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Margaret Ferrier: Covid breach MP loses seat after recall petition - BBC News

2023-08-02

A by-election will now be held after almost 12,000 of her constituents signed a recall petition.

MP Margaret Ferrier has been unseated after a recall petition An MP who was suspended for breaking Covid lockdown rules has lost her seat after a vote by constituents. A by-election will now take place after 11,896 people in Rutherglen and Hamilton West signed a petition to remove Margaret Ferrier from office. She had sat as an independent MP after being kicked out of the SNP in 2020. Ferrier travelled to London and spoke in the Commons while awaiting the result of a Covid test, then got a train home after testing positive. The petition to remove her was signed by almost 15% of the 81,124 eligible constituents, passing the 10% threshold which triggers a by-election. Ms Ferrier confirmed on Tuesday that she would not seek re-election. In a statement the MP said: "I respect the outcome of the petition. "It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the Member of Parliament for Rutherglen & Hamilton West. I have always put my job and my constituents first, and I am disappointed that this will now come to an end. "I decided some time ago that I would not stand in the upcoming by-election. This has been a difficult and taxing process that has now come to its conclusion and I do not wish to prolong it further." Campaigning in the seat has really already begun, with the SNP and Labour having selected candidates for an expected by-election months ago. No date has yet been set for the vote, but the earliest it could happen is 5 October. Ferrier had taken a Covid test on Saturday 26 September 2020 after noticing what she described as a "tickly throat". While awaiting her results, she went to church on the Sunday and gave a reading to the congregation. She later spent more than two hours in a bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire. The next day, Monday 28 September, she travelled to London by train - which had 183 passengers on board - and spoke in the Commons before finding out a short time later that she had tested positive for the virus. Ferrier decided to get a train back to Glasgow the following day, fearing she would have to self-isolate in a London hotel room for two weeks. She was arrested and charged with culpable and reckless conduct in January 2021 and pleaded guilty last August. A month later she was ordered to carry out 270 hours of community service. Labour and the SNP have both been campaigning in Rutherglen and Hamilton West for months already. But now the vacancy is official, expect things to kick up a gear. This is a race which could have UK-wide ramifications, as a measure of Labour's prospects under Sir Keir Starmer. If he is to enter Downing Street, he needs to win this sort of seat - under 10% majority, sited in a former heartland - and a result here would build crucial momentum. It is also a test of how flexible his party can be. Its UK-wide messaging is chiefly aimed at winning contests against the Conservatives in England, but the SNP is hoping to outflank it on the left in Scotland. It is also an early test of Humza Yousaf's leadership of the SNP. He ran for the job as the Nicola Sturgeon continuity candidate, before ripping up key parts of her policy agenda. Can he replicate her record of electoral success? The SNP is already putting independence front and centre of its campaign, and it will be interesting to see if the constitution continues to dominate as a political topic even as Labour endeavour to talk about just about anything else. The Commons' standards committee recommended in March that Ferrier should be suspended, a decision which was upheld by an independent expert panel after she lodged an appeal. MPs then voted to suspend Ferrier from the Commons for 30 days, a decision which automatically triggered the recall motion. The recall petition, which was the first to be held in Scotland, ran from 20 June to 31 July. The seat became vacant at the moment the petition officer, who oversaw the count, informed the Speaker of the House of Commons of the result. The date for the by-election will be set when parliament resumes in September. Margaret Ferrier sat as an independent MP after losing the SNP whip Recent polling has suggested that the SNP's lead over Labour in Scotland has narrowed in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon standing down as first minister and the ongoing police investigation into the SNP's finances. First Minister Humza Yousaf, the SNP leader, has previously admitted that the circumstances in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are "challenging" for his party - but that it has "solid support". After the result of the recall petition was announced, he said: "At every stage of this campaign, the SNP will promote the interests and needs of all the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West. "By contrast, Labour in Scotland is a mere branch office, doing the bidding of their bosses at Westminster." But Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said people in the constituency had "made their voices heard and demanded change". She added: "For far too long the area has been failed - let down by two incompetent governments and left voiceless in parliament by their rule-breaking MP." Ms Baillie said a by-election should be held at the earliest opportunity so that "Rutherglen and Hamilton West can get the representation it deserves as soon as possible". The Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader, Meghan Gallacher, said constituents had delivered "a very clear verdict" on Margaret Ferrier's "reckless and selfish actions at the height of the pandemic". She said the SNP was "engulfed in chaos" and that Scottish Labour was "too weak to stand up to them on an overwhelming number of issues". Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said people in the area deserved fresh representation and were "fed up of being neglected by the nationalists". The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the body which regulates MPs' pay and pensions, confirmed to the BBC that Ferrier is not eligible for any payoff for leaving parliament. Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66376464

Anton Du Beke: Strictly judge reveals he was stabbed by his father as a child - BBC News

2023-08-02

The Strictly judge reveals he spent three days in hospital following the attack one Boxing Day.

Du Beke permanently took over as a Strictly judge from Bruno Tonioli in 2021 Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has revealed he was stabbed by his father as a child. The 57-year-old said his father stabbed him in the leg and stomach during a Boxing Day altercation at the family home in Kent. Du Beke told Kate Garraway's Life Stories he spent three days in hospital as a result of the attack. He said his father Antal had "taken a turn" against Du Beke as alcoholism gripped him. Recalling the incident, Du Beke said: "I got stabbed in the leg and in the stomach because of a fight on Boxing Day and it was an idiotic situation. "I remember walking out of the house to walk up to the hospital holding my leg and a police car drove past and I waved them down and I said 'he's in there with a knife'. "Anyway, they carted him off and I ended up in hospital for three or four days. My only concern was getting back into the studio and dancing and the embarrassment of it." The TV judge, who was previously a professional dancer on the BBC One show, said the revelations will likely come as a shock to his friends and family as it is the first time he has spoken about the childhood incident. Du Beke lives in Buckinghamshire with his wife Hannah Summers and their two children. Du Beke, pictured being interviewed on Radio 2 in 2022, said he spent three days in hospital following the attack Born to a Spanish mother and Hungarian father, Du Beke lived on a council estate in Sevenoaks, and discovered a passion for dancing after picking his sister up from the local studio. He explained his mother encouraged his new hobby, but the relationship with his father, who was battling issues with alcohol, became strained. Du Beke said: "The alcoholism and the violence... [it was] towards me, because I was a boy, a young man I suppose. "You've got an alcoholic father and a situation where if you're in the house, [he's] drinking then you end up with the fights and stuff. "You'd move room to get away from all of it and then he follows you in and the next thing you know the violence starts and then it came to a head one evening, I ended up in hospital for three days." Du Beke said he was sure his family and friends did not know about the attack because he never saw any gain from speaking about his ordeal, telling Garraway: "I'm a forward looker... I don't like to look back, I like to look forward." He said he told people he had "pulled a hamstring" when asked about his leg injury because he was embarrassed. "I can't really believe I'm talking to you about this. I should've glossed over this," Du Beke commented to Garraway. "Even the thought of that [the attack] being a thing sort of annoys me as well." Before becoming a Strictly judge, his celebrity dance partners included former MP Ann Widdecombe Garraway explained Du Beke's father was cleared in court of wounding his son and when he died, Du Beke did not attend his funeral. "Everything was about moving forwards, I felt sorry for my mum, this was her husband, she's working two jobs and he chose to drink and be violent, it's just life and you carry on," he said. At the time, the aspiring dancer changed his name "from Tony Beke, who grew up on a council estate" to "Anton Du Beke, The Show Man". He said: "I wanted a new start and a new beginning and I wanted to leave what went before, behind, and then move on with the rest of my life, I just wanted to be me." Du Beke added his motivation to achieve success was not because of his father. "I hate woe is me," he said. "I never sought any sense of confirmation or encouragement from him and I never did anything I did because of him. My motivation to do what I did was not because of that." Du Beke was the longest-serving professional dancer on Strictly until he took over from departing judge Bruno Tonioli permanently in 2021. His celebrity partners over the years have included former home secretary Jacqui Smith, soap star Emma Barton and politician Ann Widdecombe. TV presenter Garraway took over from Piers Morgan as the host of ITV's Life Stories series this year. For information and support about any issues raised in this story contact the BBC Action Line.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66376162

Noah Donohoe: Man who 'hounded' schoolboy's mother sentenced - BBC News

2023-08-02

William Logue posted a number of sectarian and racist comments aimed at Fiona Donohoe on Twitter.

Noah Donohoe with his mum Fiona - the teenager was found dead in a north Belfast storm drain in June 2020 A 44-year-old man has been handed a two-year probation order for the online harassment of schoolboy Noah Donohoe's mother. William Logue posted a number of sectarian and racist comments aimed at Fiona Donohoe on Twitter in 2021. Fourteen-year-old Noah was found dead in a storm drain in north Belfast in 2020. A judge described Logue as a "vulture" who had behaved in a "despicable manner". Logue, from Northwood Parade in Belfast, has been banned from using social media for five years and ordered to pay £500 in compensation to Ms Donohoe. Police arrested him in December 2021 after he was linked to comments made on the Justice for Noah Twitter account. He initially denied harassing Ms Donohoe but pleaded guilty to the charge before court proceedings reached trial. Defence counsel Richard McConkey said there was nothing he could say to excuse his client's "inexcusable" behaviour, but said Logue had heightened mental health issues at the time. District Judge Chris Holmes said Logue had "hounded" the family and indicated his initial reaction was to jail Logue for as long as possible. "This is unfortunately something which we see a lot of these days, vultures landing on people's grief," he said. However, he decided against a prison sentence, which would have led to Logue being released after three months without supervision. He accepted the defendant's mental health problems had contributed to him posting the material, which he described as "disgusting". The judge said Logue must fully participate in any required programme of work or alcohol and drugs counselling. He explained to Ms Donohoe, who was in court along with supporters, that the sentence was aimed at ensuring Logue remains under supervision. "I'm hoping that will prevent any form of behaviour like this happening to anybody else," he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66372625

Jacob Crouch: Mother accused of killing baby blames father - BBC News

2023-08-02

Gemma Barton says only co-accused Craig Crouch could have injured their 10-month old son Jacob.

A mother accused of murdering her 10-month-old son has told a jury his father is the only person who could have caused him fatal injuries. Gemma Barton and her partner Craig Crouch are accused of killing baby Jacob Crouch who died at home in Linton, Derbyshire, in December 2020. The pair deny murder and are standing trial at Derby Crown Court. Ms Barton, 33, told the jury, on Wednesday, she did not harm Jacob, who died with at least 39 rib fractures. Warning: Contains details some readers may find distressing She was asked by her barrister who could have killed Jacob and she replied: "It was not me so that leaves Craig." The jury previously heard Jacob had been the victim of "a vicious assault" in which he was "kicked or stamped on with such severe force that it fractured a rib and caused a tear in his stomach and bowel". He later contracted peritonitis - an infection of the lining of the abdominal organs - and died "in his cot, alone" at the family home in Foxley Chase, Linton, near Swadlincote, jurors heard. Prosecutors said he had endured a "culture of cruelty" in the six months before he died. However Ms Barton said she did not inflict the injuries that killed him, nor did she see them inflicted by anyone else. The court heard Ms Barton and Mr Crouch gave police no explanation of how Jacob suffered his injuries Ms Barton said she "panicked" when Mr Crouch told her Jacob was dead at about 07:00 GMT on 30 December 2020. She said: "I felt like my whole world had just ended. "I was shocked. I could not believe that my little boy had gone. "He was my bundle of joy. I used to call him my little shadow. Wherever I was, that is where Jacob was." Ms Barton denied ever harming her son and said she "can't remember seeing" any of the 19 visible bruises on Jacob's body at the time of his death. The court had heard that in June 2020, Mr Crouch - who was listed on Jacob's birth certificate as his father - told Ms Barton that she needed to be "more regimental" with the child. In a police interview, she said she went along with his style of parenting because it was "Craig's way or no way" and she feared he would end their relationship. Mr Crouch, 39, had said on Tuesday in his evidence that "there was nothing out of the ordinary" in the days and hours prior to Jacob's death, and that bruising - including those on his face and thighs - had "nothing to do with me". Ms Barton, of Ray Street, Heanor, Derbyshire, and Mr Crouch, of Donisthorpe Lane, Moira, Swadlincote, deny murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, causing a child to suffer serious physical harm and three counts of child cruelty. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-66179287

Ex-Coronation Street star and baker in social media cake row - BBC News

2023-08-02

A baker says a PR firm asked her to make sweet treats in exchange for publicity not cash.

Actress Catherine Tyldesley has called the whole affair 'bizarre' A baker who refused to cater a TV star's 40th birthday in exchange for publicity said she was defending small businesses. Three Little Birds Bakery claimed a PR firm asked if it would make two cakes, plus cupcakes, for ex-Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley for free. After screengrabs were shared online, the exchange went viral with NVRLND PR claiming it was "misconstrued". The BBC has contacted the PR firm for comment. The initial email to Rebecca Severs, owner of Keighley's Three Little Birds Bakery, asked her to make the cakes with "social media exposure" and mentions in OK! magazine as payment instead of cash. Ms Severs replied, pointing out that her mortgage and staff wages could not be paid in "Instagram likes" so she would be "declining the generous offer". Rebecca Severs says requests for free goods are quite common After posting the exchange "for a bit of fun", it went viral and the baker believed this was because being asked for freebies "touched a nerve" with small businesses across the world. She told BBC Radio Leeds: "A lot of industries like mine are not valued enough for the skill and time that goes into our products. "It's not just the time it takes to make a cake, it's the 20-odd years of experience and skill you've spent to get to that point. "It's a real challenge to price your own worth when it's your own thing, it's really personal." This Facebook post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Facebook The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts. Skip facebook post by Three Little Birds Bakery This article contains content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Facebook cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts. End of facebook post by Three Little Birds Bakery She added: "Customers pay for knowledge and skill." Leeds-based NVRLND PR, who Rebecca claimed has since threatened her with legal action, denied asking for free cakes and said it would never expect a collaborating business to be "out of pocket". Founder Victoria Eames said: "NVRLND contacted Three Little Birds Bakery to offer them the opportunity to collaborate with one of our clients to cater for a party. "As part of the collaboration, our client would cover all of Three Little Birds Bakery's expenses and costs in exchange for social media content and local and national exposure for their business." Ms Tyldesley has claimed she had "no idea" the emails were sent and called the situation "bizarre". Sorry, we're having trouble displaying this content. View original content on Instagram The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. In an Instagram clip posted on Wednesday, the mother-of-two said that NVRLAND were an "amazing company" and had been "completely misrepresented in this matter". "Don't really know what to say. "I mean I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving", she added. Ms Tydelsey's husband, photographer Tom Pitfield, 36, also denied any knowledge of the emails. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-66383812

Jack Smith: The special counsel investigating Donald Trump - BBC News

2023-08-02

Jack Smith was a top war crimes prosecutor at The Hague before he began investigating Donald Trump.

This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Smith charges Trump with conspiracy to defraud US He is currently overseeing two separate criminal investigations into a former American president, but Jack Smith is no stranger to bringing high-stakes cases. Over the past two decades, Mr Smith, 54, has pursued public officials in the US and abroad - with a mixed record of success. The veteran prosecutor has cut a low profile since his appointment as special counsel in the two investigations of Donald Trump by the US Department of Justice. In announcing his selection last November, Attorney General Merrick Garland called him "the right choice to complete these matters in an even-handed and urgent manner". Mr Trump meanwhile has characterised Mr Smith as a "deranged" man at the forefront of a "political witch hunt" against him. The special counsel has indicted Mr Trump over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He has also indicted the ex-president on 40 felony counts over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. At Mr Trump's arraignment hearing in Washington DC on Thursday, Mr Smith sat in the court's front row about 20ft away from the former president. The two seemed to exchange glances. Much like the man he is now investigating, John Luman Smith is a New York native. A Harvard Law School graduate, he began his prosecutorial career in 1994 as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan district attorney's office. Over the next decade, he climbed up the ranks of the US attorney's office in Brooklyn, where he pursued violent gangs, white-collar fraudsters and public corruption cases. He once spent a weekend sleeping in the hallway of an apartment building so he could convince a woman to take the witness stand in a domestic violence case, the Associated Press (AP) reported. During that time, Mr Smith was also among those who investigated the infamous assault of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima with a broomstick by New York police. His work on the team led in part to his recommendation as special counsel in the Trump cases, according to the New York Times. Trump's role in the events leading up to the Capitol riot is being investigated In 2008, Mr Smith went overseas to The Hague in the Netherlands where he oversaw war crimes investigations as a junior investigator for the International Criminal Court. He returned to the justice department two years later as chief of the department's public integrity unit, which prosecutes federal crimes such as public bribery and election fraud. In a 2010 AP interview, he described the career transition as leaving "the dream job for a better one". But when he took over, the unit was recovering from a prosecutorial debacle that had seen a banner criminal conviction tossed out by a judge. Mr Smith's stint began with the closure of some long-running investigations into members of Congress without charges, but he pressed ahead with other efforts. Under his tenure, prosecutors brought a public corruption case against former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, a Republican, in a case unanimously overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2016. The unit also prosecuted former Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards, but a jury acquitted Mr Edwards on one count and was deadlocked on others, and he was never tried again. Mr Trump has seized on these examples to argue Mr Smith has "destroyed a lot of lives", while also skewering him over his involvement in a tax scandal over the alleged targeting of conservative groups. "What he's done is just horrible," the ex-president told Breitbart. "The abuse of power - it is prosecutorial misconduct." Mr Smith has also had many notable victories, including sending former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to prison on corruption charges. He also convicted ex-Arizona congressman Rick Renzi, a Republican, of corruption. Mr Renzi later received a presidential pardon from Mr Trump. In 2015, Mr Smith accepted a post with the federal prosecutor's office in Nashville, Tennessee, so he could be closer to family. He left in 2017 for a private health care company after being passed over for a permanent appointment under the Trump administration. By 2018, he was back at The Hague where he took up a post as the court's chief prosecutor of war crime allegations in the 1990s Kosovo conflict. When Mr Garland offered Mr Smith the job of special counsel in Washington, his team was preparing for the trial of Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci, the Times reported. Though eager to return to the justice department, Mr Smith was at the time recovering from surgery to his left leg after a bicycle accident and did not return to the US until January 2021. It is at least the second major injury he has suffered while cycling. In the 2000s, he fractured his pelvis after being struck by a truck, an incident which he claimed in an interview has led to multiple physical therapy visits. As avid a runner as he is a cyclist, Mr Smith has completed more than 100 triathlons since 2002, even representing Team USA in World Triathlon. His friend and former colleague, New York attorney Moe Fodeman, described Mr Smith to CNN last year as a "literally insane" triathlete and "one of the best trial lawyers I have ever seen". Other former co-workers have spoken of Mr Smith's fearless and proactive manner, and many say that Mr Trump's efforts to malign him will come up empty. "If I were the sort of person who could be cowed -— 'I know we should bring this case, I know the person did it, but we could lose, and that will look bad' - I would find another line of work," Mr Smith said in a 2010 interview with the Times. "I can't imagine how someone who does what I do or has worked with me could think that." This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: 'Violations of those laws put our country at risk'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66341309

Brazil police raids leave at least 45 people dead - BBC News

2023-08-02

Police have seized drugs and weapons following operations against drug gangs in three states.

Police raids targeting drug gangs in three Brazilian states have left at least 45 people dead. In the latest operation in Rio de Janeiro, police said they returned fire in a shoot-out in the Complexo da Penha area, killing at least 10. Earlier, 16 people died in clashes during a five-day police raid in São Paulo state, dubbed Operation Shield. And in the north-eastern state of Bahia, officials say 19 suspects have been killed since Friday. Fifty-eight people were arrested during the operation in São Paulo state, which began after a special forces police officer was killed on Thursday in the coastal town of Guarujá. Police seized 385kg of narcotics, as well as guns, according to local media. The operation in Guarujá was criticised by Brazil's Justice Minister Flavio Dino, who said the police's reaction was not proportional to the crime committed. During an interview on Tuesday, São Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas said two police officers were among those killed during clashes. Amnesty International said the Guarujá police raid showed "clear signs of seeking vengeance for the death of a police officer". In Rio de Janeiro, a drug trafficking kingpin and a trafficker were among the 10 people killed on Wednesday, according to local media reports. Four others were injured, including a police officer. According to the city's military police, the operation in Complexo da Penha, a group of favelas in the north of the city, was launched after intelligence information suggested that a meeting of drug traffic ringleaders would be taking place in the area. Eyewitnesses told local media they heard several gunshots and clashes between heavily armed gang members and the police. Talíria Petrone, a member of the Rio state legislature, condemned the operation. She said there was "no explanation for the state to continue turning life in favelas into a hell like this". Schools around Complexo da Penha did not open on Wednesday, forcing about 3,220 pupils to stay at home. House visits organised by the national health service were also suspended because of security concerns. Instituto Fogo Cruzado, an organisation that looks into armed violence data in Brazil, described the raids as "mass killings". In a statement published after the police raid in Rio, the institute said there had been 33 such incidents in the city since the start of the year - with a total of 125 people dead. Instituto Marielle Franco - an NGO named after campaigning politician Marielle Franco who was murdered in 2018 - also publicly criticised the latest events. "The slaughter repeats itself," it said in a statement. Before her death, Ms Franco was an outspoken councillor who had been critical of the police's often deadly raids in densely populated shanty towns, or favelas, and denounced paramilitary groups run by retired and off-duty police known as milícias. Police violence is not new here - every week there are shootouts, leaving people dead. Rio de Janeiro though is one of Brazil's most violent states - operations to tackle drug crime in areas such as favelas often lead to fatalities and accusations that the authorities are poorly-trained and trigger-happy. While the focus is usually on Rio, the fact that this past week has seen a series of operations across the country brings into sharp focus the issue of police violence across Brazil. In the north-eastern state of Bahia, clashes between police and gang members between Friday and Monday revolved around three cities - Salvador, Itatim and Camaçari. The deaths included seven people killed in Camaçari on Friday and another eight people killed during clashes in Itatim on Sunday. In Salvador, clashes between police and armed suspects killed four others and led to school closures in the area on Tuesday. Guns, phones and drugs were seized during the three operations. It is a complicated picture in a country with a high level of gun violence where fears about security are also growing. But there are increasing calls to look into human rights abuses committed by the police. There have been some initiatives to improve the situation. Since 2020, São Paulo's military police have worn cameras on their uniforms - and in the first two years of the programme, the number of people killed by police fell by 61%. It is an initiative that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is reportedly keen to implement on a federal level.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-66387599

Donald Trump indictment: Why these charges are most serious ones yet - BBC News

2023-08-02

These accusations are the gravest ones yet levelled at the former president, says our North America editor.

The January 6th attack on the capitol was "fuelled by lies", said special counsel Jack Smith at his brief news conference. Donald Trump's lies. Throughout the 45 detailed pages of this indictment that theme of dishonesty is repeated again and again. It talks about "prolific lies about election fraud" and says "these claims were false and the defendant knew that they were false". This will clearly be a key theme when this trial gets to court. Whether it leads to a conviction is unclear - some legal experts have said this is not the strongest case. But these charges are, in my view, the most serious and potentially the most consequential that Donald Trump has yet faced. Not least because they relate to things that happened whilst he was still president. The case in New York, which was brought in March, is about allegations that he committed business fraud to conceal hush money to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, before he was president. The federal case relating to the classified documents Mr Trump kept at his Mar a Lago residence details events that happened after he left office. But these latest charges - that he conspired to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election - revolve around things that happened when Donald Trump still inhabited the White House. He is alleged to have repeatedly lied to the American people whilst he was their president. There is also a real-world impact laid out in this indictment which we have not seen in the other cases. Everyone saw the violence that engulfed the US Capitol on January 2021 and although Mr Smith stopped short of charging Mr Trump with inciting that mob, the prosecutor was clear in his statement to reporters where he sees the link. Some US commentators have introduced another reason why they think these charges are the most serious. They see in Mr Trump's alleged conduct a threat to the ideals that underpin the bedrock of the country. Not since the nation's founding has any president "voted out of office been accused of plotting to hold onto power in an elaborate scheme of deception and intimidation that would lead to violence in the halls of Congress," writes Peter Baker in the New York Times. He goes on: "As serious as hush money and classified documents may be, this third indictment in four months gets to the heart of the matter, the issue that will define the future of American democracy." Mr Smith also made a similar point in the indictment, that Mr Trump created "an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and eroded public faith in the administration of the election". But will any of this matter to voters? All over America I have met countless numbers of Trump supporters who appear to sincerely believe that Donald Trump really did get more votes than Joe Biden and was cheated out of office. That is one of the tenets of faith that solidifies his bedrock of support. How will these people react when they hear detailed evidence that Donald Trump knew there was no evidence of electoral fraud? That he was told again and again, by his trusted inner circle, that he had lost the election? Can their faith withstand the weight of the evidence the prosecution will bring to court? This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Watch: Trump charged with conspiracy to defraud US Jack Smith says he is pressing for a speedy trial. So it could well be taking place right in the middle of the next presidential election. And Mr Trump is still the clear frontrunner to become the Republican party's presidential candidate. So voters - and not just Trump's base but moderate Republicans, independents and crucial swing voters - will hear detailed allegation of Mr Trump's "dishonesty, fraud and deceit" whilst being asked to vote him back into office. It is such a cliché to describe events involving Donald Trump as "unprecedented". But what other word is there is to describe the prospect of a US presidential candidate running a re-election campaign at the same time as being prosecuted for attempting to subvert the results of the last election? Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66381761

Emma Raducanu returns to practice court for first time since surgery - BBC Sport

2023-08-02

Britain's Emma Raducanu returns to the practice court for the first time since undergoing wrist and ankle surgery in May.

Last updated on .From the section Tennis Britain's Emma Raducanu has returned to the practice court for the first time since undergoing wrist and ankle surgery in May. The 20-year-old posted a video of herself hitting with compatriot Kyle Edmund at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton on Wednesday. "August 2nd, the fun part. First time back on court," she wrote on Instagram. Former world number 10 Raducanu has been hampered by injuries since her stunning US Open title win in 2021. Raducanu has not gone beyond the second round of any Grand Slam since becoming the first British woman in 44 years to win a major singles title. She had played just 10 matches in 2023, winning five, losing four and retiring from one, before having surgery on both wrists and left ankle. Raducanu missed the French Open and Wimbledon and is unlikely to be fit for the US Open, which begins on 28 August. She is also without a coach, having split with Sebastian Sachs in June. • None Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/66387284

Women's World Cup: Jamaica savour last-16 thrill as giants Brazil fall early - BBC Sport

2023-08-02

Jamaica qualify for the knockout stages of the Women's World Cup for the first time as Brazil go out early.

Last updated on .From the section Women's World Cup Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson said his team had "never had this much fun" after reaching the Women's World Cup last 16 for the first time, leaving Brazil devastated. They battled out a cagey encounter in Melbourne and Jamaica put in a stubborn defensive display to ensure their impressive tournament still has another chapter. The Reggae Girlz, ranked 43rd in the world, have kept three clean sheets in the group stages of their second World Cup, having conceded 12 goals in three defeats in 2019's competition. "We were not expected to be in the World Cup in 2019," said Donaldson. "The programme was fairly new and we said, 'Oh, we're in!'. It was like being deer in headlights. "We were very young and happy to be there. This time around we said, 'Hey, we're not just going to show up. We're going to get out of the group.' Our mentality was that nothing is impossible." Brazil, who recalled striker Marta to the starting XI, could not find the goal they needed and failed to progress for the first time in 28 years. Marta, 37, is the all-time leading scorer in men's or women's World Cups with 17 goals but will not feature again on this stage, with her sixth tournament coming to an end having made three group-stage appearances. After this goalless stalemate, Jamaica could face Colombia or Germany in the last 16, while France go through as Group F winners following their victory over Panama in the other match. • None What do you know about past 24 hours at World Cup? Jamaica defy the odds as Marta bows out Jamaica put themselves in a strong position when they held group favourites France to a goalless draw and followed it with a crucial 1-0 win over Panama without star striker Khadija Shaw, who was suspended after being sent off in their opening match. Manchester City's Shaw returned to the side in Melbourne on Wednesday, adding much-needed threat for Jamaica on the counter-attack. Former Arsenal centre-back Rafaelle Souza largely kept Shaw at bay, though the Jamaican's presence alone caused problems and she almost scored with 10 minutes remaining, firing over the bar on the break. That was Jamaica's only real chance as Brazil built pressure and searched endlessly for the goal they needed to take them through to the knockout stage. Marta, who went off to huge cheers after 80 minutes, had a few glimpses at goal, while Debinha, Luana and Tamires all drew saves from Jamaica goalkeeper Becky Spencer. But Brazil were predictable and lacklustre, struggling to break down Jamaica's well-organised defence and offering very little in a desperate fight to stay in Australia. They almost found a golden touch in the third minute of second-half stoppage time when Andressa pounced on a scramble in the box, but Spencer was again equal to it and Brazil's substitutes fell to their knees in despair in the dugout. It is a disappointing early exit for the South American champions who took their European counterparts England to a penalty shootout in the Women's Finalissima at Wembley in April and had high hopes coming into the World Cup. "There's a lot of feelings of course," said Brazil manager Pia Sundhage. "In the locker room there's many sad players and coaches. "At the end of the day I'm responsible for the result. Of course I'm not alone, but the way we have worked and have prepared is something I need to look back on and see if we could have done things differently. "We put in a lot of work, but at the end of the day it's Jamaica [who progress]. It's not a big distance between failure and success." 'We hope they are taking notice' Jamaica have proven they are more than a match for some of the world's higher-ranked nations and there was an outpouring of emotion at full-time as the magnitude of their achievements became clear. Captain Shaw fell to her knees and began crying, while players draped Jamaica flags across their shoulders and began dancing in the middle of a huddle on the pitch. Jamaica's journey to Australia and New Zealand was marred by a battle with their own federation and the squad wrote an open letter calling for "immediate and systematic change". Goalkeeper Spencer said the team are "showing what can be done" and hopes their success will put further pressure on their federation to react. "Obviously we fight a battle constantly. We put it to bed in the tournament because we have a point to prove," said Spencer. "The better we do, the more pressure it creates. We hope they are taking notice and they should be now. We've had loads of outpouring of support for us. They are saying keep fighting. "We're appreciative of all the support we have got from other teams and players. We need to keep spreading the word so we can get better." Jamaica's success on the pitch comes four days before their country celebrates Independence Day and Donaldson said fans back home "love a reason to celebrate". "I hope they have a national holiday back in Jamaica for our performance today," said Spencer, joking. "I just hope everyone back home has enjoyed this." • None Attempt saved. Debinha (Brazil) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. • None Attempt blocked. Bia Zaneratto (Brazil) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. • None Attempt blocked. Solai Washington (Jamaica) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Drew Spence. • None Attempt saved. Andressa Alves (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. • None Substitution, Jamaica. Solai Washington replaces Jody Brown because of an injury. • None Delay over. They are ready to continue. • None Delay in match because of an injury Jody Brown (Jamaica). • None Attempt missed. Geyse Ferreira (Brazil) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bia Zaneratto. • None Attempt missed. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Atlanta Primus following a fast break. • None Offside, Brazil. Adriana tries a through ball, but Debinha is caught offside. Navigate to the next page Navigate to the last page

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66380370

Bibby Stockholm: Asylum barge not a death trap, minister Grant Shapps says - BBC News

2023-08-02

The Fire Brigades Union has serious concerns about potential overcrowding and fire exits access.

The Bibby Stockholm is currently moored at Portland Port A controversial barge that will house hundreds of asylum seekers is not a "death trap", a government minister has said after fresh safety checks delayed its first arrivals. Cabinet minister Grant Shapps told reporters there was no reason why the barge "wouldn't be absolutely safe". The comments come after firefighters raised concerns over exits and possible overcrowding on the Bibby Stockholm. Asylum seekers are now unlikely to move to the vessel until next week. The barge is a key part of the government's strategy to deter migrants from arriving on Britain's shores in small boats, and ministers say it will help cut the £6m-a-day cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels while claims are processed. Portland councillors and campaign groups had argued against the barge ahead of its arrival in July "It certainly won't be a death trap," Mr Shapps said. "This actual ship was previously used by Germany to house migrants, there's no reason why it wouldn't be absolutely safe. "Ships are used to transport people all the time and there's no inherent reason why that would be the case. That's actually why these final safety checks are being carried out." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also defended the barge plan and rejected a suggestion it had been a "shambles". "This is an example of me doing something different that hasn't been tried before to help solve a serious problem," he told LBC. Final preparations for the arrivals are continuing, with food being delivered earlier Food deliveries were seen being taken on to the vessel earlier, suggesting final preparations for the arrivals are still going ahead. Some 50 migrants were expected to arrive on board the vessel - moored at Dorset's Portland Port - on Tuesday, however the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it was writing to the government after its members raised serious concerns about potential overcrowding and access to fire exits. Ben Selby, the FBU's assistant general secretary, told the Guardian: "As the only professional voice, firefighters believe the Bibby Stockholm to be a potential death trap." Speaking on Sky News, Mr Selby added that the union's main concern was the plans to house 500 people on a barge designed to accommodate about 200. "That then raises significant fire safety concerns for us, and also concerns that, if a fire was to break out on the Bibby, could firefighters make the adequate rescues and access where necessary," he said. "By increasing that occupancy, then we would expect certain measures and assessments to be made to ensure that those that were being accommodated there were safe, and that firefighters - if and when they were needed to make access to the Bibby - they were also safe, or as safe as they could be in doing so when attempting to rescue people." Government sources have suggested the FBU's complaints are politically motivated. A Home Office source said late representation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to check working practices for port staff was the reason for the latest delay - and not fire safety concerns. The HSE said it had raised concerns about hi-vis clothing and separating pedestrians from vehicles, but saw no reason for its recommendations to cause the hold-up. Transport minister Richard Holden said on Tuesday he could not put a timeframe on when the asylum seekers would start arriving. The 222-bedroom, three-storey vessel will house about 500 migrants Groups supporting the asylum seekers, some of whom are staying at hotels in Bournemouth while they wait to be moved, have called on the government to scrap the barge plan altogether. Enver Solomon, chief Executive of the Refugee Council, said there was no link between making the asylum system "harder" and "stopping people wanting to come here". "The reason the government is having to use this barge - and it is absolutely the wrong plan in the wrong place - is because it has grossly mismanaged the asylum system," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "There is a backlog of 150,000 cases and if there wasn't that backlog the government wouldn't have to use ships." Tony Smith, former director general of UK Border Force, told the BBC: "The bigger problem for me is the lack of returns or removals. "We are not really returning very many people at all so they know that if they run into a smuggler on the beaches in France they know they are going to be told 'give us 5,000 euros' and you know once you are across, Bob's your uncle - you are home and dry. "So really we do need to get removals going." The rooms on the barge were first converted to house asylum seekers in Germany in the 1990s Reporters were invited to look inside the barge last month, with pictures showing a TV room with a big screen and sofas, a multi-faith prayer room and a classroom that can be used for meetings and activities. There is a gym and outdoor recreational space in the two courtyards in the centre of the barge. The men will also have access to the dockside, within a fenced off area, and they will be provided with 24-hour security and healthcare provision. A Home Office spokesman said on Wednesday evening the Bibby Stockholm would "adhere to all relevant health and safety standards". He added: "We continue to work closely with Dorset and Portland councils, as well as the local NHS and police services, to manage any impact in Portland, including providing substantial funding to local services, to address the local community's concerns." Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-66381331

MrBeast Burger firm accuses YouTuber of 'bullying' - BBC News

2023-08-02

Virtual Dining Concepts responds after MrBeast began legal action to end their partnership.

Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast, at the opening of a MrBeast Burger restaurant in New Jersey YouTuber Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson has been accused of "bullying tactics" after he took legal action against the firm behind his namesake burger chain. Donaldson claims the deal has damaged his reputation, but Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) said his "notoriety" had grown "in part" due to the partnership. MrBeast Burger was opened in 2020 to much fanfare, but Donaldson is now asking a judge to end the arrangement. VDC claim his case is "meritless" and "riddled with false statements". Virtual Dining Concepts, the company behind the fast food chain, said it would be vindicated in court. "We had hoped Mr. Donaldson would act honourably," the statement said. "Instead, having elevated greed over his word and the truth, he will face the consequences in court when VDC files its claims against him." "When VDC refused to accede to his bullying tactics to give up more of the company to him, he filed this ill-advised and meritless lawsuit seeking to undermine the MrBeast Burger brand and terminate his existing contractual obligations without cause," the company alleges. Donaldson, the biggest YouTuber in the world - with 172 million subscribers - is known for his philanthropy, including videos featuring huge prizes and cash giveaways. He is also known for his stunts, such as recreating elements of Netflix hit Squid Game, playing hide-and-seek in an 80,000-seater stadium, and being buried underground. He has a licensed charity that functions as a food bank to feed communities across the US. On Monday, Donaldson filed legal action in New York accusing VDC of not ensuring the quality of the burgers at MrBeast Burger, claiming they were, at times, "inedible" according to consumers. "As a result, MrBeast Burger has been regarded as a misleading, poor reflection of the MrBeast brand," the legal action claims. It goes on to say Donaldson "has not received a dime" from the joint enterprise. But VDC has hit back at Donaldson's complaint, describing it as "riddled with false statements and inaccuracies". "VDC consistently strives to improve quality and customer satisfaction, and any negative customer reviews reflect the experience and opinion of a very small minority of MrBeast Burger customers," it said. The company accused Donaldson of having "recently attempted to negotiate a new deal to serve his own monetary interests". It said it had hired legal firm Greenberg Traurig to represent VDC and "looks forward to being vindicated in court". "We extend our sincere appreciation to our customers, market partners, vendors and employees for all of their past, present and future support," it said. "VDC will continue to help the restaurant industry as we work to promptly resolve this unfortunate dispute." The BBC has approached Donaldson for comment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66372677

Niger: First evacuated UK nationals arrive safely in France - BBC News

2023-08-02

The government says 14 Britons were on the French flight, with "a very small number" remaining in Niger.

Some other European countries have already started evacuation flights from Niger The first group of British nationals to be evacuated from Niger have arrived safely in Paris. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said 14 Britons were on Wednesday's French flight. The Foreign Office said a "very small number of British nationals" remained in the country. Violence has broken out in the west African country following last week's military coup. Nations including France and Italy have organised flights for their own citizens, which have also transported some individuals from other countries. The UK has not yet arranged its own flights. The UK government had previously advised British nationals to register their whereabouts and stay indoors. There were believed to be fewer than 100 British nationals in Niger. The first to be evacuated were those who had requested to leave Niger and were able to make their way to the airport in time for this flight. A statement from the Foreign Office said: "The UK's ambassador and a core team remain in Niger to support the very small number of British nationals who are still there. We are grateful to the French for their help in this evacuation." Mr Dowden said: "Our advice continues to be if you're there and need assistance getting out, get in touch with the embassy, we still have staff on the ground and we will work to provide that assistance." The government has announced it is temporarily reducing the number of staff at its embassy in Niger's capital, Niamey. The US has also ordered all non-emergency staff at its embassy to leave. German citizens in Niger - who are also thought to number fewer than 100 - have been urged to leave the country on board planes organised by France, while the Spanish government said it was evacuating around 70 of its citizens. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who was in Nigeria as part of a three-country tour of Africa, said on Wednesday: "The UK government's priority remains the safety of British nationals and helping them get out of the country to safety." The coup has prompted demonstrations against France, the former colonial power in Niger, with the French embassy coming under attack. Early on Wednesday 262 people arrived in Paris from Niger, while Italy also organised a flight, which arrived in Rome with 87 evacuees. The plane was carrying 36 Italians, 21 Americans and one Briton, according to Reuters news agency. Niger, which is rich in uranium, has been a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist extremism in the Sahel region. Both France and the US have military bases there. President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's first democratically elected leader since the country's independence in 1960, was detained by his presidential guards last week. The west African regional bloc Ecowas has said it will use force unless the president is released and reinstated within a week. But military groups in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, also former French colonies, warned any forcible intervention would be seen as a declaration of war. There are concerns Niger's new leadership could now move away from its Western allies and closer to Russia, like Burkina Faso and Mali, which have both pivoted towards Moscow since their own military coups. The evacuation flight comes three months after airlifts were organised out of Sudan following fighting between warring factions there. A negotiated, short-term ceasefire allowed UK evacuation flights to take off from an airstrip near Khartoum, while the fragile ceasefire held and some 2,341 people were airlifted to safety on 28 UK flights. Are you a UK citizen? Have you evacuated Niger or plan to in the future? If it is safe to do so please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66384101

Trump indictment: Ex-president hits out at 'corruption and scandal' after new charges - BBC News

2023-08-02

The ex-president claims he has "never had so much support" after being charged with plotting to overturn the 2020 election.

Ron DeSantis was once seen as a Trump successor but he now polls 37 points behind the former president Image caption: Ron DeSantis was once seen as a Trump successor but he now polls 37 points behind the former president Paul Dodd asks why the Republican Party has not put up a strong alternative for the 2024 presidential nomination, with all the money it has in hand. Republican voters are looking for a fighter in 2024 and many continue to see Donald Trump as a proven commodity in that regard. Let's also not forget that Trump used his time in office to help elevate to power those who supported him and to help push out those who opposed him. Republicans in both chambers of the US Congress, and in key positions within the Republican National Committee, which oversees the nominating process, are significantly 'Trumpier' now than when he first came to Washington. In the mid-term elections last November, several Trump-backed candidates were rejected by voters, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was resoundingly re-elected to a second term in his post. Many in the party used those results to argue the 44-year-old could take the baton as the next conservative warrior. But Trump's mounting legal troubles have proven an effective rallying cry for a voting base that believes he has been unfairly persecuted. Or as Trump puts it: "They're coming after you - and I'm just standing in their way." At the same time DeSantis has badly stumbled on the campaign trail, leading both potential voters and donors to reconsider supporting him. And like most of the other candidates in the 2024 race, he has largely defended Trump after each indictment rather than risk angering Trump supporters who may be looking for an alternative. Anti-Trump candidates like Chris Christie have gained little traction, either.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-us-canada-66248859