![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDani Alves: Ex-Brazil footballer set to be released pending appealPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Dani Alves was first arrested in January 2023 and has been in detention since thenInternational football star Dani Alves can be conditionally released from jail after he paid bail of €1m (£853,000).Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison last month, after a court found him guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.On Monday, the court in Spain gave the former Barcelona and Brazil footballer permission to leave jail pending his appeal, after he made the stated bail.The 40-year-old has been held in pre-trial detention since January 2023.”We hereby inform you that the deposit of Daniel Alves’ bail has been registered in the accounts of the 21st section of the Barcelona Court,” said a statement.However, a lawyer for the rape victim has called the decision to allow him to leave jail “a scandal”.Speaking last week, Ester Garcia said: “To me, it’s a scandal that they let a person who they know can get a million euros in no time walk free.”Ms Garcia told RAC1 radio she was “outraged and dissatisfied” with the ruling, adding it was “a justice [system] for the rich” and that she would lodge an appeal.The player has served about a quarter of his sentence for rape to this point – a fact highlighted by Alves’ lawyer when his conditional release was requested earlier this month. The conditions for his release include handing over both his Brazilian and Spanish passports so he is unable to leave Spain. He must also appear before the court on a weekly basis.The court additionally imposed a restraining order, preventing him from approaching the victim.The decision was not unanimous due to a dissenting vote from one of the judges.Footballer Dani Alves guilty of nightclub rapeDuring the trial in February, prosecutors said Alves and his friend had bought champagne for three young women before Alves lured one of them to a bathroom in the VIP area of the club.They argued that it was at this point he turned violent, forcing the woman to have sex despite her repeated requests to leave.Alves had maintained she could have left “if she wanted to”. However, the court found that she did not consent.Spanish law was changed recently to enshrine the importance of consent under the so-called “Only Yes is Yes” principle.In a statement, the court said there was evidence other than the victim’s testimony that proved that she had been raped.It said Alves had “abruptly grabbed the complainant” and thrown her to the ground. He had then raped her while preventing her from moving as “the complainant said no and wanted to leave”, it added.The woman said the rape had caused her “anguish and terror”, and one of her friends who was with her on the night described how the 23-year-old had cried “uncontrollably” after leaving the bathroom.Alves changed his testimony on a number of occasions.He first denied knowing his accuser, only to claim later that he had met her in the toilet but that nothing had happened between them.He then changed his version of events again, saying that they had had consensual sex. “We were both enjoying ourselves,” he alleged.Alves played more than 400 times for Barcelona, winning six league titles and three Champions Leagues across two spells with the club. He was also part of Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad.He has won trophies playing for Sevilla, Juventus and PSG, and is among Brazil’s most capped internationals, with 126 appearances.Related TopicsSpainBarcelonaMore on this storyFootballer Dani Alves guilty of nightclub rapePublished22 FebruaryFootballer Dani Alves’s rape trial begins in SpainPublished5 FebruaryEx-defender Alves’ trial set for February 2024AttributionSportPublished20 December 2023Prosecutor seeks nine-year prison term for AlvesAttributionSportPublished23 November 2023Top StoriesProsecutors ‘correct’ to accept Nottingham killer’s pleas, review findsPublished13 minutes agoLive. Murderers can get away with murder – Nottingham victim’s motherTwo men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murderPublished30 minutes agoFeaturesJewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfrontSay one thing, do another? The government’s record net migration riseOn board HMS Diamond as it faces Houthi missilesAre Hong Kong’s days as a global business hub over?I ran ‘toughest race’ to inspire women worldwideUkrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentary. VideoUkrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentaryTrolling gets worse when my videos go viralIndians celebrate Holi – the festival of colours’It’s on another level, completely alien in darts’ – the rapid rise of Luke LittlerAttributionSportElsewhere 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 sketchesAttributionSoundsGet a job, pay the bills. Sounds simple, right?But this is Chi we’re talking about…AttributioniPlayerIs our future underground?The Inquiry investigates the latest developments in underground living for surviving climate changeAttributionSoundsMost Read1CPS ‘correct’ to accept Nottingham killer’s pleas2Four in court as Moscow attack death toll nears 1403Two men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murder4Shamima Begum loses latest bid to fight citizenship removal5Olivia Colman: I’d be paid more if I was Oliver6Boeing boss to leave as firm faces safety crisis7Jewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfront8Energy prices could vary at different times of day9Dani Alves set to leave prison pending appeal10Ecuador’s youngest mayor found shot dead](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/7C2E/production/_132709713_alves-reuters.jpg)
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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 & CanadaDani Alves: Ex-Brazil footballer set to be released pending appealPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Dani Alves was first arrested in January 2023 and has been in detention since thenInternational football star Dani Alves can be conditionally released from jail after he paid bail of €1m (£853,000).Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison last month, after a court found him guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.On Monday, the court in Spain gave the former Barcelona and Brazil footballer permission to leave jail pending his appeal, after he made the stated bail.The 40-year-old has been held in pre-trial detention since January 2023.”We hereby inform you that the deposit of Daniel Alves’ bail has been registered in the accounts of the 21st section of the Barcelona Court,” said a statement.However, a lawyer for the rape victim has called the decision to allow him to leave jail “a scandal”.Speaking last week, Ester Garcia said: “To me, it’s a scandal that they let a person who they know can get a million euros in no time walk free.”Ms Garcia told RAC1 radio she was “outraged and dissatisfied” with the ruling, adding it was “a justice [system] for the rich” and that she would lodge an appeal.The player has served about a quarter of his sentence for rape to this point – a fact highlighted by Alves’ lawyer when his conditional release was requested earlier this month. The conditions for his release include handing over both his Brazilian and Spanish passports so he is unable to leave Spain. He must also appear before the court on a weekly basis.The court additionally imposed a restraining order, preventing him from approaching the victim.The decision was not unanimous due to a dissenting vote from one of the judges.Footballer Dani Alves guilty of nightclub rapeDuring the trial in February, prosecutors said Alves and his friend had bought champagne for three young women before Alves lured one of them to a bathroom in the VIP area of the club.They argued that it was at this point he turned violent, forcing the woman to have sex despite her repeated requests to leave.Alves had maintained she could have left “if she wanted to”. However, the court found that she did not consent.Spanish law was changed recently to enshrine the importance of consent under the so-called “Only Yes is Yes” principle.In a statement, the court said there was evidence other than the victim’s testimony that proved that she had been raped.It said Alves had “abruptly grabbed the complainant” and thrown her to the ground. He had then raped her while preventing her from moving as “the complainant said no and wanted to leave”, it added.The woman said the rape had caused her “anguish and terror”, and one of her friends who was with her on the night described how the 23-year-old had cried “uncontrollably” after leaving the bathroom.Alves changed his testimony on a number of occasions.He first denied knowing his accuser, only to claim later that he had met her in the toilet but that nothing had happened between them.He then changed his version of events again, saying that they had had consensual sex. “We were both enjoying ourselves,” he alleged.Alves played more than 400 times for Barcelona, winning six league titles and three Champions Leagues across two spells with the club. He was also part of Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad.He has won trophies playing for Sevilla, Juventus and PSG, and is among Brazil’s most capped internationals, with 126 appearances.Related TopicsSpainBarcelonaMore on this storyFootballer Dani Alves guilty of nightclub rapePublished22 FebruaryFootballer Dani Alves’s rape trial begins in SpainPublished5 FebruaryEx-defender Alves’ trial set for February 2024AttributionSportPublished20 December 2023Prosecutor seeks nine-year prison term for AlvesAttributionSportPublished23 November 2023Top StoriesProsecutors ‘correct’ to accept Nottingham killer’s pleas, review findsPublished13 minutes agoLive. Murderers can get away with murder – Nottingham victim’s motherTwo men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murderPublished30 minutes agoFeaturesJewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfrontSay one thing, do another? The government’s record net migration riseOn board HMS Diamond as it faces Houthi missilesAre Hong Kong’s days as a global business hub over?I ran ‘toughest race’ to inspire women worldwideUkrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentary. VideoUkrainian soldiers’ frontline mission captured in BBC documentaryTrolling gets worse when my videos go viralIndians celebrate Holi – the festival of colours’It’s on another level, completely alien in darts’ – the rapid rise of Luke LittlerAttributionSportElsewhere 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 sketchesAttributionSoundsGet a job, pay the bills. Sounds simple, right?But this is Chi we’re talking about…AttributioniPlayerIs our future underground?The Inquiry investigates the latest developments in underground living for surviving climate changeAttributionSoundsMost Read1CPS ‘correct’ to accept Nottingham killer’s pleas2Four in court as Moscow attack death toll nears 1403Two men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murder4Shamima Begum loses latest bid to fight citizenship removal5Olivia Colman: I’d be paid more if I was Oliver6Boeing boss to leave as firm faces safety crisis7Jewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfront8Energy prices could vary at different times of day9Dani Alves set to leave prison pending appeal10Ecuador’s youngest mayor found shot dead
[ad_1] The footballer, who was jailed for rape last month, is temporarily released after posting €1m bail.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaBullets and panic – the Moscow concert that became a massacrePublished9 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg visits the scene of the attackBy Paul KirbyBBC NewsIt was just before eight o’clock and the auditorium at Crocus City Hall was filling up, ahead of a Friday night rock concert by veteran band Picnic.”Some people in brown clothing, I don’t know who they were – terrorists, military, whoever – broke into the auditorium and started shooting at people with assault rifles,” said photographer Dave Primov, who saw the attack unfold from an upstairs balcony.Warning: Some of the details of this story are graphicThe gunmen had just walked across the concourse outside the theatre, opening fire at random, killing and wounding members of the public as they walked in. Some 6,200 tickets had been sold for the concert, but security outside the entrance quickly melted away. One of four guards said his colleagues hid behind an advertising board: “Those attackers passed 10m [30ft] away from us – they started shooting randomly at people on the ground floor.”Four suspects arrested, says Russia – follow events LIVENo-one knew how many attackers there were. But video filmed from an upper floor shows four men in camouflage gear, walking separately with a few metres between them across the beige, marble-tiled floor. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Footage shows gunmen in the lobby of Crocus Concert HallThe lead attacker aims point-blank at people huddled against the windows. These are the first victims of Russia’s deadliest attack on civilians for years.Many of those killed and wounded came from Krasnogorsk, Khimki and other nearby towns on Moscow’s north-western fringe.A second attacker then joins in, while a third calmly follows carrying a backpack. The fourth man hands him his weapon and they walk through the unguarded metal detectors towards the auditorium.One woman was with her 11-year-old daughter, buying ice cream at a café near the entrance, when they heard the noise and someone shouted to get down on the floor.”We rushed to the children, lay down and started setting up barricades from tables and chairs, and several wounded people came running to us,” she told BBC Russian.Inside the theatre, the concert had been due to start in just a few minutes and some thought the noise might be part of the act. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Footage shows people taking cover inside the venue as multiple shots are heardSofiko Kvirikashvili heard what she initially thought was “some kind of endless burst of firecrackers – I turned around in the hall once, then again. The third time, I realised everyone in the hall had started running away in all directions.”Dave Primov, the photographer, said there was a crush and a scene of panic. Some in the theatre tried to lie down between the seats, but with several gunmen opening fire in the stalls, that offered little protection.Those in the audience who could, headed for the stage. Others tried to find higher exits, only to find some of the doors locked. Eyewitnesses said there were elderly people as well as children there, all caught up in the attack.One woman had been in one of the higher circles and ran down towards the stage, from where she saw a man in the stalls opening fire: “We ran behind the curtain and one of the Crocus employees in uniform told us to run and we ran out into the car park without any winter clothes.”Image source, AFPImage caption, Survivors told of panic inside the building as people tried to escapeMargarita Bunova had just got hold of opera glasses for the show when she heard what she thought were firecrackers, which then turned into rapid bursts that she and her husband identified as gunfire. “Somebody said run downstairs and it was complete darkness… we could still hear bursts of shooting behind us by the time we got out.”One man in a VIP box told how he and others barricaded themselves in only to find smoke billowing through the theatre.Another man, Vitaly, saw the attack unfolding from a balcony: “They threw some petrol bombs, everything started burning.” Whether it was a petrol bomb or another incendiary device, the flames spread rapidly.Image source, VASILY PRUDNIKOV/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockFirefighters could not get near the building because of the attack. The fire soon spread to the roof and could be seen across the skyline in Krasnogorsk. Part of the roof collapsed and the fire spread to the front of the building, gutting the top two floors.Many of those in the auditorium fled through the foyer. One graphic video shows people rushing down escalators past two bodies propped up against a sofa.Another video shows people fleeing as the crackling of gunfire echoes around them. They make it to the relative safety of the back of the building, where some sit huddled and others hold on to each other as they file through corridors.For a moment, a TV monitor shows the chaos on the front of the stage. There is no sign of Russian police or special forces anywhere in the building.The survivors climbed a staircase and reached the Crocus City Hall’s trade entrance. One man was seen retching, while others phoned loved ones and walked away.Eva, an assistant to a dance group, was backstage when the attackers burst into the auditorium. “We were in the dressing room, a crowd rushed past us. We heard noise and people running in the corridor; we grabbed our coats and ran with the crowd.”Initially, all the members of the group, Picnic, were declared safe and well, but later unconfirmed reports suggested one of the musicians was unaccounted for.As the death toll grew beyond 100 and the number of wounded above 200, the scale and indiscriminate nature of the massacre became clearer, both inside and outside the auditorium. The first official list of casualties suggested the oldest victim was in her 70s, while children were also among the dead and wounded.Image source, Ostorozhno Novosti via ReutersImage caption, Russian authorities said the attackers used this car to escape the Krasnogorsk attackA picture of a white Renault car with two occupants appeared on social media channels linked to Russia’s security agencies.Jihadist group Islamic State said in a brief statement that it was behind the attack, without specifying which affiliated branch. That tallied with a US intelligence account indicating IS had wanted to attack Russia. Two weeks earlier, the US had warned of a potential attack targeting “large gatherings” in Moscow, although Russian officials have complained the intelligence lacked specific detail.Ukraine quickly denied any involvement, insisting its attacks were confined to the battlefield.But Russia’s FSB security service claimed the perpetrators had sought to cross Russia into Ukraine and had “relevant contacts” there. A number of people have been detained, including four alleged attackers, says the FSB.Returning to the scene on Saturday, Margarita Bunova and her husband Pavel said the first thing they did when they got back home was hug their children.It was not until Saturday afternoon in Moscow that the president addressed the Russian public, speaking of an entire nation in grief.He compared the killers to the Nazis of World War Two and said no-one could undermine Russian unity. A national day of mourning would take place on Sunday, he added.Related TopicsRussiaMoscowMore on this storyGunmen open fire at Moscow concert hall killing 115Published2 hours agoWitness films escape from Moscow attackPublished5 hours agoMoscow attack: ‘The first thing you notice is the smell’ Video, 00:01:05Moscow attack: ‘The first thing you notice is the smell’Published1 hour ago1:05Top StoriesLive. All suspects arrested after at least 115 killed in Moscow concert attack, Russia saysBullets, a crush and panic: Moscow concert that became a massacrePublished9 minutes agoKate cancer diagnosis rewrites story of past weeksPublished12 hours agoFeaturesWhat is preventative chemotherapy?Kate: We’ve taken time to reassure George, Charlotte and Louis VideoKate: We’ve taken time to reassure George, Charlotte and Louis What Kate video tells us about royal strategyMoscow concert hall attack videos examined. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaBad blood over Singapore Taylor Swift tour subsidiesPublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, The Singapore leg of the Eras tour has Swifties flying in from around the regionBy Frances Maoin SingaporeIn the glitzy Asian city-state of Singapore, the sequins are out, limousines polished and hotel pillows plumped.The city’s hosting Taylor Swift’s Eras tour this week – an honour, but one that has come at a cost.That cost was initially reported to be as high as S$24 million (£14m; $18m) for the six shows to be exclusive to South East Asia.Culture minister Edwin Tong has since told Singapore’s CNA the figure was “nowhere as high” – although he still refused to be drawn on the exact figure. The broadcaster, however, suggested it may have been just $2m for all six.But the fact any money had been spent only came to light after an outburst from the prime minister of Thailand, who accused Singapore of paying concert organisers US$2-3m per night.That triggered criticism across the region. In the Philippines, a lawmaker criticised the move, saying “this isn’t what good neighbours do” – and called for a formal protest against the grant.But while governments are seeing red – it’s the fans who are paying the price, literally.Swift is heard everywhere across South East Asia, home to roughly 700 million people – from alleyways in Ho Chi Minh to taxi cabs in Bangkok. So for many it was a punch in the guts to learn all six shows would be held in the region’s most expensive city.Singapore’s currency – one of the strongest in Asia – has long been a deterrent for visitors. But for a chance to see their idol, many of her fans are willing to grin and bear it.Look what you made me doFlight-loads of fans have been touching down at Singapore’s Changi Airport all week, many coming from China and its territories.Swift isn’t playing in China so Singapore is the next best thing for many.One woman flying in from Shenzhen told the BBC she and her friend had spent S$1,200 each on tickets alone. They’ve resorted to camping at a friend’s house after hotel rates across the city surged.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Taylor Swift in Sao PauloOn the luxe end of things, the city’s landmark hotel Marina Bay Sands has sold out of its S$50,000 Swift packages which included four VIP tickets and a three-night stay in a suite.Then there’s 22-year-old Allen Dungca in the Philippines, who scraped together his wages to take him and his mother to Singapore.This Thursday, they’ll take a four-hour bus ride to Manila, stay at an airport motel for the night, then grab their dawn flight the next day.The enterprising student snapped up the travel package back in July. He eventually tracked down the tickets on a resale night, after weeks of desperate hunting.”I am very lucky,” he says of the S$400 outlay for seats in the nosebleed section. “The seller was kind and not a scalper.” Resales now are going for thousands. And he had almost fallen for a scam, a shady character named Pat Steve, later exposed online. He estimates the whole endeavour is costing him S$2,000 – the monthly income of an upper-middle class family in the Philippines, a country where a fifth of the population lives under the poverty line.”Right now, I’m a student with a part-time job and I can afford my wants and needs. But it’s sad, other Swifties don’t have any means or budget to watch her overseas and I know most Filipino Swifties love her so much.”The Philippines arguably has the most ardent Swift fan base – Spotify data showed Quezon City in Manila had played the most streams of the singer last year.The Filipino Swiftie drag queen dazzling AsiaThe pop star has toured in the Philippines before – but the bag of money from Singapore undoubtedly sweetened the deal, say analysts.Clean, modern Singapore has long been seen as a base in the region for big events. It has the infrastructure, the transport links and a high-earning, expat-heavy population. Image source, EPAImage caption, Swift-themed water and light shows on the bay are among the city’s Swiftie attractions this weekIt’s also seen as reliably stable in a region which has experienced political chaos. A decade ago Swift cancelled her shows in Thailand because of the military coup and resulting protests.Still, while it’s common for governments around the world to give out subsidies and tax breaks to bring in events, the reported spend goes beyond anything else publicly known in Singapore.Samer Hajjar, a marketing lecturer at the National University of Singapore, says it’s “above average” even for the city-state.And fans are quite blunt. “It’s kinda greedy,” says Mr Dunga. “But it’s wise… because their economic response will be way more than that.”But will it be though?Show me the moneyIn Australia, the leg of the tour preceding Singapore, officials suggested the tour had provided a A$145m “uplift” in consumer spending. More than 570,000 tickets were sold across seven nights in Sydney and Melbourne, nearly double the number sold for Singapore’s six shows.But not all of that money counts, says economists.More than 90% of show-goers were probably local, estimates KPMG’s chief economist Dr Brendan Rynne, so their dollars would be “just a transfer from one category of spending (or saving) to another”.Only foreign visitors would have been adding to the books – and they accounted for just 2% of visitors, he estimated. After doing the maths he projected Swift had added only A$10m (£5.1m; $6.5m) to GDP.Still, Australia didn’t use public funds to have Swift play in the country, state government officials confirmed to the BBC. Neither did Japan, the only other Asian stop on the tour.What does Taylor mania mean for the globe? Singapore has said Swift’s tour will bring certain economic benefits to the country.But just how much net gain will be generated is unclear. The BBC has reached out to Singapore’s tourism board but they have refused to reveal foreign visitor estimates or other modelling. A local bank, Maybank, has suggested that consumer spending may top S$350m – but that’s based on the very optimistic prediction of 70% of attendees being from out of town.Even Singapore’s Formula One Grand Prix only saw 49% of spectators from overseas in 2022, with a record 300,000 crowd.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Singapore’s F1 Grand Prix brings thousands of overseas visitors each yearWhen pressed on the numbers, Maybank’s economist Erica Tay could not provide specifics, saying the 70% rate was based on Singapore’s “potential catchment” and the bank was not interested in estimating net profit.”Six concerts may not move a nation’s economic growth materially, but the strategic value of Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Singapore as a tourism destination outweighs that one-off boost,” she said.But business professor Julien Cayla from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University points out that public spend should be scrutinised – especially when it’s only revealed to citizens by another country’s government.And in a country where welfare benefits are relatively limited – it could be seen as a fraught spend.”To justify spending [reportedly] S$24 million on something that on the surface might not seem that critical to the economic health of the country over spending on people and public services… there’s a tension there,” Prof Cayla said.Nonetheless he and others say that when it comes to planning tourism, governments have mandate to throw around money and Singapore isn’t an exception. “They don’t necessarily like to advertise it. But the minute the government sees something that fits into a long-term strategy, it will sink government money in to support that,” he says.In a way, Singapore has just brought in Swift the same way it currently attracts huge multinational corporations.”What’s different here is that Taylor Swift as a business, is a very emotional business,” he said.”It’s dealing with the emotions of 10-18 year olds, who are very sad to not see the concert happening in Bangkok or Jakarta.”And in the words of the songstress herself, that’s caused a lot of bad blood.Related TopicsSingaporeTaylor SwiftAsiaPop musicUnited StatesMore on this storyWhat does Taylor mania mean for the globe?Published12 FebruaryThe Taylor Swift drag tribute dazzling AsiaPublished22 FebruaryWhat’s next for Taylor Swift in 2024?Published27 December 2023Super Bowl most watched US show since Moon landingPublished13 FebruaryDisney boss bets on Taylor Swift and FortnitePublished8 FebruaryTop StoriesHow more than 100 Gazans were killed at a food aid dropPublished5 hours agoSeven hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas saysPublished3 hours agoHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Published8 hours agoFeaturesHow worried is Labour after losing Rochdale?Listen: Sunak’s Surprise Downing Street Speech. 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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 & CanadaConfronting the Houthis: How powerful are Yemen’s rebel rulers?Published7 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, ReutersBy Frank GardnerBBC Security CorrespondentThe Houthis continue to confound some of the world’s most powerful militaries. They are still firing missiles at any international shipping they consider linked to the US, UK or Israel, as well as some that isn’t.They have already had a major impact on global trade, forcing ships to divert thousands of miles away. They seem undaunted by repeated US-led airstrikes on their missile bases and they have vowed to retaliate against US and UK assets.So just who are the Houthis, how did they get so powerful and what happens now in the Red Sea?Who are the Houthis?The Houthis are a minority group of Yemenis from the mountainous northwest of the country. They take their name from their movement’s founder, Hussein Al-Houthi. They fought several wars against Yemen’s strongman ruler in the early 2000s and then, after he was deposed by the Arab Spring protests, they marched down to the capital, Sana’a, and seized power in 2014. The previously deposed President Saleh, still bitter at being ousted, put his loyal Republican Guard at their disposal, enabling them to take over 80 per cent of Yemen’s population.The Houthis then promptly assassinated him.Since the Houthis seized power Yemen, already the poorest Arab nation, has been torn apart by a catastrophic civil war.An estimated 150,000 people have been killed, along with millions made dependant on food aid. For seven years the Houthis survived a massive and ultimately fruitless coalition air campaign to oust them, led by the Saudis who were alarmed at the Houthis’ links to their arch-rival, Iran.”The Houthis embody a triumphant mindset, forged through a series of victories over two decades”, says Mohammed Al-Basha, a Middle East expert with the Virginia-based consultancy Navanti.”Demonstrating resilience from 2015 to 2022, they effectively thwarted the Saudi-led coalition’s attempt to reinstate the internationally recognised government in Sana’a.”Who are the Houthis attacking Red Sea ships?Houthis defiant after warning over Red Sea attacksFrom mid-November 2023 onwards, the Houthis have used their substantial arsenal of missiles and drones to target shipping passing close to the narrow, strategic chokepoint of the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.Their stated aim was to attack any vessel with Israeli links, in support of Hamas, vowing to continue their attacks until Israel ends its own assault on Gaza. When US and British warships came to the defence of container vessels steaming past Yemen’s Red Sea coast the Houthis directed their attacks on the warships, at one point losing three of their speedboats and 10 sailors in a one-sided engagement with the US Navy.Despite that loss, attacking the US Navy and Royal Navy, says Mohammed Al-Basha, “underscores the Houthis’ prevailing sense of triumph and fosters euphoric hubris within their ranks.. leading some members of the group to perceive divine intervention and a historic alignment in their favour.”The Houthis – most of whom follow the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam in Sunni-majority Yemen – represent only around 15 per cent of Yemenis yet they consider themselves the rightful rulers. So how do they differ from the rest of the population?’Houthis are war-like, violent and cruel'”They are generally more war-like, violent and cruel” says Edmund Fitton-Brown, who was UK ambassador to Yemen from 2015-17. “I encountered astonishing instances of brutality in Aden and Ta’izz. The Houthis consider themselves an elite from an elite (the Zaidi sect). Some of their casual viciousness towards Sunni civilians in central and southern Yemen has been remarkable: a readiness to deploy snipers and kill non-combatants for fun.”There has long been a concerted effort, led by the UN, to end Yemen’s civil war and the Saudis, who host the legitimate but ousted Yemeni government, have concluded a fragile truce with the Houthis.Edmund Fitton-Brown had some experience of dealing with them in negotiations. “It was extremely challenging”, he says. “They were difficult, hostile, capricious, prone to tantrums, late arrivals and walkouts. They insisted on VIP treatment and a ready supply of qat [a narcotic leaf chewed by many Yemenis]. During peace talks they drove their Kuwaiti hosts mad with frustration.”Since the Houthis began their attacks on shipping, and the US and UK responded with air strikes on their missile bases, there have been vast, government-sanctioned protests against the West in the capital. So how genuine are they?US and UK launch fresh strikes on HouthisUS and UK strikes fail to slow Houthi attacks”By opposing what many in the population of northern Yemen perceive as foreign forces, including the US, UK and the Saudi-led coalition, and directly confronting Israel in support of Gaza” says Al-Basha, “the Houthis have gained popularity.”He adds however, that present-day Yemen remains a divided nation, with anti-Houthi resistance persisting in pockets of north-eastern Yemen, Ma’rib, Tai’izz and the southern governates. It appears unlikely the Houthis could emerge victorious in a “free and fair election”. As to the protests, Fitton-Brown says the Houthis bring out mobs on the street through fear. “They call a demonstration, make it a holiday from work, make it clear that attendance is expected. Many of their personnel were recruited because they were unemployed and desperate to earn a wage. In areas outside their control they are loathed.”And meanwhile the missiles keep coming.The Houthis seem to have an almost inexhaustible supply of drones and other munitions to launch at shipping, much of it supplied by Iran with parts smuggled in at sea in small boats or across the desert border with Oman.How does this end?Doubtfully with the Houthis capitulating. “They won’t want to lose face” says Fitton-Brown. “But [if a ceasefire occurred in Gaza] they may seize an opportunity to declare victory, claiming that they have achieved their objectives. If Iran becomes concerned that Houthi actions are putting the Islamic Republic at risk they have enough influence to make the Houthis look for a way out.”So for now, the situation in the southern Red Sea is a standoff. The Houthis are not backing down under military pressure, despite seeing one after another of their missile launch sites destroyed by US-led airstrikes. They clearly have plenty more in their arsenal and the indications are they are looking to raise the stakes by preparing surface-to-air missile sites with a view to shooting down a western warplane. The southern Red Sea and adjacent Gulf of Aden will remain a dangerous part of the world for the foreseeable future.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warYemenHouthis More on this storyWho are the Houthis attacking Red Sea ships?Published23 JanuaryWhat we know: Strikes on Houthis and strategy behind themPublished12 JanuaryUS and UK strikes fail to slow Houthi attacksPublished1 day agoTracking Houthi attacks in the Red SeaPublished20 JanuaryWhat do Red Sea assaults mean for global trade?Published12 JanuaryTop StoriesLive. 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