Latest Russell Brand allegation, and an extra-terrestrial delivery
| | | | | | | Hello. Rupert Murdoch is handing over the reins of his media empire to his son Lachlan. Katy Watson hears from Brazilian women what an upcoming Supreme Court decision on decriminalising abortion would mean for them, and the Utah desert expects an extra-terrestrial delivery on Sunday. The quiz of the week is live for those wishing to test their news knowledge. |
|
|
|
| | | | Top of the agenda | | Changing of the guard | | | | Murdoch said "the time is right" for him to take on "different roles". Credit: Getty Images |
| | The question of succession afflicts business tycoons all over the world. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch found that answer in his son Lachlan, whom he appointed to take over the role of chairman of Fox and News Corp. Murdoch had been expected to choose one of his children to succeed him at the helm of his media empire, a dilemma that inspired the hit TV show Succession. The question for the billionaire, who has been married four times and has six children, was: which one? Lachlan, his eldest son, had been seen as the heir apparent since the 1990s. But that changed in 2005 when he left the business after a disagreement with Fox News boss Roger Ailes. Lachlan returned in 2014, holding various top positions ever since. His brother James, another serious contender, effectively cleared the path for Lachlan’s ascent when he quit the board of News Corp in 2020 over editorial disagreements. | | | | |
|
|
| | | | | | World headlines | | • | Brand’s new allegation: A woman has accused Russell Brand of exposing himself to her and then laughing about it minutes later on his BBC radio show, which was being recorded in Los Angeles. The comedian has not responded but has denied previous claims of sex offences. | | • | Zelensky's unannounced visit: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is making his first trip to Canada since Russia’s invasion. The Ukrainian leader was just in Washington, you can watch this 100-second video to catch up with what happened. Follow live. | | • | 9/11 trial: A military judge has ruled one of the five defendants charged over the 9/11 attacks unfit to stand trial in a death-penalty case. Ramzi bin al-Shibh’s lawyer has long claimed his client was "tortured by the CIA". | | • | Call of approval: The UK's competition watchdog has said Microsoft's revised offer to buy Activision Blizzard - the video game company behind Call of Duty - satisfies their demands, opening the door for the deal to clear. | | • | Legal action: British actress Sophie Turner is suing her ex-partner, American musician Joe Jonas, requesting he return their two children to England. |
|
|
|
| | AT THE SCENE | São Paulo, Brazil | | 'Not in charge of our own bodies' | | Several countries in the once deeply conservative South American continent have recently reconsidered their stance on abortion. Brazil’s abortion law dates to 1940, but could soon change as the country’s Supreme Court is due to start voting on decriminalizing the procedure. | | | | Katy Watson, South America correspondent |
|
| | Paloma, a 26-year-old mother-of-three, decided to have an abortion after finding out the foetus had body stalk anomaly - a rare condition in which organs lie outside the abdominal wall, meaning the baby would die shortly after birth. When her obstetrician refused to recommend an abortion, it took several weeks to find the right people to support her - they involved lawyers, psychologists, medical specialists and even the permission of her husband to allow her to end the pregnancy. "I speak for everyone when I say it was a nightmare - because we aren't in charge of our own bodies," she says. "It could have been so simple but they prolonged my suffering." |
| | |
|
|
|
| | | | Beyond the headlines | | China’s disappearing officials | | | | Little to no official explanation has been given for the removals. Credit: Getty Images |
| | A number of high-ranking Chinese officials once favoured by President Xi Jinping appear to have suddenly vanished, sparking speculation of a purge. Asia digital reporter Tessa Wong examines whether the disappearances point to instability in Mr Xi’s leadership. | | | | |
|
|
| | | | Something different | | Changing the script | | How Netflix's Sex Education redefined sex on and off the screen. | | |
|
|
|
| | | | And finally... | | A capsule carrying precious extra-terrestrial cargo is heading for Earth – more specifically, Utah’s West Desert. Nasa’s Orisis-Rex is due to touch down on Sunday. Read how it might help answer the question of where we come from, and how Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Dr Sir Brian May was involved in the mission. |
|
|
| | | | | | Football Extra Newsletter | | Get all the latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League. | | |
|
|
|
| Do you have suggestions for what we cover in BBC News Briefing? You can email me to let me know what you think. And why not forward it to friends? They can sign up here.
While you're at it, add [email protected] to your contacts list and, if you're on Gmail, pop the email into your “Primary” tab for uninterrupted service. Thanks for reading!
– Sofia |
|
|
| | | | |
|
| | |
|
