Author: BBC

Mark SavageMusic CorrespondentGetty ImagesDua Lipa and Jay Kay duetted on a surprise version of Jamiroquai’s 1996 hit Virtual InsanityDua Lipa treated fans to a surprise appearance by Jamiroquai, as she played her first ever show at Wembley Stadium. Bringing out the band’s frontman Jay Kay for a one-off performance of his 1996 hit Virtual Insanity, the star said he was “a massive trailblazer for British music”.Their performance came half-way through a stunning two-hour show, that saw Lipa tear through hits like Physical, One Kiss, New Rules and Levitating. ”This is such a massive, massive milestone for me,” she told her…

Josh SandifordBBC News, WolverhamptonBBCJane Platt is a volunteer helping others even though she is struggling herselfJane Platt’s bright pink polo shirt marks her out as a volunteer at the Big Venture Centre.The community shop provides discounted items and other help to people living in some of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton.Places like Bushbury, Heath Town and Low Hill, where Ms Platt believes “everyone is struggling”, including herself. The local council insists it is there for those who need support, but some living in the areas say they feel forgotten. “My baby won’t play out in the streets,” explained Ms…

Liv McMahonTechnology reporterGetty ImagesThe BBC is threatening to take legal action against an artificial intelligence (AI) firm whose chatbot the corporation says is reproducing BBC content “verbatim” without its permission.The BBC has written to Perplexity, which is based in the US, demanding it immediately stops using BBC content, deletes any it holds, and proposes financial compensation for the material it has already used.It is the first time that the BBC – one of the world’s largest news organisations – has taken such action against an AI company.In a statement, Perplexity said: “The BBC’s claims are just one more part of…

Every newborn baby in England will have their DNA mapped to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans for the next 10 years.The scheme, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, is part of a government drive towards predicting and preventing illness, which will also see £650m invested in DNA research for all patients by 2030.Health Secretary Wes Streeting said gene technology would enable the health service to “leapfrog disease, so we’re in front of it rather than reacting to it”.It comes after a study analysing the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies was announced in October.The…

EPAThe BBC says it has decided not to broadcast a documentary about doctors working in Gaza, due to impartiality concerns it has surrounding the production.Gaza: Doctors Under Attack was commissioned by the BBC but produced by an independent production company. It was originally scheduled for broadcast in February, but has not yet aired on any BBC outlet.In a statement, the BBC said it was “determined to report all aspects of the conflict in the Middle East impartially and fairly”. Basement Films said it was “relieved that the BBC will finally allow this film to be released”. The BBC confirmed it…

Nick EdserBusiness reporter, BBC NewsGetty ImagesA “dismal” month for supermarkets led to retail sales falling in May at the fastest pace for more than a year, the UK’s statistics body has said.Sales volumes dropped 2.7% in May, the biggest monthly fall since December 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).Food retailers saw lower sales of alcohol and tobacco as households cut back, while clothing and household goods stores reported “slow trading”, the ONS said.Separate figures on the UK economy showed that government borrowing hitting the second highest level for May since monthly records began in 1993.Borrowing – the…

Accurate weather forecasts are not just vital for planning our daily lives but knowing about upcoming severe weather can help us to change our behaviour, save lives and mitigate damage to property.It is impossible to assess the full economic value of weather forecasts globally, but the numbers are huge. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), in the US alone – and just taking into account the biggest weather disasters that caused over $1bn (£740m) in damage – the fallout from severe weather in 2024 amounted to $182bn, with 568 fatalities.Since 1980, this damage figure stands at nearly $3tn!…

Asha PatelBBC News, NottinghamBBCNottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust oversees two main hospitals – Nottingham City Hospital (pictured) and the Queen’s Medical CentreThe NHS is largely funded by public money paid for through taxes and national insurance.In February, one of the busiest and biggest NHS trusts in England was given a record £1.6m fine over maternity failings in connection with the deaths of three babies.Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS trust is already at the centre of the largest maternity review of its kind in the NHS, following hundreds of baby deaths and injuries. When it was fined at Nottingham Magistrates’…

Getty ImagesDeacon Blue keyboard player James Prime had been seriously ill for a short timeDeacon Blue’s keyboard player James Prime has died from cancer aged 64.Prime, from Kilmarnock, was a founding member of the band when it was formed in Glasgow by singer Ricky Ross in 1985.In a statement on Instagram, the band said that “our brother, James Prime, passed away after a short struggle with cancer”.It added: “Thank you so much for the messages of support that you shared over the last two weeks, they meant so much to Jim, his family and us.”The band said last week that…

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentGetty ImagesThe Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates on hold when its policymakers announce their next decision later.The Bank cut the rate to 4.25% in early May, when its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also hinted at more reductions to come.But analysts think those cuts will not arrive until later in the year, as the rate of price rises remains above target.The Bank rate is the key benchmark for lenders setting the cost of borrowing, and for banks and building societies deciding what returns to pay to savers.The decision will be announced by the…