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Ben Folds hits out at Donald’s Trump’s Kennedy Center takeover before Congress: “When you politicise art, you’ve got propaganda”
Ben Folds, who served for nearly a decade as artistic advisor to the Kennedy Center’s National Symphony Orchestra before stepping down in 2025, has testified before Congress criticising Donald Trump’s takeover of the Washington D.C. arts institution. Speaking at a congressional forum on 21 July 2026, the singer-songwriter said the venue had become a “hyper-politicised…
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Former Southern Water employees to face trial over alleged cover-up in wastewater testing
The Environment Agency is bringing criminal proceedings against Southern Water Services and four former employees, including ex-chief executive Matthew Wright, over allegations they manipulated wastewater testing results to defraud regulators. The case matters because it centres on claims of a deliberate cover-up of pollution failings by a major utility, and comes as the government pushes…
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Britain does not have enough water for more data centres: Industry says Labour’s AI growth plans do not ‘make a single mention’ of water and are ‘fatally flawed’
The UK’s water industry has warned that Britain lacks sufficient water supplies to support the government’s planned expansion of data centres, arguing that Labour’s AI growth strategy is “fatally flawed” because it fails to account for water usage. Industry figures say the policy does not “make a single mention” of water, despite data centres requiring…
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Mind my pet… lion: Crocs and an elephant also among animals kept in homes
A report highlights the range of exotic and potentially dangerous animals being kept as pets in ordinary homes, with examples cited including lions, crocodiles and even an elephant. The findings draw attention to how such animals end up in private hands and the welfare and safety questions this raises, an issue that has drawn scrutiny…
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GOP blames Canada for fires, experts point to climate
The article text was unavailable because access to the page was denied, so its contents cannot be summarised reliably. The headline indicates a dispute in which Republican figures blame Canada for fires while experts emphasise the role of climate change, but this alone does not establish the article’s claims or evidence. No further details, figures…
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Four men arrested after hedgehog was painted in Leeds United colours leaving spiky mammal struggling to breathe
Four men have been arrested after a hedgehog was found covered in paint in Leeds United’s blue and yellow colours, leaving the animal struggling to breathe. The incident has drawn attention to the risks posed by using paint or other substances on wildlife, as such coatings can clog a hedgehog’s pores and severely restrict its…
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Female sheriff convicted of being bully boss from hell… and now taxpayers are on the hook for $250,000 because of her antics
A sheriff in Georgia, US, has been found to have created a hostile work environment for staff, with the county now required to pay out $250,000 as a result of a lawsuit brought over her conduct. The case highlights the financial consequences local taxpayers can face when public officials are found to have mistreated employees…
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Record number of osprey chicks for nature reserve
A pair of ospreys at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve in Cumbria have helped produce a record five chicks in a single season, delighting birdwatchers and conservationists. Cumbria Wildlife Trust said the milestone was made possible by a new breeding pair joining the reserve’s long-established resident pair, Blue 35 and White YW, marking a significant success…
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The Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Who Has the Entire NBA Spooked
Pablo Torre, host of the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” has become one of the most feared and celebrated figures in sports journalism after his investigations rattled the NBA. His reporting exposed how the Los Angeles Clippers, owned by billionaire Steve Ballmer, allegedly circumvented the NBA salary cap by arranging a $28 million no-show endorsement…