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British forces intercept Russian shadow fleet vessel – video
British armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, has confirmed. According to the tracking website Marine Traffic, the vessel is now anchored off the coast of Dorset near Weymouth. Authorities said it would be monitored for environmental or safety concerns. The UK says the Smyrtos is one of 700 vessels in a shadow fleet responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s oil exports, which are under international sanctions. The fleet provides Russia with what analysts say is a critical lifeline, allowing oil to be sold and funds generated to continue its war against UkraineBritish armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel Continue reading...
‘People start connecting the dots’: why an investment fund is rewilding a North Yorkshire estate
Rebalance Earth is investing in Broughton Sanctuary to generate financial, environmental and social returnsFrom a high point on the hill, the North Yorkshire landscape unrolls below. The moorland above gives way to grassland, trees and then pasture, divided by the region’s traditional dry stone walls.The view may be idyllic, but it belies the condition of parts of this land, belonging to the sprawling 1,100 hectare (2,500-acre) Broughton Sanctuary estate, near Skipton. Continue reading...
London startup to trial drug to prevent cancer therapy side-effect ‘cytokine storm’
Poolbeg Pharma to test the treatment in NHS hospitals and says it is also developing a GLP-1 weight loss pillA London-based startup is about to trial a drug at six NHS hospitals that could stop people on cancer immunotherapy getting a life-threatening side-effect.Poolbeg Pharma said its oral drug POLB 001 could make treatment for blood cancer safer by preventing cytokine release syndrome (CRS), when the immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the body, leading to organ damage. Continue reading...
‘It’s going to be extremely hot’: workers imperiled as sweltering World Cup temperatures are forecast
It could top 90F in several cities hosting World Cup games – and workers could pay the price with their healthAs the World Cup kicks off, labor advocates and scholars warn that the workers making the tournament possible could face serious heat-related risks.“It’s going to be extremely hot, and you just cannot leave people unprotected or you’re going to deal with a lot of injuries,” said Jonathan Alingu, co-executive director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice, which has been calling for worker protections at the Miami games. “Or, God forbid, something even worse.” Continue reading...
How Brexit has made Britain poorer – in charts
Forecasters were wrong about an immediate recession but right that we would be worse off outside the EUAs the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches, the verdict on Britain’s economic performance is clear: voting to leave has resulted in severe costs for households and businesses.The immediate recession predicted in the Treasury forecasts ordered by George Osborne – dubbed “project fear” by the Leave campaign – did not happen. The impact from the Covid pandemic, wars in Ukraine and Iran, and Donald Trump’s trade battles also cloud the picture. Continue reading...
UK sets out AI infrastructure push at London Tech Week – how does it stack up?
Government announces plans to invest billions, but questions linger over how its proposals on chips, social media and more will workOwnership of the commanding heights of the AI economy is a political talking point around the world, as countries seek to assert some control of a technology dominated by the US and China.London Tech Week, the showcase event for the UK tech industry, focused heavily on that theme this week. A government keen to show it has a growth story, and an assertive narrative on AI, made a number of announcements related to companies, skills and infrastructure. Some represented new commitments and ideas; others appeared to be putting a polish on already announced measures. Continue reading...
‘We eat and drink risk’: higher costs bring curtain down on more UK music festivals
Plans for new event at the Secret Garden Party site and Womad Glasgow are dashed, but others remain optimisticHosting Scotland’s first Womad festival seemed like an easy sell for Glasgow, the country’s gig capital and self-proclaimed “dynamic global hub for music lovers”.However, last week the internationally renowned event celebrating performance from around the world, successfully staged in 30 countries since being co-founded by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel in 1982, was cancelled due to low ticket sales. Continue reading...
Elon Musk's stratospheric rise to trillionaire status - in charts
The BBC breaks down how the tech mogul's fortune has grown.
Have you been mis-sold car finance?
Martin Lewis has advice for those who have or who are planning to put in a car finance mis-selling claim.
'I was employee number one at SpaceX'
The BBC's Michelle Fleury spoke to Tom Mueller, who was one of the company's founders alongside Elon Musk in 2002.
Watch: Three things to know about SpaceX's stock market debut
The BBC's Samira Hussain explains everything you need to know about SpaceX's historic IPO.
India's 'blue gold' starts a new drinks industry
Agave plants grow wild in India and new distillers are using them to create a spirits industry.
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
New candy stores are popping up across NYC. Why?
While US consumer confidence is at an historic low the Big Apple's sweet shops are expanding.
Could humanoid robots be heading for the battlefield?
Armed forces are experimenting with humanoid robots, but battlefield deployment is some way off.
Spain's visitor numbers hit new highs as tourists avoid Middle East
The European country had 9.1 million international visitors in April, the most ever for that month.
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
The ancient trick making food waste useful and tasty
Instead of throwing away byproducts of food processing, fermentation is making them valuable.
'By the grace of God': Miners dig on as lab-grown diamonds change market
The rising popularity of lab-grown diamonds heaps pressure on those hunting for the natural gems.
How 'confused' AI rollout hurts firms and baffles staff
Some firms are putting pressure on staff to use AI, but have not thought through their AI rollout.
Caribbean hot sauce producers warn of shortages and higher prices
Manufacturers in Jamaica say the key chilli peppers they need are in limited supply.
Humanoid robots 'the future' of car making, says BMW
BMW is introducing humanoid robots to a car plant in Europe, building on similar projects in the US.
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam