Author: BBC

6 minutes agoBy Riyah Collins, Jasmine Sandhar, BBC NewsbeatMelanie Gail PhotographySonny Monaghan shared his audition on TikTok, where it was viewed thousands of times Early this year, thousands of people posted videos of themselves singing on TikTok, hoping it could mark the start of their big break.And, for one of them, it did.In January producers of a UK version of Broadway sensation Dear Evan Hansen launched a nationwide hunt for undiscovered talent ahead of a tour later this year.The multi award-winning musical, which first opened in 2016, follows Evan as he goes viral.So it’s possibly not a surprise for that to be a…

2 hours agoBy Hugh Schofield, BBC News, ParisGetty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron shocked France when he called an election earlier this monthTwo neighbouring countries are approaching elections that were called out of the blue.Both have governments that are expected to fall.In both countries political tensions have divided families and friends.Stop. At this point, all attempts to draw parallels between the British and French elections must cease.Because however much might be at issue in the UK election – and there is much – it pales next to the stakes that have been raised across the channel.Here in France, it is not just the…

3 hours agoBy Davy Wilson, BBC News NIPA MediaPilots’ industrial action will last indefinitelyAer Lingus pilots have begun industrial action in an ongoing dispute with the airline over pay.Members of the Irish Air Line Pilot’s Association (IALPA) began an indefinite work-to-rule at midnight on Wednesday.An eight-hour strike is planned for Saturday.Separate meetings on Tuesday at the Labour Court in Dublin involving the IALPA and Aer Lingus failed to reach a resolution.Hundreds of flights cancelledThe airline said it is disappointed the Labour Court did not intervene in the dispute but will instead review the matter in July.”Aer Lingus will continue to focus on…

1 day agoBy Georgia Bell, BBC NewsAlexandra MavrosLow levels of sleep and high levels of caffeine are a staple for models on the fashion week circuitIf you want to enter an alternate reality for six days, Paris Fashion Week is the place to do it. When I board my Eurostar from St Pancras on a rainy Tuesday, I’m not sure what to expect from Menswear Spring/Summer 25. The usual cohort of bleary-eyed commuters from London is this time interspersed with sunglass clad models and frazzled looking PR professionals, desperately trying to keep on top of their emails. Alexandra MavrosModel Emily Ratajkowski made…

36 minutes agoBy Richard Hamilton, BBC World ServiceGetty ImagesAt least a million mourners turned up for the funeral of Nigerian musician, and voice of the downtrodden, Fela Kuti, his manager Rikki Stein remembers.“The road was filled with people as far as the eye could see,” he says looking back to that August day in Lagos in 1997.The King of Afrobeat, who was revered by the people but feared by those in charge, had died at 58, reportedly of complications from Aids.But Stein believes that Fela, who had been repeatedly arrested for speaking out against successive military regimes, actually passed away because of…

Volkswagen (VW) says it will invest up to $5bn (£3.94bn) in US electric vehicle (EV) maker Rivian.The deal creates a joint venture that will allow the German car making giant and the Tesla rival to share technology.Rivian shares jumped by around 50% after the announcement.The tie-up comes as competition intensifies between EV makers in the face of slowing sales and more companies entering the market.Under the agreement, VW said it will initially invest $1bn in the electric truck and SUV maker, with another $4bn to be put into the company in the coming years.Founded in 2009, Rivian has not yet…

Just nowBy Colin Paterson, Entertainment correspondent GettyShania Twain will take to the stage on Sunday, as part of the festival’s Legends slot Shania Twain hopes to pull off a Glastonbury first by riding a horse to the Pyramid stage on Sunday, ahead of her teatime Legends slot.When asked about any special plans for her appearance, the Canadian singer told BBC Breakfast: “I love horses. I love animals I’m going to see if there’s a horse around, I can borrow.”She continued: “I’d love to ride a horse to the stage,” but admitted, “I’ll have to find out if it’s allowed.”This would be far…

3 hours agoBy James Landale & Tiffanie Turnbull, BBC News, London & SydneyGettyAssange supporters outside the Royal Courts of Justice in May In the end, it was a mixture of diplomacy, politics and law that allowed Julian Assange to take off in a private jet from London’s Stansted airport on Monday, bound ultimately for Australia and freedom.The deal that led to his liberty – after seven years of self-imposed confinement and then five years of enforced detention – was months in the making but uncertain to the last.In a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the possibility of a plea deal…

A court-appointed bankruptcy trustee has indicated plans to sell off right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars media empire to pay some of the $1.5b (£1.18b) he owes to families of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims. In a court filing filed on Sunday, the trustee, Christopher Murray, said he was planning to close operations of Infowars’ owner Free Speech Systems and “liquidate its inventory”. The news comes a week after a bankruptcy judge decided Mr Jones’ personal assets would be liquidated to pay back the victims for spreading misinformation about the deadly 2012 shooting at a suburban Connecticut school. The…

19 hours agoBy Steven McIntosh, Entertainment reporterGetty ImagesAdrien Brody won an Oscar for 2002’s The PianistActor Adrien Brody is to take on his first stage role in London, in a play which follows the true story of a man who was wrongly convicted of murder. The US star won an Oscar aged 29 for 2002’s The Pianist, making him the youngest ever best actor winner.Later this year, Brody will appear at the Donmar Warehouse in the world premiere of The Fear of 13, written by Lindsey Ferrentino.The play depicts the story of Nick Yarris, a man who spent 22 years on death…