Author: BBC

15 minutes agoBy Robert Plummer, BBC NewsGetty ImagesUnited is among the airlines affected by the IT chaosA mass IT outage has caused chaos around the world, with major banks, media outlets and airlines among the victims.Many flights have been grounded, with queues and delays at airports, while shops and communications have also been hit.Cyber-security firm Crowdstrike has admitted one of its updates caused the problem, which it said affected Microsoft Windows devices.Microsoft has said it is taking “mitigation action” to deal with “the lingering impact” of the outage.Here is a summary of what else we know so far.What caused this?The boss of…

Most GP practices in England have been disrupted by the global IT outage, the NHS has said.GPs have been struggling to access their records systems, which include online bookings, and pharmacy services such as accessing prescriptions have also been affected. The IT outage has also led to long queues at UK airports and has knocked some TV channels off air.Cyber security firm Crowdstrike said the global IT issues were caused by a “defect” in “content update”.An NHS England spokesperson said: “The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system,…

4 hours agoBy Katy Prickett, BBC News, CambridgeshireNational Museum of SerbiaThe exhibition will show how the 1924 Olympics was a breakthrough in changing attitudes to body image, identity, class, race and gender, say organisersAn exhibition inspired by the Paris Olympic Games in 1924 will reveal how international artists engaged with the themes of the sporting body a century ago.The event was the first truly international games, according to curators. A letter sent by American long jumper William DeHart Hubbard, the first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event, is among rare loans on display. The exhibition at…

Donald Trump spoke for an hour and a half at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, setting out a message of unity.He spoke about ending foreign wars and quipped about how presenting a chart had saved his life on stage when a gunman fired at him.Here are the highlights from the convention in 90 seconds. Source link

The UK’s national debt has reached its highest level since 1962, according to new official figures.The total stock of government debt was worth 99.5% of the value of the economy in June, exceeding the highs reached during the coronavirus pandemic for the first time.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures also showed that the amount the government borrowed was more than expected in June.A statement on the state of the public finances is expected from the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, by the end of the month.Government debt refers to the overall amount of money owed by the government that has built…

34 minutes agoBy Colin Paterson, Entertainment correspondentBBCDamon Alban says mobile phones should be allowed at showsBlur’s frontman Damon Albarn does not agree with Bob Dylan’s policy to ban mobile phones from his upcoming UK tour.In an interview for BBC Breakfast, Albarn explained his reservations: “If you start banning things where does it end? I think you’ve just got to turn up and do your thing. “People won’t want to be on their phone if you’re engaging with them correctly.”Earlier this week, Bob Dylan announced a 10-date UK tour in November, including shows in Bournemouth, Nottingham and Wolverhampton.At every venue, fans, on arrival,…

A raft of Australian institutions – including major banks, media outlets and an airline – have reported being hit by a mass IT outage.Jetstar has been crippled at Sydney airport, supermarkets are experiencing checkout chaos, and broadcast networks have been left scrambling on air as autocue, graphics and computers failed.Hours before Australia was severely affected, a handful of airlines in the US also reported having to ground planes due to IT issues.The cause of the outage is unclear, but many of those affected have linked it to Microsoft PC operating systems.Australian outage website Downdetector shows issues being reported by the…

Mobile phone, pay TV, and broadband companies have been banned from surprise price rises during a contract.In new deals from 17 January, providers must tell customers about any mid-contract price rises at the point of sale and “in pounds and pence”.This must be done in a “clear and comprehensible” way, Ofcom has ordered.Complaints from customers have risen about large, unexpected price rises at a time when other bills had been soaring. Source link

The Israeli military says it is investigating an apparent drone attack that hit central Tel Aviv in the early hours of Friday.In a statement it said an initial inquiry indicated the explosion had been caused by the falling of an “aerial target” and announced it was increasing air patrols.Israeli emergency services say the explosion left one person dead and several lightly injured.Yemen’s Houthi militants, which are backed by Iran, announced on social media that they would reveal details about a military operation that had targeted Tel Aviv.The incident also came after the Israeli military confirmed it had killed a senior…

Mr Osborne – who was chancellor from 2010 to 2016 – said: “If we had not done that Britain would have been more exposed, not just to future things like the coronavirus pandemic, but indeed to the fiscal crisis which very rapidly followed in countries across Europe.”If we had not had a clear plan to put the public finances on a sustainable path then Britain might have experienced a fiscal crisis, we would not have had the fiscal space to deal with the coronavirus pandemic when it hit.” The British Medical Association said Mr Osborne’s “denial” of a connection between…