BBC news

High-value watch thefts rose by 65% in London from 2021 to 2022, figures reveal.

James, a high-end watch seller in Mayfair, said he's been stalked on a number of occasions when wearing or working on expensive watches. More than a third of the capital's watch robbery cases occur in West London. Between January and July 2022, there were 621 high-value watch thefts in London, up by almost 300 on the same period last year. "In May and June last year when the event happened to me, there were 90 incidents across Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, which is more than one a day." A London councillor has launched a petition to ban the sale of machetes after he was robbed last year. Andrew Dinsmore, a Conservative member of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, had his watch stolen by a machete-wielding thief on a moped in broad daylight.

Corporation chief introduced Caroline Daniel for a position in at the BBC.

We are completely satisfied that all process and procedure has been complied with in full.” Appearing to distance himself from the chairman, Mr Sunak said Mr Sharp was appointed “before I became prime minister”. They added: “These roles were formally advertised externally and open to anyone to apply. [Labour](/topic/labour) leader [Keir Starmer](/topic/keir-starmer) challenged Mr Sunak over his ties to under-fire BBC chairman at PMQs this week. A BBC spokesperson said: “Following the completion of the Serota Review into editorial process, governance and culture in October 2021 – and in line with recommendations in the review – the BBC appointed two independent, external editorial experts to advise the BBC Board’s editorial guidelines and standards committee.” However, it was useful having her perspective.”

The BBC has advised staff against using Tiktok on corporate devices unless for “editorial and marketing purposes”.

We constantly review activity on third party platforms – including TikTok – and will continue to do so.” Editorial staff who need the app for research must now ask to use a shared “Tiktok phone”, according to the BBC. [on Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcnews?lang=en) in recent months. If you have any queries regarding how to remove the app from your device, please contact your usual technical support or service desk.” We will continue to monitor and assess the situation.” [BBC](https://pressgazette.co.uk/subject/bbc/) has advised staff against using [Tiktok](https://pressgazette.co.uk/subject/tiktok/) on corporate devices unless for “editorial and marketing purposes”.

An MP who has more than 400,000 TikTok followers said she would continue using the platform to reach younger people. Zarah Sultana, 29, Labour MP for ...

"I've seen the advice for official phones and laptops to not have TikTok on them but Grant Shapps himself has said that he will continue to use TikTok on his personal device," Ms Sultana said. Ms Sultana, one of the most followed MPs on TikTok, said it was a "very effective" way of reaching people. Zarah Sultana, 29, Labour MP for Coventry South, said she would use the platform on personal devices, which was allowed

The leader of the Taliban has ordered Afghan officials to sack relatives they have hired to government positions. Hibatullah Akhundzada's decree says ...

Foreign military forces had been in the country for two decades, fighting a war that killed tens of thousands and displaced millions more. The Taliban government's treatment of women has outraged the international community and increased its isolation while its economy collapses. The leader of the Taliban has ordered Afghan officials to sack relatives they have hired to government positions.

Broadcaster echoes government's fear of data protection on Chinese-owned social media platform.

The United States had earlier placed restrictions on Huawei’s access to US technology. In respect of TikTok, there is then a further risk,” he said, adding: “A lot of these social media apps hoover up a vast amount of data ... “There is a high risk on government phones. [safe to use TikTok](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-government-tom-tugendhat-lucy-powell-chinese-b2301351.html) due to the strength of UK data protection laws, [according to Michelle Donelan](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-government-tom-tugendhat-lucy-powell-chinese-b2301351.html), the science secretary. [cautious turn away from Chinese tech](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-oliver-dowden-china-britain-cabinet-office-b2303022.html) in recent years after the welcoming approach of the 2010s. [Huawei](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/huawei) in the UK’s 5G network, citing security concerns. [banned the app](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/tiktok-ban-uk-government-phones-devices-b2302180.html) on government-issued phones amid fears that sensitive data held on official phones could be accessed by the Chinese government. [BBC](/topic/bbc) has urged staff to [delete TikTok](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/tiktok-ban-uk-government-phones-devices-b2302180.html) from corporate mobile phones, days after ministers and civil servants [were banned](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/tiktok-ban-uk-government-phones-devices-b2302180.html) from having the Chinese-owned social media app on government-issued phones. [TikTok](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tik-tok-ban-uk-mps-government-b2302102.html) for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted.” Explaining the move, the BBC guidance said: “The decision is based on concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy and security.” Staff will still be permitted to use the app on their work phones for editorial and marketing purposes, though BBC bosses said they will issue further guidance if the situation demands. Guidance sent to staff at the national broadcaster on Sunday said: “We don’t recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason.

The government pays millions each day to house asylum seekers in almost 400 hotels across the UK.

Of the 398 councils approached, 320 responded. "There is nothing to do actually. Why the main business in Kegworth that brings many people to the village, a lot of money into the village? The majority said there were no hotels or asylum seekers in their area, or referred the BBC to the Home Office. The BBC used Freedom of Information requests to ask all UK councils how many hotels were being used for asylum seekers and how many individuals were living in them. Nothing. It's all gone now," said Ms Reynolds. We need something to do like, for example, study some English courses," he said. There have been some protests, with far-right elements involved. The use of hotels has increased exponentially as the number of people claiming asylum in the UK has increased, reaching a near 20-year high last year. The government has never publicly confirmed the number of hotels involved, but a government source told BBC News it is now using 395 to accommodate more than 51,000 asylum seekers, at a cost of more than £6m a day. Private firms are making increased profits as the government pays millions of pounds a day to put up asylum seekers in the UK, the BBC has learned.

The BBC urged its staff to delete TikTok from corporate-owned devices on Sunday unless the application is used for business purposes.

Explaining the move, the BBC guidance said: “The decision is based on concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy and security.” ...

[China](https://nnn.ng/tag/china/), but the country’s intelligence legislation requires companies to help the Communist party when requested. TikTok said: “We are disappointed with the guidance that the BBC has shared but welcome the fact TikTok can still be used as part of editorial, marketing and reporting purposes. The move comes after the [UK](https://nnn.ng/tag/uk/) government banned the app on government-issued phones amid fears of sensitive data being accessed by the Chinese government, owing to its ownership by the Chinese internet company ByteDance. It has gone further than the BBC by requiring staff to use only designated TikTok phones if they need the app for research purposes. But the spokesperson said the BBC would continue to monitor and assess the situation. [](https://nnn.ng/#:~:text=using blogger outreach)

The BBC has now issued its own guidance for staff who have been told that usage of TikTok on corporate devices is still allowed for 'editorial and marketing ...

'We believe these bans have been based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics. Staff have been told that usage of TikTok on corporate devices is still allowed for 'editorial and marketing purposes'. The BBC has now issued its own guidance for staff – despite the fact that the broadcaster has targeted TikTok as a key way to reach younger audiences The BBC has now issued its own guidance for staff – despite the fact that the broadcaster has targeted TikTok as a key way to reach younger audiences. The BBC has urged staff to delete TikTok from work devices unless they need it for business reasons [BBC](/news/bbc/index.html) has urged staff to delete [TikTok](/tvshowbiz/tiktok/index.html) from work devices unless they need it for business reasons amid fears about the social media firm's relationship with the Chinese government.

The car became stuck by the basement windows of the Francis Hotel in the early hours of Sunday.

A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 04:45 due to a car having left the road and colliding with a hotel and ended up in a precarious position over a basement area. "The hotel was open - it was a bit strange because you could see through the window and there were people having their lunch and their afternoon tea above where the car was." "There was a fire engine and a few crew, but there didn't seem to be anything happening - I don't know if the fire crew were just guarding the site.

Almost every day women in India face sexual harassment in public places. So how do they deal with it?

I'm happy that I had the safety pin, but I feel silly that I didn't turn around and slap him," she says. A vast majority said they took action themselves or chose to ignore the situation, often moving away because they didn't want to create a scene, or were worried about escalating the situation. Police have also launched apps and helpline numbers which women can use to seek help. "I pricked him and he withdrew, but he kept trying again and again and I kept trying to prick him back. "As soon as he came and stood next to me, I got up from my seat and crushed his toes with my heels. "That night I couldn't sleep and even thought about quitting my job, but then I started thinking about revenge. Then I used the pin to puncture his forearm and quickly exited the bus." One of them - Deepika Shergill - wrote about an incident when she actually used it to draw blood. I didn't even tell my mother what had happened with me," she said. But when he continued, she realised that it was deliberate - and the safety pin she had used to keep her scarf in place "saved the day". The incident took place decades ago, but she still remembered the tiniest details. A few months back, several women in India took to Twitter to confess that they always carried a pin in their handbags or on their person, and that it was their weapon of choice to fight perverts in crowded spaces.