Author: BBC

36 minutes agoBy Nalini Sivathasan, Lorna Acquah and Emma Simpson, BBC NewsAlamyThe former Fujitsu engineer who helped design the faulty Horizon software at the centre of the Post Office scandal is under the spotlight this week.You might not have heard of Gareth Jenkins until now but he has become a key figure during the long-running Post Office Inquiry.He will be questioned at the inquiry over his involvement in the scandal, which saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after Horizon made it look like money was missing from branch accounts.On Tuesday Mr Jenkins will begin giving evidence over…

9 hours agoBy Chris Baraniuk, Technology Reporter Linköping UniversityIt might look basic – but could this be the future of screens?At first glance, it looks like a relic from the 1980s. A tiny computer screen with flickering, low-resolution text scrolling across it. But this could be the future.The screen was made using perovskite light emitting diode (PeLED) technology. It is radically different to the LED technology used in your smartphone display today, and it could lead to devices that are thinner, cheaper and have longer battery life.Not only that, PeLEDs are very unusual in that they can absorb light as well as…

NHS England has confirmed its patient data managed by blood test management organisation Synnovis was stolen in a ransomware attack on 3 June.Qilin, a Russian cyber-criminal group, shared almost 400GB of private information on their darknet site on Thursday night, something they threatened to do in order to extort money from Synnovis. In a statement, NHS England said there is “no evidence” that test results have been published, but that “investigations are ongoing”. More than 3,000 hospital and GP appointments were disrupted by the attack.”Patients should continue to attend their appointments unless they have been told otherwise and should access…

4 hours agoBy Mark Savage, Music CorrespondentGetty ImagesAyra Starr’s videos have smashed YouTube records in her home country, NigeriaFor most musicians, releasing their debut album is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. It’s a moment fraught with excitement, nerves, giddiness and pride. Afrobeats star Ayra Starr had all of those emotions, too. But her response to the momentous occasion was slightly different to most. She fell asleep.”When I woke up the next day, I had so many missed calls saying, ‘Oh, Ayra, I loved your album’,” she laughs.The Nigerian musician was still a teenager at the time, but that record, 19 And…

2 hours agoBy Tom McArthur, BBC NewsYonhapParasites from human waste and defaced Hello Kitty clothing have been found in bags of rubbish carried by North Korean balloons into South Korea, officials say.More than 1,500 waste-carrying balloons have been released by Pyongyang across the border since May, in retaliation for a leaflet campaign sent northwards by opponents of North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.Analysis of some of the balloon packages detected “roundworms, whipworms and threadworms” in the soil. The chance of infection from the parasites in the packages is low, South Korea’s ministry of unification assured people.Other items carried by the balloons included…

15 hours agoBy Maria Sobolewska, Professor of Political Science, University of ManchesterGetty ImagesMargaret Thatcher had Essex Man and New Labour boasted Mondeo Man. David Cameron secured the Mumsnet Mums and for Boris Johnson it was Workington Man. They all symbolise voters who switched their votes in the election, effectively deciding who will lose and win.So what of 2024? When working out the key electoral blocs, it is possible that Renter Ruth could be key if Labour are to win, as the polls currently suggest. In the last decade the numbers of renters has increased while the Conservative party has seen its share…

15 hours agoBy Fergus Walsh, Medical editorBBCOran (R) with his mum, brother and sisterA boy with severe epilepsy has become the first patient in the world to trial a new device fitted in their skull to control seizures.The neurostimulator, which sends electrical signals deep into his brain, has reduced Oran Knowlson’s daytime seizures by 80%.His mother, Justine, told the BBC he was happier and had a “much better quality of life”.The surgery was carried out in October as part of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London when Oran – who is now 13 – was 12.Oran, from Somerset, has…

4 hours agoBy Riyah Collins, BBC NewsbeatGetty ImagesCharli XCX says she “won’t tolerate” the chants at her showsCharli XCX has urged fans to stop chanting “Taylor Swift is dead” at her gigs.There were reports of crowds at her Sunday show in São Paulo, Brazil, joining in with the attacks on the megastar.Posting on Instagram, the Brat singer said she “will not tolerate” it any more. “Can the people who do this please stop,” Charli wrote on Instagram. “Online or at my shows.”It is the opposite of what I want and it disturbs me that anyone would think there is room for this…

Israel’s prime minister has said the “intense phase” of fighting Hamas in Gaza is nearly over, allowing forces to move to the northern border with Lebanon to confront its ally Hezbollah.In his first Israeli media interview since the start of the war in October, Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected the ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to be completed soon.But he stressed that “doesn’t mean the war is about to end”, with action continuing until Hamas was completely driven from power.Addressing the escalating hostilities with Hezbollah, which have raised fears of a wider regional war, he said:…

31 minutes agoBy Jonny Humphries and Marc Waddington, BBC NewsSome passengers whose travel plans were thrown into chaos by a power cut at Manchester Airport face further delays as airlines rearrange grounded flights while others have been left without luggage and their final destinations.Airport bosses said all its system were “running as normal” again, but urged passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling.It said airlines would be in touch with travellers whose flights had been cancelled on Sunday.The airport said it was “likely to be slightly busier than usual” throughout Monday due to passengers hit by cancellations. Large queues…