Author: BBC

The NHS has warned that it continues to face a “challenging” blood shortage, as it calls for 200,000 new donors to come forward.Concern over blood stocks prompted the health service to issue an “amber alert” last year, meaning supplies were running low enough to have an impact on patient treatment.Supplies have remained low ever since, with officials warning there is a “critical” need for more donors who have O negative blood, which can be given to the majority of patients.NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the body that oversees England’s blood donation system, said the number of regular donors needs to…

This weekend, music fans have been soaking up the sun and the beats at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, one of Europe’s biggest festivals.Headlining the festival were three mega stars: Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, also known as the “Powerpuff Girls” of pop.The stellar line-up also included Haim, Wolf Alice, Jamie xx and CMAT.If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets, here’s a flavour of what the weekend looked like…Primavera SoundIt’s the Apple dance we never knew we needed. Chappell Roan was brought on as a surprise guest during Charli XCX’s set, and crowds erupted as she performed the…

Marc AshdownBusiness correspondentGetty ImagesAreas like Newport in Wales, home to the UK’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing facility, will be allowed to decide how investment is targeted in their communities.An £86bn package for the science and technology sector will help fund research into drug treatments and longer-lasting batteries, the government has said ahead of Wednesday’s Spending Review.The package also includes up to £500m for regions across the UK with local leaders having a say on how it is spent, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said.Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose review will outline day-to-day departmental and investment budgets over the next…

Ione Wells visits the Rubin Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Dawn French has taken down a video she posted on Instagram about the war in Gaza, saying she apologised “unreservedly” for it.The video sparked a backlash, with critics accusing the actress and comedian of appearing to “mock” the 7 October 2023 attack.On Saturday, French acknowledged on Instagram that the video “appeared one-sided”, and said she never meant to “mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror” of that day.”I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but I clearly have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video,” she added.In the 40-second video, posted earlier…

When Amanda and Nick learnt their son had a life-limiting condition, they had no-one in the same situation to turn to. Jack is only 11 months old but is one of only 16 children in the world with a genetic condition that is so rare it doesn’t have a name. “We are going to outlive our child, and knowing that his brothers and his sister may one day have to say goodbye to him… I can’t even begin to explain how difficult that is to process each day,” said Amanda. But the mum said finding a woman in Georgia, USA,…

Leila NathooPolitical correspondentChristina McSorleyPolitical producerEd Miliband: Solar panels on new homes is just common senseBuilders will be required to fit solar panels to the “vast majority” of new build homes in England under changes to be published this year, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said.The regulations will require developers to add panels unless the buildings fall under certain exemptions such as being covered by shade.Speaking to the BBC, Miliband said the move was “just common sense” adding that solar panels would save the typical household £500 a year on their energy bills.The Home Builders Federation said it backed fitting more…

Tom GerkenTechnology reporterGetty ImagesNatWest says it has now fixed an issue which left customers unable to use the bank’s mobile app, leaving some unable to access their accounts.Customers reported problems including being unable to make purchases or pay staff.NatWest apologised to customers “for any inconvenience caused”, having previously said its web-based online banking service was still working normally – however some customers disputed this.”We have resolved the issues causing this and customers are now able to log in and make payments as normal,” a spokesperson said.Problems began to be reported on outage-checking site Downdetector at 0910 GMT.BBC/NatWestPeople saw this message…

PAA former Bargain Hunt art expert has been jailed for two years and six months for failing to declare art he sold to a suspected financier of Hezbollah.In the first prosecution of its kind, Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, admitted eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business before his sentencing at the Old Bailey on Friday. Hezbollah is a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK. Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Ojiri had been aware the art he had sold was to Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned in…

MaryLou CostaTechnology ReporterKerry ClaytonWorking around food allergies is time consuming for Kerry ClaytonFor gluten-free, citrus-free and tomato-free Kerry Clayton, shopping and cooking is a challenge.As well as her own food requirements, her 10-year-old son is dairy and wheat-free.The family shops at multiple stores each week to get the best free-from options, cooks adaptable meals like jacket potatoes and pasta, and makes cakes and cookies from scratch.She spends about an hour a week baking, on top of running two online jewellery businesses and parenting another child.When M&S launched its Only range in March, with products featuring six or fewer ingredients, Ms…