Author: BBC

Bombshells, blackholes and pledges – this morning’s announcements are part of a fiscal phony war ahead of the release of party manifestos in a fortnight.On tax and spend, at least for now, the main parties are more concerned with what they are not going to do rather than setting out actual plans.They are pointing at the other side trying to box them in.After an exchange of press statements late on Wednesday night, both parties are now committed not to change the main rate of VAT. They had already said the same about the main rates of income tax and National…

1 hour agoMark Savage,Music correspondentGetty ImagesCMAT played at Big Weekend shortly after being nominated for best album at the Ivor Novello AwardsThe Instagram clip showed the Irish star ripping off her shirt to reveal a more tight-fitting outfit during her set on Sunday afternoon.Writing on social media, CMAT said the comments had been turned off “because so many people were calling me fat”.”I didn’t realise it was illegal to have a huge ass!” she wrote.”I am guilty as charged. It is time to lock me up and throw away the key.”By the way, I am an award-winning songwriter that has…

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs says it is working with Ticketmaster after hackers allegedly stole personal details of more than half a billion customers. The ShinyHunters hacking group is reportedly demanding a $500,000 (£400,000) ransom payment to prevent the information being sold to other parties.Australia said it was aware of a breach and was “working with Ticketmaster to understand the incident”.The American website Ticketmaster, one of the largest online ticket sales platforms in the world, has yet to confirm whether it has experienced a security breach.Reports suggest a group of hackers gained access to the names, addresses, phone numbers and…

This article reveals the winners of Race Across the World.The finalists shared a celebratory drink togetherRace Across the World winners, best friends Alfie and Owen, have told the BBC that it was a “nightmare” trying to keep their victory a secret. The 21-year-old pair from Hertfordshire were the first to reach the final checkpoint in Lombok and have won the £20,000 prize. They beat mother and daughter duo Eugenie and Isabel who were just eight minutes behind them. They have become the youngest team to be crowned the winners. Alfie and Owen are the youngest pair to win the Bafta-winning…

Authorities have warned that power cuts could last for days in Texas, where hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses remain disconnected from the power grid after severe weather.A teenager died on a construction site on Tuesday when a partly-built house collapsed in a storm.Texas was among the states earlier battered by deadly storms and tornadoes over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, during which at least 24 people died.Hail, damaging wind and flash flooding remain possible in the region on Thursday morning, and in Kansas and eastern Colorado, forecasters say.At the same time, “anomalous heat” continues to affect southern parts…

19 hours agoShaun Dacosta,BBC NewsbeatBecca WheelerMETTE has been announced as a Taylor Swift support actOpening for Taylor Swift is a dream for many up-and-coming artists.And for METTE, that’s going to become a reality when she opens the stage for Taylor’s first night at London’s Wembley Stadium on 21 June.The Cruel Summer hitmaker announced three more acts to join Paramore, who have been the main support during the European leg of the Eras tour.Along with METTE, fans can see Griff on 22 June and Benson Boone on 23 June.METTE tells BBC Newsbeat that she’s very aware she’s about to have more…

19 minutes agoKelly Ng & Lok Lee,in Singapore and Hong KongGetty ImagesFormer opposition lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung (centre) is among the 14 who have been found guilty of subversionHong Kong has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion in the largest use yet of a China-imposed National Security Law.They included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong, journalist-turned-campaigner Gwyneth Ho, and ordinary Hong Kongers who joined the mass protests of 2019 such as nurse Winnie Yu.They were among the 47 activists charged with trying to “overthrow” the government by organising an unofficial primary in 2020 to pick candidates who can run…

A lobby body representing thousands of UK firms has urged the next government to forge closer ties with the EU after years of “choppy times” for British business.The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which represents over 19,000 companies and 18 million employees, said businesses are “not getting used to” post-Brexit trading rules.The BCC published its manifesto as the election campaign entered its second week with the economy set as a key battle ground in the race for 10 Downing Street. Overnight, the Conservatives and Labour clashed over VAT. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt claimed Sir Keir Starmer wanted to raise it, which…

Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi has confirmed to the BBC his son Jake Bongiovi has married Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.”They are great, they are absolutely fantastic,” Bon Jovi told BBC’s The One Show on Tuesday, following speculation the couple had got married. “It was a very small, family wedding and the bride looked gorgeous and Jake is happy as can be. It’s true.”British actress Brown, 20, rose to fame as Eleven in the Netflix sci-fi series and has appeared in two Godzilla films. The couple revealed their engagement in April 2023, when Brown shared a photo on Instagram…

6 hours agoNoor Nanji,Culture reporter in Holmes Chapel, @NoorNanjiBBCCaitlin (left) and Jessie posed for pictures next to a life-sized cut-out of StylesFans of Harry Styles have long obsessed over every detail of his life, his romances and his childhood.Now, Harries – as they’re known – are being offered guided walking tours of the Cheshire village where the pop sensation grew up.Tickets go on sale on Thursday, with the tours starting next week.But the BBC got a preview, alongside a group of teenage devotees. One of them, 17-year-old Jessie, said she was a “lifelong fan”.She said it was “really exciting” to…