Author: BBC

22 minutes agoBy Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC News, Washington With decisions on everything from civil rights and the environment to guns and religious freedoms, the US Supreme Court has always played a powerful role in American life.But that role has been changing in some ways, with the court’s nine justices – unelected and able to serve for life – now looming larger in the country’s politics.As the grand finale of its 2023-2024 term, the court issued a decision to settle what Chief Justice John Roberts wrote was a “question of lasting significance”, by ruling that Donald Trump and other ex-presidents have a…

15 hours agoBy Pauline McLean, Arts CorrespondentGettyThere is a huge list of credits on the end of Kevin Costner’s latest film Horizon: An American Saga.Hardly surprising, given it is three hours and one minute long and just part of a four-film vision which the Hollywood actor and director has wanted to make for almost 40 years. Among those names is a Scottish orchestra which played a central role in the film, released in cinemas this past weekend.The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) was approached by Costner last year to record the soundtrack for the film.Composer John Debney – whose credits include Elf…

Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for an unannounced visit having just taken over as rotating president of the European Union.While in Kyiv, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war that has followed Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.Mr Orban has been a critic of Western support for Ukraine and is seen as the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was his first visit to Ukraine in 12 years, although he has met Mr Putin repeatedly during that time.During his joint appearance with Ukrainian President…

8 hours agoBy Lewis Adams, BBC News, at Chelmsford Crown CourtGetty ImagesFake pornographic images of Holly Willoughby were found on a device owned by Gavin Plumb, it has been allegedA man accused of masterminding a plan to abduct, rape and murder Holly Willoughby was living a “dark, twisted fantasy”, his barrister argued.Defending Gavin Plumb, Sasha Wass KC said the 37-year-old held “vile and misogynistic” conversations online but they were “a fantasy nonetheless”.The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court was previously told that Mr Plumb was arrested after disclosing his alleged plot to an undercover police officer from the US.Security guard Mr Plumb, from…

1 hour agoBy Jaroslav Lukiv, BBC NewsGetty ImagesDonald Trump called May’s verdict in the New York case a “disgrace”Donald Trump’s 11 July sentencing in his hush money case may be delayed after his lawyers asked the judge to set aside his conviction in the wake of Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.In a letter to Justice Juan Merchan, Manhattan prosecutors said that while they believed Trump’s motion to overturn his conviction to be “without merit”, they did not object to his request to delay the sentencing. The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for “official actions” they…

The US government has given $176 million to Moderna to develop an mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccine that would work against bird flu. It says it wants to be “better prepared” for future public health crises, having learned lessons from Covid. Bird flu is not a big threat to people, despite outbreaks in poultry and cattle. But experts want a working vaccine that could be quickly rolled out, just in case the virus mutates and becomes a problem.Making a vaccine using mRNA technology – which the company’s Covid jab is also based on – is faster than previous ways of doing…

Reality TV star and baking businesswoman Angela Simmons has apologised for taking a purse shaped like a gun to an award ceremony.Simmons, the daughter of Run-DMC star Rev Run, posed with the green gun-shaped sequinned clutch at the BET Awards on Sunday.”When I chose the purse, I believed it was cute and unique, and made a poor decision in using it as an accessory to amplify my beauty,” she wrote to her eight million Instagram followers. “I deeply regret that this item, which symbolizes a gun, was inappropriate and insensitive, especially given my personal and community experiences with gun violence.”Simmons,…

By the signing of a royal decree, the new right-wing Dutch government has become a reality.Defying analysts’ expectations, it swept to power on a crescendo of discontent that has boosted anti-immigration parties across the continent.High cost of living, environmental issues, and a perceived failure to manage the asylum system were some of the key issues ahead of the November 2023 election.After months of political wrangling, an agreement was reached for the new Dutch government to be led by a surprise pick – the former head of the Dutch intelligence service, Dick Schoof.Mr Schoof was the fifth person approached to preside…

Tesla sales, hit by a significant slump earlier this year, may be showing signs of revival.Elon Musk’s electric car-maker delivered nearly 444,000 vehicles in the three months ended 30 June, up more than 14% from the prior quarter. That was far more than most analysts had expected – though still down nearly 5% from the same period in 2023.Tesla has been navigating a slowdown in demand, as high borrowing costs weigh on buyers and competition increases. It has been slashing prices to try to win back buyers and this spring announced plans to sack more than 10% of its workforce…

An Atlanta judge has put rapper Young Thug’s trial on racketeering charges on hold indefinitely after his lawyers asked the judge to recuse himself over misconduct allegations.The lawyers said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville held an “improper” meeting on 10 June when he met privately with prosecutors and a key witness.Defence attorneys have alleged that Judge Glanville sought to pressure the witness into testifying and they pressed him to recuse himself, motions which the judge had denied.Judge Glanville announced from the bench on Monday that he would release the private meeting’s transcript and send the recusal motions to…