Author: BBC

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…

Actor Kiefer Sutherland announced the death of his father, Donald, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Source link

1 hour agoBy Laura Bicker, China correspondentUS ‘focused on reducing conflict’ with China, ambassador tells the BBC’s Laura BickerWashington and Beijing are talking more regularly to avoid a conflict in the South China Sea despite their “contentious and competitive” relationship, the United States ambassador to China has told the BBC.“Our militaries are operating in very close proximity to one another in the South China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait. You don’t want to send the wrong signal,” Nicholas Burns said in an interview in Beijing earlier this week.The South China Sea has become a dangerous flashpoint, where Beijing’s claims are ratcheting…

13 minutes agoBy Kevin Peachey and Shanaz Musafer, BBC NewsGetty ImagesLabour and the Conservatives have accused each other of failing to match promises on housing, in what has become a key battleground in the election campaign.The Conservatives said they were offering a better deal on stamp duty, by permanently abolishing the levy for first-time buyers purchasing properties up to £425,000.Meanwhile, Labour said its more ambitious plans for energy efficiency in rental homes would protect tenants from higher energy bills.Many people who have got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote said that housing was the most important issue for…

A global alert about fake Ozempic – which has become popular as a way of losing weight – has been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).The drug is sometimes known as a “skinny jab” despite its main purpose being a treatment for type-2 diabetes. The WHO said the fake medicines could pose a danger to health. The organisation advised people to source the drug only through reputable sources, such as a doctor, rather than obscure sites online or through social media. The active ingredient in Ozempic – semaglutide – helps people with type-2 diabetes control the amount of sugar…

11 minutes agoBy Bernadette Allen, BBC News NIBBCBand member DJ Próvaí outside court with his solicitor Darragh MackinThe west Belfast rap group Kneecap has secured High Court permission to take legal action against the UK Government for blocking them from receiving a £15,000 funding award.The band has been granted leave to seek a judicial review into claims that denying the grant discriminates against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion.A judge agreed to list the case for a full hearing in November, after the group returns from a series of gigs in the United States.Outside court, band member DJ Próvaí said…

One of the world’s rarest cats, the Iberian lynx, is no longer classed as endangered, according to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).On Thursday the IUCN, which categorises species according to the level of risk they face in a “red list”, bumped the Iberian lynx from “endangered” to “vulnerable” after a significant surge in numbers. Its population grew from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022. While young and mature lynx combined now have an estimated population of more than 2,000, the IUCN reports. As the name suggests, the wild cat species calls…