Author: BBC

Liv McMahon & Tom McArthurTechnology reporter & BBC News reporterGetty ImagesAn investigation has been launched into the death of a French streamer known for extreme challenges.Raphaël Graven, also known as Jean Pormanove, was found dead at a residence in Contes, a village north of Nice, prosecutors said. The 46-year-old had been subject to bouts of violence and sleep deprivation during streams, and died in his sleep during a live broadcast, local media reported.Confirming a judicial investigation was under way, French government minister Clara Chappaz described Mr Graven’s death and violence he endured as an “absolute horror”, adding he had been…

Katy PrickettBBC News, CambridgeshireFamily handoutsAnne Martinez (left) and Karen Starling died the year after undergoing double lung transplants at the hospitalA hospital trust has paid a “six-figure settlement package” in the case of nine patients following an outbreak of a bacterial infection linked to its water supply.Three patients died and two of these cases were as a result of complications connected to the outbreak at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, according to lawyers.Lung transplant patients Karen Starling, 54, of Ipswich, died in February 2020, and Anne Martinez, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, died in December 2020.Eilish Midlane, the hospital’s chief executive, said:…

UK government borrowing was lower than expected in July, following a rise in tax and National Insurance receipts.Borrowing – the difference between public spending and tax income – was £1.1bn in July, which was £2.3bn less than the same month last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.It was the lowest July figure for three years, the ONS said, and was helped by a rise in self-assessed income tax payments.Despite the lower-than-expected figure, analysts said the chancellor was still likely to have to raise taxes in the autumn Budget to meet her tax and spending rules.Borrowing over the first…

Julian O’NeillCrime and justice correspondent, BBC News NIKneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh arriving in court on Wednesday morningA decision over whether a member of rap group Kneecap will stand trial for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, at a London gig last year, has been postponed. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was met by a large crowd of supporters – many with Palestinian flags.The 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, denies the charge and claims the case is “political” and intended to silence Kneecap.He told the gathered…

The White House confirmed on Tuesday that the Trump administration is working on a deal that could see the US government taking a 10% stake in chip giant Intel.”The president wants to put America’s needs first, both from a national security and economic perspective,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.The potential agreement could involve swapping existing government grants for Intel shares, according to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.The highly unusual move could help Intel as it struggles to compete with rivals like Nvidia, Samsung and TSMC, particularly in the booming artificial intelligence (AI) chip market. Intel has been…

Michelle RobertsDigital health editor, BBC NewsGetty ImagesPesto often contains pine nutsAllergic reactions to foods such as pine nuts and goat’s milk happen frequently enough they may need warning labels, say experts. Food packaging in the UK and EU already lists the most common allergens for people to be aware of, such as egg, peanuts and sesame. But at least four more could be added to the mandatory risk list, according to an article in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy.Lead investigator Dr Dominique Sabouraud-Leclerc from the Allergy Vigilance Network said evidence of increased reactions to a wider range of foods…

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentBBCThe Bank of England cut interest rates to 4% in August, taking the cost of borrowing to the lowest level for more than two years.It was the fifth cut in a year, but was only agreed after an unprecedented second vote by the Bank’s policymakers.Interest rates affect mortgage, credit card and savings rates for millions of people.What are interest rates and why do they change?An interest rate tells you how much it costs to borrow money, or the reward for saving it.The Bank of England’s base rate is what it charges other banks and building societies…

NetflixMatthew Goode (Downton Abbey, Stoker) plays Det Chief Insp Carl MorckNetflix has confirmed hit crime drama Department Q, which was set and filmed in Edinburgh, will return for a second series. The streaming giant said Matthew Goode will again play DCI Carl Morck, a damaged and shambolic detective who heads up the department of misfits in the basement of a police station.The show follows the team as they are charged with solving cases which were previously deemed unsolvable.The new season will see Morck reunited with team members Alexej Manvelov as Akram, Leah Byrne as Rose and Jamie Sives as Hardy.Department…

Charlotte SextonBBC NewsnightGetty ImagesThe government needs to stop children using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass age checks on porn sites, the children’s commissioner for England has said. Dame Rachel de Souza told BBC Newsnight it was “absolutely a loophole that needs closing” and called for age verification on VPNs. VPNs can disguise your location online – allowing you to use the internet as though you are in another country. It means that they can be used to bypass requirements of the Online Safety Act, which mandated platforms with certain adult content to start checking the age of users.A government…

Nikki FoxBBC health correspondent, East of EnglandJOHN FAIRHALL/BBCTony Henderson is taking the Department of Work and Pension to a tribunal after being refused personal independence paymentsA man living with kidney failure said the system for personal independence payments (Pip) was not fit for purpose after he was rejected for the benefit twice.Tony Henderson, 55, from Bacton, Norfolk, has dialysis for about four hours a day, six days a week, and has had three heart attacks in 12 months due to strain being put on his heart from blood being pumped around his body. Despite the government reversing plans to tighten…