Christmas donations gift demand up, charities say
Meanwhile, Taunton’s charity appeal Christmas Sparkle said their demand has risen sharply over the last couple of years, with 500 presents given out in 2015 to 10,000 last year. They said they are expecting even higher demand this year. Gill Harrison, founder and manager at Christmas Sparkle, said she believes the cost of living crisis […]
Christmas shoebox appeal launches to help children
“There’s people that would be buying Christmas presents, but they can’t because they haven’t got the money.” Over the past 20 years, the charity has helped more than 100,000 children across the world by sending shoeboxes full of gifts. This year, however, it has turned its attention to supporting children and families in Staffordshire. “It’s […]
Binance users withdraw $3.6bn after record crypto hack
Binance customers withdrew $3.64bn (£2.72bn) of assets from the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange as it reopened on Sunday following a record hack last week. The firm suspended all transactions in the wake of the incident, which impacted $6.3bn worth of digital assets. Major organisations, including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have accused North […]
Don’t get caught out by new Buy Now Pay Later rules
Image source, Getty Images By Cost of living correspondent If you’ve bought something via Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) since the summer, then you’ll have been tested to see if you can afford it. BNPL has always been a type of loan, usually paid back in instalments, but it’s only been officially regulated since July. […]
‘I’ve had people eating cat food’: Rising cost of living top of mind for US voters
As Americans prepare to head to the polls for crucial midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, surveys suggest the issue of rising prices is central to how many people will decide their vote. The BBC’s Clive Myrie visited North Carolina where he spoke to voters about the issue ahead of the elections on […]
Thousands of jobs at Virgin Media O2 to be cut
Thousands of Virgin Media O2 staff face redundancy risk as the telecoms firm looks to save money in the face of billions of pounds of debt and tougher competition. The broadband provider has not finalised the number of roles to be cut but it is likely be a sizeable chunk of its 16,000 workforce, the […]
Crypto firm Binance covers 90% of losses after $6.3bn hack
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, says it has covered 90% of the $6.3bn (£4.7bn) assets stolen in a hack on Thursday. The remaining 10% may take longer to source in the required amounts, the company added. Binance has consistently pledged to cover 100% of the losses from what is suspected to be crypto’s biggest […]
No more washing up: How Airbnb’s new house rules have divided hosts and guests
Image source, Lisa ClewesImage caption, Airbnb host Lisa says her Welsh holiday let was left ‘a complete mess’ by a group of guests When Lisa Clewes returned to her Welsh holiday let after a group of guests checked out, she was horrified by the mess. Just days earlier, she had met the group in person […]
Why North Korea’s ‘elite’ hackers are the prime suspect in major Binance hack
Image source, Reuters ByLily Jamali North America Technology correspondent Two major blockchain analytics firms say they have robust intelligence pointing to a North Korean state-backed group as the likely culprits in the $6.3bn (£4.7bn) hack of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The Lazarus Group, a North Korean hacking unit also known as TraderTraitor, was […]
The tech helping crack decades-old cold cases
Randy Gail Sperino was last seen alive on the evening of 9 November 1993, as she was getting into a pickup truck in Granite City, Illinois. The 34-year-old’s body was found hours later in a field nearby, the victim of blunt force trauma. The identity of her killer was a mystery. DNA evidence found at […]