Author: BBC

Discord, a messaging platform popular with gamers, says official ID photos of around 70,000 users have potentially been leaked after a cyber-attack.The platform, which has more than 200 million users worldwide, says hackers had targeted a firm that helped to verify the ages of its users but the Discord platform itself was not breached.People can provide ID photos to verify their age on Discord – a networking hub for players to chat and share files with others in the gaming community.The leaked data may involve personal information, partial credit card details and messages that were exchanged with Discord’s customer service…

Aileen MoynaghBBC News NI health reporterBBCMrs Cairns was diagnosed with Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) and Pseudo Foster-Kennedy syndromeA woman who has been left with partial sight after she delayed seeking medical help said she wishes she had gone to an optician when she first had symptoms as her vision could have been saved.Gail Cairns, from Belfast, started experiencing sight loss, headaches, and eye pain in July 2025, but waited four days before getting her eyes checked.After being scanned at an opticians through a free NHS scheme she was immediately referred to hospital for treatment. She had a serious…

The price of gold has hit a record high of more than $4,000 (£2,985) an ounce as investors look for safe places to put their money over concerns about economic and political uncertainty around the world.Gold has seen its biggest rally since the 1970s, rising by around a third since April when US President Donald Trump announced tariffs which have upset global trade.Analysts say another issue worrying investors is delays to the release of key economic data as the US government shutdown enters its second week.Gold is seen as a so-called safe haven investment, which is expected to retain or…

Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested by police investigating a cyber-attack on a chain of nurseries in London.The Metropolitan Police say the pair were arrested at residential addresses in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, on suspicion of computer misuse and blackmail. Hackers were said to have stolen the photographs, names and addresses of about 8,000 children from the Kido chain.The force said it received a referral from the Action Fraud cyber crime reporting service on 25 September detailing a ransomware attack. Those arrested remain in custody for questioning.Will Lyne, Met’s Head of Economic and Cybercrime, said: “We understand reports of this nature…

Ministers and school representatives are set to meet later for the first School Council Network in Jersey of the new term. The meetings, which take place up to six times a year, allow primary and secondary school councils to shape policy directly with government. The Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) said the opening event of the term would focus on safety and digital wellbeing. Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Rob Ward congratulated all the students elected to their school councils, calling it “a big responsibility but also a fantastic opportunity”.Ward, who is set to attend the…

Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that output at some of its manufacturing sites will resume on Wednesday, as it continues to recover from a serious cyber-attack.Its production lines have been at a standstill since the start of September, following the attack.The phased return of staff will begin at some sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside.JLR has also announced a programme to fast-track payments to its direct suppliers, some of which had laid off workers after their revenues dried up following the hack.Initially the scheme will be confined to the most critical suppliers needed for restarting production, but…

Chinese car making giant BYD says the UK has become its biggest market outside China, after its sales there surged by 880% in September compared to a year earlier.The company says it sold 11,271 cars in the UK last month, with the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U sports utility vehicle (SUV) accounting for the majority of those sales.It comes after figures from the car industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that sales of electric vehicles (EVs) jumped to a record high in September.The UK is particularly attractive to firms like BYD as the…

Baroness Kathy Willis talks about the importance of green and blue spaces in cities.

Kate WhannelPolitical reporter andGeorgia RobertsPolitical correspondent, ManchesterGetty ImagesThe Conservatives have set out plans to “reward work” by giving young people a £5,000 tax rebate towards their first home when they get their first full-time job.In his speech to the party’s conference in Manchester, shadow chancellor Mel Stride announced proposals for a “first-job bonus” that would divert National Insurance payments into a long-term savings account.The party says the plans will be funded by cuts to public spending worth £47bn over five years in areas such as welfare, the civil service and the foreign aid budget.In a speech on Monday, Sir Mel…

Nearly 30 million people in the UK who bought an Apple or Samsung smartphone between 2015 and 2024 may be entitled to about £17 if the consumer campaign group Which? is successful in a case against US tech giant Qualcomm.The consumer group is taking the tech giant to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London on Monday.The trial between Which? and Qualcomm is expected to last five weeks. The consumer group is accusing the chip company of anti-competitive practices.It claims the firm forced Apple and Samsung to pay inflated prices and licensing fees for essential handset components, which then pushed up…