Author: BBC

One of Australia’s largest banks has apologised to staff who found out they had been fired through an automated email asking them to hand back their laptops.ANZ’s retail banking executive Bruce Rush said it was “not our intention to share such sensitive news with you in this way” as the firm cuts jobs in its retail banking business.The bank said the emails were sent to some staff ahead of schedule in error. It said it has since stopped sending the emails and that staff have been spoken to personally.The Financial Sector Union said the email caused “panic and distress” and…

Jessie J has rearranged and cancelled upcoming tour dates after revealing she needs to undergo further cancer treatment.The 37-year-old, who told fans in June that she had undergone surgery to remove one of her breasts, says she needs to “have a second surgery”.Speaking on Instagram, she said the procedure would be “nothing too serious” but “has to be done by the end of the year”.The operation falls in the middle of her upcoming European tour dates in October, which she says will be rearranged, whilst her US shows have to be cancelled due to calendar clashes.”I’m so sorry, I feel…

Computer-chip designer Nvidia has been boosted by big tech firms keen to expand their AI capabilities, despite dealing with US and China tensions.On Wednesday it reported $46.7bn revenue (£34.6bn) for the second three months of the year, a 56% surge from the same period in 2024.But Nvidia, which has been caught in the crossfire of a trade war between the US and China, said it “continued to work through geopolitical issues” and its shares fell in after-hours trading.The company has had to navigate the Trump administration’s fast-changing policies aimed at ensuring the US remains ahead in AI development.Nvidia’s sophisticated chips…

Some patients taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro have told BBC News they are struggling to obtain the medicine, and are worried about the impact on their health.There is rising demand for the drug, after the US manufacturer Eli Lilly announced a major price increase from 1 September.The drug giant has warned against “inappropriate stockpiling of medicines” and has now asked UK distributors to stop taking orders from pharmacies from the end of today.Pharmacies say they are prioritising patients already taking the drug, rather than those just starting it, and predict supplies will return to normal in early September.Lynne Massey-Davis, 65,…

Sales of British-made cars to the US rose in July following the introduction of the UK-US tariff deal.The 6.8% rise follows three months in a row of falling sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). US President Donald Trump hiked import taxes on UK cars from 2.5% to 27.5%, which sent shockwaves through the industry, but this was then lowered to 10% and came into force at the end of June.The SMMT said July’s figures “illustrate the impact of this deal”, though it added that UK car manufacturing was generally struggling.”The US remains the…

Cardi B has told a court she did not attack a security guard who is suing her for assault.Emani Ellis claims the US rapper cut her cheek with a 3in (7.5cm) fingernail and spat on her during an altercation outside an obstetrician’s office in Los Angeles in 2018, leaving her “deeply traumatised”.Cardi B told a civil trial on Tuesday that Ms Ellis had filmed and followed her against her will when she arrived for an appointment about a pregnancy that was not yet public knowledge.The star said she confronted Ms Ellis but denied assaulting her. “I didn’t touch her,” said…

Peter HoskinsBBC News reporterNetflixKPop Demon Hunters has climbed “up, up, up” Netflix’s charts to become its most viewed movie ever, the streaming platform says.Since its release in June, the animated musical has been watched more than 236 million times, overtaking the action comedy Red Notice to take the top spot.It is the latest in a series of chart-topping achievements by the film, which has become a surprise global hit.Songs from the movie have also been some of the most streamed online on Spotify, while the track Golden hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month.Produced by Sony…

Some patients who have been red flagged for breast cancer assessments are waiting up to seven weeks to be seen in Northern Ireland.The target set by Northern Ireland’s devolved Department of Health – which oversees five health and social care trusts – is 14 days.BBC News NI understands that several breast cancer consultants are concerned that waiting times have spiralled since a new regional system for handling referrals was introduced.The system was criticised for creating a postcode lottery network as, depending on a patient’s address, some were being seen more quickly than others.Before its introduction, health trusts managed their own…

The Irish Sea border for food and agricultural products will not be dismantled until 2027, a UK government minister is expected to confirm on Wednesday.The sea border refers to post-Brexit checks and controls on products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.In May this year the UK and EU agreed an outline deal which, when implemented, will mean no physical checks on GB food products at NI ports.The implementation timetable was unclear but EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds will give an update in a speech later.It is expected that further negotiations with the EU will happen in the autumn with…

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has announced she is engaged to her partner Travis Kelce.In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, Swift wrote: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”She accompanied the post with photos showing Kansas City Chiefs star Kelce proposing to Swift.The photos showed the pair embracing and holding hands, showing her diamond engagement ring.Within an hour of it going up, Swift’s post already had more than six million likes.Swift, who recently concluded her record-breaking Eras Tour, is one of the biggest music stars on the planet with a suite of awards to her name.Much of…