Category: News

  • Sycamore Gap: Boy, 16, arrested after Hadrian’s Wall tree felled

    Sycamore Gap: Boy, 16, arrested after Hadrian’s Wall tree felled

    A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the felling of one of the UK’s most well-known trees. The landmark at Sycamore Gap, beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was cut down overnight. Northumberland National Park Authority officials believe the tree, known as Robin Hood’s Tree, was “deliberately felled”. Northumbria Police said the teenager had…

  • Swiss glaciers record ‘catastrophic’ ice loss

    Swiss glaciers record ‘catastrophic’ ice loss

    By Imogen Foulkes BBC News, Geneva Switzerland’s glaciers have lost a further 4% of their volume this year – the second biggest loss ever – after last year’s record melt of 6%. The statistics come in the annual report of the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Network (Glamos), whose team of researchers have been monitoring 176 of…

  • Gaza-Israel tensions spiral amid closures and clashes

    Gaza-Israel tensions spiral amid closures and clashes

    By Yolande Knell in Jerusalem & Rushdi Abu Alouf in Gaza City BBC News In the dark after midnight, it was like rush hour in the northern Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinian workers had heard that Israel was to open its side of the Erez crossing at dawn after 12 days of closure in response…

  • Haiti crisis: Can Kenyan police officers defeat the gangs?

    Haiti crisis: Can Kenyan police officers defeat the gangs?

    By Gloria Aradi & Pascal Fletcher BBC News in Nairobi & BBC Monitoring in Miami Kenya has pledged to lead a multinational security force in Haiti in response to a plea from the Caribbean nation’s prime minister for help restoring order. Haiti has suffered from gang violence for decades but the current wave of brutality…

  • From stage star to Dumbledore: Tributes paid to Sir Michael Gambon

    From stage star to Dumbledore: Tributes paid to Sir Michael Gambon

    ReutersCopyright: Reuters Sir Michael Gambon’s acting career spanned six decades. But, as we mentioned moments ago, he is best known for the role of Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. Gambon only became the headmaster of wizarding school Hogwarts after the death of Richard Harris, who was Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter…

  • Cher accused of hiring men to kidnap her son

    Cher accused of hiring men to kidnap her son

    By Alys Davies BBC News Cher has been accused of hiring men to kidnap her son from a hotel where he was staying with his wife last year. Court documents filed by Elijah Blue Allman’s wife, Marieangela King, allege that four men “removed” him from a New York hotel room on their anniversary in November…

  • Obituary: Sir Michael Gambon, star of The Singing Detective and Harry Potter

    Obituary: Sir Michael Gambon, star of The Singing Detective and Harry Potter

    Sir Michael Gambon was one of Britain’s most versatile performers. While he achieved success on both TV and in the cinema, it was the theatre that was his greatest love. He played many of the great Shakespearean parts, appeared on TV as Inspector Maigret and once auditioned for the role of James Bond. And he…

  • Actor Sir Michael Gambon dies aged 82

    Actor Sir Michael Gambon dies aged 82

    The actor Sir Michael Gambon has died in hospital aged 82, his family say. He was best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films. Sir Michael also appeared in Fantastic Mr Fox, played French detective Maigret and starred in The Singing Detective. His widow and son said their…

  • Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall ‘felled overnight’

    Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall ‘felled overnight’

    By Samantha Jagger BBC News One of the UK’s most photographed trees which stood in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall appears to have been felled overnight, the national park has said. Police are investigating after the tree in Sycamore Gap – known as Robin Hood’s Tree – seemed to have been cut down. Northumberland National…

  • BBC: New rules for flagship presenters after Lineker row

    BBC: New rules for flagship presenters after Lineker row

    New rules have been published for BBC flagship presenters following a row over Gary Lineker’s social media posts. High-profile presenters should be allowed to express views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning, the BBC report says. It comes after a review into BBC social media guidelines was published by former ITN…