Author: BBC

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has said he was initially unaware the Post Office prosecuted its own sub-postmasters, despite leading the privatisation of the group.Sir Vince, who was business secretary between 2010 and 2015, was giving evidence on Wednesday to the inquiry into the Post Office IT scandal.Under questioning from Jason Beer KC, he also admitted a share of responsibility for the scandal as the Post Office came under his remit while in government.”This was an area of the department where clearly there was a policy failure,” he said.Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of sub-postmasters were blamed and…

Financial markets in the US and Asia have fallen sharply as investors sell off shares in technology companies, with artificial intelligence (AI) stocks hit particularly hard.In Wednesday’s trading in New York, the S&P 500 lost 2.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 3.6%, in their biggest one-day falls since 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.2%.The losses were driven by major firms including Nvidia, Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple and Tesla.On Thursday, Japan’s Nikkei index led declines in Asia as it fell by more than 3%.Shares in technology companies, especially those related to AI, have driven much of this year’s stock…

Getty ImagesThe NHS is appealing for people with O-type blood to urgently come forward and donate, after blood stocks dropped to “unprecedently low” levels in England. Officials said it follows a “perfect storm” of unfilled appointments at donor centres and increased demand following a cyber-attack which has affected services in London.O negative blood – known as the universal blood type – is safe for all patients. It is used in emergencies or when a patient’s blood type is unknown.Officials have also issued an amber alert asking hospitals to restrict use of O-type blood to essential cases or use an alternative…

George Lazenby, who played James Bond in 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, has announced his retirementThe 84-year-old Australian followed on from Sean Connery as the second official 007.Writing on X, Lazenby said it “hasn’t been an easy decision but it’s time to announce my retirement from work”.He added: “It’s been a fun ride but getting older is no fun.”Lazenby suffered a fall in December 2023, which subsequently caused a brain injury.The actor was treated in hospital before returning to his home in Los Angeles.He has been keeping a low profile in recent years, after being accused…

ReutersTyphoon Gaemi has made landfall on Taiwan’s east coast, bringing gusts of around 240kmh (150mph).Gaemi, which has landed near the city of Hualien, is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit the island in eight years.One woman died after she was hit by a tree.Taiwan’s largest annual military drills have been cancelled, along with almost all domestic flights and more than 200 international flights, according to the transport ministry. Authorities are warning one of biggest risks comes from the typhoon’s potential to cause landslides and flash flooding, especially on mountainsides destabilised by a large earthquake in April. On…

Getty ImagesMortgage rates have fallen as competition between lenders intensifies ahead of the Bank of England’s next rate decision.The average rate for a two-year fixed deal, which had been very close to 6% at the start of the month, is now at 5.79%, according to the financial information service Moneyfacts. The average five-year rate is 5.39%.The Nationwide has become the latest lender to move, by reducing its five-year fixed mortgages, for new customers moving home with a 40% deposit, to a rate of 3.99% plus a fee.Mortgage analyst Kylie-Ann Gatecliffe said this could be the start of a “rate war”…

CrowdStrike has promised to improve how it tests software after its faulty content update for Windows systems caused a mass global IT outage on Friday.The cybersecurity company’s mistake resulted in problems for banks, hospitals and airlines as millions of PCs displayed “blue screens of death”. In a detailed review of the incident published on Wednesday, CrowdStrike said the problem occurred due to a “bug” in the system which was meant to check software updates were working properly.The glitch meant its system did not identify “problematic content data” in a file.The company said it could prevent the incident from happening again…

Science Photo LibraryA woman had to be tested for HIV after being given a vaginal examination with a swab already used on another patient, the health ombudsman has said.After the examination, at her GP surgery in Batley, Yorkshire, for a pre-existing health condition, the 40-year-old was told an old swab had been used by mistake.She then had to wait three months for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and hepatitis, test results, which were negative.Investigators have now urged all GPs to ensure proper infection-prevention measures are followed.Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath said: “There is always the possibility for human error in any profession. “Fortunately…

Katy Perry’s comeback has faltered after Woman’s World, the first single from her new album, debuted at number 63 in the US chart and at 47 in the UK.It’s a disappointing return for the pop star, who will release her seventh album 143 in September.As well as being torn apart on social media, Woman’s World – and its video – have been critically panned, with many feeling its feminist messaging is out of touch.The Guardian asked “what regressive, warmed-over hell is this?”, The Cut stated that “Perry is stuck in 2016”, and Rolling Stone raised the question: “Did Katy Perry…

Illinois police have released bodycam footage that shows the chaotic moments that led to the fatal shooting of a woman who had called 911 to report a suspected intruder at her home.The killing of Sonya Massey, 36, over Independence Day weekend has led to criminal charges against one of the officers who responded to her home, and has drawn condemnation from President Joe Biden. Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson has been fired from the police force and charged with murder and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. As of Monday, he was being held without…