BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWhat’s behind Russian frenzy to blame Ukraine for concert attack?Published59 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Russia had received warnings that an attack – like the one on the Moscow concert hall – was imminentBy Steve RosenbergRussia EditorIt began with hints. Intimation.Now, it’s no holds barred accusations.The Russian authorities are aggressively pushing the line that Ukraine and the West were behind last month’s Crocus City concert hall massacre outside Moscow which left 145 people dead.The Islamic State group quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. But soon after the suspected gunmen were detained President Vladimir Putin hinted at a Ukrainian connection.At the weekend Russian state TV broadcast interrogation videos of the four suspects, all citizens of Tajikistan. One of the men said on camera that the post-attack plan had been “to head towards Kyiv”. Their words must be taken with extreme caution. During a court appearance after their arrest the men showed signs of torture. The Russian TV correspondent presenting the report went on to make a series of strange claims:”Following the terrorist attack Western sources and many Russian ‘foreign agents’ began to shift the focus from the Ukrainian connection to, exclusively, Islamic State.”In Russia many Kremlin critics have been designated “foreign agents” for allegedly receiving funding from abroad or just being deemed “under foreign influence”.The “shift of focus” to the IS was hardly surprising. Not only had the group announced that it was behind the attack, it had released video of the shooting. By contrast, Ukraine had denied any involvement. What’s more, both America and, reportedly, Iran had warned Moscow of possible attacks on Russian soil.In its 13-minute report, Russian state TV made no mention of the IS claim of responsibility.Then, from the journalist, this baseless accusation – that Western media “had more sympathy for those who carried out the terrorist attack which killed more than 140 defenceless people, than for the victims…”It was a clear attempt to demonise the West in the eyes of the Russian public.Day of mourning after 137 killed at Crocus City Hall concertMoscow Crocus City Hall attack videos examinedWhat we know about attack on a Moscow concert hallIt’s not just Russian TV saying this. So is the Russian foreign ministry. In a statement on its Telegram channel, the ministry claimed that in the West “there is a strict order not to report in the media the true scale of the tragedy – not to mention the number of victims of the terrorist attack, the dead children…”Demonstrations of humanity and sympathy for the Russian people are not allowed.”This is pure parallel reality. The BBC has received no such order. International media organisations widely reported the devastating consequences of the mass shooting and fire at Crocus City.As for sympathy, many Western diplomats visited the Russian foreign ministry to sign a book of condolence and, later, laid flowers for the victims outside Crocus City.That hasn’t stopped Russian officials from lining up to blame Ukraine and the West.Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB security service, told Russian TV:”We believe that the action was prepared by both the Islamist radicals themselves and was facilitated by Western special services. The special services of Ukraine are directly related to this.”Last week President Putin claimed that “Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. We are a country that demonstrates a unique example of interfaith harmony and inter-religious and inter-ethnic unity”.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, President Vladimir Putin has sought to blame Ukraine for the attack on the Crocus City Concert HallYet only last month the FSB reported it had thwarted an IS plot to attack a Moscow synagogue.So why is the Russian leadership seemingly determined to frame Ukraine and the West for the huge loss of life at Crocus City?Here are some possible reasons:Don’t change enemiesSince the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour, Russians have been led to believe that their principal adversaries are Ukraine and the “collective West”. It’s a message the authorities here are unwilling to alter. After all, if the Russian public were to conclude that radical Islam is a greater threat to their security than the Ukrainian government or Western leaders, they may wonder why Moscow hasn’t focused on that particular threat and has chosen, instead, to fight Ukraine.Divert attentionLast month President Putin publicly dismissed a US embassy warning that an attack by extremists here was “imminent”. He called the terror alert “outright blackmail…[with] the intention of intimidating and destabilising our society”. The Crocus City concert hall attack followed days later.US officials subsequently made it clear that the intelligence they had shared with the Russian authorities had been “specific, timely, and credible”. Blaming Kyiv and the West may be an attempt to distract attention from the question of what information was passed on and how the Russian authorities acted upon it.Escalation pretextAsserting that Kyiv and the West were connected to the attack gives Moscow a pretext for any future escalation in the war in Ukraine – if it decides it needs it.But some commentators are warning the Russian authorities that, for a political system, identifying the wrong enemy can prove a fatal mistake. “That’s the way this type of system usually dies,” believes political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov, honorary senior research associate at University College London. “They concentrate on someone they see as the main enemy and miss the real one somewhere else. For now [the authorities] will concentrate on Ukraine, on the West, on liberals. And they will open the back door. It’s through the back door that the real danger will come.”Related TopicsWar in UkraineRussiaMoscowVladimir PutinUkraineMore on this storyWhat we know about attack on a Moscow concert hallPublished25 MarchMoscow concert hall attack videos examinedPublished23 MarchTop StoriesLive. Qatar cautiously optimistic as Israel and Hamas continue ceasefire talksWatch: Gaza footage shows collapsed buildings and homes in ruin. VideoWatch: Gaza footage shows collapsed buildings and homes in ruinPublished5 hours agoBradford stabbing victim named as manhunt continuesPublished8 minutes agoFeaturesWhen and where in the UK can you see Monday’s solar eclipse?’The NHS paid for my mum to go private. She died’Gazans return to devastation in Khan YounisMyanmar’s army massacred Rohingyas. Now it wants their helpBiggest WrestleMania yet? 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[ad_1] It’s a message the authorities here are unwilling to alter. After all, if the Russian public were to conclude that radical Islam is a greater threat to their security…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaArvind Kejriwal: US urges fair legal process for India opposition leaderPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on claims of corruption that he rejectsThe US has reiterated that it encourages a “transparent” legal process in a corruption case against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said on Wednesday that the US was closely following actions taken against opposition parties in India.Mr Miller’s remarks came hours after India summoned a US diplomat over a similar comment he made on Tuesday.Mr Kejriwal, who was arrested last week, has denied any wrongdoing. Hours before his arrest, India’s main opposition Congress party had held a press conference saying that its bank accounts were frozen by the tax department ahead of the general elections. The maverick leader who took on India’s ModiDelhi chief minister arrested over corruption claimsModi accused of using tax office to cripple oppositionMr Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of political vendetta.The BJP denies the allegation, saying investigative agencies were doing their work independently. On Wednesday, Mr Miller told reporters that US was also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that the freezing of their bank accounts “would make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections”.”We encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes [in both cases]. We don’t think anyone should object to that,” he added.Hours earlier, India’s foreign ministry had summoned US acting deputy chief of mission, Gloria Berbena, to protest against similar remarks by Mr Miller.India had also issued a statement saying that “in diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others”.”India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted”, the statement added.The US is the second country to comment on Mr Kejriwal’s arrest. Last week, the German foreign ministry said it hoped that Mr Kejriwal would get a “fair and impartial trial as India is a democratic nation”.India reacted strongly to these remarks as well and summoned a German diplomat to raise its objections.Indian opposition leaders have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of using investigative agencies to cripple their parties and stifle dissent before the elections.In January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED – India’s financial crimes agency) arrested top opposition leader Hemant Soren in a corruption case, hours after he resigned from the position of the chief minister of Jharkhand state.Mr Soren and his party denied any wrongdoing and accused the BJP of stifling opposition. The BJP has rejected his claim. Amnesty International has also said that that the crackdown on peaceful dissent and opposition in India has “now reached a crisis point”.Meanwhile, Mr Kejriwal is the third AAP leader to be arrested over the alleged corruption case related to a now-scrapped liquor policy in Delhi.The BJP has alleged that the policy – which ended the government’s monopoly on alcohol sales – gave undue advantages to private retailers.The ED has accused AAP leaders of receiving kickbacks to be used in state elections. The party denies the allegation. Mr Kejriwal’s custody with the ED ends on Thursday, but it’s unclear if he will be freed or sent to judicial custody.Read more India stories from the BBC:India in undersea race to mine world’s battery metal India food delivery app rolls back green uniform planDelhi world’s ‘most polluted’ capital: reportForeign students attacked in India over Ramadan prayersNew India election to be held in seven stagesRelated TopicsAsiaIndiaNew DelhiMore on this storyDelhi chief minister arrested over corruption claimsPublished6 days agoModi accused of using tax office to cripple oppositionPublished6 days agoTop StoriesDivers recover bodies in Baltimore bridge collapse watersPublished1 hour agoLive. Revised figures confirm UK is in recessionKing sends ‘hand of friendship’ recorded messagePublished8 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Sewage ‘outrage’ and ‘King calls for kindness’ Father of three among Baltimore bridge victimsWhat passes through Baltimore’s port?I’m not ashamed of who I am any more, says LionessThe families borrowing to pay for careUS guns pour into Haiti, fuelling surge in violenceBill Nighy on playing an England manager with a differenceWhy some Tory MPs are stepping downLost IRA film shows planting and detonation of bombElsewhere on the BBCDid The Terminator predict the future correctly?!Beth Singler explores the creation and enduring influence of the film, 40 years after its releaseAttributionSoundsBlowing the lid on a baffling online scamPolly Weston’s determined to get to the bottom of the con involving a £138 dehumidifierAttributionSoundsCan you sort these monarchs into the correct order?Test your memory and reorder ten royal faces, from the earliest to the most recentAttributionBitesizeThe dressing room killing which shook wrestling’Villain of the ring’ Bruiser Brody’s extraordinary life, legend and deathAttributionSoundsMost Read1Gogglebox star, 40, dies after fall from height2Son ‘numb’ as whole-life killer may be released3King sends ‘hand of friendship’ recorded message4Man seriously injured after stabbing on London train5Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads6Sewage ‘outrage’ and ‘King calls for kindness’7Pupil behaviour getting worse, say teachers8Divers recover bodies in Baltimore bridge collapse waters9France to sue teen over headscarf row claim10Australia debates seizure of Insta-famous magpie

[ad_1] Washington reiterated its remark hours after Delhi summoned a US diplomat over similar comments.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDonald Trump’s hush-money trial to begin 15 AprilPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIndictments of Donald TrumpImage source, ReutersBy Kayla EpsteinReporting from court in New York, BBC NewsDonald Trump will face the first ever criminal trial of a former US president on 15 April, a judge has ruled, over hush money payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.Mr Trump faces four criminal cases, but this may be the only one to make it to a courtroom before November’s election.The presidential candidate’s lawyers had aimed to delay or dismiss the case.Mr Trump, 77, faces fraud charges over payments he made to Ms Daniels before the 2016 election.He has pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges, arguing the claims do not constitute “a crime”.During his bid to retake the White House, the former president and his legal team have sought to delay as many of his trials as possible.But Justice Juan Merchan ruled on Monday that there was no reason to delay Mr Trump’s hush money trial any further, despite the defence’s arguments, and ordered the case to begin on 15 April. After spending much of Monday morning sitting next to his attorneys inside the courtroom, Mr Trump told reporters that the case should be considered “election interference”.”It’s a disgrace, and we will obviously be appealing,” he said. “But this is a pure case of voter intimidation and election interference, and it shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”The trial was originally set to begin with jury selection on Monday, but it was delayed after thousands of documents were released last week from the 2018 federal investigation into the payments to Ms Daniels. Justice Merchan instead held a hearing on Monday centred on whether there had been any wrongdoing in the sudden release last week of more than 100,000 pages of documents related to the federal prosecutors’ case.Mr Trump’s team had argued the Manhattan district attorney’s office had engaged in misconduct by not doing enough to get the federal prosecutors to hand over the documents in a timely manner. They alleged prosecutors were attempting to “suppress” evidence. The document release followed a request by Mr Trump’s attorneys in January for records from the federal case. Justice Merchan questioned why the defence had not discussed the long wait with him earlier. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office had agreed to a delay of 30 days for the documents to be reviewed, but prosecutors said at the hearing that they believed only 300 new documents needed to be considered.They said that they would be ready to go to trial in mid-April. What you need to know about Trump’s hush-money trialA guide to Trump’s four criminal casesWhat happened between Stormy Daniels and Trump?But Mr Trump’s legal team pushed for more time to review the documents. On Monday, Justice Merchan grilled Mr Trump’s lawyer to specify how many of the “thousands” of documents they would consider relevant and requiring review for this case.Mr Trump’s attorney, Todd Blanche, painted a broad picture of what was in the new batch, which he said included records from the Robert Mueller investigation – the federal inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election.He alleged that the relevant records numbered in the thousands, rather than the 300 figure offered by prosecutors. Mr Trump’s legal team required time to thoroughly study the documents, he argued. “We got the material a week ago,” Mr Blanche said. “We’re still going through them.”The judge, however, appeared impatient and unpersuaded by the attorney’s arguments, including the claim that prosecutors had acted unethically.”You’re literally accusing the Manhattan DA’s office, and people assigned to this case, of engaging in prosecutorial misconduct and trying to make me complicit in it,” Justice Merchan said.Before adjourning for a break, the judge made it clear that he felt unconvinced by the arguments. “It’s odd that we’re even here and that we’ve taken this time,” he said. Related TopicsNew York CityIndictments of Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMore on this storyDonald Trump’s first criminal trial delayedPublished15 MarchTrump back in Florida court for classified documents casePublished1 MarchTop StoriesLive. Israel cancels White House visit after US doesn’t block UN ceasefire voteUK hits out at Chinese-backed cyber-attacksPublished2 hours agoMillions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot – USPublished34 minutes agoFeaturesJewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfrontMoscow survivor: ‘They shot indiscriminately’ VideoMoscow survivor: ‘They shot indiscriminately’Say one thing, do another? The government’s record net migration riseOn board HMS Diamond as it faces Houthi missilesFamilies call for law change after attacks reviewThe hunt for physics’ mysterious ‘ghost’ particlesAre Hong Kong’s days as a global business hub over?Ukrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentary. VideoUkrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentaryI ran ‘toughest race’ to inspire women worldwideElsewhere on the BBCOne of the most talented bands never to make it…Why did trailblazers Microdisney fail to achieve the commercial success they deserved?AttributioniPlayerA satirical sideswipe at news and current affairsSteve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketchesAttributionSoundsCan they take on an elite boarding school?Five black inner-city teens must leave their old worlds behind…AttributioniPlayerCaffeine: Dangers and benefitsFind out what effects this drug can have on dementia and cardiovascular diseaseAttributionSoundsMost Read1Sacha Baron Cohen hits back over Rebel Wilson book2Sarah Ferguson praises Kate cancer announcement3Legoland owner to charge more at peak times4Stolen Gary the Gorilla statue discovered in layby5Former Tory MP resigns triggering new by-election6Millions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot – US7Four in court as Moscow attack death toll nears 1408Two men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murder9Tractors brought to Parliament in farmers’ protest10Trump’s hush-money trial to begin 15 April

[ad_1] Donald Trump’s first criminal trial to begin next month as the race for the White House gets underway.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityHealthThe man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the fullPublished9 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Philip AlexanderImage caption, Philip Alexander with his brother Paul, in his iron lung machineBy Catherine SnowdonBBC NewsPaul Alexander was six years old when he woke, terrified, to find himself inside a large metal tube, with only his head sticking out.He couldn’t move to feel what was trapping him, and when he tried to call for help, he discovered he couldn’t make a sound.Paul had survived a serious bout of polio, but had been left quadriplegic. After an emergency tracheostomy operation, he was unable to breathe without the iron lung machine that now encased his small body.When he died recently at the age of 78, Paul had spent more than seven decades using his iron lung, longer than anyone else in history. Image source, GoFundMeBut what was it that marked him out from so many of his peers, and kept him going?Polio ran riot in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, killing and maiming scores of children.What is polio and how does it spread?In hospital in Texas in 1952, Paul was surrounded by other children in similar predicaments. According to the World Health Organization, one in 200 polio infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralysed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.Uncertain futureAfter two years in hospital, doctors began to cast doubt on Paul’s future.That led his parents to make the brave decision to take him and his iron lung home, to live out his days in peace. But instead of dying, Paul went from strength to strength, once he was home in his parents’ care.The iron lung uses a negative pressure system. Powered by a motor, its bellows suck air out of the cylinder, creating a vacuum around the patient’s body and forcing the lungs to expand and take in air. When the air is let back in, the same process in reverse makes the lungs deflate. The device needs a source of energy to function.During power cuts, the bellows had to be pumped by hand; neighbours would come to help with the job. Paul’s father designed an alarm bell that Paul could ring using his mouth if he needed urgent attention. Over time Paul learnt to consciously breathe by gulping down air, using his throat muscles to force air into his lungs. He called it frog-breathing.His younger brother, Philip, explained to the BBC that the promise of a puppy gave Paul the incentive to be brave, and attempt to spend time out of his iron lung to learn the complicated glossopharyngeal breathing technique, the medical term for frog-breathing.”He was scared of course of choking to death,” says Philip. “They told him if you last three minutes, you’ll get the dog that you want.” And he did.Image source, Rotary Club of Park Cities DallasImage caption, Paul with friend Kathy Gaines shortly after delivering a speech at an eventAs his confidence and strength grew, he was able to spend increasingly longer periods out of the iron lung. This allowed him to begin to experience a bit more of life. He was allowed to venture into the neighbourhood in his wheelchair with childhood friends, returning to the iron lung when he was tired.”He was just a normal brother to me. We fought, we played, we loved, we partied, we went to concerts together – he was just a normal brother,” says Philip.Paul finished school at home and went on to earn a college degree before setting his sights on law school.Image source, University of TexasImage caption, Fellow-students helped care for Paul while he studied lawPhilip recalls Paul’s time at the University of Texas in Austin as being “incredible”. His parents helped Paul move in with his iron lung, and then he was on his own – with limited help at first, after the carer he had hired failed to show up.”He didn’t really have any caregivers. He was in the dorm and different people just took care of him accidentally. They pushed him around campus [in his wheelchair],” says Philip.Paul went on to practise law in downtown Dallas. He had to deal with the surprise of clients on entering his office and seeing him in his iron lung.”It’s not an easy thing to see, just a head sticking out,” says Philip. “People immediately go into shock. I saw that happen a lot.”Paul lived alone for much of his adult life, no mean feat for someone unable to take care of his basic human needs like using the toilet or getting a drink on his own.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Philip Alexander remembers his brother, ‘the man in the iron lung’Philip says he became the master of his own domain, helping people to help him.”He needed a unique type of care. Not even professionals are trained to take care of a quadriplegic in an iron lung,” says Philip of the huge responsibility that came with supporting his brother.”Most of the care was basic – shaving and feeding for example. But to move him you needed to be careful not to jam his finger and so on.” There was no instruction manual for those who answered Paul’s adverts for caregivers. “They learned as they went,” says Philip. “And many left after a day or two. I remember going around once and asking a couple of assisted living centres if they could care for him, and the looks on their faces were priceless.”Paul had one carer who was in his life for decades. When Kathy Gaines died, her passing left Paul bereft.Philip says he always saw himself as the back-up carer for his brother, but he admired the support system Paul built: “He had a lot of wonderful friends, some really beautiful people in his life.”Help neededOne of those people came into Paul’s life in a moment of dire need.In 2015, his iron lung began to leak. As the machines were by now extremely rare, it was a race against time to find someone able to carry out the vital repair job to make it airtight once more.After a plea was posted on social media, responses came in from around the world. But the solution turned out to be much closer to home.Ten miles down the road from Paul’s apartment in Dallas, was the mechanical durability business Environmental Testing Laboratory, owned by Brady Richards.Mr Richards had come into possession of two iron lung machines at a building clearance and he recalls how one day a paramedic walked in asking: “Is this the place I can find iron lungs?”The medic had been transporting Paul to and from hospital, as carers fought to keep him alive in the failing iron lung. As the situation became more desperate, word of mouth had brought her to Mr Richards.Image source, Brady RichardsImage caption, Brady Richards at his warehouse with one of Paul’s iron lung machines”I did not have any idea about Paul Alexander at that time,” says Mr Richards. On learning about the emergency, he immediately set about rebuilding one of the broken machines he had in his warehouse. He built some parts from scratch and scavenged others from other devices, learning as he went along: “Iron lungs are very robust machines. They are built to last. “It’s a simple machine so I managed to work it out. You can increase and decrease the breathing rate and the pressure. Paul always liked the settings up high.”Once the refurbished machine was ready, Mr Richards swapped it for the damaged one at Paul’s apartment. He wouldn’t accept any money for his work.But that wasn’t the end of the story. Later that night Mr Richards received a call from Paul’s carer to say the machine wasn’t working.Mr Richards returned to Paul’s apartment and quickly realised the neck collar wasn’t on properly and had come loose.”Paul was saying ‘I’m fine, I’m OK’ as we worked to correct the problem,” recalls Mr Richards. “The truth was, he was turning blue.”In moments of desperation like these, Paul had access to more portable breathing devices, which used a different sort of technology to the iron lung.”Positive pressure respirators can make the patient feel like they have their head stuck out of the car window. Not everyone likes that sensation” explains Dr Patrick Murphy, the clinical lead consultant at the Lane Fox respiratory unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London.Paul never moved full-time to these mask-based devices. Another polio survivor, living in York, in northern England, did make the switch.Image source, James PorteousImage caption, James Porteous receiving his MBEJames Porteous, 78, was infected with polio in the same year as Paul. He was initially placed in an iron lung. He recovered to a point where he could live his life without significant breathing support, but as is often the case for polio survivors, as he aged he began to need more help. He now uses a respirator mask for about 17 hours a day: “I don’t remember much about being in the iron lung. I was also placed in a head-to-toe plaster cast initially as the thought was that this would prevent my limbs from becoming deformed,” says Mr Porteous, who is the regional president of the British Polio Fellowship. Mr Porteous had a long career, first in stockbroking and then in various senior roles for Rowntree’s, which became part of Nestlé. He married and has four daughters. He travelled the world and in 2001 he was awarded an MBE for services to the community.Image source, James PorteousImage caption, James Porteous in his specially adapted company car”I could have sat all my life with a rug over my knees, but I decided to just get on with it. I’m tired these days and I don’t get out much any more, but life is good. I have a nice family and good friends. One thing I’d still like to see achieved in my lifetime is the complete eradication of polio around the world,” he says.Ending polio globally was also Paul’s ambition. He wrote about it in his 2020 memoir, which he typed himself, using a pencil attached to a stick gripped in his mouth to reach the computer keyboard.Philip says it was after the book was published that he fully realised what an inspiration his brother was to people around the world: “His personality had a lot to do with how much he was admired. He had that great big smile and he was such a welcoming, warm person. He made people comfortable.”Brady Richards remained involved in Paul’s life over the years. He helped Paul move apartments when needed, and serviced the iron lung regularly: “It was always a pleasure to be around Paul – he had a very upbeat and positive attitude.” Image source, NHSImage caption, Dr Murphy says Paul’s parents and other carers were braveDr Murphy is full of admiration for the people who cared for Paul.”His parents took their son home in a machine that was at the time relatively high-end technology. He also had a tracheostomy, which calls for special care. They will have needed to be engineers, nurses and doctors. “If you speak to lots of trained doctors or nurses they won’t be confident in managing a patient with complex respiratory failure, and yet patients like Paul and their families do it at home on their own. The bravery cannot be underestimated,” says Dr Murphy.World recordLast year Paul was recognised by Guinness World Records as the person who had lived the longest in an iron lung.Philip’s admiration for his brother runs deep: “I saw him go through a lot of struggles in his life. I’m going to miss him. I called him when I needed to talk to someone about any kind of problem I had.”He says that while the rest of the world might be amazed by how long his brother survived in his iron lung, his parents would not have been: “They believed in him. They gave him so much strength and love. They wouldn’t have been shocked.” Related TopicsHealthChild healthMore on this story’Man in the iron lung’ Paul Alexander dies at 78Published13 MarchSuper-engineered vaccines created to help end polioPublished14 June 2023What is polio and how can you protect yourself?Published10 August 2022Top StoriesLive. Hunt: We’ll keep ‘triple lock’ on pension increases if we win electionWilliam and Kate ‘enormously touched’ by public supportPublished2 hours agoRussia marks day of mourning after concert attackPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attackThe Brazilian teen who scored winner against EnglandAttributionSportBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfoldedBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacreKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeks‘Having a certificate of loss proves my baby existed’Your pictures on the theme of ‘reflections’England kits ‘should connect people’From the desert to the icy waters of WalesElsewhere on the BBCWhy do people behave the way they do on social media?Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hate to find out…AttributioniPlayerCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1The man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the full2Pilgrimage helped Traitors star Amanda say ‘goodbye mum’3Missiles and drones pound Ukraine’s capital4Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attack5William and Kate ‘touched’ by public support6How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols’ private lives7Russia marks day of mourning after concert attack8Sainz wins in Australia after Verstappen retiresAttributionSport9Abductors release more than 280 Nigerian pupils10’A brutal and timely reminder of England’s problems’AttributionSport

[ad_1] The iron lung uses a negative pressure system. Powered by a motor, its bellows suck air out of the cylinder, creating a vacuum around the patient’s body and forcing…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSenegal election: Voters choose new president after political crisisPublished8 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, Seven million people are eligible to voteBy Natasha BootyBBC NewsAfter weeks of political unrest, people in Senegal are voting for a new president.Seventeen candidates are on the ballot, each hoping to replace President Macky Sall who is barred from running again after reaching the two-term limit.The election had been due to take place last month but Mr Sall postponed it, triggering deadly opposition protests and a democratic crisis.Senegal had until then been praised as a bastion of democracy in West Africa.Seven million people are eligible to vote in Sunday’s election.Among those in the running for Senegal’s top job is the governing BBY coalition’s candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, 62.His strongest challenger is seen as Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, who was released from jail just last week, after being detained since April 2023 on charges of insurrection, which he said were politically motivated. Freed prisoner takes on Senegal’s heir apparentAfrica Daily podcast: Can there be a peaceful transition in Senegal?Popular firebrand Ousmane Sonko, who was also imprisoned until last week on what he said were trumped-up charges, is not allowed to stand. He and his now-disbanded Pastef party are backing his close ally, Mr Faye.On Friday, former President Abdoulaye Wade and his PDS party threw their support behind Mr Faye, after his own son Karim Wade was forced to withdraw over his dual French-Senegalese citizenship.For the first time in over a decade, a female candidate is in the race. Anta Babacar Ngom, 40, leads the ARC party.Results are expected within days and a second round is likely, because of the large number of contestants. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to be declared the winner.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Anta Babacar Ngom is the only woman in the running for presidentThe eyes of the world will be watching to see if the election process goes some way to restoring Senegal’s now-bruised reputation.Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, President Sall said that he had “no apology to make” for postponing the election, which was originally due to be held on 25 February.”I have done nothing wrong,” he said, adding that the decision to delay the vote was not taken unilaterally, but was due to electoral concerns raised by members of parliament.”All the actions that have been taken have been within the framework of the law and regulations.”More on Senegal’s 2024 election:’We feel betrayed by President Macky Sall”If I were president’: Senegalese children organise own pollOusmane Sonko: Senegalese youth hero or rabble-rouser?Related TopicsSenegalTop StoriesLive. Chancellor to be quizzed after inflation hits lowest level in over two yearsWilliam and Kate ‘enormously touched’ by public supportPublished1 hour agoRussia marks day of mourning after concert attackPublished30 minutes agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attackThe Brazilian teen who scored winner against EnglandAttributionSportBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfoldedBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacreKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeksWhat Kate video tells us about royal strategy‘Having a certificate of loss proves my baby existed’Your pictures on the theme of ‘reflections’England kits ‘should connect people’Elsewhere on the BBCWhy do people behave the way they do on social media?Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hate to find out…AttributioniPlayerCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1The man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the full2Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attack3William and Kate ‘touched’ by public support4Pilgrimage helped Traitors star Amanda say ‘goodbye mum’5Missiles and drones pound Ukraine’s capital6How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols’ private lives7Russia marks day of mourning after concert attack8Sainz wins Australia after Verstappen retiresAttributionSport9’A brutal and timely reminder of England’s problems’AttributionSport10Abductors release more than 280 Nigerian pupils

[ad_1] The election was due last month but the outgoing president postponed it, triggering deadly protests.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaKuriga kidnap: More than 280 Nigerian pupils releasedPublished49 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kidnap gangs have plagued much of the country in recent years, especially the north-westMore than 280 Nigerian pupils abducted in the north-western town of Kuriga earlier this month have been released “unharmed”, officials say. Kaduna state governor Uba Sani did not give details of the release, days before a deadline for ransom demanded by the abductors.The children, aged eight to 15, and one teacher, were abducted on 7 March.Kidnap gangs, known as bandits, have seized thousands of people in recent years, especially in the north-west.However, there had been a reduction in the mass abduction of children over the past year until this week.Those kidnapped are usually freed after a ransom is paid.Schoolboy recounts daring escape from Nigerian kidnap gangThis time, militants had demanded $690,000 (£548,000). The government had said it would not pay any ransom.In his statement, governor Sani praised Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu “for ensuring that the abducted Kuriga schoolchildren are released unharmed”.”The Nigerian Army also deserves special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in our communities,” Mr Sani said.The mass abduction occurred on the morning of 7 March during school assembly.According to witnesses, the pupils were in the assembly ground around 08:30 (07:30 GMT) when dozens of gunmen on motorcycles rode through the school, eventually taking away 187 students from a secondary school and 125 from the local primary school. Twenty-five later returned.One pupil, believed to be 14-years-old, died after being shot by the gunmen.Most of the kidnaps in north-west Nigeria, including Kaduna state, are believed to be the work of criminal gangs trying to make money from ransoms.In an attempt to curb Nigeria’s spiralling and lucrative kidnapping industry, a controversial law that made it a crime to make ransom payments was passed in 2022. It carries a jail sentence of at least 15 years, however no-one has ever been arrested.Earlier this year, the family of a group of sisters kidnapped in the capital, Abuja, denied a police statement that the security forces had rescued the girls, saying that they had no choice but to pay the ransom.There was global outrage when Islamists seized nearly 300 girls in Nigeria’s north-eastern town of Chibok in 2014.Most of the victims have either been freed or escaped since then, but dozens remain unaccounted for.You may also be interested in: What in the World Podcast: Nigeria’s kidnap crisisThe motorcycle bandits terrorising northern Nigeria’Why I returned to Boko Haram and how I escaped”How I survived my train hijacking’Kidnapping and debt: A Nigerian legacyRelated TopicsNigeriaMore on this storySchoolboy recounts daring escape from Nigerian kidnap gangPublished12 MarchAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesWilliam and Kate ‘enormously touched’ by public supportPublished31 minutes agoFour suspected gunmen arrested after 133 killed in Moscow attackPublished7 hours agoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfoldedPublished13 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attackThe Brazilian teen who scored winner against EnglandAttributionSportBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfoldedBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacreKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeksWhat Kate video tells us about royal strategy‘Having a certificate of loss proves my baby existed’Your pictures on the theme of ‘reflections’England kits ‘should connect people’Elsewhere on the BBCWhy do people behave the way they do on social media?Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hate to find out…AttributioniPlayerCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1The man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the full2Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attack3William and Kate ‘touched’ by public support4Pilgrimage helped Traitors star Amanda say ‘goodbye mum’5Kyiv hit by multiple blasts as Russia strikes Ukraine6Gunmen arrested after Moscow attack, says Putin7How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols’ private lives8’A brutal and timely reminder of England’s problems’AttributionSport9Sainz wins Australia after Verstappen retiresAttributionSport10Harris set to become new Fine Gael leader later

[ad_1] Gunmen rode through the school in Kuriga in north-western Nigeria seizing children as young as eight.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaK-pop: How jealous ‘super fans’ try to dictate their idols’ private livesPublished6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Karina (second from left) is the frontwoman of K-pop girl group aespaBy Jake Kwon & Kelly Ngin Seoul and SingaporeWhen K-pop star Karina posted a handwritten apology on Instagram earlier in March, it was both contrite and profuse.”I sincerely apologise for surprising my fans who have supported me,” the frontwoman of the girl group aespa wrote.Her offence? Publicly acknowledging that she was in a relationship with actor Lee Jae-wook. That Karina felt compelled to say sorry for being in a relationship has puzzled many outside the K-pop scene, but it opens a window into the world of the industry’s “super fans”. They stream their favourite stars’ music round the clock – even if on mute while sleeping – to boost chart rankings, organise mass voting sessions during award seasons, and sometimes even sponsor digital billboard ads in places like Times Square, New York. Paying the price of loveWhen news of Karina’s relationship broke, some fans drove a truck to her management agency.”We supported Karina’s bright future, believing in a shared dream, but it was our misconception,” blared an electronic billboard on the vehicle.”Is the love given to you by your fans not enough?” another read. Blackpink’s Jisoo is dating. The K-pop world is stunnedThe dark side of Asia’s pop music industryThis stands in contrast to how celebrities’ romantic lives are often publicised, and sometimes celebrated, in other parts of the world.Take Taylor Swift, for example, whose attendance at last month’s Super Bowl to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce is said to have singlehandedly boosted TV viewership of the game, making it the most-watched broadcast in the US since the 1969 Moon landing.Polls say one in five Super Bowl viewers were rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs – which eventually won the annual league – because of the pop star’s relationship with Kelce.So why are the attitudes different in K-pop?’A false intimacy'”The fans feel jilted,” said Korean media columnist Jeong Deok-hyeon, adding that K-pop fans often view themselves as being in parasocial relationships with the idols. These refer to one-sided relationships where one party expends an overt amount of time, emotional energy and money on another whom they are fascinated with, but who may not know they exist.”As the industry increasingly encourages fans to express their fandom through consumerism, their desire to be ‘compensated’ [for their investments] grows. This contributed to fans making demands which sometimes border on threats,” Mr Jeong told the BBC.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, K-pop star Karina has apologised to her fans after news of her dating actor Lee Jae-wook went publicSome believe the artistes themselves and their management agencies have facilitated a “false intimacy” between idols and fans. Even as recently as 10 years ago, it was common practice for K-pop agencies to ban new stars from dating or even have a personal mobile phone.Agencies have also begun creating social apps for their artists which appear to offer fans a glimpse of their idols’ everyday lives. SM, the K-pop-producing powerhouse behind groups like aespa, introduced an app in 2020 designed to look like a one-on-one messenger app, but is in fact a group chat where the idol drops messages for thousands of fans at once.Some stars have also bought gifts for fans or offered them one-on-one calls.”K-pop agencies have been telling fans that they have the power to create stars,” said Areum Jeong, who lectures on Korean culture at Arizona State University.Cedarbough Saeji from Pusan National University called the Karina incident “a classic case of the fans trying to ‘discipline’ the stars”. “They were angry about the dating, and then they got angry that she apologised in the ‘wrong way’,” said Saeji, an assistant professor in Korean and East Asian Studies, referring to how some fans felt Karina should have posted her apology in a fans-only forum – rather than on a public platform.”In 2024, privacy for K-pop stars, who live in this tiny country and are so widely recognized, is virtually impossible,” she said.Ms Jeong, who considers herself a dedicated K-pop fan, also takes part in “fan labour” by streaming the music of her favourite boyband NCT 127 and paying to vote for them on music platforms and award shows. There are a dozen different digital music platforms for K-pop, each with its own Top 100 chart based on the number of people streaming and downloading songs. Super fans divide and conquer by organising themselves into teams to navigate the rules for each platform. “Fans put in labour to ensure the group’s success. They consider the idol a product. And if you want to see the product on the stage for a long time, the artistes, the fans, and the management will all have to put in hard work,” Ms Jeong said. Some even share voting schedules and streaming guides with “regular fans”, she added, so they can contribute to propelling their idols to the top of the charts.The BBC browsed a “streaming guide” written up by fans of the boyband Seventeen, which includes reminders such as, “Watch two or three other Seventeen music videos that totals to at least seven to 10 minutes. Then repeat the process”, and “Do not pause, forward or rewind”.Large fan groups organise themselves so that different members take on different roles. ARMY, the millions-strong fan group for the world’s biggest boyband BTS, has taken on philanthropic projects on behalf of the band, and also operate X accounts that translate all BTS-related content, from song lyrics to members’ social media posts.Image source, Getty Images”The superfans fundraise, they campaign to vote… Some police comments online to make sure negative comments about their idols are reported and conduct coordinated searches to remove ‘bad’ search terms.”That’s all money and time. The industry profits off of it,” Ms Jeong said.Another hallmark of K-pop fandom are the birthday celebrations held for the idols who themselves are not present. Some fans rent out entire cafes for such events, which will also feature merchandise related to the idol.Changing attitudesK-pop columnist Jeff Benjamin said some idols may feel “obliged to keep their fans happy” because of the fragility of their careers. “The groups are typically quite short-lived at about four to five years… I think a big part of why Karina published her apology was because she has a leadership responsibility in aespa, and she wanted to assure her fans that she will continue to work hard with her music,” he said.”It’s ironic that these artists sing about love but dating is frowned upon. I feel for them,” he added.But as K-pop widens its global footprint, attitudes in the industry could be opening up too.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, BTS was invited to speak at the annual UN General Assembly in September 2021Many of Karina’s international fans took to social media to express their outrage that she had been compelled to apologise. “She doesn’t deserve this type of treatment” read one comment on X (formerly Twitter), while another said “Karina apologising for LIKING someone has to be one the craziest things in the world”.Some Korean fans also pointed to the international coverage of her apology, saying it was embarrassing. “It’s been so long since K-pop became global but they still don’t seem to grasp the fact that when something like this happens, it immediately disgraces the country” one person wrote. The global K-pop events market was valued at $8.1bn in 2021 and is projected to reach $20bn by 2031, according to Allied Market Research. Groups have also been invited to perform at international events. Seventeen, for example, will become the first K-pop group to perform at the Glastonbury Festival this year. BTS, who have been named special envoys by the UN, was invited to perform at its New York headquarters in 2021. K-pop albums raked in a record $243.8m overseas from January to October last year. Japan, the United States and China were the top three buyers.”Things are changing as the number of international K-pop fans grows. I am hopeful that the fan bases will become more supportive and open-minded… And that the industry can be less dependent on traditional norms,” Mr Benjamin said.The K-pop girl group with no Korean membersThe world’s most controversial K-pop bandSome of Karina’s fans in South Korea have continued to vouch for her.”There was nothing to apologise for…Whether you are a celebrity or a regular person, you need close friends. It’s natural for her to have a lover,” said Jeong So-yeon, a 33-year-old fan based in Seoul. “Other top stars do fine even after dating ‘scandals’. I look forward to her next albums,” she said.Related TopicsAsiaK-popSouth KoreaMusicMore on this storyBTS go into the army – what now for K-pop’s kings?Published12 December 2023Blackpink renew contract ensuring group’s futurePublished6 December 2023The K-pop girl group with no Korean membersPublished27 August 2023Blackpink star addresses ‘low energy’ performancesPublished14 July 2023The woman who defied the world of K-popPublished18 October 2019The dark side of Asia’s pop music industryPublished26 January 2016Top StoriesWilliam and Kate ‘enormously touched’ by public supportPublished1 hour agoFour suspected gunmen arrested after 133 killed in Moscow attackPublished6 hours agoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfoldedPublished11 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attackThe Brazilian teen who scored winner against EnglandAttributionSportBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfoldedBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacreKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeksWhat Kate video tells us about royal strategyYour pictures on the theme of ‘reflections’England kits ‘should connect people’From the desert to the icy waters of WalesElsewhere on the BBCWhy do people behave the way they do on social media?Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hate to find out…AttributioniPlayerCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1The man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the full2Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attack3William and Kate ‘touched’ by public support4Kyiv hit by multiple blasts as Russia strikes Ukraine5Gunmen arrested after Moscow attack, says Putin6Pilgrimage helped Traitors star Amanda say ‘goodbye mum’7How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols’ private lives8’A brutal and timely reminder of England’s problems’AttributionSport9Sainz wins Australia after Verstappen retiresAttributionSport10Campaigning dad of Damilola Taylor dies

[ad_1] Agencies have also begun creating social apps for their artists which appear to offer fans a glimpse of their idols’ everyday lives. SM, the K-pop-producing powerhouse behind groups like…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine war: Kyiv hit by multiple explosions in Russian bombardmentPublished58 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, ReutersImage caption, Kyiv’s mayor has told residents not to leave shelterBy James GregoryBBC NewsMultiple explosions have hit Kyiv and the whole of Ukraine has been placed on alert as Russia launched a wave of air strikes.Poland says it has activated its air force to ensure the safety of Polish airspace after strikes also targeted the Ukrainian border region of Lviv.The attacks started in the capital at 05:00 (03:00 GMT).The Ukrainian military said its air defence systems were engaged in repelling the attack. Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said about a dozen Russian missiles had been destroyed over the capital and its vicinity. There have been no reports of casualties or major damage as a result of the attacks, he added in a statement on Telegram.Million in Ukraine lose power after Russian attackAndriy Sadovyi, Lviv’s mayor, said on Telegram that the city itself had not been hit. However, around 20 missiles and seven attack drones had been launched against the broader Lviv region, targeting “critical infrastructure”.Ukraine was earlier placed under nationwide alert that warned of cruise missiles being launched from Russian strategic bombers. Meanwhile, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces (RSZ) said: “Polish and allied aircraft have been activated.”All necessary procedures to ensure the security of Polish airspace have been activated and the RSZ is monitoring the situation continuously,” it added.Residents in Kyiv have been pictured taking shelter in metro stations. It comes after Russia fired dozens of missiles on Friday, hitting a dam and leaving a million Ukrainians without power.Moscow has not yet commented on Sunday’s strikes. The Russian-installed governor of the port of Sevastopol, in annexed Crimea, said Russian forces had shot down 10 Ukrainian missiles over the city late on Saturday. An office building and a gas line were destroyed and a woman suffered a shrapnel injury, Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram. Related TopicsWar in UkraineUkrainePolandMore on this storyMillion in Ukraine lose power after Russian attackPublished1 day agoTop StoriesWilliam and Kate ‘enormously touched’ by public supportPublished5 minutes agoFour suspected gunmen arrested after 133 killed in Moscow attackPublished5 hours agoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how Moscow attack unfoldedPublished10 hours agoFeaturesThe Papers: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attackThe Brazilian teen who scored winner against EnglandAttributionSportBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfolded. VideoBBC Verify examines how the Moscow attack unfoldedBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacreKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeksWhat Kate video tells us about royal strategyYour pictures on the theme of ‘reflections’England kits ‘should connect people’From the desert to the icy waters of WalesElsewhere on the BBCWhy do people behave the way they do on social media?Marianna Spring investigates extraordinary cases of online hate to find out…AttributioniPlayerCritically acclaimed and utterly compelling…Masterful, claustrophobic drama starring Sofie Gråbøl as a troubled prison guardAttributioniPlayerFrom triumph to tragedy…After more than 30 years of service, America’s space shuttle took to the skies for the last timeAttributioniPlayerCan new evidence solve aviation’s greatest mystery?Ten years after the Malaysian Airlines flight disappeared, new technology may explain whyAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Newspaper headlines: Kate ‘reassures nation’ and ‘murderous’ Moscow attack2The man in the iron lung: How Paul Alexander lived life to the full3William and Kate ‘touched’ by public support4Kyiv hit by multiple blasts as Russia strikes Ukraine5Gunmen arrested after Moscow attack, says Putin6’A brutal and timely reminder of England’s problems’AttributionSport7Pilgrimage helped Traitors star Amanda say ‘goodbye mum’8How jealous K-pop super fans try to dictate their idols’ private lives9Campaigning dad of Damilola Taylor dies10Could ‘green shoots’ of recovery really save Sunak from calamity?

[ad_1] Whole of Ukraine on alert and Polish air force activated after blasts reported around in region of Lviv.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaPakistan’s ‘King of Chaos’ Imran Khan keeps winning even behind barsPublished16 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Imran Khan was removed from power in a no-confidence vote in 2022Pakistan’s recent elections were supposed to bring in a period of stability, badly needed to deal with crippling inflation and bitter political divides in the country, writes author and journalist Mohammed Hanif. Instead, they delivered a minority government – a shaky, reluctant coalition that looks unsure of its own mandate. Two weeks after the elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto announced that they would form a government but that the PPP wouldn’t be part of it. The midnight announcement by the leaders of both parties was made in sombre tones and had the air of a shotgun wedding. Suddenly, Pakistan was that rare democracy where nobody really wanted to be the prime minister.The “establishment” – a euphemism used by local media for Pakistan’s powerful military – has always believed that general elections are too sensitive an exercise to be left to civilian politicians. This time around they opened their old election playbook and used every trick deployed successfully in the past. The main contender Imran Khan was put in jail. He faces more than 150 criminal and civil charges, all of which he denies. A week before the elections he was sentenced in three cases – in one he was accused of contracting a marriage in a hurry. His party, denied its election symbol and a united platform, were forced to contest as independents. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif was widely seen as having the army’s backingMany were evading police raids instead of campaigning in their constituencies. His main opponents were cleared of many cases against them and given a free hand to campaign.On election day social media and mobile phone services were shut down, apparently for security concerns but in reality, to ensure that Khan supporters didn’t have easy access to the polling booths and would find it hard to identify their candidates on the ballot paper.Khan’s supporters showed remarkable ingenuity, formed WhatsApp groups, improvised apps and websites overnight and reached polling booths and managed to find their candidates. His party used AI-generated speeches to convey the message of their jailed leader. Imran Khan’s prison ID number was turned into an election slogan. They campaigned guerrilla-style and sprang a surprise on election day. Despite all the claims of rigging against it, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) still emerged as the single largest party in the election. The Khan wave on election day was too strong to be reined in by routine rigging. The establishment used 20th-Century tactics to tame a digital savvy generation – and lost. To the military’s tried and tested machinations, the voters’ response was polite and defiant: thank you, but no thank you, we are not as ignorant and illiterate as you think we are. We may not be able to take you on in the streets, you have your guns, but here’s our stamp on the ballot. Do what you will with it. The seasoned agitatorImran Khan didn’t get a simple majority in parliament, refused to align with any other parties to form the government and decided to sit in opposition. He has built his campaign and overall charisma by portraying his opponents as corrupt. He is loath to share power with the politicians he has been attacking most of his political career. Most Pakistani politicians have had to spend time in prison at some point. But no one seems to have had more fun than Imran Khan. Denied every public platform to reach his supporters, he has pulled off an election victory from his prison cell with communiques sent through his lawyers and close family.Last May, when Imran Khan was arrested for the first time after his government’s dismissal, his supporters rioted, attacking army cantonments and other symbols of the army’s power and prestige. A senior general’s house was set on fire, and some rioters even managed to enter army headquarters. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Protests broke out after Khan was arrested over corruption allegationsThe crackdown that followed was swift and brutal. Most of the PTI top leadership was abducted and pressured to part ways with Imran Khan – some condemned his politics, others quit politics for life. The establishment wanted to send out a clear signal that Imran Khan and his party were finished. With Khan in jail, as the election drew closer, the party was taken over by second-tier leadership and local faithfuls who were crucial in organising the battered party’s campaign to victory. They were certain that their leader would not be allowed to return to power, but they showed through their vote that they wouldn’t abandon him just because the army wanted them to.Imran Khan, when out of power, is the king of chaos, unleashing his wrath not only on his political opponents but the army establishment as well. Before he was arrested and put away, Imran Khan claimed in his speeches that he was ousted at the behest of the US for pursuing an independent foreign policy. His opponents say that all his policies while in power were only about his own ego and whimsy. When in power, they say, he spent more time hounding his opponents than he did running the country. While in government Khan seemed distracted and failed to make timely decisions to rein in runaway inflation. Even in government he sounded like an opposition politician, raging against his political enemies and the media.He is a seasoned agitator. When his party lost the 2013 elections, he campaigned relentlessly to get the results overturned and laid siege to the capital Islamabad. He was able to do it with the establishment’s backing. Now that he is the establishment’s enemy number one he is buoyant after his party’s showing at the polls. His party has decided to sit in opposition, but Imran Khan likes to play his politics not in parliament but out on the streets, with public rallies and social media. The current government is already being dubbed as a “coalition of losers” – it literally is a coalition of parties that were soundly beaten by Khan in the elections. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The election was marred by the suspension of mobile phone servicesFor two weeks after the result there didn’t seem to be any enthusiasm to form a government amongst Khan’s opponents. For the first time, leading politicians instead of laying claim to power were reluctant to accept responsibility.There’s reluctance to govern because Pakistan faces a crushing debt crisis and rising fuel and food prices have made life unbearable for the working classes. With the army’s increased role in every sphere of governance, ruling politicians are reduced to going around the world asking international donors for bailouts.Many have speculated if Imran Khan’s time in jail will make him a more mature politician. It seems unlikely. He has thrived as a maverick – he will not want to turn into a meek version of himself to become acceptable to the establishment. His rage against the old political guard has made him the most popular leader in Pakistan. He wouldn’t want to abandon that to run a country which even his losing opponents seem reluctant to govern. This is the perfect environment for Imran Khan to continue his crusade, even from his jail cell as the country’s most famous prisoner – number 804.British-Pakistani author and journalist Mohammed Hanif is the former head of the BBC’s Urdu service, and the author of several plays and novels, including the award-winning A Case of Exploding Mangoes and Our Lady of Alice Bhatti.Related TopicsPakistanImran KhanNawaz SharifMore on this storyWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Published12 FebruaryThe cricket star and former PM dividing PakistanPublished1 FebruaryTop StoriesGaza receives first airdrop of US humanitarian aidPublished2 hours agoFergal Keane: Aid convoy tragedy shows fear of starvation haunts GazaPublished8 hours agoTories need a Budget bounce but can Hunt deliver?Published8 hours agoFeaturesBiden treads carefully through Middle East minefieldWhat Navalny’s funeral tells us about Russia todayFaisal Islam: Why this won’t be the Budget that Jeremy Hunt wantedBad blood over Singapore Taylor Swift tour subsidiesKiller whale vs shark: Solo orca eats great white. 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[ad_1] Pakistan’s army has long wielded an unchallenged amount of power over politics – until now.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine says half of all Western military aid delayedPublished50 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ukraine’s president says delays of Western aid have contributed to recent setbacks in the warBy Kathryn ArmstrongBBC NewsUkraine’s defence minister says half of Western military aid has been delayed, which is costing lives and territory.”At the moment, commitment does not constitute delivery,” Rustam Umerov said in a televised address on Sunday. Ukraine is currently experiencing a variety of setbacks in its mission to drive Russia from its territory.Mr Umerov said that the lack of supplies put Ukraine at a further disadvantage “in the mathematics of war”.”We do everything possible and impossible but without timely supply it harms us,” he said. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned in November that plans to deliver a million artillery shells by March would not be met. In January, the European Union (EU) said just over half of these would reach Ukraine by the deadline and that the full promised amount would not be there until the end of 2024. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, blamed a lack of production capacity but Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said allies had been stepping this up.Ukrainian forces have often complained of shortages in their war with Russia.President Volodymyr Zelensky said one of the reasons Ukraine’s highly anticipated counter-offensive did not start earlier last year was the lack of weapons. That counter-offensive largely failed – one of a number of setbacks Kyiv has faced after some early successes in repelling Russia after it invaded in February 2022. Last week, it was announced that troops had withdrawn from the key eastern town of Avdiivka – Moscow’s biggest win in months.Mr Zelensky also blamed this partly on faltering Western weapon supplies. The Biden administration, meanwhile, has said the hold-up in Congress of a $60bn aid package for Ukraine led to the fall of the town. Despite the delay, Ukraine’s prime minister sounded an optimistic note. “We are deeply convinced that the United States will not abandon Ukraine in terms of both financial support and military, armed support,” Denys Shmyal said on Sunday.His comments come after Mr Zelensky pressed members of the G7 – the world’s richest democracies – to increase their “vital support” in order for his country to win the war.”You know perfectly well that we need all this in time, and we count on you,” he said at a virtual meeting. Western leaders travelled to Kyiv on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Ukraine as the country marked two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. There, it was announced that Italy and Canada had signed security deals with Ukraine – bolstering support until the country could join Nato.Canada’s deal included more than three billion Canadian dollars (£1.7bn) in financial and defence aid. It is not only Ukraine that is having trouble resourcing its military activities. Russia is also struggling to provide ammunition and weapons, according to Western officials.”Russia’s domestic ammunition production capabilities are currently insufficient for meeting the needs of the Ukraine conflict,” a Western official claimed.They added that Moscow has been able to increase its supply only by seeking out alternative sources of ammunition and weapons, which do not offer a long-term solution.Related TopicsWar in UkraineUkraineMore on this storyZelensky insists Ukraine will win on war anniversaryPublished19 hours agoBiden assures Zelensky US will send $60bn in aidPublished7 days agoShell shortages force us to limit firing, Ukrainian troops tell BBCPublished14 December 2023Top StoriesDeputy PM declines to say whether MP’s remarks were IslamophobicPublished5 minutes agoUkraine says half of all Western military aid delayedPublished50 minutes agoIsrael mulls ceasefire plan as progress reportedPublished1 hour agoFeaturesThe converted landmark buildings given new lifeIn pictures: Celebrating the Lantern FestivalDissent is dangerous in Putin’s Russia, but activists refuse to give upThe winners and nominees at the SAG AwardsKim Petras on sexual liberation and fighting TikTokInside the long-abandoned tunnel beneath the ClydeHow a £525 bet gave birth to your morning commuteThe man who tried to eat every animal on Earth. 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[ad_1] The defence minister says the the wait for weapons and ammunition is costing lives and territory.

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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? 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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 & 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