BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrump wins last-minute reprieve as judge cuts fraud bond to $175mPublished10 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Madeline HalpertBBC News, New YorkA judge in New York has granted Donald Trump’s request to pause his $464m (£365m) fraud judgement, giving him 10 days to put up a reduced sum of $175m.The former president’s legal team had previously said he was unable to secure a bond from a private company for the full amount.He had faced a deadline of Monday to post the $464m bond.If he had failed to do, the authorities in New York could have started to seize his bank accounts and properties.But on Monday, he was granted a last-minute reprieve by an appeals court. “I greatly respect the decision,” he said. “We will abide by the decision… and post either a bond, equivalent securities, or cash.”At a news conference, Mr Trump suggested he would post the new sum in cash. “I don’t need to borrow money – I have a lot of money,” he said. “I have much more than that in cash.” If he pays the reduced $175m bond, it would protect his assets while he continues his appeal.The court also agreed to delay the enforcement of other penalties that were part of the original judgement, such as barring the former president and his elder sons from running businesses in New York.But the court left in place a monitor that is overseeing Mr Trump’s businesses and can sound alarms if they find any misconduct. Mr Trump was found liable earlier this year for repeatedly inflating the value of his assets.To secure a bond, an individual has to demonstrate to the company providing the guarantee that they have enough liquidity, usually in the form of cash or stocks. Mr Trump testified last year that he had as much as $400m in cash. Forbes gave a similar estimate in September 2023 – around $423m in cash and liquid assets. Last week his lawyers said he had been unable to cover the $464m penalty despite approaching 30 financial companies to provide a bond.New York Attorney General Letitia James, meanwhile, said on Monday that Mr Trump was “still facing accountability for his staggering fraud”. “The $464m judgement – plus interest – against Donald Trump and the other defendants still stands,” she said in a statement. The appellate court’s decision on Monday is a victory for Mr Trump, said Will Thomas, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross Business School, who noted that the former president is being allowed to appeal without paying the cost of a full appeal bond.Mitchell Epner, a lawyer who handles commercial litigation, said he was surprised by the court’s decision to grant Mr Trump a stay. Just last week, Mr Trump said on social media that he had $500m in cash, an amount that would nearly cover collateral for a bond in the full amount. That comment undercut his argument he could not secure a $464m bond, Mr Epner and other experts told the BBC.Related TopicsNew York CityNew YorkDonald TrumpUnited StatesTop StoriesLive. Israel cancels White House visit after US doesn’t block UN ceasefire voteUK accuses groups linked to China of ‘malicious cyber campaigns’Published7 minutes agoMillions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot – USPublished37 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?The hunt for physics’ mysterious ‘ghost’ particlesI 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 coloursElsewhere on the BBCOne of the most talented bands never to make it…Why did trailblazers Microdisney fail to achieve the commercial success they deserved?AttributioniPlayerA satirical sideswipe at news and current affairsSteve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketchesAttributionSoundsCan they take on an elite boarding school?Five black inner-city teens must leave their old worlds behind…AttributioniPlayerCaffeine: Dangers and benefitsFind out what effects this drug can have on dementia and cardiovascular diseaseAttributionSoundsMost Read1Former Tory MP resigns triggering new by-election2Sacha Baron Cohen hits back over Rebel Wilson book3Millions of Americans caught up in Chinese hacking plot – US4Shamima Begum loses latest bid to fight citizenship removal5Four in court as Moscow attack death toll nears 1406Two men guilty of footballer Cody Fisher’s nightclub murder7Families call for law change after attacks review8Offline man says smartphone ban would be difficult9Jewish settlers set their sights on Gaza beachfront10From jailed unknown to Africa’s youngest president

[ad_1] The former president had said he was unable to secure a bond from a private company for the full $464m sum.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUkraine war: Russia says it intercepts 38 Ukrainian drones attacking CrimeaPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, The Kerch bridge – which links Crimea and Russia – was temporarily closed following the attackA series of explosions have rocked Crimea, after a reported Ukrainian drone attack on the peninsula which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.Video posted online shows a blast allegedly near a fuel depot in the south-eastern city of Feodosiya. Russian officials said 38 drones had been shot down. The Kerch bridge which connects Crimea with Russia was temporarily closed. The attack comes as Ukraine continues to urge allies to boost arms supplies.Russian troops have recently made gains in Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to sustain its forces with Western-made arms. Moscow took control last month of the key eastern town of Avdiivka.However, according to British military intelligence, this has come at a huge cost. In its latest update, it said February had been the deadliest for the Russians since the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022 – with 983 killed and wounded per day. “Today, Russia has highly likely lost over 355,000 personnel killed or wounded during the Ukraine war,” it said. It is not clear how the figure was reached.Russia does not provide a record of casualties. A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Ukraine had lost 31,000 troops since 24 February 2022. He also claimed that 180,000 Russian troops had been killed since then.Russia has not reported any damage from the latest attack on Crimea, although eyewitnesses have reported windows shaking and car alarms going off. Kyiv has not confirmed its forces were involved.On Saturday, a Russian drone hit a block of flats in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing at least 12 people, including five children. Sunday is a day of mourning in Odesa and the region.In a separate development on Sunday, Russia targeted the southern Kherson region, killing one person and injuring another three, according to Ukrainian officials.They also said 16 people were injured in Russian shelling of the town of Kurakhove, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.Two years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upRosenberg: How two years of war have changed RussiaUkraine war in maps: Russia makes limited advancesRussian forces have launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukrainian targets since they invaded the country more than two years ago.In retaliation Ukraine has targeted Russian sites, notably oil facilities.On Saturday a drone struck a residential building in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. About 100 people were evacuated and there were no reports of casualties.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Russia has been using Iran-supplied drones as Ukraine suffers from a dwindling of Western arms suppliesWith its airbases, troop concentrations, training grounds and the Black Sea fleet, Crimea has been a key target for the Ukrainians.At one point last year, it was thought that it intended to launch a full-scale attack to retake the peninsula.In particular, Ukraine has repeatedly hit Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Satellite images last year showed many of the Crimea-based warships had left the peninsula for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.Last month, the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk off the coast of Crimea, according to Ukraine’s armed forces.Its sister ship Novocherkassk was hit while in port in Feodosiya in December last year.In one of the biggest strikes on the Black Sea fleet, last September Ukraine attacked naval targets and port infrastructure, using as many as 10 missiles and three unmanned boats. It caused a large fire at a Sevastopol shipyard.Ukraine’s biggest scalp in naval warfare has so far been the sinking of Russia’s flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, the Moskva, in April 2022.Ukraine has also targeted the Kerch bridge several times as it is an important resupply route for Russian forces occupying parts of the country’s south.Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to retake Crimea and all territories seized by Russia.Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to keep fighting Russia – a much bigger military force with an abundance of arms and artillery.Ukrainian troops have been running out of ammunition as supporters of former US President Donald Trump in Congress refuse to approve a $61bn (£48bn) military aid package.Related TopicsUkraineMore on this storyUkraine appeals to West as deadly drone hits OdesaPublished1 day agoThe secret movement spying on Russians in occupied CrimeaPublished6 JanuaryUkraine battles frostbite and shell shortage in ruined townPublished15 FebruaryNato allies reject Macron idea of troops to UkrainePublished4 days agoTwo years into Russia’s invasion, exhausted Ukrainians refuse to give upPublished24 FebruaryZelensky says 31,000 troops killed in war in UkrainePublished7 days agoTop StoriesI will only cut taxes in responsible way – HuntPublished8 hours agoIsraeli hostages status hangs over Gaza truce talksPublished4 hours agoThe ‘banned’ Star Trek episode that promised a united IrelandPublished18 hours agoFeaturesNadiya Hussain: A letter to my teenage daughterBrit Awards 2024: The real winners and losersKate, the King and three other big challenges for royalsJeremy on the Hunt for Tax Cuts. AudioJeremy on the Hunt for Tax CutsAttributionSoundsCan green ‘super powders’ really make you healthy?How Israel-Gaza war is spilling into cultural life’There was heartache but we had to keep going’Friends struggle to comprehend US airman’s Gaza protest deathFive ways to save on train tickets as fares riseElsewhere on the BBCFrom the seizure of Crimea to the war in UkraineThe story of a decade of clashes, told by the Western leaders who traded blows with PutinAttributioniPlayerFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayer’I never tried to be famous…it was accidental’Michael Parkinson with guests Ricky Gervais, Michael Palin and Kate AdieAttributioniPlayerIt’s make or break timeAnother set of eager entrepreneurs hope to impress the fearsome panelAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Kate, the King and three other big challenges for royals2Haiti gangs free 4,000 inmates in mass jailbreak3Israel agrees to change Eurovision song lyrics4Police to return Mia Janin’s lost phone to family5Girl, 7, dies in English Channel crossing attempt6Tributes to ‘one-in-a-million’ woman as murder arrest made7I’m not just a posh idiot – Radio 1’s Jamie Laing8The ‘banned’ Star Trek episode that promised a united Ireland9Horner situation can’t continue – Jos VerstappenAttributionSport10I will only cut taxes in responsible way – Hunt

[ad_1] Reports say a fuel depot was hit during the attack on the town of Feodosiya on the occupied peninsula.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUS lawmakers reach deal to temporarily avert government shutdownPublished24 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Republican Mitch McConnell (left) and Democrat Chuck Schumer seen in Congress on TuesdayBy Mike Wendling & Max MatzaBBC NewsTop US lawmakers have reached a tentative deal to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of a Friday deadline to approve funding.Four funding bills will now be extended to 8 March while the rest of the budget will be extended to March 22.”We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government,” top US lawmakers said in a joint statement.The House is expected to vote on the stopgap measure as early as Thursday.Democrats and Republicans have been far apart in the budget negotiations on border security and aid to Ukraine.Republicans control the House by a slim majority, while Democrats hold the Senate by a single seat. Spending bills to keep the US government open require buy-in from both parties in order to advance through both chambers to the president’s desk for signature.There have been 10 US government shutdowns or partial shutdowns over the past four decades. The bipartisan deal was struck by House and Senate negotiators on Wednesday, one day after congressional lawmakers travelled to the White House to meet President Joe Biden.It will be “voted on by the House and Senate this week,” according to a statement released by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.The congressional leaders now face the difficult task of convincing rank and file lawmakers to support the deal. The Speaker faces fierce objections from right-wing lawmakers in his ranks who want spending cuts and insist any further support for Ukraine should be tied to more money for US border security. Those same members booted out the previous Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, in October, after they were angered by a short-term budget deal that Mr McCarthy made with Democrats. If a deal is not reached, roughly 20% of government departments, including agencies that oversee agriculture, transportation and veterans affairs, will temporarily close by 12:01 on Saturday.Other federal funding, including defence spending and homeland security and state department budgets, will expire a week later. Past shutdowns have led to furloughs of government workers and the closure of national parks. Why shutdowns seem to only happen in USThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: How does a government shutdown impact the US?Related TopicsChuck SchumerUS CongressUnited StatesJoe BidenMore on this storyWhy shutdowns seem to only happen in USPublished13 November 2023Top StoriesProtests descending into mob rule, PM warns policePublished1 hour agoFamily’s anger at police failures as Emma Caldwell’s killer is jailedPublished3 hours agoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killer. VideoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killerPublished5 hours agoFeaturesHow police missed the chance to catch Emma’s killerSarah Smith: Protest vote over Gaza is election warning Biden cannot ignoreTwo children ran away. It took 13 years to get home againS Korea doctors face arrest if they don’t end strikeWhy Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fixFrench readers enjoy world’s only four-year newspaper’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’Listen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs? AudioListen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs?AttributionSounds’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Protests descending into mob rule, PM warns police2’Angry families turned up to find me dressed as Willy Wonka’3Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis dies aged 764Moon lander pictured on its side with snapped leg5Family’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailed6McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader7One dead and two missing after Channel rescue8’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’9Court denies Trump’s bid to pause $454m penalty10Why South Korean women aren’t having babies

[ad_1] The tentative budget agreement still needs to be voted on by the full House and Senate.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaBiden ‘fit for duty’ after medical, says doctorPublished16 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesJoe Biden’s doctor says he is “fit for duty” and “no new concerns” have been identified after the US president’s annual medical examination.Mr Biden, whose health has been under scrutiny ahead of November’s presidential election, underwent the assessment on Wednesday. White House physician Dr Kevin O’Connor said that Mr Biden “fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations”. “Everything’s great,” Mr Biden said. The 81-year-old president received the physical at a military hospital in Maryland and declared himself “squared away” after the appointment.He said the results were “nothing different than last year” and quipped that the doctors “think I look too young”.Mr Biden, whose last physical was in February 2023, is “healthy” and “vigorous” and “continues to work out at least five days per week”, according to his doctor.In a memo, Dr O’Connor noted the president continued to be treated for atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) which he takes a blood thinner for, as well as gastroesophageal reflux and hyperlipidemia. Gastroesophageal reflux causes Mr Biden to have to clear his throat frequently.Mr Biden last summer began using a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine at night to tackle sleep apnea, the report noted. The physician also found that the president suffers from a stiffened gait but it did not worsen from his last examination, besides “possibly tighter hamstrings and calves”. An “extremely detailed neurologic exam” found no evidence of a stroke or Parkinson’s. Mr Biden also underwent a routine skin cancer surveillance. The president “had several localised, non-melanoma skin cancers removed” before the start of his term in office, the memo added.The president’s health was thrust further into the spotlight earlier this month after a special counsel investigating Mr Biden for improperly storing classified documents suggested he was suffering from mental decline due to his age. The 345-page report described him as “a sympathetic, well meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”.”My memory is fine,” Mr Biden said in response. “I am well-meaning. And am elderly. I know what the hell I’m doing. I put this country back on its feet.”Opinion polls indicate the president’s age is a concern for US voters ahead of November’s White House election. Related TopicsUS politicsJoe BidenMore on this story’My memory is fine’ – Biden hits back at special counselPublished9 FebruaryTop StoriesProtests descending into mob rule, PM warns policePublished53 minutes agoFamily’s anger at police failures as Emma Caldwell’s killer is jailedPublished2 hours agoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killer. VideoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killerPublished4 hours agoFeaturesHow police missed the chance to catch Emma’s killerSarah Smith: Protest vote over Gaza is election warning Biden cannot ignoreWhy South Korean women aren’t having babiesWhy Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fix’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’Listen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs? AudioListen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs?AttributionSounds’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Watch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leave. VideoWatch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leaveStormzy book prize winner on ‘writing for lads like me’Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Protests descending into mob rule, PM warns police2’Angry families turned up to find me dressed as Willy Wonka’3Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis dies aged 764Family’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailed5Moon lander pictured on its side with snapped leg6McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader7One dead and two missing after Channel rescue8’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’9Court denies Trump’s bid to pause $454m penalty10Why South Korean women aren’t having babies

[ad_1] Mr Biden last summer began using a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine at night to tackle sleep apnea, the report noted. The physician also found that the…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTop US court will rule on Trump immunity claimsPublished11 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIndictments of Donald TrumpImage source, Getty ImagesBy Madeline HalpertBBC News, New YorkThe Supreme Court will decide if ex-President Donald Trump is immune from being prosecuted on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election. The 6-3 conservative majority court decided on Wednesday to hear Mr Trump’s claims that he should be shielded from criminal liability. The ruling marks the first time the court has weighed in on such a case.A US Court of Appeals panel has already rejected Mr Trump’s argument that he enjoys presidential immunity. Mr Trump had claimed in the landmark legal case that he was immune from all criminal charges for acts he said fell within his duties as president.But the court ruled unanimously against the 77-year-old, writing that: “We cannot accept former President Trump’s claim that a president has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralise the most fundamental check on executive power – the recognition and implementation of election results.” He appealed the case to the Supreme Court and asked to put that decision on hold.Mr Trump was charged last year with witness tampering and conspiracy to defraud the US in federal court in Washington DC over his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. That trial was originally scheduled for March. The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments in the case for the week of April 22, meaning the Washington DC trial date will be delayed while the high court considers the case. The Republican front-runner candidate for president is facing a host of other federal and state criminal charges. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, frequently referring to them as political “witch hunts”. The former president is facing a trial starting in late March on charges of falsifying business records over hush-money payment he made to a porn star. The Supreme Court is also hearing arguments in a separate case weighing whether Mr Trump can be disqualified from running for a second term under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection ban.”Related TopicsUS Supreme CourtIndictments of Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMore on this storyTrump’s failed immunity appeal is a strategic winPublished6 FebruaryTrump does not have presidential immunity, court rulesPublished6 FebruaryTop StoriesFamily’s anger at police failures as Emma Caldwell’s killer is jailedPublished1 hour agoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killer. VideoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killerPublished3 hours agoUK descending into mob rule, PM warns policePublished1 hour agoFeaturesHow police missed the chance to catch Emma’s killerSarah Smith: Protest vote over Gaza is election warning Biden cannot ignoreWhy South Korean women aren’t having babiesWhy Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fix’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’Listen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs? AudioListen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs?AttributionSounds’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Watch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leave. VideoWatch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leaveStormzy book prize winner on ‘writing for lads like me’Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1UK descending into mob rule, PM warns police2’Angry families turned up to find me dressed as Willy Wonka’3Curb Your Enthusiasm star Richard Lewis dies aged 764Family’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailed5Moon lander pictured on its side with snapped leg6McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader7One dead and two missing after Channel rescue8’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’9Harry loses court challenge over UK security10Why South Korean women aren’t having babies

[ad_1] But the court ruled unanimously against the 77-year-old, writing that: “We cannot accept former President Trump’s claim that a president has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralise…

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaUS wrestling star Michael ‘Virgil’ Jones dies aged 61Published2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, WWEImage caption, Michael Jones had various wrestling personas including Virgil, Vincent and Soul Train JonesBy Kathryn ArmstrongBBC NewsUS wrestling star Michael Jones – known by ring names including Virgil and Vincent – has died at the age of 61.”Virgil passed peacefully at the hospital this morning [Wednesday],” wrestling referee Mark Charles III – known professionally as The Count – announced on X, formerly Twitter.His death was also confirmed in posts on his social media accounts. Jones was best known for his work in the World Wresting Federation (WWF) during the 1980s and 1990s. “There is so much to say here and would love to share stories but for now it’s a rough day as our friend is gone,” reads a message posted on his Instagram account. “Wishing him all the unlimited pasta in heaven. We love you Mike.”Jones, who was born in the US state of Pennsylvania, started wrestling professionally in the mid-1980s under the name Soul Train Jones.He debuted with the WWF, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in 1986 and rebranded himself as Lucius Brown, which was later changed to Virgil. This persona as the bodyguard for Ted DiBiase, known as The Million Dollar Man, launched him into fame and lasted several years. Jones left the WWE in 1994 and worked for two years on the smaller independent circuit before joining the now defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the persona Vincent.He briefly reinvented himself as Curly Bill for the wrestling outfit the West Texas Rednecks before leaving the WCW in 2000 when he retired due to injury. Image source, WWEImage caption, Jones worked for what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for a number of yearsJones continued to make independent appearances as his various personas before his health began to deteriorate. In 2022, he revealed that he had dementia and colon cancer. He also suffered a number of strokes. Fundraising pages had been set up online to help pay for Jones’s medical bills and, later, to pay for expenses including clothes and toiletries.Among those to pay tribute to him following news of his death on Wednesday were WWE Hall of Fame inductee Jake “The Snake” Roberts.”Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Virgil,” he wrote on X. “Rest in peace, my friend.””R.I.P Virgil, thanks for being a great sport during our shenanigans & for the memories,” wrote fellow WWE star Luke Gallows.”See you down the road good brother.”Related TopicsProfessional wrestlingMore on this storyWWE Raw heading to Netflix in huge dealPublished23 JanuaryWWE champion Bray Wyatt dies, aged 36Published25 August 2023Top StoriesFamily’s anger at police failures as Emma Caldwell’s killer is jailedPublished38 minutes agoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killer. VideoWatch: How I confronted Emma Caldwell’s killerPublished2 hours agoUK descending into mob rule, PM warns policePublished37 minutes agoFeaturesHow police missed the chance to catch Emma’s killerSarah Smith: Protest vote over Gaza is election warning Biden cannot ignoreWhy South Korean women aren’t having babiesWhy Google’s ‘woke’ AI problem won’t be an easy fix’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’Listen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs? AudioListen: Panic alarms and bodyguards: How unsafe are MPs?AttributionSounds’My mother’s body was left by smugglers in the desert’Watch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leave. VideoWatch: Inside the famous Sistine Chapel after crowds leaveStormzy book prize winner on ‘writing for lads like me’Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsExperience Apollo 11’s adventure first-hand!Discover the awe-inspiring journey of Apollo 11 and its crew with newly released cockpit audioAttributioniPlayerWhat holds us back from exercising as we age?James Gallagher explores the mental and physical barriers that may stop usAttributionSoundsHow close are we to nuclear Armageddon?The Doomsday Clock is the closest it’s ever been to midnight – Jane Corbin investigatesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1’Angry families turned up to find me dressed as Willy Wonka’2UK descending into mob rule, PM warns police3Family’s anger at police as Emma’s killer jailed4Moon lander pictured on its side with snapped leg5’I was inundated with incel messages within an hour’6One dead and two missing after Channel rescue7Harry loses court challenge over UK security8Explosion at house leaves woman seriously injured9Red Bull’s Horner cleared of inappropriate behaviourAttributionSport10Rapper Ja Rule denied UK entry ahead of tour

[ad_1] Jones is remembered for his various personas – including Virgil, Vincent and Soul Train Jones.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaIsrael Gaza: Biden urges Israel to protect Rafah civiliansPublished21 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Watch: How did Rafah become home to 1.5 million Palestinians?US President Joe Biden has said an Israeli offensive in Rafah “should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety” of more than one million Palestinians sheltering there.He said many displaced people in the southern Gazan city were “exposed and vulnerable” and needed to be protected.A Palestinian doctor in Rafah told the BBC people there were living in fear.UN human rights chief Volker Türk says any assault would be “terrifying” and many civilians “will likely be killed”.Last week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had ordered troops to prepare to expand its ground operation to Rafah. He vowed to defeat Hamas gunmen hiding in the city.Rafah has come under heavy Israeli air strikes in recent days, with a number of casualties reported.More than half of the Gaza Strip’s population of 2.3 million is now crammed into the city on the border with Egypt, which was home to only 250,000 people before the war between Israel and Hamas erupted in October. Many of the displaced people are living in makeshift shelters or tents in squalid conditions, with scarce access to safe drinking water or food.On Sunday, Israel’s military said two male Israeli-Argentine hostages had been rescued during a raid in Rafah.Israel’s Rafah assault looms, but with no plan yet for civiliansPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensive Israel-Gaza war: Death and Israel’s search for ‘total victory’President Biden again appealed for the protection of Rafah civilians after his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah in Washington on Monday.”Many people there have been displaced, displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north and now they’re packed into Rafah, exposed and vulnerable,” the US leader said. “They need to be protected. And we’ve also been clear from the start, we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.”Last week, the White House said it would not support major Israeli operations in Rafah without due consideration for the refugees there.Many people have fled Israel’s ground operation in the rest of the Gaza Strip – a Palestinian enclave run by Hamas.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Rafah has come under heavy Israeli air strikes in recent days, with a number of deaths reported in the southern Gazan cityA number of countries and international organisations have warned Israel against launching its planned offensive. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Monday said Israel should “stop and think seriously” before taking further action in Rafah.EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged allies of Israel to stop sending weapons, as “too many people” were being killed in Gaza.Last week, Saudi Arabia warned of “very serious repercussions” if Rafah was stormed.Meanwhile, Gaza’s Hamas rulers said there could be “tens of thousands” of casualties, warning that any operation would also undermine talks about a possible release of Israeli hostages held in the territory.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, BBC News Arabic followed paramedics in northern Gaza during the first month of the conflict.Rafah – on the border with Egypt – is the only open point of entry for humanitarian aid into Gaza.Israel’s military launched its operations in the Gaza Strip after at least 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel on 7 October by Hamas-led gunmen, who also took 253 people hostage. A number of those hostages were later released but Israel says 134 are still unaccounted for.On Monday, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 164 people had been killed and 200 injured in Gaza over the last day. The ministry says 28,340 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 68,000 wounded in the Strip since 7 October.Related TopicsMiddle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelPalestinian territoriesBenjamin NetanyahuJoe BidenTop StoriesBiden urges Israel to protect Rafah civiliansPublished21 minutes agoLabour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel remarksPublished3 hours agoIsrael to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigationPublished11 hours agoFeaturesLabour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’Israel’s Rafah assault looms, but with no plan yet for civiliansInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. VideoWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super BowlWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Six false alarms like Harry Potter wand ‘knifeman’Elsewhere on the BBCOne of the most divisive industrial disputes in the UK40 years after the miners strike, Chris Jackson speaks to people on both sidesAttributionSoundsWhich Radiohead classic did Beverley Knight cover?It may be Just the song you want to hear today…AttributioniPlayer’All I was trying to do was escape reality…’Karl Williams’ party boy trip changes everything when he is busted with a kilo of drugsAttributioniPlayerWhat is the point of Ofsted inspections?The Education Select Committee has said that Ofsted and the Government must rebuild trustAttributionSoundsMost Read1Labour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’2Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate3RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad4’Pirate of the seas’ in big decline after bird flu5Pesticide maker used “weak” data on Parkinson’s6How Vogue got 40 world-famous women in one place7Israel to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigation8Trump seeks Supreme Court pause in 2020 election case9Squishmallows says Build-A-Bear copied its toys10Delivery riders plan Valentine’s Day strike

[ad_1] The US president says Israeli operations in the Gazan city should not go ahead “without a credible plan”.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaTrump endorses daughter-in-law Lara Trump for RNC leadershipPublished19 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS election 2024Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lara Trump is the wife of former president Donald Trump’s third child, Eric TrumpBy Nadine YousifBBC NewsFormer US President Donald Trump has endorsed his daughter-in-law to head the Republican National Committee (RNC). Mr Trump voiced his support for Lara Trump and Michael Whatley, chair of North Carolina’s Republican party.His backing on Monday follows reports that he has grown frustrated with the RNC’s current leadership.The committee would vote for new leadership if its current head, Ronna McDaniel, steps down. US media has reported that Ms McDaniel may leave her post after the South Carolina Republican primary, scheduled for 24 February. The RNC as an organisation focuses on fundraising for the party and on getting Republicans out to vote.As the frontrunner candidate for the Republican party in this year’s election, Mr Trump’s endorsement will likely have some influence among RNC members.In a Monday evening statement, Mr Trump said Mr Whatley, who currently serves as the committee’s general counsel, “has done a great job in his home state of North Carolina” and that he should be the RNC’s next chair. He also lauded Mr Whatley’s commitment to “election integrity”. Mr Whatley has previously championed the former president’s baseless allegations of election fraud in the 2020 election. For the role of RNC co-chair, Mr Trump said he endorses his “very talented” daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who is married to his son Eric. “Lara is an extremely talented communicator and is dedicated to all that MAGA stands for,” Mr Trump said. Ms Trump has worked closely with the RNC in the past and is seen as an effective fundraiser by the committee.Party rules mandate that there be one male and one female at the helm of the RNC.The former president said he has also asked Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of his current presidential campaign, to take on the role of RNC’s chief operating officer. Politico reported that, should Mr Lacivita assume the role, he will still maintain his position as Mr Trump’s co-campaign manager. If Mr Trump’s endorsements were to go ahead, it would mean his campaign would be aligned closely with the committee and its operations.But his stamp of approval has not always been effective. Mr Whaley failed in his 2023 bid for co-chair despite a previous endorsement by Mr Trump. The push for a change in leadership comes after disagreements between Mr Trump and Ms McDaniel, the current RNC chair, over the Republican primary debates ahead of this year’s election. The former president has refused to participate in any of them.The Washington Post previously reported that Mr Trump pushed Ms McDaniel to cancel the debates altogether, but she refused.She has also faced pressure over the party’s poor performance in recent elections and for lacklustre fundraising.She was expected to serve in her role until 2025, but news of her possible resignation emerged after she met with Mr Trump in Mar-a-Lago last week.At that meeting, Ms McDaniel told Mr Trump that she will do whatever is best for the party, including stepping down. When the conservative Newsmax network asked Mr Trump last week if Ms McDaniel should resign, he replied: “I think she knows that, I think she understands that.” Related TopicsRepublican PartyUS election 2024Donald TrumpMore on this storyMcDaniel offers Trump her resignation as RNC headPublished5 days agoTop Arizona Republican quits over leaked tape offerPublished24 JanuaryTop StoriesLabour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel remarksPublished1 hour agoPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensivePublished5 hours agoIsrael to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigationPublished9 hours agoFeaturesLabour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’Israel’s Rafah assault looms, but with no plan yet for civiliansInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. VideoWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super BowlWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Six false alarms like Harry Potter wand ‘knifeman’Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’They are the cockroaches of broadcasting’Are the iconic BBC Radio 4 pips running out of time?AttributionSoundsWar, negotiations and geopoliticsLearn about Putin’s war in Ukraine in gripping detailAttributioniPlayerIs modern exercise a wellness cult?Drs Chris and Xand explore the science of physical activity and the dangers of inactivityAttributionSoundsMost Read1Labour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’2Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate3WhatsApp user becomes first convicted cyber-flasher4How Vogue got 40 world-famous women in one place5Trump seeks Supreme Court pause in 2020 election case6Israel to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigation7Gang who killed man for fake designer watch jailed8Delivery riders plan Valentine’s Day strike9Pesticide maker used “weak” data on Parkinson’s10RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad

[ad_1] A successful co-chair bid for Lara Trump would shift the Republican committee closer to Mr Trump’s campaign.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWhy US economy is powering ahead of Europe’sPublished20 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Erin DelmoreNew York business correspondentWhile countries around the world have struggled to recover from the economic setbacks brought on by the pandemic, one has emerged particularly strong.With a fast-growing economy, a strong labour market and falling inflation, the US has outpaced its counterparts in Europe and elsewhere. In terms of GDP, it posted a 3.3% gain in the fourth quarter of 2023, far exceeding economists’ expectations of 2%. That put the US at 2.5% over the course of the year, outpacing all other advanced economies and on track to do so again in 2024. “The US is holding up much better than other countries,” said Ryan Sweet, Chief US Economist, Oxford Economics. “It seems like the engine of the US economy continues to hum along where it’s sputtering in other nations.” Experts say that there are several reasons why the US is outperforming other nations.1. Pouring trillions into the economy When the Covid-19 pandemic slowed in-person work and social life to a halt, countries had to grapple with how to support their stuck-at-home citizenry – including many who lost their jobs or couldn’t work. In March 2020, Congress rushed to pass a $2.2tn economic stimulus bill that sent cash into the pockets of American workers, families, and businesses. Two more pieces of legislation followed to keep small businesses afloat and workforces employed. This was the largest influx of federal money into the US economy in history. Some $5tn flowed to everyone from individuals making an extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits to state and local transit agencies strapped for cash without commuters.US economy sees surprisingly strong growth”I think there was a whole generation of policymakers that came out of 2008 and 2009 with the lesson that if you don’t go big and go bold, the problems last for a long time,” said Aaron Terrazas, chief economist at Glassdoor. “If you’re tentative, you prolong the pain. So I think that’s one reason why the fiscal response was so much more forceful this time.” That stimulus is still being credited with sustaining consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of economic activity. That capacity to spend despite high inflation has been a buoy. Image source, Getty ImagesSome of the money put into households’ pockets ended up in excess savings, said Ryan Sweet, a war chest for Americans to tap into when they need it.The size of the US rescue deal dwarfed what other countries did, although some like Japan, Germany and Canada also went big. European countries have a more robust social safety net than the US and were able to adapt existing programmes without increasing spending. But this short-term advantage could not make up for the huge gap in stimulus size.2. A flexible jobs market High inflation has been a painful experience for many Americans and has shaped their view of how the economy is faring. But a strong jobs market has helped disposable income, which is the engine behind consumer spending.The unemployment rate in the US has been below 4% since February 2022, which is on a par with historic lows. And while prices climbed steeply, real wages have risen too. Low-income households have seen some of the strongest real wage growth.The US has also enjoyed a productivity spike in 2023, growing at its fastest pace in years. Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, points to the flexible labour laws which allowed companies to slash workforces at the start of the pandemic. This produced short-term pain for workers but allowed companies to adapt to the moment and invest in new technologies. She cited the example of hotels, which laid off workers and haven’t hired back to pre-pandemic levels. “They’ve simply changed a lot. They’ve introduced self-checkouts and mobile check-in technology. They’ve reduced the frequency of room cleaning, they’ve eliminated room service, because now customers tend to prefer to use Uber Eats anyway, and pick up orders and deliveries.”Hotels have become lighter and leaner and less personnel intensive, she said, a shift that meant they lived on which, in the longer term, benefits workers.Image source, Getty ImagesThe US enjoys another advantage – an ability to resupply its labour market, especially through immigration at a time when the retirement of the baby boomer generation has slowed population growth.The European approach favoured paying companies to keep workers on their payrolls when lockdowns crippled businesses. The UK furlough scheme paid employees 80% of their wages and lasted more than 18 months. The US had more severe unemployment as a result but laid-off American workers were eligible for newly-expanded unemployment benefits, which sent cash directly into pockets. 3. Energy (in)dependence The US is a net exporter of energy and experts say that’s helped the US economy’s strength.When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and energy prices soared, Europe absorbed the impact much more than the US. Germany, a major European manufacturing hub, relied on Russian natural gas through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Its productivity took a hit. Higher energy prices pushed up inflation in Europe, in what experts called a “double-shock” – the pandemic and then Ukraine. The impact of the Ukraine war on energy prices was a lot worse in Europe than in the US, said Ben Westmore, who oversees surveillance of the US economy for the OECD.Gas prices in Europe between early 2021 and 2022 shot up by something close to 20%, he says, whereas in the US, it was only 3-4%.He pointed out that European countries have seen not only a bigger increase in prices, but also a greater propensity for businesses to pass them on to consumers. “Both of these factors have helped U.S. inflation moderate to a faster extent than in many countries, especially Europe,” he said. More on the global economyWhat China’s economic problems mean for the worldDoes Germany’s economy need more than a cup of coffee?Global economy set for weakest growth since CovidRelated TopicsEuropeUS economyUnited StatesTop StoriesLabour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel remarksPublished38 minutes agoPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensivePublished4 hours agoIsrael to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigationPublished8 hours agoFeaturesLabour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’Israel’s Rafah assault looms, but with no plan yet for civiliansInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. VideoWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super BowlWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Six false alarms like Harry Potter wand ‘knifeman’Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’They are the cockroaches of broadcasting’Are the iconic BBC Radio 4 pips running out of time?AttributionSoundsWar, negotiations and geopoliticsLearn about Putin’s war in Ukraine in gripping detailAttributioniPlayerIs modern exercise a wellness cult?Drs Chris and Xand explore the science of physical activity and the dangers of inactivityAttributionSoundsMost Read1Labour ‘axes’ candidate and ‘Corrie Ken’s £550k tax bill’2Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate3RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad4WhatsApp user becomes first convicted cyber-flasher5Trump seeks Supreme Court pause in 2020 election case6Israel to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigation7How Vogue got 40 world-famous women in one place8Gang who killed man for fake designer watch jailed9Delivery riders plan Valentine’s Day strike10Littler hits nine-darter and wins Players ChampionshipAttributionSport

[ad_1] A fast-growing economy, low jobless numbers and falling inflation – how the US outpaced competitors.

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDR Congo protests: Police fire tear gas to disperse anti-Western demonstrations in KinshasaPublished4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, DR Congo’s government has stepped up security outside Western embassiesBy Emery Makumeno & Wedaeli ChibelushiBBC News, Kinshasa & LondonPolice in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital Kinshasa have fired tear gas to disperse crowds protesting against Western governments.The protesters accuse the governments of failing to use their influence over neighbouring Rwanda to curb a rebellion in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda is accused of backing the M23 rebel group, which it denies.Angry protesters burnt the flags of the US and Belgium, DR Congo’s former colonial power, on Monday.Demonstrations have taken place outside several Western embassies in recent days .In the latest protests, anti-riot police pushed back demonstrators as they tried to advance towards embassies. “The Westerners are behind the looting of our country. Rwanda doesn’t work alone, so they must leave our country,” Pepin Mbindu, who joined the protest, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.Panic in DR Congo’s Goma as M23 rebels advanceDR Congo football squad use Afcon spotlight to call for peaceMore than 50 police officers were deployed on Monday to protect the UK embassy, which is situated along the River Congo. Dozens of officers also stood guard outside the French and American embassies.International schools and foreign-owned shops in Kinshasa’s central Gombe district remained closed, as concerns about safety mounted.Protesters set alight tyres around the city centre, while footage from Reuters showed dozens celebrating as US and Belgian flags were placed on a pile of burning tyres.Videos circulating on social media showed French and European Union (EU) flags being removed from Belgian-owned Hotel Memling as a crowd demonstrated outside the building. The hotel told the BBC it had removed the flags to avoid “provoking” protesters. The US on Sunday urged its citizens in DR Congo to “keep a low profile” and “ensure your family has enough food and water should you need to stay home for several days”.The UK foreign office warned that protests were “likely to continue throughout the week”, and there was a risk that foreign nationals could be “indiscriminately targeted”.On Saturday, the UN, which has a peacekeeping force in eastern DR Congo, said several of its vehicles were set alight and ransacked. A shop belonging to French broadcaster Canal+ was destroyed by demonstrators, while social media videos showed plumes of dark smoke rising above the city.At a meeting on Sunday, DR Congo’s Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula gave Western diplomats and UN officials an assurance that the government will protect them.Over the past fortnight, hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes in eastern DR Congo’s Masisi region to seek refuge in the major city of Goma, following deadly attacks by the M23 rebels.The M23 is now advancing towards Goma, home to around two million people. The group says it does not want to capture Goma, but its fighters blocked the two main roads into the city from the north and the west, preventing the produce that feeds residents from getting through.The M23 is one of dozens of armed groups that have long plagued DR Congo’s mineral-rich east, battling for control of land there. The conflict has forced nearly seven million people from their homes, in what the UN calls one of the “largest humanitarian crises in the world”.The M23, formed as an offshoot of another rebel group, first began operating in 2012 ostensibly to protect the Tutsi population in eastern DR Congo, which had long complained of persecution and discrimination. UN experts have said that the group is backed by Rwanda, which is also led by Tutsis, something that Kigali has consistently denied.Image source, ReutersRelated TopicsDemocratic Republic of CongoMore on this storyEverything you need to know about DR CongoPublished2 JanuaryHow Tshisekedi won DR Congo’s chaotic electionPublished3 JanuaryCan the president who vowed war bring peace to DR Congo?Published20 JanuaryTop StoriesLabour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate after Israel remarksPublished10 minutes agoPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensivePublished55 minutes agoIsrael to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigationPublished5 hours agoFeaturesIsrael’s Rafah assault looms, but with no plan yet for civiliansInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. VideoWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super BowlWhat now in Pakistan after Khan vote surprise?Six false alarms like Harry Potter wand ‘knifeman’Jeremy Bowen: Why is Rafah the new focus in Gaza war? VideoJeremy Bowen: Why is Rafah the new focus in Gaza war?Elsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’They are the cockroaches of broadcasting’Are the iconic BBC Radio 4 pips running out of time?AttributionSoundsWar, negotiations and geopoliticsLearn about Putin’s war in Ukraine in gripping detailAttributioniPlayerIs modern exercise a wellness cult?Drs Chris and Xand explore the science of physical activity and the dangers of inactivityAttributionSoundsMost Read1Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate2RFK Jr apologises to family over Super Bowl ad3WhatsApp user becomes first convicted cyber-flasher4Gang who killed man for fake designer watch jailed5Trump takes immunity challenge to US Supreme Court6Israel to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigation7How Vogue got 40 world-famous women in one place8Littler hits nine-darter and wins Players ChampionshipAttributionSport9Monty Python star working at 80 for financial reasons10Delivery riders plan Valentine’s Day strike

[ad_1] Protesters demand that foreign powers use their influence over Rwanda to curb conflict in the east.

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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersCloseJury selection is under way in Donald Trump’s New York City hush-money trial, with hundreds of people selected as potential jurors.They must answer a questionnaire to determine, among other things, if they can be impartial about the former president.The BBC asked some of those questions to Manhattan residents.SubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreCould you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New Yorkers. Video, 00:02:16Could you be a fair juror for Trump? We asked New YorkersSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished50 minutes ago2:16Up Next. A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trial. Video, 00:01:15A view from inside court for Trump’s blockbuster trialSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished19 hours agoUp Next1:15Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouse. Video, 00:01:12Press, police and protesters: Outside Trump courthouseSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:12Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 seconds. Video, 00:01:00Trump’s ‘perp walk’ moment explained in 60 secondsSubsectionUS & CanadaPublished31 March 20231:00Editor’s recommendationsCopenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fire. Video, 00:01:03Copenhagen stock exchange engulfed by huge fireSubsectionEuropePublished12 hours ago1:03Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchange. Video, 00:00:43Moment spire collapses at Copenhagen stock exchangeSubsectionEuropePublished11 hours ago0:43Dormice ladders built in the Forest of Dean. Video, 00:00:51Dormice ladders built in the Forest of DeanSubsectionGloucestershirePublished1 day ago0:51Liz Truss: The world was safer under Trump. Video, 00:00:35Liz Truss: The world was safer under TrumpSubsectionUK PoliticsPublished22 hours ago0:35Huge fires blaze along Miami highway. Video, 00:00:33Huge fires blaze along Miami highwaySubsectionUS & CanadaPublished12 hours ago0:33Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debate. Video, 00:00:34Watch: Georgia opposition leader punches MP during debateSubsectionEuropePublished21 hours ago0:34Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong wind. Video, 00:00:24Wheelie bins fly and a caravan overturns in strong windSubsectionStoke & StaffordshirePublished1 day ago0:24Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazzi. Video, 00:00:28Hannah Waddingham calls out demanding paparazziSubsectionEntertainment & ArtsPublished1 day ago0:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LA. Video, 00:01:28Endangered California condor chicks hatched in LASubsectionUS & CanadaPublished1 day ago1:28

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

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSupreme Court hears 6 Jan case that may hit Trump trialPublished2 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsUS Capitol riotsImage source, Brent StirtonImage caption, Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol after holding a “Stop the Steal” rally on 6 January, 2021By Nadine YousifBBC NewsThe US Supreme Court have begun hearing a case that could undo charges for those who stormed the Capitol in 2021. It focuses on whether a 2002 federal law created to prevent corporate misconduct could apply to individuals involved in the 6 January riots. More than 350 people have been charged in the incident under that law, which carries a 20-year prison penalty.Donald Trump faces the same charge in the pending federal case accusing him of election interference. The law makes it a crime to “corruptly” obstruct or impede an official proceeding. On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justices heard two hours of arguments over the law’s interpretation. However, it remained unclear how they would rule. A lawyer for a man who stormed the Capitol and was prosecuted under the law argued before the Justices that “a host of felony and misdemeanour” crimes already exist to prosecute his clients actions.The 2002 law passed in the wake of the Enron accounting scandal, Jeffrey Green said, was not one of them. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar counterargued that rioters deliberately attempted “to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the election,” therefore obstructing an official proceeding. Both fielded sceptical questions from the Justices. At one point, Mr Green argued that there is no historical precedent in which the law was used to prosecute demonstrators.Justice Sonia Sotomayor replied: “We’ve never had a situation before where (there was an attempt) to stop a proceeding violently, so I am not sure what a lack of history proves.”On the other hand, Ms Prelogar fielded questions from Justice Neil Gorusch on whether the law could then be stretched to apply to a “sit-in that disrupts a trial” or “a heckler” at the State of the Union Address. “Would pulling a fire alarm before a vote qualify for 20 years in federal prison?” he asked, appearing to reference an incident in which Jamaal Bowman, Democrat House representative, pressed a fire alarm in the Capitol.How the top court rules could have wide-ranging effects on the hundreds of people charged, convicted or sentenced under the law, as well as the prosecution of Mr Trump. Here is a breakdown of the key players and the law being argued: What is the 2002 federal law at the centre of the trial?The law is called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It was passed in response to the Enron scandal in the early 2000s, after it was exposed that those involved had engaged in massive fraud and shredding documents. It criminalizes the destruction of evidence – like records or documents. But it also penalises anyone who “otherwise obstructs, influences or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so.” How has it been used in response to the 6 January riots?Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has brought obstruction charges against those who participated in the storming of the Capitol. Federal prosecutors argue they did so to impede Congress’ certification of the presidential electoral vote count to cement Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Therefore, the latter portion of the law that deals with obstructing an “official proceeding” would apply, the DoJ says. Who is challenging the law’s use in this case, and why? The Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the law’s application brought forward by a former Pennsylvania police officer.Joseph Fischer was charged under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with obstruction of a congressional proceeding on 6 January, as well as assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. His lawyers argue that prosecutors overreached with applying the Act, which they say deals explicitly with destroying or tampering with evidence integral to an investigation. Those who challenge the law’s application in 6 January cases also argue that a broad interpretation of the law would allow the prosecution of lobbyists or protestors who disrupt matters in Congress.How could the Supreme Court ruling impact Trump?The former president is charged under the very same law in a federal case accusing him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Mr Biden.If Supreme Court justices rule that the law does not apply to the 6 January rioters, Mr Trump could seek dismissal of half the charges he faces in that case.It also could be seen as a political win for the former president, who is seeking re-election in November, as he repeatedly has accused prosecutors of overreach. A final ruling is not expected until June. Related TopicsUS Capitol riotsDonald TrumpMore on this storySupreme Court to hear appeal over Capitol riot chargePublished13 December 2023A very simple guide to Trump’s indictmentsPublished25 August 2023Supreme Court asked to rule on Trump’s immunityPublished12 December 2023Top StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished1 hour agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoNo liberty in addiction, says health secretary on smoking banPublished4 minutes agoFeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? 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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNational Conservatism Conference: Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels eventPublished4 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Nigel Farage said the decision to shut the conference down was as an attempt to stifle free speechBy Nick Beake in Brussels and Laura GozziBBC NewsBrussels police have been ordered to shut down a conference attended by right-wing politicians across Europe, including Nigel Farage and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.Organisers say the National Conservatism Conference in the Belgian capital is continuing, but guests are no longer allowed to enter. Local authorities had raised concerns over public safety.A UK spokeswoman called reports of police action “extremely disturbing”. She said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was a “strong supporter and advocator for free speech” and that he was “very clear that cancelling events or preventing attendance and no-platforming speakers is damaging to free speech and to democracy as a result”.Alexander De Croo, the Belgian prime minister, said that the shutting down of the conference was “unacceptable”.Referring to the fact that it was the local mayor, Emir Kir, who opposed the conference, Mr De Croo added that while municipal autonomy was a cornerstone of Belgium’s democracy it could “never overrule the Belgian constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech”. “Banning political meetings is unconstitutional. Full stop,” Mr De Croo wrote on X.In a message to organisers, Mr Kir had said some of the attendees of Tuesday’s conference held anti-gay and anti-abortion views. “Among these personalities there are several particularly from the right-conservative, religious right and European extreme right,” his statement said.Mr Kir also wrote on X: “The far right is not welcome.”Nigel Farage, who took to the stage this morning, told the BBC the decision to close down the conference because there were homophobes in the audience was “cobblers”, and that he condemned the decision as an attempt to stifle free speech. “Thank God For Brexit”, he said.Organised by a think-tank called the Edmund Burke Foundation, the National Conservatism Conference is a global movement which espouses what it describes as traditional values, which it claims are being “undermined and overthrown”. It also opposes further European integration.The conference said it aimed to bring together “public figures, journalists, scholars and students” who understood the connection between conservatism and the idea of nationhood and national traditions. French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, arriving for the conference after police had blocked the entrance, told journalists that Mr Kir was “using the police as a private militia to prevent… Europeans from taking part freely”.Organisers said Mr Zemmour was not allowed into the venue and that his address would be postponed.Former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman and far-right French politician Eric Zemmour were listed as keynote speakers. The National Conservatism Conference reportedly started around 08:00 (06:00 GMT) on Tuesday and carried on for three hours until police showed up and asked the organisers to make attendees leave.Later, organisers wrote on X: “The police are not letting anyone in. People can leave, but they cannot return. Delegates have limited access to food and water, which are being prevented from delivery. Is this what city mayor Emir Kir is aiming for?”Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki were due to speak tomorrow. Earlier, the organisers said on X that they would challenge the order to shut the conference down. “The police entered the venue on our invitation, saw the proceedings and the press corps, and quickly withdrew. Is it possible they witnessed how peaceful the event is?,” they wrote on X.The Claridge event space – located near Brussels’s European Quarter – can host up to 850 people. Around 250 people were in attendance on Tuesday afternoon.Mohamed Nemri, the owner of Claridge, told the BBC he had decided to host the event because “we don’t reject any party…. even if we don’t have the same opinion. That’s normal”.”I am Muslim and people have different opinion and that’s it. We are living in a freedom country. I’d like to people to talk freely,” he added.It is the third venue that was supposed to hold the event, after the previous two fell through. Belgian media reported that one venue pulled out after pressure by a group called the “Antifascist coordination of Belgium”.Related TopicsBelgiumTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished43 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished5 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? 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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaNasa says part of International Space Station crashed into Florida homePublished40 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, NASAImage caption, The recovered object was part of a stanchion used to mount batteries to a cargo palletBy Max MatzaBBC NewsUS space agency Nasa confirmed that an object that crashed into a home in Florida earlier this month was part of the International Space Station (ISS). The metal object was jettisoned from the orbiting outpost in March 2021, Nasa said on Monday after analysing the sample at the Kennedy Space Center.The 1.6lb (0.7kg) metal object tore through two layers of ceiling after re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Homeowner Alejandro Otero said his son was nearly injured by the impact. Nasa said the object was part of some 5,800lbs of hardware that was dumped by the station after it had new lithium-ion batteries installed. “The hardware was expected to fully burn up during entry through Earth’s atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, a piece of hardware survived and impacted a home in Naples, Florida,” the agency said.The debris was determined to be part of a stanchion used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet. The object, made from metal alloy Inconel, has dimensions of 4in by 1.6in (10.1cm by 4cm).Mr Otero told CBS affiliate Wink-TV that the device created a “tremendous sound” as it blasted into his home.”It almost hit my son. He was two rooms over and heard it all,” he said.”I was shaking. I was completely in disbelief. What are the chances of something landing on my house with such force to cause so much damage,” Mr Otero continued.”I’m super grateful that nobody got hurt.”According to Nasa, the ISS will “perform a detailed investigation” on how the debris survived burn-up.What’s the risk of being hit by falling space debris?Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkSpace junk has been a growing a problem. Earlier this month, sky watchers in California watched mysterious golden streaks moving through the night sky.US officials later determined that the light show was caused by burning debris from a Chinese rocket re-entering earth’s orbit.In February, a Chinese satellite known as “Object K” burned up as it re-entered the atmosphere over Hawaii.Last year, a barnacle-covered giant metal dome found on a Western Australian beach was identified as a component of an Indian rocket. There are plans to display it alongside chunks of Nasa’s Skylab, which crashed in Australia in 1979. This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Object thought to be a satellite burns up on re-entering Earth’s atmosphereRelated TopicsSpace debrisNasaFloridaUnited StatesMore on this storyIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s more space junkPublished3 AprilRobot dog trains to walk on Moon in Oregon trialsPublished3 days agoTop StoriesMuslim student loses school prayer ban challengePublished50 minutes agoBowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelinePublished4 hours agoLive. US expects to impose further sanctions on Iran ‘in the coming days’FeaturesJeremy Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifelineIranians on edge as leaders say ‘Tel Aviv is our battleground’A really, really big election with nearly a billion votersWhat is the smoking ban and how will it work?Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice foreverWho are the millions of Britons not working?How to register to vote for the local elections ahead of midnight deadlineMeteorite ‘repeatedly transformed’ on space journeyHow the Alec Baldwin fatal film set shooting unfoldedElsewhere on the BBCFrom weight loss to prolonging lifeIs intermittent fasting actually good for you? James Gallagher investigatesAttributionSoundsCould Nina shake up the unspoken rules of modern dating?Brand new comedy about love, friendship and being your own selfAttributioniPlayerWill the UK introduce tough anti-tobacco laws?Under new plans, anyone turning 15 from this year would be banned from buying cigarettesAttributionSoundsCan William Wisting find the truth?The Norwegian detective returns, tackling more grisly cold casesAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Muslim student loses school prayer ban challenge2First product of Meghan’s lifestyle brand revealed3Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels conference4Bowen: Iran’s attack on Israel offers Netanyahu a lifeline5Superdry boss hits back at ‘not cool’ criticism6Historic Copenhagen stock exchange goes up in flames7MPs to vote on smoking ban for those born after 20098Stabbed TV presenter ‘feeling much better’9Baby hurt in Sydney stabbing out of intensive care10Martin Tyler: I nearly lost my voice forever

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