Author: BBC

4 hours agoBy Stuart Maisner, BBC News, South EastKevin RalphDominic West stars in the new production of Doctor FaustusThe complete theatrical works of 16th Century playwright Christopher Marlowe have been filmed in what is being described as a “remarkable world first”.The eight films, which feature some of the UK’s top performers, will receive their premiere screenings at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, the city in Kent where the writer was born.The viewings, between 16-24 August, will mark the 460th anniversary of Marlowe’s birth. Dominic West, who stars in the adaptation of Doctor Faustus, said: “It was a great pleasure to be part…

Liverpool footballer Darwin Núñez was involved in an altercation with spectators after his national team Uruguay were beaten on Wednesday evening.The striker was seen physically confronting Colombia fans in the stands after the final whistle in the Copa America semi-final.According to Uruguayan outlet El Pais, disorder broke out close to where friends and family members of players were located.Núñez is yet to comment publicly on the incident.TV cameras and fans captured images of Núñez climbing up railings and making his way into the crowded stands of the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.He could then be seen confronting…

The UK economy grew faster than expected in May helped by a strong performance from retailers and the construction industry.The economy expanded by 0.4%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, rebounding from zero growth in April when wet weather put off shoppers and slowed down building projects.Construction expanded at the fastest rate in almost a year in May, with house building and infrastructure projects boosting the industry, the ONS said.The question of how to increase growth in the UK’s economy was one of the key battlegrounds in the recent general election.Liz McKeown, of the ONS, said that many retailers…

8 hours agoBy Mohamed Shalaby and Joe Tidy, BBC World ServiceGetty ImagesThe Israeli military campaign has badly affected internet and mobile connectivity in GazaPalestinians calling home to Gaza on Skype have had their digital lives destroyed, after Microsoft closed their email accounts without warning. BBC News has spoken to 20 Palestinians living abroad who say Microsoft, which owns the voice and video chat app, kicked them out of their accounts. The total number affected is thought to be much higher. In some cases, these email accounts are more than 15 years old and the users have no way to retrieve emails, contacts…

5 hours agoBy Natasa Andjelkovic, BBC News SerbianBy Grujica Andric, BBC News SerbianBBCSabrija Hajdarevic is one of thousands of Bosnians whose loved ones were killed in 1995Every July, Sabrija Hajdarevic returns to Srebrenica to visit the graves of her husband and father.They were among around 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys killed in 1995 by the Serb forces.The 67-year-old now lives thousands of miles away in Australia, but the annual trip means a lot to her.This year is even more poignant, as for the first time 11 July will be marked as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration, following a UN General Assembly…

Getty ImagesOn Thursday the water regulator Ofwat will announce how much it thinks average water bills should rise in England and Wales over the next five years. But how are bills set and what can you expect to pay?How are water bills calculated in England and Wales?Most people in England and Wales get their water from one of 17 companies and have their waste water taken away by one of 11 companies.Households cannot choose which supplier they use – it is down to here they live.The water regulator Ofwat determines the levels of service all customers can expect and how…

52 minutes agoBy Anthony Zurcher, @awzurcher, North America correspondentEPAThe most devastating argument against Joe Biden’s re-election bid may have come not from a politician or a pundit, but from a film star.But George Clooney, with his stinging New York Times opinion piece, isn’t the only one speaking out. A growing chorus from Democrats is sinking the president’s hopes of steadying his campaign this week – and perhaps ever.This all comes after it appeared that the president had turned a corner, with the influential Congressional Black Caucus and key liberal members of Congress just voicing their support for him. But now the ground has…

The Chinese government has said it is launching an investigation into allegations that fuel tankers have been used to transport cooking oil after carrying toxic chemicals without being cleaned properly between loads.The controversy has spread online as social media users express concerns about potential food contamination.Tankers used for transporting fuel were found to be carrying food products, like cooking oil and syrup, and were not decontaminated correctly, according to state-run Beijing News.Transporting cooking oil in contaminated fuel trucks was said to have been so widespread it was considered an “open secret” in the industry, according to one driver quoted by…

Nato members have pledged their support for an “irreversible path” to future membership for Ukraine, as well as more aid.While a formal timeline for it to join the military alliance was not agreed at a summit in Washington DC, the military alliance’s 32 members said they had “unwavering” support for Ukraine’s war effort.Nato has also announced further integration with Ukraine’s military and members have committed €40bn ($43.3bn, £33.7bn) in aid in the next year, including F-16 fighter jets and air defence support.The bloc’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Support to Ukraine is not charity – it is in our own security…

A jury in New York has found the Wall Street investor, Sung Kook ‘Bill’ Hwang, guilty of fraud and market manipulation.It comes three years after the failure of his investment fund Archegos Capital Management, which caused billions of dollars in losses for several major banks.Prosecutors accused Hwang of lying to lenders as he secretly amassed large bets on several companies.When Archegos was unable to repay the banks, it prompted a mass sell-off of stocks and the fund collapsed.Hwang’s deputy at Archegos and co-defendant, Patrick Halligan, was also found guilty on the three counts he faced.Sentencing has been scheduled for 28…