BBC News Briefing

21 August, 2024

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. Barack and Michelle Obama have delivered fiery speeches at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Courtney Subramanian reports from the event. At the feet of Mount Everest in Nepal, Navin Singh Khadka visits a village that is facing an existential threat. In the UK, Daniel De Simone reflects on the recent riots and what they say about the British far right. Finally, we look at how a London artist reimagined a famous landmark in Piccadilly Circus.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Obamas bring star power to Chicago

Barack Obama points to his wife Michelle Obama, who waves at crowds from the stage in Chicago.

The couple gave back-to-back speeches in Chicago. Credit: EPA

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama gave resounding and forceful endorsements of Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention, encouraging party supporters across the country to turn out and vote to defeat Donald Trump in November. The appeal, writes Courtney Subramanian, exposed a deeper party anxiety about the narrow race. The job of convention speakers like the Obamas is to energise the crowd and, according to reactions from delegates interviewed at the convention, it was mission accomplished. Some of the loudest cheers were heard when Mrs Obama mocked Trump for his use of the term "black jobs" on the campaign trail. "Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?" she said, referring to her husband's presidency. Day two of the convention also featured a jubilant and star-studded roll call confirming Ms Harris and her running mate Tim Walz as the party's presidential ticket.

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Doug Emhoff: In his speech at the convention, Ms Harris's husband recalled the first time he spoke to his would-be wife. Meanwhile, Mr Walz's wife gave more details about the fertility treatment the couple pursued to conceive their daughter Hope.

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Robert F Kennedy Jr: The independent presidential candidate's running mate Nicole Shanahan says they are considering backing Trump.

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Hulk Hogan: A video obtained by media outlet TMZ shows the wrestler joking about body-slamming Ms Harris and questioning her racial identity during a promotional event for his new beer.

WORLD HEADLINES

Bayesian sinking: A body recovered near the luxury yacht which sank off the coast of Sicily is believed to be that of Canadian-Antiguan chef Recaldo Thomas.

Ministry of God: A cult member in Australia who beat her two-year-old daughter to death over her failure to properly complete chores has been sentenced to nine years in jail.

Alice Guo: An ex-mayor accused of spying for China and having ties with criminal syndicates has fled the Philippines.

Gulfstream oil spill: The mysterious tanker that capsized off Trinidad and Tobago in February has been successfully refloated, the government said.

End of Bennifer: Hollywood stars Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are divorcing after two years of marriage.

AT THE SCENE

Nepal

Everest's Sherpas fear for their homes

a settlements of homes is threatened by erosion from flooding

Thame is a village home to about 300 people. Credit: Laxman Adhikari

Thame, a small Sherpa village in Nepal's Everest region, is home to many record-holding Sherpa mountaineers. A flood on 16 August caused by a glacial lake bursting its banks displaced some 60 people and left the villagers wondering if Thame is still a safe place to live.

Navin Singh Khadka, environment correspondent

Locals say much of the risk could be reduced if there were proper monitoring mechanisms for glacial lakes located upstream from human settlements. Meanwhile, disaster preparedness is non-existent in many villages. "A few villages downstream of the Imja glacial lake have been trained on how to run in case of a flood,” Yangji Doma Sherpa said. “But there has been no training in our village whatsoever.”

Keep reading

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

UK riots show new face of British far right

A man clad in a Union Jack/skeletelan balaclava holds up a Union Jack flag

Some extremists have moved away from setting up formal groups. Credit: PA

The riots that followed the murders of three young girls in Southport have been characterised as “far right” by public figures. For many people, this description suggests the disorder was somehow organised. But in reality, investigation correspondent Daniel De Simone writes, the violence lacked cohesion - and that makes it more unpredictable and dangerous.

Read now

A close-up of a man's face in a spacesuit.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Beetlejuice and Apollo

Our critic's picks of the finest films to see this month.

See the list

And finally...

The world-famous fountain in London's Piccadilly Circus will be looking a little different this week. Artist Yinka Ilori's temporary installation features Pegasus figures perched on bright orange and yellow plinths alongside inspiring messages. It adds a new dimension to the winged statue topping the monument, which is popularly known as Eros, although it actually represents Anteros, the Greek god of requited love.

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– Sofia

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