Author: BBC

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…

Game InformerThe Casting of Frank Stone was the final title to appear on the cover of Game InformerThe makers of the final game to appear on the cover of one of the world’s longest-running gaming magazines say its sudden closure is a “big loss” to the industry.US-based Game Informer had been running for 33 years until earlier this month, when its print edition and website were closed without warning.Horror game The Casting of Frank Stone was featured on the final front cover of Game Informer and the game’s developers told BBC Newsbeat they were “incredibly honoured” to have made it…

Getty ImagesThe government has announced it will push ahead with compensation payments to infected blood victims.The previous government had announced the scheme in May following publication of the public inquiry report into the scandal.Campaigners had feared the payouts might be delayed because of the election being called shortly after that announcement.But ministers said they wanted to press ahead as quickly as possible.Regulations will be passed before 24 August to allow the first payments to be made by the end of the year.Five criteriaThe infected blood scandal has been called the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS.More than…

At least one person has been arrested over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, according to US media.Perry, 54, was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home in October last year. A post-mortem examination found the cause of his death was “the acute effects of ketamine”, a controlled drug which the recovering addict was taking as part of supervised therapy.LA police opened an investigation in May to determine why Perry had so much of the drug in his system.ABC News and TMZ reported that multiple people had been arrested and were facing federal charges. Other outlets, including NBC News,…

Love Island star Davide Sanclimenti has said his US home has been burgled, with thieves stealing possessions worth nearly $1.2m (£930,000).The Italian reality TV winner told followers on Instagram the burglary took place at his home in Los Angeles, California, adding the items had been taken “within six minutes”.He posted two images of his walk in wardrobe on his Instagram stories, which showed empty shelves.”I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has displayed their concern and DMing me and asking why I have been quiet over socials,” he said.”As you all know I’m living in…

Getty ImagesTata has said the blast furnace operation was incurring losses of £1m a dayThe first money from a £100m fund to help workers and firms affected by restructuring plans at Tata’s Port Talbot steel plant is being released, UK ministers will announce on Thursday.Tata closed one of its two blast furnaces on the site last month and plans to shut the second in September, as it moves to greener production and cuts thousands of jobs.Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens will confirm that £13.5m from the fund will be made available.UK ministers are in separate negotiations to try to save jobs…

Dahlia KatzComedian Anesti Danelis used AI to make his show for the Edinburgh Festival“Why did the politician bring a ladder to the debate? To make sure he could reach new heights with his promises!”Ask AI to write a political joke, and the above is an example of what you can get.Perhaps not funny enough to deliver on stage in front of a paying audience, but that doesn’t mean there is no room for AI in comedy.Comedians are increasingly experimenting with the technology to write scripts and brainstorm ideas, including Anesti Danelis. Earlier this year, the Canadian asked popular AI chatbot…

Getty ImagesGonorrhoea is the second most common bacterial STI in the UK (chlamydia is the most common)The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is warning about a small but significant rise in cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. Most cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) can be treated quickly, but there’s growing concern over strains that can’t be dealt with so easily.Between June 2022 and May 2024, scientists working at the UKHSA identified 15 cases in England that were resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone, the first option drug used to treat the condition in the UK.That compares to just nine cases that…

People in Botswana have reacted with outrage on social media after the government asked citizens to donate money to reward the country’s historic gold-medal winning Olympic team. The fund would be a way for citizens to honour the athletes by “contributing rewards to our champions”, said the government in a statement on Monday.Letsile Tebogo brought glory to Botswana after he became the first African athlete to win the men’s 200m at the Olympics, bringing home the country’s first ever gold medal. But the government’s request for donations has halted celebrations for some, who question why their taxes aren’t being used…