Author: BBC

37 minutes agoBy Navtej Johal, Midlands correspondent • Faisal Islam, Economics editorBBCPeter and Rebecca say it is “almost impossible” to buy a house while renting at the same timePeter Felix paints and decorates other people’s homes for a living, but he says it is frustrating that he cannot afford one of his own.He and his partner, Rebecca Wilson, are in their early 40s. They have been renting together for nearly three years, and are losing hope of ever owning a house.Peter is among the many people who got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote to tell us that housing is the…

Holidaymakers are being warned about a rise in scams where fake social media accounts are used to impersonate airlines.Bogus accounts exist for every major UK airline on X, formerly known as Twitter, and are regularly used to trick customers into giving away their personal data, according to consumer association Which?. It added that X is too slow to take down offending accounts. The social media platform said accounts that impersonate organisations may be permanently suspended under its “misleading and deceptive identities policy”.It previously told Which? that it had taken down all of the fake accounts identified by the consumer group.The…

Drug company Moderna says its combined flu and Covid vaccine, which targets the two diseases in a single shot, has passed a vital part of final-stage scientific checks.The phase-three trial shows the vaccine arms the body with protective antibodies.And it does so as effectively as separate flu and Covid shots, results suggest.Fewer injections would be more convenient and simpler, Moderna says.Chief executive Stephane Bancel told BBC News he hoped the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine could be made widely available in 2026 – or perhaps, 2025.”We are very delighted about the results, because it’s the first time in the world…

James Norton is to read a CBeebies Bedtime Story about type 1 diabetes.The Happy Valley actor, who has the condition, will read How to Manage a Mammoth, a story which aims to help families deal with a diagnosis.The story encourages children to think of diabetes as an animal, something which will not go away but which they can learn to manage. It focuses on eight-year-old Jake, who sees his diabetes as an imaginary mammoth called Mel. With the help of his mum and friends, they try to shrink the mammoth so it isn’t so big.Norton said that he also thinks…

ReutersEuropean and local ballot papers are separated before starting the count at a local election counting centre in DublinIrish government parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are vying for the lead in the Republic of Ireland’s local elections, as counting continues.More than 800 councillors have been elected, with 949 seats to be filled across 31 local authorities.Fine Gael is in the lead with 216 councillors; Fianna Fáil has 205.The main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has won 91 seats so far, fewer than half of its government rivals and well below its own target of 200. Sinn Féin President Mary Lou…

4 hours agoBy Katie Hunter, BBC Scotland NewsBBCCaren Lorimer’s husband David said he was sorry she never lived long enough to see her name clearedThe family of a convicted sub-postmistress who died before her name was cleared say they have made her final wish come true.Caren Lorimer’s family took on her case after her death from cancer in April 2022.They were expecting to be back in court this week but her conviction was quashed sooner than expected.Caren’s husband David Lorimer said it “meant the world to him” but he was sad that his late wife had died before she was exonerated.Caren had…

59 minutes agoBy Tom Richardson, BBC NewsbeatMicrosoftCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be the first game in the series to appear on Xbox Game PassGaming’s annual preview marathon took place over the weekend, with dozens of new titles on show.Against the backdrop of an industry wrestling with layoffs and questions over its future, expectations of seeing many new blockbuster titles were low this year.Microsoft capped off the main events with a successful showcase, and fans of Call of Duty got an extended look at upcoming, 1990s-set Black Ops 6.It’ll be the first game in the series to appear on the Xbox…

41 minutes agoBy James W Kelly & PA Media, BBC NewsGetty ImagesO-negative blood can be safely given to people of with any blood typeAn appeal has been launched for O blood-type donors to book appointments across the country following the ransomware attack affecting major London hospitals.NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing for O blood-type donors to book appointments to donate as this is safe to use for all patients.The IT attack means the affected hospitals cannot currently match patients’ blood at the same frequency as usual.Several London hospitals declared a critical incident, cancelled operations and tests, and were unable to carry out…

Michael Mosley’s family has confirmed his body has been found beside Agia Marina beach on the Greek island of Symi. Symi’s mayor said the body was found as teams were searching the coastline with cameras. The TV presenter vanished on Wednesday after setting out on a walk, prompting a search operation which involved divers, helicopters and drones. He was well-known for his TV programmes and his Just One Thing podcast which airs on BBC Radio 4. Source link

34 minutes agoBy Thomas Mackintosh, BBC NewsReutersThere is increasing outrage at the number of Palestinian casualties in Saturday’s operation in and around NuseiratThe Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says an Israeli raid on a refugee camp – which led to the rescue of four hostages – killed 274 people including children and other civilians.On Saturday Israel’s forces, backed by air strikes, fought intense gun battles with Hamas in and around the Nuseirat refugee camp, freeing the captives.Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, who were abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October have…