Latest news with #Burgess
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Model of Saudi prince's Sarafsa yacht sells at auction for £30,200
A model of a £55m yacht designed for a Saudi prince has sold for £30,200 at was part of a sale of silverware, artwork and furnishings previously housed on Sarafsa, a six-deck, 269ft (82m) superyacht that was owned by Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al model, which once graced the vessel's main saloon, measures just over 4ft (1.2m) in length and was commissioned in 2008 when the yacht was built. The lots, sold by Eddisons auctioneers of Scunthorpe, also included a pair of goblets believed to have belonged to the former king of France, Louis XVI. The items became available after the yacht was sold in April 2023 to an undisclosed bidder. The asking price at the time of the sale was €65m (£55.4m), according to the broker Paul Cooper said the sale was one of the most unusual they had hosted."We don't get many superyachts in Scunthorpe - or their contents," he said."Everything has the name of an internationally famous jeweller, silversmith, porcelain manufacturer, glassmaker or artist attached," he Cooper said there had been a lot of interest in the model of the Sarafsa, along with a second smaller version made by the celebrity London jeweller Theo on the Louis XVI goblets also hit four figures weeks before the auction, he said. The Sarafsa was built in 2008 and, at one point, was the largest motor yacht to be built in a British yard. It included accommodation for 14 people, quarters for 12 staff and cabins for a further 23 crew also featured a grand piano lounge, cinema, spa, swimming pool, gym, helipad, car garage and a saloon modelled on the "grandest hotels of Monaco". Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
BBC chief responds to landmark report exposing bias on Gaza
A BBC chief has responded to a landmark report which exposed the broadcaster's double standards in reporting on Gaza. The corporation's director of news content was confronted about the findings of a report by the Centre of Media Monitoring which showed vast discrepancies in how the BBC reported on Israel versus how it reported on Palestine. BBC chief Richard Burgess appeared at the launch of the report in Parliament this week, where he was forced to defend the corporation's record. Asked why the corporation had not focused more attention on British spy planes flying over Gaza, Burgess said: 'I don't think we should overplay the UK's contribution to what's happening in Israel'. The BBC news website has reported on Royal Air Force planes being deployed over the Palestinian territory just four times, reports Declassified, the news site which questioned Burgess. Speaking at the launch event, Burgess said: 'I think it's important that we investigate stories like that, congratulations for the work that you've done on it. READ MORE: 'So we have reported it as you say – clearly you feel not enough … There are many angles to cover, I don't think we should overplay the UK's contribution to what's happening in Israel, it's by far and away it's the US that are the prime [contributors].' Pressed on why the BBC had not investigated a British spy flight over Gaza on the day Israel killed UK aid workers, Burgess said: 'I agree with you that there are important issues to discuss but my point was that we shouldn't – we need to see it in the context of the overall arming of Israel.' Labour MP Andy McDonald, who was watching the exchange, told Burgess: 'To underplay the role of the UK is an error.' Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) confronts Richard Burgess, the BBC's Executive News Editor, about their coverage of the Gaza genocide and the data revealed by @cfmmuk at the Houses of Parliament. Burgess's response: "I'm not an expert on the Middle East". — NewsCord (@newscord_org) June 18, 2025 The Centre for Media Monitoring's report analysed a total of 3873 articles and 32,092 TV and radio broadcasts between October 7, 2023 to October 7, 2024. It found that the word massacre(d) was used 18 times more frequently in the context of Israeli deaths than Palestinian deaths in BBC articles. The word also appeared five times in article headlines – all of which referred to attacks on Israelis. READ MORE: Emotive terms such as 'atrocities', 'slaughter', 'barbaric', 'deadly', 'brutal' were used four times more often when reporting on Israeli victims, while 'murder(ed)' was used 220 in the Israeli context and just once for Palestinians. Also at the launch was journalist Peter Oborne who called out the broadcaster's failures in reporting on the genocide in Gaza. He said: "You never educated your audience about the genocidal remarks, and according to this report on 100 occasions, 100 occasions, you've closed down the references to genocide by your guests. "This makes you complicit."
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
BBC chief responds to landmark report exposing bias on Gaza
The corporation's director of news content was confronted about the findings of a report by the Centre of Media Monitoring which showed vast discrepancies in how the BBC reported on Israel versus how it reported on Palestine. BBC chief Richard Burgess appeared at the launch of the report in Parliament this week, where he was forced to defend the corporation's record. Asked why the corporation had not focused more attention on British spy planes flying over Gaza, Burgess said: 'I don't think we should overplay the UK's contribution to what's happening in Israel'. The BBC news website has reported on Royal Air Force planes being deployed over the Palestinian territory just four times, reports Declassified, the news site which questioned Burgess. Speaking at the launch event, Burgess said: 'I think it's important that we investigate stories like that, congratulations for the work that you've done on it. READ MORE: Kneecap's Mo Chara leaves court after being released on bail 'So we have reported it as you say – clearly you feel not enough… There are many angles to cover, I don't think we should overplay the UK's contribution to what's happening in Israel, it's by far and away it's the US that are the prime [contributors].' Pressed on why the BBC had not investigated a British spy flight over Gaza on the day Israel killed UK aid workers, Burgess said: 'I agree with you that there are important issues to discuss but my point was that we shouldn't – we need to see it in the context of the overall arming of Israel.' Labour MP Andy McDonald, who was watching the exchange, told Burgess: 'To underplay the role of the UK is an error.' Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) confronts Richard Burgess, the BBC's Executive News Editor, about their coverage of the Gaza genocide and the data revealed by @cfmmuk at the Houses of Parliament. Burgess's response: "I'm not an expert on the Middle East". — NewsCord (@newscord_org) June 18, 2025 The Centre for Media Monitoring's report analysed a total of 3873 articles and 32,092 TV and radio broadcasts between October 7, 2023 to October 7, 2024. It found that the word massacre(d) was used 18 times more frequently in the context of Israeli deaths than Palestinian deaths in BBC articles. The word also appeared five times in article headlines – all of which referred to attacks on Israelis. READ MORE: Journalist calls out BBC director's Gaza coverage Emotive terms such as 'atrocities', 'slaughter', 'barbaric', 'deadly', 'brutal' were used four times more often when reporting on Israeli victims, while 'murder(ed)' was used 220 in the Israeli context and just once for Palestinians. Also at the launch was journalist Peter Oborne who called out the broadcaster's failures in reporting on the genocide in Gaza. He said: "You never educated your audience about the genocidal remarks, and according to this report on 100 occasions, 100 occasions, you've closed down the references to genocide by your guests. "This makes you complicit."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
What Swansea City fans can expect from Cameron Burgess as club pull off statement of intent signing
What Swansea City fans can expect from Cameron Burgess as club pull off statement of intent signing It's a signing that has been seen as a huge coup by many Swans fans Australia international Cameron Burgess is Swansea City's latest signing (Image: Janelle) It was a move that took everyone by surprise. Another eye-catching twist in a summer window that has already been uncharacteristically productive for the Swans. After landing Zeidane Inoussa, Bobby Wales and Ricardo Santos, the capture of Ipswich Town defender Cameron Burgess feels like an enormous statement of intent, and has simultaneously taken the sting out of Harry Darling's exit, which was finally confirmed on Monday. Losing Darling is a blow, make no mistake. The 25-year-old arguably enjoyed his best season in a Swans shirt last term, forming a superb partnership with Ben Cabango at the heart of a defence that racked up an impressive 14 clean sheets last season. But to replace him with a man that was playing Premier League football last season isn't a bad way of softening the blow. Indeed, it feels something of an almighty early coup in Swansea's window. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. A fair number of eyebrows have been in East Anglia too, particularly given the alleged interest from big names elsewhere. "It's definitely taken a lot of people by surprise as it's tough to know what all of his options were," Alex Jones, who covers Ipswich Town for the EADT and Ipswich Star, outlines. "There were a couple of links from Spain. Girona was one, Valencia was one. The Rangers interest was also there. Article continues below "I never really felt that confident he was going to stay at Ipswich, because it was a case of him being 29. He didn't really play regularly in the Premier League, making 11 appearances, and I think it was a case of him needing that security." Why Swansea? But while leaving Portman Road might not have been surprising, many in Suffolk (and perhaps a few in south Wales too) have struggled to fully understand the logic in the Australian international's decision to join the Swans, who clearly aren't among the sides being talked up for a top-six finish. However, when you scratch the surface a little, it starts to make a fair amount of sense. "I think Burgess knew his minutes were going to be limited and wanted a contract that was going to be better for him and his family," Jones continues. "Plus he knew he would play week in, week out for Swansea. "I'm not sure if those other options, as appealing as they might be, would be able to offer that. With the likes of Valencia, would he play week in, week out? I'm not sure." The importance of regular game-time arguably carries further weight in the run-up to the World Cup, with Burgess bidding to earn a place in Australia's squad for the tournament in North America next summer. What are Swansea getting? But while the promise of regular football was clearly central to Swansea's pitch, Burgess' profile also seems to dovetail nicely with what club themselves are looking for. He's certainly shown a willingness to knuckle down when needed, which will align nicely with the methods of his workaholic new boss. "He's a left-footed, big physical centre-back, who has built his way up in English football," Jones adds. "He's a real leader and a real calm character, but he has a natural aggression on the pitch. "The things that will stand out will be his physicality and aerial work. He's a big presence in the final third, and the big change that we've seen from him under Kieran McKenna is he's become so much better on the ball. "He's much more composed, and to try and put pressure on him is a difficult thing. "The journey he's had at Ipswich has been really good because the first six months he had after he signed in 2021 were not great. The day before McKenna was appointed, he played against Barrow and he was atrocious. "But to go from that Barrow game to being a Premier League footballer that fans are gutted to see go speaks volumes about the work he's put in." The art of defending That improvement on the ball will have been noted by the Swans, although possession-based football has always been a key part of his background. As too has been a fundamental love of defending. 'I have a roll your sleeves up, work hard and defend mentality," Burgess told the EADT and Ipswich Star. 'Starting out at Fulham, it was obviously possession-based. I learnt that side of the game and hopefully I can show that I can be calm and composed on the ball. 'But it's also about putting your body on the line. Even the best ball playing defenders in the world are equally as good off the ball as they are on it. That art of defending sometimes get overlooked. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone 'You see guys like (Giorgio) Chiellini celebrating like mad when they make sliding challenges in the box or blocks on the line. 'If you can cover each others' mistakes and regularly walk off the pitch with clean sheets then you're onto a winner." Swansea have collectively shared the 29-year-old's enthusiasm for keeping goals out recently, as evidenced by their impressive tally of 14 clean sheets last season, seven of which came under the guidance of current boss Alan Sheehan. After a promising start that saw them boast one of the stingiest backlines in the league, Swansea lost their way a little defensively during around the turn of the year, adding further bite to the turbulence around boss Luke Williams, who would eventually lose his job as a result. Article continues below Sheehan's success in restoring that defensive sharpness arguably helped lay down the foundation for his case to get the job full-time, and he will need to ensure it continues to underpin his overall plans as he prepares for what he hopes will be an exciting first full season in charge.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Saudi prince's superyacht contents go to Scunthorpe auction
Silverware, artwork and furnishings from a "floating palace" designed for a member of the Saudi royal family are set to go under the hammer in items were previously housed on Sarafsa, a six-deck, 269ft (82m) superyacht which was owned by Prince Fahad bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al lots, which will be sold on Wednesday, include a pair of goblets believed to have belonged to the former king of France, Louis Cooper from Eddisons auctioneers said: "The Sarafsa was a floating palace. Everything has the name of an internationally famous jeweller, silversmith, porcelain manufacturer, glassmaker or artist attached." The items became available after the yacht was sold in April 2023 to an undisclosed bidder. The asking price at the time of the sale was €65m (£55.4m) according to the broker vessel was built in 2008 and, at one point, was the largest motor yacht to be built in a British yard. It included accommodation for 14 people, quarters for 12 staff and cabins for a further 23 crew Sarafsa also featured a grand piano lounge, cinema, spa, swimming pool, gym, helipad, car garage and a saloon modelled on the "grandest hotels of Monaco".Mr Cooper said: "The silver is being auctioned in 70 lots, ranging across sets of just about every imaginable piece of cutlery."We have snail forks, oyster forks, parmesan spoons, ice cream spoons, cheesecake knives and hallmarked silver sugar tongs."The yacht's guests dined off the ivy and white ceramic tableware of Augarten Wein and they drank from fine French crystal - it's all Baccarat and Royal de Champagne."The auctioneers believe the items, which they described as a "treasure trove", would have cost over £1m when they were first purchased. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
