Author: BBC

Every newborn baby in England will have their DNA mapped to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans for the next 10 years.The scheme, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, is part of a government drive towards predicting and preventing illness, which will also see £650m invested in DNA research for all patients by 2030.Health Secretary Wes Streeting said gene technology would enable the health service to “leapfrog disease, so we’re in front of it rather than reacting to it”.It comes after a study analysing the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies was announced in October.The…

EPAThe BBC says it has decided not to broadcast a documentary about doctors working in Gaza, due to impartiality concerns it has surrounding the production.Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was commissioned by the BBC but produced by an independent production company. It was originally scheduled for broadcast in February, but has not yet aired on any BBC outlet.In a statement, the BBC said it was “determined to report all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East impartially and fairly”. Basement Films said it was “relieved that the BBC will finally allow this film to be released”. The BBC confirmed it…

Nick EdserBusiness reporter, BBC NewsGetty ImagesA “dismal” month for supermarkets led to retail sales falling in May at the fastest pace for more than a year, the UK’s statistics body has said.Sales volumes dropped 2.7% in May, the biggest monthly fall since December 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).Food retailers saw lower sales of alcohol and tobacco as households cut back, while clothing and household goods stores reported “slow trading”, the ONS said.Separate figures on the UK economy showed that government borrowing hitting the second highest level for May since monthly records began in 1993.Borrowing – the…

Accurate weather forecasts are not just vital for planning our daily lives but knowing about upcoming severe weather can help us to change our behaviour, save lives and mitigate damage to property.It is impossible to assess the full economic value of weather forecasts globally, but the numbers are huge. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), in the US alone – and just taking into account the biggest weather disasters that caused over $1bn (£740m) in damage – the fallout from severe weather in 2024 amounted to $182bn, with 568 fatalities.Since 1980, this damage figure stands at nearly $3tn!…

Asha PatelBBC News, NottinghamBBCNottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust oversees two main hospitals – Nottingham City Hospital (pictured) and the Queen’s Medical CentreThe NHS is largely funded by public money paid for through taxes and national insurance.In February, one of the busiest and biggest NHS trusts in England was given a record £1.6m fine over maternity failings in connection with the deaths of three babies.Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust is already at the centre of the largest maternity review of its kind in the NHS, following hundreds of baby deaths and injuries. When it was fined at Nottingham Magistrates’…

Getty ImagesDeacon Blue keyboard player James Prime had been seriously ill for a short timeDeacon Blue’s keyboard player James Prime has died from cancer aged 64.Prime, from Kilmarnock, was a founding member of the band when it was formed in Glasgow by singer Ricky Ross in 1985.In a statement on Instagram, the band said that “our brother, James Prime, passed away after a short struggle with cancer”.It added: “Thank you so much for the messages of support that you shared over the last two weeks, they meant so much to Jim, his family and us.”The band said last week that…

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentGetty ImagesThe Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates on hold when its policymakers announce their next decision later.The Bank cut the rate to 4.25% in early May, when its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also hinted at more reductions to come.But analysts think those cuts will not arrive until later in the year, as the rate of price rises remains above target.The Bank rate is the key benchmark for lenders setting the cost of borrowing, and for banks and building societies deciding what returns to pay to savers.The decision will be announced by the…

Computer chip giant Texas Instruments (TI) will invest more than $60bn (£44.74bn) in the US, as President Donald Trump pressures big technology firms to increase manufacturing in the country.The company said it plans to build or expand seven chip-making facilities at three sites in Texas and Utah, and create 60,000 jobs. TI did not give a detailed timeline for the investment.The Dallas-based firm described the move as the “largest investment in foundational semiconductor manufacturing in US history.”It follows similar announcements from others manufacturing semiconductors, including Micron, which said last week that it would increase its planned spending in the US…

Chris CraddockBBC Jersey communities reporterBBCA panel of experts talked about the issues facing women in JerseyA campaign group has called for more support and better care for endometriosis patients in Jersey.Endometriosis Jersey hosted a special screening of the documentary ‘Below the Belt’ at Jersey Arts Centre on Tuesday.Its organiser Kate Fry has the disease which affects one in ten women and it can cause severe pain and affect pregnancy chances.After the screening, a panel of experts spoke about issues affecting patients and what can be done to improve support for them.Kate Fry says her endometriosis has left her riddled with…

Mark SavageMusic CorrespondentDisneyJeremy Allen White plays Bruce Springsteen at a pivotal point in his careerBruce Springsteen fans have been given their first glimpse of Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal of The Boss, in the trailer for new biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere.The film follows Springsteen as he records his sixth album, the stark and stripped-down Nebraska, testing the patience of a record label who want a follow-up to his 1980 pop hit Hungry Heart.White, who has won three Emmys for his lead performance in The Bear, is seen playing harmonica and singing Nebraska’s title track, as well as Springsteen’s breakthrough hit…