Author: BBC

A gang of cyber criminals causing huge disruption to multiple London hospitals has published sensitive data stolen from an NHS blood testing company.Qilin has been trying to extort money from NHS provider Synnovis since they hacked the firm on 3 June.The gang previously told the BBC they would be publishing the data unless they got paid.Overnight on Thursday they shared almost 400GB of the private information on their darknet site and Telegram channel.The data includes patient names, dates of birth, NHS numbers and descriptions of blood tests. It is not known if test results are also in the data.There are…

GettyThree popular sunscreen lotions offer less protection than they claim, according to consumer organisation Which?In spot checks on 26 sunscreens – including some cheaper options from supermarkets Aldi and Lidl – lotions from Calypso Sun, Bondi Sands and Asda failed to pass all the tests. Asda questioned the validity of the Which? tests, saying independent tests of the same batch had confirmed the lotion provided the level of protection on the label.Calypso Sun said all products were carefully tested and passed European Union standards.Which? says these products failed some of its checks:Calypso Sun Press & Protect Sun Lotion SPF30Asda Protect…

With less than a week to go, a mix of sunny spells and light rain are currently forecast for this year’s Glastonbury Festival.The gates will swing open at Worthy Farm on Wednesday, with revellers looking forward to a line-up headlined by Coldplay, SZA and Dua Lipa. On Wednesday, festival-goers may be pleased to know sunny intervals, temperatures of 25C and a gentle breeze are currently forecast.But music lovers are advised to take the current forecast with a pinch of salt, as there is still uncertainty in predictions for the Glastonbury period.Light rain is currently set to make an appearance on…

2 hours agoBy Sally Nabil, BBC ArabicBBCTariq (right) says his 77-year-old mother Effendiya (left) “couldn’t take the baking heat”Hundreds of people are thought to have died amid soaring temperatures at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Those who have perished come from more than two dozen countries, with most fatalities from Egypt. The BBC visited one community there which has lost more than 20 people.Many Egyptian pilgrims come from poor villages. They spend their life savings on the spiritual journey to the holiest city in Islam. Effendiya, a 70-year-old mother of five from the northern province of Menoufiya, sold her jewellery to…

BBCMany people have got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote to say that housing is the most important issue for them in this general election.The BBC’s cost of living correspondent Kevin Peachey answers your questions on this topic, plus other personal finance matters. ‘What will parties do to help homebuyers?’Daniel, 32, from Nottinghamshire wants to know how the main parties will help people like him get on the housing ladder. He and his partner both work full-time and rent their home privately. They feel “penalised for something that’s not our fault and would like to own…

6 hours agoBy Catherine Snowdon, Health reporter GettyCystic fibrosis causes thick mucus to build up in the lungsA deal has been reached to provide NHS patients with continued access to crucial drugs that treat the life-limiting condition cystic fibrosis.Officials had previously disputed the price being charged by Vertex, the pharmaceutical company that makes the treatments.After a period of negotiation, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has now given approval for the modulator drugs – Kaftrio, Symkevi and Orkambi – to be made available on the NHS in England.It is thought patients in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will soon…

The former partner of singer James Morrison took her own life after suffering mental health difficulties, an inquest has heard.Gill Catchpole, 45, was found dead by Mr Morrison at her home in Whitminster, Gloucestershire, on 5 January. Police and paramedics were called and she was pronounced dead at 9:37 GMT.Area coroner Roland Wooderson recorded a conclusion of suicide at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Thursday.Det Sgt David Kania, who investigated the sudden death, ruled out any third-party involvement, the inquest was told.He added: “There were no signs of a disturbance or third-party involvement.” If you have been affected by the issues…

The Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, star of films including The Hunger Games and Don’t Look Now, has died at 88 after a long illness. His son, the actor Kiefer Sutherland, said: “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film.””Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”The news was met with an outpouring of support and…

Disney workers are suing the company for damages after they were told to move across the country for a project that was later cancelled.In a proposed class action lawsuit, they accuse the media giant of misrepresenting its plans when it announced in 2021 it would open a new $1bn campus for theme park staff in Florida.The firm told roughly 2,000 people in California to relocate or resign. But less than two years later, the company reversed course.The complaint says staff had relied on Disney’s claims when they uprooted their lives, incurring major moving expenses as they sold family homes and…

3 hours agoBy Michelle Roberts, Digital health editor, BBC NewsGetty ImagesAt least 86 people were admitted to hospital for E. coli symptoms linked to an outbreak thought to be caused by some pre-packed sandwiches containing lettuce, health officials have confirmed.The UK Health Security Agency says cases have slowed but a further 45 infections have been recorded, taking the total to 256.About 60 products were recalled from supermarket shelves in recent days as a precaution.But all of the confirmed cases developed symptoms before 31 May.Salad leavesThe overall number of people affected could still rise, however, because some samples from patients have yet to…