Author: BBC

PAThe Bank of England could be a “bit more aggressive” on cutting interest rates, according to its governor. Andrew Bailey said the speed at which borrowing costs are reduced will depend on the rate of inflation.The Bank cut interest rates from 5.25% to 5% in August, which was the first drop in more than four years. In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Bailey also said that the Bank was watching developments in the Middle East “extremely closely”, in particular any movement in oil prices which could fuel inflation.The cost of crude jumped sharply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in…

Elon Musk has been ordered by a federal court to answer further questions from lawyers about his takeover of Twitter – now called X – on Thursday, and the financial world has one question: Will he be there?Last month, he was a no-show for a court ordered appearance at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) office in Los Angeles.Thursday’s planned interview is part of a high-level investigation into whether Mr Musk waited too long to disclose he was building up a stake in Twitter before acquiring the social media platform in 2022.The billionaire has previously said this delay was…

ReutersThe Secretary General of the United Nations has condemned Iranian strikes on Israel, after earlier being banned from the country for his initial response.Speaking to the UN Security Council, António Guterres said it was high time to stop what he called the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence” in the Middle East. In an earlier statement, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared Guterres personal non grata and an “anti-Israel secretary-general who lends support to terrorists”.The comments were issued in response to Guterres initially calling for a ceasefire, but not specifically mentioning the Iran attack. Addressing the council, the UN secretary general…

The release of a blockbuster Pakistani film has been put on hold in India after officials in Delhi refused to give permission for its screening, the BBC has learnt. A remake of a 1979 Punjabi film, The Legend of Maula Jatt, is the highest ever grossing film in Pakistan. The movie was set to release in the northern Indian state of Punjab on Wednesday, which would have made it the first Pakistani film to hit Indian screens in more than a decade. The South Asian neighbours share a frosty relationship and tensions often affect cultural exchanges between them. On Wednesday,…

Getty ImagesShortages of doctors mean the average GP in England has to care for 17% more patients than nine years ago, a BBC analysis shows.It means for every permanent GP there are more than 2,300 patients – a jump of nearly 350 since 2015, helping explain why access to general practice has been worsening and patient satisfaction declining.The analysis of NHS data also shows the areas struggling the most have list sizes exceeding 3,000 patients, nearly double those with the most doctors. Experts said the variation was “unwarranted” and put patients’ health at risk.The government said it was developing plans…

A long-serving former Harrods executive, has decided not to become the boss of department store Fenwick despite being due to start this month, the BBC has learned.Nigel Blow worked at Harrods for 14 years from 1992 to 2007, a period when the luxury London store was owned by Mohamed Al Fayed.It comes after the BBC broadcast a documentary last month based on the accounts of more than 20 women who said they had been sexually assaulted or raped by Al Fayed while working at Harrods.Following the allegations against Al Fayed, Mr Blow declined to answer multiple requests for comment. A…

NCAMaksim Yabubets, his father Viktor and brother Artem are accused of running Evil CorpThe UK, US and Australia have announced sanctions against 16 people authorities accuse of being part of the most wanted cyber crime gang in the world.Russia-based Evil Corp is accused of stealing around $300m in nearly ten years of hacking.The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) says it can now reveal the gang’s notorious leader, Maksim Yakubets, has been supported by his father Viktor Yakubets – something he had denied when interviewed by the BBC in 2021.The information has been released as part of a large, multinational operation…

Getty ImagesMech Dara has been honoured for his work by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken Mech Dara, an award-winning Cambodian journalist who has reported extensively on human trafficking and corruption, has been arrested and charged with incitement.Dara, who has reported for the BBC, has been charged over five social media posts which could “incite social unrest”, a court spokesperson said. He faces up to two years in jail.Last year US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken honoured him for his work exposing online scam operations based in Cambodia.Rights groups have spoken out over his arrest, with Human Rights Watch calling…

Getty ImagesTV and Broadway star Gavin Creel has died from a “rare and aggressive” cancer at the age of 48, his publicist Matt Polk has announced.Creel was best known as a stage star in shows such as Hello Dolly! opposite Bette Midler, which earned him a Tony award in 2017.He played Cornelius Hackl opposite Midler in the titular role.Midler paid tribute on Instagram, describing Creel as a “radiant actor… he was fantastic. I can’t believe he’s gone. What a loss.”Creel also starred in the West End, picking up a prestigious Olivier award for best actor in a musical in 2014…

Sperm donor compensation has risen from £35 to a maximum of £45 per clinic visit.The £10 rise comes into effect in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 1 October, when egg donor compensation also rises from £750 to £985.It is illegal to pay someone to donate sperm or eggs in the UK so the money is to cover expenses such as travel and accommodation. Sperm donation can involve visiting a clinic once a week for three to six months.The UK fertility regulator acknowledged a shortage of egg and sperm donors. But it warned donating was a “complex decision” and any…