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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSouth Africa’s ANC pitches for votes as majority threatenedPublished27 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa had made a lot of progress in the 30 years of democracyBy Damian ZaneBBC News, JohannesburgSouth Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) has launched its manifesto for the May elections, in which some some polls suggest its share of the vote could fall below 50% for the first time.President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed thousands of supporters at a rally in KwaZulu-Natal province.The area will be a key battleground.Dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, public services and corruption has eaten away at ANC support.The party of Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle against the racist apartheid system and oversaw the transition to democracy in 1994, has been the dominant force for the last 30 years.But stubbornly high unemployment, which now stands at more than 32%, frequent power cuts and high crime levels, among other issues, have led some to turn away from the ANC.There are challenges coming from the right, in the form of the main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), and the more radical left with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).Image source, ReutersImage caption, Nelson Mandela’s contribution to ending apartheid and serving as the first democratically elected president is still well rememberedKwaZulu-Natal is also the home of former President Jacob Zuma, disenchanted with the party and now suspended from the ANC. He has thrown his weight behind a new formation – uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) – which has already made some small inroads at byelections in the province.Speaking at a stadium in the city of Durban, with the crowd decked out in the ANC’s black, green and gold, President Ramaphosa promised that “we will do better”.It was an acknowledgement that there are problems, but he also emphasised the transformation that the country has made in the last three decades.”South Africans are more educated, empowered and healthier than they were under apartheid,” he said, urging people not to threaten that progress.Looking forward, his party promises to create 2.5 million “work opportunities”. It also pledges to boost investment and support the private sector as well as “eradicate corruption”.In his introduction to the manifesto, the president also wrote that “there are forces that seek to use this election to undo the progress of democracy. It is crucial that together we defend our hard-won freedom.”He did not name those “forces” but the ANC knows it faces its toughest electoral environment yet.Since 1994, it has polled consistently above 50% in national elections, enabling it to run the country without challenge. But with some opinion polls showing that that support has dipped below an absolute majority, South Africa is facing the possibility of a coalition government after the 29 May general election.Image source, ReutersImage caption, DA leader John Steenhuisen said last week that he had a blueprint to rescue South AfricaIn its party manifesto launched last week, the DA, under the leadership of John Steenhuisen, had a simple message: “Our country is in crisis.”It has promised to create two million new jobs, end the power cuts and halve violent crime. The DA wants a more liberal economic approach, including introducing privatisation, especially in the energy sector.On the opposite end of the political spectrum, the EFF’s diagnosis is that the ANC has failed to dismantle the economic system that existed under apartheid.Instead, the governing party has “reproduced and worsened apartheid economic inequalities”, the EFF’s high-profile leader Julius Malema wrote in his introduction to its manifesto.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Julius Malema’s EFF has said it wants to transform the economy and put more wealth into the hands of ordinary South AfricansThe EFF’s answer is to expropriate land without compensation and nationalise the “mines, banks and other strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation”.That wealth would then be used to benefit the majority of the population.The MK has not yet released its manifesto, but at the party’s launch last December Mr Zuma said the ANC had moved away from its roots and it was now his mission to “rescue” the “once-great movement”.There are more than 300 parties registered with the electoral commission, and though not all will necessarily take part in the May vote the stage is set for three months of hard campaigning.Related TopicsAfrican National CongressCyril RamaphosaSouth AfricaMore on this storyMurders, hitmen and South Africa’s electionPublished3 December 2023South Africa boosts welfare grants ahead of May pollPublished3 days agoSouth Africa country profilePublished24 July 2023Top StoriesLive. ‘You can’t destroy our dreams’ says Zelensky as war in Ukraine enters third yearKing praises Ukraine’s ‘determination and strength’Published1 hour agoKhan criticises PM for failing to condemn MP’s remarksPublished16 minutes agoFeaturesHow a gay TV drama changed people’s livesThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the week’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Khan criticises PM for failing to condemn MP’s remarks2Graham Norton leaves Virgin Radio weekend show3Defeat to Trump looms over Nikki Haley. So why stay in the race?4King praises Ukraine’s ‘determination and strength’5Relief for thousands back home after bomb drama6Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads7Strictly’s Dowden says cancer check finds no evidence of disease8The ‘strange’ story of man who killed a family9How a gay TV drama changed people’s lives10Burned body found near football pitch in Motherwell

[ad_1] Since 1994, it has polled consistently above 50% in national elections, enabling it to run the country without challenge. But with some opinion polls showing that that support has…

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• February 24, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityNewsbeatShreya Ghoshal: We need to celebrate Lata Mangeshkar’s legacyPublished13 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Shreya Ghoshal’s recent tour performances in the UK have had millions of views on TikTokBy Haroon Rashid & Sarika UnadkatBBC Asian NetworkShreya Ghoshal is regarded by some as India’s greatest living female singer.But it might surprise you to hear her say she “needs to do more”, despite having millions of fans around the world, multiple hit songs and acclaim within Bollywood and beyond.In an exclusive interview with BBC Asian Network, she says she feels a sense of responsibility to the next generation of singers.Shreya’s also followed in the path of another – Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s most beloved singers, who died in 2022.Since then, Shreya’s been touted as the one to take on the mantle of the legendary performer, whose extraordinary career spanned more than half a century.Lata’s voice soundtracked hundreds of Bollywood films and she recorded thousands of songs in 36 languages.Shreya says she “refuses to process” the comparisons, saying they go “in one ear and out the other”.But she does insist it’s important to recognise those that came before her, continuing their legacies while forging her own.”I’m sure there’s a generation that’s not heard Lata Ji and I am probably trying to bridge that gap for them to access her,” she tells the Beyond Bollywood show. “That’s why I keep singing her songs and talking about her, because we need to celebrate greats.”‘Finding my place around the world’The 39-year-old recently performed packed out shows in London and Manchester on the UK leg of her global All Hearts Tour, with concert videos getting millions of views on TikTok.It was a setlist which included a medley of classic songs by legendary artists like Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.Shreya says she looks up to Lata and Asha Bhosle in particular as her “gurus”.”I think I’m taking a little bit of that in my singing and giving it to the next generation, so they feel the magic that they have given us,” she says.”I have heard so many artists in the world and I know there is too much perfection and beauty in the work that these legends have done.”I get inspired by them in every step of my life, but I know there is a lot more to do – and I’m not being humble. That’s the truth.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Indian singers Asha Bhosle and her late sister Lata Mangeshkar have collectively sung thousands of songsBollywood in recent years has become dominated by electronic music, with melodies similar to pop and mainstream dance.Shreya was raised on classics recorded from the 1960s through to the 90s, when songs were recorded with full orchestras and incorporated a blend of Western classical and traditional Indian styles.She says it’s important to her to incorporate these influences to ensure young music lovers and aspiring singers do not forget the roots of Asian music.”It is different,” she says.”Our subcontinent has a very old history of music, from classical, to folk, to our film music and it’s distinctly different with its nuances.”This is the legacy which makes this subcontinent feel so proud of their heritage.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Shreya says she wants to help the next generation of singers thriveShreya reflects on her rise in music, which can be charted back to the age of four – when she began learning music and classical singing with her parents.By the age of 12 she won the children’s version of reality TV singing competition Sa Re Ga Ma.Through the show she was noticed by renowned film director and music composer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who asked her to sing on the soundtrack of his 2002 blockbuster hit film Devdas. “Those days I was so nervous, I came from a small town, all I knew was to keep my eyes down and just sing,” she says.”I never thought it would catapult me to the mainstream where I am today.”‘We’re brown artists mixing Bollywood with Beyoncé’Badshah: I love being loved but fame is uncomfortableThe ‘nightingale of Bollywood’ whose voice ruled IndiaIn recent years, things have come full-circle, with Shreya herself now appearing as a talent show judge on Indian Idol.Thinking about her 22 years in the industry, she says only now is she “finally living in the moment”. “Up until a couple years ago, I was still trying to find my foothold in the industry and the kind of music I want to do,” she says.”Now I’m just trying to find my place in the industry, not just the Indian industry, but around the world.”Listen to the full interview on Beyond Bollywood with Haroon Rashid on BBC Asian Network from 11:00 on 24 February.Related TopicsBollywoodIndiaMore on this story’We’re brown artists mixing Bollywood with Beyoncé’Published7 days agoBadshah: I love being loved but fame is uncomfortablePublished25 November 2023The ‘nightingale of Bollywood’ whose voice ruled IndiaPublished6 February 2022Around the BBCBBC Asian Network – Asian Network Bollywood, Beyond Bollywood with Haroon Rashid, Shreya GhoshalTop StoriesLive. ‘You can’t destroy our dreams’ says Zelensky as war in Ukraine enters third yearTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished7 hours agoGaza desperately needs more aid but agencies can’t copePublished3 hours agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Graham Norton leaves Virgin Radio weekend show2Defeat to Trump looms over Nikki Haley. So why stay in the race?3Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads4Relief for thousands back home after bomb drama5King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support6Strictly’s Dowden says cancer check finds no evidence of disease7The ‘strange’ story of man who killed a family8WW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruption9Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in Rochdale10’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change

[ad_1] One of India’s most popular singers says she feels a duty to pass on what she’s learnt to the next gen.

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• February 24, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaGaza desperately needs more aid but agencies can’t copePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warBy Paul AdamsBBC NewsThe images have been searing. Children scrabbling in the dirt, gathering handfuls of spilled flour which they stuff into their pockets.Aid trucks surrounded by angry mobs of mostly young men, who attack the drivers and make off with whatever they can carry. And young Maryam Abed-Rabu, trying but ultimately failing to stay composed as she answered a journalist’s questions about the daily struggle to stay alive.A girl who has already been through so much, including the loss of her father, wailing at her inability simply to find bread.Northern Gaza is almost entirely cut off from the outside world. The population, estimated at around 300,000 people, reduced to a feral existence in a world where shops barely exist and aid never arrives. The south, meanwhile, is crammed with the displaced – hundreds of thousands of people constantly on the move, looking for food, shelter and safety. Israel says it’s doing what it can to limit the suffering of civilians, but four and a half months of relentless military assault have left the Gaza Strip on its knees, with aid agencies unable to cope.”Every time you go back it gets worse,” Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s interim coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said on Friday. Just back from his latest visit to the Gaza Strip, he found despair was rife. Image source, ReutersImage caption, Palestinians carry bags of flour from an aid truck in Gaza City”People feel as though this is the end of their journey.”At the far southern end of the Gaza Strip, between 1.2 and 1.5 million people are crammed into every available space in and around the city of Rafah. Nearby, in the sandy coastal area known as al-Mawasi, designated by Israel as a humanitarian safe zone, at least 250,000 people are now living in flimsy accommodation with little support.Doctors working for the British medical charity UK-Med have watched a tent city springing up around them.”Two weeks ago, there were one or two tents dotted along the beachfront,” UK-Med’s CEO David Wightwick told me on a scratchy line from his al-Mawasi base.”They’re now six tents deep.”A few miles south is the crossing point Israelis call Kerem Shalom (Karem Abu Salem in Arabic), where almost all aid destined for the Gaza Strip enters, after exhaustive Israeli checks.At a holding area on the Palestinian side, aid is offloaded and reloaded onto local trucks, for distribution throughout Gaza. The trucks traverse a 3km corridor to the “blue gate” at Rafah, before entering Gaza.But the collapse of security in Gaza means that for some of the aid, the journey never really begins.Trucks are attacked and looted inside the corridor.Much of the looting is by organised Palestinian gangs, with donkey carts and vehicles waiting across the fence and spotters reporting the arrival of aid.But for those trucks lucky enough to reach the blue gate, the problems have only just begun. Much of what happens next is opportunistic, and frequently violent.”Many of these trucks, before they even get 200 metres, are stopped by cars, attacked and looted,” Mr McGoldrick said.With just a few roads available for aid deliveries, and most convoys travelling in the early hours of the day, the UN says people are using social media to alert each other to the movement of convoys, allowing roadblocks and ambushes to be set up in advance.Image source, DPA / AlamyImage caption, A truck loaded with German aid enters Gaza through the Kerem Shalom border crossing”People know when we’re coming,” Mr McGoldrick said.The envoy said he had seen trucks with windows and rear-view mirrors smashed. He said he had spoken to traumatised drivers, who’d had axes thrown through their windscreens and come under fire.Rather than reaching UN warehouses and being distributed in an orderly fashion, aid often ends up being sold in street markets at vastly inflated prices which few can afford.After a World Food Programme truck was hit by gunfire on 6 February (the UN blamed Israeli naval gunfire), WFP suspended all aid deliveries to the north.Attempts to resume deliveries this week collapsed amid scenes of violent looting.The UN says it has approached Israel about opening up supply routes from the north but that discussions are at an early stage.The hope – a slender one at the moment – is to reduce incentives for looting by dramatically increasing the volumes of food and other essential goods entering Gaza.”We need to flood the north with aid,” Mr McGoldrick said, “so it doesn’t become a product that people want to use for extortionist purposes or the black market.”Israel, for its part, says it is doing what it can to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian assistance. “We are doing everything in our power… to reduce any harmful consequences of the war [to] the civilian population,” Col. Moshe Tetro, head of the military’s coordination and liaison administration for Gaza, told reporters at a briefing this week.On Friday, the military said more than 13,000 trucks, carrying over 250,000 tons of humanitarian aid, had entered the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.That’s a little over 90 trucks a day, way below the 500 UN staff say is needed to meet the growing demands of a hungry, sick, repeatedly displaced population. Israel says the problems with aid distribution are not of its making, despite the fact that the chaos reigning inside the Gaza Strip is a direct consequence of its military assault. “Unfortunately, today and yesterday, the UN didn’t show up for work,” Col Tetro said.Delays on the Palestinian side, he said, were leading to a backlog of trucks waiting to enter Gaza.”The UN should increase their capabilities inside Gaza.”But in recent weeks, security has been further eroded by a series of Israeli attacks on civilian police officers.According to David Satterfield, the Biden administration’s envoy for humanitarian issues, such attacks had made it “virtually impossible” to distribute aid safely.For the UN, Israeli calls for it to do more sound hollow. The Israeli government has embarked on a campaign to dismantle UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for assisting Palestinian refugees, following allegations that as many as 12% of UNRWA’s 13,000 staff in Gaza were also working for Hamas, with some even participating in the murderous attacks of 7 October.The UN says it’s investigating but that Israel has yet to share its intelligence. In the meantime, the Netanyahu government has already started stripping UNRWA of its functions.Responsibility for 29,000 metric tonnes of flour from USAID, currently stored at the Israeli port of Ashdod, has already been transferred to the World Food Programme.In an anguished letter to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, UNRWA’s director Philippe Lazzarini said the agency had reached “breaking point” and listed a number of measures the Israeli government was taking to hamper its work, including limiting visas for international staff, blocking an UNRWA bank account and suspending the shipment of UNRWA goods.Bad as it is at the moment, the thought of an all-out Israeli assault on Rafah, which the government threatens to do if Israeli hostages are not released before the start of Ramadan on 10 March, raises fears among aid workers that the worst is yet to come.UK-Med’s David Wightwick has already had a glimpse. When he drove to Khan Yunis to extract a medical team from Nasser Hospital, he found himself surrounded by crowds of desperate people.”The prospect of that happening in Rafah and al-Mawasi, where you’ve got hundreds of thousands of people is not one I think you really want to contemplate,” he told me. Israel-Gaza war: Death and Israel’s search for ‘total victory’What are routes out of this ‘dangerous moment’ in Middle East?Huge push for Gaza aid – but little hope for those sufferingIran’s sudden strikes show just how perilous region has becomeTough choices for Israel in US’s Middle East visionHuge challenges for Israel on its vague ‘day after’ Gaza planStakes are immense as Biden presses Israel to change courseHamas support soars in West Bank – but full uprising can still be avoidedThe status quo is smashed. The future is messy and dangerousBowen: US sets clearer red lines for Israel as ceasefire endsWhen this truce ends, the decisive next phase of war beginsRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warIsraelPalestinian territoriesGazaTop StoriesTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished6 hours agoLive. Western leaders visit Kyiv as war in Ukraine enters third yearGaza desperately needs more aid but agencies can’t copePublished1 hour agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1Defeat to Trump looms over Nikki Haley. So why stay in the race?2Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads3King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support4WW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruption5Relief for thousands back home after bomb drama6Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give up7Strictly’s Dowden says cancer check finds no evidence of disease8’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change9Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in Rochdale10The ‘strange’ story of man who killed a family

[ad_1] The Israeli government has embarked on a campaign to dismantle UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for assisting Palestinian refugees, following allegations that as many as 12% of UNRWA’s 13,000…

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• February 24, 2024
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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDefeat to Donald Trump looms over Nikki Haley. So why stay in the race?Published11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image source, Getty ImagesBy Holly Honderichin Columbia, South CarolinaRepublican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is staring down another resounding loss to Donald Trump, this time in her home state of South Carolina. But Ms Haley has vowed not to quit, raising speculation about the ambitions of her long shot campaign. Three days before the state primary, a crowd of Republican voters in Augusta, South Carolina, packed shoulder-to-shoulder in to the sunny top floor of a municipal building for a Nikki Haley campaign event. As the state’s former governor, Ms Haley gave the gathering an assured and newly combative stump speech. She made frequent and pointed jabs at her rival and the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump – a tactic she had long avoided. “He was literally unhinged,” she said at one point, remarking on his victory speech after the New Hampshire primary. “He’s obsessed with himself,” she added later.In this room at least, Ms Haley’s pitch and criticism of the former president were landing. Her jokes received loud laughs, the applause breaks were long, and at least a dozen voters in attendance told the BBC they were all in on Ms Haley. “She’s got an outstanding record,” said supporter Holt Moran. “She’s just the perfect person.”But again and again, when asked if Ms Haley had a chance of winning the primary – or even another Republican contest down the line – each voter seemed to wince before saying no. “Unfortunately not,” Mr Moran said. Despite her publicly sunny outlook, the packed events, and beaming crowds, it will be nearly impossible for Ms Haley to find a path to the nomination. She has lost every contest to Mr Trump so far, and is likely to do so again on Saturday, this time in her home state. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: How has Haley’s tone on Trump changed?Polls show the former UN ambassador is trailing by nearly 30 points in South Carolina and her odds are even worse in votes to come. Barring a dramatic and unforeseen twist, Mr Trump will – for the third time in a row – be his party’s nominee. But Ms Haley has so far shown no signs of quitting.So is Ms Haley’s enduring campaign a quixotic exercise or – as she says – a principled stand against Mr Trump? Or is she perhaps playing a longer game and laying the groundwork for future political ambitions?’I refuse to quit’With pundits and commentators – and her own party leadership – claiming she is wasting Republicans’ time and money, Ms Haley has struggled to defend her resolve. In Greenville this week, in what her campaign had billed as a “state of the race address,” Ms Haley gave a 26-minute speech devoted entirely to why she still sought the Republican nomination.”I refuse to quit,” she said. “South Carolina will vote on Saturday. But on Sunday, I’ll still be running for president.” There, and in most public appearances since, Ms Haley has cast her enduring campaign as an act of principle, a decision meant to give Republicans an alternative to Mr Trump or President Joe Biden – who she contends are “are the most disliked politicians in America”.”There are 70% of Americans who don’t want another Biden-Trump rematch and 60% of Americans who think Biden and Trump are both too old,” one of Ms Haley’s spokeswomen, Olivia Perez-Cubas said. “They [voters] deserve a better choice.” Image source, Getty ImagesFriends and allies of Ms Haley have insisted that her public remarks are sincere, and that she is focused solely on this year’s Republican nomination. “When you talk to her in private, she says I’m sticking with this,” said Jenny Sanford-McKay, South Carolina’s former first lady and Ms Haley’s friend. “The opportunity for her is now.” Some contend Ms Haley is continuing as a candidate in case Mr Trump, who faces numerous criminal and civil legal challenges, suddenly had to bow out of the race.But Republican strategists have also raised another theory: perhaps Ms Haley is looking four years ahead, with an eye toward the next presidential election in 2028.If that is the plan, Ms Haley’s current campaign would provide her a significant head start, functioning as a nationwide rehearsal for her messaging and fundraising. Even as she trails Mr Trump, Ms Haley has assembled teams in at least a dozen states and planned a seven-figure ad buy ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 March, when Republicans in 16 states will vote. “People will remember her, and that she was a solid candidate,” Ron Bonjean, a political strategist, said.The road aheadDeep-pocketed donors are helping her ongoing efforts by pouring millions of dollars into her campaign, with several saying publicly they see her as a competent counter to Mr Trump’s chaos. In January alone, campaign officials said Ms Haley raised $16.5m (£13m) – her largest monthly total. That money seems to correlate with the energy on the ground. Almost in spite of the steady drum beat of bad polling, on the campaign trial this week Ms Haley appeared relaxed and upbeat, drawing out her tightly-rehearsed stump speeches with new riffs, laughing at her own jokes. The voters in attendance seemed energised too, both about Ms Haley and about leaving Mr Trump behind.”She’s a real path forward,” supporter David Hood said at a campaign event in Georgetown on Thursday. “Trump is an embarrassment.” More on the US electionExplained: A simple guide to the US 2024 electionAnalysis: Where Biden v Trump will be won and lostPolicies: What a Trump second term would look likeEconomy: Voters feel better – will that help Biden?Recap: The Trump story to dateAnother voter, Tim Ferguson said he would be proud to cast his ballot for Ms Haley, after twice voting for Mr Trump. “I’ve always said, after I vote for him I go home and take a shower – I don’t feel right,” he said. But just outside the bubble of Ms Haley’s campaign and her future prospects is the reality of the current Republican Party, with a base still very much devoted to Mr Trump. And, despite sending Ms Haley to the statehouse and then to the governor’s mansion two times over, South Carolina is proving no different. In Lexington County, where Ms Haley lived with her young family when she launched her political career, residents mostly shrugged when asked about their former neighbour’s campaign for president. “I don’t care where somebody’s from,” said Gregg Moore, who owns an antique store in downtown Lexington. “Mr Trump is from New York and Florida. I’m not from New York and Florida, but he has what this country needs and therefore I’m voting for him.” Image source, Getty ImagesMr Moore, like other Lexington County voters who spoke to the BBC, was not particularly critical of Ms Haley. Most said simply she could not compete with the former president, who they believed had proved his mettle in the White House. And it is not just South Carolina’s voters who are lining up behind Mr Trump. The state’s Republican lawmakers and leadership have as well.”We all know it’s Trump’s party at this point, right?” South Carolina Republican strategist and Trump critic Chip Felkel said. That may be true. But for now, as long as there’s money left to spend, Ms Haley can simply carry on. After all, he said, “what has she got to lose?” Related TopicsRepublican PartyNikki HaleyUS election 2024United StatesMore on this storyAlabama IVF row an election-year political bombshellPublished23 hours agoCan Nikki Haley really stop Donald Trump?Published12 JanuaryNikki Haley won’t quit despite trailing in home statePublished3 days agoTop StoriesTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished5 hours agoLive. Western leaders visit Kyiv as war in Ukraine enters third yearWW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruptionPublished54 minutes agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruption2Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads3King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support4Strictly’s Dowden says cancer check finds no evidence of disease5Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment6’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change7Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give up8Labour calls for action over Tory MP Islamist claims9Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’10The ‘strange’ story of man who killed a family

[ad_1] Despite her publicly sunny outlook, the packed events, and beaming crowds, it will be nearly impossible for Ms Haley to find a path to the nomination. She has lost…

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 11s
• 1400.Of
• February 24, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaChina: 15 dead and dozens more injured in Nanjing flat firePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Early on Friday, dozens of fire engines were dispatched to the scene of the deadly blazeBy Emily AtkinsonBBC NewsFifteen people have been killed and more than 40 injured after a fire ripped through an apartment building in eastern China, local authorities said.Footage shared on social medal showed flames and plumes of black smoke engulfing several floors of a skyscraper in Nanjing city.Officials suggested the blaze started on the first floor of the building, where electric bikes were being stored.But the specific cause of the fire remained under investigation.The building is located in the Yuhuatai district of Nanjing, a city of more than eight million that lies about 162 miles (260km) north-west of Shanghai.Emergency service crews were first alerted to the blaze at 04:40 local time (20:40 GMT) on Friday, officials said on Saturday morning.Twenty-five fire engines and 130 firefighters were sent to tackle to the blaze. By 06:00 (22:00 GMT), the fire had been extinguished, with the search and rescue operation ending around 14:00.Of the 44 injured people sent to hospital for treatment, one is in a critical condition and another seriously injured, the officials said.At a press conference, Nanjing mayor Chen Zhichang offered his condolences and apologies to the victims’ families.Aerial photos of the skyscraper shared on Friday after the fire had been extinguished showed some flats up the length of the building with blackened fronts.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, At least 15 people have been killed and 44 injured in the fire at a residential building in eastern China’s NanjingFires and other deadly accidents often occur in China due to lax enforcement of safety standards.A recent spate of deadly fires across the country prompted President Xi Jinping to call last month for “deep reflection” and greater efforts to “curb the frequent occurrence of safety accidents”.The Nanjing fire comes a month after 13 schoolchildren, aged nine and 10, were killed after a fire broke out in a school dormitory in China’s Henan province.Days later, at least 39 people were killed and nine injured in a fire that started in the basement of a shop in the city of Xinyu.Related TopicsAsiaChinaMore on this storyThirteen dead after school dormitory fire in ChinaPublished20 JanuaryDozens killed and injured in fire at Chinese shopPublished24 January26 dead in north China building fire – state mediaPublished16 November 2023Arrests after China restaurant gas blast kills 31Published22 June 2023Top StoriesTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished3 hours agoLive. Western leaders visit Kyiv as Russia’s invasion enters third yearWW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruptionPublished4 hours agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodThe ‘strange’ story of man who killed a familyIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruption2’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change3Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease4King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support5Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads6Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment7Labour calls for action over Tory MP Islamist claims8Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’9Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give up10The ‘strange’ story of man who killed a family

[ad_1] Officials suggested the blaze started on the building’s first floor, where electric bikes were stored.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 11s
• 2023France
• February 24, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaFrance expels ‘radical’ Tunisian imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi over flag commentsPublished18 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Mahjoub Mahjoubi was an imam in the small southern town of Bagnols-sur-CèzeBy Lou NewtonBBC NewsFrance has expelled a “radical” imam who made “unacceptable remarks” about the country’s flag, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has said.Mahjoub Mahjoubi appeared to call the French flag “satanic” in a video that went viral online earlier this week. Mr Darmanin said France’s immigration reforms had enabled the swift deportation of the imam.But the imam denies any wrongdoing and said he had not meant to be disrespectful.Mahjoub Mahjoubi, who hails from Tunisia but came to France 38 years ago, was an imam at the Ettaouba mosque in the small town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze, in the south of France.He was arrested earlier this week after a video circulated online showing him describing a “tricolour flag” as “satanic” and saying it has “no value with Allah”.Although he did not refer to a specific flag, many of the comments under the video assumed he meant the French flag.The imam said later he was sorry if he had caused any offence, arguing that his remarks about the flag were a “slip of the tongue”.On Thursday, Mr Darmanin wrote on X that he had asked for an expulsion order to be issued for Mahjoub Mahjoubi, and praised tough new immigration laws that makes it easier for France to deport foreign residents.”Without the immigration law, this would not have been possible. Firmness is the rule”, the interior minister wrote. French media published some of the expulsion order, which said the imam had promoted a “retrograde, intolerant, and violent image of Islam, likely to encourage behaviour contrary to the values of the Republic”. It said his teachings encouraged discrimination against women, “tensions with the Jewish community” and “jihadist radicalisation”. According to the order, he had also referred to Jewish people as “the enemy”.He was expelled “less than 12 hours after his arrest”, Mr Darmanin said in another post, adding that the new laws “makes France stronger”.”We won’t let anything go,” he warned. France’s immigration reforms have reduced protections for foreign residents and made it easier for them to be deported if they get a criminal conviction or are deemed to be a “grave threat to public order”.French media reported that Mahjoub Mahjoubi had boarded a flight back to Tunisia on Thursday evening.His lawyer said they would appeal his deportation. Related TopicsFrench politicsFranceEmmanuel MacronMore on this storyFrench migration row engulfs island in Indian OceanPublished15 FebruaryMacron says tougher immigration reform is ‘shield’Published20 December 2023France to tighten migrant law despite court rulingPublished26 JanuaryTop StoriesTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished1 hour agoUK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversaryPublished5 hours agoWW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruptionPublished2 hours agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsFive things we learned from Married to The GameAttributionSportElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after days of disruption2’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change3Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease4King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support5Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads6Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment7Calls for MP to lose whip over ‘Islamist’ comments8Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’9Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give up10Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in Rochdale

[ad_1] Immigration reforms have made it easier for the French government to forcibly remove foreign residents.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 11s
• A50
• February 24, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSenegal’s President Sall agrees to step down in April but sets no poll datePublished12 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, People nationwide gathered to watch President Sall being interviewed on Thursday eveningBy Mayeni JonesBBC West Africa correspondentSenegal’s President Macky Sall has said he will leave office when his term comes to an end on 2 April, but tensions remain over an election date.His recent decision to delay the vote, originally scheduled for Sunday, to mid-December sparked deadly protests.In a televised interview, Mr Sall said an election date would now be decided in political talks to start on Monday.But the opposition has refused to take part in the proposed dialogue dashing hopes of resolving the turmoil.Sixteen of the 19 presidential hopefuls have said they will not be turning up for what the president has termed a “national dialogue”. A number of civil society organisations have also declined to take part in the exercise. BBC Africa Live: Updates from around the continentSenegal steps back from the brink – but what next?Mr Sall, who is on his way to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for an extraordinary summit of the regional bloc Ecowas, has been under pressure to announce a new date since Senegal’s highest court declared last week that the postponement of the poll was illegal. His original decree to delay the vote received strong condemnation from the international community.Many feared the postponement would lead to President Sall’s remaining leader of the country indefinitely in a region plagued by coups and military governments.Speaking on national television on Thursday evening, Mr Sall said he felt there was not enough time to vote in a new president by the time he steps down on 2 April. He said that the dialogue forum would decide what should happen if this was the case. In a show of good faith, the president said he was prepared to release the popular opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, from prison. His arrest sparked nationwide protests last year.Dozens of the president’s opponents have already been set free since Senegal’s Constitutional Council ruled that his decision to postpone the election was illegal.But the fact that the president did not set a new election date has further fuelled suspicions by his critics that this is just another stalling tactic. President Sall has served two terms as Senegal’s leader and when he was first elected in 2012 he promised he would not overstay. His televised interview has not yet restored his country’s reputation as a bastion of democracy in an increasingly totalitarian region. More on Senegal’s political turmoil:’We feel betrayed’ – why anger has engulfed SenegalWhy West Africa’s united front is in tattersSenegal’s Ousmane Sonko – youth hero or rabble-rouser?Related TopicsSenegalAfricaAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastTop StoriesWW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through cityPublished42 minutes agoUK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversaryPublished3 hours agoTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished6 hours agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsFive things we learned from Married to The GameAttributionSportWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic faster. VideoWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic fasterAttributionWeatherElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through city2’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change3Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease4King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support5Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads6Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment7Ukraine says it downs second A-50 Russian spy plane8Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in Rochdale9Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’10UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary

[ad_1] Mr Sall, who is on his way to the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for an extraordinary summit of the regional bloc Ecowas, has been under pressure to announce a new…

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 10km
• 118M
• February 24, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentIntuitive Machines: Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’Published5 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NASAImage caption, Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, describes what he thinks happened during landingBy Jonathan AmosScience correspondent@BBCAmosThe Odysseus Moon lander is likely lying on its side with its head resting against a rock.The US spacecraft, which made history on Thursday by becoming the first ever privately built and operated robot to complete a soft lunar touchdown, is otherwise in good condition.Its owner, Texan firm Intuitive Machines, says Odysseus has plenty of power and is communicating with Earth.Controllers are trying to retrieve pictures from the robot.Steve Altemus, the CEO and co-founder of IM, said it wasn’t totally clear what had happened but the data suggested the robot caught a foot on the surface and then fell because it still had some lateral motion at the moment of landing. Another possibility is that Odysseus broke a leg as it came down. Certainly, inertial measurement sensors indicate the body of the vehicle to be in a horizontal pose.American company makes historic Moon landingFirst private Moon mission marks new era for space travelWhatever the reason for the unexpected landed configuration, radio antennas are still pointing at Earth and solar cells continue to collect energy to charge the battery system. Fortuitously, all the scientific instruments that planned to take observations on the Moon are on the side of Odysseus facing up, which should allow them to do some work. The only payload on the “wrong side” of the lander, pointing down at the lunar surface, is a static art project.”We’re hopeful to get pictures and really do an assessment of the structure and assessment of all the external equipment,” Mr Altemus told reporters.”So far, we have quite a bit of operational capability even though we’re tipped over. And so that’s really exciting for us, and we are continuing the surface operations mission as a result of it.”Image caption, Odysseus took this photo on approach some 10km above the surfaceThe robot had been directed to a cratered terrain near the Moon’s south pole, and the IM team believes it got very close to the targeted site, perhaps within 2km or 3km.A US space agency satellite called the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will search for Odysseus this weekend to confirm its whereabouts.The IM mission is part of Nasa’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme, in which the agency is paying various private American companies for cargo services to the Moon – in the case of Odysseus with a fee of $118M (£93m).All the companies are responsible for the financing, build, launch and operation of their spacecraft – and for finding commercial payloads to supplement Nasa’s.Six CLPS missions were planned for this year. The first, by Pittsburgh-based firm Astrobotic, ended in failure. Its Peregrine lander developed technical problems en route to the Moon and gave up the opportunity of a touchdown. The robot was brought back to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.Why so many nations are aiming for lunar landingsThe mission to prevent ‘spaceship sandblasting’Image source, Intuitive MachinesImage caption, Artwork: How Odysseus should look on the Moon – except it’s likely on its sideIntuitive Machines has two further missions in prospect for 2024. The next will see a robot drill into the surface. Another Texan company, Firefly Aerospace, should also shoot for the Moon at some point in the coming months. Nasa regards the CLPS approach as a more economical way of getting its science done, while at the same time seeding what it hopes will become a thriving lunar economy. Joel Kearns, from the agency’s science mission directorate, described the Odysseus landing as a “gigantic accomplishment”, and an affirmation of the CLPS policy. Irrespective of its current functionality, Odysseus is unlikely to work much beyond the beginning of March when darkness will fall on the landing site. “Once the Sun sets on ‘Oddie’, the batteries will attempt to keep the vehicle warm and alive but eventually it’ll fall into a deep cold and then the electronics that we produce just won’t survive the deep cold of lunar night. And so, best case scenario, we’re looking at another nine to 10 days (of operations),” said Tim Crain, IM’s CTO and co-founder.Image source, Intuitive MachinesImage caption, Odysseus arrived in lunar orbit on Wednesday to prepare for the landingRelated TopicsNasaRoboticsExploration of the MoonThe MoonSpace explorationHoustonTop StoriesWW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through cityPublished5 hours agoUK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversaryPublished2 hours agoTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished5 hours agoFeatures’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up HollywoodIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Listen: No Return for Shamima Begum. AudioListen: No Return for Shamima BegumAttributionSoundsTurning regret into action after friends’ deathsFive things we learned from Married to The GameAttributionSportWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic faster. VideoWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic fasterAttributionWeatherElsewhere on the BBCExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’I smashed all my trophies’Bradley Wiggins opens up about his mental health and imposter syndromeAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through city2’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change3Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease4Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment5King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support6Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads7Ukraine says it downs second A-50 Russian spy plane8Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in Rochdale9Odysseus Moon lander ‘tipped over on touchdown’10UK reaffirms Ukraine support on war anniversary

[ad_1] The history-making robot likely caught its foot on contact with the lunar surface and fell sideways.

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• newsinsightplus.com
• 1100yearold
• 1980s
• February 24, 2024
• 0 Comments

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityTechnologyPiers Morgan and Oprah Winfrey ‘deepfaked’ for US influencer’s adsPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: Examples of the deepfaked videosBy James Kelly & Lora JonesBBC NewsCelebrities including Piers Morgan, Nigella Lawson and Oprah Winfrey have criticised the use of AI deepfake online adverts that gave the false impression they had endorsed a US influencer’s controversial self-help course.The adverts promoted the so-called “Genie Script”, the centrepiece of a “manifestation” course sold for $37 (£29) a time by Wesley “Billion Dollar” Virgin. He describes himself as a motivational coach who has 1.1 million followers on Instagram and claims to be worth $40m.The videos, used to lure buyers to purchase the product, claim the Genie Script is a “missing” Hebrew Bible scripture of just 20 words that could – supposedly – change your life.Its promotion blends pseudo-science, conspiracy theories and the manipulation of celebrity likenesses – all to draw in customers desperate for the chance to take control of their fate.One advert used footage of Nigella Lawson chatting about her recipes and work as a TV chef.”I went on vacation and met this man at a very exclusive party. His name was Wesley and he handed me this hidden Bible page that was locked away in somebody’s room,” the voice said.But it was not that of Lawson, it was the barely indistinguishable mimicry of an AI voice generator.Real footage is overlaid with a deepfake impersonation of the food writer’s voice, making it sound like she was attributing her success directly to Wesley Virgin’s guidance. The AI voice suggested that the script revealed by Virgin unlocked the secret to manifestation, a practice which involves thinking about or writing down your aspirations to turn them into reality.”He said: ‘Repeat this mantra every single day of your life… Since that moment I’ve become a multimillionaire all on my own.” A spokesperson for Lawson branded the advertisement “fraudulent” and “of great concern”. Another advert showed what looked like an excerpt from the Piers Morgan Uncensored TV show and employed similar techniques.The voice described “a lost old scripture that has been used by kings to attract vast riches, miraculous healing and unparalleled love”, and it looked like the mouth had been manipulated to fit the speech. The real Piers Morgan told the BBC the advert was “another example of a very worrying trend of public figures being misused by deepfake AI manipulators for financial gain”.”The real victims will be members of the public who unwittingly buy these products believing the celebrity endorsements are genuine,” he said.”Reviews” of the script appear online, where users praise Virgin and say they hope the script will help them with escaping poverty or spending more time with their children or grandchildren.Both adverts, which appeared on YouTube, have now been taken down.A spokesperson for YouTube said it had “long prohibited the use of manipulated media, including deepfakes and other forms of doctored content to deceive or mislead users”.Having reviewed these videos, Prof Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert at the University of Berkeley, said they were “clearly deepfakes”.”Of course, as the technology to create these fake audio and video improves, it will become increasingly difficult to detect these fakes. And the technology is improving at a stunning rate,” he added.Another advert, this time featuring Oprah Winfrey, was discovered in the Ad Library for the Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram. Genuine footage had been overlaid, again with AI providing fake dialogue sounding like the US chat show queen.”I want to give you a 20-word script… think of it like installing a new operating system into your mind that’s programmed to make you rich,” the AI Oprah says.A spokesperson for the real Oprah told the BBC she did not have anything to do with Virgin’s product.”We seek to protect consumers from the false association of Ms Winfrey and the misuse of AI to create such false advertising,” they said.Meta said it took action on the adverts it found to be in violation of its policies.When the BBC contacted Wesley Virgin he said the adverts were “the work of affiliates”, people who can earn money by helping him make sales, and that he was “in the process of banning them all”.But videos still prominent on the 44-year-old’s YouTube channel demonstrate the huge effort he has put into mentoring an online team of volunteers hoping to share in his fortunes, therefore boosting his own bank account.Image source, @wesleybilliondollarvImage caption, Wesley Virgin has built a huge following on social mediaWith titles such as “Make $800+ A DAY Online For FREE Copy & Pasting Links!”, Virgin urges viewers to spread the word about his products, such as the Genie Script, across social media. Promising rapid returns and a high commission rate, he encourages potential recruits to paste a web link to the sales platform Digistore24 into multiple meditation groups, along with messages promising a “free meditation” to those who click on it.But the link would take users to an online check-out for Virgin’s manifestation courses – after they had watched a sales pitch video with outlandish claims and an inaccurate account of theological history.The narrative of this video centred on a supposed “missing” page from the Bible that carries a powerful prayer script. The rich and famous knew the secret script, the narration claimed, and warned that “they’re willing to put a bullet into anyone’s head who exposes them”.Alongside the assertions was the seemingly antisemitic claim that Jewish people were disproportionately wealthy because they “use manifestation secrets” taken from an ancient 1,100-year-old “uncensored” Hebrew Bible that included the page that was “missing” from regular Bibles.Prof Nathan McDonald, a theology academic at the University of Cambridge, said the video referred to the Codex Sassoon, a very early Hebrew Bible which recently generated attention when it was sold at auction for $38m.”It does not have an additional page with a ’20-word script’,” he said. “Instead, alas… it has been damaged and is lacking a few pages.”He added that the Genie Script’s promotional videos seemed to draw on “New Thought” religious belief, which has its roots in late 19th Century America and has influenced some parts of Christianity through the so-called prosperity gospel. It suggests that healing and prosperity are available to Christian believers if they have enough faith.YouTube users who clicked on the faked Piers Morgan and Nigella Lawson adverts were directed to a similar video but this version was embellished with what appeared to be more celebrity endorsements. Another celebrity featured without permission was the Canadian TV star and businessman, Kevin O’Leary. His spokesman said the clip of the entrepreneur had been purchased via a website that sells personalised messages from celebrities, and misused. “Kevin will be taking the appropriate action to have it removed immediately. Kevin does not know Wesley and has no affiliation with him or any of his businesses,” he said.The Oprah advert directed to another similar video, and then a shop for the product.The sales platform Digistore24 also distanced itself from Virgin. It said his use of affiliate web links had violated its terms and guidelines and it would end its business relationship with him.Wesley Virgin has not responded to further requests from the BBC to explain his business practices. Despite being criticised by celebrities, he is far from disheartened. Recent social media posts suggest he is still actively selling the “dream”, claiming he can teach people how to become millionaires.Related TopicsOprah WinfreyArtificial intelligenceSocial media influencersPiers MorganDeepfakesNigella LawsonMore on this storyShould we fear an attack of the voice clones?Published3 FebruaryMrBeast and BBC stars used in deepfake scam videosPublished4 October 2023Top StoriesWW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through cityPublished2 hours agoSpanish police search gutted flats after nine killedPublished4 hours agoTrump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatmentPublished3 hours agoFeaturesThe Creator’s Gareth Edwards on shaking up Hollywood’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule changeIs this the most chaotic by-election ever? On the campaign trail in RochdaleFashion, fire and water: Photos of the weekWhat are the sanctions on Russia and are they working?Turning regret into action after friends’ deathsWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic faster. VideoWhy jet streams mean ‘piggy-backing’ planes can fly across the Atlantic fasterAttributionWeatherFrom crying in the toilets to cycling world titlesFrontline medics count cost of two years of Ukraine warElsewhere on the BBCHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerThe good, the bad and the bafflingWhen the British public leave a review, they almost always write something hilariousAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerHow did a booming computer manufacturer go bust?Commodore computers were huge in the 1980s, so why couldn’t the business adapt and survive?AttributionSoundsMost Read1WW2 bomb detonated at sea after removal through city2Dowden’s cancer check finds no evidence of disease3Trump calls on Alabama to protect IVF treatment4’King and tonic’ and potential abortion rule change5King Charles enjoys jokes in cards of support6Oprah and Nigella deepfaked in influencer ‘manifestation’ ads7Ukraine says it downs second A-50 Russian spy plane8Is this the most chaotic by-election ever? 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[ad_1] Piers Morgan and Oprah have criticised the use of AI deepfake ads used to promote a “manifestation” guide.

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