BBC

Law
Australian Olympic canoeist and brother convicted of smuggling 650 kilos of cocaine
Nathan Baggeley (#5) in action at the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
Nathan Baggeley (#5) in action at the 2005 World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Credit: Perix (Public Domain)

Nathan Baggaley won silver twice at the 2004 Olympics and, according to the court's assessment, bought and prepared the boat for a large cocaine deal. He was not on board later, but his brother and another person were. They had tried to take over about 650 kilograms of cocaine from another ship far off the Australian coast. According to the BBC, the drugs had a market value of about 200 million Australian dollars (about 130 million euros).

However, the Australian Air Force, in cooperation with the border police, had filmed the handover from the air. In addition, a navy ship followed the criminals' boat. During the following chase on the water, video footage shows Dru Baggaley throwing numerous drug packages overboard. Baggaley now faces life in prison.

Technology • Internet & Web
Netflix to test new feature to prevent password sharing
Netflix to test new feature to prevent password sharing
Credit: unsplash.com/Charles Deluvio

In a move to prevent password sharing, Netflix is testing a new feature that would ask users to verify their account via e-mail or text code if they don't live in the same household as the account owner. According to some users, they received a notification, saying: "If you don't live with the owner of this account, you need your own account to keep watching."

"This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorised to do so," a Netflix spokesperson told BBC.

Sports • Soccer
Joan Laporta elected as new president of FC Barcelona
Joan Laporta
Joan Laporta Credit: RODIXETA

Joan Laporta, who was president from 2003 to 2010, was elected FC Barcelona's President with an absolute majority of 54.28% of the votes. Laporta will serve a six-year term upon taking the reins again.

"We experienced the same thing in 2003. We were losing, had a huge debt and were having to pay too many expenses and income was lower than revenue. The situation today is very similar and my formula to get out of it is very simple. We need to control expenses, restructure the debt and work to generate new sources of income," Laporta told the BBC prior to the election.

Regional News • Americas • United States
Trump allegedly offered Kim Jong Un a ride on Air Force One following Vietnam summit
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, 2019
Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, 2019 Credit: White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

According to a former senior administration official, former President Donald Trump offered orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un a ride home on Air Force One following a summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019.

"President Trump offered Kim a lift home on Air Force One. The president knew that Kim had arrived on a multi-day train ride through China into Hanoi and the president said: 'I can get you home in two hours if you want.' Kim declined," Matthew Pottinger, the top Asia expert on Trump's National Security Council, told the BBC.

Regional News • Asia • China
China bans BBC World News over alleged "illegal content"
China bans BBC World News over alleged "illegal content"
Credit: unsplash.com / K. Mitch Hodge

Diplomatic tensions between China and the United Kingdom continue to rise. After the expulsion of three Chinese diplomats and the revocation of the broadcasting license for the news station CGTN, China is now reacting in turn by banning the international service of the British BBC, the station BBC World News.

The station was banned for "illegal content" because it violated reporting guidelines in the country, the China Broadcasting Regulatory Commission announced. BBC World News will no longer be allowed to broadcast in mainland China, according to the statement. It said it "does not accept the new annual broadcasting application."

Regional News • Europe • United Kingdom
Journalists threatened following Boxing and the Mob exposé
Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury Credit: Mike DiDomizio (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0)

Following an airing of BBC Panorama: Boxing and the Mob - an investigation into the role played by Daniel Kinahan, a person named in Irish court documents as the 'head of one of Europe's most prominent drug cartels' - the Panorama team behind the investigation come documentary have been threatened.

After the broadcast on Monday 1 February, Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) has warned of unspecified threats from unnamed criminal elements to the investigation.

The broadcast, which ended up leading a call for tighter regulation in the sport, discovered that Mr Kinahan was still active in advising boxers renowned worldwide.

Kinahan's involvement in the sport caused a massive outcry last summer when legendary world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury thanked him publicly for setting up the much-anticipated title fight with another renowned champion, Anthony Joshua.

After the outcry, criticism calmed after it was announced he [Kinahan] would no longer negotiate Tyson Fury's fights.

Speaking to the BBC regarding the threats, Jo Carr who is the BBC's head of current affairs said "The BBC places the utmost priority on the safety of our teams, whose journalism plays a vital role in a free society. It is despicable and intolerable if thugs think they can muzzle a free press through intimidation. We will continue to through light into even the murkiest of corners."

The crime group that Mr Kinahan is linked to is alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, execution-style murders, and is even suspected of being involved in a feud with a rival Dublin gang that resulted in 18 people being murdered.

The lawyer for Mr Kinahan told the programme that he had no criminal record of convictions and that the allegations about him being a crime boss are false.

Regional News • Europe • United Kingdom
UK strips license of Chinese state-owned broadcaster CGTN
CGTN logo
CGTN logo Credit: CGTN

The communications watchdog, Ofcom, said it revoked the U.K. license for China Global Television Network, or CGTN, an international English language satellite news channel. Losing its British broadcasting license is a major setback for CGTN, which has been a key element of the Chinese government's push to expand its soft power and burnish its image abroad.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded with renewed criticism of the BBC., specifically a January 29th report on Covid-19 in China, calling it "typical fake news" and demanding a public apology.

Arts, Entertainment, Culture • TV & Movies
American broadcaster Larry King dies aged 87
American broadcaster Larry King dies aged 87
Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / via Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0)

Communicated with a statement on his Twitter account, Larry King has died aged 87.

The statement on his Twitter accounr reads that "for 63 years and across the platforms of radio, telvision and digital media, Larry's many thousands of interviews, awards, and global acclaim stand as a testament to his unique and lasting talent as a broadcaster."

Education • School Education
British and German public television are expanding their programming with school shows
British and German public television are expanding their programming with school shows
Credit: unsplash.com / Sam McGhee

In Germany and the U.K., public TV stations now broadcast educational shows for schoolchildren.

German education channel ARD-alpha, as well as children's channel KiKa and broadcaster BR, are expanding their learning and school shows.

In the UK, too, the public broadcaster BBC will be broadcasting several hours of lessons every day from the start of next week. Starting this Monday, the children's channel CBBC and the BBC Two channel are to focus on content for schoolgirls. The initiative is intended to support both schools and families during the new lockdown.

Transportation • Air Transportation & Traffic, Flying
Indonesian Boeing 737 has gone missing mid-flight

According to reports from the BBC and Flightradar24.com an Indonesian Boeing 737 has gone missing and lost contact en route to Pontianak in the West Kalimantan province.

The plane had taken-off from Jakarta and lost 3,000m in altitude in less than one minute before losing contact.

Regional News • Europe
France and Britain decide on plans to resume freight traffic
France and Britain decide on plans to resume freight traffic
Credit: unsplash.com / Andrey Sharpilo

According to the BCC, Britain and France will decide on a plan to resume freight traffic after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on measures to reopen the French border. The measures will apply from Wednesday, the BBC said, citing French Europe Minister Clément Beaune.

Regional News • Americas • United States
Presidential Debate: Trump refuses to denounce white supremacists, asks far-right group "Proud Boys" to "stand back and stand by"

During the first presidential debate, moderator Chris Wallace asked President Donald Trump whether he would condemn white supremacists and ask them to stay down during ongoing demonstrations.

"Sure, I’m willing to, but I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing. I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace," Trump said.

"Who would you like me to condemn?" Trump asked when urged by Biden to condemn the groups and is prompted the far-right group "Proud Boys."

"Proud Boys — stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right wing problem," so the president.

According to the BBC, Proud Boys responded to the president's remarks in their Telegram group, writing: "Standing down and standing by sir."

Regional News • Europe
Belarus: Accreditations from western media journalists removed

Journalists working for western media outlets had their accreditations removed on Saturday in Belarus. This comes a day after a German ARD TV crew was arrested in their hotel and later deported. Journalists affected worked for Reuters, Radio Liberty, AFP, AP and BBC, among others.

Arts, Entertainment, Culture • Celebrities & Public Figures
Elon Musk claims that "Aliens built the pyramids", Egypt denies and invites him
Elon Musk claims that "Aliens built the pyramids", Egypt denies and invites him
Credit: unsplash.com / Shotaro Hamasaki

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has tweeted on Friday that "Aliens built the pyramids obv" (obv = obviously). The tweet has been shared widely on Twitter and received over 500,000 likes.

The Minister of International Co-operation of Egypt Rania al-Mashat has responded to the claim and denied that they were built by aliens. She said that "I invite you & Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders".

At a later point, Elon Musk linked a BBC History site that provides information about the history of the workers that built the pyramids.

Regional News • Middle East
Iran's Covid-19 death toll three times as high as reported, BBC investigation finds
Iran's Covid-19 death toll three times as high as reported, BBC investigation finds
Credit: BBC research (Reproduction)

An investigation by BBC's Persian service found that Iran's death toll is three times as high as reported by the country's health ministry. While Iran had officially reported 14,405 Covid-19 related deaths and 278,827 infections, Iran's government records show almost 42,000 deaths and 451,024 confirmed cases. BBC obtained the data from an anonymous source, who wanted to "shed light on truth", included daily hospital admissions and patient information.

Regional News • Africa
Malawi: Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as new president
Malawi: Lazarus Chakwera sworn in as new president
Credit: Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Twitter @LAZARUSCHAKWERA

Former opposition chief Lazarus Chakwera has won the presidential election in Malawi against incumbent Peter Mutharika. He won with 58,57% of the votes in Tuesday's election. Chakwera said his win was a "victory for democracy and justice".

"There's no cause for fear because I will be your president and my policy for inclusivity means we are building a new Malawi for all of us," Chakwera told BBC.

Regional News • Asia
Multiple people dead after raid on Pakistani stock exchange in Karachi

Four gunmen attacked the Pakistani stock exchange in Karachi, killing at least two people and wounding others before police shot them dead. A police officer and security officials are also among those confirmed dead.

In an interview with BBC, Sindh police additional inspector general Ghulam Nabi Memon said: "The attackers came in a silver Corolla and were stopped by police at the gate outside where the exchange of fire took place,".

Militants from the Majid Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for the attack, but the claim has yet to be confirmed.

Technology • Internet & Web
Twitter puts fact-checking label on tweets linking 5G with Covid-19
Graffiti against 5G
Graffiti against 5G Credit: MHM55 (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0)

Twitter is adding labels on tweets that wrongly link the spread of the Covid-19 with 5G mobile networks.

The label reads, “Get the facts on Covid-19”. After clicking on the message, users see a document titled “No 5G isn’t causing coronavirus” that collects sources debunking claims with links to pages like the BBC and Snopes.

Arts, Entertainment, Culture • TV & Movies
Tim Davie named new BBC director-general
Tim Davie at a Creative Britain event at the Foreign Office in London, 14 May 2014.
Tim Davie at a Creative Britain event at the Foreign Office in London, 14 May 2014. Credit: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Tim Davie has been appointed as the new BBC director-general, replacing Tony Hall who announced his departure in January 2020. Davie, who previously served as head of BBC Studios, said he was honoured by the appointment and that he plans to "accelerate change" and "continue to reform, make clear choices and stay relevant".

He added: "This has been a critical time for the UK and these past few months have shown just how much the BBC matters to people. Our mission has never been more relevant, important or necessary. I have a deep commitment to content of the highest quality and impartiality."

Transportation • Cars & Automobiles
Bentley to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the UK
Bentley Continental GTC
Bentley Continental GTC Credit: Alexander Migl (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0)

BBC reports that luxury carmaker Bentley is to cut 1,000 jobs in the UK. The company, owned by German car-maker Volkswagen, declined to comment but is expected to make a formal announcement on Friday.