Author: BBC

A US singer has apologised after she swore on live TV during a performance of the US national anthem. Loomis prompted mockery on social media when she performed The Star-Spangled Banner at an independent candidate debate on Wednesday which was broadcast live on TV station C-SPAN. On Instagram she called the incident a “mishap” and told the team at Free and Equal Elections, who organised the debate: “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to mess up the national anthem.”

Getty ImagesThe UK’s drug safety regulator is asking doctors to be alert for patients who may be misusing obesity injections, such as Wegovy. It follows reports of some people who are not obese becoming sick, after using the jabs for weight loss.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stresses that the drugs are only meant for treating obesity and diabetes.Health Secretary Wes Streeting has backed the call, saying the drugs are “serious medicines” and not “for people to get a body beautiful picture for Instagram”. While most side-effects are mild, some can be serious, says the MHRA. It adds…

Matt PrinceMax shortly before his £250 Child Trust Fund matured into £12.39 after 18 years of being investedWhen Max Prince turned 18 he got the Child Trust Fund his parents opened when he was born – only to discover surprise fees had left him with just £12.39.He was one of about six million babies, born between September 2002 and January 2011, who nearly all received at least £250 from the government to kick start their savings. The idea was the long-term tax-free savings pot would go up in value by their 18th birthdays. When Max’s fund matured, it was administered…

Microsoft’s chief executive Satya Nadella earned $79.1m (£61m) last year, a rise of 63% compared to his compensation the year before.That was despite a request from Mr Nadella to reduce one element of his pay package because of cybersecurity flaws at the tech giant – which resulted in him getting $5m less than he otherwise would have.In common with many tech firms, Microsoft has cut thousands of jobs this year, including many in its gaming division.But in a proxy statement filed with the US financial regulator, the board said the company’s revenue grew by 16% in the year to 30…

Getty ImagesThe Metropolitan Police has warned the BBC that parts of a report about Tim Westwood’s alleged misconduct may “interfere with justice” if published.The external review is to examine the BBC’s knowledge of, and response to, complaints, allegations and concerns about misconduct by the former Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ.Mr Westwood has denied claims of misconduct, commenting: “It’s all false allegations.”The BBC declined to comment. In July, a spokesperson for the corporation said it was liaising with police to ensure that any steps taken – including publishing the report – do not have a “negative impact” on any ongoing police…

BBCPro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili said she was confident the vote would bring about the future Georgians prayed forGeorgians are going to the polls to decide whether to end 12 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, in an election that will decide their future path towards the European Union.Georgia borders Russia and the governing Georgian Dream party is accused by the opposition of moving away from the West and back into Russia’s orbit. The EU has frozen Georgia’s EU bid because of “democratic backsliding”.”I voted for a new Georgia,” said pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili.Saturday’s vote has been described as the most crucial…

Getty ImagesScabies can lead to secondary skin infections, if not treated.People are being told not to ignore an itchy rash, with GPs in England reporting a spike in scabies – the highly infectious skin infestation.The condition is caused by a mite which burrows under the skin to lay eggs and is spread through close physical contact, bedding and clothes.It can spread quickly in places where people live closely together, such as universities and care homes, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) said.However, “social stigma” prevented people coming forward, it said.Prof Kamila Hawthorne, RCGP chairwoman, said while incidences remained infrequent, the…

The chancellor is set to increase the National Insurance rate for employers to boost funding for public services including the NHS.Rachel Reeves is also expected to use Wednesday’s Budget to lower the threshold for when employers start paying the tax – with the two measures combined to raise about £20bn.The move is thought to be the single largest revenue raiser of next week’s Budget, with other tax rises expected, although Reeves is not likely to introduce the levy to employers’ pensions contributions.Employers currently pay National Insurance of 13.8% on a worker’s earnings above £175 a week.A government source said: “There…

Perthshire Picture AgencyTricia Fox’s small business in Scotland has been affected by the row between two major US companiesOne of the world’s biggest web publishing platforms – used by a large chunk of the internet – is locked in a spat which is affecting thousands of businesses worldwide.While most of the work WordPress does is not seen by internet users, it says its behind-the-scenes web-building tools power 40% of the world’s websites.That means its disagreement with a company called WP Engine is causing disruption to the huge number businesses that rely on the two organisations to keep their websites running.Tricia…

Grammy Award-winning US rapper Lil Durk has been arrested on a charge of murder-for-hire, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.Police records seen by US media show the star, real name Durk Devontay Banks, was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on Thursday night and is being held without bail.The arrest comes a day after five people with ties to Banks’ hip-hop group, Only The Family (OTF), were reported to have been charged in Chicago in connection with a 2022 shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.Lil Durk has had six albums in the US Billboard chart’s…