Russian blogger killed after explosion in St Petersburg

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An explosion has torn through a cafe in Russias second-largest city, killing a prominent military blogger who had supported the fighting in Ukraine and was speaking at a patriotic discussion event..

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DVD and Blu Ray sales up despite streaming boom

The boss of HMV has said more shoppers are buying physical movies and TV shows again despite the recent streaming boom. Blu-ray and DVD sales are back in growth after significant decline in recent years, sparked by the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+. Phil Halliday, managing director of HMV, said the retailer is “good health”, with all its core product areas back in growth despite a challenging consumer backdrop. He said the recovery of its “physical visual” business has been a particular highlight, with collectors helping to support increased sales. Mr Halliday added that the category has grown as households have witnessed an increase in the number of streaming services, uncertainty over which shows or films are on certain platforms, and rises in the price of many subscriptions. The managing director said: “It’s been really positive to see the physical products in visual back in growth – 4K and Blu-Ray have been doing particularly well. “It’s a bit like people buying music physically, in that we are getting a lot of people wanting to collect certain titles. Releases have picked up as well, and we have some really good titles like Challengers coming out at the moment. “When streaming first came out I think a lot of people saw it as cheap and with huge breadth of choice, but I’m not sure people see it like that now. “People are willing to pay for a physical copy of shows or films they know they will rewatch.” He said this adds to strong recent trading for music, technology and merchandise across its 120 stores across the UK and Europe. The retailer – which was bought in a rescue deal by Doug Putman in 2019 – has also increased investment across its store estate in recent years. Late last year, HMV returned to its historic Oxford Street store following a four-year absence, during which time the unit had been occupied by an American-style candy shop. Mr Halliday said the store has been performing well since it reopened. “It’s been a step up for the business,” he said. “The store is a big site and it’s been really fun to work on it and bring it back to life properly. “But it’s important to say that we aren’t just shops like Oxford Street. To be honest, our bread and butter is that we have so many brilliant stores in communities all across the UK. “At the moment, I think we have really good coverage in terms of locations in the UK, and we’re pleased with how their trading right now.” Published: 21/07/2024 by Radio NewsHub

Jeremy Hunt apologises for pandemic failings in wake of Covid inquiry report

Former health secretary responds in wake of Covid inquiry report Jeremy Hunt has apologised for failures in the UK’s pandemic preparations highlighted by the Covid inquiry. In its first report, published on Thursday, the inquiry found the former government had “failed” the public due to “significant flaws” in preparing for a pandemic. On Sunday, Mr Hunt acknowledged that as health secretary between 2012 and 2018, he had been “part of a groupthink where we over-prepared for pandemic flu, we didn’t think about other types of pandemic”. Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said: “I apologise unreservedly to the families. That was the most terrible tragedy what happened to this country during Covid.” He also urged the new Government to take up the recommendations of Baroness Heather Hallett’s 217-page report. The report said the inquiry had “no hesitation” in concluding the “processes, planning and policy of the civil contingencies structures within the UK government and devolved administrations and civil services failed their citizens”. Among the problems identified by the inquiry were a failure to plan for the pandemic that actually occurred, with too much focus on pandemic flu, “labyrinthine” structures for emergency planning, and a “failure to learn sufficiently” from planning exercises. In her recommendations, Lady Hallett called for a pandemic strategy to be developed and tested at least every three years, with a UK-wide crisis response exercise. She said the Government and political leaders should be properly held to account on a regular basis “for systems of preparedness and resilience”. She also said external experts from outside Whitehall and government should be brought in to challenge and guard against “the known problem of groupthink”. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said ministers will “carefully consider” Lady Hallett’s recommendations, adding it is a “top priority” for his Government. He said: “The Government’s first responsibility is to keep the public safe, and as Prime Minister I am personally committed to each and every family that lost loved ones, and whose lives were changed forever, that this Government will learn the lessons from the inquiry.” Published: 21/07/2024 by Radio NewsHub

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Russian blogger killed after explosion in St Petersburg

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DVD and Blu Ray sales up despite streaming boom

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