Author: BBC

7 hours agoAbigail Taylor,BBC News NIHBOGame of Thrones was mostly filmed in locations across Northern Ireland, including Titanic Studios, Belfast.Fans of fantasy show, Game of Thrones, are celebrating as the latest spin off show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will be filmed in Belfast.It is set to begin filming at Titanic Studios in the next few weeks with author George RR Martin expected to make a visit to the site in July.The news was being kept “under the radar” as cast and crew were being assembled for the new shoot, one tour manager said.The first eight seasons of Game…

Thirty years after apartheid, South Africa is a very different country.But while democracy has endured, and the fear and racist brutality of the past is gone, there is widespread disillusionment.The ruling African National Congress (ANC) have been in power since Nelson Mandela became the country’s first black president. Back in 1994, a woman named Cynthia Mthebe spoke to the BBC’s Fergal Keane about her hopes and dreams. Now he’s returned to follow up on a story that stuck with him for 30 years. Source link

For passengers on board the SQ321 flight from London to Singapore, it was a terrifying experience when the plane was hit by severe turbulence.A 73-year-old British man, Geoff Kitchen, died from a suspected heart attack, while dozens of others were injured.Turbulence occurs when a plane hits air currents causing it to roll, pitch or drop suddenly. It is said to be becoming more common due to climate change.Pilots have told the BBC severe turbulence events of this kind are extremely rare and described what they do and how they react when they hit.Captain Chris Hammond, a retired pilot whose career…

38 minutes agoEmma Saunders,Culture reporter at the Hay FestivalGettyCharlotte Church has attended protests calling for a ceasefire in GazaHay Festival has suspended its sponsorship deal with management investment company Baillie Gifford, following controversy over the latter’s links with Israel and fossil fuel firms.The news comes after artists including Charlotte Church and Nish Kumar pulled out of appearing at the prestigious festival in protest at the deal.Church is among celebrities who have joined calls for a ceasefire after Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border attack on southern Israel last year.Julie Finch, Hay Festival’s…

As he returned to the throne in a colourful ceremony, Nigeria’s influential Emir of Kano addressed the people who deposed him four years ago.Those who expelled Muhammadu Sanusi II from his role as a traditional Muslim leader in the northern state of Kano were not worth talking about, he said on Friday.Mr Sanusi was ousted in 2020 for showing “insubordination” to the authorities there.His supporters believe he was sacked as he opposed the re-election of Kano’s then governor.Mr Sanusi, an ex-central bank chief, was reappointed by current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at Kano State Government house on Friday.During his 2023…

1 day agoTom Espiner,BBC business reporterAFPEx-Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells arriving at the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandalThe Post Office dropped a wide-ranging review into the convictions of sub-postmasters over fears it would make “front page news”. Paula Vennells, the former Post Office boss, had suggested in 2013 that convictions going back 10 years could be scrutinised.But in an email revealed at the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal on Thursday, ex-Post Office media chief, Mark Davies, told Ms Vennells that it would “fuel the story and turn it into something bigger than it is”.Ms Vennells replied at…

A High Court judge has ruled that comments Joey Barton made about Jeremy Vine on social media were defamatory.The former footballer was sued by the radio and TV presenter for libel and harassment over 14 posts on on X, formerly known as Twitter.After being asked to rule on the “natural and ordinary” meaning of the posts, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled on Friday that 11 of the posts could defame Mr Vine, who works for the BBC. She said the “strong impression” from the words was that the term was being used in its “primary meaning to allege the claimant has…

This was the outcome Israel sought to avoid: a demand to halt a military operation the government regards as essential for the defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages.But there is no immediate indication that Israel will change course as a result of Friday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Its tanks are pushing closer to the centre of Rafah and just as the decision was being read out, a series of air strikes sent a huge black cloud billowing over Rafah.Some of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline colleages have reacted with rage, accusing the court of…

Kellogg’s is recalling boxes of its chocolate cornflakes following complaints of hard lumps in the cereal which could create a choking hazard.The breakfast brand voluntarily asked consumers who had bought packs to dispose of them “as a precaution” after the issue was discovered.Kellanova, the company which manufactures the cereal, said the hard lumps “do not break down when eaten with milk” and could also potentially damage teeth.The Food Standards Agency said this made the product “unsafe to eat”.Kellanova stressed that it believed only a “small proportion” of boxes could contain the lumps and that there was “minimal risk” to consumers.It…

Parliament will aim to pass an important bill ahead of the general election to ensure victims of the infected blood scandal are compensated as soon as possible, the government says.Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said there was a “clear desire” to get it done. MPs will consider House of Lords amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill on Friday.The government has already said first payments to victims will be made by the end of the year.Labour has also said it is committed to paying compensation.The sudden announcement of the election, and next week’s planned recess, leaves little time to get new…