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UK diesel hits record £2 a litre as G7 agrees emergency oil release
G7 leaders have agreed to release up to 100 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves within four months, following sustained pressure from President Donald Trump to lower energy prices before next month’s American mid-term elections. Trump dropped his threatened ban on US diesel exports, and the group also pledged not to impose restrictions on…
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Bishop of Salisbury suspended from ministry amid allegations of financial misconduct and ‘safeguarding’ concerns
Stephen Lake, the Bishop of Salisbury, has been suspended from ministry after two complaints under the Clergy Discipline Measure moved to their next stage. The complaints follow allegations of financial misconduct and concerns about his conduct referred to the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team; the Church says suspension is a neutral step while they…
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Home Assistant renames paid cloud service to Link amid push for local control
Home Assistant is renaming its paid Home Assistant Cloud service to Home Assistant Link, distancing the platform from the negative associations of cloud-dependent smart home products. The change is part of a wider effort to make Home Assistant easier for mainstream users, while keeping smart-home control local by default. The service’s features remain broadly the…
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Bath councillors want to drop its unique UNESCO world heritage status so it can build new homes to meet Labour’s targets
Bath and North East Somerset Council is considering changing the wording of Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription, a move that could require the city to give up and later reapply for the status. Councillors say the designation’s protections limit where homes can be built, while the Government has nearly doubled the council’s housing target. The…
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Wife said murdered NY Times executive gave daughter book about grieving her mother
Jonathan McKinsey, a 40-year-old New York Times games executive and transgender man, was murdered in a parking lot in Dublin, California, allegedly by his in-laws. The killing occurred amid a bitter divorce battle with his wife Candice Jang, during which both parties had filed allegations of domestic violence. The case has raised questions about the…
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Red weather alerts issued as torrential storms threaten eastern Spain
Spain has issued its highest weather alert (red level) for Valencia, Castellón and Tarragona provinces due to torrential storms threatening the east coast. Authorities have instructed residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, with emergency alerts sent to mobile phones and many municipalities suspending classes. The extreme weather poses genuine risk of severe impacts…
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School protests spread across France, raising alarm in Macron’s government
School protests that began in the low-income Seine-Saint-Denis area have spread across France, prompting hundreds of schools to close and drawing in some university students. The demonstrations have alarmed President Emmanuel Macron’s government because youth protests can attract wider public support and grow beyond the control of organisers, with national elections approaching. Students are calling…
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UK castles host Traitors-inspired events, with weekends costing £30,000
The surge in popularity of the UK television show “The Traitors” has sparked a boom in Traitors-style events across British castles, with event companies organising everything from team-building exercises to luxury weekend getaways. The show’s celebrity format, involving deception and strategic gameplay, has captured audiences and inspired fans to recreate the experience themselves, leading castle…
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Kid Rock Searching For Salvation on Upcoming ‘Halfway to Jesus’ Christian Rock Album Featuring Eminem Collab
Kid Rock has announced *Halfway to Jesus*, a 17-track Christian rock album that marks a turn towards openly celebrating his faith. The project matters in part for its collaboration with Eminem, whom Rock says he hopes can model how friends with political differences can stay on good terms. The album is due on 17 October…
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Family of ‘beautiful’ girl, 16, killed alongside two teen boys when car plunged into River Wear ‘say ‘you had a zest for life’ in moving tribute
Three teenagers died on Tuesday when a black Audi A3 they were travelling in plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland. Zara Shaw, 16, Jackson Duke, 17, and Luke Etheridge, 16, were recovered from the water, whilst a fourth passenger aged 17 survived with minor injuries. The incident has deeply affected the local community, with…