Author: BBC

1 day agoBy Natalie Sherman and Nathalie Jimenez, BBC News, New YorkBBC Stacey Ellis works two jobs, but needs to economiseStacey Ellis, a lifelong Democrat from Pennsylvania, should be the kind of voter that US President Joe Biden can count on.But after four years of rising prices, her support has worn thin – and every time she shops at the supermarket, she is reminded how things have changed for the worse.Ms Ellis works full-time as a nurse’s assistant and has a second part-time job.But she needs to economise. She has switched stores, cut out brand-name items like Dove soap and Stroehmann bread,…

1 hour agoBy Pedro Garcia, Technology ReporterGetty ImagesGovernments are exploring whether AI can give reliable adviceLong before ChatGPT came along, governments were keen to use chatbots to automate their services and advice.Those early chatbots “tended to be simpler, with limited conversational abilities,” says Colin van Noordt, a researcher on the use of AI in government, and based in the Netherlands.But the emergence of generative AI in the last two years, has revived a vision of more efficient public service, where human-like advisors can work all hours, replying to questions over benefits, taxes and other areas where the government interacts with the public.Generative…

There is shocking bullying, racism and incompetence in the organisation responsible for ensuring NHS nurses and midwives in the UK are safe to have around patients, a damning report says.The independent review warns of a dangerously toxic culture within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which oversees and regulates hundreds of thousands of nurses and midwives. Good nurses find themselves investigated for years over minor issues, while some bad ones escape sanction, it says. Meanwhile, some NMC staff feel stressed, frustrated and unsupported. The NMC said it was “profoundly sorry” and fully accepted the recommendations for urgent change. It had…

A Russian playwright and a theatre director have been found guilty of “justifying terrorism” by a military court in Moscow.Director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petrichuk were sentenced to six years each for the production of their play The Brave Falcon Finist.Loosely based on true events, the play tells the story of Russian women who travelled to Syria during the country’s civil war to marry members of the Islamic State group.The two women’s defence lawyer vowed to appeal against the verdict.Held partly behind closed doors, the trial heightened alarm about freedom of expression in Russia among members of the country’s…

3 hours agoBy Flora Drury, BBC News ReutersAnant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding party has been going on for monthsJustin Bieber has become the latest in a string of international stars to perform for the son of India’s richest man and his wife-to-be as they celebrate their upcoming wedding.The Canadian singer flew in to perform for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant – along with their guests – in Mumbai at the weekend.He had a lot to live up to. The couple’s first pre-wedding party featured Rihanna, while the second – a cruise around the Mediterranean – had performances from 90s teen heartthrobs…

17 hours agoBy Rumeana Jahangir & PA Media, BBC NewsPA MediaAmazon workers have held strikes in the UK since early 2023Amazon employees are expected to protest outside the firm’s warehouses in the UK in a dispute over workers’ rights.It coincides with the start of a ballot in a “bid to force Amazon to recognise a union for the first time” in the country, the GMB union said.The US online retailer said their workers “always have” the choice to join a union however GMB filed legal proceedings in April against the firm, claiming they were “engaged in widespread attempts to coerce staff to…

12 hours agoBy Manish Pandey, BBC NewsbeatGetty ImagesSimon Cowell says “to most people in the world” Zayn is “that guy, a one name artist”Simon Cowell is desperate to find “the next Zayn” in music.The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent boss reckons “the amount of UK artists breaking globally have fallen”.Those thoughts have led to him launching a search for the next big UK boyband – and Simon thinks being in a group can help artist’s solo dreams.Zayn started out as a part of One Direction – a group created on The X Factor in 2010 – and the Pillowtalk singer has…

Tourists will be rewarded with free food and activities if they participate in environmentally friendly tasks while visiting Copenhagen, the city’s tourist board has announced.The trial scheme, which begins on 15 July, will see tourist attractions in the Danish capital offer rewards for activities such as litter-picking or travelling by public transport or bike around the city.Under the initiative, visitors can claim free lunches, glasses of wine and kayak rental in return for their work.The “CopenPay” scheme is designed to offset the “environmental burden” of tourism, according to the Copenhagen tourist board.”When you travel abroad – if you fly to…

Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy Britvic, the company which makes drinks such as Robinsons squash and J20.The Danish brewer said it would create a single beverage company called Carlsberg Britvic to grow its business in the UK and western Europe.Britvic chairman Ian Durant said the merits of Carlsberg’s takeover offer were “compelling”.The deal will see existing Britvic investors receive £13.15 a share, after a previous lower offer was rejected last month.Mr Durant said the takeover by Carlsberg would create “an enlarged international group that is well-placed to capture the growth opportunities in multiple drinks sectors”.Britvic shareholders will…

8 hours agoBy Ryan Leston, BBC NewsGetty ImagesJoanna Page will return as Stacey in the Gavin & Stacey Christmas SpecialGavin and Stacey star Joanna Page has said she still has not seen the script for the show’s finale. The hit BBC sitcom will return on Christmas Day for one final episode, but Page said: “I don’t know anything.””I’m the same as everyone else back home… I can’t wait to find out what’s happened,” said the 47-year-old. “I just hope, because I’ve not seen anything, that I haven’t signed on to be running around on Barry beach in a bikini.”Gavin and Stacey debuted…