Author: BBC

29 minutes agoBy Helen Bushby, Culture reporter ParamountPaul Mescal plays Lucius, whose character was the grandson of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in the first Gladiator filmThe trailer for Ridley Scott’s sequel to Gladiator has dropped, showcasing several epic scenes, including a water battle in Rome’s Colosseum and Paul Mescal being rammed by a rhino. All Of Us Strangers star Mescal plays Lucius, fighting for his life as a gladiator, despite his high status as nephew of corrupt former Emperor Commodus. Sir Ridley’s first film in 2000, which starred Russell Crowe as soldier-turned-gladiator Maximus, won five Oscars including best actor.The trailer opens as…

A court in Moscow has issued an arrest warrant for the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on charges of extremism, according to state media.The charges brought against Yulia Navalnaya, who lives outside Russia, in absentia are to do with her alleged “participation in an extremist society”, Tass news agency said. The opposition leader – Russia’s most significant for the past decade – died in an Arctic Circle jail of natural causes, according to Russian authorities. Mr Navalny had been serving 19 years on extremism charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.But his widow accuses Russian President Vladimir…

Energy boss Greg Jackson has said people living near wind farms – such as in Scotland – should pay less for their electricity.The founder and chief executive of Octopus said it was “crazy” that the electricity price was the same across the UK.His firm already offers a discount on bills for people living near wind farms, and this has led to lots of local interest in their construction, he said.New Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out plans on Monday to boost onshore wind farms.Speaking at an event hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Mr Jackson said his company…

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro benefited from an illegal scheme to sell $1.2m (£937,000) in jewellery and other luxury gifts given to his government, police investigators say.It comes after Brazil’s Federal Police last week recommended charging him with crimes including money-laundering over undeclared jewellery gifted between 2019 and 2022.The latest police report states that officials had “acted to divert” expensive gifts to Mr Bolsonaro from foreign governments. The officials then sought to sell the items for “the illicit enrichment of the then president”. The far-right politician has claimed that cases against him are politically motivated. The report submitted to the…

46 minutes agoBy Alice Cuddy, BBC NewsGetty ImagesThe US government has blocked a British court hearing from taking place on a British territory, citing security concerns, according to court documents.The supreme court of British Indian Ocean Territory (Biot) was due to hold a hearing this week, attended by the BBC, on whether a group of migrants was being unlawfully detained on the island of Diego Garcia.The island hosts a secretive UK-US military base and access is heavily restricted.The US last week said it was “withdrawing its consent” for lawyers representing the migrants and “members of the press” – the BBC – to…

15 minutes agoBy Michelle Roberts, Digital health editor, BBC NewsReutersMr Streeting was speaking at the Tony Blair Institute Future of Britain conferenceFace-to-face talks between junior doctors unhappy over pay and the new health and secretary are set to begin. Wes Streeting has already said the government cannot afford or commit to the 35% rise the doctors want. But there is renewed optimism an agreement might be reached to avoid more strikes and disruption for patients. Tens of thousands of appointments were postponed during the most recent walkout by doctors, earlier this month.The long-running dispute has seen 11 rounds of strikes by junior…

A host of BBC Radio 2 DJs are set to hit the decks to play sets at BBC Radio 2 in the Park in Preston this September.For the first time, the festival will span three days, opening with a Friday night “pre-party” featuring sets from an array of BBC Radio 2 presenters including Sara Cox, Vernon Kay and Rylan.”Let’s start the weekend as we mean to go on,” Scott Mills said. “I need everyone dancing – no excuses.”The event takes place in Preston’s Moor Park from 6-8 September and features headliners The Pet Shop Boys and Sting.The festival will also…

59 minutes agoBy Mansur Abubakar, BBC News, KanoGetty ImagesA zoo worker says hyenas fear humans and often poo when scared (stock photo)A hyena is on the loose in the central Nigerian city of Jos after escaping from a wildlife park.Concerned residents have been assured by the state tourist board that drones and rangers are searching for the animal.It is unclear how the hyena escaped from Jos Wildlife Park but, according to the tourist board, it had been inside a cage.A zoo worker told the BBC that the chances of the hyena attacking people were slim.”Hyenas are very fearful of humans – the…

25 minutes agoBy Emma Elgee, BBC News, West of England BBCSir James Dyson founded the firm in 1991About 1,000 UK jobs are at risk at Dyson as part of a global restructure.The firm, best known for the invention of the bag-less vacuum cleaner, made the announcement in response to global markets.The move would ensure Dyson is “prepared for the future”, CEO Hanno Kirner said, adding it will be supporting those at risk of redundancy.Dyson has 3,500 UK employees with offices based in Wiltshire, Bristol and London.Mr Kirner said the company, which has offices in Malmesbury and Hullavington, operates in “increasingly fierce and…

Dame Shirley Bassey says receiving her latest honour from King Charles III made her more nervous than singing for him. The 87-year-old Welsh superstar said she “forgot to curtsy” as she was made a Companion of Honour at a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The exclusive title is awarded for service of “conspicuous national importance” and is limited to 65 people.Dame Shirley, who become a dame in the 1999 honours list, said it was the first time meeting the King since he became monarch. “I think it’s more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of…