Author: BBC

At least 11 people have died and more than 60 are missing as a result of two shipwrecks off the coast of southern Italy, rescuers say.German charity RESQSHIP said it picked up 51 people from a sinking, wooden boat and found 10 bodies trapped in the lower deck near the island of Lampedusa on Monday.In a separate incident on the same day, more than 60 people were reported missing, with 26 of them feared to be children, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said.The boats were carrying migrants who had set off from Libya and Turkey, UN agencies said.Survivors of the shipwreck…

Labour has ruled out changing council tax bands after continuing scrutiny about the party’s tax plans.Over the weekend, Conservatives seized on shadow health secretary Wes Streeting’s refusal to deny Labour government would copy council tax changes instituted by the Labour-run Welsh government.But pushed for clarification on Times Radio, Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said: “We’re not changing council tax banding.”As we head into the second half of the election campaign Conservative tactics are becoming clear.A blizzard of policy announcements has not shifted the polls so now the Conservatives are relentlessly attacking Labour’s economic policy, trying to force them to rule out one…

Sir Ian McKellen has been taken to hospital after falling off stage during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London.The 85-year-old actor was in a fight scene when he lost his footing and fell. It is not clear whether he has sustained any injuries.The audience was evacuated from the theatre and informed that the evening show was cancelled.Player Kings is a production of Henry IV, Parts One and Two, and started its 12-week West End run in April.Sir Ian – who plays John Falstaff – was circling a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales…

36 minutes agoBy Sumi Somaskanda & Tiffany Wertheimer, BBC News, Washington & LondonChina should face “economic cost” for Russia support – Jens StoltenbergThe head of Nato has told the BBC that China should face consequences for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, if does not change its ways.Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing was “trying to get it both ways” by supporting Russia’s war effort, while also trying to maintain relationships with European allies.”This cannot work in the long run,” Mr Stoltenberg told BBC News during a visit to Washington.In the wide ranging interview, Mr Stoltenberg also addressed nuclear weapons and defence spending.His comments come…

Aer Lingus pilots have moved closer to a possible strike after voting overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.Pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) voted 99% in support of action, up to and including a strike. The pilots are in dispute with the airline over pay.The IALPA president told BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra programme that a strike this summer is “not inevitable”. The next step, Captain Mark Tighe added, was for Aer Lingus management to “understand the strength of feeling” and “see that the pilots will not back down”.The ballot was conducted in person over…

Music mogul Scooter Braun has announced his retirement from talent management after 23 years.The entrepreneur, 42, said he has stepped back to focus on his role as a father, as well as chief executive of entertainment company HYBE America. Last year, it was reported that a number of Braun’s high-profile clients, including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, were parting ways with the manager.In a nearly 1,400-word statement posted to his Instagram account, Braun said he is now “a father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more”. New York-born Braun is one the world’s most successful music managers. His…

A resident in Bloomingdale, Michigan had a shock when his trampoline crashed into his house during a storm. The storms were as a result of a warm weather front moving north through Michigan, according to CBS, the BBC’s partner in the US. The broadcaster forecast “excessive heat” warnings for the state throughout the week, with temperatures reaching up to 95F (35C). Source link

The US government has sued software giant Adobe, accusing it of violating consumer protection laws with “hidden” termination fees and a convoluted cancellation process.The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the firm had failed to clearly disclose its terms to customers, including the year-long length of a subscription and charges that would be triggered for cancelling early.In its complaint, the agency said Adobe had refused to modify its behaviour because it would hurt the company financially. Adobe disputed the claims and said it would fight the lawsuit.”We are transparent with the terms and conditions of our subscription agreements and have a…

2 days agoBy Steven McIntosh, Entertainment reporterAconite ProductionsBorja comes from an underprivileged background and is encouraged to pursue bullfighting by his grandfatherA new documentary follows a boy living in a small town in Spain, whose family expects him to become a professional bullfighter.It may sound like an unusual career choice in an era where bullfighting is considered a cruel and outdated sport, primarily due to issues of animal welfare.Social attitudes in some parts of Castellón, however, are not quite as progressive as those in nearby Valencia and Barcelona, and the boy’s grandfather, unbothered by the controversy surrounding bullfighting, encourages his grandson to…

Sir Rod Stewart has defended his support of Ukraine, after he was apparently booed at a concert in Germany on Friday night.The music legend was performing in Leipzig when the Ukrainian flag appeared on a video screen, followed by an image of President Volodymyr Zelensky.Both applause and jeers could be heard from fans, as Sir Rod sang his 1991 hit Rhythm of My Heart, which he says is an anti-war song, and has previously dedicated to Kyiv.”I have supported the Ukrainian people throughout this war,” he told PA news agency on Monday.”From arranging for members of my family to take…