu travelled to Paris for a two-day climate summit. He had already been there months earlier “to rest” and plan the transition shortly after being elected president. From Paris he went on to the UK for private talks with his predecessor, who had also travelled to “rest” after the elections. A week later, Mr Tinubu went to Guinea-Bissau for a meeting of West African bloc Ecowas, followed by a trip to Nairobi.In August he visited Benin, and in September India, the United Arab Emirates and the US for the UN General Assembly before returning to Paris. He was home for the whole of October before resuming travels with a trip to Saudi Arabia, then Guinea-Bissau and Germany at the end of November and a week later travelled to Dubai.The Nigerian presidency has said the trips are important for attracting foreign investment.”On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business,” President Tinubu said in his 2024 New Year message.Mr Ruto’s travel schedule since his inauguration in 2022 has been even more hectic. Between September of that year and last December he had travelled abroad at least twice every month. In May 2023 he made five trips. He has travelled to various African countries, Europe and the US for global events and bilateral meetings.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Kenya’s President William Ruto (R) was one of Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s guests as she hosted a summit of African leadersThis year, in January, he has been in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy. And already this month, Mr Ruto has been to Japan and the UAE.There is not just the question of frequency, but also the question of cost.Mr Tinubu is said to have spent at least 3.4bn naira ($2.2m; £1.8m) on domestic and foreign travel in the first six months of his presidency – 36% more than the budgeted amount for 2023, the Nigerian newspaper Punch reported, citing GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government spending.In Kenya, the Controller of Budget, an independent office that oversees government spending, showed a significant increase in the office of the president’s travel expenditure in the year to July last year – which included nine months of Mr Ruto’s presidency. Overall spending for both domestic and foreign travel for the year was over 1.3bn Kenyan shillings ($9.2m; £7.3m), exceeding the travel budget for the previous year by more than 30%.The Kenyan government spokesman did not respond to the BBC’s questions about Mr Ruto’s trips, though the president and the spokesman have often justified them.Mr Ruto himself has said he does not “travel like a tourist” and the trips are necessary to get foreign investment and create employment for Kenyans abroad – he recently said he had secured more than 300,000 job opportunities through negotiations.After the recent trip to Japan, Mr Ruto said he had secured deals worth more than $2.3bn.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera was in Saudi Arabia in November shortly before halting all foreign tripsWhile stressing the benefits of the presidential trips, both Nigeria and Kenya have also taken some action to counter the criticism of government employees travelling abroad.Kenya said it had cut its civil service travel budget by 50% in the wake of accusations of “wastage” on domestic and foreign trips. But this does not seem to have affected the president himself, who has said he will not shun trips as long as they are beneficial. Last month, the Nigerian president announced a reduction in the official travel delegation by about 60%. The directive announced by his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale included cutting down the president’s own travel entourage, but did not say whether he would cut the number of his trips.Yet is not just Kenya and Nigeria where the cost of travel has been a concern.As Congolese citizens prepared to go the polls last year, one of the criticisms of President Félix Tshisekedi was the number of trips he had made, with allegations that there was little to show for it.Last November, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera suspended all international travel for himself and his ministers, and ordered all those abroad to return due to the economic problems the country was facing.Some other countries that have also had to address travel spending by government officials since last year include Uganda, The Gambia, Namibia and Sierra Leone, with the leaders of the latter two labelled by local newspapers the “flying president” – just like Kenya’s Mr Ruto.You may also be interested in:Paul Biya: Cameroon’s ‘absentee president’Kenya’s leader compared to biblical tax collector Ruto’s rise from chicken seller to Kenya’s presidentBola Tinubu – the ‘godfather’ who now leads NigeriaRelated TopicsKenyaNigeriaAround the BBCBBC Focus on Africa podcastTop StoriesIsrael sets deadline for ground offensive in RafahPublished43 minutes agoMurder arrest after three young children found dead in BristolPublished3 hours ago‘Without painkillers, we leave patients to scream for hours’Published8 hours agoFeaturesWho won what at the Bafta Awards – the full listWatch Baftas 2024 best bits… in two minutes. 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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersCloseJury selection is under way in Donald Trump’s New York City hush-money trial, with hundreds of people selected as potential jurors.They must answer a questionnaire to determine, among other things, if they can be impartial about the former president.The BBC asked some of those questions to Manhattan residents.SubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New Yorkers. Video, 00:02:16Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes ago2:16Up Next. A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trial. Video, 00:01:15A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trialSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished19 hours agoUp Next1:15Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouse. Video, 00:01:12Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouseSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:12Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 seconds. Video, 00:01:00Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 secondsSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished31 March 20231:00Editor’s recommendationsCopenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fire. Video, 00:01:03Copenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fireSubsectionEuropePublished12 hours ago1:03Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchange. Video, 00:00:43Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchangeSubsectionEuropePublished11 hours ago0:43Dormice ladders built in the Forest of Dean. Video, 00:00:51Dormice ladders built in the Forest of DeanSubsectionGloucestershirePublished1 day ago0:51Liz Truss: The world was safer under Trump. Video, 00:00:35Liz Truss: The world was safer under TrumpSubsectionUK PoliticsPublished22 hours ago0:35Huge fires blaze along Miami highway. Video, 00:00:33Huge fires blaze along Miami highwaySubsectionUS & CanadaPublished12 hours ago0:33Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debate. Video, 00:00:34Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debateSubsectionEuropePublished21 hours ago0:34Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong wind. Video, 00:00:24Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong windSubsectionStoke & StaffordshirePublished1 day ago0:24Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazzi. Video, 00:00:28Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazziSubsectionEntertainment & ArtsPublished1 day ago0:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LA. Video, 00:01:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LASubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:28

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityUKEnglandN. IrelandScotlandAlbaWalesCymruIsle of ManGuernseyJerseyLocal NewsFirst product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealedPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Meghan pictured at a polo match in Florida last weekBy Sean CoughlanRoyal correspondentA first glimpse of the new business venture from the Duchess of Sussex has been teased on social media, with pictures of a jar of strawberry jam.In a bid to preserve a sense of mystery, the jam from the new American Riviera Orchard brand seemed to be spread among friends and influencers.Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a picture of the jam on Instagram.It was numbered “17 of 50”, suggesting the number of recipients of this first fruit of the new business.The arrival of Meghan’s new California-based lifestyle brand had been signalled on social media last month and this suggests that it will be selling food products.What do we know about Meghan’s new brand?Five things about Harry and Meghan’s brand revampWhy did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal Family?There seemed to be have been something of a re-launch for Meghan and husband Prince Harry’s brands and businesses this year, beginning with the overhaul of their regal-looking website under the sussex.com label.Their latest projects seem to be moving away from a previous focus on their time as working royals, such as their Netflix film Harry and Meghan and Prince Harry’s memoir Spare.The hint about the strawberry jam from Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand seems to fit with the couple’s latest Netflix plans.Meghan is going to launch a Netflix show which will “celebrate the joys of cooking and gardening, entertaining, and friendship”.Prince Harry will be involved in another Netflix venture showing the inside track on the world of polo. That’s the equestrian sport, not the mints.Delfina Blaquier, married to Prince Harry’s polo-playing friend Nacho Figueras, also posted a picture of the new jam, with hers labelled “10 of 50”.The social media trail for American Riviera Orchard evokes a sense of the couple’s home in California – and this soft launch for the jam show pictures of the jars in a sunny basket of lemons.It’s not known how much items from the new lifestyle brand will cost. Although there are already plenty of other royals getting into jams. Visitors to the gift shops in royal palaces can get a Buckingham Palace Strawberry Preserve for £3.95 or Windsor Castle Fine Cut Seville Orange Marmalade, also for £3.95.On both sides of the Atlantic they seem to be conserving their finances.Related TopicsUK Royal FamilyMeghan, Duchess of SussexMore on this storyWhat we know about Meghan’s regal lifestyle brandPublished16 MarchMeghan launches surprise new lifestyle brandPublished14 MarchTop StoriesMPs back smoking ban for those born after 2009Published8 minutes agoMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished2 hours agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished7 hours agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlinePlaying Coachella after cancer emotional, says DJHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Nursery boss ‘killed baby she strapped to beanbag’2Birmingham Airport flights disrupted by incident3Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge4First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed5MPs back smoking ban for those born after 20096Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference7Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames8Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline9Marten a ‘lioness’ who ‘loved her cubs’, court told10Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSupreme Court hears 6 Jan case that may hit Trump trialPublished2 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS Capitol riotsImage source, Brent StirtonImage caption, Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol after holding a “Stop the Steal” rally on 6 January, 2021By Nadine YousifBBC NewsThe US Supreme Court have begun hearing a case that could undo charges for those who stormed the Capitol in 2021. It focuses on whether a 2002 federal law created to prevent corporate misconduct could apply to individuals involved in the 6 January riots. More than 350 people have been charged in the incident under that law, which carries a 20-year prison penalty.Donald Trump faces the same charge in the pending federal case accusing him of election interference. The law makes it a crime to “corruptly” obstruct or impede an official proceeding. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justices heard two hours of arguments over the law’s interpretation. However, it remained unclear how they would rule. A lawyer for a man who stormed the Capitol and was prosecuted under the law argued before the Justices that “a host of felony and misdemeanour” crimes already exist to prosecute his clients actions.The 2002 law passed in the wake of the Enron accounting scandal, Jeffrey Green said, was not one of them. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar counterargued that rioters deliberately attempted “to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the election,” therefore obstructing an official proceeding. Both fielded sceptical questions from the Justices. At one point, Mr Green argued that there is no historical precedent in which the law was used to prosecute demonstrators.Justice Sonia Sotomayor replied: “We’ve never had a situation before where (there was an attempt) to stop a proceeding violently, so I am not sure what a lack of history proves.”On the other hand, Ms Prelogar fielded questions from Justice Neil Gorusch on whether the law could then be stretched to apply to a “sit-in that disrupts a trial” or “a heckler” at the State of the Union Address. “Would pulling a fire alarm before a vote qualify for 20 years in federal prison?” he asked, appearing to reference an incident in which Jamaal Bowman, Democrat House representative, pressed a fire alarm in the Capitol.How the top court rules could have wide-ranging effects on the hundreds of people charged, convicted or sentenced under the law, as well as the prosecution of Mr Trump. Here is a breakdown of the key players and the law being argued: What is the 2002 federal law at the centre of the trial?The law is called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It was passed in response to the Enron scandal in the early 2000s, after it was exposed that those involved had engaged in massive fraud and shredding documents. It criminalizes the destruction of evidence – like records or documents. But it also penalises anyone who “otherwise obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so.” How has it been used in response to the 6 January riots?Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has brought obstruction charges against those who participated in the storming of the Capitol. Federal prosecutors argue they did so to impede Congress’ certification of the presidential electoral vote count to cement Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Therefore, the latter portion of the law that deals with obstructing an “official proceeding” would apply, the DoJ says. Who is challenging the law’s use in this case, and why? The Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the law’s application brought forward by a former Pennsylvania police officer.Joseph Fischer was charged under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with obstruction of a congressional proceeding on 6 January, as well as assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. His lawyers argue that prosecutors overreached with applying the Act, which they say deals explicitly with destroying or tampering with evidence integral to an investigation. Those who challenge the law’s application in 6 January cases also argue that a broad interpretation of the law would allow the prosecution of lobbyists or protestors who disrupt matters in Congress.How could the Supreme Court ruling impact Trump?The former president is charged under the very same law in a federal case accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Mr Biden.If Supreme Court justices rule that the law does not apply to the 6 January rioters, Mr Trump could seek dismissal of half the charges he faces in that case.It also could be seen as a political win for the former president, who is seeking re-election in November, as he repeatedly has accused prosecutors of overreach. A final ruling is not expected until June. Related TopicsUS Capitol riotsDonald TrumpMore on this storySupreme Court to hear appeal over Capitol riot chargePublished13 December 2023A very simple guide to Trump’s indictmentsPublished25 August 2023Supreme Court asked to rule on Trump’s immunityPublished12 December 2023Top StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished1 hour agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoNo liberty in addiction, says health secretary on smoking banPublished4 minutes agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2Birmingham Airport suspends flights over incident3First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed4Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference5Marten a ‘lioness’ who ‘loved her cubs’, court told6Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline7Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames8No liberty in addiction, says minister on smoking ban9Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single10Boy, 4, dies after fire at family home in Wigan

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNational Conservatism Conference: Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels eventPublished4 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Nigel Farage said the decision to shut the conference down was as an attempt to stifle free speechBy Nick Beake in Brussels and Laura GozziBBC NewsBrussels police have been ordered to shut down a conference attended by right-wing politicians across Europe, including Nigel Farage and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.Organisers say the National Conservatism Conference in the Belgian capital is continuing, but guests are no longer allowed to enter. Local authorities had raised concerns over public safety.A UK spokeswoman called reports of police action “extremely disturbing”. She said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was a “strong supporter and advocator for free speech” and that he was “very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result”.Alexander De Croo, the Belgian prime minister, said that the shutting down of the conference was “unacceptable”.Referring to the fact that it was the local mayor, Emir Kir, who opposed the conference, Mr De Croo added that while municipal autonomy was a cornerstone of Belgium’s democracy it could “never overrule the Belgian constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech”. “Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop,” Mr De Croo wrote on X.In a message to organisers, Mr Kir had said some of the attendees of Tuesday’s conference held anti-gay and anti-abortion views. “Among these personalities there are several particularly from the right-conservative, religious right and European extreme right,” his statement said.Mr Kir also wrote on X: “The far right is not welcome.”Nigel Farage, who took to the stage this morning, told the BBC the decision to close down the conference because there were homophobes in the audience was “cobblers”, and that he condemned the decision as an attempt to stifle free speech. “Thank God For Brexit”, he said.Organised by a think-tank called the Edmund Burke Foundation, the National Conservatism Conference is a global movement which espouses what it describes as traditional values, which it claims are being “undermined and overthrown”. It also opposes further European integration.The conference said it aimed to bring together “public figures, journalists, scholars and students” who understood the connection between conservatism and the idea of nationhood and national traditions. French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, arriving for the conference after police had blocked the entrance, told journalists that Mr Kir was “using the police as a private militia to prevent… Europeans from taking part freely”.Organisers said Mr Zemmour was not allowed into the venue and that his address would be postponed.Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and far-right French politician Eric Zemmour were listed as keynote speakers. The National Conservatism Conference reportedly started around 08:00 (06:00 GMT) on Tuesday and carried on for three hours until police showed up and asked the organisers to make attendees leave.Later, organisers wrote on X: “The police are not letting anyone in. People can leave, but they cannot return. Delegates have limited access to food and water, which are being prevented from delivery. Is this what city mayor Emir Kir is aiming for?”Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki were due to speak tomorrow. Earlier, the organisers said on X that they would challenge the order to shut the conference down. “The police entered the venue on our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Is it possible they witnessed how peaceful the event is?,” they wrote on X.The Claridge event space – located near Brussels’s European Quarter – can host up to 850 people. Around 250 people were in attendance on Tuesday afternoon.Mohamed Nemri, the owner of Claridge, told the BBC he had decided to host the event because “we don’t reject any party…. even if we don’t have the same opinion. That’s normal”.”I am Muslim and people have different opinion and that’s it. We are living in a freedom country. I’d like to people to talk freely,” he added.It is the third venue that was supposed to hold the event, after the previous two fell through. Belgian media reported that one venue pulled out after pressure by a group called the “Antifascist coordination of Belgium”.Related TopicsBelgiumTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished43 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed3Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference4Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline5Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9Sons of McCartney and Lennon release joint single10Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNasa says part of International Space Station crashed into Florida homePublished40 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NASAImage caption, The recovered object was part of a stanchion used to mount batteries to a cargo palletBy Max MatzaBBC NewsUS space agency Nasa confirmed that an object that crashed into a home in Florida earlier this month was part of the International Space Station (ISS). The metal object was jettisoned from the orbiting outpost in March 2021, Nasa said on Monday after analysing the sample at the Kennedy Space Center.The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object tore through two layers of ceiling after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Homeowner Alejandro Otero said his son was nearly injured by the impact. Nasa said the object was part of some 5,800lbs of hardware that was dumped by the station after it had new lithium-ion batteries installed. “The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry through Earth’s atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, a piece of hardware survived and impacted a home in Naples, Florida,” the agency said.The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet. The object, made from metal alloy Inconel, has dimensions of 4in by 1.6in (10.1cm by 4cm).Mr Otero told CBS affiliate Wink-TV that the device created a “tremendous sound” as it blasted into his home.”It almost hit my son. He was two rooms over and heard it all,” he said.”I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage,” Mr Otero continued.”I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt.”According to Nasa, the ISS will “perform a detailed investigation” on how the debris survived burn-up.What’s the risk of being hit by falling space debris?Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkSpace junk has been a growing a problem. Earlier this month, sky watchers in California watched mysterious golden streaks moving through the night sky.US officials later determined that the light show was caused by burning debris from a Chinese rocket re-entering earth’s orbit.In February, a Chinese satellite known as “Object K” burned up as it re-entered the atmosphere over Hawaii.Last year, a barnacle-covered giant metal dome found on a Western Australian beach was identified as a component of an Indian rocket. There are plans to display it alongside chunks of Nasa’s Skylab, which crashed in Australia in 1979. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Object thought to be a satellite burns up on re-entering Earth’s atmosphereRelated TopicsSpace debrisNasaFloridaUnited StatesMore on this storyIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkPublished3 AprilRobot dog trains to walk on Moon in Oregon trialsPublished3 days agoTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished50 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished4 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed3Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference4Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline5Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care10Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice forever

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaFormer Marine jailed for nine years for bombing abortion clinicPublished7 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS abortion debateImage source, CBSBy Max MatzaBBC NewsA former US Marine has been jailed for nine years for firebombing a California Planned Parenthood clinic and plotting other attacks to spark a “race war”.Chance Brannon, 24, pleaded guilty to the March 2022 attack on the healthcare clinic, which provides abortions in some of its locations.He also plotted to attack Jewish people and an LGBT pride event taking place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. At the time of his arrest, he was an active duty member of the US Marines. Prosecutors said Brannon was a neo-Nazi who frequently spoke of “cleansing” the US of “particular ethnic groups”. In November, Brannon pleaded guilty to conspiracy, destruction of property, possession of an explosive and intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility.Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said the attack “was designed to terrorise patients seeking reproductive healthcare and the people who provide it”.The explosion damaged the front entrance to the clinic in Costa Mesa, Orange County. No one was injured.However, Mehtab Syed, of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said Brannon’s “deep-rooted hatred and extremist views… could have killed innocent people”. Mr Syed added that Brannon plotted to rob Jewish residents in the Hollywood Hills, and had also discussed plans to attack the power grid. Further to this, in 2022, Mr Syed said Brannon, of San Juan Capistrano, placed calls to two US “adversaries” hoping to offer himself as a “mole” providing US intelligence.Two co-defendants, Tibet Ergul and Xavier Batten, have pleaded guilty to similar charges and will be sentenced next month.According to the National Abortion Federation, a group representing US abortion providers, there was a “sharp increase” in violence against clinics in 2022. Related TopicsAbortionUS abortion debateUnited StatesCaliforniaMore on this storyWhat is Planned Parenthood?Published25 September 2015Top StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished53 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished3 hours agoLive. Israel demands sanctions on Iranian missile projectFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference3Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism4First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed5Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9William to return to duties after Kate diagnosis10Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care