Author: BBC

Nothing is stopping child sexual abuse imagery spreading on WhatsApp, a safety group has warned.The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is calling on Meta, which owns WhatsApp, to do more to protect children and put mechanisms in place.The group suggested these mechanisms could stop the spread of material like the content sent to disgraced BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards.A WhatsApp spokesperson said the app’s users had the “ability to report directly to WhatsApp so we can ban any user who shares this heinous material and report them” to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.The IWF is an organisation which helps…

OtherDr Tom Gorman says GPs are doing extra work that they are not paid to doGPs in England have launched a work-to-rule action in a dispute with the government over what they say is a lack of funding. It threatens to bring chaos to the system. Surgeries are taking a variety of steps and some are limiting the number of patients each GP can see to 25 per day. That could reduce the number of available appointments by a third. But with many patients already finding it difficult to get to see a doctor, there’s increasing concern it could put…

Grammy award-winning producer and songwriter The-Dream is seeking to have large parts of a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him thrown out.The 47-year-old, born Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, was accused of rape and sexual battery in June by a former protégé, Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed as Channii Monroe.In response, Mr Gesteelde-Diamant, who has written songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Mariah Carey, denied the allegations.On Friday, his legal representatives filed to have the case thrown out, calling the claims “a textbook example of a ‘shotgun pleading’.”The term ‘shotgun pleading’ is used to describe a complaint which sets out multiple allegations without…

The Outrun/Studio CanalSaoirse Ronan stars in Amy Liptrot’s award-winning story about returning to her home in OrkneySaoirse Ronan likes to immerse herself in any role.But the star of Lady Bird, Little Women and Mary Queen of Scots had to learn a new skill as Rona, the main character in The Outrun.Based on Amy Liptrot’s award winning memoir, it’s about a young woman returning to her home in Orkney to deal with her past, and her addictions.She helps her father with his farm on the strip of land known as The Outrun, turning her hand to everything from feeding the animals,…

Getty ImagesThe deal has excited some and angered others”All you can fly” – unlimited flights for an annual subscription fee. What’s not to like? A fair amount, for some passengers, it turns out. Wizz Air’s new scheme under that title has divided opinion. Some have praised the €499 (£426) scheme’s “insanely great” value on trips as far as the Maldives, and the budget airline says it has been “overwhelmed” by the positive response.But others hit out at the airline’s service and recalled their own experience of delays, while questioning the scheme’s terms and conditions.Wizz says its new membership, effective from…

Getty ImagesPerformers working in the games industry have spoken of their distress at being asked to work on explicit content without notice, including a scene featuring a sexual assault.Sex scenes are common in modern games – and are often made by filming human actors who are then digitised into game characters.But performers have told the BBC a culture of secrecy around projects – where scripts are often not shared until the last moment – means they frequently do not know in advance that scenes may involve intimate acts.They describe feeling “shaken” and “upset” after acting them out.Performing arts union Equity…

Jacobs familyHannah Jacobs was at the dentist when she sipped her drinkThe mother of a girl who died after having a severe reaction to a Costa hot chocolate has accused the food industry of treating allergen safety training like a “tick-box exercise”, after a coroner concluded she died because of a “failure to follow processes”.”Vivacious and affectionate” Hannah Jacobs, 13, who had a severe dairy allergy and lived in Barking, east London, died within hours of sipping the drink bought by her mother on 8 February 2023.Assistant coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe also found there had been “failure of communication” between…

Getty ImagesFriends star Matthew Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, used to treat depressionAmong the details that emerged on Thursday about the death of actor Matthew Perry was that the Friends star had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy.The coroner concluded that the treatment – which is offered both in the US and the UK – was not responsible for Perry’s death due to ketamine, which prosecutors allege was supplied to him illicitly.Five people including two doctors, Perry’s assistant and an alleged drug dealer have been charged for providing the drug outside of his treatment regimen.Perry, 54, had been open…

Getty ImagesHolly Humberstone won the Brit Awards’ Rising Star prize in 2021How does it feel to open for one of the world’s biggest pop stars in front of a crowd of 90,000 people? Holly Humberstone has the answer. Or at least she will soon.”It’s a strange mix of nerves and pure, pure thrill.”The 24-year-old is supporting Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium on Friday as the superstar returns to London for a second helping of her Eras tour. “I feel like the coolest person on Earth,” Holly tells BBC Newsbeat. It’s a “full circle” moment for the singer-songwriter from Grantham in…

Retailers reported a 0.5% rebound in July after the Euro 2024 football championship and summer discounting fuelled shopping.The increase follows a sharp fall in June, when sales volumes – which measure the quantity bought – were hit by poor weather.Department stores and shops selling sports goods shifted higher volumes of gear last month.But the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which released the figures, said it was a “poor month for clothing and furniture shops and falling fuel sales despite prices at the pump falling”. Although retail sales grew in July, the increase was below the 0.7% rise some economists had…