Author: BBC

6 hours agoBy Sam Cabral, BBC News, WashingtonGetty ImagesUS Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence a public health crisis, a move aimed at curbing the US’ role in leading the world in shooting deaths. In a first-of-its-kind report urging action, the country’s top doctor noted that a majority of Americans or their family members have experienced gun violence. A public health approach could help, Dr Murthy argues, as it did with changes to seatbelt safety in vehicles and warnings about health impacts of smoking cigarettes. He hopes to remove politics from an issue that has bitterly divided lawmakers and instead…

For nearly 15 months, Evan Gershkovich has been locked away in a Moscow jail.But the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter is standing trial a thousand miles from the Russian capital, in the city of Yekaterinburg. This is where he was arrested while on a reporting trip. Prosecutors say Mr Gershkovich was collecting classified information about a Russian tank manufacturer near Yekaterinburg on behalf of America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He, his employer and the US government fiercely reject the accusation and the charge of espionage. If convicted, Mr Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison.“This is a bogus…

NasaAstronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore were supposed to have stayed on the space station for eight daysThe two astronauts testing out Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft were supposed to begin making their way back to Earth on Wednesday night but instead they will stay on the International Space Station (ISS).The vessel’s return to Earth had already been delayed because of issues with some of its thrusters and leaks of the helium gas which pushes fuel into the propulsion system.Nasa is carrying out a high-level review of the technical problems before deciding when to bring its astronauts home.Suni Williams and…

2 days agoBy Sameer Hashmi, Middle East Business Correspondent BBC NewsShutterstockThe Line, a planned 170km long linear city, may now initially extend for only 2.4km“They can keep saying that, and we can keep proving them wrong.”That was the response of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a TV documentary broadcast in July 2023, while talking about scepticism surrounding Saudi Arabia’s flagship construction projects.Almost a year later, some of the doubts are turning out to be true.In recent months, Saudi Arabia has seemingly scaled back plans for its vast desert development project Neom, which is the centrepiece of Vision 2030.This is…

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…