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Giovanni Pernice: BBC left me feeling suicidal

UK handed secrets to foil Putin's saboteurs

Ukraine shares its ‘goldmine’ of battlefield intelligence that will train military’s AI

By Tom Cotterill and Joe Barnes

UKRAINE has handed over a “goldmine” of secret battlefield intelligence to help protect the UK from Russian spies and saboteurs.

Britain is the first country outside Ukraine to be given access to Kyiv's vast "Avenger Labs" repository, containing millions of images of Russian tanks, air defences, troops, drones and artillery systems from the war. The data will be used to train technology at British bases, and improve its ability to detect spies trying to gain access to military sites or information.

There is growing concern over Russian activity in Britain. Vladimir Putin was last month accused of launching drones from Russia's shadow fleet to spy on nuclear weapons in the UK, while in April the Royal Navy disrupted a covert submarine operation carried out by the Kremlin in British waters.

AI technology from Ukraine could eventually be used to protect British airports, prisons, hospitals and even railways and energy plants.

The deal was struck as Andy Burnham paid his first visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister yesterday, where he condemned Russia's “outrageous” threats against Britain in a speech in front of a cathedral in Kyiv.

The Prime Minister also agreed to give Kyiv classified information on the British components in Storm Shadow missiles so that Ukraine could manufacture the long-range weapon for use in its war against Russia.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, accused Britain of becoming more involved in the war, saying: "Britain is methodically and regularly adding fuel to the fire and methodically and regularly plotting to prevent any progress in the peace process."

Responding to the sabre-rattling from Russia, Mr Burnham said: "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?"

The battlefield intelligence handed to Britain has been collected from thousands of cameras and infrared sensors across Ukraine. The data will help to “revolutionise all parts of public life” by training AI how to respond to emergencies involving Britain’s critical infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defence, which described the data as a “goldmine”, said it would be used in the first instance to protect bases “from protesters and hostile actors trying to gain intelligence”.

Palestine Action protesters broke into RAF Brize Norton in June 2025, causing £1.7 million of damage to military planes.

The Ukrainian data will also enable Britain to identify and respond to threats such as Russian drones more rapidly than ever before.

Three British startups, including Bristol's Sintela, Oxford's Mind Foundry and London's Skyral, are using the data in pilot projects.

One such project will turn buried fibre-optic cables into giant, AI-enabled sensors for use by the British military.

British defence firms and scientists will also gain access to battlefield data that will be used to build AI-powered computer chips for future smart drones and robots. If successful, the technology could underpin a new generation of intelligent machines capable of operating for longer, responding faster and functioning in environments where conventional systems struggle.

The deal was signed by Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Mr Burnham in Ukraine yesterday.

Speaking in Kyiv, Mr Burnham hit out at Moscow, telling a crowd in front of St Sofia cathedral: “Despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for Ukraine. This is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia, the moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war.”

The Prime Minister also chaired his first coalition of the willing meeting alongside France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Friedrich Merz. Mr Macron told the meeting that a string of Continued on Page 4.

Editorial Comment: Page 15

Giovanni Pernice, the former Strictly Come Dancing star, tells today's Telegraph that the BBC's treatment of him in the wake of the Amanda Abbington scandal left him feeling suicidal. 'I feel they hung me out to dry to cover their backs,' he says. Page 3

Mandelson targeted by hoax White House texts

By Connor Stringer, Tony Diver and Rozina Sabur

LORD MANDELSON was targeted by a White House impersonator a year before Andy Burnham exchanged messages with a person posing as Donald Trump's chief of staff, The Telegraph can reveal.

The peer, who at the time was Britain's ambassador in Washington, was supposedly contacted by a person pretending to be Susie Wiles in 2025.

Last week, it emerged that Mr Burnham had communicated with a person claiming to be Ms Wiles shortly after becoming Prime Minister.

It has since been reported that the impersonator's number was passed to Mr Burnham by David Lammy, the former foreign secretary, who was in post at the same time as Lord Mandelson.

The exchange on WhatsApp between the fraudster and Mr Burnham has prompted security fears in Whitehall.

British and American spy agencies are investigating why Mr Burnham was contacted by the imposter soon after he took office in No10.

The scammer is said to have approached Lord Mandelson with a text asking the Labour peer for a convenient time to meet. When the British embassy in Washington contacted Ms Wiles's office to fix a date, they said the phone had been hacked, according to a source familiar with the incident.

Ms Wiles is widely considered to be the US president's closest adviser. She ran his second presidential campaign before becoming his chief of staff.

It is unclear who was behind the incident and whether it was the same impersonator who approached both Mr Burnham and Lord Mandelson.

It also remains unknown whether the scammer was acting on behalf of a hostile state. Sources noted that Moscow has previously targeted senior politicians and military officials in the West through “phishing” scams. Beijing has also been accused of gaining access to US telecommunications companies in a major cyber espionage campaign known as Salt Typhoon.

The Mandelson incident raises concerns about why one attempt to dupe a senior member of the government did not prevent the scam from happening a second time.

It is not clear whether the number passed on to Mr Burnham was the same one used to target Lord Mandelson. However, the scammer is thought to have used a once-legitimate number for Ms Wiles when contacting the peer.

She reportedly told friends in May 2025 that her phone's contacts were hacked, giving the impersonator access to the private numbers of some of the world's most influential figures.

The FBI launched an investigation after the breach. The White House said at the time that it took the cybersecurity of all staff “very seriously”. Downing Street has said that the exchange with the Prime Minister lasted only a few messages that were of “no significance”.

TikTok promotes ‘thrilling’ police chase videos to young people

By Tim Sigsworth, James Titcomb and Samuel Montgomery

TIKTOK is promoting high-speed police chase videos to young users by labelling them as “thrilling”.

The social media giant also described one motorway pursuit as “exciting” in an AI-generated summary, even though the viral clip should have been removed for breaching the company’s rules on prohibited content.

Social media sites have been accused of encouraging illegal driving by allowing users to post footage of police chases, after two officers and five joy- riders died in a crash in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, on Saturday. Pc Mat- thew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, died when their marked police vehicle was hit by a Volkswagen Passat travel- ling in the wrong direction on the A66.

Before the crash, one of the five people killed in the Passat had shared a video of himself driving recklessly. Twelve people have since been arrested in connection with the crash, some of whom are suspected of “participating in the activities of an organised crime group”.

Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, said yesterday that the sharing of dangerous driving videos was “truly reprehensible”. Luke Pollard, the defence minister, added that social media platforms’ monetisation schemes offered “financial incentives” to dangerous drivers.

Websites offer payment schemes to users whose views and follower counts exceed a certain level, with earnings ranging from a few pounds to several hundred depending on the popularity.

Although banned under their terms and conditions, footage of illegal driving can still be found on the sites.

Videos shared on TikTok included a motorist evading an unmarked police car by careering over a green.

Another, showing a police car with blue lights flashing, was promoted with an AI summary generated by TikTok that read: "Watch the thrilling police chase in Bradford on the M606."

The summary later described the incident as an “exciting police chase video”.

However, under TikTok's own rules, such videos should not be on the site. TikTok's community guidelines ban any content showing “risky driving” and “dangerous activity that involves visible or imminent significant physical harm". TikTok has since deleted the driving videos, which had been on its platform for as long as one year, after it was approached by The Telegraph. The three users who posted them were not eligible for payment under TikTok's "creator rewards" scheme.

Dangerous driving videos can also be found on other platforms, including YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. The platforms remove such content when they become aware of it.

Fears have been raised about the spreading of dangerous content on social media through algorithms that promote the most interesting videos into users' feeds. Campaigners have warned that this encourages video makers to carry out reckless stunts to get attention.

In May, TikTok rowed back on a separate AI feature which inaccurately summarised some of its videos.

A spokesman for YouTube said: “We don’t allow content featuring harmful or dangerous activities that risk serious physical harm on YouTube.” Snapchat was approached for comment.

Middlesbrough crash: Page 6 Editorial Comment: Page 15

Michael Deacon Abbott should

INSIDE

Puzzles	16
Obituaries	25
TV listings	26
Weather	28

NEWS

Women to be sent at-home smear tests

DIY cervical checks will be offered to around four million women via kits sent through the post. Women who have failed to attend cervical screening appointments will be able to order self-testing kits from the NHS, under plans to increase uptake and help eliminate cervical cancer. The kits test for high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus passed through sexual contact and causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. Page 2

'A number of competitors were disqualified after they tested positive for WD-40'

NEWS

Burnham may cut tuition fees for EU deal

Andy Burnham is considering cutting the cost of tuition fees for European students in an attempt to strengthen Britain's relationship with the EU. The Prime Minister met Antonio Costa, the European Council's president, on the night train to Kyiv yesterday, and told him that they had to be "bolder" in bringing Britain and the bloc closer. It has raised fears that, to achieve a broader "Brexit reset", Mr Burnham may agree to reduce tuition fees for EU students at British universities. Page 4

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At-home smear tests sent to 4m women

Self-testing kits delivered through the post hailed as potential ‘game-changer’ in battle against the disease

By Laura Donnelly HEALTH EDITOR

DIY cervical checks will be offered to around four million women via kits sent through the post. Women who have failed to attend cervical screening appointments will be able to order self-testing kits from the NHS, under plans to boost uptake and help eliminate cervical cancer.

The kits test for high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus passed through sexual contact and causes almost all cases of cervical cancer.

Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women's health at NHS England, said: “Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a game-changer – making it easier than ever for them to get tested for HPV.”

Eligible women aged between 30 and 65 who have not attended screening appointments will be sent invitations from Tuesday through the NHS app, text message, email or letter.

They will then be able to order a kit through the NHS app or online. The kits contain a swab which can be used to collect a sample from the vagina. The kit can then be posted free-of-charge to NHS laboratories.

If high-risk HPV is found, women will be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment at their GP surgery or sexual health clinic, where a nurse or doctor will take a sample from the cervix to check for cell changes.

Around 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause cervical cancer, while the infection itself usually causes no symptoms.

The phased rollout forms part of the NHS's target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.

Latest NHS England figures show 68.8 per cent of eligible women are up to date with cervical screening, below the 80 per cent target. The health service estimates this means around four million women are not up to date.

Dr Mann said: "Screening saves thousands of lives each year by preventing cancers and catching them earlier, but only around two thirds of women are attending cervical screening appointments when invited by the NHS.

"There are lots of reasons that may stop women from getting their cervical screening – embarrassment, lack of time, or worries about discomfort – and these kits provide a discreet and convenient option we hope will encourage more women to take up the life-saving test.

“So, if you’re invited to take part, please order a test – it’s a simple swab you can do at home in minutes.”

Health officials said attending cervical screening appointments with a clinician was still the best way to reduce the chance of cervical cancer.

They said self-testing, which will be by invitation only, was being offered as an extra choice for those who have not taken up previous invitations.

Blaze destroys 140 vehicles in Gatwick car park

ABOUT 140 vehicles belonging to holidaymakers have been damaged after a fire at a car park serving Gatwick airport.

By Telegraph Reporter

Emergency services responded to the “significant and complex” fire just after 9pm on Saturday at Caldyne Business Park near Crawley, Sussex, about eight miles from the airport.

Some 2,133 businesses and homes were left without power for three minutes at 11.02pm after the suspected arson attack. Nearly 60 properties had no power until 8.05am on Sunday, UK Power Networks said.

A 67-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue sent eight fire engines and two water carriers to the scene. Firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control overnight.

Megan Maynard described how the blaze “destroyed” her brother’s livelihood. She told a Crawley Facebook group: “In just one night everything they had worked so hard to build was taken from them.”

Sam and George Smith, 51 and 53, told The Sun they paid £105 to Sapphire Parking via an app last week.

He said: “Last night I was ringing and ringing and they said there’s been a fire... You can’t tell if your car is destroyed or not. We’re in the dark, we don’t know anything.”

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "About 140 vehicles were damaged, and a number of the vehicles involved in this fire were parked at a site used for holiday parking. "Any affected consumers are advised to contact their operator directly."

More than 100 cars were destroyed after a ‘significant and complex’ fire at Caldyne Business Park near Gatwick Airport. A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson

Burnham refuses to rule out tax rises in Budget to pay for defence and social care

Daniel Martin

DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

ANDY BURNHAM has refused to rule out tax rises in his first Budget as he warned the public finances were in a “challenging” state.

Speaking on a visit to Ukraine, the Prime Minister said he “can’t be unrealistic” about the state of the economy.

Mr Burnham was asked by ITV whether the British public needed to accept that they will have to pay more in tax to pay for his spending pledges.

He replied: "They don't necessarily need to accept that. What I have put out so far, I wouldn't say is everything, but they are the first steps and they are significant.

“So we will take VAT off electricity bills. We will bring back the £2 cap on bus fares for the whole of 2027, these are things that we can do because I’ve reprioritised. I took the decision early on that digital ID wasn't the top priority for now. And so we've reprioritised funding to other priorities."

Asked again whether the need to increase defence spending meant that the public needed to accept tax rises, he said: "I will always take a careful approach to things. I ran Greater Manchester for 10 years and we ran a very tight ship with rock-solid finances. Nothing will change as I come into this role as prime minister.

"I won't take risks with people's jobs or their livelihoods or their family finances. I will try to help them in whatever way I can. I have already done some things that will help them... I will do what I can but I won't be unrealistic and people really need to understand that.

“We are in a challenging position, whatever I do will be carefully thought through, it will be funded and there will be more to come as we go into the autumn."

Mr Burnham has already pledged to fully fund the Defence Investment Plan. John Healey, the Chancellor, resigned as Sir Keir Starmer's defence secretary after concluding the former prime minister had not provided the military with enough money to keep Britain safe.

He has also said that he will introduce a major reform of the social care system, which analysts say will cost at least £15bn.

Despite this, the Prime Minister has promised to stick to fiscal rules which limit borrowing and Labour's 2024 manifesto, which ruled out rises in income tax, VAT and National Insurance.

This means he will have to raise taxes or cut other spending to fund his pledges.

Race Across World star dies one year after son was killed

By Telegraph Reporter

A STAR from Race Across The World has died a year after her son was killed in a car crash.

Jo Gardiner travelled across South America with her son Sam in the BBC's global travel competition during its second series in 2020.

The 61-year-old died “following a long and courageous battle with cancer”, her family said in a statement.

Sam died in June 2025 aged 24 after his Volkswagen Golf R came off the road and rolled before landing on its side.

Gardiner, a physiotherapist from Manchester, was “an intrepid adventurer, brave, kind, witty and endlessly loving”, her family said in the tribute.

The statement continued: "She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves. She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.

"To us, she was more than all of these

Jo Gardiner, 61, had taken part in the 2020 series of the reality show. Her son Sam, 24, was killed in a car crash last summer

things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.

“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.”

NEWS BULLETIN

Farage Fest party ‘took place without consent’

Nigel Farage's election victory party took place without permission, a council has said.

Hundreds of Reform UK supporters descended on Great Oakley Airfield in Essex for the overnight “Farage Fest” following the Clacton by-election this month. The invitation-only mini-festival featured live music, alcohol and even a Ferris wheel, with Mr Farage himself celebrating on stage after securing another stint as the constituency’s MP.

But Tendring district council has confirmed a late temporary event notice (LTEN) submitted for the event was refused because it missed the deadline.

Burglary suspect charged over break-in death

A suspected burglar has been charged in connection with the death of a great-grandmother following a break-in at her north London home.

Rose Smith, 75, died in hospital 24 hours after officers were called to reports of an aggravated burglary in Finsbury Park, at about 9.20pm on Aug 11. An 81-year-old man was also taken to hospital following an assessment by paramedics but was discharged the next day.

Yesterday, Jeffrey Dean Rose, 46, of Apsley Close, North Harrow, was charged with manslaughter and aggravated burglary with intent.

Ms Smith's family said she was "loved by so many people".

Man ‘killed partner then attacked her daughter’

A man stabbed his partner 70 times and turned the knife on her daughter, a court heard.

Alan Dore, 48, is accused of killing grandmother Samantha Turner, 52, in her own home in Shepherd's Bush, west London, on Aug 18. Keeley Turner, Ms Turner's 32-year-old daughter, was stabbed twice when she tried to intervene, it was alleged.

Mr Dore appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder and attempted murder yesterday. Judge Simon Mayo KC set a timetable for the case, with a plea hearing on Nov 9 and a provisional three-week trial from May 17 next year. Mr Dore, also of Askew Road, was remanded into custody.

Little Snoring as village kept up all night by rave

Police have arrested five people and seized music equipment after an illegal rave in a Norfolk village.

Officers were called to reports of a disturbance at about 1am on Sunday in Little Snoring. The five were arrested for offences such as drink and drug-driving, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and operating a licensable activity without the required authorisation.

On arriving at the scene, officers seized sound equipment, vehicles and generators from those attending. They also closed the entrance to the site to prevent later arrivals.

Norfolk Constabulary has launched an investigation to find out who organised the event.

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‘BBC hung me out to dry over Abbington’

Exclusive interview Giovanni Pernice on bullying allegations, feeling suicidal and being abandoned by his ‘Strictly Family’

By Chris Harvey in Rome

GIOVANNI PERNICE has waited a long time to tell his side of the story about his departure from Strictly Come Dancing in 2024. Having joined the show in 2015, he had quickly become its brightest star and best dancer, and had given it the most magical moment in its history. In 2021, he and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was born deaf, won the Glitterball Trophy and hearts everywhere for their “Couple’s Choice” routine.

It included a segment in which the music, Symphony by Clean Bandit, faded into silence as the couple continued their dance. They were opening a window on to Ayling-Ellis's world for millions of viewers. "That's the greatest thing I've ever seen on the show," dancer-turned-judge Anton Du Beke said afterwards.

The moment catapulted Pernice to wider fame. He enjoyed sold-out tours, and made a BBC travelogue with Du Beke - Anton and Giovanni's Adventures in Sicily - in which Pernice took the Strictly veteran, 25 years his elder, on a road trip around the island of his birth. Pernice was training to be a presenter, too, courtesy of the Corporation.

But thanks to an ill-fated pairing with actress Amanda Abbington in 2023, his time on Strictly came to a sudden halt. Pernice, then 33, and Abbington, then 49 – and best known for her appearance on the BBC's Sherlock – performed thrillingly at first. Abbington could really dance; the duo looked well set to make the final. Yet just five weeks into the competition, Abbington announced her withdrawal – and so began a chain of events that would drive Pernice to the brink of suicide.

In 2024, months after quitting, Abbington made an official complaint to the BBC, in which she alleged 17 instances of bullying, abuse and even physical

‘If you want her on the show, put her with somebody nicer than me. And when I say nicer, I mean “less competitive”’

violence by Pernice. Soon after, it was announced that Pernice would not return for the show's next run. In the Corporation's subsequent investigation, none of the most serious allegations would be upheld, though six others were, for which Abbington received an apology and, earlier this month, a five-figure payout.

Pernice, however, feels a keen sense of injustice about all of this, and he wants to talk about it. He's legally barred from revealing the full findings of the investigation, but in his forthcoming memoir, Gio: Taking the Lead, he highlights the BBC's acknowledgement that "I had made concerted efforts to be positive and supportive to Amanda, in both the training room and our text conversations". He adds that most of the upheld complaints merely related to him swearing: "They found that I threw my arms up and said 'f---' on one occasion."

He is furious, as will become clear, with the BBC. “I was their golden boy, and at the end of the day, they discovered that I used the F-word with a person who used to use the C-word with me. And that I didn’t give her a break during the dancing. I’m not on Strictly any more because of that?” He sounds like he’s still in disbelief. “Take a break. What am I gonna do? Shoot you in the head if you take a break?”

“If it was me,” he tells me, “I would say to the BBC, give out the results [of the investigation]. The difference between ‘I [deliberately] stepped on your feet’, or ‘he bruised me’, or ‘he broke my rib’ – that’s a serious allegation. But if people knew the reasons why the complaints were upheld, they would say, ‘Are you joking?’”

Abbington claimed that she had been “triggered” by Pernice’s behaviour in the training studio. In the years before, she’d spoken widely about experiencing depression and mental-health issues. “I strongly believe that Amanda should not have been on the show in the first place,” Pernice says. “Or, if you want to put her on the show, put her with somebody much ‘nicer’ than me. And when I say nicer, I mean ‘less competitive’.”

Ironically, their pairing was his idea. At an early rehearsal with the celebrities, he saw Abbington's potential as a dancer and insisted on being with her. He now thinks that the BBC producers, having let

GUY LEVY/BBC/PA WIRE

Rome. It's a baking 36 degrees. Fittingly, he arrives on a Vespa, Roman Holiday-style, dressed in blue jeans, a crisp white shirt and a cream jacket. Now 35 years old, he looks sharp. Helmet removed, his dark hair is slicked back, his stud earrings a halo cluster of diamonds. "I made an effort," he says. I sense he always does.

Pernice has returned to the top in his native country, winning the Strictly franchise show Ballando con le Stelle (Dancing with the Stars) in 2024, and falling in love with his celebrity partner, the Italian actress and television presenter Bianca Guaccero. It's a visible redemption – plus the coffee is much better here, he tells me.

Success, across both Strictly and Ballando, was a long, hard road that required plenty of that obsessiveness. Pernice was born in 1990. As a youngster, he swapped playing football with friends for the dream of becoming a dancer. He was bullied in school, he says, because he danced.

However, his parents were supportive. His mother, a housewife, gave him her love of dance; his father, a traffic policeman, worked extra hours to fund his classes. He danced at first with his elder sister, but soon found a partner of his own, with whom he had his first kiss.

Abolington on to the show first place, should at least, knowing Pernice's teaching style, have vetoed the match. "I'm a taskmaster," he says. "But I know that I can take you to the final, and that I can take you to win the show – if you want to be pushed."

“Happy memories. Giovanni and I had the best of times on Strictly.” Another former partner, Michelle Visage, the US TV personality, offered her support. The Strictly judges were also swift to back him. Shirley Ballas defended him as “an absolute gentleman” and “a splendid teacher”.

Some of Pernice's other partners have been vocally supportive. Debbie McGee, who reached the 2017 final with him, sprang to his defence when Abbington's allegations first emerged. McGee immediately posted a picture of the two of them on the show, with the caption:

But Rose Ayling-Éllis said nothing. Pernice says he'd thought of them as "very, very good friends". He shrugs. "It's one of those things." What really hurt was all the people on the show who abandoned him. Dancers, production staff, people he regarded as close friends. The famous "Strictly family", he says, "doesn't exist". He'd longed for a simple message: "Hope you're OK? That's all I needed." He leaves a pause. "Never arrived."

more freedom to get to know the person in front of you. Now you're worried: how am I going to talk to you? How am I going to touch you?"

Then Abbington's version of events began to appear in the media. Pernice had been told not to talk to the press, and await an official hearing at the BBC. At that point, he didn't even know what the allegations were. Yet the complete list had apparently been leaked to The Sun. They became more and more extreme.

The first Pernice knew of the accusations was in April 2024. He was informed by BBC executives that “there had been official complaints made by ‘a person you have worked with’”. He was told they couldn’t guarantee him a place in the next series.

He and Foote moved in together, but the relationship ended shortly afterwards. The problems, he thinks, were compounded by his next Strictly partner, Love Island's Laura Whitmore, being a friend of Foote's. Whitmore began, Pernice says, by telling him that she'd wanted to dance with Cole, not him. (She would later come out in support of Abbington, as would another of Pernice's partners, Ranvir Singh.) Pernice accepts that he and Whitmore "didn't like each other from day one", but thinks it was a simple personality clash, of a kind that is more common on Strictly than people think.

In the memoir, he puts his thoughts on the BBC plainly: "I feel they hung me out to dry to cover their backs. I was devastated by that." Worse, he writes, the BBC's statement and public apology to Abbington "made it seem like all of the stories in the newspaper[s] were real, when most of them had been found to be totally untrue. Her claims had ruined my life and my career. Where was my apology?"

Pernice and I are meeting in

"At one point," he recalls, "it was put out that every time [Abbington] got a step right,

At 14, he moved alone to the mainland, and Bologna, to

Strictly Come Dancing performer Giovanni Pernice was paired with Amanda Abbington, who made an official complaint about him to the BBC; below right, Pernice celebrates winning Strictly in 2021 with Rose Ayling-Ellis

part in competitions all over Europe. I tell him I'm struck by the intensity of the details: that his body was weighed, for example, once a week. Wasn't this sort of pressure that led to the recent scandal at the Royal Ballet School, in which 50 ex-students complained to the BBC about body-shaming and "toxic" teaching?

'I was bullied by the newspapers. They were writing stuff about me that was simply not true'

"It's a culture thing," he replies. "In my opinion, Britain is becoming way too weak in everything. The Royal Ballet has been there for 100 years. It's always had the best dancers in the world" – he points to Darcey Bussell, the company's former principal dancer and later a Strictly judge – "and you don't think that these problems were there before? 'Don't eat much because otherwise you don't look good, your ability to spin is different, you break your ankles...'. There are reasons why people say that. It's not [that] somebody wakes up in the morning and says: 'You're fat.'

I'm a good-looking man. I can dance, and I love to win." Did he find himself having to play up to that image? "No, this is just who I am," he says with a grin.

"Of course, Strictly is different. It's an entertainment show. But if you sign up to be the best ballerina in the world, you know, there are rules." (Mark Monahan, chief dance critic of this newspaper, put it succinctly in 2023: "There has never been a great, or even good, ballet dancer who did not appear light.")

By 2014, Pernice was auditioning for Strictly. He told the producers: "I'm Italian.

then begin evening practice, in which all the couples would dance together until 10 o'clock at night. They would do this for four consecutive weekdays, before flying out on Fridays to take

On Strictly, Pernice quickly established himself. In his first series he made it to the final with Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote. After the show ended, he and Foote became a couple. The relationship helped him to settle. As he notes in Taking the Lead, “the more established pros were a bit suspicious of the new arrivals. Brendan Cole was always keen to let us know that he was the ‘bad guy’, he was the one who started the ‘Strictly curse.’”

I would have an erection. I'm like, 'How is it even possible to put something like this in a newspaper?'

a-man hours, practice with a partner for four hours, take a short break for lunch, sit through lectures, have two hours of dance lessons with a teacher, have dinner, train at the dance school Team Diablo. It was there that he learnt true discipline. Pernice had to adopt a punishing 16-hour daily routine.

That curse – the pattern of hook-ups between Strictly partners, and break-ups in existing relationships – has been a boon for the tabloids. But Pernice thinks it's over-hyped. "What about the 'office curse', or the 'supermarket curse'? It's the same thing. People spend time together every day, they end up sleeping together."

He would wake up at six o'clock, run, lift weights and do cardio exercise for two-and-a-half hours, practice

Left in the dark, Pernice began “spiralling mentally”. “I went into this black hole,” he says. He couldn’t bear to go out. He sank into depression, gaining 1st 12lb and even developing myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle that causes symptoms similar to a mild heart attack. Thoughts of suicide began to intrude.

Besides, he thinks, the chaperones that have been present in the Strictly training studios since 2024, following both Abbington's complaints and the prior sacking of dancer Graziano Di Prima – caught on camera kicking his partner, reality TV celebrity Zara McDermott, in 2023 – mean that “it’s not going to happen ever again... Because you don’t have any

"I was thinking: 'There's no place for me any more in this industry. So what's the point?' That's when I thought, 'Well, let's end this. There's no point. Let's end it. I'm never going to have back what I had.'"

What saved him, he insists, “was the audience, the general public. They have been, through all of this, incredible. At one point, my agent said to me that he had 3,000 letters in the studio, saying the same thing: ‘Give our love to Giovanni’”.

He's aware that Abbington's experience was also unpleasant. She faced a campaign of vile messages, even death threats. “I'm sorry, because nobody should experience that,” he emphasises. “After three years, I can tell you, Chris, that I don't have any sort of anger towards her. I'm disappointed, but more with the BBC than Amanda.”

He thinks there was a failure in duty of care to Abbington and to himself: “They didn’t look after me. ‘Well, you’re not contracted with us, your contract finished in December.’ Yeah, but I’ve been with you for nine years, so you can look after me. If I’m sending an email saying that I’ve got myocarditis and depression, you can’t even reply to me and say, ‘Oh, sorry if you feel a bit down’? We were all in the room. We were all together when this problem started. We were talking about the whole thing. We were, as a team. How are we gonna deal with this? But they washed their hands of it.”

Does he feel like the victim here? “Well, I wouldn’t say ‘victim’. ‘Victim’ is a big word. I was bullied by the newspapers – that’s for sure, very bullied. I felt that way every single day. They were writing stuff about me that was simply not true.”

Finally, in July 2024, barely a fortnight before the hearing, Pernice was told what he was accused of. He told investigators: "I think I can refute every allegation." He had kept all of the WhatsApp messages and voice notes he'd exchanged with Abbington - including one that Abbington had sent just one day into the group rehearsals, jokily saying: "Happy birthday, k---head."

"When I walked into the [investigators'] room," he tells me, "I didn't have to say much. I just played the voice recording and they understood. If you say that, you are setting the tone. Today, if I walked into this room and said, 'Hi, nice to meet you, d---head', you'd know exactly where this conversation is going."

He feels sure of one thing: if he hadn't kept the evidence, or asked for his and Abbington's sessions to be filmed early on, he would have found himself thrown to the wolves. "The 17 allegations would have been upheld, all of them. Not because they were true - just because of the way the BBC handled the whole thing." His entire career would surely be over.

He shrugs. “The BBC should say, ‘We f---ed up by putting you together. Sorry, Amanda, because of this. Sorry, Giovanni, to do that. Let’s move on.’” Pernice, for his part, is now ready to do exactly that.

Gio: Taking the Lead (Headline, £22) will be published on Aug 27.

PM considers tuition fee cut for EU students

Andy Burnham is open to university demands from Brussels as he tries to bring Britain closer to Europe

By Joe Barnes and Daniel Martin

ANDY BURNHAM is considering cutting the cost of tuition fees for European students in an attempt to strengthen Britain's relationship with the EU.

The Prime Minister, who has previously said he would like to rejoin the bloc, promised to forge closer ties on education, culture, defence and security, as he held talks with Brussels' most senior official.

He met with António Costa, the European Council's president, on the night train to Kyiv, where world leaders were gathering to mark yesterday's 35th anniversary of Ukraine's break from the Soviet Union.

In his discussions with Mr Costa, Mr Burnham said they had to be “bolder”

in bringing Britain and the bloc closer, hinting at possible concessions on a youth mobility scheme.

The meeting will raise fears that, to achieve a broader “Brexit reset” deal with the bloc, he may agree to reduce tuition fees for EU students at British universities.

In their talks, Mr Burnham suggested he would be open to such a concession as part of a youth mobility scheme for under-30s. That would require Brussels to open up its “Made in Europe” scheme to British firms, The Telegraph understands.

A well-placed European source did not dispute the claim, describing the positivity as a “vibe”, rather than the “detail”.

No 10 also refused to rule out the concession being made in the lead-up to October's UK-EU summit.

“We won’t comment on ongoing negotiations as the new government takes stock of our position ahead of the EU-UK summit later this year,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

Andy Burnham arrives in Kyiv after his train journey with European Council president Antonio Costa

"We are building an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will strengthen our economy and unlock growth in every postcode."

The Telegraph reported in June that Sir Keir Starmer had agreed to the concession to secure closer economic ties. However, his plans were shelved after he announced his resignation as prime minister.

The move would have seen European fees from £38,000 to £9,535, in line with domestic UK undergraduates.

Brussels ultimately cancelled the planned summit, which was scheduled for July, because the bloc was unsure whether the new Prime Minister would back the same strategy.

The EU's demand for Europeans to be granted access to domestic fees has become key to concluding deals on a youth mobility scheme and to ease cross-channel trade barriers on food, drink and energy.

UK and EU officials are planning to hold an in-person summit between Mr Burnham, Mr Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's president, in Brussels, after the party conference season.

At the meeting, London and Brussels are expected to sign off on deals to align trade rules on food, drink and energy, to remove cross-Channel bureaucracy.

It will also be used to finalise the

This Smarming Man: Andy Burnham made his first visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister yesterday, treating one of their soldiers to a rendition of a Smiths song on the guitar. He said music could help lift spirits during war

‘We are building an ambitious, close relationship with the EU that will strengthen our

economy and unlock growth'

youth mobility scheme, in which as many as 100,000 Europeans could be given the right to work, study and live in the UK, and vice versa.

British officials have been pushing to use any concessions over the programme to gain greater access to the EU's Industrial Accelerator Act to help European industry compete with cheap Asian imports.

The UK wants British products covered by the scheme, such as electric vehicles and other green technologies, to qualify as “Made in Europe”. Manufacturers in this country have warned they risk being excluded from EU supply chains should they not be granted full access to the scheme.

During his trip to Kyiv, Mr Burnham also held talks with Luxembourg's prime minister, Luc Frieden.

According to a Downing Street spokesman, they “agreed on the important cultural and educational ties between the UK and Europe to deliver opportunity for the next generation of Brits and Europeans”.

HENRY NICHOLLS - WPA POOL/GETTY

Briton dies fighting for Putin Fisherman killed in drone attack

A drone strike has killed the first British national fighting for Russia against Ukraine.

fighting in Putin's forces, said he had "sacrificed his life for our cause".

Bradley Townsend, 33, was killed in June by a first-person-view drone near Lyman, a city in Donetsk. He had said he signed up to fight for Vladimir Putin's army to repay the Donbas for supporting striking miners in the 1980s.

Townsend is the first British volunteer fighting for Russia known to have died since the war in Ukraine began. He had described himself as a “normal working-class lad from Yorkshire” and said he had joined up to help Russian

separatists in eastern Donbas.

The fisherman, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, left Britain for Russia in April and joined the Russian armed forces, despite having no military experience.

Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge, said he was “very sorry for him and his family” but that joining the Russian armed forces was “unbelievably stupid”.

Aiden Minnis, a fellow Briton

Townsend went to war to 'repay Russia for supporting striking miners'

Burnham plays the Smiths for Ukrainian soldiers on front line

Continued from Page 1

deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks had shown that allies needed to step up the deliveries of interceptors.

During his visit, Mr Burnham played a song by the Smiths after being handed a guitar by a Ukrainian soldier.

The Prime Minister said music could help “lift spirits” on the front line. In reply, soldiers sang him an Oasis song.

He later went to a shopping centre that was destroyed in a Russian attack, where he spoke to residents and took selfies with them. The Prime Minister praised Ukraine for being “one of the world’s leading innovators in defence technology”.

The Coalition of the Willing meeting covered “systematic and escalating strikes” on Ukraine, stricter sanctions on Moscow, increased military support for Kyiv and preparations for a “multinational force” to deploy upon a “credible cessation of hostilities”, alongside other topics, according to a German government statement.

Mr Zelensky told the meeting that Ukraine needed \$27bn (£19.8bn) to take on Russia this winter. He suggested that Moscow's frozen overseas assets could be used to finance the fight.

The Prime Minister announced that the UK would “dig into our own stocks of air defence and support others digging into their own stocks” to protect Ukraine’s skies amid intensified aerial bombardments by Moscow.

European countries would also continue work on Project Freya, a pan-European anti-ballistic missile defence initiative, which hopes to have its first prototype by mid-2027, he said. "It's clear Russia is running out of options so Putin is hoping he can win through a campaign of terror using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians," Mr Burnham said.

“This can never be the route to victory, we need to be clear in sending that message today.”

However, Mr Zelensky, who in recent weeks has repeatedly appealed to the US for stocks of their Patriot anti-missile interceptors, said his country would need 300 of the munitions for the winter.

Without explicitly naming the US, Mr

Burnham said the coalition was “working with our allies outside of this coalition” to resolve the issue, arguing Ukraine “needs more help to protect its people right now”.

A host of other European leaders, as well as António Costa, the European Council president, were in Kyiv on Monday to take part in celebrations. Mr Macron and Mr Merz attended the meeting virtually.

Marking the occasion, the European Commission approved an additional €6.1bn (£5.2bn) in financial assistance to

Ukraine. The funds, which will be used to purchase new military kit such as air defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars, make up part of the EU's €90bn (£79bn) Ukraine support loan, which was finalised in April.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: “On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Europe shows our support is unfaltering and concrete.

"As Russia intensifies its attacks, we are stepping up to help Ukraine protect its people and defend its skies."

Storm Shadow not the gift Kyiv needs. What it really craves is Patriot

Roland Oliphant CHIEF FOREIGN ANALYST

AT FIRST glance, Andy Burnham's offer to Kyiv is generous, bold, and agenda setting.

Storm Shadow is a British-French, air-launched cruise missile with a 300-mile range and a 450kg warhead. It is very good at blowing up major Russian targets deep behind the lines, and is frequently employed for exactly that purpose.

Localising production in Ukraine is an obvious way of meeting the country's never-shrinking demand for hi-tech weapons. It signals Anglo-French resolve to Russia. And it should be profitable for British and French defence firms. All well and good.

But Storm Shadow is not the missile Ukraine is looking for. First of all, it is not a unique capability: Ukraine's

deep- and middle-strike campaign also draws on domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles and drones, many with far longer ranges than the Storm Shadow.

Nor, as anyone who watches the daily videos of burning Russian logistics hubs can tell you, is deep strike Ukraine's critical problem.

What is critical, as Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Saturday, is ballistic missile defence.

This summer, Russian missiles have wreaked havoc across Ukraine as the country's stocks of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors, the missiles fired by the US-built Patriot air defence systems, dwindled and eventually ran out.

How missile is launched

So the licence Ukraine really needs is for the Patriot system. And that is certainly not in Andy Burnham's gift.

Storm Shadow/Scalp-EG cruise missile capabilities

Donald Trump raised hopes at the Nato summit in Ankara in July when he announced he would hand Ukraine licences to produce the Patriot systems that fire PAC-2 and 3 domestically.

'The licence Ukraine really needs is for the Patriot. And that is not in the PM's gift'

That promise somehow never came to fruition however – although Zelensky said on Saturday that his government is in negotiations with Raytheon, the US maker of the Patriot, to produce a Ukrainian-built missile that can be fired from the system.

Thus Burnham's present of Storm Shadow blueprints – which, it must be noted, is also Emmanuel Macron's present – may not be about Storm Shadows at all. It might be about hoping the Americans will follow the

British and French lead in trusting Kyiv with their intellectual property.

You can bet British diplomats and spin doctors will tell it that way.

It is, they will almost certainly claim, another example of British leadership in upper-case letters.

They will point to 2022, when Boris Johnson's decision to send NLAW anti-tank rockets broke the original taboo on supplying weapons to Ukraine, showing other countries that Russia's threats were not to be feared

'Kyiv wants at least half the Patriot missiles produced each year, which might be a big ask'

and opened the way for a tidal wave of supplies from other countries.

Then they will raise 2023, when Rishi Sunak sent a few Challenger II main battle tanks, again breaking a taboo and setting a precedent that America and Germany followed with Abrams and Leopard equivalents.

It is a worthy gamble. Yet there is some debate about just how influential those decisions really were.

Some informed individuals believe Boris Johnson's leadership had little effect on the Biden government, although it certainly forced other European allies into action.

Did the Challengers really lead to the release of the Leopards and Abrams? Again, it is difficult to tell for sure.

So there is no guarantee Burnham and Macron's generosity will have the desired effect on Donald Trump.

As yet, however, there is no real alternative to the Patriot. So everything is worth a try.

The SAMP/T, a Franco-Italian Patriot equivalent, is in use in Ukraine but its Aster missiles are produced in even smaller numbers than Patriot munitions, thanks to a supply chain calibrated to peace-time procurement and which has struggled to scale up.

There is also a Ukrainian-European air-defence project called Freyja in the works, although it is unclear when it will produce a working weapon.

For now, Ukraine is searching for every spare interceptor its allies can spare to get through winter. The air force is seeking 360 Patriot missiles. Zelensky says he would settle for 300.

When only 600 are produced globally per year, even that might be a big ask. So we will have to wait and see whether Burnham's gift delivers or not. And that is something that will be decided in Washington, not London.

Surge in car breakdowns caused by computer glitches

By James Titcomb TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

COMPUTER glitches have led to a soaring number of car breakdowns, figures show.

The AA said the number of breakdowns attributed to faulty electronics inside cars, known as body control modules (BCMs), had doubled in six years to become one of the top five causes of call-outs.

More than 36,000 breakdowns involving the components, which control increasingly advanced car computer systems, were reported last year.

BCMs act as the central hub of modern vehicles, controlling electric signals going to mirrors, lights and door locks.

Ageing cars on the road and an increasing reliance on computing units is believed to be behind the fault.

While older cars were typically controlled by individual switches and circuits, modern vehicles operate by controlling multiple components from the BCM.

This can be cheaper as well as allowing for more features such as automatic headlights or cars that can turn on internal lights at the same times as they are unlocked. However, it also exposes cars to software bugs that can cause important parts of the car to not work.

Faulty BCMs can mean cars failing to unlock remotely or not starting at all.

Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show an increase in the number of recalls car manufacturers have issued because of faulty components. A total of 34 recalls were issued last year related to BCMs, compared to four in 2008. 28 have been issued so far this year.

The AA said the number of call-outs related to BCMs had doubled from 18,295 in 2019-20, to 36,448 in the last 12 months. The components are now more likely to result in breakdown calls than headlight failures, which are becoming less common because of the rise of more reliable LED lights.

BCMs can fail because of faulty garage work on cars, damage to a computer chip or a software glitch.

While problems such as 12-volt batteries, tyres and engine trouble are far more likely to result in calls, their numbers have stayed relatively stable in recent years.

Summit's got to give: Hikers at war over queue jumpers

Snowdonia officials forced to intervene after shouting matches near peak of Europe's busiest mountain

By Cameron Henderson

FEW British traditions are more sacred than the unspoken rule of forming an orderly queue.

But this age-old etiquette has been tested to breaking point in Snowdonia, where hikers have been warned not to skip the queue at the top of Wales's highest mountain after a series of rows.

This summer has seen large crowds flock to climb Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa, where people have reportedly been forced to wait more than an hour to reach the 3,560ft summit.

Responding to reports of disorderly behaviour, the Snowdonia authorities have urged those wanting to reach the

600,000 The number of hikers that climb Snowdon every year, making it the busiest peak in Europe

metal plate, called a trig point, to wait their turn.

Alun H Jones, an area warden for the park, told the BBC that hikers should be “considerate and don’t skip the queue”.

Footage on social media has shown arguments breaking out between queue-jumpers and those patiently waiting for their chance to reach the metal plate that marks the mountain's highest point.

A recent video posted by Marc Screeton, from Manchester, showed him being heckled as he ascended the summit by other hikers who shouted: "There's a queue you know."

He responded: "Imagine queuing on a mountain. No chance."

Another video posted by Jay Rouse was captioned: “Won’t catch me hiking for two hours to spend 30 minutes queuing at the top.”

Pleasant climbing conditions have boosted tourist numbers to the national park, leading to bottlenecks at the foot of the stone steps that lead to the metal plate, where hikers pose for photos and videos.

The mountain is widely considered the busiest in Europe, drawing 600,000 people to its peak every year.

The website Snowdon Info warns that congestion is normally at its worst around the middle of the day during July and August, as well as on weekends and bank holidays.

The park authority is expected to review concerns about over-tourism at a meeting after the October half-term.

Rows over queue-jumping have split opinion among walkers, with some calling for the queue to be respected and others arguing that such restrictions should not apply to the great outdoors.

Tina Millard, from West Bromwich, said: "I don't think that you should have to queue.

"It's a mountain, you should just be able to go up and that's it.

“We’re not at Alton Towers for a ride. It’s a mountain, it’s for everyone,” she added.

Carl Lynch from Dunstable, Bedfordshire, said: “It should be: ‘Go up there, two minutes and then move on for everyone else’. Simple as that.”

In May, two hikers raising money for charity were loudly booed after skipping queues to reach the summit.

Jamie Richardson, 32, and Richard Thiedeman, 34, from Lincolnshire, climbed Snowdon as part of the Three Peaks challenge to support their friend who has motor neurone disease.

“I was getting booed and then there was a gentleman who was at the top, who had just had his photo taken and he physically tried to stop me,” Mr Richardson said.

He said he had just touched the summit point and heard someone say “you should be ashamed of yourself”.

Mr Richardson added: "There's no policing of it at all, it is purely free will, if you want to queue you can.

"The queuing, that is just purely down to British culture traditions."

A spokesman for the national park confirmed it was “a self-policing queue”.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "We are not aware of any reports to police of physical confrontations but will always investigate should any alleged offences be disclosed.

"As in any public place, we would urge all hikers to be respectful to one another."

Queue-jumping at the summit of Snowdon has led to a series of angry confrontations between hikers

THERE'S A QUEUE YOU KNOW

ANDREW LLOYD / ALAMY
IMAGINE QUEUING ON A MOUNTAIN. NO CHANCE

Trains forced to slow down over fears that more could derail

By Gareth Corfield

TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

NETWORK RAIL has been forced to lower trains' speed limits amid fears of more derailments.

Trains in southern Essex will run more slowly from today as a result of clay beneath railway lines having dried out during the drought.

It comes after two trains, one in Essex, derailed during the hot weather earlier this month. Speed restrictions and timetable amendments are being imposed on services between London and Southend via both the c2c and Greater Anglia (via Rochford) routes.

Some services will take up to eight minutes longer to reach their destinations than usual, meaning a typical hour-long journey from Shoeburyness, south Essex, to London will be slightly more than a tenth longer than normal.

Clay shrinks when it dries out, leading to what Network Rail described as "issues with the quality of the track".

Martin Beable, chief operating officer of Great British Railways Anglia, which runs c2c and Greater Anglia-branded services, said: "Our teams are working together across Anglia to keep running the best possible service despite the significant challenges we're facing because of this exceptionally hot and dry weather.

“Thank you for bearing with us, and please do check before you travel, particularly if you're used to getting the same time train every day."

Two trains derailed during the heatwave earlier this month, including a Greater Anglia train near Wickford, Essex, and an incident at Lewes, East Sussex, which seriously injured two passengers.

Investigations into both derailments are looking at possible causes, but Network Rail has acknowledged that hot weather has caused challenges for the railways.

The Wickford derailment resulted in 3,000 sleepers – concrete beams that hold up the rails – being damaged, according to local Tory MP Mark Francois. The rear carriage of the train involved in that incident came off the tracks and travelled for a further mile and a half before it stopped.

Network Rail said it was carrying out extra engineering work to reduce the effects of dried-out soil along the Greater Anglia route, including using machines called tampers to create a solid foundation for the smooth running of trains and putting down new ballast to help raise the level of the tracks.

The UK is on course for its hottest summer on record, the Met Office has said, after five heatwaves have swept the country with temperatures of up to 38.1C recorded in the South East.

Mansion used in Batman films could be seized from owner... thanks to bats

repairing listed buildings and roofs of similar scale.

By Samuel Montgomery

THE owner of a stately home used as Wayne Manor in the film Batman Begins has been told he could lose the property unless he conducts bat surveys.

The Grade I-listed Mentmore Towers, in Buckinghamshire, has been served a formal listed-building repairs notice following a significant deterioration in the building's condition.

Simon Halabi, the Syrian-born British investor who was once valued at £3bn and owned stakes in the Shard, bought the mansion in 1999 but it has since fallen into disrepair.

Buckinghamshire council said the owner needed to deliver evidence within two months that a licensed bat ecologist had been appointed or risk losing the home through compulsory purchase. The owner must also demonstrate steps taken to appoint a contractor with appropriate experience of

Addressed to Mentmore Towers Limited and dated Aug 4, the notice said the work is “reasonably necessary for the proper preservation of the building”.

The company was regis-

The company was registered last year and has correspondence addresses in Jersey and Geneva. It is unclear whether Mr Halabi owns this company.

Site photographs on the notice show cracks in walls, broken windows, and ivy-clad walls. When the property was visited, bat droppings were found. Three bat-emergence surveys must be completed by August 2027.

Built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family, the country house serves as the only major surviving work of Sir Joseph Paxton – the architect behind the Crystal Palace. The house

Mentmore Towers, in Buckinghamshire, was used for Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale, right

was inherited by Mayer Amschel's

daughter Hannah Rothschild, later Countess of Rosebery through her marriage to the 5th Earl of Rosebery, a Victorian prime minister.

Plans for the Government to acquire the building

and run it as an outpost of the V&A fell apart in 1977 and furnishings were sold at public auction by Sotheby's that year.

The following year, the estate became the headquarters of the Maharishi Foundation, a non-profit educational organisation promoting transcendental mediation, before it was sold to Halabi in 1999.

In his tenure, the building was used as a backdrop in Mummy Returns (2001), Johnny English (2003), Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005) and in the Spice Girls' 1998 music video 'Goodbye'.

News

Joyriders who killed officers had 37 prior convictions

Details emerge of criminal records as 12 people are arrested in connection with the A66 collision

By Daisy Graham-Brown

THE joyriders who died in a head-on collision that killed two police officers had 37 previous convictions.

Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Worthy, 17, and Jakub Matusiak, 23, had each pleaded guilty to multiple offences in the three years before the crash. Only Michael Cahill, 23, did not have prior convictions.

A Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction on the A66 near Middlesbrough hit a police car in the early hours of Saturday morning. Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were driving in the marked police vehicle when they were killed.

Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have since been detained in connection with the crash. Some of those were suspected of “participating in the activities of an organised crime group”, drug dealing and possessing firearms, Cleveland Police said.

Of the five joyriders who died in the collision, Worthy, Saddington and Rae had all pleaded guilty to separate offences of assaulting a police officer, while Matusiak had pleaded guilty to one count of driving without a licence and another of driving without insurance in March this year.

Masked youths gathered in South Bank, near Middlesbrough last night to set off flares in memory of Matusiak.

Rae had 12 shoplifting offences, six vehicle offences and one offence of cannabis possession.

Saddington had pleaded guilty to possessing a class C drug and possessing a knife in a public place as well as four offences of assaulting a police officer and one of racially aggravated intentional harassment.

Worthy pleaded guilty to four driving offences in June. He also pleaded guilty to using abusive language in 2024 and failing to surrender to custody in 2025.

In total, the four pleaded guilty to 37 different offences between October 2023 and June 2026.

Officers said they had received several reports on Saturday morning of two vehicles being driven dangerously.

The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was seen ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. Police then received reports of a second vehicle, the Volkswagen Passat, which was believed to be linked to the Volvo.

Both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates to avoid detection but were picked up by the force's automated recognition technology.

The Volvo involved in the initial report has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the criminal investigation.

Four men have since been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group and possession of an offensive weapon.

The men, aged 19, 24 and 35, remain in police custody, while a 21-year-old has been remanded on recall to prison and is also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

A 20-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage and public disorder, while a 30-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both remain in police custody.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs, and possession of class C drugs.

A 47-year-old woman and 39-year-old

‘This has been a complex investigation, with significant links to organised criminal activity’

man were granted conditional bail, while an 18-year-old man was released on unconditional bail.

A 61-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm without a certificate, and a 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of threats to kill. Both have been released on conditional bail.

Cameron George, 26, from Redcar, was charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs and possession of criminal property.

Asst Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: "This has been a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity."

He added: “We have a duty to...bring all those responsible to justice.

"Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime."

Masked youths wave flares to mark the death of Jakub Matusiak at a gathering in South Bank field near Middlesbrough, only a few hundred yards away from the crash site

Rap sheet Gang's admissions of guilt

1. Cole Worthy - Use of threatening or abusive language to cause harassment, alarm and distress on Oct 27, 2024 - Failing to surrender to custody on May 14, 2025 - Common assault of a police officer on April 27, 2025 - Driving without a licence on June 7, 2026 - Using a vehicle without insurance on June 7 - Driving without reasonable consideration on June 7 - Driving using a mobile phone on June 7

2. Jakub Matusiak ● Using a vehicle without insurance on March 22 ● Driving without a licence on March 22

3. Makai Saddington ● Possession of a controlled class C drug on May 31, 2025 - Possession of a knife in a public place on May 31 - Three offences for assaulting a police officer on Oct 11, 2025 - Assaulted a police officer on June 9, 2026 - Racially aggravated intentional harassment,

alarm and distress on June 9

4. Theo Rae ● Twelve shoplifting offences between Oct 21, 2023, and May 4, 2024

● Three thefts from motor vehicle offences between

Jan 31, 2024 and Sept 25, 2024 ● Theft of a vehicle on April 13, 2024 ● Possession of cannabis on April 22, 2024 ● Aggravated vehicle taking on May 16, 2024 ● Aggravated vehicle taking on Jan 2, 2025

- Conviction of an offence while on a youth rehabilitation order is in force on Feb 26, 2025 - Assaulting a police officer on April 30

5. Michael Robert Cahill ● No convictions

Muslim gangs forcing ‘lonely’ white prisoners to convert to Islam

By Charles Hymas HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR

MINISTERS have been urged to investigate a surge in white prisoners being forced to convert to Islam by Muslim gangs.

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data show that one in five Muslims in prisons in England and Wales is white, nearly four times the rate of 5.8 per cent in the general population.

The number of Muslim prisoners in jails in England and Wales has also increased and accounts for nearly one in five (18 per cent) of the prison population, despite making up 6.5 per cent of the general population.

The figures have been revealed by Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, who urged the Government to stamp out forced conversions.

It follows reports by government advisers highlighting concerns that gangs in some jails are ordering prisoners to convert to Islam or face violence.

"The percentage of Muslims who are white in our prisons is so vastly higher than in the general population it raises serious questions," said Mr Timothy.

"We know that experts have warned repeatedly about forced conversions taking place behind bars, driven by Islamic gangs.

“Labour must urgently investigate and stamp out forced conversions in prison.”

Jonathan Hall KC, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said he found evidence in his report of Islamist terrorists acting as "self-styled emirs" controlling prisoners through “leadership and recruitment”.

This included recruitment of “vulnerable or lonely prisoners, using guidance, sharing of food or material gifts” and “conversion backed by implicit or actual violence”, he said.

He highlighted how two jailed terrorists – Usman Khan, who killed two students in an attack at London Bridge, and Sudesh Amman, the Streatham knife attacker – had threatened other inmates in an attempt to convert them to Islam or radicalise them.

Ian Acheson, who conducted a review of Islamist extremism in prisons for the last government, said prisoners converted “as a pragmatic response to who controls power and space in our prisons”.

“This seems to be the case in high security prisons, in particular, where safety is at a premium and there are also large numbers of violent young men entering custody searching for meaning and belonging. So Islam in this case has gang characteristics,” he said.

According to the latest MoJ data, there are more Muslim chaplains in prisons in England and Wales than there are Anglican or Church of England chaplains.

The number of Muslim chaplains in prisons is now 140, up from 128 in 2023-24, compared with 87 for the Church of England, down from 97 in 2024-25. There are an additional 94 Catholic chaplains, 64 from free churches and 23 described as “Christian”.

The number of white Muslims in prison has increased from 2,767 in 2022 to 3,218 as of June 30, 2025, an increase of 16 per cent.

‘House of terror’ family avoid jail after decade of torment

By Simon Johnson

BY SMICH JIMSON SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR

A MOTHER, grandmother and stepfather have avoided jail after inflicting years of abuse on three children in a “house of terror”.

Julia Stephen, Shirley Freeman and David McColl's victims were beaten, starved and psychologically tormented between 2003 and 2012.

Freeman, 51, the children's mother, and Stephen, their grandmother, 69, were convicted at Aberdeen sheriff court of cruel and unnatural treatment. McColl, 50, admitted the crimes.

Handing the trio probation and a combined 610 hours of unpaid work, Sheriff Craig Findlater said no sentence could “repair the awful childhoods” their victims had suffered.

A trial had heard that Freeman, now of Cullen, Moray, had created a “house of terror” for her children.

Two of her children, William and Meaghann Murphy, gave evidence that helped secure the convictions of their mother and grandmother. The third victim was their younger sister Rebekah Simpson who said she had been left with lifelong mental health problems.

The abuse happened at an address in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, and at a flat in Aberdeen.

Mr and Ms Murphy described how blades were left under their pillows and that Ms Murphy had once awoke to find a meat cleaver in her bed. By 2013, the siblings had both been taken into care, amid child protection concerns.

Police Scotland launched an investigation in 2022 after Mr Murphy made a statement. Mr Murphy, who is now 25, told BBC Scotland News: "For as long as I can remember, family life was chaotic and unpredictable, and at times quite hostile. We were often made to sleep on the floor as a punishment.

Meaghann, William and Rebekah were beaten, starved and psychologically tormented

“Sometimes when we had been really bad, they called it sleep deprivation, where they got us to stand up, like in a line, and we were made to stay awake.

"Your mind starts to play tricks on you. I remember starting to see faces in the wall. If we were dozing off or showed any sign that we weren't taking it seriously, things were thrown at us, or we were shouted at, and the punishment was then extended." He said his older sister, Ms Murphy, tried to protect him and acted as a "human mattress" when they were sleeping.

West Dunbartonshire council said the children were known to social work from 2007 and that information was shared with Aberdeen when the family moved. A spokesman said: "All concerns and risks that the council were aware of were investigated in line with legislation and local procedures at the time.

"The children were known to social work from 2007, and when the family moved to Aberdeen, information was shared with the local authority."

Ex-world snooker champion Dott guilty of child sex abuse

By Ben Rumsby

GRAEME DOTT, the 2006 world snooker champion, has been found guilty of sexually abusing two primary-school-age children.

The 49-year-old subjected a girl and a boy to lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour between 1993-1996 and 2006-2010, respectively.

A five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow found that Dott exposed himself in front of both children, touched them inappropriately and kissed them.

His abuse of the boy began after police contacted him a quarter of a century ago over allegations made by his female victim, for which he was not charged at the time.

When yesterday's verdict was delivered, he covered his face with his hands and shook his head.

Dott, who had denied the charges, must now add his name and address to the sex offenders' register. He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the High Court, in Edinburgh, on Sept 29.

Dott carried out his abuse in the Glasgow area. During the trial, jurors heard from one of his victims, a woman now in her 40s, who told the court he had sexually abused her on multiple occasions while she was a child.

She said the abuse had started with Dott “caressing” her bottom over her clothing while giving her a piggy back.

sion when she said Dott suggested playing a “guessing game” where she had to guess what he was doing.

She told the court she lay down and he exposed himself to her and then began touching her with different parts of his body, including his penis. The woman told the court that Dott told her not to tell anyone.

The second victim, a man now in his late 20s, said he was sexually abused by

Graeme Dott, who was world snooker champion in 2006, sexually abused a boy and a girl when they were of primary school age

Dott on multiple occasions, with the snooker player touching him inappropriately, kissing him and performing sexual acts.

He told the court a lot of the abuse took place while he was in a shower, when Dott would come in either partly or completely undressed.

“He would... come into the shower and put soap on my body and wash me in the shower,” the man told the court.

“While he was washing me he would touch me in inappropriate places.”

He said looking back at it now, Dott was “clearly getting sexual gratification from it”, and he was “pleasuring himself” while this was taking place.

The court was also told how Dott “rewarded” the boy with money, crisps and fizzy drinks. His victim said that because of his age at the time, he “did not know what was going on”, and it was only later he realised the interaction “wasn’t right”. The witness also described abuse which took place in a car, where he said Dott would kiss him on the face, head and lips, and “push himself up against me”.

Giving evidence last week, Dott had said there was “absolutely no way” he sexually abused two children.

Under cross-examination by prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel, Dott denied being attracted to the girl when she was young, calling the idea “disgusting”.

Kirsty Aitken, an assistant director for Scotland at the NSPCC, said: "Graeme Dott sexually abused two young children between 1993 and 2010. His victims, who were primary school aged at the time, have lived for many years with the impact of this abuse, knowing that Dott had not been held accountable and was able to continue with his snooker career.

“Child sexual abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on a person's life, and these victims have shown immense courage in coming forward and helping to bring Dott to justice. We hope this verdict supports their recovery.

“No matter who the perpetrator is, or how many years have passed, it is never too late for those who have experienced abuse to speak out and seek support.”

Harry quits charity mired in torture claims

Prince Harry was president of African Parks from 2017 to 2023

African Parks says Duke of Sussex remains a ‘strong supporter’ but would no longer be its director

By Tim Sigsworth

PRINCE HARRY has left an African charity whose park rangers were accused of rape and torture.

African Parks confirmed the Duke of Sussex would no longer serve as a director, a year after it admitted “human rights abuses” had been committed by its staff in the Republic of the Congo.

Guards working for the conservation charity at Odzala-Kokoua National Park were accused of raping and torturing the indigenous Baka people in an investigation published by the Mail on Sunday in 2024.

African Parks later accepted that abuses had taken place, but it has not released the full findings of its investigation. It is understood the Duke was closely involved in assessing the findings of a review by Omnia Strategy LLP, a London-based law firm headed by Cherie Blair.

Survival International, an indigenous people's rights charity, had previously called for the Duke to step down from the charity over the allegations.

The Duke's departure from African Parks, having been its president from 2017-2023, comes five months after he stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.

In a statement, African Parks said the Duke remained a “strong supporter” of the charity. “Over the years, the Duke has brought global attention to the urgent need for biodiversity protection for the benefit of people and wildlife, and has contributed greatly to promoting philanthropy for the cause of conservation in Africa,” a spokesman said.

"The Duke remains deeply committed to this cause, and remains a strong supporter of African Parks' work." Vas Narasimhan, chairman of the charity's board, said: "We extend our thanks to all the members of the board who generously volunteer their time in support of our conservation mission – and particularly to the Duke of Sussex, for a decade of committed service to African Parks."

African Parks, which employs more than 2,000 rangers, manages protected areas in several African countries. It previously said it had improved its safeguarding processes in the past five years, both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.

It also said measures had been put in place, including appointing an anthro-

Ritchie relief Netflix series goes ahead despite Meghan doubt

A new season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series will go ahead despite uncertainty regarding The Duchess of Sussex's role in the show.

Netflix has confirmed The Gentleman will return for a third season, with the cast yet to be officially announced.

The Duchess's role in the series was thrown into doubt less than 24 hours after the news broke that

she was in talks to star in the show, because of public backlash.

On Friday, it was announced that the Duchess was in advanced discussions to join the cast for the UK-based series. But, Tina Brown, a former editor of Vanity Fair, reported the offer "has been

has been withdrawn due to a public backlash".

The acting role would have been the first for the Duchess for more than 10 years.

pologist to ensure the Baka people were better supported in the national park.

The Duke quit Sentebale in March following a string of allegations from Sophie Chandauka, the charity's chairman, who claimed she suffered harassment and "misogynoir" – a form of misogyny against black women – in her role. Of the Duke, she said: "The number one risk for this organisation was the toxicity of its lead patron's brand."

She also claimed the Duke tried to use the charity as “an extension of the Sussex PR machine” to support his wife’s public reputation. Sentebale is being investigated by the Charity Commission.

The Duke rejected the allegations as “offensive and damaging” and has diverted money from his late mother’s memorial fund away from Sentebale and to an elephant charity in Botswana.

The Sussexes are due to arrive in Britain this week before Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, start at a British school. A spokesman for the Duke said: “The Duke remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission.”

Arday publisher to go ahead with releasing his memoir

By Telegraph Reporter

JASON ARDAY'S memoir will be released in the UK as planned, his publisher has confirmed.

Simon & Schuster announced that Great And Unfortunate Things would be published on Thursday, two weeks after the academic was found dead at his home in south London.

Arday had resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on Aug 5 after allegations of plagiarism and questions about elements of his life story emerged. He was the youngest black professor in Cambridge's history. He was found dead in Battersea, south London, on Aug 14.

Mr Arday's family said in a statement via Simon & Schuster: "To the very end, Jason was clear that he wanted his memoir to be published and it is only right that we honour his wishes.

"There has been so much that has been written and said about our beloved brother, son, father, partner and uncle, mostly by people who don't know the truth of what he experienced, and we experienced as a family, or what an extraordinary person he was.

"We are happy to allow the book to speak for itself and won't comment further on its content. The family is still in

'To the very end, Jason was clear that he wanted his memoir published and it is only right we honour that'

shock and we are grieving. We call upon the media to give the family the space it needs to come to terms with this terrible loss.”

The publisher said it would not be making any further comment at this time.

The memoir, which retells the story of Arday's “non-verbal childhood”, is described by Simon & Schuster as an “unforgettable book about resilience and love”.

Reviewers have questioned the contents of the book over improbable claims about Arday's childhood and work. Simon & Schuster described the book as a story of “improbable triumphs”, but nonetheless insisted its publication would continue as planned.

In July, Arday was accused of copying parts of his PhD thesis from another student. The University of Cambridge launched an investigation into his appointment and later announced a review of its hiring process for all senior academic positions.

He resigned a few hours after the university announced the investigation, citing the “unrelenting level of public scrutiny”.

In his resignation letter, Arday said the decision should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me”.

Arday is survived by his wife and two children. His family paid tribute to him as a “gentle man” and an “amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”.

An inquest into his death will open at London inner south coroners court tomorrow.

La Dolce Lipa Dua Lipa is the cover star of next month's Vogue Italia and talks about fashion and her connection to Italy. The singer, 31, who wed actor Callum Turner in Sicily, said: "Now I want to discover what happens when you truly find love."

No one wants to see a pregnant woman, sales manager told

By Telegraph Reporter

A SALES manager was the victim of discrimination when her colleague told her “nobody wants to see a pregnant woman”, a tribunal has ruled.

Jessica Morgan's colleague made the comment when she had suggested she could give a presentation to a client.

She previously had a “close working relationship” with her colleague at a small firm that sold wood products in Swansea. But when she announced she was pregnant, she noticed a change in his behaviour.

She said she was not allowed to visit customers and was told to “focus on being a mum”. She claimed her colleague also said he “wouldn’t make the mistake of hiring a woman again” when discussing taking temporary cover.

An employment tribunal ruled that she had been the victim of pregnancy discrimination. While she did not win her case because she brought the claim too late, she is still in line for compensation as she was found to have been victimised by her former employer.

‘She was told nobody wants to see a pregnant woman... and surely her partner earns enough’

Ms Morgan began working as a sales manager at Panelex Wood Agency in April 2020, alongside Frederick Geraint Hawkes, who was in charge of procurement. In July 2023, she told Mr Hawkes that she was pregnant. She said she had a sense he thought her pregnancy was an “inconvenience”.

However, it was found her concerns were down to her increased anxiety about maintaining her position.

In November 2023, before going on maternity leave, Ms Morgan offered to prepare a presentation for a client, but Mr Hawkes told her: "Nobody wants to see a pregnant woman." She claimed that when discussing hiring temporary cover he had said he "wouldn't be making the mistake of hiring a woman again". Mr Hawkes denied making the comment.

When Ms Morgan began maternity leave in January 2024, Mr Hawkes told her to “focus on being a mum”. In October that year at a meeting to discuss her return to work, she was told her position no longer existed.

During the meeting, Mr Hawkes said to her “surely he [her partner] earns enough for you to stay at home”.

She left the meeting with the understanding her employment would end but that she could keep her company car until Christmas, but Mr Hawkes asked for the car back at the end of October. Ms Morgan brought claims of unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, pregnancy discrimination, sex discrimination and victimisation to an employment tribunal in Swansea.

The victimisation claim was successful, as was the pregnancy discrimination. However, the other claims were dismissed.

A compensation hearing will be heard at a later date.

Police pass ‘indecent assault’ file over Fayed case to prosecutors Lime leaves London borough after bikes ‘endanger blind man’

By Samuel Montgomery

NEWS REPORTER

POLICE have passed a file of evidence concerning a man in his 80s to prosecutors as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Mohamed Fayed.

The Metropolitan Police said it had asked for charging advice on two alleged instances of indecent assault on a woman in London. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now decide whether to charge the man.

More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, dating from 1977 to 2014, including sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The Met is investigating reports from 159 victims who contacted it directly. Fayed died three years ago at the age of 93 without facing any charges.

The investigation, called Operation Cornpoppy, was launched in November 2024 following a BBC investigation into Fayed, and is looking at people who may have facilitated or enabled his alleged crimes.

Last month, a man and a woman, both in their 80s, were interviewed under caution on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, as well as assisting the commission of sexual offences.

Three women, aged in their 40s, 50s and 60s, and one man in his 60s were also questioned earlier this year. A spokesman for the Met Police said "detectives submitted a full evidential file" to the CPS for a "charging decision". They said: "The file relates to one suspect, a man in his 80s and relates to two indecent assaults on two women in London. Officers will continue to work closely with CPS prosecutors as the case progresses.

"To date, seven suspects have been interviewed under caution on suspicion of offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

"This remains a complex and highly sensitive investigation."

By James Titcomb

LIME has removed its electric bikes from a London borough after the company's vehicles were accused of endangering blind residents.

The company said it had stopped users from being able to hire e-bikes in Bromley, south-east London, where it was operating without an agreement.

It came after a local resident, Jason Beal, said he had had to force his guide dog into a busy road because of the company's lime green bikes being strewn over the pavement.

Mr Beal, 53, told the London Standard that bikes parked on the pavement meant he had to walk on the road. "There have been a number of times the

Lime bikes have been... left over the pavement," he said.

“So, I’ve got to make a decision to try to take him into the main road. That’s a very frightening experience for myself.”

Local councillors had threatened to remove the bikes and charge the company for the hassle. Lime's e-bikes have become ubiquitous in London and a popular way of getting around, but the thousands of them left on pavements have been seen by critics as a nuisance.

The company had started offering e-bike hire in the Bromley suburb of Penge in recent weeks, despite not having local approval. Lime put this down to a technical issue with its mapping.

Councillors said they had “blighted” local areas, with unused bikes creating hazards on pavements. Simon Fawthrop, Bromley's executive councillor for transport and highways, said: "We have already raised concerns with Lime that they appear to be operating without our consent in part of our borough.

"Bromley council have long had misgivings about Lime Bikes and other similar bikes that are blighting some areas, where they are strewn across pavements causing multiple hazards.

"The council has not agreed anything with Lime and we call upon them to remove their bikes from our borough forthwith."

Lime apologised to Mr Beal and said that it had suspended bike hiring in the borough until it can agree an approach “with appropriate parking locations”.

News

A Montagu's harrier has reared six chicks on farmland in Wiltshire this year, after raising four chicks last year

Two-timing harrier helps save its species

By Telegraph Reporter

Bird rears chicks for the second year running after male Montagu's mates with females in nearby nests

A TWO-TIMING bird has been lauded for “single-handedly propping up its species”.

A breeding bird for the Montagu's harrier species nested at an undisclosed location for the second year running, and successfully reared six chicks.

However, the location of the nest on English farmland has not been revealed as the area would not be able to handle the arrival of birdwatchers to see the rare species, conservationists have said.

This year, the male known as “AU” – who was ringed as a chick in a protected nest in Wiltshire in 2016 – managed to breed with two new females in nests that were a short distance apart.

Montagu's harriers are usually monogamous but have been known to mate with two females at the same time.

Mark Thomas, the species lead for

Montagu's harriers at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), described AU as “very aristocratic”, with battleship-grey plumage, black wing-tips and piercing yellow eyes.

"He knows that he's the some of the harriers. He dinarily graceful, an incredible bird to see up close," said Mr Thomas.

He had successfully helped rear and feed three chicks in each nest, the RSPB said. Last year, the breeding bird nested in the same secret spot, raising four chicks in the first successful breeding for the bird of prey since 2019.

Mr Thomas, added: "AU is truly awesome, he is single-handedly propping up this species in the UK with his amazing display flights in May being rewarded by attracting two new breeding females, seemingly out of thin air."

Montagu's harriers winter in Africa and return to Europe to nest from mid-March, often setting up home in agricultural fields.

Mr Thomas said that the location of the nests had been kept a secret because they were “on working farms with no public access – they simply could not handle the influx of visitors”.

They have never been a common nesting bird in the UK as only a small portion of the global population flies to Britain, but numbers have declined from a high of nine successful nests in 2011, with no breeding between 2020

and 2024.

The species had been placed on the “red list” of birds most at risk in 2021, the RSPB said.

Montagu's harriers face predation, habitat loss and drought-induced early harvests, which threaten their sts in farmers' fields.

Mr Thomas said: "This is a species right on the brink, and climate change is not helping that.

Climate change is not helping that. "And the reason it's not helping it is the harvest here, for example, this year was, like, a month earlier than in previous years. So it almost puts any Montagu's harrier nest at the perils of inadvertently being destroyed by farm machinery."

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Sex trial teacher: I wasn't going to dress like Thatcher

By Telegraph Reporter

A TEACHER accused of having sexual relationships with two pupils has told a court that she “wasn’t going to dress like Margaret Thatcher”.

Sally-Anne Bowen, 65, is alleged to have indecently assaulted two teenage boys when they were aged around 14 to 15 and she was in her mid-20s, her trial at Harrow Crown Court heard.

Ms Bowen, who taught chemistry at the all-boys Christ's College in Finchley, north London, in the late 1980s, was previously described by complainants and a former pupil as dressing at school in a way that was "sexually provocative".

During her cross-examination yesterday, Ms Bowen rejected the prosecution's suggestion that she wore "tight tops" and "mini skirts" at school.

“They were not very short, I would not have been allowed to get away with very short skirts,” she told jurors.

Asked to step out of the witness box to show jurors the general length of her skirts at the time, she placed her hands a few inches above her knees and said: "They were shorter than I'm wearing now – they were not mini skirts."

She reminded jurors that she was then aged in her mid-20s, adding as she stepped back into the witness box: "I wasn't going to dress like Margaret Thatcher."

tion", the court heard. Madeleine Wolfe, the prosecutor, asked the teacher whether she could think of any reasons why the complainant would pursue these allegations more than 30 years later.

One complainant alleged he had sex with the teacher "about 20 or 30 times" over several months.

She replied: “I don’t know why he is making these allegations. I think he certainly had a crush on me at school.”

The second complainant alleged he and Ms Bowen kissed once in a cafe when he was “goaded” into it by other boys, and remembered touching her breasts. Ms Bowen said she did not remember this boy.

Last week, a former pupil told jurors there was an occa-

'I would not have been allowed to get away with very short skirts'

sion when a boy in Ms Bowen's class was reading a "sex manual", which he believed to be the Kama Sutra.

He said Ms Bowen went through the book and went on to discuss “the merits of different sexual positions” with the students, which Ms Bowen denied.

She said yesterday: “I have never in my teaching career seen boys looking at a pornographic magazine – the only magazine that I ever confiscated was a football magazine.”

When asked if she treated the boys as "friends", she

said: "I was a nice person and students spoke to me."

Ms Bowen previously described his allegations as “total fabrica-

Sally-Anne Bowen denies the charges

Ms Bowen, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

against two boys. The trial continues.

Ex-RAF pilot dies while snorkelling

By Telegraph Reporters

A RETIRED RAF pilot died while snorkelling on a Caribbean cruise, an inquest heard.

John Jeffrey, 81, had been on a P&O cruise when a heart problem he did not know he had flared up.

Mr Jeffrey is survived by his two sons and his wife, who described him as her "Peter Pan" because he stayed "strong and sporty" long into his retirement. The former pilot and yacht-master would regularly dive during his retirement.

The grandfather, from London went on a snorkelling activity day in Shitten Bay in Saint Kitts on Feb 1, 2025.

After they had started snorkelling, staff noticed that Jeffrey was floating "face down" and "was not moving".

He was brought aboard the team's boat and CPR was attempted, resulting in “a large amount of liquid” coming out of his mouth.

He did not regain consciousness, and just after lpm he was pronounced dead.

Subsequent post-mortem examinations revealed that he was probably suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as severe coronary artery disease.

Because he was a “fit” man for his age, Mr Jeffrey and those around him did not realise he had any kind of condition.

The cause of death was concluded as asphyxia owing to drowning with a secondary cause of submersion into sea water.

WATCHMAN/TALK

The dash for the boat from the camp in the woods before we make our way out to sea to take our places on the trip to Dover. Right, we are picked up by the Border Force boat after seven hours in the open water. 'You're on the wrong boat, mate,' one officer told me

How I tricked my way aboard migrant dinghy

Christian Drogan, from Watchman Media, tells Isabel Oakeshott how he posed as a criminal to join a Channel crossing

ON a busy French beach, in broad daylight, I took a deep breath and prepared to make history.

The midday sun was beating down, my feet stung with blisters, and my cheap Decathlon life jacket felt clammy and constricting as sweat trickled down my back.

I'd been on the move for 30 hours, fuelled only by cheap snacks and adrenalin. Under any other circumstances, I'd have been broken. But as I wove my way through sunbathers and kids building sandcastles, I had only one focus. I was getting on a boat bound for Britain. I was seconds away from becoming the first British man to board a migrant dinghy across the Channel - or so I thought.

Boarding the blubbery black vessel that now lurked in shallow waters waiting for its human cargo would be the culmination of a year of painstaking groundwork and intelligence gathering. The preparations had been physically gruelling, expensive, and at times extremely dangerous. Through multiple failed attempts, I had learned the hard way that a white-skinned English man is an instant source of suspicion in these circles - no matter how downtrodden he looks. Though I could - and often did - pass for a Kurd, the ruse only worked while I kept my mouth shut. Unfortunately I don't speak a word of Arabic, Farsi, or any other foreign languages.

All of which was something of a problem as I endeavoured to persuade people smugglers to help me arrange “game” – their slang for illegal Channel crossings. It also complicated communication with real migrants, whose trust I needed to earn. In my now extensive experience, only a handful speak more than a few words of English.

In early WhatsApp exchanges with traffickers and their “travel agents”, I had experimented with various foreign identities, before recognising the ridiculousness of maintaining this act.

As I knew from previous undercover investigations, the sprawling migrant camps of Calais and Dunkirk are ruled by shadowy figures with snarling dogs and semi-automatic weapons. You do not mess with these people. So I settled on telling the truth – that I was British

- along with a lie: that I was a criminal who had been on the run in Spain, and needed to sneak back into the UK. Eventually I found an agent who was prepared to take a risk on an English “brother”. We agreed the fee - €1,400 - and I was linked to a handler. Next step: get to northern France, and wait.

In the run up to the vague date I had been given for my crossing, I was pushed from pillar to post. In a pattern with which I had become wearily familiar during previous attempts, it was go here, go there, wait a few days, go back to where you started. Along with scores of other life-jacket-clutching hopefuls, I took buses and trains, slogged across miles of sand dunes, dossed down for the night in woods and parks. On one particularly epic day of this twisted travelling circus, I notched up 42,000 steps. In cheap trainers that were never designed for such distances, I was soon limping like a bona fide asylum seeker.

Eye on the prize, I kept going.

Eventually, I received an alert that made my heart leap and my pulse quicken: "game" was tomorrow. I was instructed to make my way to a final holding camp, in the woods.

That night, I lay sleeplessly in a cheap tent for one that was strewn with rubbish: a half-eaten baguette, now stale as a brick, old medicine packets, a dirty sock. I wondered about the stories of all those who had rested under the same plastic sheets. I listened to the murmur of languages I could not understand in neighbouring tents and watched an Afghan cooking crack in his tent. Then dawn broke, and it was time to go. On a signal from the smugglers, we bolted, abandoning anything that might weigh us down.

At last we reached the spot where we had been told to stand by for the dinghy, and then came another wait: hours and hours crouching in gritty dunes, as the August sun grew hotter. And then a small black blotch appeared on the horizon, growing larger as it puttered across the azure water towards the shore. We were off.

Clutching a waterproof bag containing a handful of essentials, I ran past the usual ranks for gendarmes standing around doing nothing, threw off my shoes and waded into the water, silently praying my Meta glasses, with their tiny in-built camera, would not be damaged in the stampede. All around me, asylum seekers were shrieking and splashing. In the competition for what little space remained on the RIB, it was each man for himself.

The fat inflatable tubes sat high above sea level, with little to grip. Summoning all my strength, I hauled myself aboard, grateful for the help of outstretched hands. Amid the pandemonium, I heard myself roar like an animal: part exertion, part relief. I had made it. Flopping into the belly of the boat, I was thrust into a life-threatening drama: a young woman in danger of being trampled to death. Pinned to the floor of the RIB, she was almost invisible under dozens of feet. I heard her cries and found a hand, yelling at the men to move as I pulled

'At last we reached the spot where we had been told to stand then came another wait: hours crouching in gritty dunes'

her up. And then, as a final straggler was hauled aboard, we were off. Except we weren't.

The engine, hopelessly inadequate for the size of the vessel, spluttered and stopped. While the driver tried to crank it up, the RIB groaned under the weight of its load. At this point, something entirely unexpected happened. Armed with a sharp instrument, a gendarme ran into the water, and slashed the boat. I was stunned. This rarely if ever happens, especially to vessels packed with migrants, and ready to go.

At the water's edge, half a dozen other officers were aiming big guns at us. Cue absolute panic as our stricken RIB disgorged its load. For a moment, the sea was a mass of bobbing orange jackets, before everyone staggered ashore - and rapidly dispersed. Somewhere amid the mayhem I saw a smuggler being ostentatiously arrested. Desperate to avoid being stopped and searched by officials (the discovery of my British passport would have ended the mission) I ran for cover. As soon as I was out of sight of the authorities, I collapsed on the sand.

Congratulations to the French – they “stopped a boat” – but only one that had no hope of leaving their territorial waters and only for the same passengers to board another one the very next day. I know this, because I was among them, amazed to discover that while the small boats business is not exactly Trainline (there are no refunds) in the event of a mechanical failure or “derailment”, tickets are valid on other services. Within 24 hours, I would be on my way again: another survival-of-the-fittest-style race to the launch. Fit as I am, I struggled to keep up with 20 long-legged Sudanese lads as, once again, we pelted towards the sound of the sea. They had vaulted a wooden barrier as effortlessly and elegantly as if they

were gazelles, while I lost precious seconds skirting round the edge. At one point we were forced to pick our way through dense undergrowth on hands and knees, briars tearing at clothes and flesh. This time, the dinghy had a much more powerful engine. In all, there were just 36 of us, a fraction of the usual load. "VIP Britain, Inshallah!" as someone joked.

It turned out that the driver had fallen out with his boss. Other pick-up points were scheduled, but he was refusing to pick up anyone else. I recorded them yelling at each other over the phone. The language appeared to be Kurdish Farsi. Most likely then, they were from Iran. The thought of this rogue regime with which America is at war ferrying undocumented males to Britain was chilling – but for now I was just happy to be heading home. As we chugged towards open water, I sat astride the rubber tubes of the inflatable, my right foot dangling into the water, grinning as if this were a pleasure cruise.

Between all the long brown limbs, my pale white leg screamed impostor, but as far as my fellow passengers were concerned, I was one of them. Bound by common purpose, we had developed an esprit de corps. For now we were all in the same boat, 36 exhausted but jubilant brothers, heading for a new life in the UK.

As we approached open water, an unexpected twist: a number of passengers wanted to get off. After crossing continents, enduring weeks or even months in squalid migrant camps waiting for this chance, why on earth would they abandon ship?

I realised that these were not sea-sick asylum seekers having second thoughts – but the people traffickers themselves, wanting to return to base.

In the course of a year-long investigation, here is what I have repeatedly observed: when migrants

‘Fit as I am, I struggled to keep up with 20 long-legged Sudanese lads as we pelted towards the sea’

board dinghies, a number of smugglers and handlers initially go too, to check nobody unauthorised has sneaked onto the boat. As soon as they are satisfied that all is in order, they get off. If the dinghy is still in shallow water, they jump, pretending to be migrants who missed the boat. I have seen them feign exhaustion and hypothermia as they stagger ashore, to avoid being searched by police - only to skip off the second the gendarmes look away.

Christian Drogan (in mask) with fellow passengers on the trip from France

What I witnessed as we headed towards deep water was something more extraordinary: the French police apparently making their lives easier, by taking them back ashore. As we headed into the Channel, I watched in disbelief as men who were quite clearly in positions of authority on my dinghy radioed a lurking Search and Rescue vessel, asking to get off.

Presumably knowing no lives were at risk, the emergency responders in turn called the gendarmes. A minute or two later, a police vessel drew alongside and the traffickers hopped off. After a cursory pat down for weapons, they were taken back to dry land. What a neat way to avoid a very lengthy round trip to the UK. If I could see what was going on, why on earth couldn't these officials?

Out on the open water, the waves grew higher and the hours started to drag. By the time I spotted the British Border Force vessel near the mid-way line, with its reassuring Union Jack, we had been at sea for seven hours.

Our aim had been to observe as much as possible of what happens on the British side after Channel migrants are picked up. On arrival at Dover, I had hoped to string out the investigation by saying as little as possible. I underestimated our Border Force. The minute they saw me, they sussed me out, spotting my sunburned arms and nautical watch.

“You’re on the wrong boat mate,” quipped one of the officers, as I clambered aboard the rescue vessel. I kept my head down and did not reply.

For the rest of the journey, I was treated like everyone else. The crew were not wearing kid gloves, bellowing orders at anyone who stepped out of line. At a processing facility, a no-nonsense female Border Guard looked me up and down and was having none of my bluster. Not wanting to waste anyone's time, I came clean, admitting that I was a reporter. After a few formalities, that was that.

Official Home Office figures tell you that on August 2 2026, a total of 35 illegal immigrants crossed the Channel. Quite rightly, the statistics do not record me: the only person to have invaded without breaking the law. I have nothing but praise for what I saw of UK Border Force, whose hands are tied by spineless leaders. Somehow, Andy Burnham and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood still don't see this for what it is: a national security emergency.

Migrant who married cousin can stay in UK

By Charles Hymas HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR

A MIGRANT has been allowed to remain in the UK with her first cousin because she is married to him. Isra Abdallah Ibrahim, a Sudanese immigrant, had claimed it would be a breach of her rights to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if she was forced to leave the UK and her husband.

She was refused asylum because the Home Office believed she only wed him so she could join her husband in the UK once he was granted refugee status.

riage" in their home country of Sudan in 2011. However, the Home Office was suspicious because the marriage was not recorded in any official documentation. Mrs Ibrahim said it was "local tradition" not to record the marriage.

They remarried by proxy three years later when her husband moved to Libya and she was still in Sudan. Due to the declining security situation in Libya he fled to the UK where he was granted refugee status in 2015.

She subsequently joined him. Although a lower-tier immigration tribunal rejected her claim, her appeal has now been backed by an upper court, which ruled the marriage was legitimate. Marriage between first cousins is legal in Britain, but there is growing controversy over the practice and last year, Richard Holden, the former Tory chairman, unsuccessfully sought to introduce legislation banning it.

The tribunal ruled the Sudanese couple's marriage was legal under the Marriage Acts of 1949 and 1986 as well as the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which it said was “clear that the relationship of first cousins is not within the relational prohibition”.

Upper tribunal judge Paul Lodato said: “The appeal is allowed because [Mrs Ibrahim] met the applicable rules which renders the refusal decision demonstrably disproportionate.”

Mentally ill killers may avoid tagging curbs

By Charles Hymas HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR

MENTALLY ILL killers may avoid the Government's tagging crackdown which aims protect victims by tracking their movements in new restriction zones.

Mentally disordered offenders such as Valdo Calocane, the Nottingham killer, will not automatically be covered by the zones, which will see offenders confined to areas potentially no bigger than a few miles wide for as long as probation officers see fit.

It is understood decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis for offenders who are detained under hospital orders and released on leave from secure psychiatric hospitals, rather than freed on licence from prison into

Valdo Calocane, the Nottingham killer, will not automatically be covered by the tracking zones

supervision by the probation service. This weekend, ministers announced plans to restrict freed criminals to a tightly defined area, giving victims greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their perpetrator.

It differs from the current system, in which offenders are barred from certain areas, such as a victim's home or workplace. The new zones will be enforced by probation officers through GPS-based electronic tags that can track offenders' movements in real time 24/7. Any breach could result in offenders being sent back to jail.

The move to reassure victims about protections in the community comes ahead of the planned early release of some 5,000 offenders as the Government seeks to avoid running out of prison space.

The MoJ has been asked to comment.

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Cat in the Hat 'serial killer' is an AI-generated hoax, say police

By Tim Sigsworth

VIRAL videos showing a “serial killer” dressed as Dr Seuss’s Cat in the Hat are not real, police have said.

Clips of the figure loitering outside homes at night have amassed millions of views on social media in recent days.

The AI-generated footage sparked rumours of a serial killer dressed as the children's book character on the loose.

However, a police force has dismissed the speculation and reminded the public not to “believe everything you read on social media”.

The viral doorbell videos initially centred on Irish counties of Limerick and Wexford. They showed the “Cat in the Hat” walking along the streets at night.

The videos have since depicted areas in the UK, culminating in a false statement, attributed to the non-existent "Yorkshire Police" force.

It read: "Officers are aware of a number of reports regarding a suspicious figure described as a 'Cat in the Hat' seen walking in the Meadowhall area at approximately 2.30am this morning."

“We are taking this matter seriously, and extra patrols are in the area.”

In response, South Yorkshire Police said they had received no reports about "a Cat in the Hat" or "his associated Thing One and Thing Two", two characters who appear in the Dr Seuss story.

A spokesman for the police force said: "The cat is not out of the hat on this one... we don't have a new account or a new logo. Please don't believe everything you read on social media."

News

The police have confirmed that images of a Cat in the Hat 'serial killer' are fake after footage emerged online of a creepy figure patrolling the streets at night and targeting various areas of the UK

Reform to evict messy council house tenants

Party says that subsidised housing is ‘privilege, not a right’ as it unveils Right to Buy inspired by Thatcher

By Amy Gibbons and Dominic Penna

REFORM UK has told council house tenants to clean up their gardens or face eviction under a Nigel Farage government.

The party has said that its target to build 50,000 new social homes a year would be accompanied by a strict new code of conduct for tenants.

Announcing the plans yesterday, Lee Anderson, the Reform chairman, said: "People who live in subsidised housing - paid for, subsidised by the hard-working British taxpayer – what is wrong with expecting them to keep their house to a reasonable standard?”

Mr Anderson's remarks came as Reform unveiled its plan for the biggest shake-up of social housing in a generation.

The plan would include a reformed Right to Buy scheme, inspired by Margaret Thatcher's flagship policy, while young British married working couples with children would be prioritised for social housing.

Veterans would also receive preference for council homes, while all foreign nationals would be evicted within three months of Reform taking power.

At a press conference in central London yesterday, Mr Anderson was asked whether social tenants could be kicked out of their homes if they failed to mow the lawn.

He replied: "We see it on the new house builds now where up to 10 per cent are given to housing associations and it is a big problem for me in my community. When they don't allocate these houses on a sensitive let, we see all sorts of people moving into these houses and creating mayhem.

"The hard-working British taxpayer, the alarm clock people who get up at five or six o'clock in the morning, go to work and they see the house next door with four foot of weeds, dustbin not been emptied for three weeks, and a waft of weed coming out the window – it's not acceptable."

A policy pamphlet published by

Reform after the press conference said that social housing would have to be treated as a privilege, not a right.

Mr Farage's party said: “Tenants were expected to keep houses and gardens presentable and conform to standards of behaviour designed to protect the estate. Whilst some councils have maintained such expectations, the reality is that there are limited consequences for those who fail to comply. Under Reform UK, this will change.”

Richard Tice, Reform's business spokesman, used his speech yesterday to announce plans for an “attractive”

Right to Buy scheme that would echo Thatcher's flagship policy.

Reform would offer council house tenants a 30 per cent discount on their home after five years, while residents who had lived in their home for 10 years would be offered a 40 per cent discount.

A Labour spokesman said: “Reform is so desperate to try to deflect attention away from the scandals Nigel Farage is drowning in, they have cobbled together unworkable and unserious plans which they can’t answer even basic questions on.”

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Why the future of Israel hinges on a gunshot 10 years ago

Jan Philipp Burgard

Row over controversial West Bank killing reignites as ex-IDF chief Eisenkot looks to take on Netanyahu

IT WAS a gunshot to the head of a Palestinian terrorist that exposed the gulf between Gadi Eisenkot and Benjamin Netanyahu.

In March 2016, two Palestinians armed with knives attacked Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, wounding one of them. The soldiers opened fire, killing one attacker and leaving the other wounded on the ground. Several minutes later, 19-year-old Israeli soldier Elor Azaria cocked his rifle, aimed at the prone attacker's head and pulled the trigger. Azaria said he felt threatened.

The question of whether the soldier should face a military trial divided the country. To some Israelis, Azaria was no criminal but a soldier who had killed a terrorist. To others, he may have committed manslaughter.

Mr Eisenkot, then chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), defended the decision to prosecute Azaria, arguing that shooting an attacker who had been incapacitated was incompatible with the values of the military. Mr Netanyahu sided with the soldier and, after he was convicted of manslaughter, called for him to be pardoned.

A decade later, the dispute still reverberates. In the current election campaign, Mr Eisenkot's supporters point to the Azaria case as evidence of their candidate's morality. Mr Netanyahu's allies use it to portray the former military chief as too soft and too far to the Left.

Mr Eisenkot has emerged as the most formidable challenger to Mr Netanyahu before Israel's parliamentary election on Oct 27.

Rarely has an Israeli election been watched abroad with such anticipation. Whoever wins faces a radically different foreign-policy landscape.

Relations between Mr Netanyahu's government and the EU have deteriorated to such an extent that Israel's foreign minister no longer speaks to the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. On June 18, 2026, Gideon Sa'ar announced that he was severing all contact with Ms Kallas. The trigger was a report saying Ms Kallas had compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to South Africa's apartheid system.

Israel's traditionally close relationship with the United States is also considered strained. Netanyahu and Donald Trump, the US president, did agree to joint military strikes against Iran aimed at preventing the Islamist regime in Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has declared the destruction of Israel to be one of its overriding goals.

Yet Mr Trump has also occasionally criticised Mr Netanyahu. "What the f--- are you doing?" Mr Trump reportedly asked the Israeli prime minister in June, referring to his offensive against Hezbollah. Mr Trump has so far stopped short of publicly endorsing Mr Netanyahu for re-election, even though Mr Netanyahu is reported to have asked him to do so. Mr Netanyahu is coming under growing pressure from Mr Eisenkot - and he is fighting back hard.

"The campaign against me has begun," Mr Eisenkot told supporters at a campaign event last week in the northern Israeli city of Karmiel. Speaking in a slightly hoarse voice, he launched his counter-attack.

“Netanyahu attacks his opponents in the same way every time, claiming: Only Netanyahu can provide security.”

Then he adds: "We saw how that worked out on October 7."

Mr Eisenkot is demanding an independent state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding Oct 7. In doing so, he also wants Mr Netanyahu to be held accountable. Mr Netanyahu's government has so far resisted such a commission.

“If there is no commission of inquiry, it will hang over Israeli society like a curse,” Mr Eisenkot says.

Mr Eisenkot is stocky, with the air of a chef who has been persuaded to leave his kitchen to greet an enthusiastic dining room. He is neither a charismatic nor a gifted speaker in the mould of Mr Netanyahu. But he projects trustworthiness. While Mr Netanyahu carries the burden of an ongoing corruption trial, his challenger is widely regarded as a man of exceptional integrity.

Pensioner Josef Benjamin listens intently to Mr Eisenkot's speech. "Eisenkot is a man of the people, a good man," Benjamin says. "Netanyahu, on the other hand, rules like a king. He is no longer good for Israel and should step down."

It is no coincidence that Mr Eisenkot has chosen Karmiel. The city is predominantly home to lower-income and middle-income Israelis and is considered a stronghold of Mr Netanyahu's Likud Party. Over the course of a few days, Mr Eisenkot is making 15 appearances here in northern Israel.

It is a display of confidence: he wants to win over the prime minister's voters. In several nationwide polls, his party, Yashar! – a name that can be translated as “Upright!” or “Straight!” – has already overtaken Likud. Among the roughly 300 people gathered in Karmiel's municipal auditorium, there is plenty of grey hair, along with hearing aids and walking sticks. Young faces are rare.

Agam is 15 and too young to vote. But if she could, she says she would cast her ballot for Mr Eisenkot.

“He is very humble and sensitive. You can see that he speaks to people on their level,” she says. “He genuinely cares about what is going to happen to this country. He wants to bring about change – and I believe he will.”

Listen to Mr Eisenkot, 66, long enough and it is indeed possible to detect a paternal charm. He projects the experience of a man who has known both a remarkable rise and profound loss.

Mr Eisenkot background is modest. The son of Jewish immigrants from Morocco, he was born far from Israel's major cities in Tiberias and grew up in Eilat in the country's south. In the military, he rose from infantryman to chief of staff of the IDF – appointed by Mr Netanyahu, a product of intellectual circles and elite US universities. In one campaign ad, Likud mocks Mr Eisenkot's imperfect English. Yet his popularity continues to rise. It is not only Mr Eisenkot's story of social mobility that makes him

Gadi Eisenkot with his son Gal Meir, who was killed in Gaza after the October 7 attacks. Below, Abdul Fatah al-Sharif and Raja the grandfather and mother of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif who was shot dead by Israeli soldier Elor Azaria

relatable, but also his family's tragedy. On December 7, 2023, Mr Eisenkot's son Gal Meir was seeking to recover the bodies of two Israelis abducted into Gaza on Oct 7. As the soldier approached an open tunnel shaft, a bomb detonated. The 25-year-old was wounded and later died in hospital.

Two of Gadi Mr Eisenkot's nephews were also killed in Gaza. Mr Netanyahu's son Yair remained in Florida while some 360,000 reservists were mobilised after Oct 7.

Mr Eisenkot now embodies Israel's grief for its fallen – and the hope that the man whose profession was war might be the one to end it. His popularity also reflects a yearning for a benevolent father figure, as Yitzhak Rabin once was. Rabin, too, was an IDF chief of staff before entering politics and became the great hope for Middle East peace.

Does Mr Eisenkot have what it takes to inherit Rabin's mantle? According to an analysis by the Israel Democracy Institute, roughly two-thirds of former IDF chiefs of staff later entered national politics. Most failed. Ehud Barak did become prime minister, but his coalition collapsed after just 20 months. More recently, ex-IDF chief Benny Gantz, once very popular, saw his party's support collapse and is now likely to fail to make it back into the Knesset. Ultimately, the military and politics operate on different rules.

The armed forces are hierarchical, politics demands compromise – and a particular ability to deal with people.

‘Had it been up to Eisenkot, he would have given in to pressure and ended the war’

Those are soft skills the military does not necessarily teach, says Professor Danny Orbach, a military historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“In the army, Ehud Barak – an extreme example of a failed politician with a military background – could shout at his subordinates if they didn’t obey him,” Mr Orbach says. “In politics, people simply walk away.”

He however, considers Mr Eisenkot a different kind of figure. “Eisenkot is very conscientious and deeply patriotic. He means well. Without Netanyahu’s baggage, he may be able to rebuild relations with the EU and with certain segments of the Democratic Party in the US,” he says.

He is more sceptical about Mr Eisenkot's lack of political experience, having entered parliament only four years ago. Mr Orbach is also critical of positions taken as a member of Netanyahu's war cabinet after Oct 7.

“Had it been up to Eisenkot, he would have given in to pressure from the families of the hostages and ended the war,” Mr Orbach says. “We would now be without the achievements we have made: 60 per cent of Gaza under our control, and Hamas weakened and isolated.”

Eisenkot and his campaign team are trying to overcome such criticism with a promise of a better future.

Even the choice of music at his campaign rallies makes the point. An old Israeli peace song comes over the speakers. “Everything will be all right.”

Jan Philipp Burgard is global reporter for Die Welt. This article was produced with support from the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which connects journalists across the company's news brands.

Israeli crime boss shot dead at petrol station in broad daylight

By Melanie Swan in TEL AVIV

CCTV footage shows Yanis Yushvaev being shot in the back of the head at point-blank range outside a petrol station on Sunday

AN Israeli mafia boss has been shot dead at point-blank range in broad daylight.

Yanis Yushvaev, 40, was killed as he left a petrol station near Caesarea in Israel on Sunday.

The married father-of-three was considered one of Israel's most dangerous criminals, with his death coming as the country grapples with a growing organised crime crisis.

CCTV footage showed the gunman walking up a flight of steps as a group of three men – including Yushvaev – left the building and walked down.

As the suspect reached the door, and with the three men behind him, he turned and shot Yushvaev in the back of the head. The mafia boss tumbled down the stairs as the gunman fled on foot.

Yushvaev was described by police as the head of a crime group associated with Israel's Jewish Caucasus community. He had for years evaded conviction as police repeatedly failed to gather sufficient evidence despite his alleged involvement in shootings, grenade attacks and vehicle arson.

There is growing concern that Israel's underworld wars are spilling into everyday public spaces.

In recent weeks, branches of Japanika, a popular sushi restaurant chain, have been targeted with grenades, gunfire and attempted arson in attacks police have linked to an escalating feud between the Mosli (Jewish) and Jarushi (Arab) crime families.

Thirteen attacks were reported in the space of several days prompting the US embassy in Jerusalem to issue a security warning to Americans in Israel about the threat from organised crime in Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Herzliya.

Murders are also on the rise. There were 309 murders recorded in Israel in 2025, up from 148 in 2022, an increase of 109 per cent. Of those killed in 2025, 241 were Arab-Israelis and 47 were Jewish, according to police figures.

Sunday's killing stands as a reminder that Israel's organised crime problem is not confined to its Arab minority.

Dutch to boycott Eurovision despite political neutrality push

By James Crisp EUROPE EDITOR

THE NETHERLANDS is poised to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row because of Israel's war in Gaza.

Avrotros, the public broadcaster, said the event could “no longer be considered neutral” because of the divisions among countries over Israel taking part in the competition.

It said that new rules designed to guarantee the contest's political neutrality were not sufficient, meaning it had to make the “painful” decision to continue its boycott.

Earlier this month, organisers of the contest announced that they would exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the world's biggest live televised music event.

"It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division," said Taco Zimmerman, the director-general of Avrotros.

"The recently announced changes... do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored." He added: "As a public broadcaster, we remain committed to our values. They guide us in everything we do, even when that means stepping away from an event that is very close to our hearts."

Avrotros has returned responsibility for the Dutch entry to the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep, which is the governing body of public broadcasting in the Netherlands. It will make a final decision on how to proceed.

‘It is undeniable that conflicts are affecting the contest... It has become a platform for division’

The Dutch broadcaster is the first to confirm it won't be involved in the 2027 iteration of the competition in Bulgaria, which is organised by the European Broadcasting Union.

The Netherlands was one of five countries, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland, to boycott this year's 70th anniversary contest in Vienna.

The EBU was set to hold a divisive vote among public broadcasters on whether to kick out Israel's KAN channel. Hosts Austria and Germany both said they would leave the competition if Israel was excluded, amid surging anti-Semitism in Europe after the Oct 7 terror attacks and accusations of war crimes in Gaza. The vote was postponed after the October ceasefire and ultimately was not held.

In December, most broadcasters agreed instead to toughen rules on political neutrality and government meddling in phone voting, which led to the boycott. Israel finished second in both 2025 and 2026. There were accusations of vote-rigging after Israel's Yuval Raphael was unexpectedly catapulted into second place from 14th by the televote in 2025.

The 2026 competition was watched by 131 million viewers, down 35 million on the year before after the five-country boycott. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia refused to broadcast the show at all.

Next year's event will take place on May 15 in the Black Sea city of Burgas.

It will be the first time Bulgaria will host the contest after its singer Dara triumphed in Vienna with catchy floor-filler Bangaranga. Martin Green, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said the organisation regretted but respected the decision.

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Italy and Germany in tit-for-tat row over migrants

Rome impounds German rescue boat for 45 days after it ‘dumped’ asylum seekers on its shores

By Nick Squires, James Rothwell and James Crisp

GERMANY has accused Italy of wrecking the EU's new pact on migration amid an escalating row over returns and rescues in the Mediterranean.

The growing rift revolves around Berlin wanting to send failed asylum seekers back to Italy, and Italian resentment of the large number of migrants who are rescued at sea by German-flagged humanitarian vessels.

Italy is hardening its position in the stand-off and on Sunday impounded a German-flagged non-governmental organisation (NGO) vessel – called the Sea-Watch 5 – for 45 days, accusing it of contravening rescue procedures.

The Italian government said that the vessel should have transferred a group of migrants it rescued to Libyan authorities, rather than bringing them to Naples. The NGO has been fined €7,500 (£6,400). Matteo Piantedosi, the Italian interior minister, said that if migrants are rescued by a German NGO, then they should be the responsibility of Germany and taken to a German port.

Italy says that German rescue boats have picked up the lion's share of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean in recent years. Between October 2022, when Giorgia Meloni was elected prime minister, and this month, German NGO vessels landed more than 22,000 migrants in Italy – 53 per cent of the total.

At the same time, the two countries have clashed over provisions in the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact stipulating that migrants must request asylum in the first EU country they reach. If they travel on to other countries, then they can be sent back. Germany, Austria, Ireland and several other nations say that, under the accord, they want to send failed asylum seekers back to Italy. Rome is objecting. Italy – often the first EU country boats reach from North Africa – fears it could be lumbered with thousands of failed asylum seekers.

Members of Ms Meloni's conservative coalition are linking the migrant returns policy to the rescue at sea issue.

Matteo Salvini, one of two Italian deputy prime ministers, said: "Germany does not have the right to send back a single migrant as long as German NGOs in the Mediterranean pick up thousands of illegal migrants and dump them in Italy. Firstly, we need to resolve the problem of German-flagged ships and then we can talk about the rest."

In response, Germany's coalition government of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Social Democrats (SPD) is accusing Rome of undermining the fundamental principles of the pact, which came into force in June.

“If Italy maintains this stance, it will derail the new European asylum system,” said Alexander Throm, spokesman for the conservative CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag.

If Italy refuses to take back failed asylum seekers from Germany, “we will be forced to intensify controls along Germany’s borders. And that would create a chain reaction among other European countries,” he said.

The pact was a hard-fought compromise that enshrines the faster returns of failed asylum seekers in exchange for a commitment from other countries, with fewer migrant arrivals, to take in a quota of genuine refugees from under-pressure states or pay €20,000 (£17,100) for each one that they refused.

It was the last of a suite of reforms to be agreed after the 2015 migrant crisis and came into force only in June this year.

To complicate matters further, the AfD, or Alternative for Germany, the de facto opposition party, has backed Italy in the row. “Italy is rightly refusing to take responsibility for migrants arriving on the shores of Italy,” said Gottfried Curio, an AfD spokesman.

A Nevada National Guard helicopter pilot surveys the scene as the Hawk Fire storms towards the Reno area yesterday
—NEVADA NATIONAL GUA

87,000 forced to flee as Hawk Fire threatens to engulf Reno

By Daniel Bates

NEARLY 90,000 people have been told to evacuate their homes in Nevada because of raging wildfires.

At least six people, including three emergency services workers, have so far been injured by what is being nicknamed the Hawk Fire.

The blaze has grown to 23 sq miles since starting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains on Saturday and last night was still out of control and approaching the city of Reno.

Officials told residents to flee on Sunday as the fire spread rapidly, blown by 40mph winds.

Darin Balaam, sheriff of Washoe county, which includes Reno, said that the strong winds led to “extreme fire behaviour”. “Please get out if you can right now,” he said.

Some 87,000 people were either told to leave their homes immediately or warned they will have to evacuate.

Local authorities said it could be sev-

15,000

The number of acres the Hawk Fire has ravaged since it began on Saturday in the Sierra Nevada, blown by 40mph winds

eral days before homeowners could return due to the unpredictable nature of the winds.

A young father holding his young son after fleeing his home told the BBC: "It came super fast. We saw the fire come down the hill so I gathered up all the family and took off."

Richard Edwards, chief of the Truckee Meadows fire protection district, which includes suburban areas outside Reno, said the fire “continues to grow”. “It’s over 15,000 acres and we still have zero per cent containment,” he said.

The high winds had allowed the fire to travel “extremely quick and cover an area of almost six miles in less than 24 hours,” he said.

Nevada governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency and called the blaze an “active and rapidly evolving situation”.

Shane Akerson, a battalion chief with the Truckee Meadows fire protection district, said the fire was “human-caused” and is being investigated.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for an area from Louisiana to California. It soared to 47.7C in Phoenix, Arizona.

Berlin's spooks seek gamers to hack back against Moscow

James Rothwell
BERLIN CORRESPONDENT

GERMANY'S foreign intelligence service has launched a recruitment drive for gamers as it seeks a new generation of tech-savvy secret agents to "hack back" against Russia.

to retaliate against Russian cyber-attacks.

The Telegraph understands agents from the German equivalent of MI6, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), will attend the world's largest video game festival to recruit young spies.

BND officials said there was a “significant overlap” between the skills possessed by gaming fans and those the agency needs to retaliate against Russian hackers targeting critical infrastructure in Germany.

The recruiting operation, at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, which begins tomorrow, is part of a historic rearmament drive in Germany that seeks to turn the once-toothless BND into a rival of MI6 and Mossad.

An intelligence source said gamers at the festival who fit the BND's profile would be invited to take a five-step challenge that tests their aptitude for cyber-security and hacking.

Last week the cabinet of Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, approved a sweeping reform package for the BND to allow field agents to fire their service guns and carry out sabotage abroad.

But intelligence officials said the most useful new power was a so-called “hack back” clause, allowing the BND

Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has suffered several waves of Russian cyber-attacks as revenge for its support of Kyiv.

Perhaps the most serious incident occurred in March 2024 when Moscow intercepted a top-secret recording of senior German air force officers discussing their military strategy in Ukraine.

Beyond cyberspace, Russia is also suspected of plotting to assassinate German defence executives, to burn down factories which supply Ukraine, and to plant bombs at German airports.

The intelligence reforms have made recruitment of gamers a priority for the BND, as it explores new ways of deterring Russia from its so-called hybrid war campaign against Germany.

This new era of espionage could require young German spies to retaliate against Russian cyber-attacks by hacking into Moscow's intelligence databases or weapons production networks.

“We see a significant overlap between gamers and key talent we are looking for: they are tech-savvy, enjoy stepping into different roles, completing missions, and persevering until they succeed,” Julia Linner, a BND spokesman, told The Telegraph.

"The talent we recruit now will probably join a ‘new BND’, shaped by the currently discussed legislative amendments," she added, alluding to the “hack back” clause of the reforms.

A BND-designed video game about

The BND will have a stall at this year's Gamescom where gamers can try the intelligence body's BND Legends game (top right)

stealth and hacking, BND Legends, will be available to play at the spy agency's store at Gamescom.

BND sources said the most obvious appeal of the festival stall will be allowing gamers to try out BND Legends and perhaps have an informal chat about career opportunities.

But at the same time, some agents will be talent-spotting “qualified professionals” for the more dramatic side of BND work – namely hacking.

It is not the only unusual recruiting tool deployed by Germany in its efforts to rearm. The Bundeswehr, the German military, has reportedly issued a kebab wrapper in camouflage colours with an internet link to its careers website.

"One career with everything," the wrapper states, in a pun on the phrase "one kebab with everything" in German. The döner kebab, which has Turkish and German roots, is Germany's most popular street food.

Founded in 1956, the BND was designed to have a feeble postwar “observer” role in European intelligence, separating it from its Nazi precursors, the Gestapo and the Sicherheitsdienst (security service of the SS). But in recent years BND officials have complained that the shackles are unjustified and outmoded, especially in a world where Russia poses a potentially existential threat to the West.

‘We see a significant overlap between gamers and key talent we are looking for’

Mr Merz's government responded with its spy agency reforms, which Alexander Dobrindt, the interior minister, said would finally give Germany “true intelligence services”.

However, Berlin's dream of making the BND into an agency that would make James Bond proud is not without its critics in Germany, especially on the hard-Left and Right.

Die Linke (The Left Party) has suggested that strengthening the country's spy agencies would be a step backwards, and could even push Germany closer to being a Nazi-style surveillance state.

Checks and balances on the intelligence services are “a bitter lesson from our history, especially from the Gestapo, that we had to learn,” said Ulrich Thoden, a Die Linke MP.

Alternative for Germany, the hard-Right populist party set to win by a landslide in two key elections in the east this September, is also uneasy about the reforms.

The party, which became the de facto opposition in the federal parliament after last year's elections, has expressed concerns about Germans' privacy rights.

That being said, the new reforms do stop short in some key areas: the BND has not, for example, been given a 007-style “licence to kill”.

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Japan PM so lonely she befriended cockroach

Leader known for working weekends and evenings says she felt sad after her team removed the pest

By Emily Smith

IN ONLY 10 months, Sanae Takaichi, Japan's workaholic prime minister, has taken on Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, befriended Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni and boasted about surviving on three hours of sleep a night.

Now, in a candid social media post, the country's first female leader has admitted that life can be lonely at the top.

Sharing an anecdote about working long hours in her official residence, Ms Takaichi said she had not been visited by ghosts, but had seen a cockroach before. Ms Takaichi said she had not killed it because she believed it could have been “part of that long cycle of reincarnation”.

When her staff eventually found out and removed the pest, Ms Takaichi said that she had felt “relieved, but also a little lonely, or maybe sad”.

Ms Takaichi, 65, of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, moved into the residence in central Tokyo in December. Taking after her “extremely good friend” Mr Trump and communicating directly with the public via social media, Ms Takaichi said: “I’ve written about the official residence, so I’ll also answer some of the questions I often get.

“Have you already met the ghosts that are said to appear in the official residence?” I’ve never encountered a ghost, but until recently I was the one screaming when I came across cockroaches.

“Even after moving to the official residence, I carefully wiped down the floor under the dining table, put food scraps in a sturdy lidded garbage can, and washed and sorted plastic containers, so I was shocked when, one day, a cockroach suddenly scurried past my feet.

"But I've loved Osamu Tezuka's Firebird [manga film] since I was a child and have read it over and over many times.

“Firebird depicts the idea of reincarnation, that ‘life is connected, changing forms’, and it had a huge impact on me even as a child. Maybe because of that, even now as an adult, I can’t bring myself to kill insects, cockroaches included.

“For the cockroach that ran through the official residence, I thought things

'I can't bring myself to kill insects, cockroaches included'

like, ‘maybe this life is also part of that long cycle of reincarnation,’ and for a while, I endured it, hoping it would somehow leave on its own – but when I told my secretaries about it, they were appalled.

“It’s unclean. I’ll handle it,’ one of the secretaries said firmly, and arranged for Operation Combat. After that, the cockroaches stopped appearing. I felt relieved, but also a little lonely, or maybe sad."

In a series of long posts on social media, the leader also explained that she preferred to work from her official residence rather than the prime minister's office because it eased “the burden on official residence staff”.

"I have made it a point to actively utilise the prime minister's residence, which allows me to minimise the number of staff and security personnel, including special police, who need to be involved," she wrote on X.

Ms Takaichi is known for working at weekends and well into the evenings, often getting only a few hours of sleep each night. In July, she said that she had finally been able to “get five hours of sleep for the first time in a while” after “zero to three hours of sleep” had become her habit upon taking office.

Her husband, a former politician who suffered a stroke in February 2025, does the cooking.

She has also made clear her preference for working alone, rather than with a large entourage of staff around her. In her most recent posts, she reinforced that she preferred keeping the

Sanae Takaichi says she was shocked to see a cockroach scurry past after she cleaned her home

number of people around her at a minimum. If in-person meetings are necessary, she writes, she manages by “having only the responsible secretary or relevant staff come to the residence”.

Ms Takaichi's social media posts were prompted by a stream of reports that she had been avoiding parliament sessions, instead spending all of her time in her personal residence.

According to the Nikkei newspaper, Ms Takaichi has spent more than half of her weekends and public holidays at her residence since becoming prime minister. Bloomberg found that she has held the fewest cabinet meetings of any Japanese prime minister since 2012.

Such reports have followed dwindling public support as she has pushed measures to maintain Japan's male-only royal line of succession while delaying policies that would mitigate rising prices.

A public opinion poll last month put her support at 41 per cent, down 10 percentage points in a month and below 50 per cent for the first time since her sweeping general election victory in February.

The women uniting behind a mother who killed her three children

David Millward US CORRESPONDENT

DRESSED in pink, around 300 women gathered outside a Massachusetts courthouse on Thursday wearing shirts emblazoned with slogans such as “Believe”, “She Needed Help”, and “Peace For Lindsay”.

The protesters prayed and made heart shapes with their hands. Some held up flags from across the world; others cradled babies.

The woman whom they, and scores of others at rallies across the globe, including the UK, Portugal and Peru, had turned out to support? Lindsay Clancy, the mother accused of murdering her three children aged three, five and eight months.

Ms Clancy, a 36-year-old nurse, does not deny killing Cora, Dawson and Callan. However, she claims that it was not murder because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time.

The condition, also known as puerperal psychosis or postnatal psychosis, is a mental health disorder affecting around one in 1,000 new mothers. Symptoms – including mania, delusions, hallucinations, low mood and confusion – typically develop soon after giving birth, but can sometimes occur weeks later.

Ms Clancy's case has prompted a reckoning by those who think she was failed by the system, with many women throwing their support behind her and holding her up as an example of failing mental health support for new mothers.

“Lindsay shouldn’t even be on trial right now; the systems of mental health care should be,” Renee Kimball, the organiser of the Massachusetts protest, said.

The basic facts of the case are not in dispute. On Jan 24, 2023, Ms Clancy sent her husband, Patrick, to pick up a takeaway meal and collect medication from a pharmacy in Duxbury, a seaside town about 35 miles south of Boston.

While he was out, she used exercise bands to strangle her three children. She then jumped from a second-storey window, sustaining serious spinal injuries. She is paralysed from the waist down as a result of the fall.

Mr Clancy, 38, told the court he came home to find his wife in the back garden – and his two older children dead in the basement. Baby Callan was still alive, but died three days after the attack.

Ms Clancy was charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The prosecution says she “acted intentionally, rationally, and swiftly to accomplish a very specific goal – to kill". If convicted, she faces life in prison without parole. She has pleaded not guilty.

Protesters outside a Massachusetts courthouse make heart shapes with their hands as they show their support for Lindsay Clancy, left

After Callan was born, Ms Clancy sought help, having been diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety. She put off returning to work at Massachusetts General Hospital and saw a procession of doctors. In all, she was prescribed 13 different medications as medical professionals tried to tackle her psychiatric condition, which was exacerbated by insomnia, triggered by one of the drugs she was taking.

“Every one of these doctors and nurses knew that she was suffering from postpartum [mental health issues], and now it’s turning into psychosis,” said Kevin Reddington, her attorney, claiming Ms Clancy was overmedicated at the time of the killings.

He said that Ms Clancy repeatedly sought help, tried various drugs, called a suicide hotline, went to an emergency room, and checked herself into a psychiatric hospital.

Mr Reddington was also scathing in his cross examination of Dr Jennifer

Tufts, one of the doctors who treated Ms Clancy, whom he blames for over-medicating her. He asked Dr Tufts why she only saw Ms Clancy over video rather than in person.

Ms Clancy's mother, Paula Musgrove, told the court that her daughter had spoken of harming her children as her mental condition worsened. So did Mr Clancy.

"I think that there is just a bigger crisis of either the approach of mental health care or the lack of resources," Ms Kimball said.

"It just gets to a point where people ask for help and ask for help and ask for help. And then there's just a point where help stops."

Another supporter, April Vincent, a 52-year-old paralegal from Providence,

Rhode Island, added: “Women are being dismissed, neglected and ignored when we speak up. We’re scared because nobody takes us seriously.”

The case has swept across social media, with 31,000 people contributing more than \$1m (£740,000) to a GoFundMe account for Ms Clancy's parents Mike and Paula Musgrove, and triggered a wave of op-eds, podcasts and TikTok videos.

Candace Owens, a conspiracy theorist and conservative commentator, has even weighed in. “I made my thoughts clear on this. The moment that she was arrested, the moment that it made the news, Lindsay Clancy is obviously not guilty,” she said on TikTok.

"There are a fleet of doctors who should be imprisoned for what they put her on. I regularly speak out against Big Pharma. They get away with murder all the time."

Ms Owens' sentiment was echoed by a surprising number of women for whom her deep-state, anti-Semitic conspiracy videos would not normally resonate.

The wave of support has led to an intense backlash online. Supporters of Ms Clancy have been called “terrible people” and “insane” by social media commentators.

The case has attracted a wave of increasingly outlandish conspiracy theories, with some online convinced it was Mr Clancy who committed the murders. He has not been charged and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Others claim that an apparent change of his shoes, according to CCTV from the night the children died, points to some kind of involvement.

A day does not go by without social media sleuths apparently decoding some small detail as evidence of the father's involvement.

Commentators have suggested that these wild conspiracies are further evidence of the need to talk about mental health. It is easier, they say, to imagine a father killing his own children than to accept a mother may do the same while suffering a psychotic episode triggered by childbirth.

The Telegraph has approached Mr Clancy for comment.

Shark attack victim: Thinking of daughter made me fight to survive

By Lily Shanagher

here" after thinking of her baby daughter.

AN AUSTRALIAN mother who lost her arm after being bitten by a shark said she could remember every second of the attack.

Leah Stewart, a schoolteacher, was mauled by a suspected 3.5-metre great white shark in June while taking a morning swim between the flags at Coogee Beach in Sydney.

The mother-of-one was critically injured, suffering life-threatening bites to her arms and legs. She was placed into a medically-induced coma for nearly a fortnight, had multiple surgeries and her arm amputated.

The 34-year-old told 60 Minutes Australia she remembered the entire ordeal and that she was encouraged to try to survive after thinking of her daughter, August. Ms Stewart said: "Its face was horrific – I will never forget its face. It was a monster. It was holding on to my leg.”

Shark victim Ms Stewart was comforted during the interview by partner Fernando

She said she told herself, "I've got to fight it and do everything I can to be

“All I was thinking of was August and I thought, ‘She’s not going to have a mum’,” a visibly emotional Ms Stewart added. “I couldn’t handle that. I did not want her not to have a mum.”

In the interview, which airs on Sunday, an emergency call made at the time is played in which operators are told: "We've got a shark attack on Coogee Beach... There's a lot of blood in the water."

In the aftermath of the shark attack, a fundraiser to help support Ms Stewart's recovery and pay for a prosthetic arm raised around \$558,000 (£300,000).

She added that she felt as though she had been given “a second chance at life, and I’m not going to waste it. As I get better, I know I’ll make something of this second chance”.

101-year-old woman arrested for 'selling drugs' after shop set on fire

By Lily Shanagher

A 101-YEAR-OLD great-grandmother has been arrested for allegedly selling drugs in Nigeria.

Esther Ogunmabo was arrested in the southwestern state of Ogun on Saturday for selling cannabis, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

She was found with “retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams (3.2oz), which she claims she sells to locals”, said Femi Babafemi, the agency’s media director.

The elderly woman, who was released on bail, had turned to selling drugs after losing her livelihood when her provisions shop was set on fire, the agency said.

She was photographed by the agency next to a heap of sachets of what down on drug trafficking, making several significant seizures across Nigeria's coast.

appeared to be cannabis, holding up a whiteboard listing her personal information. The agency accuses her of receiving a supply of drugs every four days by one of her daughters, who lives in the capital of Lagos.

'She was found with retail sachets of skunk weighing 90 grams which claimed she sold to locals'

The centenarian would then sell it in smaller quantities to customers, the agency added.

Ms Ogunmabo was released on bail and provided counselling because of her advanced age, while her daughter was also arrested.

In Akwa Ibom state, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a wooden boat at sea last Friday that was transporting drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.

Mr Babafemi said that three people onboard were arrested, with more than 42kg of substances recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, the agency also recorded its first seizure of illegal drugs shipped from Thailand, with customs seizing 1,000kg of substances divided into sachets at the Apapa Port.

The agency said that the illicit substances had been smuggled in a container declared to be carrying dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, batteries and turmeric soup.

Comment

Everyone hates Parisians and the heatwaves have made it worse

ANNE-ELISABETH MOUTET

One of my earliest childhood memories, when spending the summer holidays at my grandfather's house near Montélimar, was, just arrived, rushing to the cavernous kitchen with my brother, demanding nougats and lait caillé from the two formidable old ladies who ruled over the premises. "Comme ils parlent poingtu, ces Parisiengs !", ("How flat they talk, those Parisians!"), they would shoot back. We'd then switch, for the rest of our stay, to the local accent, almost-but-not-quite Provencal.

This summer, Parisian visitors to Brittany, Normandy, even the unglamorous Nord Pas-de-Calais, as the last parts of France spared by the heatwaves, have found themselves the butt of anti-tourist reactions. "Go home" and "Dehors les Parigots" graffiti, keyed cars, heated scuffles with locals outraged at finding peak-hour Métro crowds at Mont Saint Michel or the Croizon peninsula. Mostly coming from the 12 million-strong Paris region, they've shunned the forest fires and yellowed fields (not to mention inflated prices) of boiling Aquitaine and Provence to find themselves unwelcome in what they'd learnt at school was their own country.

The wonder was that they were surprised. Hating the Parisians is a fine old French tradition. Parisien, tête de chien; Parigot, [the old-fashioned slang for same] tête de veau, goes the saying since the mid-19th century at least. For centuries, the provinces have loathed the Parisians because they feel they are being despised by Paris, as backwards, and, well, provincial.

When Louis XIV was unhappy with courtiers at Versailles, he would send them to some benighted place like Limoges, which gave birth to the verb "limoger", to fire someone. Under an absolute monarch, proximity was everything.

Revolutions, too, started in Paris, from the taking of the Bastille to the short, bias-cut, uncorseted dresses of the 1920s and 1930s.

Philosophers, couturiers, playwrights, politicians were crowned by le goût parisien. The rest of the country increasingly felt like a piece of mouldy cheese. (Gastronomy is a happy if rare exception. Chefs come from all of France, and if their capital had to be designated, it would probably be Lyon.)

Soon, our elites disdained to even pretend otherwise. "When I'm in New York or Berlin, I feel culturally more at home than when I go to Picardy," the Social-Democrat politician Raphaël Glucksmann, now a presidential candidate, said on national television eight years ago. (Often forgotten is his next sentence, "and that's what's problematic").

Needless to say, the arch-Parisien in the rest of the country's minds is Macron, even though he was actually not born there. The graduate of the ultimate insider's government school, ENA, he ticks all the boxes: the arrogance, the top-down attitude, the sharply-dressed and even more sharply-spoken young men and women who decree over people's lives in fluent technocratese.

No wonder that a 75 (Département de la Seine, ie Paris, in the alphabetical order of the old administrative nomenclature) number plate on your car makes it a target for being keyed, or torched: it comes from the people who compel you to sell off your old banger for an expensive electric model, then treble the parking charges while dividing by the same amount the number of parking spaces. They're the people who refused to install AC in hospitals and railway stations and now seek the cool near your home while pushing up house prices. From Dinard to Ajaccio, the rest of the country would rather welcome Chinese, German or even British tourists.

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The answer to Britain's mental health problem is to change the mindset

As antidepressant use soars, the focus should now be on prevention and supporting relationships

JAMES KIRKUP

Where does sadness end and depression begin? Why do more and more people report problems with their mental health? Should we give those people drugs, or send them for a walk in the sunshine? Why are British youngsters even more miserable and anxious than those in similar countries?

And can we find a way to deal with the country's growing mental health problem that is based on kindness and humanity yet still makes better use of public resources and gets more people off welfare and into work?

These are crucial, complicated questions that anyone who would lead Britain should try to answer. To help with that, they should read a new book by Norman Lamb, a former health minister. After leaving Parliament in 2019, Lamb embarked on a second career, thinking seriously about mental health while also confronting its realities as chair of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

His book - Be More Human: Why Mental Health Care is Broken - and What We Can Do to Fix It - is a thoughtful account of how Britain thinks and acts on mental illness and how our services respond to it. Often that response is poor. Consider antidepressants. In England, the

number of antidepressant prescriptions issued rose from 47.3 million in 2011 to 89 million in 2023-24. More than 8.7 million adults are now prescribed them. For some doctors, that's no big deal and maybe even a positive – a sign that people are now getting the medication they need, rather than soldiering on and suffering in silence.

But can it really be the case that Britain is almost twice as depressed as it was 15 years ago? That one in six adults are depressed to the point of medication? Or have we become more inclined to reach for medicine to manage distress that is caused by things that are just too hard to fix?

One reason Lamb deserves to be listened to is that he refuses to reach for simple answers to complex questions, instead touring the modern British mental health landscape for real stories – happy and sad – that illustrate the nuance of the issue.

For some critics, the rise of antidepressants is just proof of NHS failure. Others see medical overreach or even the malign influence of pharmaceutical companies. Lamb accepts that antidepressants work for some people. But why are we prescribing so many of them, and what are we treating? In some cases, the treatment ends up suppressing symptoms instead of addressing root causes.

Lamb describes GPs who have tried doing things differently: finding time to understand why somebody is distressed and making greater use of “social prescribing” – connecting people with exercise, sport, art, music, nature, companionship or community activity. Such approaches aren’t a cure-all, but they do show that there is often an alternative to medication. The real reason to focus on antidepressants is that the alarming numbers on their use point to the more fundamental

question about Britain and mental health: what is causing more and more people to report sadness and distress so severe as to warrant a medical response? All too often these people are young. Most mental health problems begin in childhood or adolescence, the start of what Lamb calls a “conveyor belt” of despair and failing services delivering people to a life of distress and missed opportunities.

We must stop that conveyor belt, and soon. Otherwise, Britain is on course for a depressive future. OECD figures show around a quarter of British 15-year-olds reported low life satisfaction, putting Britain at the bottom of 27 European countries. Among British girls, the proportion was almost one in three.

The troubles of the young are well-documented, often by people offering neat explanations. Depending on which guru you pick, the distress of British children can be explained by any one of the following: smartphones; social media; Covid lockdowns; poverty, inequality; racism; family breakdown; bad schools; bad parenting; bad government; a weak economy; the housing market; climate change.

In reality, of course, the truth is complicated and messy. Mental health problems, at both a personal and societal level, are multifactorial. This is where Lamb's book should start a debate about doing things differently.

Today we have a fractured and incoherent response to a society-wide problem. Parts of the state try to curb and manage children's access to technology and online content. Other services focus, generally badly, on the health and welfare of the most vulnerable children. Schools are left trying to do everything – educate, counsel, nurture, support – for all children while lacking the time and

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Connecting people with exercise, music, nature and community activities shows there is often an alternative to medication resource to do any of those things well. And at the end of the conveyor belt, an over-burdened NHS is left trying to address the symptoms of causes it cannot ever hope to treat. When that fails, it's the police, or nothing.

Mental health problems are taking a growing toll on our economy too, removing more people from the workforce, often early in life, and transferring them into the welfare system. Many politicians offer answers to that, promising to tighten the qualifying criteria for mental-health-related benefits. Much harder is explaining and fixing the range of issues that have driven the growth of mental health problems in the first place.

Lamb offers suggestions that are worth exploring. He supports the argument that schools should pay more attention to wellbeing rather than measuring success purely through academic attainment. He highlights programmes empowering parents and families of children with poor behaviour. He wants children to have greater access to nature and play. He argues for a reduction in school exclusions, which too often push vulnerable children away from education and towards criminality, addiction and serious mental illness.

More widely, he makes a convincing case for an entirely new mindset on mental health policy, measuring spending not on treatment but on prevention and refocusing local services on supporting relationships: Wigan and Gateshead are pioneers worth studying. The answer to our national mental health problem won't be simple, but it must surely involve doing things differently if we are to escape a future of despair. As the old cliché puts it, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and expecting different results.

Way of the World Michael Deacon

Diane Abbott, who has recently been reinstated as a Labour MP, is once again demanding that Britain pay compensation for its role in the transatlantic slave trade. “The campaign for reparations,” she defiantly declared at the weekend, “is not going away.”

No doubt many voters will be a touch irked by this. But not me. In fact, I've decided to launch a reparations campaign of my own. Mine, however, has nothing to do with the slave trade. Instead, it's to do with an even greater source of human suffering. Socialism.

Throughout the 20th century, socialism caused untold poverty, starvation, misery and death. And even those countries that have since freed themselves from its shackles are still blighted by its horrifying legacy.

Therefore, I believe there's only one way to atone for this historic injustice. All of today's socialists – such as, for example, the sainted Diane – should be made to pay trillions of pounds in reparations to the descendants of those who suffered under socialist regimes. Of course,

today's socialists will doubtless say: "Come off it. That's ridiculously unfair. We didn't personally cause any of that suffering. It happened thousands of miles away, long before we were even born. So why on earth should we be made to pay?"

To which I'll reply: "Gosh, yes, that is a good point, isn't it?"

Even then, though, it's possible that the penny won't drop, and dear Diane and friends will continue to issue their demands. So here's an alternative idea. Hold a referendum on slavery reparations – and let the British people decide. I genuinely think we should do it. If only because I'd love to watch pro-reparations canvassers going door to door, trying to win voters' support.

"Good morning, sir. We're here to explain why, at a time when Britain is sliding ever closer to ruin, your taxes should be spent on lavish freebies for people in countries far away from here. Of course, those people themselves are not slaves, just as you yourself are not a slave-owner.

“But we want to give them your money anyway, in order to punish you for crimes you didn’t commit. Can we rely on your vote?” As we saw 10 years ago, pundits are not always good at predicting the results of referendums. All

the same, I'm fairly confident that I could predict the result of this one.

Admittedly, holding a referendum would be extremely expensive. But don't worry, I've thought of that. Because the losing side would be required to refund both the taxpayer, and the winning side, in full. We could call it "reparations".

There's something odd about this planned crackdown on cigars. Labour ministers are

considering proposals to ban them from sale unless, like cigarettes, they come in plain packaging covered in graphic health warnings. But what's the point? Do ministers seriously believe that, in the year 2026, the British public remains unaware that smoking is bad for you?

Does the Health Secretary imagine that there are innocent young people thinking, “I’m in training for the London Marathon. So, to boost my stamina, enhance my lung capacity and ensure that I’m in tip-top physical condition, I’m going to smoke a box of massive cigars every day for the next eight months”?

The contingency seems somewhat remote. But then, I have a feeling that this is actually nothing to do with protecting the public's health. Instead, I bet Labour politicians just want to crack down on cigars because they

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hate the kind of people who smoke them. Or at least, the kind of people they think smoke them. In their minds, I suspect, they primarily associate cigars with rich white Tory businessmen. They probably also picture JK Rowling (remember the famous photo of her puffing on a cigar to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling on the legal definition of the word "woman"). And I bet they also think of the man viewed by today's progressives as the most hateful racist of the 1940s, Winston Churchill.

You may say: “But hang on. Lots of famous Lefties used to be associated with cigars too, such as Castro and Che Guevara.” Very true. In 2020s Britain, however, cigars seem to be seen as the exclusive preserve of the Left’s ideological enemies. Which might explain why Labour wants to put cigar-sellers out of business. Nothing gives Labour greater pleasure than stamping out the pleasures of its foes.

Luckily, though, I've got a solution. Tobaccoists can transform the cigar's image in modern Labour circles – by giving free cigars to all the Left's favourite people. Once there are photos everywhere of cigars being smoked by trans activists, diversity officers, climate protesters, asylum seekers, benefits claimants, Gary Lineker, Kneecap and Hamas, the crackdown will be ditched.

ESTABLISHED 1855

Britain is right not to waver on Ukraine

British prime ministers seldom arrive in foreign capitals enduring daily ballistic missile attacks. Andy Burnham was in Kyiv yesterday, celebrating Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence, barely four days after Russian cruise and hypersonic missiles had killed at least 16 people in the city.

A shortage of interceptors means that Ukraine struggles to defend itself against these brutal raids. So it was right that Mr Burnham should have chosen Kyiv for his first overseas visit as Prime Minister and, to his credit, he brought more than simple solidarity for Ukraine's heroic people.

Now that Volodymyr Zelensky has precious few defensive systems capable of destroying incoming Russian missiles, his most effective response is to strike back against their factories, storage bunkers and launch facilities. Ukraine is using armed drones for this purpose, but they cannot seriously damage hardened or underground facilities.

For that task, Ukraine needs missiles with specially designed warheads. Hence Mr Burnham gave Mr Zelensky the blueprints for Storm Shadow cruise missiles, an Anglo-French weapon which the two countries have been supplying to Ukraine since 2023. When it comes to warding off Vladimir Putin's missile offensive, Ukraine's best – and, for now, only – form of defence is to destroy these weapons in their silos and degrade Russia's capacity to produce them in the first place.

Mr Burnham's decision to give Ukraine the plans for Storm Shadow – and his earlier approval for Mr Zelensky to use British-made drones to strike targets inside Russia – are welcome signs that Britain will not waver from standing firm against Putin's aggression. Neither should the Prime Minister be intimidated by the Kremlin's outpouring of threats nor be perturbed by the fact that Andrei Kelin, the former Russian ambassador, has left London without any successor being announced.

We accept letters by post and email. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers.

For years, the sole function of Russia's embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens has been to issue blustering statements packed with lies and menace. Even its intelligence station was cleared out after the Salisbury poisonings in 2018 when Britain expelled 23 Russian spies. What was Mr Kelin doing all day? Mr Burnham should allow nothing to deter him from aiding Ukraine's righteous defence. As our report today on Kyiv's assistance with Britain's own defence indicates, our national security depends upon it.

111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SWIWODT

EMAIL dtletters@ telegraph.co.uk

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Social media carnage

The appalling tragedy on Teesside, where a vehicle carrying five young men collided with a police car, killing seven people, including two constables, has prompted renewed questions about the impact of social media.

The young men's car was being driven at speed on the wrong side of the road, apparently deliberately. While Cleveland Police is continuing its investigation, with a dozen linked arrests made yesterday, other incidents have highlighted a new fad among young people to risk their lives and those of others in order to upload videos of their reckless driving on to sites like TikTok.

One tragedy happened in Ireland last week, killing five teenagers in a car on the wrong side of the M9 in County Kildare. Several people in the car they hit were critically injured. It is hard to fathom the motivation behind such obviously dangerous behaviour. Young men seeking thrills often fail to foresee the consequences of what they are doing, thinking themselves to be invulnerable.

But the potential for obtaining instant notoriety by posting films of their activities on social media may be encouraging this trend. A government minister, Luke Pollard, has urged the tech giants controlling these platforms to take the videos down.

Mr Pollard says the Government would use the powers in the Online Safety Act to regulate social media platforms to stop that content being shared. Is this an empty threat or can something be done? The tech companies always deny culpability whenever tragedy strikes and invariably insist that they do not need legislation to curb their business model because they can police themselves. It is time they proved it.

A quiet night in

A celebratory drink or two after a sporting triumph is nothing new. Players rightly seek a release from the efforts involved, often in a pub or nightclub. There have been some well documented cases of these gatherings getting out of hand, though mainly in the days of amateur rugby. Professionals need to be more aware of what they are doing, both for the sake of their fitness and the impression they give to others. It is depressing, then, to have yet another England cricketer, this time bowler Brydon Carse, dropped from the national squad after an incident in a nightclub in Derby. He was briefly handcuffed by police officers but released and seems to have done nothing untoward. But when will our leading cricketers learn that in the week of another Test match, a quiet night in may be in order?

The paralysing effects of Britain's public sector productivity crisis

SIR – Your report (August 22) on Britain's public sector productivity crisis went a long way to explaining why, as executor to my late cousin's will, I have been waiting so long for grant of probate.

She died in September last year, and the application for probate was made at the end of November. The Probate Registry took until March this year to cash the cheque I sent to cover the required fee, and since then has been painfully slow in communicating with me or my solicitor.

Unlike a few years ago, when in similar circumstances I was able to have a face-to-face meeting and get everything sorted on the same day, now the process is managed by a faceless centralised organisation, whose staff are likely to be working from home.

Phone calls to chase up progress are “logged” by call handlers, but beyond this no human contact is possible. It is striking that calls seem never to be answered after 1pm on Fridays.

Caught up in this unacceptable delay is a family trying to buy her property, with mortgage offers and school placements at stake. Tony Cross Sevenoaks, Kent

SIR – The Office for National Statistics measured a drop in public sector productivity of 2.5 per cent from 2019 to 2025.

On looking up the number of full-time equivalent civil servants, many beavering away at home, I found that there are currently 523,795, up from 413,910 in 2019, an increase of 26.5 per cent.

Offender restrictions

As a retired civil servant, who did an hour-and-a-half commute daily and put in a full working day, I am forced to wonder what they spend their time doing.

I do not see how it will cope with all the valuations and the inevitable surge of appeals that will follow. John Tresidder East Budleigh, Devon

The Valuation Office Agency took more than 14 months to reply to a straightforward rates application, plus three reminders and an official complaint.

SIR – From my own experience as a civil servant many years ago, I know that half-pace working and a tendency to take sick days have always been prevalent.

SIR – I am pleased that the Government plans to introduce restriction zones for offenders (report, August 23), a reform I have long called for.

What rubs salt in the wounds is that many London civil servants are still paid their weighting allowance, despite the fact that they now work from home and rarely travel to the office.

Michael Staples Seaford, East Sussex

Israel's intent in Gaza

SIR – Tony Greenstein, seemingly endorsed by Gary Lineker, states as undisputed fact that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza (report, August 24). But “genocide” is a precise legal term, requiring proof of an intention to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group. It should not be treated as a synonym for a high civilian death toll.

SIR – Readers should not panic about the mansion tax (Letters, August 24).

Restriction zones represent a welcome shift in approach. Instead of asking victims to adapt their lives around offenders, they place the burden where it belongs: on those who committed the crime.

There has been no shortage of media coverage. What victims need now is certainty about what protections will be available to them and when.

However, important questions remain unanswered. Recent announcements have raised expectations, but victims still do not know which offenders will be covered, how restriction zones will operate in practice to keep victims safe, or how breaches will be monitored and enforced by probation and policing services that are already under significant pressure.

Until this dire situation is grasped and rectified, our country will continue to decline. David Wallin Nottingham

The demographic record is relevant to any allegation of genocidal intent. When Israel captured the Gaza Strip in 1967, a census recorded about 355,000 residents. The latest Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimate puts Gaza's population at about 2.11 million. The population has therefore increased roughly sixfold since 1967. It is difficult to reconcile this with the assertion that Israel's aim has been the destruction of the Palestinian people.

Fresh faced: Punch and Judy puppets made by Professor Mark Poulton

In fact, Israel's declared objective since October 7 2023 has been the defeat of Hamas, whose 1988 charter called for the destruction of Israel and contained virulently anti-Semitic language. Hamas's extensive military infrastructure, including its tunnel network, was embedded in a densely populated civilian environment, making military operations extremely hazardous for civilians. This is why the number of Palestinian deaths cannot establish genocidal intent.

It is positively denied by Col Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, who said during the Gaza conflict: “The IDF is also operating within the laws of armed conflict, doing its best to minimise civilian casualties, including by warning people to leave areas it is about to attack.”

Nor should Gaza casualty figures be treated as infallible. The records of the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health have been subject to methodological criticism and, it is now accepted, require careful interpretation.

How Punch and Judy changed with the times

With further details on early release expected in September, and releases due to begin in October, there is little time left to provide victims with the certainty they need, and to ensure that these protections are in place. Claire Waxman

The charge of genocide deserves evidence and argument, not constant assertion in the hope that the aphorism often attributed to Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, will prevail: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." Neville Teller Beit Shemesh, Israel

Claire Waiman Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales London SW1

Value of cash

SIR - After more than 350 years, it appears that the Punch and Judy show has been forced to abandon its traditional violent overtones in order to become acceptable to modern audiences (“Punch and Judy pulls punches to make seaside comeback”, report, August 22).

Presumably the next iteration will | Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset feature the couple reimagined as work colleagues, with Judy reporting Punch to HR for disrespecting her, resulting in him having to undertake unconscious-bias training, and ending with them resolving their differences through facilitated dialogue. Stuart Harrington Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset

SIR – I couldn't agree more with Sir Trevor McDonald in regard to paying with cash “when I'm out and about” (Peterborough, August 22). He mentioned looking for another coffee shop after his local one became card-only. Good for him.

Planting trees to preserve precious countryside

The use of cash should be promoted, if only to help us have some notion of how much small everyday things cost, and be able to spend within our means. John Bonny Warwick

EU alignment

Steam engine treat

SIR – My father was a steam engine enthusiast (Letters, August 24). In the 1950s, he rented a former rail workers' cottage in Scotland for our summer holiday. Much to my mother's annoyance, the line from Edinburgh to Inverness passed 20 yards away.

The mail train roared past at two o'clock in the morning, whistling loudly, accompanied by clouds of steam. My sister and I were allowed to stay up late to experience the excitement of a steam engine at high speed. A magical sight. Peter Davies

SIR – The Prime Minister's call for closer EU alignment contradicts assurances he gave during the Makerfield by-election (“Burnham: Britain must be bolder about moving closer to EU”, telegraph.co.uk, August 24). Canvassing in a strongly pro-Leave area, he promised to respect the referendum result.

Lyndhurst, Hampshire

SIR – I am a 12th-generation farmer in a similar position to Lewis Clare (“I’m a British farmer, but now I grow trees instead of food”, Features, August 21).

I saw problems coming eight years ago and sold my dairy herd. At that time, relaxed planning rules meant that our local countryside was being covered with new houses, and our villages overrun.

After more than 50 developers offered silly money for 21 acres of my land, I decided to plant a forest for the sole purpose of stopping the land being developed, spoiling my family's old hamlet forever.

With the Forestry Commission, we planted some 11,000 mixed hardwoods in rows about eight feet apart, with grass and clover between them.

Despite the drought of 2025, when about 10 per cent died, and this year's similar conditions, we now have a thriving woodland, with some trees about eight feet tall.

and weeds down, otherwise the young trees would be smothered.

Helping them grow is a very big job. We have to spray, mow and keep grass

I have not got involved in any carbon credit scheme; I've done this to preserve my home. My neighbours seem quite pleased. We might well soon be the last remaining old hamlet in Sussex.

Nick Adames

Flansham, West Sussex

SIR – Lewis Clare does not mention the importance of watering young trees for several years after they have been planted.

Having planted several thousand trees on my West Norfolk farms, I very soon discovered how vital this watering was to their establishment.

If Mr Clare wishes to be successful with his trees, he will find that he cannot plant and forget. One problem he will face, which I never had, is the huge number of deer now roaming the countryside.

I wish him luck. Olaf Brun Great Massingham, Norfolk

Reassuring voters on the campaign trail only to reverse course upon taking office is a strong indicator that he cannot be trusted. Discarding promises within weeks leaves public faith fractured. Mike Denman Bildeston, Suffolk

Giving up on books

SIR – I used to agree with Jane Shilling's view that any book begun must be finished, however tedious and unenjoyable (“‘Reader, I ditched it’: The tyranny of the Did Not Finish book list”, Comment, August 24).

This may be, as in Ms Shilling's case, because I studied English literature. Now, however, as the rest of my life gets shorter and the list of books I want to read gets longer, I abandon those I am not enjoying. What's the point in continuing, other than to feel virtuous for suffering?

I don't publish my DNF list though; I just keep it for my own reference. Ruth Bennett Southampton

'Past it' baby boomers aren't blocking graduates

AI, tax increases and bad education are to blame for the collapse in recruitment of university leavers

MARTIN VANDER WEYER

Fifty years ago this week, I started in the City as a graduate trainee. Three months later, the IMF arrived in London to bail out a profligate Labour government with a chancellor called Healey. The UK economy was flat on its back. Yet almost all my university friends came through what was then called “the milk round” of interviews to win decent jobs with training programmes and promotion prospects: in accountancy, law and banking, in industrial giants such as Shell and ICI, in Marks & Spencer, the BBC and elsewhere.

In those days, there was a benign balance: a far smaller number of university leavers matched by a far larger number of traineeships, offered by employers whose management planning was based on annual intakes of bright juniors eager to climb the ladder to seniority. Fast forward to news that just 8,383 graduate roles were advertised in July, 45 per cent down on last year, while more than a

quarter of a million school-leavers set off for “uni” with vanishing hope of conventional job offers when they emerge into the world of work in three or four years’ time. Set that alongside a statistic from the Centre for Social Justice earlier this year of 700,000 unjobbed UK graduates on welfare benefits and we can see the wider scale of a growing crisis.

Not only is there an unbridgeable imbalance of supply and demand in today's graduate market; in most private-sector employers, there's no longer a ladder and not much of a plan.

On the young jobseekers' side, there's a debilitating sense that the whole system has turned against them. And I'm bound to ask whether some or all of this is the fault of my generation, the blessed baby boomers: what did we do to demolish the career paths of our grandchildren?

We know, or think we know, several reasons for the dismal twist of their prospects. Half a century ago, 8 per cent of us went to university; this year more than 40 per cent will do so, many to study “ologies” (criminology, anthropology, you name it) which lead towards tiny numbers of real jobs, not to mention those trigger words “media studies”.

The shift to higher education started by John Major by converting skills-based polytechnics to low-grade universities, and accelerated by Tony Blair, has produced a mass of youngsters unfit for a shrinking pool of work. Many universities themselves are heavily to blame, for packing

students into worthless courses to avert the financial crunch such institutions deserve. Secondly, of course, this issue is all about AI. A recruitment company chief spoke to me recently of “more and more grads with less valuable degrees entering an AI-versus-AI battlefield”, in which AI is used both to write applications and to assess them for jobs that can largely be done by AI anyway.

In the law and accounting, almost all low-level work can be done quicker and better by computers. In the nebulous but increasingly ubiquitous field of “consultancy”, which often means little more than big-data analysis, the AI-powered laptop is now a quantum leap smarter than its graduate operator.

Third, the Labour Government has damaged an already fragile marketplace with its hike in employers' NIC and enhancement of workplace rights. For small and medium-sized firms, those policies created two imperatives: to hold down the total wage bill by reducing planned recruitment, including apprenticeships as well as graduate posts; and to ensure the usefulness of any new hires by favouring applicants with proven experience, grads or not, over untried university leavers.

It's true that the boomer cohort of bosses created the hollowed-out, cost-squeezed, non-hierarchical corporate model and its hire-and-fire culture which has destroyed traditional patterns of graduate recruitment. Companies no longer seek lifetime loyalty: they just want sharper

performance and they don't need to recruit tomorrow's chiefs today because they can always headhunt top dogs from competitors.

One thing I suggest can't be held against us oldies, however, is the accusation that we're “job-blockers”, clinging to our desks when we should long ago have made way for the young.

Wise employers ease underperformers out early but welcome those with energy to keep working into their sixties; a mix of age and experience is a good thing in any office. And some studies show positive correlation between older workers' labour market participation and employment rates for the next generation: a healthy economy makes work for everyone who wants it.

Can today's trends ever be reversed? For sure, there will never be another milk round. Graduates who may still be trying to earn a living in the mid-2070s will have to build portfolio careers that constantly adapt to a changing world. But universities, prodded or threatened by government, also need radical reform, so they produce resilient, flexible, entrepreneurial self-starters rather than fodder for the benefits queue.

Martin Vander Weyer is business editor of The Spectator

FOLLOW Martin Vander Weyer on X @VanderWeyer READ MORE at telegraph.co.uk/opinion

GENTLE NO 5853

Puzzles, Mind Games & Telegraph Toughie

KAKURO

To solve kakuro you must enter a number between 1 and 9 in the empty squares without repeating a digit. The clues are the numbers on the black squares.

The clues are the numbers on the black squares and are the sum of the solution numbers. The clue pointers indicate the direction of the answers. A block of two squares with a clue of 3 will solve as 2,1 and a 5 will produce 4,1 or 2,3. A 4 can only be 1,3, never 2,2. Solution tomorrow.

Numbers are substituted for letters in this crossword grid. In the smaller key grid some letters are solved. Use these as clues to complete your first word. This will solve more letters that you can then enter in the grids. Solutions tomorrow.

CODEWORDS

1S	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13R
14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26

For today's right-hand codewords solutions call 0905 757 0131. For up to five extra letter clues call 0905 757 0130 or text DTCODE (leaving no spaces) to 64343. Calls cost £1 per minute, plus network access charge; texts cost £1, plus network access charge. You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer's permission. Services open Mon - Fri. SP: Spoke Ltd – Helpline 0333 202 3390.

1	2W	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20Y	21	22	23	24	25	26

KILLER SUDOKU

SUDOKU

Your clues are the caged numbers that represent the sum of the numbers within the cage. As in standard sudoku, each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain all the numbers 1 to 9. Solution tomorrow.

ANAGRAMS

Each of the anagrams below spells out a term of affection. Solution tomorrow.

____

TASERED CRISPENS WEATHER SET

To solve this puzzle each $3 \times 3$ box, each row and also each column must contain all the numbers from 1 to 9. There are numerous strategies to help you solve sudoku. Solutions tomorrow.

6		9		1		2
4	2						9	6
			6
		3				1		2
	4		7		2		6
5		2				7
					6
3	5						4	1
		6		5		8		7

Sudoku Solution For today's tough sudoku solution call 0905 757 0136. Calls cost £1 per minute, plus network access charge. You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer's permission. Services open Mon – Fri. SP: Spoke – 0333 202 3390.

MIND GYM

NO 4915

Start on the left with the given number and work your way across following the instructions in each cell. Target time: 30 seconds. Solution below.

—TELEGRAPH —TOUGHIE

NO 3745 HUDSON

TOUGH NO 7423

			6				1
6			8					4
1	2		4	5
		7						6
3								7
8					4	3
	5			8	9		7
4					7			5
	3				5

BEGINNER		x9	DOUBLE IT	-48	HALVE IT	÷3	+29	÷7	X BY ITSELF	ANSWER
28	÷4
INTERMEDIATE										ANSWER
154	6/11 OF THIS	TRIPLE IT	-28	HALVE IT	÷8	X BY ITSELF	-124	4/9 OF THIS	x2.75
ADVANCED		DOUBLE IT	125% OF THIS	-584	√	x13	TRIPLE IT	-453	5/6 OF THIS	ANSWER
18	x21

Across

PANAGRAM

Create words of four letters or more, always using the centre letter. Proper nouns and plurals are not allowed, and you can only use each letter once per word. Can you find the nine-letter Panagram? Answers must be in the Oxford Dictionary of English. Solution tomorrow.

Down

Up to 8 words - Word Finder, 9 - Wordsmith, 18 - Word Wizard, 27 - Word Master, 36 - Word Genius, 45 - Word Perfect

1 Weirdo Sid Owen tackles a bit of a dance (4-2)
4 Cold Bud also served - a gassy drink lacking flavour (4,4)
9 Quiet vehicle on the way back departs Uxbridge empty (6)
10 One likely to experience a buzz at work? (8)
11 Specialist at Rugby School initially caught harmful flies (5,4)
13 Carnegie regularly displayed onset of real temper (5)
14 Cathedral cook toyed with a bit of Black Magic (4,9)
17 Whisk a red pepper with oil for the perfect look (5-3,5)
21 Associated Press: China Shock (5)
23 He's sent to fetch injured Red Baron back from Blighty (6,3)
24 Murder of rejected university student drama (4,4)
25 Metal safe storing whiskey (6)
26 Swiss bar closing early to switch walls, getting a kind of mould (5,3)
27 Ready for attack, Pitt taking on both Conservative wings (6)

Toughie No 3744

1 Stop son being adopted by believer in God (6)
2 Cry before party managed to clear one's head (7,2)
3 Band member Joe famously losing stone for daughter (7)
5 Is it Victor's round? (3,2,6)
6 Swaggerling display from Charlie's predecessor screening commercial (7)
7 Due over £1000 after securing victory (5)
8 Lawyer dined outside, in two minds over starter of yakitori (8)
12 Each April, go around the Aegean (11)
15 Like a tumbler going from bar to bar? (9)
16 Fuel smell upset airborne soldier at the front (8)
18 Overshadow cuts in electronic energy (7)
19 Desperate character rues playing a bloke in tights (7)
20 Stuck in Agadir by hotel, flipping cross (6)
22 Vertical chimney oil company put up outside (5)

Help with clues

Help with clues Single clues 0905 757 0126. All Across/Down clues 0905 757 0127. Calls cost £1/minute, plus network access charge. You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer's permission. Service open Mon-Fri. SP: Spoke Ltd – Helpline 0333 2023390.

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TRAIN TRACKS

Lay down tracks to allow a train to travel from A to B. Only use straight and curved rails and the track cannot cross itself. The numbers indicate how many sections of rail go in each column and row. Solution tomorrow.

5 5 4 7 5 4 4 2

MINI SUDOKU

Fill in the grid in such a way that every row and column and every 2 x 3 box contains the numbers 1-6. Solution tomorrow.

GENTLE NO 4684

		3
2					1
	3			4
	5			2
1					3
			4

PLUSWORD

NO 1556

Solve the crossword, then use letters in the shaded squares to complete the additional PlusWord. A letter in a green square appears in the same column in the PlusWord as it does in the crossword; a letter in a yellow square appears in the PlusWord, but in a different column than it does in the crossword. There is only one possible answer for the PlusWord; it may be that the PlusWord contains letters that aren't found in the crossword, but it can always be worked out logically without guessing. Solution tomorrow.

Across 1 Nitwit

Down

1 Nitwit
6 Cowboy competition
7 Contend
8 Tuft on a bird's head
9 Wheel surrounds

Down
1 Pamphlet
2 Suffer anxiety
3 Gardening tool; greed (anag.)
4 Don't throw away?
5 The Tortured ____ Department, Taylor Swift album

Sudoku Regular and Tough No 7422

WORD LADDER

Change just one letter to go from the top word to the bottom word. Each step must be a valid word and you cannot change the order of the letters. There are clues below for each rung, but they are not necessarily in order. Solution tomorrow. STRAINED, FIGHT, DIPLOMACY, SPOT, SELL, KICK

Yesterday's solutions

Word Ladder: Wear, bear, beak, berk, bark, barb, garb. Anagrams: 1. Meticulous 2. Systematic 3. Businesslike.

Panagram: Goodnight, hooding, hooting, doting, hindoo, hoggin, hotdog, oohing, dhoni, dhoti, dingo, doggo, doing, gigot, going, gondi, hongi, ingot, ootid, thong, tigon, tondo, doit, dong, doth, gond, gong, good, goog, goon, goth, hogg, hood, hoon, hoot, into, onto, thon, tong, toon.

Today's Mind Gym Beginner: 36 Intermediate: 88 Advanced: 240

THE SOLUTIONS

PlusWord No 1555

S	P	A	I	N
P	R	U	N	E
R	I	N	S	E
A	C	T	E	D
T	E	S	T	Y

Train Tracks

Killer Sudoku

Mini Sudoku No 4683

The Telegraph PUZZLES

Enjoy 1 year of puzzles for just £l. Visit telegraph.co.uk/puzzles today.

Codewords 1 and 2

Kakuro No 5852

Business

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Tariff-ying trade war Canada is talking tough in the latest round of its trade war with the US, but it has a lot to lose

Page 19

All hail the ale Pubs are both businesses and community assets and should be recognised as such by the Treasury Martin Beck

Benefits to cost taxpayers extra £1.7bn, warns IFS

Pressure increases on Chancellor ahead of his first Budget as Iran conflict triggers price increases

By Emma Taggart and Szu Ping Chan

BRITAIN'S benefits bill will rise by an extra £1.7bn if inflation remains high, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned, piling pressure on John Healey before the Budget.

The think tank said price rises unleashed by the Iran war will lead to the Chancellor potentially spending £5bn more on benefits, public sector pensions and debt interest.

Prices rose by 2.9pc in the year to July, well above the Bank of England's 2pc target.

Most economists expect inflation to rise even further this year as the US vows to step up economic pressure on Tehran, prolonging the conflict in the Middle East.

In a move that will increase inflationary pressures on households, Ofgem, the energy regulator, is expected to say on Wednesday that typical gas and electricity bills will rise by 4pc in October to £1,729, up £66 from £1,663 in July.

This threatens to push up inflation further, undermining Andy Burnham's pledge to bring down the cost of living.

The IFS said that if inflation remained at 2.9pc into the autumn, Mr Healey would still have to find an extra £1.7bn from 2027-28 onwards if he chooses to raise benefits payments in line with price rises.

This is equivalent to funding more than 20 new fighter jets or 25,000 soldiers' salaries at a time when Mr Healey, the former defence secretary, faces calls to spend more on Britain's military.

Working-age benefits are usually uprated in line with September's inflation rate. The Office for Budget Responsibility predicted before the war that inflation would stand at 2.1pc.

Inflation at 2.9pc would also mean spending on public sector pensions would rise by about £700m, the IFS added. However, the biggest effect will be on the Government's ballooning debt interest bill, which is tied to the retail prices index.

This will rise by as much as £2.3bn if this measure of inflation remains close to current levels.

In total, this could leave the Chancellor facing an additional bill of up to £4.7bn to meet demands, straining the nation's finances further.

The bill from inflation-linked spending would leave the Government with less funds to provide support for households and businesses affected by rising energy costs.

Pressure from government departments to top up Whitehall spending budgets is also likely to put Mr Healey on a collision course with other Cabinet ministers. This is because these budgets are set in cash terms, meaning higher inflation erodes their value.

Economists believe inflation is likely to breach 3pc in the coming months.

Alexander Harvey, of Oxford Economics, believes inflation will climb to 3.5pc by the end of the year, which would add billions more to public spending.

Britain spent £111.2bn on debt interest last year, but the IFS estimates that higher inflation could add £1.8bn in extra costs to index-linked debt this year and up to £0.5bn next year.

However, the think tank said that Mr Healey could raise £1bn in additional tax revenue because the rates for some taxes, including business rates and alcohol duties, are tied to inflation.

The interest on student loan repayments is also tied to the retail price index, which climbed to 3.2pc in July.

Warnings that higher inflation will increase government spending by £4.7bn come as economists estimate that Mr Healey's fiscal headroom – a self-imposed guardrail to guide public spending – has shrunk.

Rachel Reeves, the former chancellor, had £23.6bn of headroom against her fiscal targets in the spring. But this is estimated to have fallen as low as £8bn because of inflation and rising borrowing costs, according to the Resolution Foundation.

A Treasury spokesman said: "Fiscal discipline is the bedrock of economic stability and national security.

"The Chancellor and Prime Minister are in lockstep that the Government will meet the fiscal rules, with a buffer against uncertainty – and that includes getting debt down. We're cutting the deficit faster than any other G7 economy to the lowest level in six years."

omy to the lowest level in six years." President Macron of France welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Elysee Palace for economic talks

Page 21

France extends big business tax as budget crunch looms

By Hans van Leeuwen

FRANCE is poised to extend its “temporary” tax on big business as it battles to shrink a ballooning budget deficit.

Roland Lescure, the French finance minister, acknowledged yesterday that the levy would probably roll into a third year, as France fights to reassure bond markets about its finances. “I hope to lower it, but it’s not a given. If we can lower it, we will, but it’s not easy right now,” he told French television.

Retaining the surcharge will provide an extra €7.3bn (£6.3bn) to the government's finances. But it will anger big business, which says the tax makes them less competitive than global rivals.

Mr Lescure said France had to accept that raising taxes was “a formula that no longer works”.

“Saying we’ll raise taxes and everything will be fine, that no longer works,” he said. “We need to think of something else.”

But his government is struggling to get the budget deficit below 5pc of gross domestic product. The debt-to-GDP ratio reached 117pc in the first quarter, prompting investors to sell off French government bonds.

Yields on 10-year and 30-year French bonds are now at their highest since the global financial crisis of 2007-2008.

Mr Lescure will probably face further costs related to the summer's heat-waves, droughts and wildfires. He said on Monday he was also planning to extend support for motorists and businesses facing high petrol and diesel prices.

The government lacks a parliamentary majority and was unable to push through significant spending cuts or tax increases last year.

The presidential election next April has made the deadlock even more intractable, as political parties jockey for voter support.

In a letter to MPs at the weekend, Sébastien Lecornu, the French prime minister, warned: “Choosing to wait until the presidential election to adopt a budget for 2027 is choosing chaos. Because the debt doesn’t wait.”

He said the delay would push up bond yields, which set the cost of government borrowing.

“A rise in our interest rates would have a lasting impact on the state, but also on our economy and, therefore, on households,” he said. The economy grew just 0.2pc in the second quarter.

The company tax surcharge was introduced in 2025. The so-called “exceptional contribution” raises the standard 25pc company tax rate to 30.2pc for companies with a turnover of €1.5bn to €3bn.

Above €3bn in turnover, the effective tax rate reaches 4lpc. About 300 companies pay the surcharge.

US launches ‘economic onslaught’ to isolate Iran from the world

By Pui-Guan Man

THE US has warned countries to cut ties with Iran or face new sanctions.

Yesterday, the White House promised an “economic onslaught” aimed at isolating Iran from the global economy as Donald Trump seeks to end the war.

Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, said that he would use secondary sanctions to target companies in cryptocurrencies, gold, aviation and shipping who continue to deal with Tehran.

The move comes as Mr Trump seeks to squeeze Iran's crippled economy as the war reaches six months.

Mr Bessent said: "We are launching an economic onslaught against Iran's financial connections around the globe. You will see a wave of sanctions."

Mr Bessent said the initiative, dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast”, would “block every potential source of revenue” that funds the Iranian regime.

"The president is making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions with the regime," he said. "Those who stand with the United States will reap the rewards of our partnership. Those who tether themselves to the Iranian regime should expect to share in the isolation of a withering regime."

Although Mr Bessent did not spell out who would be targeted, he warned a “financial institution” would face sanctions “by the end of this week” for dealing with Iran.

"If people do not want to meet our expectations, then we expect, and they should expect, that they will leave the dollar system," he said.

Asked if the US would cut off banks in China for facilitating transactions with Iran, Mr Bessent said: "Every country, every entity should know that they should be prepared to face US sanctions, and no one is above this.

“We are going to hold everyone accountable, and this is economic asphyxiation of this regime... No one should test our resolve.”

His comments echo those made by Mr Trump last week, when he promised an “economic D-Day” for anyone doing business with Iran.

The sanction announcement came after Mr Trump said he would raise tariffs on Canadian cars and auto parts to 50pc. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump accused Canada, led by former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, of “ripping off the United States of America for years”.

His threat came after Mr Carney said on Saturday that Washington had “mis-calculated” and that he would match tariffs on US goods “dollar for dollar”.

The US is also planning to impose a 7.5pc tariff on Chinese goods amid allegations of excess manufacturing capacity, according to reports. The move would reportedly come ahead of a summit between Xi Jinping and Mr Trump scheduled for next month.

Separately, Mr Bessent said that the US treasury will continue with its regularly scheduled programme of bond auctions, despite its moves to buy back its 10- to 30-year debt.

Last week, he surprised the market by announcing that the treasury would double its purchases of long-term debt to \$4bn per issue. It came amid a sell-off from private investors and warnings from traders that Mr Trump could lose credibility in markets, after the country's national debt rose above \$40tn.

As worried investors sold bonds, the interest rate America has to pay to attract new creditors increased. The 30-year bond is currently with a yield of 5.23pc, down from last week's peak of 5.33pc. Mark Cabana at Bank of America warned this could rise sharply unless Kevin Warsh, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, takes steps to calm markets in his speech at the Jackson Hole conference on Friday.

While Mr Bessent did not indicate where funding for the US treasury's planned bond buybacks would come from, its General Account at the Federal Reserve could provide one source. Tapping that account would spare the need to finance the buybacks by issuing new, shorter-dated bonds, but would eat into America's cash reserves.

VW in ‘more than critical’ crisis, warns boss

By Louis Goss

VOLKSWAGEN's chief executive has warned that the crisis facing the German carmaker is “more than critical”, urging employees to brace for “the biggest upheaval in their history”.

Oliver Blume said US tariffs, the war in the Middle East and mounting competition from China had all contributed to a downturn that threatens to worsen in the coming years.

In an internal memo seen by The Telegraph, he said that Volkswagen's current profits were “by no means sufficient” for it to continue investing in “new technologies, new products and our locations”.

He added that “we have to assume that risks will get worse, worldwide”, claiming that “we are in the biggest transformation in the history of the global automotive industry”.

His comments form part of efforts to win over staff as part of a controversial turnaround plan, which could include closing four of its German factories and laying off as many as 100,000 workers.

facturers are pushing aggressively into Europe" and selling cars at "price points we cannot match".

He added that he could not see any way Volkswagen's factories in Emden, Hannover, Zwickau and Neckarsulm could remain profitable into the next decade. The company's brands include Audi, Porsche and Škoda.

Mr Blume said Volkswagen's overheads were “still around 30pc above the level of comparable companies”, adding: “We cannot carry that disadvantage indefinitely and must reduce it.”

High street at risk of collapse, Labour told

By Szu Ping Chan

ANDY BURNHAM will preside over a fresh wave of business closures unless Britain's high streets get immediate financial support, bosses have warned.

Mr Burnham has commissioned an independent review into how pubs and hotels pay property taxes, known as business rates.

However, business leaders say the review is too narrow in scope and would not report back until 2027 – with recommendations not coming into force until the end of the decade. Craig Beaumont, from the Federation of Small Businesses, called on the Prime Minister and Chancellor John Healey to provide more relief at the Budget.

He said: “Business rates have spiked and with high inflationary annual rises on top to come, many owners will struggle to keep their business viable. At a time of minimal margins and their five big bills rising – rates, rent, energy, staff and tax – something has to give.”

from paying business rates had not changed in almost a decade. This had dragged hundreds of thousands of small firms into paying the tax, which raises more than £35bn a year.

Allen Simpson, of UK Hospitality, also called for more help at the Budget to address “immediate financial challenges”. He added that three hospitality businesses were closing every week as a result of Labour’s repeated tax raids.

Mr Burnham last month announced a 20pc cut in business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues.

Business

Thames Water lenders unveil fresh board to resist bailout by Burnham

Creditors line up new directors as part of a potential leadership clear-out at the utility

By Tom Haynes

THAMES WATER's lenders have unveiled plans for a new board in a scramble to secure control of the troubled utility and avoid nationalisation by Andy Burnham.

Creditors behind a proposed £10bn restructuring of the business have lined up four new directors as part of a potential clear-out of its existing leadership.

The appointments would form part of a rescue deal for Thames, which is struggling under a £20bn debt pile and risks running out of cash as soon as October.

The company, which serves 16 million customers across London and the Thames Valley, faces the prospect of ministers placing it into special administration.

London & Valley Water, the group behind the proposed rescue, is led by Thames's lenders and is seeking government and Ofwat backing for a private-sector solution.

It has offered to inject new funding to keep the company afloat while a wider restructuring is agreed, although the lenders are seeking assurances that ministers remain committed to avoiding nationalisation.

The proposed new board would include Mike McTighe, the Openreach chairman, Liz Barber, the former Yorkshire Water chief executive, Clive Selley, the former Openreach chief executive, and Dame Bernadette Kelly, a former permanent secretary at the Department for Transport.

Under its 10-year turnaround plan, the new investors have said they would take no dividends for a decade or until Thames returns to the stock market through a London listing.

Mr McTighe, who is leading the effort to build the new board, said it would oversee attempts to “fix the foundations” of Thames Water’s ageing infrastructure.

He said: “If this recapitalisation plan is accepted, we will apply full dedication as a new board, working alongside the executive team to transform the business and build a culture in which the customers and local communities who depend on Thames Water come first.”

It comes as Thames Water's ageing network comes under renewed pressure from one of the driest summers on record.

The company imposed a hosepipe ban on July 23 and has urged customers to take shorter showers and cut other water use as reservoir levels fell sharply below their usual levels.

At the same time, the dry weather has damaged its ageing pipe network, with

‘We will work to build a culture in which the customers who depend on Thames Water come first’

Thames battling more than 1,000 leaks every week as hardened clay soil causes pipes to crack.

There were 2,871 burst pipes at street level last month, almost double the number recorded in July last year.

Thames said its turnaround plan would require billions of pounds of investment to improve its ageing network and tackle persistent problems with leakage and pollution.

The proposed new directors have spent the past year examining the causes of the company's failures and helping to draw up the recovery plan.

The lenders are also considering measures aimed at giving the public greater influence over the company, including stronger local representation.

Mr Burnham has said greater public control of utilities is needed and signalled that nationalising Thames Water remains an option.

Over a barrel Joe Lycett will celebrate British pubs in his new live show, The Lycett Arms. The 38-year-old comedian will open an east London boozer for an hour a week on Fridays for the duration of the six-part Channel 4 series.

Government to hit law firms with £100m stealth tax raid

By Louis Goss

ANDY BURNHAM is pressing ahead with a “flawed” £100m stealth tax raid on law firms despite a backlash.

Downing Street has signalled it will push on with a plan introduced by David Lammy, the former justice secretary, to seize interest payments on client money held by law firms.

Interest earned on client money such as mortgages and wills is currently retained by the lawyers, but under Labour's plan the Treasury would receive the funds. Despite Mr Lammy's exit from government, Mr Burnham's administration is keeping the policy and has unveiled plans to hire new staff to design the scheme.

A job advert posted on the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) website last week said it was recruiting new officials to “shape policy from primary legislation through to implementation”. The jobs paid up to £70,725 a year.

The job listing triggered a furious reaction from the Law Society of England and Wales, which said it was “disappointed” that the Prime Minister was pushing ahead with the “flawed” plans in the face of “near-universal opposition from the legal profession”.

The plan, known as the Interest on Lawyers' Client Accounts (ILCA)

scheme, was first put forward by Mr Lammy in February.

The proposals prompted major pushback from the legal industry amid warnings it could severely affect the legal industry and lead to the loss of thousands of jobs. Property-law firms would be particularly hard hit by such a tax, with many relying on client interest to bolster their profits amid a long-term fall in conveyancing fees.

Brett Dixon, the vice-president of the Law Society, accused Labour of “moving forward with stealth” to launch the tax raid. “We are disappointed to see the MoJ advertising a role that appears to indicate the ILCA scheme is moving ahead despite near-universal opposition from the legal profession," he said.

The scheme would mirror similar initiatives in the US, Canada and Australia where client-interest taxes have been used to fund legal aid.

However, the legal industry has warned such a tax would impose an unfair burden on the legal industry, and that it is unclear how much money would be raised.

"The proposal is a raid on clients' money to generate an unreliable source of revenue for the justice system and to address general budget shortfalls," Mr Dixon added.

The MoJ was contacted for comment.

Canada to suffer as Carney takes on Trump ...

Prime minister has the support of an outraged nation for now, however tariffs will hit hard, writes Hans van Leeuwen

AS GOVERNOR of the Bank of England during the Brexit referendum, there is a phrase that will be all too familiar to Mark Carney: “No deal is better than a bad deal.” Now, he is making that mantra his own.

The Canadian prime minister has walked away from trade negotiations with the Trump administration and is bracing for a trade war that could destroy businesses and cost tens of thousands of jobs. “A good deal [became] a deal we would not accept,” he said at the weekend.

Canadians, outraged by Donald Trump's repeated references to Canada as the US's 51st state, have swung behind Carney.

Fans at weekend “soccer” matches where Canadian clubs were playing US rivals were heard booing and jeering as the American national anthem played.

Carney is planning to hit the US with retaliatory tariffs by Sept 8, potentially prompting yet more retribution from the White House.

But as this escalating trade war starts taking a toll on Canada's economy, Carney risks losing his home support.

Mark Carney's tough-on-Trump stance is popular

“I know emotionally it feels good to retaliate,” said Danielle Smith, the premier of the province of Alberta. “But… when retaliation happens, it means that everybody who is buying products from the United States are now going to face upwards of 50pc tariffs.”

Before Carney walked away, talks between the White House and Canada had grown increasingly bitter.

Reports emerged on Friday of JD Vance, the vice-president, mocking the Canadian leader. He's a "very sweet guy", Vance said, claiming the Canadian president had failed at an attempt to "out-tough Donald Trump".

Hours later, Carney confirmed he had abandoned the talks, accusing the US of negotiating in bad faith.

“They asked too much and they offered too little,” he said.

Trump responded yesterday.

“Trump responded yesterday. “Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” he said on Truth Social. “On trade and in other ways also, they are among the worst nations in the world to deal with. They feel entitled and yet we don’t need Canada, they need us.”

Before Trump and Carney took up the cudgels, Canada's economy had been on the mend.

After gross domestic product shrank

The US is Canada's biggest trading partner by far

Mark Carney has walked away from trade talks with the Trump administration saying: 'They asked too much and they offered too little'

0.1pc on an annualised basis in the first three months of this year, the oil and gas sector propelled a 3.2pc rebound in the second quarter.

Business confidence was improving, prompting the hiring of 75,000 more people in July, which pushed the unemployment rate to the lowest level in two years.

That progress is now under threat. The US will slap 50pc tariffs on a \$20bn (£15bn) list of Canadian goods.

It includes everything from hockey sticks and fishing rods to cosmetics and clothes. Also on the list are wine, cement, dairy and furniture. Yesterday,

Trump also ramped up existing tariffs on vehicles and steel.

The newly-tariffed goods comprise only 5pc of Canada's \$382bn annual exports to the US, which means the immediate hit to GDP could be no more than half a percentage point.

However, Trump's trade team has forensically targeted key sectors and regions – especially provinces that have banned or restricted the sale of American wine and whiskey.

Trevor Tombe, an economics professor at the University of Calgary, reckons almost 90,000 Canadian jobs are now at risk – and that's before Carney launches his retaliation.

This will spill out beyond farms and factories to warehouses and trucking companies. The biggest blow could be to small and medium-sized businesses, which will struggle to absorb the hit to sales or margins.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said 40pc of exporters it surveyed this month would face tariffs and 80pc expected a hit to revenue.

“Many CFIB members have said this will end their US sales and some have reported this will kill their businesses,”

‘This will end their US sales and some have reported this will kill their businesses’

Dan Kelly, the group's chief executive, posted on X at the weekend.

He warned that Canadian retaliation, while “understandable”, would batter the 50pc of small businesses who rely on US imports.

Capital Economics warned yesterday that a tit-for-tat trade war could push Canada towards “recessionary territory”.

Yet Carney has promised to hit back “dollar for dollar” against the US, whose exporters have no bigger customer than Canada.

His retribution, to be announced in coming days, is expected to target US-made steel, dairy, appliances, farm equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.

Carney will also unveil a support package for affected exporters and importers. However, businesses have already warned that this would need to be more generous and better targeted than previous support packages.

Carney has said he will do “whatever it takes”. Keeping businesses and the economy afloat will be crucial to maintaining support for his toe-to-toe with Trump.

A poll undertaken by the Angus Reid Institute after the talks collapsed found that three quarters of Canadians backed walking away. But more than one third worried that their job could be jeopardised and 89pc feared it would drive up the cost of living.

Carney is clearly in it for the long haul. At the weekend, he said his economic relief package would last “beyond the life of this US administration”. After a speech at Davos in January, in which Carney said Canada had to diversify its relationships, he has been wooing new trading partners including China and India to replace forgone American business and goodwill.

One of the sticking points in the US-Canada trade talks was said to be the White House's demands for greater leverage over Canada's dealings with third countries.

Beijing could barely contain its glee at seeing a divide open up on the North American continent. The Global Times, a Communist Party newspaper, praised Canada for its “Chinese-style counter-attack”, against the US.

“More countries are realising that concessions toward the US do not necessarily bring respect and stability,” the paper said in an editorial.

However, Canada is not as resilient as China to a conflict with Trump. Canada's economy is one tenth of the size of China's and the US accounts for roughly two thirds of Canada's goods trade.

Carney's “no deal” decision so far has the support of opposition leaders, provincial premiers, the public and businesses. He has to hope that when things get tough, they'll still have his back.

Canada is crucial to US trade too

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

SOURCE: US CENSUS BUREAU

SOURCE: 338CANADA

... But the president's trade bazooka risks a backlash on the home front

BEN MARLOW

groceries. Food inflation in Canada is the highest in the G7.

Just like Iran, the White House will come to regret this latest incursion as Americans tire of conflict

“WE’VE got the reserves, we’ve got the resilience, we’ve got the plan,” a defiant Mark Carney told journalists after the breakdown of trade talks with the White House over the weekend.

Few would argue that Canada was “attacked” and therefore is “at war”, as its prime minister plainly put it, but the idea that the country is in a position to withstand a full-blown economic conflict with the US is pretty silly.

Nearly three-quarters of Canadian exports head to the US market, and the US economy is roughly 10 times larger. Meanwhile, the new sweeping tariff slate covers another \$28bn worth of Canadian exports – equivalent to 5pc of products sent south of the border.

And yesterday afternoon, the spat escalated further, with Donald Trump promising a 50pc tariff on Canadian cars, trucks, and auto parts that will kick in on Jan 1.

This, at a time when 3pc inflation means ordinary Canadians are experiencing many of the same cost of living pressures as other parts of the world, particularly when it comes to

So, for all his bravado, Carney could soon be forced to adopt a more conciliatory tone.

At the same time, however, the human bulldozer that is Trump may eventually come to regret this latest incursion, in the same way that his war with Iran has proven to be a massive miscalculation militarily, economically and politically.

Whenever Trump turns his trade bazooka on another country, his working assumption is that the other side will always cave in because there is an inherent mismatch with the world's largest economy that means its partners stand to suffer far greater losses.

Yet, Carney has called his bluff at a time when Trump has never been more vulnerable, partly because of the costly fallout from Washington's protracted and failing war in the Middle East.

It's a big gamble on the Canadian prime minister's part, but he will have almost certainly spotted that disillusionment with Trump is growing as an increasing number of ordinary Americans say their financial struggles are becoming more acute.

For many Americans, a full-blown trade war risks having a very notable effect on their day-to-day cost of living, which explains the obvious angst among senior politicians across the US political spectrum.

Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, which borders Canada and is home to the American

‘Carney has called his bluff at a time when Trump has never been more vulnerable

car industry, said that her state was “uniquely impacted” by “the tariff wars” with Ottawa.

Fresh levies amounted to a “tax hike on Michigan families and businesses by raising prices at the grocery store and the gas pump,” she posted on X.

Companies – especially the big car manufacturers – would be forced to take “the difficult decision of laying off workers or passing costs on to their customers,” Whitmer added.

Abigail Spanberger, the governor of Virginia and also a Democrat, pointed out that Canada was the state's top export destination. Fresh tariffs would “hurt Virginia families, farmers, producers, foresters and businesses” in “a matter of days,” she warned.

But it was telling that the backlash wasn't confined to Trump's opponents. Republican Senator Susan Collins, of Maine, which shares a border with Canada, said the tariffs would "increase costs for Maine families, as most businesses will have no choice but to pass on the tariffs to their customers through higher prices".

Mike Pence, Trump's vice-president during his first term, waded in as well, telling CNN: "The last thing we need right now, as our economy is getting back on its feet, is a trade war with Canada". The intervention is unlikely to have gone well in the White House.

Nor will a man who has little time for central bankers appreciate the contribution of Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, who warned that

inflation will become more entrenched as a result of “back and forth on the trade front”.

Some prominent Republicans remain reluctant to criticise Trump. Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, told ABC News on Friday that “people are not talking to me about Trump” on the campaign trail. He also claimed Trump is “on a track” to “have prices lowered”.

Yet, that's not what the polls are saying as five months of conflict in Iran take their toll, driving up energy prices and further prolonging several years of above-target inflation.

Although US inflation eased for a second month in July, with consumer price rises coming in at 3.4pc from a year earlier, it has remained above the Fed's target for more than five years now, stoking fears among US central bankers that high prices could become embedded in the economy.

It explains why multiple polls reveal an electorate that is deeply pessimistic about the country's economic prospects. A survey conducted by the non-partisan market research firm SSRS for CNN found more than three quarters of Americans rate the economy as performing poorly.

Polls by the Pew Research Centre and Fox News registered similar responses, which is why it is no surprise that Trump's approval rating is at rock bottom.

With midterm elections around the corner, and the economy always a defining issue for this crucial point in the election cycle, Trump has chosen a spectacularly bad time to pick a fight with one of his most important trading partners.

The prevailing assumption seems to be that Canada has by far the most to lose from a trade war with the US, yet it's not quite as one-sided as some think.

According to Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, the US economy is “far more dependent on

'A growing number of ordinary Americans say their financial struggles are becoming more acute'

Canadian goods than most Americans realise". He points to softwood lumber that is used by many housebuilders for framing, electricity from Canadian hydropower, and US-Canadian trade in cars and car parts, as areas of particular vulnerability.

He also, along with energy consultant David Blackmon, highlights the US economy's heavy reliance on imports of Canadian oil as another serious weakness.

Blackmon points out that the US imports about 4m barrels of Canadian crude every single day; the vast bulk of it heavy, sour grades from Alberta's oil sands that refiners can't easily replace with lighter versions from the Permian basin of Texas or the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Carney has something else too, which could prove even more decisive: the firm backing of his people.

In a poll conducted just days before talks collapsed, 56pc of Canadians said that they wanted the government to take a hard line and make no more concessions, a position that has only hardened after Washington's more extraordinary demands were made public.

The US was trying to restrict Canada's ability to make deals with other trading partners, and its negotiators tried to restrict Canada's protections for the French language, Carney told reporters. Within hours, a new survey showed 76pc supported the ending of talks.

The Toronto Star likened the US approach to “an attempted psychological annexation that could have turned Canada into an American client state, a sort of North American Belarus”. Carney has called it “a question of sovereignty”.

With ordinary Canadians seemingly well up for the fight, in contrast to their battle-weary American cousins, this may be another war Trump comes to quickly regret.

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REUTERS

Healey must not kill nascent productivity revival

ADAM SMITH

Britain has waited a long time for signs of growth, it should not be stamped out even if jobs take a hit

INCREASING productivity has been close to an article of faith for recent successive Chancellors and one of the few economic ambitions that crosses party lines.

Jeremy Hunt saw boosting it as fundamental to growth. His answer was to make full expensing, allowing companies to write off qualifying investment against tax immediately, permanent. He argued that it would “improve the UK’s capital stock, help close the productivity gap and drive sustainable growth”.

Rachel Reeves inherited the same obsession and put it to different use. In her final Budget she told the Commons that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was cutting its productivity growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points, to 1pc by the end of the forecast, meaning “£16bn less in tax receipts by 2030”.

She was careful to attach the blame directly to her predecessors saying: "These forecasts are the Tories' legacy, not Britain's destiny."

This downgrade was a central justification for her second round of tax rises. But what if it gave a misleading impression of just how badly Britain was performing? The Resolution Foundation thinks that is plausible. It has said that Britain's productivity performance has been meaningfully better than the official statistics suggest.

The details behind this finding are intriguing. They don't think our economy has switched from traditionally unproductive sectors to more productive ones. Hospitality, for instance, employs no smaller a share of the workforce than in the late 2010s. Nor do they say it is an early AI effect as the gains are spread broadly rather than concentrated where AI exposure is greatest. As the Foundation's principal economist Simon Pittaway puts it, the recovery has been “achieved by the same workers, doing the same jobs, and working in the same sectors”. If that is right, the interesting question is why.

One possible explanation is capital. Hunt deliberately made investment cheaper through full expensing, encouraging businesses to put more machinery, software and technology behind each hour of labour. The productivity recovery appears to have begun before Reeves increased employment taxes, but her policies may subsequently have reinforced the same incentive from the opposite direction.

The employer National Insurance rise from April 2025 made labour considerably more expensive, while employment regulation has added to the expected cost and risk of hiring. Faced with a higher relative price of labour, businesses have a greater incentive to economise on it and invest in capital instead.

The OBR itself pointed to this capital deepening in its March forecast of this year. It noted that “capital deepening

— proxied by growth in the capital stock per worker — adds modestly to potential output growth, by about 0.3 percentage points a year".

It also noted that this contribution

‘If firms are finally putting more capital behind each hour of work, policy should encourage that process’

was slightly higher than previously assumed because of “lower employment growth, and higher business investment”.

That does not prove capital deepening explains the productivity recovery. But the pieces fit sufficiently well to warrant attention.

Imagine a company producing £10m of output using 200,000 hours of labour. It invests in machinery, software or better processes and can eventually produce the same £10m using 180,000 hours. Output has not moved. Labour input has fallen by 10pc. But output per hour, which tends to be the productivity measure economists care about, has risen by 11pc.

This has an uncomfortable implication. Britain has spent years demanding higher productivity without thinking hard about what the adjustment might look like. Higher unemployment is not the price Britain must pay and historically, the two certainly do not require one another. But weaker demand for labour may be one symptom of the way some businesses are becoming more productive.

That is consistent with what we are seeing. Vacancies are at their lowest outside Covid since 2014, pay-rolled employment is falling and graduate vacancies have hit a record low. It is worth considering whether a bad jobs report and a good productivity report may be the same report, read two different ways.

Which is why John Healey should be careful in his first Budget. Banks already fear being taxed more, and a Chancellor short of money will inevitably look at corporate profits closely. But if British businesses are finally putting more capital behind each hour of work, policy should encourage that process rather than make the returns from investment less attractive.

Successive Chancellors have promised a productivity revolution would make Britain richer and rescue the public finances. They have said rather less about a journey that might involve companies substituting capital for labour, vacancies disappearing and unemployment rising before the benefits fully arrive. That may or may not be what is happening now. But if it is, Healey's job is not to panic at the painful part of the adjustment and tax away the conditions producing the beneficial part. Britain has waited far too long for a productivity recovery to kill it before it has properly begun.

Cool canines A pair of French bulldogs model air-conditioned jackets at an event in Tokyo. The garments have been developed by Sweet Mommy, a Japanese maternity clothing maker, and are fitted with built-in cooling fans.

The Treasury should recognise that pubs are social hubs and a financial asset – not a burden

MARTIN BECK

Alcohol misuse carries costs but it's crucial to distinguish harmful drinking from moderate consumption

THE Government's decision to reduce business rates for pubs from April 2027 is a welcome recognition that these institutions play a unique role in communities across Britain.

But the case for supporting pubs goes beyond rates relief. The wider evidence shows that pubs are not simply recipients of public support, they are significant contributors to the economy, the public finances and national wellbeing.

There remains a persistent narrative that alcohol costs the taxpayer more than it contributes. Headlines focus on hospital admissions, alcohol-related crime and health harms. These issues matter, and harmful drinking requires targeted action. But the full picture is more balanced: alcohol, and particularly beer and pubs, make a substantial contribution to the UK economy and public finances.

Our latest independent analysis, commissioned by the British Beer and Pub Association, shows that in 2024–25, alcohol duties and VAT on duties alone raised £15.1bn for the Exchequer, with beer contributing £3.5bn. These revenues outweigh the estimated £10.5bn in alcohol-related healthcare and crime costs, leaving a net annual surplus of about £4bn. And that's just the direct contribution. When you include the wider economic footprint - employment taxes, business rates, corporation tax, and VAT on hospitality sales - the beer and pub sector contributes an additional £13.3bn annually to the public coffers. Altogether, pubs and beer add about £37.8bn to the UK economy each year.

The story doesn't stop at finance. Pubs are social hubs. They support everyday interactions, foster community cohesion, and help combat loneliness. Our recent analysis estimates that pub-based social interaction generates about £30bn a year in wellbeing-equivalent value, reflecting the reduction in loneliness, strengthened social ties and enhanced community participation.

Yet pubs have faced significant pressures in recent years. More than 15,000 UK pubs have closed over the past two decades, reflecting the combined impact of rising operating costs, taxation, regulation and changing consumer behaviour. The Government's decision to reduce business rates for pubs is an important step towards recognising the pressures

'Altogether, pubs and beer add about £37.8bn to the UK economy each year'

facing these businesses. Moderation matters. About three-quarters of adults who drink do so at low or moderate levels. This responsible majority underpins alcohol-related tax revenues. Policy should target harms, not penalise responsible consumers.

Pubs also sustain jobs and supply chains across the country. Labour-intensive and embedded in local communities, every closure reduces both direct and indirect tax contributions. They are economic anchors as well as social spaces.

It is true that alcohol misuse carries costs. But it's crucial to distinguish harmful drinking from moderate consumption. Even under conservative assumptions about the proportion of A&E visits and ambulance journeys attributable to alcohol, the net contribution of alcohol remains positive. Responsible consumption supports public finances, while promoting social and indirect health benefits.

Policy that treats all alcohol as inherently costly risks undermining a sector that sustains communities, supports local economies, and contributes billions to the Treasury. Recognising the difference between harmful and moderate drinking, and the wider economic, fiscal and wellbeing contributions of pubs and beer, allows government to design targeted interventions without harming responsible consumers or the communities they support.

Moderate beer consumption often occurs in slower-paced, social settings such as pubs, where it functions as a form of social infrastructure. These venues offer routine contact and a sense of belonging. Ignoring these benefits risks overstating the case for blanket restrictions and misaligning regulation with real-world behaviours.

The message is clear: responsible alcohol consumption, centred on beer and pubs, is a net positive for the UK. It generates billions in tax revenue, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, strengthens local economies, and enhances social wellbeing. The Government's decision on business rates shows an important shift towards recognising the value of Britain's pubs.

The wider evidence reinforces why that approach matters: pubs are not simply businesses that happen to sell alcohol. They are employers, taxpayers, community assets and sources of social value. Future alcohol policy should reflect this wider contribution, targeting genuine harms while avoiding measures that undermine responsible consumption and the communities pubs support.

Martin Beck is chief economist at WPI Strategy

Shein pursues £20bn flotation in Hong Kong

By Chris Price

SHEIN will press ahead with a £20bn listing in Hong Kong next month after abandoning plans to go public in London last year.

The fast-fashion giant, which was founded in China but is based in Singapore, aims to raise 13.86bn Hong Kong dollars (£1.3bn) on Sept 1.

The online retailer confirmed in a filing that it was looking to sell its stock at around HK\$49.50 per share, giving the business an overall valuation of about £20bn – well below the £50bn target Shein was eyeing just a year ago.

It also suggests its valuation has fallen by 70pc from its peak four years ago after listings in London and New York were scuppered.

The company, which sells cheap dresses and jeans in 160 countries, has been hit with allegations of human rights abuses and faces a crackdown on its business model in the EU and the US.

It had submitted papers for an initial public offering in London in 2024, but long delays in regulatory approval meant it went cold on the plan.

While it did eventually secure approval from the Financial Conduct Authority for a version of its listing

The amount Shein hopes to raise from selling 280 million shares to investors in its Hong Kong stock market flotation

plans, this was rejected by Chinese regulators, in a blow to Rachel Reeves, the former chancellor, as she sought to revive the City.

MPs had criticised the lack of transparency around the company's supply chain. Some raised concerns that it was using cotton from Xinjiang, the Muslim-majority part of China where there have been accusations that the local Uyghur population has been coerced into manual labour. Shein has previously said it “strictly prohibits forced labour” in its supply chain.

The retailer only won Beijing's approval for a listing last month to make its public market debut in Hong Kong. Shein plans to offer 280 million shares at a price between HK\$47.60 and HK\$49.50. Its cut-price listing comes after it also faced questions regarding slowing growth, rising costs and changing market conditions.

In the UK, smaller retailers have accused the Government of allowing the fast-fashion giant to operate on an unfair playing field. Under current rules, the de minimis threshold allows goods valued at £135 or less to be imported directly to consumers without customs duty needing to be paid. It was announced in last year's Budget that the exemption would be phased out.

Nvidia's debt raises alarm bells among traders

By Chris Price

TRADERS are ramping up their bets against chip behemoth Nvidia over concerns about the web of financing behind the global AI data centre boom.

The price of financial protections against defaults on Nvidia's debt climbed to a record high after a string of major funding announcements.

Analysts warned that Nvidia's deal-making with AI giants had created a risk of “cascading losses” across the sector.

The price of Nvidia's credit-default swaps (CDS), financial instruments used to insure against potential debt defaults, have more than doubled within the space of two months, from around 42 basis points in mid-June to 85 on Friday.

Nvidia CDS prices have soared on the back of a series of complex financing deals intended to pay for trillions of dollars in AI data centres.

That is despite Wall Street estimates that \$5.2tn (£3.8tn) company's sales will nearly double to \$92bn when it reports its next set of quarterly results on Wednesday.

Swap prices for other AI infrastructure giants, including Oracle and Broadcom, have also risen to record levels.

Nvidia's debt levels jumped this summer after it raised \$25bn in its larg-

‘[It risks] cascading losses through the ecosystem and increasing the probability of systemic risks’

est-ever bond-market fundraising in June. Jensen Huang, Nvidia's chief executive, announced \$500bn of AI financing deals this month with six Wall Street giants, which would see the lenders create special funding vehicles to back large data centres.

a large US data centre being built by OpenAI with up to \$105bn in credit support. It has also announced a \$500bn deal with South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix.

Michael Burry, the US investor depicted in the film The Big Short, has claimed that some of Nvidia's debt deals are “unnatural” and a kind of “circular” financing.

Benedict Keim, a portfolio manager at Altana Wealth, said investors were increasingly watching the “strong correlation” between Nvidia and the wider AI sector, which is heavily loss-making and has been fuelled by borrowing.

He said that the “vast scale” of the credit guarantees that Nvidia has offered to AI labs had “increased concerns over its future cash flow and credit risk”. Keim added that Nvidia’s financing deals risked creating “cascading losses through the ecosystem and increasing the probability of systemic risks in the future”.

Blue Whale Growth R Acc

-

*417.08

+0.85

General financial +1.44%

Pre - tax(£)	EPS(p)	DIV(p)	Pay Day	XD
-1.6m (564k)	-0.590 (-0.850)	n/a (n/a)	-	-
32.9m (22.5m)	10.100 (7.600)	1.300 (1.300)	Oct 05	Aug 28
1.3m (1.3m)	3.900 (4.000)	n/a (n/a)	-	-
34.2m (30.6m)	15.900 (12.800)	7.000 (6.800)	Oct 30	Oct 01
493.8m (513.4m)	7.700 (-13.200)	15.420 (7.460p)	Sep 24	Sep 03
11.6m (11.7m)	5.790 (5.500)	2.750 (2.750)	Oct 05	Aug 27
-35.4m (-88.6m)	-38.000 (-106.000)	0.000 (10.000)	-	-
-912k (-337k)	-0.820 (-0.320)	n/a (n/a)	-	-
237.5m (124.1m)	5.940 (2.890)	0.000 (0.000)	-	-
24.7m (24.5m)	7.900 (8.200)	3.900 (3.750)	Sep 25	Aug 20

Engineering / Industrial +0.57%

490

294 $\frac{1}{2}$ ZIGUP ●

465 $\frac{1}{2}$

$-\frac{1}{2}$

5.8

13.8

Banks +0.64%

© 2026 Tradeweb Markets LLC. All rights reserved. The Tradeweb FTSE Gilt Closing Prices information contained herein is proprietary to Tradeweb; may not be copied or re-distributed; is not warranted to be accurate, complete or timely; and does not constitute investment advice. Tradeweb is not responsible for any loss or damage that might result from the use of this information.

Tradeweb

Government securities
52 week				Flat Rdm
High	Low (£)	Stock	Price (£)	-/-	Yield Yield
107.15	103.38	Treas 6%'28	103.66	-0.06	5.79 4.30
102.33	0.01	Treas 4%'32	97.98	-0.02	4.34 4.65
99.39	92.65	Treas 4%'36	93.78	+0.04	4.53 5.08
102.00	93.84	Treas 4%'38	95.00	+0.07	5.00 5.31
Index Linked Securities
349.35	338.55	Treas 4%'IL 30	342.36	-0.07	1.20 0.92
248.27	236.46	Treas 2%IL 35	241.57	+0.22	0.83 1.77
10-year Government Bonds

	Yield%	Spread Vs Bunds	Spread Vs T-Bonds
France	4.00	+0.75	-0.68
Germany	3.25	-	-1.43
Japan	2.85	-0.40	-1.83
Great Britain	5.05	+1.80	+0.37
United States	4.68	+1.43	-

The share prices, price-earnings ratios and dividend yields below are supplied by Interactive Data (Europe) Ltd. The yields are calculated using historic dividend payments divided by the closing share price multiplied by 100.

Aerospace & defence -0.61%
52 week			Price (p) +/- Yld			P/E
High	Low (p)	Stock
1527	902 $\frac{1}{4}$	Babcock Intl	1081 $\frac{1}{2}$ *	-23	0.7	25.7
2360	1529	BAE Systems	2097	-29	1.8	30.5
576 $\frac{1}{2}$	398 $\frac{1}{2}$	QinetiQ ●	530	-10	2.1	26.4
1586	990	Rolls-Royce	1500 $\frac{1}{4}$ *	-2	0.7	21.6
318 $\frac{1}{4}$	161	Senior ●	294 $\frac{1}{2}$	—	0.7	-288.7

554%	352%	Barclays	495%*	+2%	2.3	11.3
556%	318%	Close Bros •	424	-4%	—	-6.3
1610	942%	HSBC	1529*	+10%	3.6	17.2
117%	77%	Lloyds Bk Gp	111%*	+3⁄4	3.6	15.9
726	500%	NatWest Group	688%*	+5	5.1	12.9
1122	689	Santander	1084	+6	1.5	13.9
2278	1351%	Standard Ch	2195*	+33	2.3	15.3

2142	1295 $\frac{1}{2}$ Diageo	1771	+52	2.1	30.9
Chemicals +0.57%

3468	2437	Croda Intl	3468	+35	3.2	78.1
3245 $\frac{1}{4}$	2224	Johnson Mat ●	2268*	-6	4.5	-29.7
838	515	Victrex ●	820	+7	7.3	25.6

973	575 $\frac{1}{2}$	Balfour Beatty ●	882	-3	1.6	16.8
410 $\frac{1}{4}$	235%	Barratt Redrow	315 $\frac{1}{4}$	+2 $\frac{1}{4}$	5.4	23.2

Winners and losers (pc)

52 week
High	Low (p)	Stock	Price (p)	+/-	Yld	NAV
1584	1336	Brunner●	1564*	+4	1.7	1737
402	312	Caledonia●	386%	+1⁄2	2.0	584
599	486	City of Lon●	591*	+4	3.7	579
467	208%	CQS Nat Res G & I	429*	+5	6.6	414
330	270	CT Glbl Mgd G	325	—	—	335
135	114	CT Glbl Mgd I	130%	—	6.1	133
592	439%	CT Priv Eq Ord	490	-6	5.8	697
373	320	CT UK Cap & Inc	358	+5	3.7	374
126	97	CT UKHighIncTst	122	+6	4.9	120
480%	460	Dunedin Ent #	475	—	4.8	—
861	737%	Edinburgh Inv Tr●	861	+6	3.7	924
294%	188%	Edin Worldwide●	250%	+1	—	279
1332	325%	F&C Inv Trust	340%	-%	1.2	372
672	546	Fidelity Asian V	616	-8	3.3	649
339	241	Fidelity China Sp Sits●	261	-21⁄2	3.4	276
447%	367%	Fidelity Euro Tst●	438%	-%	2.3	462
477%	372	Fidelity Sp V●	474%	+31⁄2	2.2	471
910	706%	Finsbury Gwth●	835	+8	2.4	888
198%	162%	Glbl Small Co Trust●	192%*	-%	1.6	202
214	173%	Hend High Inc	209	+3	5.3	218
998	769	Hend Smaller Co●	974	+6	3.0	1066
3290%	2285	Herald Inv●	2920	-35	—	3287
514%	318%	HgCapital●	420	+1	1.2	530
141	107%	HICL Infrastructure●	139%	-%	6.1	161
1611%	1288%	ICG Enterprise Tst●	1486*	-4	2.8	2027
986	791%	JPM Cloverh'se●	982*	+10	3.7	990
153	124%	JPM Eur G&I●	146%*	+1⁄4	3.7	150
867	661	JPM Japanese●	800	-3	1.1	866
726	522%	Land Sees	687%	+1⁄2	6.0	—
191%	145%	Lowland Inv	186	+1⁄2	3.6	203
289	234%	Mercantile InvTr●	285	+2	2.9	315
687	536	Merchants Tst●	684	+6	4.3	717
1664	1366	Monks●	1598*	-12	0.1	1695
1036	854%	Murray Income●	1004*	+8	4.1	1067
372%	293	Murray Intl●	371	+1⁄2	3.5	367
56%	47	Northern 2 VCT	53*	—	5.7	55
86%	79%	Northern 3 VCT	82*	—	5.5	86
59%	53	Nthn Venture	56*	—	5.5	59
437	345	Pacific Assets	423	-3	—	451
409	322%	Pantheon●	387%	+1⁄2	—	526
2645	1932	RIT Cap Ptrs●	2570	-10	1.8	3106
319	281%	Ruffer Inv Pref●	298	-1	2.1	309
738	488%	Schroder Asian TR●	695	-9	1.7	722
572	480%	Scott American●	558*	-1	2.9	599
1563	1015%	Scot Mortgage	1458%	-51⁄2	0.3	1596
253	215%	STS Global Income	228	-11⁄2	3.7	232
352	196%	Trepletn Em Mt●	314%	-6	1.7	341
364%	291	TR Property●	306%	-1	5.3	339
150%	137	UIL Fin ZDP 2026	150%	—	—	150
302	243	Utilico Emerg●	279	+3	3.5	308
401%	320	World Health Tr●	391	-4	0.6	424

52 week			Price (p)	+/-	Yld	P/E
High	Low (p)	Stock
4442	2796	Berkeley Grp●	3566	+12	—	10.8
237	133 $\frac{1}{2}$	Boot H	154	-1	5.1	8.8
241	124 $\frac{1}{4}$	Costain●	225 $\frac{1}{2}$	-1	2.3	16.2
1062 $\frac{1}{4}$	788%	Grafton Gp●	1026 $\frac{1}{4}$	-6 $\frac{1}{4}$	3.7	14.6
5730	3915	Morgan Sindall●	4382	+8	3.7	11.8
1552	947 $\frac{1}{4}$	Persimmon	1160 $\frac{1}{4}$	+9	5.2	13.0
116 $\frac{1}{4}$	74 $\frac{1}{4}$	Taylor Wimpey●	83 $\frac{1}{4}$	+ $\frac{1}{4}$	5.0	29.7

Electricals +0.61%
Markets

570	190	Dialight	550	+19	-	-
840	505	discoverIE Grp •	758	-6	1.7	25.1
4902	3194	Halma	3554	+44	0.7	36.1
5490	3110	Renishaw •	5035	-65	1.6	43.7
2060	843	XP Power •	1734	-30	-	-41.3

Electricity -0.30%

98%	73%	Coats Group●	80%	+3⁄4	3.0	18.6
460	230	Cropper J	445	—	—	14.4
28500	9292%	Goodwin ●	18020	-700	1.6	55.1
3166	2216	IMI	3072*	+18	1.1	24.7
10801⁄2	660	Mondi ●	8631⁄4*	+51⁄4	1.4	27.0
40	211⁄4	Severfield	38	+1⁄4	—	-3.2
27541⁄2	2088	Smiths Gp	2610	+10	1.8	30.5
8050	5950	Spirax Gp	7035	-25	2.4	31.7
3580	2254	Weir	2878	+62	1.5	30.1

2359	1729 $\frac{1}{2}$	Ass Brit Fds	2069	+8	3.0	14.6
5195	3270	Coca-Cola HBC	4616	+72	2.2	20.8
5810	4775	Cranswick •	5430*	+70	2.1	18.4
844	447 $\frac{1}{2}$	Hilton Food •	619 $\frac{1}{2}$	+3 $\frac{1}{2}$	5.6	7.1
138	92	REA Hldgs	109	—	—	-212.3
5542 $\frac{1}{2}$	3644	Unilever	4782 $\frac{1}{2}$ *	+101 $\frac{1}{2}$	3.4	12.9
Gas & Water +0.26%

220 $\frac{1}{4}$	151 $\frac{1}{4}$	Centrica	154 $\frac{3}{4}$ *	+ $\frac{1}{8}$	3.7	-103.2
606	439 $\frac{1}{4}$	Pennon Gp •	462 $\frac{3}{4}$ *	+ $\frac{1}{8}$	6.3	23.8
3335	2381	Severn Trent	3122	+8	4.0	25.3
1497	1072	Utd Utilities	1425	+1	3.8	16.6

937 $\frac{1}{2}$	613 $\frac{1}{2}$	Drax Group $\bullet$	739 $\frac{1}{2}$	-5	4.1	35.7
1428 $\frac{1}{2}$	1000	Nat Grid	1169 $\frac{1}{2}$	-1 $\frac{1}{2}$	4.1	17.9
2767 $\frac{1}{2}$	1597	SSE	2371*	-15	2.9	22.5

Major price changes FTSE 100

276 $\frac{1}{2}$	145 $\frac{1}{4}$	Ashmore $\bullet$	227 $\frac{3}{4}$	+1 $\frac{1}{4}$	7.4	18.7
351 $\frac{1}{4}$	212	Bridgepoint Grp $\bullet$	320 $\frac{3}{4}$	- $\frac{1}{4}$	3.0	64.1
1865	1240	BrooksMacdonald	1430	—	5.7	11.0
1956	1016	IG Group	1354*	+20	3.1	9.3
2340	1424 $\frac{1}{4}$	ICG	2026	+10	4.3	12.1
690	499 $\frac{1}{4}$	Investec	635 $\frac{1}{2}$ *	-1 $\frac{1}{2}$	6.1	8.2
75	48	IP Group $\bullet$	71 $\frac{1}{4}$	+ $\frac{1}{4}$	1.8	9.9

Results Roundup Previously Published * (8)

52 week			Price (p)	-/-	Yld	P/E
High	Low (p)	Stock
375	223	Liontrust	312	+1%	6.1	20.3
10140	6684	Lon Stock Ex	8840*	+238	1.8	37.1
3671⁄4	247	M&G	3481⁄4	+1%	5.9	27.6
3271⁄4	1541⁄4	Man Group ●	3041⁄4*	+1⁄4	4.1	27.0
209	1501⁄4	Quilter ●	1931⁄4	+1⁄4	3.3	21.8
24581⁄4	1620	S & U	1975	+25	5.8	10.1
5991⁄4	3581⁄4	Schroders	5831⁄4	-1⁄4	3.8	17.1
132	75	Vanquis Banking Gp	781⁄4	+1%	—	24.5

Household goods +0.73%

Healthcare +1.70%
416 $\frac{1}{8}$	274 $\frac{3}{8}$	Haleon	369 $\frac{3}{4}$ *	+6 $\frac{1}{4}$	2.0
1441 $\frac{1}{2}$	1046	Smith & Nep	1082	+12 $\frac{1}{2}$	2.7

Information technology +0.65%

Risers 69	Volume	Close	Change
Diageo	4.08m	1771	3.02pc
Lon Stock Ex	1.87m	8840	2.77pc
Airtel Africa	1.68m	336	2.69pc
Pearson	0.97m	1225	2.47pc
Weir	1.37m	2878	2.20pc
Intl Cons Air	5.65m	$432\frac{1}{4}$	2.20pc
Unilever	3.98m	$4782\frac{1}{2}$	2.17pc
Hiscox	0.66m	1832	2.06pc
IntContl Hotels	0.40m	$11936\frac{1}{2}$	1.99pc
Endeavour Mng	0.59m	4773	1.99pc
Coca-Cola Euro	0.13m	8060	1.90pc
Haleon	19.86m	$369\frac{1}{4}$	1.85pc
Antofagasta	0.60m	3972	1.72pc
Whitbread	0.93m	2463	1.61pc
Bunzl	0.38m	2798	1.60pc
Coca-Cola HBC	0.62m	4616	1.58pc
RELX	3.41m	2652	1.53pc
Standard Chart	3.20m	2195	1.53pc
Brit Amer Tob	3.06m	4194	1.53pc
Aviva	12.29m	728	1.51pc
IG Group	1.65m	1354	1.50pc
3i	3.92m	2934	1.49pc

Insurance +1.14%

Company	Turnover(£)
BATM Advanced Comms $	Int 41.7m (60.4m)
Capital $*	Int 219.0m (159.2m)
Global Opportunities Trust*	Int - (-)
Hunting $*	Int 497.0m (528.6m)
Ithaca Energy $*	Int 1.7bn (1.5bn)
JP Morgan American Investment Trust*	Int - (-)
Kenmare Resources $*	Int 149.1m (167.7m)
Marechale Capital	Fin 34tk (409k)
Resolute Mining $*	Int 584.7m (447.5m)
Temple Bar Investment Trust*	Int - (-)

1376 $\frac{1}{2}$	976	Burberry	1078	+8 $\frac{1}{2}$	—	—
170	106 $\frac{1}{4}$	McBride	166 $\frac{3}{4}$	+3	1.8	8.6
114	65 $\frac{1}{4}$	PZ Cussons	104 $\frac{1}{8}$	+ $\frac{1}{8}$	3.5	22.2
6522 $\frac{1}{4}$	3664	Reckitt Benck	5180*	+38	4.2	11.1

307	195	Aptitude Sftwre	218	+3	2.5	29.9
1181	771%	The Sage Grp	1105	+7	2.0	29.3

Fallers 26	Volume	Close	Change
BP	24.66m	533 $\frac{1}{2}$	-2.88pc
Polar CapTech	2.23m	623 $\frac{1}{2}$	-2.50pc
Babcock Intl	0.91m	1081 $\frac{1}{2}$	-2.08pc
Melrose Ind	2.17m	462	-1.76pc
GSK	5.28m	1890 $\frac{1}{2}$	-1.46pc
BAE Systems	2.93m	2097	-1.36pc
Kingfisher	3.12m	317 $\frac{1}{2}$	-1.12pc
AstraZeneca	1.79m	12110	-1.06pc
Pershing Square	0.11m	3884	-0.82pc
Autotrader Grp	5.66m	542 $\frac{1}{2}$	-0.80pc
Games Works	0.10m	18510	-0.80pc
SSE	1.23m	2371	-0.63pc
Glencore	72.00m	593 $\frac{1}{2}$	-0.62pc
Fresnillo	1.06m	3200	-0.59pc
Scot Mort Inv Tst	1.24m	1458 $\frac{1}{2}$	-0.38pc
Shell	7.13m	3397	-0.37pc
Spirax Group	0.39m	7035	-0.35pc
Investec	21.94m	635 $\frac{1}{2}$	-0.24pc
F&C Inv Trust	1.65m	340 $\frac{1}{4}$	-0.23pc
Rolls-Royce	10.55m	1500 $\frac{1}{4}$	-0.13pc
Natl Grid	9.77m	1169 $\frac{1}{2}$	-0.13pc
Tritax Big Box	5.00m	158 $\frac{1}{4}$	-0.13pc

265	177 $\frac{1}{2}$	Aberdeen Group	2461 $^{*}$	+3 $\frac{1}{2}$	5.9	11.4
4006	2624	Admiral	4000	+24	3.6	16.2
740 $\frac{1}{2}$	590 $\frac{1}{2}$	Aviva	728	+10 $\frac{1}{2}$	5.5	27.1
1298	750	Beazley	1296	—	1.9	11.4
1904	1257 $\frac{1}{2}$	Hiscox	1832 $^{*}$	+37	2.1	13.8
700	549	Lancashire Hldg $\bullet$	608 $\frac{1}{2}$	—	2.8	6.9
318 $\frac{1}{2}$	217 $\frac{1}{2}$	Legal & General	288 $\frac{1}{2}$	+4 $\frac{1}{4}$	7.6	28.8
1238	910 $\frac{1}{2}$	Prudential	1042 $\frac{1}{2}$	+14 $\frac{1}{2}$	1.9	9.2
948 $\frac{1}{2}$	615	Standard Life	928 $\frac{1}{2}$	+8	6.0	-197.1
1575 $\frac{1}{2}$	1038 $\frac{1}{2}$	St James's Place	1196 $\frac{1}{2}$	+8 $\frac{1}{2}$	1.5	12.0

Name

Init chge

Sell

Mid Buy

Change on day

52 week			Price (p) +/-		Yld	NAV
High	Low (p)	Stock
4497	1825	3i	2934	+43	2.9	3096
385	325	3i Infrastructure●	395	-31⁄2	3.4	404
820	606	Aberdeen New India	720	-6	—	806
1394	1178	Alliance Witan	1370	—	2.1	1440
764	443	Allianz Tech Trust●	685	-7	—	744
331	2761⁄4	Baillie Giff China	306	-3	0.8	333
133	91%	Baillie Giff Euro Gwth	124	—	0.6	135
154%	121%	Bankers Investmt Tst ●148%*	-3/4	—	1.9	163
1784	866	Biotech Growth	1706	-26	—	1829
289%	201	BlckRockAmlnc	277*	-1	5.4	272
205	122%	BlackRockEnrgy&Res	185	+1%	3.1	194
208	164%	BlckRock Frolnv	191	—	4.0	194
625	507	BlckRock Grt Euro●	605	—	1.2	652
240	200	BlckRck Inc&Grth	234*	—	3.3	261
288%	230%	BlackRock Small●	2741⁄2*	—	2.9	314
1072%	553	BlackRock Wild M●	1032	+14	2.3	1067

Name	Init chge	Mid Sell	Change on day
Glob Multi-Strat	0%	142.41	+0.15
Inflation-Linked Corp Bd	0%	116.94	-0.03
Long-Term Global Equity	0%	387.8	+0.59
Asian Income	0%	197.17	-0.88
Continental European	0%	318.69	+0.04
Global Dynamic Bd	0%	82.98	+0.05
Global High Yield Bd	0%	76.17	+0.05
International Bd	0%	86.43	-0.06
Multi-Asset Bal	0%	208.83	+0.33
Multi-Asset Div Return	0%	155.14	+0.21
Multi-Asset Growth	0%	331.35	+0.23
Oriental	0%	253.09	-1.02
Real Return A	0%	126.19	+0.3
UK Equity Fund	0%	213.96	+0.5
UK Income	0%	215.05	+0.51
UK Opportunities	0%	233.03	+0.67
Emerging Income	0%	136.41	-0.46
Global Emerging Mkts	0%	283.4	-0.73
Global Equity Fund	0%	399.27	+0.47
Multi Asset Inc	0%	141.88	+0.29

BNY MELLON

Discretionary Unit Fund
No 1, Poultry, London EC2R 8JR. 020 7415 4130
Maitland Discretionary Inc	3.00	2368.88	+18.06

Fundsmith

PO Box 10846, Chelmsford, Essex, CM99 2BW. 0330 123 1815 www.fundsmith.co.uk enquiries@fundsmith.co.uk

Fundsmith Equity T Acc	-	696.54	+1.79
Fundsmith Equity T Inc	-	628.67	+1.62

Name

Init chge

Sell

Mid Buy

Change on day

Name

Init chge

Sell

Mid Buy

Change on day

AXA Pyl & Planet Eqty R GBP	-	297.7	+0.90
Amer Gwth Acc	-	1746	+10.00
Biotech Acc	-	342	+3.20
Global Sust Mngd R Acc	-	617.3	+1.70
Global Tech	-	400.5	+1.90
Global Thematics R GBP Acc	-	2713	+5.00
Health Acc	-	3470	+28.00
Japan R GBP Acc	-	948.5	+0.30
Managed Income R Gross Acc	-	225.2	+0.20
Managed Income R Gross Dis	-	94.96	+0.06
UK Select Opps R Acc	-	4265	+28.00
UK Select Opps R Inc	-	2139	+14.00
UK Smlr Cos Acc	-	353	+0.90
UK Sust Equity R Acc	-	377.8	+2.80
AXA IM Funds www.axa-im.co.uk

Guinness Global Investors 18 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HZ www.guinnessgi.com +44(0)20 7222 5703

Property +0.10%
Pharmaceuticals -1.16%
Oil & Gas -1.18%

Sustainable Energy Acc	-	25.0731	...
Global Innovators Acc	-	46.9816	...
Global Equity Income Inc	-	24.9215	...
Available as an ISA

Media +1.12%
52 week
High	Low (p)	Stock	Price (p)	+/-	Yld	P/E
828%	418%	Autotrader	542%	-4%	2.1	15.9
690	435	Bloomsbury●	652	-2	2.5	19.7
1000	719	Informa	900*	-%	2.5	—
87%	65%	ITV●	72%	+1%	6.9	12.2
1337	874%	Pearson	1225*	+29%	2.1	23.8
74	40%	Reach	431%*	+1⁄2	13.6	-1.0
3600	1991	RELX	2652*	+40	2.6	23.6
775%	391%	Rightmove●	503%	-7	2.1	17.9
412%	218%	WPP●	399%	+13	3.8	8.0

4239	2154	Anglo Amer	4118*	+51	0.7	-17.0
4475	2115	Antofagasta	3972	+67	1.4	40.2
3583	1918	BHP Group	3554	+29	3.5	25.0
81	81	Evraz #	81	—	—	0.5
4472	1657	Fresnillo	3200*	-19	3.5	23.2
7071⁄4	2811⁄4	Glencore	5931⁄4	-31⁄4	2.1	—
858	2461⁄4	Hochschild Mng •	630	-10	0.7	22.0
330	1781⁄4	Kenmare Res	208	-2	—	-0.8
9117	4511⁄4	Rio Tinto	7666*	+18	4.4	17.0

BLUE WHALE GROWTH FUND

Janus Henderson Investors
PO Box 9023 Chelmsford, CM99 2WB
Enquiries: 0800 832 832
Website: www.janushenderson.com

Janus Henderson INVESTORS

AXA Investment Managers

609%	399%	BP	533%*	-15%	4.6	—
28	9%	EnQuest	26	-1	3.1	—
553	300	Hunting •	393%	-11%	2.6	20.5
3758%	2553%	Shell	3397*	-12%	4.4	15.3

Support services +0.66%

15732	9892	AstraZeneca	12110*	-130	2.0	25.0
3228%	1943	Genus •	2288	+6	1.4	78.1
2282	1440%	GSK	1890%*	-28	3.7	13.4
1865	1187	Hikma •	1633*	-3	3.9	12.2

Telecommunications +0.56%

16	61⁄2	Alina Hldgs	10	—	—	17
1208	8001⁄2	Big Yellow Gp •	903	+21⁄2	5.2	—
4511⁄4	3181⁄4	Brit Land	4281⁄4	—	5.4	—
2196	14691⁄4	Derwent Ldn •	2078	+26	3.9	—
377	270	Gt Portland Est •	3481⁄4	+1⁄2	2.4	—
205	1491⁄2	Grainger •	178	-1⁄4	4.7	6.5
3911⁄4	2631⁄4	Hammerson •	3741⁄4	-31⁄4	4.9	—
9971⁄4	603	Segro	961°	+31⁄4	3.3	—
1551⁄4	1241⁄4	Shaftesbury Capital •1501⁄4	-1⁄4	-1⁄4	2.9	8.0
139	104	Town Centre	125	-41⁄2	4.0	—
175	1321⁄4	Tritax Big Box	1581⁄4*	-1⁄4	5.2	184

Commodities summary

Blue Whale Capital 0345 307 3439 www.bluewhale.co.uk

Global Income	0%	332.85	+0.53
Corporate Bond	0%	81.93	+0.06
Equity Inc	0%	142.69	...
Equity Inc Booster	0%	90.37	...
Glob Abs Ret $^{\ddagger}$	0%	109.35	...
Glob Multi-Strat	0%	141.6	+0.15
Inflation-Linked Corp Bd	0%	116.82	-0.03
Long-Term Global Equity	0%	504.23	+0.58
Asian Income	0%	313.61	-0.88
European Opps	0%	482.39	+0.03
Global Dynamic Bd	0%	84.67	+0.05
Global High Yield Bd	0%	47.37	+0.04
International Bd	0%	188.42	-0.06
Multi-Asset Bial	0%	309.33	+0.32
Mult-Asset Div Return	0%	200.35	+0.21
Mult-Asset Growth	0%	1653.25	+0.22
Oriental	0%	1244.14	-1.02
Real Return A	0%	139.41	+0.3
UK Equity Fund	0%	1238.44	+0.5
UK Income	0%	105.54	+0.5
UK OpportunitiesB Shares	0%	467.46	+0.66
Global Income	0%	276.58	+0.53
Corporate Bond	0%	99.24	+0.06
Equity Inc	0%	107.1	...
Equity Inc Booster	0%	71.26	...
Glob Abs Ret	0%	118.97	-0.06

52 week			Price (p)	-/-	Yld	P/E
High	Low (p)	Stock
250	123%	Halfords ●	233*	+1⁄2	3.9	15.3
981	713	Howden Joinery	800%	-21⁄4	2.7	16.3
106%	64	JD Sports Fash	85%	-1	1.4	9.9
372%	240%	Kingfisher	317%	-3%	3.9	22.7
418%	301%	Marks & Spen	384%	+1%	1.1	30.3
3%	%	Mothercare	%	...	—	-0.8
15900	11200	Next	15275	-10	1.8	20.1
362%	140%	Ocado ●	233%	-5%	—	4.9
575	200	Pinewood Tech	448	+2%	—	93.3
747	192%	Saga ●	683	+8	—	—
380%	292%	Sainsbury J	335%	+2%	4.1	19.4
722	378%	Smith WH ●	414%	-1⁄4	—	-3.7
510%	41%	Tesco	461%	+4	3.1	16.8

2886	1981	Bunzl	2798	+44	2.6	19.8
416	215	Capita	290	+9	—	-2.0
6740	4188	DCC Energy	6365	-5	3.4	—
115%	78%	Essentra	108	-%	1.9	—
3987	2203	Experian	2963	+14	1.7	24.6
5860	3519%	Intertek Group	5845	—	2.8	26.8
250%	163%	Int'l Workplace●	180%	+2%	0.6	—
172%	123%	Johnson Serv●	144%	+%	3.3	15.6
214	134%	MITIE Gp●	208%*	+%	2.2	31.6
507	329%	Rentokil	348%*	+4%	2.7	25.5
325%	212%	Serco Group●	261%	+1%	1.8	18.2
12	6%	SIG	8%	-%	—	-1.6
723%	493%	Travis P●	654%	+6	1.8	-7.9

242 $\frac{1}{8}$	173	BT Group	205 $\frac{1}{2}$ *	+1 $\frac{1}{8}$	4.0	18.7
1914	638	Telecom Plus ●	863*	-8	5.8	8.5
131 $\frac{1}{8}$	83 $\frac{1}{8}$	Vodafone	117 $\frac{1}{8}$	+ $\frac{1}{2}$	3.4	-83.3
Tobaccos +1.45%

169 $\frac{1}{2}$	106	Currys $\bullet$	147 $\frac{1}{2}$	-2 $\frac{3}{4}$	2.0	9.5
1248	707	Dunelm $\bullet$	888	+4	7.9	11.5
840	598	Frasers Group $\bullet$	820	-3 $\frac{1}{2}$	—	9.5
2046	1407 $\frac{1}{4}$	Greggs $\bullet$	1876	+38	3.7	15.6

5326	3677	Brit Am Tob	4194	+63	5.8	11.9
3632	2476	Imp Brands	2535*	+32	6.6	10.1
Transport -0.11%

Travel & Leisure +1.66%

Money & Rates

		Index	Change
$\blacktriangleleft$ Australia	All Ordinaries	9316.70	+47.00	+0.51pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Brazil	Bovespa	171906.72	+874.99	+0.51pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ China	Shanghai Composite	3882.01	-23.19	-0.59pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ France	CAC General	8453.01	-31.42	-0.37pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Germany	DAX	26106.60	-29.96	-0.11pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Hong Kong	Hang Seng	25517.33	-492.13	-1.89pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ India	BSE S&P SENSEX	77369.11	-171.72	-0.22pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Japan	Nikkei	65528.09	-488.27	-0.74pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Singapore	Straits Times	5680.46	-8.50	-0.15pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Spain	Madrid SE	1991.70	+12.70	+0.64pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ Switzerland	SMI Index	14447.19	-9.79	-0.07pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ USA	Dow Jones	53417.16	+140.15	+0.26pc
$\blacktriangleleft$ USA	Nasdaq	25980.19	-200.26	-0.76pc

683%	332%	easyJet ●	673%	+2%	2.0	10.2
915%	500%	Entain	541*	+3%	3.7	-5.2
227%	152%	FirstGroup ●	179	-%	4.0	8.4
776	550	Fullers A'	742	-10	2.9	18.9
492%	332%	IAG Intl Cons Air	432%	+9%	1.6	7.1
13305	8618	Intercont Hotels	11936%	-233%	1.2	33.2
301%	223%	Mitchells&But ●	285	+3	—	9.6
36	17	Mobico Group	23	-%	—	-1.0
447	210	Playtech ●	412%	+20%	—	1.0
144%	86	Rank Group ●	109	-2%	3.2	17.0
845%	530%	Wetherspoon ●	845%	+6%	1.4	14.1

Cautious Managed A Acc	5.00	357.8	...
Cautious Managed A Inc	5.00	153.5	...
China Opps A Acc	5.00	1295	...
Emerg Mkts Opps A Acc	5.00	299.5	...
European Sel Opps A Acc	5.00	3241	...
Fixed Int Mthly Inc A Inc	4.25	17.06	...
Global Care Growth A Inc	4.50	711.4	...
Global Equity Inc A Inc	5.25	88.08	...
Global Select Acc	4.25	6537	...
Global Strategic Cap Acc	5.00	436.4	...
Global Technology A Acc	5.00	6861	...
Inst UK IDX Opp Tr	-	181.6626	...
Janus Asian Dividend In Ut	5.00	100	...
Janus Emer Mkts Asia A Acc	5.00	1835	...
Janus Multi-Mgr Inc&Growth A	5.25	160.8	...
Multi-Mgr Abs Ret A Acc	5.00	189.3	...
Multi-Mgr Active A Acc	5.00	334.9	-0.1
Multi-Mgr Distbn A Inc	5.25	136.4	...
Multi-Mgr Divrsfd A Acc	-	105.8	...

World market indices

52 week
High	Low (p)	Stock	Price (p) +/-		Yld P/E
3302	2098	Whitbread	2463	+39 3.9	20.0
AIM +0.61%

89%	36%	Afentra	77%	-1%	—	-75.2
1130	765	Aruthnot	820	+20	6.7	7.5
244	125%	Central Asia Met	157%	+1%	7.6	-5.1
872%	98	Ceres Power ●	407%	+3%	—	-16.6
460	271	Churchill China	395	-5	5.3	9.9
380	194	CML Micro	315	—	3.5	-954.5
1538	881%	Cohort	1220*	-14	1.5	23.4
172	101	Eleco	127%	—	0.9	79.7
10%	3⁄4	Futura Medical	3⁄8	...	—	-0.1
161%	112	James Halstead	139%	+1	6.4	14.4
405	200	Mpac Group	330	—	—	-10.4
1800	1120	MS Intl	1690*	+100	1.5	25.1
67	34%	Premier Miton	39%	—	7.6	50.3
74	46	Tribal Gp	63%	+1%	2.1	15.1
1%	3⁄4	Xtract Resources	1%	—	—	-5.4

Exchange rates
The Alternative Investment Market is for young and growing companies. Shares may carry higher risks than those with a full quotation, and may be difficult to sell.

Americans +0.31%

84%	29%	Alcoa $	50%	-1%	0.8	9.8
387%	291	Amer Express $	339%	+3%	1.1	4.1
65%	46%	BankAmerica $	62%	+3%	2.1	3.4
254%	176%	Boeing $	209	-5%	—	—
1073%	410%	Caterpillar $	810%	+17%	0.8	3.6
214%	146%	Chevron $	202%	-2%	3.5	1.5
113%	84%	Coca-Cola Euro $	109%	+1%	2.2	0.8
99%	74%	Colgate Palm $	91%	+3%	2.3	1.2
168%	136	ExxonMobil Hldgs $	162%	-2%	2.5	1.9
388%	266%	Gen Electric $	342%	-6%	0.5	4.5
426%	289%	Home Depot $	336%	+1%	2.8	1.5
268	180	Honeywell $	214%	-1%	1.3	5.0
32%	17%	HP $	28%	-1	4.2	2.3
332%	199%	IBM $	233%	-2%	2.9	1.7
142%	23%	Intel $	87%	-2%	—	—
50%	29%	Intl Paper $	41%	-3%	4.5	2.9
366%	279%	JP Morgan Chi $	356%	+5%	1.7	3.9
276%	173%	Johnson&John $	273%	+3%	2.0	1.6
35%	24%	Keurig Dr Pep $	32%	+1⁄2	2.8	1.7
62%	25%	Manpower $	61%	-1⁄2	2.3	1.5
341%	261	McDonalds $	272%	+2	2.7	1.7
154%	77%	Merck $	150%	+1%	2.3	0.4
553%	349%	Microsoft $	489%	+5%	0.7	4.9
28%	23%	Pfizer $	28	-1⁄2	6.1	0.4
167%	137%	Procter & Gamble $	145%	+1%	3.0	1.6
226%	150%	Raytheon Tech $	208%	+1%	1.4	2.0
497%	332%	Rockwell $	429%	-7%	1.3	1.9
505%	348	Trane Tech $	447%	-5%	0.9	3.1
135%	95%	Wal Mart Strs $	105%	+1%	0.9	2.9
119%	92%	Walt Disney $	109%	+2%	1.4	3.2

		Price	Change
Gold	per troy oz	$4648.60	+38.18	+0.83pc
Silver	per troy oz	£50.47	-0.06	-0.12pc
Krugerrand		£3362.24	+30.32	+0.91pc
New Sovereign		£797.21	+7.80	+0.99pc
Maples		£3390.26	+30.33	+0.90pc
Platinum	per oz	£1376.97	unch	unch
Palladium	per oz	£993.59	+6.25	+0.63pc
Copper†	grade A	£10447.38	+50.10	+0.48pc
Tin†	high grade	£40755.41	-342.59	-0.83pc
Lead†		£1401.17	+7.78	+0.56pc
Zinc†	special high grade	£2806.75	+4.94	+0.18pc
Aluminium†	high grade	£2356.07	-20.61	-0.87pc
Nickel†		£12478.91	-14.67	-0.12pc
Baltic Dry Index*		2882.00	+41.00	+1.44pc
Wheat	per tonne	£206.50	+1.50	+0.73pc
Brent Crude	Oct settlement	$92.17	-2.22	-2.35pc

		Tourist £1 =	Sterling £1 =	1 Euro =	1 Dollar =
Australia	Aus $	1.85	1.9058	1.6306	1.3977
Canada	Can $	1.824	1.8869	1.6144	1.3839
Denmark	Krone	8.295	8.7372	7.4757	6.4082
Euro	€	1.14	1.1687	...	0.8572
Hong Kong	HK $	10.129	10.6849	9.1423	7.8366
India	Rupee	97.41	130.5452	111.6976	95.7463
Israel	Shekels	3.823	4.0922	3.5013	3.0013
Japan	Yen	209.645	217.0545	185.7169	159.1950
Kuwait	Dinar	...	0.4206	0.3599	0.3085
New Zealand	NZ $	2.196	2.2883	1.9579	1.6783
Norway	Krone	12.149	12.6901	10.8580	9.3074
Pakistan	Rupee	340.39	378.3233	323.7024	277.4750
Saudi Arabia	Riyal	4.858	5.1193	4.3802	3.7547
Singapore	$	1.641	1.7323	1.4823	1.2706
South Africa	Rand	20.851	21.8459	18.6918	16.0225
Sweden	Krona	12.307	12.9508	11.0810	9.4985
Switzerland	Franc	1.053	1.0943	0.9363	0.8026
Thailand	Baht	42.756	44.5712	38.1362	32.6900
UAE	Dirham	4.827	5.0078	4.2848	3.6729
UK	£	...	...	0.8557	0.7334
USA	$	1.331	1.3635	1.1666	...

Bold FTSE100 Stocks		FTSE250 Stocks
* Ex-dividend	† Ex-scrip	‡ Ex-all
§ Ex-rights	# Suspended
Cover relates to the previous year's dividend.
Yields are net of basic rate tax.
Data is provided for information purposes only and is not intended for trading purposes. Speak with a financial advisor before using any data to make transactions.

52 week		Stock	Price	+/- GrsYd Cvr
High	Low
41⁄4	11⁄4	Xerox Hldgs $	2%	...	3.5	74.0
Europeans +0.14%

Recent issues
	52 week
	High	Low (p)	Stock	Price (p)	+/-	Yld
190		140	Bravura Solutions	$167\frac{1}{2}$ *	-8 $\frac{1}{2}$	7.9
300		125	Coastal Africa Group	200	—	—
5 $\frac{1}{4}$		3 $\frac{1}{2}$	Mendell Helium	5	- $\frac{1}{2}$	—

67%	46%	AkzoNobel €	60%	+1⁄2	3.3	2.3
97%	56%	BMW €	58%	-1⁄2	7.5	2.7
171⁄2	12	Carrefour €	16	+1⁄4	7.3	1.6
771⁄2	531⁄2	Continental AG €	691⁄2	+1⁄2	3.9	0.3
62%	42%	Daimler €	45	-1⁄4	7.8	2.9
80%	60%	Danone €	661⁄2	-1⁄4	3.4	1.2
58%	37	Deutsche Post €	561⁄2	+1⁄2	3.4	1.6
34%	231⁄2	Deutsche Tele €	291⁄2	+1⁄4	3.4	2.0
80%	63%	Heineken €	731⁄2	+11⁄4	2.6	2.4
654%	440	LVMH €	4591⁄2	+61⁄2	2.8	1.7
82%	60%	LafargeHolcim SFr	701⁄2	+1⁄4	2.4	1.9
10%	6%	Lufthansa €	71⁄4	+1⁄4	4.2	9.0
15	3%	Nokia OYJ €	81⁄4	-1⁄4	1.6	0.9
35%	25%	Michelin €	351⁄4	+1⁄2	3.9	1.7
107%	58%	Pernod Ricard €	69	+1⁄4	6.8	1.4
27%	20%	Philips (Kon) €	23%	—	3.6	0.6
291%	198	Siemens €	2801⁄2	+1⁄4	1.9	2.0
84%	50%	Societe Gen €	751⁄2	-1⁄2	2.3	3.9
10%	4%	Stellantis €	41⁄4	-1⁄4	15.3	1.1
279%	212%	Thales €	251	-21⁄4	1.6	2.1
81%	49%	Total €	76	-11⁄4	4.6	2.0
44%	28%	UBS AG SFr	431⁄4	+1⁄4	2.0	2.3
37%	27%	Veolia Environ €	34	...	4.4	0.3
110%	71	Volkswagen €	75	-11⁄4	6.9	2.6

*Copyright Baltic Exchange Information Services Ltd. †Data provided by the London Metal Exchange.

RPI (1987=100)	Jul 419.10	+0.6pc	+3.2pc
RPIX (Target 2.5pc)	Jul 412.20	+2.5	+3.1pc
CPI (2015=100 target 2pc)	Jul 142.90	+0.3pc	+2.9pc
Lloyds house price index	Jul 516.00	0.0pc	+0.1pc
Bank Rate			3.75pc
Nationwide Base Mortgage Rate			5.75pc
US Fed Funds			3.5-3.75pc
US Long Bonds Yld			5.21pc
European base rate			2.40pc

Name	Init chge	Sell	Mid Buy	Change on day
Multi-Mgr Inc.&Gwth A Acc	5.00		231.7	...
Multi-Mgr Mangd A Acc	5.00		403.6	...
Multi-Mgr Mangd A Inc	5.00		372.2	-0.1
Sterling Bond Acc	4.25		229.3	...
Sterling Bond Inc	4.25		55.38	...
Strategic Bond A Inc	4.00		95.47	...
UK Absolute Return A Acc	5.00		206.7	...
UK Alpha A Acc	5.25		199.9	...
UK Smaller Cos A ACC	5.00		936.1	...
UK Equity Income A Inc	5.00		707.3	...
UK Index Opps Tst A Acc	–		179.3592	...
US Growth A Acc	5.00		2969	...
Available as an USA

J.P.Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management 60 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y OJP Clients:0800 204020.Brokerline 0800 727770

Name

Init chge

Sell

Mid Buy

Change on day

JUPITER

JPM Ems C Net Dis	-	273.9000	-2.2000
JPM Japan C Net Acc	-	476.8000	+0.2000
JPM Natural Res C Net ACC	-	1830.0000	+34.0000
JPM UK Equity Care E Acc	-	712.0000	+4.7000
JPM UK Equity Care E Inc	-	93.3500	+0.6100
JPM US Eq Inc C Net	-	597.3000	+3.9000
JPM US Eq Inc C Net Dis	-	585.0000	+3.8000
JPM US Select C Net Acc	-	1244.0000	+5.0000
JPM US Sm Cos Gwth C Net Ac	-	1263	+6

Jupiter Unit Trust Managers Ltd
The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ
020 3817 1000

Jupiter Asian Inc L Acc	-	353.1	-0.8550
Jupiter Asian Inc L Inc	-	237.97	-0.8551
Jupiter China L Acc	-	115.7	-2.2151
Jupiter China L Inc	-	105.92	-2.2150
Jupiter Corp Bond L Inc	-	51.05	+0.0837
Jupiter Eco L Inc	-	694.22	+0.0224
Jupiter European L Inc	-	3980.09	+0.4072
Jupiter Euro Inc L Acc	-	85.01629	...
Jupiter Euro Inc L Inc	-	49.78698	...
Jupiter Euro Special Sits L Acc	-	598.08	+0.4030
Jupiter Fin Opp L Inc	-	1340.61	+0.7550
Jupiter Fund Of Inv Tsits L Inc	-	407.94	+0.0840
Jupiter Global Emg Mkts L Acc	-	105.05	-1.5247
Jupiter Global Finl Innov L Acc	-	227.06	+0.0885
Jupiter Income Trust L Inc	-	701.68	-0.3849
Jupiter India L Acc	-	211.71	+0.2173
Jupiter Japan Inc L Acc	-	218.62	+0.0848
Jupiter Japan Inc L Inc	-	140.92	+0.0848
Jupiter Merlin Bal Prtfo L Acc	-	346.22	+0.8068
Jupiter Merlin Bal Prtfo L Inc	-	198.35	+0.8079
Jupiter Merlin Grth Prtfo L Acc	-	830.38	+0.4339
Jupiter Merlin Grth Prtfo L Inc	-	802.26	+0.4339
Jupiter Merlin Inc Prtfo L Acc	-	469.33	+0.2315
Jupiter Merlin Inc Prtfo L Inc	-	165.25	+0.2315
Jupiter Merlin WW Prtfo L Inc	-	605.98	+0.4326
Jupiter Merlin WW Prtfo L Acc	-	606.71	+0.4326
Jupiter Monthly Alt Inc L Acc	-	139.47	-0.1180
Jupiter Monthly Alt Inc L Inc	-	23.11	-0.1180

Name	Init chge	Sell	Mid Buy	Change on day
Jupiter Merlin Select L Acc	-	126.22		+0.1762
Jupiter Merlin Select L Dis	-	55.77		+0.1762
Jupiter Responsible Inc L Acc	-	170.63		+0.7117
Jupiter Responsible Inc L Inc	-	78.4		+0.7117
Jupiter Global Strat Bond L Acc	-	110.43		+0.1610
Jupiter Global Strat Bond L Inc	-	53.02		+0.1610
Jupiter UK Growth L Inc	-	284.84		+1.1696
Jupiter UK Dynamic Eq L DIS	-	293.72		+0.7132
Jupiter Unitstd Van F	3.50	426.93		+0.2673
Jupiter US Sml Cos Inst I Acc	-	80.99		...
Jupiter US Sml Cos Ret Acc	-	74.46		...

Marks & Spencer Unit Trust Management Ltd
Kings Meadow, Chester, CH99 9UT0870 333 1835
High Income Inc	-	* 87.04	87.04	...
High Income Acc	-	* 297	297	...
UK Select Port Inc	-	481.2	481.2	...
UK Selection Port	-	1100.9	1100.9	...
UK 100 Co's Fund Inc	-	324.1	324.1	...
UK 100 Co's Fund Acc	-	720.4	720.4	...
W' wide Man Inc	-		* 739.8	...
W' wide Man Acc	-		* 1329	...

PO Box 9039, Chelmsford, CM99 2XG Enq: 0800 390 390. UT Deal: 0800 328 3196

Charity Multi Asset Acc	-	*15241.93	+24.46
Charity Multi Asset Dis	-	*108.86	+0.18

Initial charge:

Name	Init chge	Sell	Mid Buy	Change on day
Eqty Inv Chrties GBP Acc	-	*46695.12		+132.81
Eqty Inv Chrties GBP Dis	-	*1912.09		+5.44
CAR - Net Income reinvested.

Global Bond Fund Inc	-	86.47	...
Mangd Eqty Grwth Fnd Acc	-	189.81	...
Mangd Grwth Fund Inc	-	158.71	...
Mangd Grwth Fund Acc	-	173.07	...
UK Eqty Fund Acc	-	180.37	...
UK Eqty Fund Inc	-	141.81	...

Generation Fd	5.00	*1119.99	...
FENIX Balanced Fund Dis	5.00	*222.65	...

How to avoid triggering a pension tax charge

The annual allowance is more complicated than you might imagine, warns Esther Shaw

PUTTING money into a pension is one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for retirement. But get your calculations wrong and you could find yourself faced with an unexpected bill.

The annual allowance – the total amount you can save into your pension each tax year, from all sources – is more complicated than you might imagine. For 2026-27, the maximum allowance for most people is £60,000, or 100pc of your salary, whichever is lower. Exceed this threshold and you could face a tax charge.

HMRC collected £164m in “pension annual allowance charges” during 2024-25, according to the most recent government figures, suggesting a lot of people are falling foul of this rule.

Pension experts and advisers reveal all the ways you could accidentally trigger a pensions tax charge, and the steps to take to prevent it.

You've received a bonus Receiving a bonus or commission payment can result in a larger pension contribution than you expected – particularly if you are paying a percentage of salary into a workplace pension, or using salary sacrifice.

If you'd already planned to use your entire annual allowance, this could tip you over the top of the threshold.

Becky O'Connor, the public affairs director at PensionBee, says: "The bonus itself does not count towards the annual allowance, but a pension contribution made from it does. This can mean someone breaches their available annual allowance."

Anyone expecting a large bonus should check their year-to-date pension contributions, including employer contributions, before the payment is made.

It's also worth checking whether you have any unused allowances from the previous three tax years.

The key point is to check your position on all of this before the contribution is made, because trying to change pension contributions retrospectively can be more difficult.

You have a final salary pension Defined benefit (DB) schemes can catch people out, because unlike a defined contribution pension, the “input” amount is not simply the amount of cash paid into the scheme.

Instead, it is based on the increase in the value of the pension benefits being built up during the tax year.

Adam Vanstone, a chartered financial planner at Chester Rose, says: "Here, what counts is the growth in the promise. Broadly, this involves multiplying the increase in your accrued pension over the year by 16. Every extra £1,000 a year of pension creates £16,000 of input; a pay rise you viewed as 'modest' could easily generate £50,000 of input."

O'Connor adds: “Members of final salary or career-average schemes can find their pension input amount is significantly higher than expected.”

If you're a member of a DB scheme, you should check your pension "input" amount each year, rather than assuming your pension contributions are comfortably within the annual allowance.

The key is to identify a potential problem early.

You've misinterpreted the carry forward rules Carry forward rules mean you can "mop up" unused annual allowance from the previous three tax years to cover pensions savings above the current year allowance. The current year allowance is used first, followed by any unused allowance from the earliest available year.

While the principle sounds simple, experts warn there are several ways people can get the rules wrong.

Vanstone says: “It is the most reached-for remedy, and the most frequently misapplied.”

For example, someone may assume they have £60,000 available from each of the previous three years when their allowance was actually reduced by the tapered annual allowance.

Vanstone explains: "You cannot carry

Check the allowance that actually applied in each of the previous three tax years, including whether tapering or the MPAA affected it. Also make sure you were a pension scheme member in those years.

forward £60,000 from a year in which your allowance was tapered; you can only the unused tapered amount."

Some savers also forget that they must have been a member of a registered pension scheme during the relevant earlier year.

You might also be caught out if you've triggered the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPPA).

You have a tapered annual allowance One of the most common ways in which people are caught out, according to pension experts, is by the tapered annual allowance.

David Little, of wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, said: "The taper remains a particular trap because the

Number of annual allowance charges

Little said: “Where threshold income exceeds £200,000, and adjusted income exceeds £260,000, the allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of additional adjusted income, potentially falling to just £10,000.”

headline £60,000 allowance can give high earners a false sense of security."

Adjusted income includes employer pension funding, so somebody may be caught even where their personal contributions appear modest.

Value of contributions more than annual allowance

Yet tapering depends on two separate income tests, both of which must be met for tapering to apply: threshold income must be above £200,000, and adjusted income must be above £260,000.

Anyone approaching the £200,000 threshold income – or £260,000 adjusted income levels – should calculate both figures, rather than looking at salary alone.

This is particularly important for senior employees with substantial employer pension contributions, and also for members of DB schemes, where pension accrual can materially affect adjusted income.

You have several pension schemes Another “trap” to avoid is failing to understand that the annual allowance applies to the person, not to each pension arrangement.

Get into the habit of totalling up contributions into all of your pensions annually to pre-empt exceeding your allowance.

What happens if you exceed the allowance?

If you do end up exceeding your annual pension allowance, you must report the excess on your self-assessment tax return. This applies even if your pension scheme pays some or all of the tax charge on your behalf, under what is known as “Scheme Pays”.

BUSINESS BULLETIN

Rhine water levels rise easing shipping woes

The Rhine river in Germany has risen sharply after recent rain, the country's inland navigation agency said yesterday, but problems with shallow water still persist.

German firms reported disruptions after Rhine water levels hit record lows earlier this month after a heatwave in Europe, with industry suffering higher transport costs, logistics bottlenecks and curbed production.

“Vessels are still only able to sail partly loaded on the river, but are able to take on more freight,” one commodity trader said.

EasyJet targets over-50s in recruitment drive

EasyJet has launched a new recruitment drive, aiming to hire more older workers as cabin crew.

Since introducing an initiative to recruit older workers in 2022, the number of cabin crew over the age of 50 has more than doubled, with over-60s almost quadrupling in number, the company said.

Michael Brown, director of cabin services, said: “We want more over-50s to apply as they not only bring their existing skills, but also a wealth of life experience that is appreciated by our customers.”

Costa provides strongest coffee hit, research finds

Caffeine levels in drinks varying “wildly” between popular high street coffee chains, a study shows.

Analysis by Which? found that a medium cappuccino from Costa Coffee contains 325mg – almost three-and-a-half times as much as the same drink at Starbucks, at 89mg.

The caffeine content in Costa's cappuccino is the equivalent of about four cans of Red Bull, Which? said.

The second and third-highest cappuccino caffeine levels were found at Greggs and Caffe Nero, at 235mg and 221mg respectively.

Royal Mint releases 10p coins featuring the King

More than seven million 10p coins bearing the King's portrait are entering circulation.

It is the first time that 10p coins featuring the King have been released and follows increased demand for the 10p denomination, the Royal Mint said

Some 600,000 2023 dated and 6.5 million 2026 dated 10p coins will start appearing from today.

They are the fourth denomination bearing the King's portrait to enter circulation, following on from the 5p, 50p and £1 coins which have been available since 2022.

READER SOLUTIONS BY TELEGRAPH MEDIA GROUP

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Court Circular

BALMORAL CASTLE August 24th The King, Royal Founding Patron, the British Asian Trust, this morning received the Lord Gadhia (Chairman) and Mr Hitan Mehta (Chief Executive).

Today's birthdays

Sir Colin Lucas, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford, 1997-2004, is 86; Mr Howard Jacobson, novelist and critic; winner of the 2010 Man Booker Prize, 84; Sir Andrew Longmore, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, 82; Mr David Briggs, Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, 2010-21, 80; Sir Michael Birt, KC, Bailiff of Jersey, 2009-15, 78; Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing, 2001-06, 78; Ms Ann Abraham, The Ombudsman, 2002-12, 74; Sir Lloyd Dorfman, Chairman, The Prince's Trust, 2015-19, 74; Mr Elvis Costello (Declan MacManus), singer, guitarist and songwriter, 72; Mr Simon McBurney, actor, writer and director, 69; Sir Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Sadler's Wells, 69; Mr Tim Burton, film director and producer, 68; Mr Tom Hollander, actor, 59; Ms Catriona Matthew, golfer; British Open champion, 2009, 57; Mr Joe Wright, film director, 54; and Mr Kimi Antonelli, racing driver, 20.

Today is the anniversary of the first cross-Channel swim without the use of artificial aids, by Capt Matthew Webb in 1875, in 21 hours and 45 minutes. It is also the anniversary of the liberation of Paris in 1944 and of the births of Leonard Bernstein in 1918 and Sean Connery in 1930, and of the deaths of James Watt in 1819, Michael Faraday in 1867 and Neil Armstrong in 2012.

New life peers

BARONESS MACKENZIE OF SHERWOOD Baroness Mackenzie of Sherwood, of Sherwood in the City of Nottingham, is the gazetted name, style and title conferred upon Ruth Mackenzie.

BARON SARWAR

BARON SARWAR Baron Sarwar, of Maxwell Park in the City of Glasgow, is the gazetted name, style and title conferred upon Anas Sarwar.

Clergy news

Appointments

Applications Revv Jo Ognjanovic, ac, Guilsborough and Hollowell and Cold Ashby and Cottesbrooke with Great Creaton and Thornby and Ravensthorpe and Spratton (Peterborough), to be r, Bugbrooke with Harpole with Kislingbury and Rothersthorpe (same dio); Can Mark Carey, v, Bridlington Christ Church with Bessingby and Ulrome (York), to be dir of mission and ministry (same dio).

Bridge news

The round-robin phase of the Seniors Teams and Mixed Teams at the World Bridge Series in Katowice, Poland, has concluded, writes Julian Pottage, Bridge Correspondent.

Of the two teams containing British players in the Seniors Teams, Mossop (Paul Hackett, Gunnar Hallberg, John Holland, David Mossop, Alan Mould and Brian Senior) qualified for the quarter-finals in eight place, while Wolfson (a team including Peter Crouch and Tony Forrester) finished a tantalising ninth. In the quarter-finals Mossop lost to the all-American team, Simson.

In the Mixed Teams, five teams containing one or more British players qualified for the knock-out phase – Bhargava, Gillis, Leibowitz, Rosenthal and Llama. Bhargava (a team including Charlotte Bedford) and Rosenthal (a team including Sally Brock) then won their round-of-32 matches before both going out in the round of 16.

In the Mixed Pairs, seven pairs featuring UK players have qualified for the A final, including four all English-pairs, Daniel McIntosh with Claire Robinson, Kay Preddy with Norman Selway, Nick Sandqvist with Natalie Shou and Tracy Sherman with David Sherman.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

The Daily Telegraph.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25, 1926

GIRL MOTOR BANDIT

RAID ON A SURREY HOUSE

NIGHT PATROL IN HERTS VILLAGE

A series of burglaries is occupying the attention of the police in the Home Counties.

At Claygate, Surrey, a daring daylight raid was made on a private house by a man and girl in a motor-car. The girl is described as young and good-looking, with dark, close-cropped hair, and she and her companion forced an entry with a jemmy and got away with a small amount of booty. At Redbourn, a small village near St Albans, an epidemic of burglaries has led the residents, including the vicar, to form themselves into a night patrol of the place.

THE CROPPED CHAUFFEUSE

A four-seater open touring car, dark in colour, and containing a man and a woman, drove up to a house in Raleigh Drive, Claygate, Surrey, on Monday afternoon. The woman was driving, and she is described as about 20, good-looking, of fresh complexion, with closely-cropped dark hair, and wearing dark clothes. The house was empty at the time, but the entry of the couple into the garden excited no particular attention from the neighbours, who took them to be visitors. Later they returned to the car, and drove away. Presently the householders returned to discover that the front door had been forced by means of a jemmy. Clothing, plate, and some jewels were found to have been taken.

VICAR AS SPECIAL CONSTABLE

Hertfordshire police are baffled by a series of burglaries that have occurred in the village of Redbourn, near St Albans, with remarkable regularity for the past three months, during which time it has been, exceptional for a week to go by without a case of burglary having been reported. Generally speaking, these burglaries have taken place on Saturday or Sunday nights. At first public houses were singled out for attention, and in one case the contents of a bar were cleared out during the night, while the licensee and his family were asleep on the first floor. But recently private houses have been entered.

It is believed that a gang is at work, as one night, when a thunderstorm was at its height, a council house tenant heard the sound of a glass cutter on the panels of his front door, and on opening his bedroom window he saw three or four men rush from the porch, mount bicycles, and ride away. A garage proprietor found some men trying to force the door of his garage recently about midnight, and on his approach the men fled on cycles. Local special constables are now patrolling the village at night, as it is felt that the two police constables stationed in the village are not sufficient to ensure security. The vicar, the Rev WH Birkhead Berry, who is a special constable, on Sunday night, after preaching at the parish church, spent the remainder of the night touring the village on foot accompanied by the local doctor. “These burglaries are a public nuisance,” the vicar said yesterday, “and I think it is the duty of every man to do his utmost to stop them”.

The last burglary to be reported is the most impudent. Mr Lloyd Dunn, a son of Mr GA Dunn, hat manufacturer, locked up his house before going on holiday, and when the charwoman entered to do the cleaning she found that the place had been entered and that £3 or £4 had been stolen. After the police had completed their investigations they securely locked up the house, but within a few hours the burglars had returned, and the next day the seven rooms of the house were found in a state of chaos.

GOLFER'S HOUSE BURGLED

Mr HA Mann, of Shelley House, Reigate Road, Leatherhead, a well-known golfer and rifle shot, has had his residence burgled. An entrance was made by forcing a kitchen window. Among the things taken were:

GROCERY STORES RAID

A St George silver vase, known as the Dragon Cup, a silver cup, Leatherhead Golf Club captain's prize, eight silver bowls, silver champagne cup, a dozen silver teaspoons, five Masonic jewels engraved and eight plain, and a St George's cross in gold.

Thieves who broke into Messrs Ivens, Kellett, and Child's Corn and Grocery Stores and offices at Gosport, Hants, smashed open a small safe, and took 30s, forced two desks, and got £2 worth of stamps, which would be useless to them, being impressed with the firm's mark. They did not touch a larger safe, which contained £150, and was perhaps beyond their forcing capacity. An employee's overall was found very wet, it having been apparently used to expunge finger prints and similar tell-tale marks. Yet on the back of the small safe was left a very clear chalk impression of a hand.

VALENTINO LIES IN STATE

NEW YORK, TUESDAY

Rudolph Valentino's body lay in state today in the "gold room" of the undertaker's chapel, and Broadway traffic was blocked, and police reserves had to be called to check the thousands of his admirers, mostly women, who crowded about to pay a last tribute to the perfect lover of the "movies." For two days the public will be permitted to file past the bier. Funeral services are planned for Monday in St Malachi's Catholic Church, known locally as the actors' church. Eighteen pall-bearers will be chosen from men prominent in the theatrical and cinema worlds.

It is uncertain yet where Valentino will be buried. Those in charge of the funeral arrangements have not yet heard from members of his family in Italy. It is their hope, however, that he will be permitted to rest in Hollywood, California, near the heart of the American cinema world, where he first climbed to fame. It is stated here that Valentino died a comparatively poor man. His tremendous income, said to be £40,000 per picture, he spent, according to his intimates, almost as fast as he received it.

CHANNEL SWIMMERS

The four Channel swimmers – Miss Cannon (American), Otto Kemmerich and Wierkotter (German), and Le Briant (French) – who left the French coast on Monday evening abandoned their attempts. Kemmerich, says the Central News, was attacked by a large fish, which, he stated, struck him a violent blow. A small boat was lowered from the tug which was accompanying him, and he was pulled aboard gasping for breath and complaining of great pain. He had travelled 12 miles in four hours. Miss Cannon gave up after swimming for six hours and a half, complaining of pains in the right side. Wierkotter, a Reuter message states, was 10 miles from Dover when he was ordered on board the tug on account of a thick fog which was coming up and a threatening storm.

Miss Jane Darwin, an English girl, set out from Dover early yesterday morning on her first attempt to swim the Channel. The water, however, was so rough that it was decided to postpone the swim, and she returned.

CAR OVER CLIFF

Four persons had an extraordinary escape from death when the motor-car, in which they were riding, fell over a cliff at Torquay.

Mr Frederick Roberts and Mr Herbert Bond, of Southampton, who were spending their holidays at a village near Torquay, were motoring on Monday with two young women along the Marine Drive, a high part of the town, overlooking the sea. They had reached a part of the road, where there had been a landslip some time ago. The road at this place runs right along the edge of the cliff, and a large quantity of boulders and debris had been dumped there to act as a foundation for the new part of the road. From here there is a fall on to the rocks below of 200ft. The car apparently skidded and went over the edge. As it crashed over the cliff, it turned over on a small ledge a few feet below. The four occupants were flung out on the ledge, while the car rolled down the face of the cliff, and crashed on to the rocks below, being smashed to pieces. Had the men and girls not been caught on the ledge, they would have met a terrible death on the rocks after a fall of 200ft.

One girl scrambled back on the road way, and was met by some people in another car, who had been horror-stricken witnesses of the accident, and had run to the edge of the cliff. They drove to Kingskerswell and fetched a doctor and an ambulance, and the victims of the accident were attended to. The driver, Mr. Bond, is still in a serious condition, but the others are progressing well.

BATHING TRAGEDIES

Spittal, Berwick, was the scene of another bathing fatality. Two girls, Miss Peggy Thomson, of Wigan, and Miss Bruce, of Edinburgh, got into difficulties. Two men visitors who were bathing noticed their plight, and went to their rescue, but were soon in trouble themselves. The girls reached shore safely, but fishermen had to go to the rescue of the men. One was brought ashore safely, but a fishing net had to be used in the case of the other. The former is dangerously ill, but the latter was dead. The drowned man is Alex Dawson, of Peebles. The other man is his brother Philip, of Newcastle.

Bridge Hand

Hickman on the ball

Chess

♠ 10 6 5♥ J 10 9 6 4♦ A 2♣ J 7 6

N W E S

♠ K 7 4♥ K 8♦ 10 7 6 5 4 3♣ K 2

Email: announcements.ads@telegraph.co.uk Book online: announcements.telegraph.co.uk

West	North	East	South
	pass	pass	2♣(1)
pass	2♦(2)	pass	2NT(3)
pass	3NT	pass	pass
pass

West chose to win and clear hearts, East discarding a diamond. South turned to clubs. She cashed the ♣A and continued with the ♣Q, hoping to pin West's doubleton ♣J. This was sound play in theory, but happened to be the wrong guess. Bedford lost four more tricks for down two.

Bedford, recently crowned European women's champion, was South at Table One. The ♥J was led to East's ♥K. Charlotte ducked, won the heart return, and put the ♦K on the table. It could easily have been right for West to duck, cutting dummy off when declarer was doubleton, but South might equally well have had three. Then to duck costs a diamond winner.

FROM the Oxfordshire Swiss Teams at Abingdon School. The winners were Steve Raine and Adam Hickman, Andy Cope and Charlotte Bedford. The defenders had to be alert to defeat 3NT.

As the cards lie, with the safe hand (East) holding doubleton ♣K, a low club on the second round is successful.

“Don’t duck if you don’t understand why,” a wise man once said (can’t think who).

(1) Strong hand (2) Waiting (3) Treated as 22-23 balanced

The defenders left nothing to chance next door. Raine (West) led the ♥J to 3NT, to the ♥K and declarer's ♥A. While South might have held off to cut defensive communications, it made no difference.

Bravo Banerjee

Table One 3NT off two, N/S -200 Table Two 3NT off one, N/S -100

The answer is yes. South plays the ♣A, East unblocking the ♣K. The ♣10 then knocks out West's ♣J. This creates a club entry to dummy. South wins the heart continuation, crosses to the ♣8, and finesse in spades. Four clubs, two hearts, two spades and one diamond make nine.

SUPRATIT Banerjee, 12, from Sutton has become England's youngest ever International Master. He secured his third and final IM norm at the British Championship earlier this month, hot on the heels of norms in round robin tournaments in Stockholm and Sheffield.

At the British, Banerjee was outplayed by Michael Adams in the final round, but that they were playing on board three says much about the youngster's talent. Banerjee finished on 6/9 and gained 36 rating points. The youngster completed the IM title requirements as his rating rose over 2400 during a further tournament for young talents in Stockholm earlier this month.

Contract 3NT Declarer South Opening Lead ♥J

What if South ducks the ♥K at trick one, wins the continuation, and holds trick three with the ♦K – can the contract be made at this point?

White's early move order precludes the possibility of setting up a Maroczy Bind. The other main line here is the conventional 7.Bc4.

West aced the ♦K and continued hearts. His choice of cards was significant: the ♥9 then the ♥4, the lowest cards possible – both attempting to flag clubs.

By Malcolm Pein

South won the third heart, and cashed the ♣A. This was East's time to shine. Hickman dropped the ♣K, promoting partner's ♣J – astute defence by the 2008 under-21 world silver medallist. South cashed the ♣Q, knocked out the ♣J, and lost two hearts for one down.

S Banerjee - H Yichen

British Championship 2026 1.e4 c5.2Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.d4 cdx4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6!? bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.f4 Nh6! (Heading for f5. White has seized space, but risks overextension) 10.qd2 d6 11.0-0-0 Bg4 (11...0-0 12.exd6 Nf5! looks fine for Black, who would obtain a strong initiative after 13.dxe7? Qxe7 14.Bf2 Be6) 12.Re1 dxe5? (12...Be6! improves a misplaced piece and should be fine for Black after 13.exd6 Qxd6)13.fxe5 Qxd2- 14.Bxd2 Be6 15.h3 (15.Ne4! or 15.Na4! then Nc5 was strong 15...Nf5 16.g4? (Impetuous, as 16.Na4 was still a pleasant edge) 16...Nd4?! (16...Ng3 17.Rg1 Nxf1 18.Rgxf1 h5! favours Black) 17.Bg2 0-0-0?! (7...Re3 was safer) 18.Bg5

a b c d e f g h

18...Rhe8?! (18...h5! was more purposeful, intending 19.Bxe7 Rd7 or 19.gxh5 Rxh5 20.Bxe7 Bh6+ 21.Rb1 Nxc2!) 19.Rhf1 h6 20.Bd2 h5! 21.Ne4!? hxg4 22.hxg4 Bxg4?! (22...Bxe5? 23.c3 Nb5 24.Ng5 was bad, but 22...Bd5 or 22...Bc4 about equal) 23.Rxf7 Bxe5 24.c3! Ne2+ 25.Kc2 Bc5? (Black's knight isn't happy and he also loses material after 25...Ng3? 26.Nf2!, so 25...Bc7 or 25...Rf8!? 26.Rxe7 Bc7 was necessary) How did White now win material and the game?

31.KxD2 gxD5 32.Bd7+ is lost) 30.Bb7+i KD8P (30...KB8 31.RxF8 + RXF8 32.Bc6 Kc8 33.Na6 wins) 31.Rd7+1-0 a b c d e f g h

26.Rb2i Ng3 (The minor pieces are too strong after 26..Bg3 27.Rb1x2 Bx2 28.Rx2 Bd6 29.NG5) 27.NG5 Bc7 28.BxC6 Rb5 29.AKx7 Rd8? (Even 29. NG5 30 Rb5r1 Rd7+

Births

BOWYER.—On 5th May 2026, to Verena (née Smith) and Robert, a son, Horatio Ewen Jack, a brother to Angus and Clementine. Online Ref: W0052022

BAKER.—Graham Philip Baker died peacefully at home in Montemonaco, Italy on 15th August 2026, formerly of Suffolk. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Annabel, and his family. Requiescat in pace. Online Ref: W0051976

Deaths

BRADBEER.—Jeremy, died suddenly at home on 15th August. Much loved husband of Serena, proud and beloved father to Charlie and Eliza, son of Lady Bradbeer and the late Sir Derek and brother to Amanda. Service of Thanksgiving on Thursday 24th September at 12 noon at St Wulfram's Church, Grantham, no black. Online Ref: W0052030

DAVISON.—Michael Worth passed away peacefully at home in Kingston upon Thames on 18th August aged 94. Reunited with his wife of 64 years, Mary. Much loved father of Niall and Isla. Enquiries: Tel: 07939 380086. No flowers. Donations, if desired, to the Friends of Richmond Park. Online Ref: W0051885

EMERSON.—Tim on 17th August 2026 aged 84, died in Derriford Hospital. Beloved husband of Susanna, much loved father of Charlotte and Tom, and grandfather. Funeral at St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum PL20 7NA on 11th September at 2 p.m. Online Ref: W0052007

HACKING.—Helen Mary, MA. Died peacefully on 31st July in Salisbury aged 96. Formerly of Newcastle upon Tyne and Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire. Beloved wife of the late Peter and dearly loved mother of Julie, Nigel and Jeremy. Grandmother to five and great-grandmother to six. Online Ref: W0051977

HOUSLEY.—Helen Russell

(née Ransom) died peacefully on 7th August 2026, aged 90. Beloved wife of Michael (d. 2024), mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Loyal and inspirational friend to many. A Service in her memory will be held at St Mary's, Chigwell on 4th September 2026 at 3 p.m. Family flowers only please, but donations, if desired, for The Children's Society. Online Ref: W0052029

General personal

KRUGER.—Diana Barrani. Died peacefully on 3rd August 2026, aged 84. Loving wife of David (deceased) and much loved mother of Kathy, Jonathan and Helen. Grandmother of James, Georgie, Alex, Lucy and Ben. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Funeral to be held at Holy Trinity Church, Penton Mewsey on Wednesday 2nd September at 2 p.m. All enquiries via S. & J. Maddocks Funeral Directors. Tel: 01264-355600. Online Ref: W0052031

LOFTS.—Clive, died peacefully on 10th August 2026. Son of Norah Lofts, husband of Rosemary, and father of Olly, Hugo and Sibylla. Online Ref: W0051886

MATTHEWS.—Ann Margaret (née Symington) died peacefully on 17th August, aged 98, at The Andover Nursing Home. Beloved mother of Fionna, Christian, Alexandra, Mark, Emma and Georgina. Grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of 12. Private family burial at St Peter's Church, Pimperne. Requiem Mass at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 15th September in Farleigh School Chapel, Hampshire SP11 7PW. Enquiries to S. & J. Maddocks, Funeral Directors. Tel: 01264-355600. www.sjmaddocks.co.uk Online Ref: W0052040

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RYMES.—John Owen. Peacefully on 7th August 2026. All funeral enquiries can be made c/o Stockman & Loram Funeral Service. Tel: 01803 552112. Online Ref: W0051981

TRISTRAM.—Crispin Peter died in Auckland aged 53 on 20th August after suffering with cancer. Husband of Georgia and devoted daddy of Isobel, Zoe and Eloise. Beloved son of Michael and Andrea, adored brother to Fleur and brother-in-law to Digby. Online Ref: W0051996

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AND GOD said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. Genesis 1.14-15 (AV)

SCOTT SMITH IS 60! Wishing you a very special birthday message. To a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. All our love from Sarah, Christopher, Mark, Peter, James and Ruth xxx Online Ref: W0051987

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Eddie Bell

Tough publisher who secured Margaret Thatcher's memoirs and made Jeffrey Archer a million-seller

Bell and, below, some of his titles: he was dubbed 'McBastard' by Private Eye but loved by authors

E DDIE BELL, who has died aged 77, started out as a sales rep and became one of the most powerful figures in British publishing, as chairman of HarperCollins UK; he restored the firm's fortunes after a lean period, but his reputation suffered a blow over a debacle involving the memoirs of Chris Patten.

A portly, pugnacious Scot devoted to Havana cigars, Bell represented a new and aggressive breed who, in the 1970s and 1980s, coerced the unworldly London publishing scene into adopting a more commercial mindset. Routinely referred to in Private Eye as Eddie “McBastard” Bell, he observed in later life: “I was a hard man in the early days. Awful. But a lot needed changing very quickly... I wasn’t loved, but I never set out to be loved.”

Although he had mellowed to an extent by the time he came to lead HarperCollins in the 1990s, he played up to his reputation for ferocity. Addressing his children's book sales team as they lagged behind their rivals at Puffin books, he produced a furry toy puffin and yanked off one of its legs, growling: "I look forward to removing the other when we overtake Puffin."

Even his enemies conceded, however, that he was less motivated by pursuing profit than by doing the best he could for his authors, whom he adored and who adored him back. They included Michael Dobbs, the writer of House of Cards, and Fay Weldon, who followed Bell to HarperCollins after he defected from Hodder & Stoughton in the 1980s.

He was credited with making Jeffrey Archer into one of Britain's bestselling authors, having masterminded a sales campaign at Hodder that led to Archer's 1979 novel Kane and Abel selling a million copies in its first week in paperback. One of Bell's tactics had been to decree that if he went into a bookshop and no Archer novel was visible, the local rep would be instantly sacked.

Bell could exert considerable charm, especially when it came to angling for distinguished authors. In the early 1990s he pulled off two personal triumphs against fierce competition: securing Mikhail Gorbachev's account of the August Coup after travelling to meet him in Moscow; and persuading the dethroned Margaret Thatcher that he was the man to publish her memoirs.

In the run-up to publication of Lady Thatcher's The Downing Street Years in 1993, Bell ramped up the publicity by hiring the celebrated police detective John Stalker as a security adviser, to prevent leaking of the contents.

There was an awkward moment at the launch party when Bell presented the author with a cake bearing a version of the book's cover in icing; Lady Thatcher, handed a knife, could not bring herself to slice into the image of her own head, so the cake went uncut. But she and Bell became firm friends and would often get together over a whisky.

Edward Bell was born on August 2 1949 and brought up in Airdrie, a former mining town east of Glasgow that he recalled as “tough as hell – you either had to be very good with your hands or very fast on your feet.”

His father, also called Eddie, was “a kind of Walter Mitty” who “worked for the council, laying kerbstones, and the way he coped with all that hard physical work was to dream.” He inherited his dynamism from his mother, Jean, a “really passionate Christian socialist” who became a Labour councillor and a justice of the peace.

His mother died when he was 16 and, with his father by then too frail to work, Eddie left Airdrie High School to work as a whisky buyer

for Inver House Distillers. In 1969 he married Junette Bannatyne, the colleague who typed up his reports.

He moved into sales; being tasked with touting feminine cocktails such as Pink Lady and Amber Sin around the working men's clubs of Scotland honed his skills of persuasion.

He went on to be a salesman for the publisher Hodder & Stoughton. He had not been much of a reader, and when an acquaintance first told him about the Hodder opening, he had replied: "Who the f--- is Hodder?" But the job turned him into a bibliophile.

After an inauspicious start, having to try to sell RF Delderfield's God Is an Englishman around Glasgow, he flourished. Twice named salesman of the year, he transferred to Hodder's London office in 1973 and became sales and marketing director.

Bell also founded Hodder's successful romance imprint, Silhouette Books. But he never felt comfortable with the ex-public schoolboys at the top of the Hodder hierarchy; as Archer's biographer Michael Crick noted, Bell “resented the fact that even after reaching high positions, they had still called him ‘the salesman from Glasgow’.”

He jumped ship to Collins in 1985. There he saved Agatha Christie from a posthumous slump, doubling the sales of her novels with an aggressive marketing campaign and redesign of the covers.

In 1987 Collins was recast as HarperCollins on its acquisition by Rupert Murdoch, who appointed Bell UK chief executive in 1991 and chairman the following year. Bell was tasked with returning the ailing firm to profit, and succeeded, partly through a programme of eye-watering staff cuts.

Nevertheless, Bell was generally well-liked by his employees. Many of his staff at HarperCollins had followed him from Hodder; they were known in the office as “the Bell Boys”.

He had no truck with pointless formality, and was said to have been the first employer in London to institute “dress-down Fridays”. His appearance in the office in an open-necked shirt made the newspaper business pages.

In 1990 Bell blew an almighty raspberry at Hodder by persuading Jeffrey Archer to cross the rubicon to HarperCollins with a \$30 million advance for his American rights. The bill for the lunch at which Bell wooed him became legendary even by publishing standards.

However, Michael Crick reported in 1995 that Archer's sales had recouped only a fifth of his advance and quoted one commentator's view that Bell was responsible for "without exaggeration the worst deal ever made in the history of American book publishing".

Bell laughed the disaster off, arguing that such gambles were necessary to stay afloat in publishing. But a more severe humiliation came in 1998. Chris Patten had been commissioned by HarperCollins to write a book about his years as governor of Hong Kong; but after Patten had delivered two thirds of the manuscript, Bell ordered the book to be dropped on the grounds that it was “boring” and badly written.

However, documents were leaked to The Daily Telegraph (Murdoch's Times having largely ignored the story) that suggested Bell and other HarperCollins executives had lied: the real reason for the cancellation was that the book was critical of the authorities in China, and Murdoch feared this might damage his Asian business interests.

Authors including Jung Chang, Simon Heffer and Simon Schama left HarperCollins in protest; several agents said that they would be reluctant to work with the firm again. Murdoch – unprecedentedly for him – made a public apology to Patten.

"One almost feels sorry for Eddie Bell of HarperCollins, the terrified office boy for the biggest gangster of them all," observed a Telegraph editorial. Murdoch was reported to have felt that his senior executives had "screwed things up" by not telling Patten the truth in the first place.

Bell left HarperCollins in 2000. Thereafter he was chairman of Haynes, the publisher of car and motorcycle maintenance manuals, and was co-founder of the literary agency Bell Lomax Moreton, his clients including Ronnie Wood. He also chaired the charity World Book Day.

Bell was an Arsenal supporter and an opera buff. His wife survives him with their son and two daughters.

Eddie Bell, born August 21949, died August 16 2026

Michael Dobbs writes: Eddie Bell heard I was thinking of writing a book and asked me to meet him in his club on London's Piccadilly. He spent the first glass studying me, asking me about myself and my family in his soft, beguiling Scottish burr. He seemed to make his mind up as he poured a second.

“I’d like to be your publisher,” he said, “and I’ve got a contract in my pocket.”

"I'm not sure I want to be a writer – and I haven't even finished writing it."

He took out the contract – they were much shorter in those days – and his pen. "Pretty standard terms." Then he filled out the figure for the advance payment.

"But I know nothing about publishing contracts," I blurted, taken by surprise. He looked me straight in the eye, very

MICHAEL DOBBS HOUSE OF CARDS

Margaret Thatcher THE DOWNING STREET

direct. "It's not the advice I'd give you if I were your publisher, but since I'm not - yet - I think you should get yourself a bloody good agent."

"I don't know any agents..."

He sighed, poured the third, then started writing on the back of the contract. “These are the names of three agents, the best in the business. Tell them I sent you.”

It was the start of an idea that became House of Cards. He changed my life, published my books and cared for me, became a supremely special friend. What isn't special about my story is that he did much the same with so many authors.

Eddie Bell was perhaps the greatest beast in the publishing jungle, who built his own dreams by releasing the dreams of his authors, and earning their loyalty and love.

Athletics coach who set Greg Rutherford on the road to glory and trained the Chariots of Fire actors

McNab: away from athletics, he helped lead England to the Rugby World Cup final in 1991

TOM MCNAB, who has died aged 92, was an athletics coach whose rich Scottish tones conveyed natural authority, and his talents took him beyond track and field; besides guiding the early career of the long jumper Greg Rutherford, one of Britain's golden boys and girls of the 2012 Olympics, he whipped the actors into shape for the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire and helped Chelsea FC win the FA Cup.

For Chariots of Fire (1981) he was on hand for the casting to ensure that the actors – Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers et al – would make convincing athletes. He then put them through a gruelling three-month training regime that not only made them fit for purpose but also generated a camaraderie that showed on screen.

There was one hiccup, however. McNab was wary of getting the actors into spikes for fear of injury, but could finally delay no longer and brought in a box of them. “The next thing, I hear this big scream,” he recalled. “Nigel Havers has run into the hurdle, tripped over his spikes and hit the ground.”

Ben Cross took Havers to hospital, where he was told his wrist was broken. "If you look at Nigel's wrist now, it's like something from a horror movie," said McNab in 2016. "It never got put together again. But he was a super guy, Nigel, wonderful to work with, and he learnt the hurdles quite well."

Tom McNab

Thomas McNab was born in Glasgow on December 16 1933 and was educated at Whitehill Secondary School in the city before training as a PE teacher at Jordanhill College; his interest in athletics was sparked by the exploits of William Wilson the Wonder Athlete in The Wizard comic. A talented triple jumper, he was the first Scottish junior champion, in 1952, as well as playing football for Glasgow.

He did his National Service in the RAF, reaching the rank of flying officer, then began teaching PE. Between 1954 and 1962 he won five national triple jump titles, breaking the Scottish record in 1958, and competed for Shettleston Harriers in Glasgow and, later, Victoria Park Athletics Club in London.

He was a natural fit as a coach – “Even when I was an athlete, I always wanted to find out how I could help other athletes” – and in 1963 he moved south as England’s national athletics coach, a post he would hold for 15 years.

In 1964 he helped his fellow triple jumper Fred Alsop claim fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics, and two years later he was instrumental in setting up the National

Junior Decathlon Programme, whose most famous alumnus would be Daley Thompson.

The same year he established the Five Star Award scheme, a system of school athletics badges that became one of the sport's most successful grassroots projects, getting generations of children involved. In 1969 he set up the British Athletics League for men, with the women's version following a few years later.

Other Olympians whose careers McNab nurtured included Andrea Lynch, 100 metres semi-finalist in Munich in 1972 and finalist in Montreal in 1976, and Lorna Boothe, high hurdler in Montreal and in Moscow four years later, as well as Commonwealth champion in 1978.

In 2005 he began working with a promising young long jumper, Greg Rutherford, who that year became the youngest winner of the long jump at the AAA Championships as well as European Under-20 champion – seven years before his “Super Saturday” at the Olympic Stadium in London.

Away from track and field, McNab put the Chelsea football team through their paces in the run-up to the 1970 FA Cup final, in which they famously beat Leeds United in a rugged replay at Old Trafford, and also served as performance director for British Bobsleigh, leading to a significant uptick in performances.

Between 1987 and 1992 he was a fitness adviser to the Rugby Football Union, and was named coach of the year for his role in guiding them to the silver medal in the inaugural World Cup in 1991.

McNab wrote a shelf-full of well-received coaching books, among them Modern Schools Athletics and The Complete Book of Track and Field, as well as a number of novels – most notably Flanagan's Run (1982), based on the Bunyon Derby, a race from Los Angeles to New York held during the Depression. The Telegraph found it “exhilarating” and it topped the bestseller lists.

Tom McNab remained involved in athletics, winning age-group hammer medals in his seventh decade, as well as playing seniors rugby – “I did for rugby what Quasimodo did for coathangers” – and he was an active tennis player into his nineties.

He is survived by his wife Jenny, by their two daughters and son, and by a daughter and son from his first marriage.

Tom McNab, born December 16 1933, died July 14 2026

Jim Leaviss City fund manager known as 'the Johnny Marr of bonds'

JIM LEAVISS, who has died from cancer aged 55, was one of the most influential City players in the field of corporate and government bonds as head of fixed income at the investment firm M&G, where he oversaw a portfolio of more than £130 billion.

James Paul Leaviss was born in London on February 18 1971 to John Leaviss, a personnel manager for Royal Mail, and his wife Jane, née Wilson, who was a maths teacher. Educated at Woodborough Woods Foundation School near Nottingham and Ashlawn School in Rugby, he achieved the highest mark nationally in geography A-level and went on to read economics at Manchester University.

Graduating in 1992, Leaviss joined the Bank of England as a trainee on Black Wednesday, September 16, just as the pound crashed out of the European exchange rate mechanism amid violent market turmoil. In calmer waters, he found his niche in the Bank's gilts office – and five years later, at a Christmas drinks party hosted by the investment bank Kleinwort Benson, he met Theodora “Theo” Zemek, head of M&G's fledgling fixed-income team, who swiftly offered him a job.

M&G (originally Municipal & General Securities, the creator of the UK's first unit trust in 1931) made its name as a champion of equity investment for smaller savers, a sector in which it grew to be UK market leader with half a million customers. In the 1990s the firm expanded its activity in corporate and government bonds under the leadership of the dynamic and voluble Theo Zemek, to whom Leaviss became a level-headed foil.

Charismatic, articulate and media-friendly, he acquired a devoted professional following, first with the Bond Vigilantes blog which he helped to launch in 2006, and later with a podcast series, Uncle Jim's World of Bonds. Sought after as a conference speaker, he was feted in the IFA (independent financial adviser) community for his ability to demystify bond-market complexities.

The essence of his appeal, as one colleague put it, was that he was not “old-school City” but rather “a 21st-century man” with eclectic enthusiasms, ranging from the music of David Bowie and the “Madchester” scene of his student days to a lifelong devotion to Nottingham Forest FC. Another admirer called him the “Johnny Marr of bonds” (in reference to the guitarist-songwriter of the 1980s Manchester band the Smiths) – as well as “achingly cool, unfailingly kind and a multi-talented Renaissance man”.

Leaviss: 'talented, achingly cool, unfailingly kind'

Within M&G, Leaviss was an inspirational mentor for younger entrants, with a commitment to social mobility. Having joined a team of four, he built a group of 40 analysts and managers in London, Chicago, Singapore and Paris.

He was especially proud to have been first to write about the possibility that central banks might write off vast “quantitative easing” purchases of their own governments’ bonds, rather than selling them back into the market as monetary theory required; and of his analysis of the implications of the Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget in September 2022. Best of all, “I can’t think of many places other than M&G that would have let me film myself driving round Tokyo in a Super Mario costume talking about the Japanese economy.”

After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, Leaviss retired in 2024 to embark on a Master's degree in art history at the Courtauld Institute in London, specialising in German modernism between the wars, which he declared to be “the only thing more exciting than the bond market”.

He married, in 1997, Isobel Perkins, whom he met when she also joined the Bank of England as a graduate trainee; she survives him with their sons Stanley and Frank.

Jim Leaviss, born February 18 1971, died July 23 2026

READER SOLUTIONS BY TELEGRAPH MEDIA GROUP

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What to watch

THE TUDORS WITH ROB RINDER AND RUTH GOODMAN Channel 5, 9pm

Ruth Goodman gets to grips with archery, which played a huge role in the success of the Tudors

Having already done the Victorians, the Romans and the Georgians, this week our intrepid historical adventurers dip into the lives of rich and poor in Tudor times, taking the feverish summer of 1588 and the threat of the Spanish Armada as their subject matter.

For Rinder, that means experiencing the life of a wealthy London merchant, Thomas Cordell, obliged by

Race Against the Tide BBC Two, 7.30pm More fun on the beach at St Andrews as the sandsculpting teams take on a new theme: “there’s no place like home”. How that translates into a green man, a handbag or a plaster rosette is anyone’s guess, but some of this week’s creations are certainly spectacular.

The Great British Sewing Bee

BBC One, 8pm
It's music week, so what better pattern challenge to set the contestants than reproducing Madonna's iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra. There's also a transformation task

Elizabeth I to donate a couple of his highly-valued trading ships to the war effort when the call to action comes.

Goodman gets the less glamorous end of the stick, exploring the life of a struggling East End mother, Margaret Browne, whose husband William is away at sea aboard one of the gunships stationed in the English Channel preparing to repel the approaching Spanish fleet. It's all very

Ballet dancer Eric Underwood (left) and YouTuber Tom Simons cook up a soupçon of competition in tonight's Celebrity MasterChef heat

involving bedroom furnishings and the made- to-measure challenge is inspired by the disco culture of the 1970s.

Celebrity MasterChef BBC One, 9pm Week two of heats and five more celebrities enter the accessible, albeit with AI-generated battle and crowd scenes fleshing out the fascinating facts and grim details.

Rinder and Goodman work hard to ramp up the sense of jeopardy surrounding the imminent invasion and, ultimately, the significance of victory not just as an isolated moment of triumph but in laying the foundations for England's future as a global power.

Gerard O'Donovan

arena: actors Nitin Ganatra and Donna Preston, Gladiator Emily Steel, YouTuber Tom Simons and ballet dancer Eric Underwood. Ahead of them lie a signature dish, a palate test and a tricky pappardelle cook-along with judge Giorgio Locatelli.

Emergency 24/7 BBC Two, 9pm Two very different trauma cases test the expertise and judgement of the accident and emergency team at Southmead Hospital. When a man whose leg has been severed after being hit by a train arrives in ED, his condition proves even more complicated than it looks. And there's more, too, to a patient who presents with a deep wound but denies he's been stabbed.

Little Bird

Sky Atlantic, 9pm & 10pm The powerful drama set against the so-called Sixties Scoop scandal, when thousands of Canadian indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and put up for adoption, continues. Having discovered more about her birth family and that her native name is Bezhig, Esther sets out to find her sister Dora. GO

FILM

Jennifer Lopez finds depth in her role as a New York stripper

Hustlers (2019) Film4, 11.15pm

★★★★

Jennifer Lopez plays Ramona – the queen of a New York strip club frequented by leering, absurdly wealthy men – who takes new girl Destiny (Crazy Rich Asian's Constance Wu) under her wing. The pair join up with fellow exotic dancers Annabelle (Lili Reinhart) and Mercedes (Nope's Keke Palmer) to spike their clients into spending big. Lewd, loud and flashy, it's great fun, but it has real depth, too.

Main channels

BBC One

6.00 am Breakfast (S) 9.30 Morning Live: Top Tips and Best Bits (S) 10.30 Garden Rescue (R) (S) 11.15 Homes Under the Hammer (AD) (S) 12.15 pm Bargain Hunt (AD) (R) (S) 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather (S) 1.35 Regional News; Weather (S) 1.45 BBC News at One; Weather (S) 2.00 Money for Nothing (S) 2.45 Escape to the Country (S) 3.30 The Repair Shop (AD) (R) (S) 4.30 The Answer Run (R) (S) 5.15 Pointless (R) (S) 6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather (S) 6.30 Regional News; Weather (S)

EastEnders

7.00 The One Show With Lauren Laverne and JB Gill (S)

7.30 EastEnders Eve and Suki receive a devastating update (AD) (S)

8.00 The Great British Sewing Bee The sewers face the challenges of music week (AD) (S)

9.00 Celebrity MasterChef Emily Steel, Nitin Ganatra, Tom Simons, Donna Preston and Eric Underwood compete (AD) (S)

10.00 BBC News at Ten (S)

10.30 Regional News; Weather (S) 10.40 FILM: Arthur the King (2024) Fact-based drama starring Mark Wahlberg (S)

12.20 am The Hit List 1.10 - 6.00am News

BBC Two

6.30 am Bargain Hunt (R) (S) 7.15 Money for Nothing (R) (S) 8.00 Sign Zone: The Great British Sewing Bee (AD) (R) (S) (SL) 9.00 News (S)

1.00 pm Richard Osman's House of Games (R) (S)

1.30 The Edge (R) (S)

2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) (S) 2.45 Animal Park Summer (AD) (R) (S) 3.30 Serengeti III (AD) (R) (S)

4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) (S) 5.15 Flog It! (R) (S)

6.00 Richard Osman's House of Games (R) (S)

6.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys (R) (S)

The Vampire Lestat
EFL Carabao Cup Live

7.00 Nigellissima Dishes include butterflied leg of lamb (AD) (R) (S)

7.30 Race Against the Tide Six teams sculpt what home means to them (AD) (S)

8.00 Saving Lives at Sea A mayday comes in from a yacht breaking up off the Norfolk coast (AD) (S)

9.00 Emergency 24/7 A man is brought in with a severed leg due to being hit by a train (AD) (S)

10.00 Live at the Apollo Comedy from Maisie Adam, Michael Odewale and Susie McCabe (R) (S) 10.30 Newsnight (S)

10.30 Newsnight (S)

11.05 The Vampire Lestat: Interview with the Vampire 11.55 A House Through Time 12.55am Sign Zone: Celebrity MasterChef 1.55 Sign Zone: Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story 2.45 - 6.30am This Is BBC Two

ITVI

6.00 am Good Morning Britain (S) 10.00 This Morning (S) 1.30 pm News (S) 1.55 ITV News London; Weather (S) 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (AD) (R) (S) 3.00 Deal or No Deal (AD) (R) (S) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) (S) 5.00 The Chase (R) (S) 6.00 ITV News London; Weather (S) 6.30 News (S)

7.30 EFL Carabao Cup Live Nottingham Forest v Leeds United (kick-off 8.00pm). Mark Pougatch presents all the action from the second-round tie at The City Ground (S)

10.25 News; Regional News; Weather (S)

11.00 ITV News London; Weather 11.15 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace – What Happened Next 12.10am Shop on TV 3.00 Love & Death 3.50 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace – What Happened Next 4.45 - 6.00am Unwind with ITV

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Radio choice

History's Heroes: D-Day's Double Crossing Agent Radio 4, 3pm

Telegraph · NEW PODCAST Iran: The Latest

Helena Bonham Carter is back with another run of fascinating tales from the

RADIO 1

6.58am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James 11.00 Rickie, Melvin and Charlie 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Matt and Jerry 3.30 Newsbeat 3.33 Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie on Radio 15.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1's New Music Show with Jack Saunders 8.00 Radio 1's Future Artists with Sian Eleri 10.00 Radio 1's Power Down Playlist with Sian Eleri 11.00 Martha 1.00am Radio 1 Dance Drum & Bass Mix 1.30 Radio 1 Dance Drum & Bass Mix 2.00 Radio 1 Anthems 4.00 Radio 1 Pop Anthems 5.00 - 6.58am Radio 1 Early Breakfast with Dean McCullough

RADIO 2 FM 88-90.2MHZ

6.30am The Radio 2 Breakfast Show 9.30 Mark Goodier 12.00 Tina Daheley. Sitting in for Jeremy Vine 2.00pm DJ Spoony. Sitting in for Trevor Nelson 4.00 Jason Manford. Jason presents drivetime laughs, news, views and music 7.00 Jo Whiley's Shiny Happy Playlist. Jo plays her favourite album tracks and musical gems rarely heard on Radio 2 7.30 Jo Whiley. Music and chat 9.00 The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum. An interview with LA piano player and producer Kiefer 10.00 The Good Groove with Melvin Odoom. Sitting in for Spoony 12.00 OJ Borg 3.00am Sounds of the 90s with Ronan Keating 4.00 - 6.30am Owain Wyn Evans

RADIO 3 FM 90.2-92.4MHZ

6.30am Breakfast 9.30 Essential Classics 1.00pm Classical Live 4.00 Composer of the Week: Sally Beamish 5.00 In Tune 7.00 BBC Proms 2026. The BBC Concert Orchestra in music from the iconic spy thriller films 10.00 Night Tracks. With music by John

lesser-known ranks of those whose lives have made a crucial difference, this time focusing on the Second World War. Not many people will be familiar with Elvira Chaudoir, but this wild

Field, Robert Fayrfax and Hildegard of Bingen 11.30 'Round Midnight 12.30 - 6.30am Through the Night

RADIO 4 FM 92.4-94.6MHZ; LW 198KHZ

6.00am Today 9.00 Invisible Hands 9.30 Michael Sheen Gets into Character 10.00 Woman's Hour 11.00 Add to Playlist 11.45 Book of the Week: All the Beauty in the World 12.00 News 12.04pm Call You and Yours. Consumer affairs with Winifred Robinson 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World at One. Presented by Sarah Montague 1.45 Human Intelligence. Desmond Tutu's leadership of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission 2.00 The Archers. Alice faces a rude interruption 2.15 Drama: The Test Batter Can't Breathe. By James Fritz 3.00 History's Secret Heroes. New series. A look at the story of double agent Elvira Chaudoir 3.30 Heart and Soul. The Jamaican revivalists preserving faith and identity with sacred traditions 4.00 An Evening with Dave Van Ronk. Elijah Wald tells the story of the American folk singer 4.30 What's Up Docs? Chris and Xand van Tulleken unpack the benefits of walking 5.00 PM. Presented by Evan Davis 5.57 Weather 6.00 Six O'Clock News 6.30 Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz. Paul discusses misleadingly-named foods 7.00 The Archers. Fallon puts her foot in it 7.15 Front Row. Arts programme 8.00 The Coroners Question 8.40 In Touch 9.00 Crossing Continents. Brazil's problem with gambling addiction 9.30 Scam Secrets. Criminals finding different ways to exploit QR codes 9.59 Weather 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book at Bedtime: Mr Sidhu's Post Office 11.00 Half-Life 11.30 Everything Is Fake and Nobody Cares 12.00 News and Weather 12.30am Book of the Week: All the Beauty in the World 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As World

Peruvian society girl risked her life to ensure the Nazis were deceived into thinking the D-Day landings would not be at Normandy. Bestselling author Ben Macintyre and Sophie

Service 5.00 News Summary 5.04 BBC Inside Science 5.32 Weather 5.34 Shipping Forecast 5.43 Prayer for the Day 5.45 - 6.00am Farming Today

RADIO 5 LIVE MW 693 & 909KHZ

6.00am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Rima Ahmed 11.00 Emma Vardy 2.00pm Nick Watt 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport 8.00 Football. Birmingham City v Brentford (kick-off 8.00pm). Commentary on the Carabao Cup second-round match from St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park 10.30 Laura McGhie 1.00am Dotun Adebayo 5.00 - 6.00am Wake Up to Money

CLASSIC FM FM 99.9-101.9MHZ

6.30am Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker 9.00 The Classic FM Hall of Fame Hour with Dan Walker 10.00 Aled Jones 1.00pm Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 Margherita Taylor 7.00 Relaxing Evenings with Zeb Soanes. Zeb hosts an evening of the most relaxing music 10.00 Calm Classics 1.00am Bill Overton 4.00 - 6.30am Early Breakfast

WORLD SERVICE DIGITAL ONLY

8.00am News 8.06 People Fixing the World 8.30 Business Daily 8.50 Witness History 9.00 The Newsroom 9.30 Assignment 10.00 News 10.06 The Arts Hour 11.00 The Newsroom 11.30 The Global Story 12.00 News 12.06pm Outlook 12.50 Witness History 1.00 The Newsroom 1.30 In the Studio 2.00 Newshour 3.00 News 3.06 People Fixing the World 3.30 Business Daily 3.50 World Business Express 4.00 BBC OS 6.00 News 6.06 Outlook 6.50 Witness History 7.00 The Newsroom 7.30 Sport Today 8.00 News 8.06 Assignment 8.30

Stewart of the National Archives help flesh out her extraordinary story, and why her role wasn't celebrated – or even discovered – until long after her death in 1996. Gerard O'Donovan

Tech Life 9.00 Newshour 10.00 News 10.06 People Fixing the World 10.30 In the Studio 11.00 The Newsroom 11.30 World Business Report 12.00 News 12.06am The Arts Hour 1.00 The Newsroom 1.30 The Global Story 2.00 The Newsroom 2.30 The Climate Question 3.00 News 3.06 Outlook 3.50 Witness History 4.00 The Newsroom 4.30 The Documentary: How Did We Get Here: Israel and the Palestinians 5.00 - 8.00am Newsday

RADIO 4 EXTRA DIGITAL ONLY

6.00am Five Red Herrings 6.30 Kill the Pharaoh! 7.00 Yes Minister 7.30 The Milligan Papers 8.00 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen? 8.30 Underland 8.45 Breathing Underwater 9.00 Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz 9.30 Human Hosts 9.45 Daily Service 10.00 A Good Read 10.30 The Choir Invisible 11.00 Five Red Herrings 11.30 Kill the Pharaoh! 12.00 Yes Minister 12.30pm The Milligan Papers 1.00 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen? 1.30 Underland 1.45 Breathing Underwater 2.00 It's Not What You Know 2.30 Life in London 3.00 Valentino 4.00 A Good Read 4.30 The Choir Invisible 5.00 Five Red Herrings 5.30 Kill the Pharaoh! 6.00 Yes Minister 6.30 The Milligan Papers 7.00 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen? 7.30 Underland 7.45 Breathing Underwater 8.00 It's Not What You Know 8.30 Life in London 9.00 Valentino 10.00 Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz 10.30 Pick-Ups 11.00 All the World's a Globe 11.15 2000 Years of Radio 11.30 Chain Reaction 12.00 A Good Read 12.30am The Choir Invisible 1.00 Five Red Herrings 1.30 Kill the Pharaoh! 2.00 Yes Minister 2.30 The Milligan Papers 3.00 Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Austen? 3.30 Underland 3.45 Breathing Underwater 4.00 It's Not What You Know 4.30 Life in London 5.00 - 6.00am Valentino

Channel 4

6.30 am The King of Queens (AD) (R) (S) 6.55 The King of Queens (AD) (R) (S) 7.20 The King of Queens (AD) (R) (S) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (AD) (R) (S) 8.10 Everybody Loves Raymond (AD) (R) (S) 8.40 Everybody Loves Raymond (AD) (R) (S) 9.10 Frasier (AD) (R) (S) 9.40 Frasier (AD) (R) (S) 10.10 Frasier (AD) (R) (S) 10.40 Frasier (AD) (R) (S) 11.10 Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back (AD) (R) (S)

12.05 pm Channel 4 News (S) 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (AD) (R) (S) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) (S) 2.10 Countdown (S) 3.00 A Place in the Sun (R) (S) 4.00 The Great B&B Challenge (R) (S) 5.00 Chateau DIY (AD) (R) (S) 6.00 American Pickers (R) (S)

Celebrity Hunted

7.00 Channel 4 News (S)

8.00 The Dog House Puppies Poppy and Fizz may need to be separated (AD) (R) (S)

9.00 Celebrity Hunted The remaining fugitives converge for extraction details. Last in the series (AD) (S)

10.00 24 Hours in A&E Efforts are made to save a man's leg from amputation (AD) (R) (S)

11.05 24 Hours in A&E 12.05am Building Monaco's Superhomes 1.05 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 1.55 FILM: The Quiet Girl (2022) Drama starring Catherine Clinch 3.30 The Piano: The Final 4.40 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 4.55 Couples Come Dine with Me 5.50 - 6.30am Countdown

Channel 5

6.00 am Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (S) 11.30 Storm & Alexis (S) 12.45 pm 5 News at Lunchtime (S) 12.50 Matt Allwright (S) 2.20 FILM: A Killer in the Family (2023, TVM) Thriller starring Zoe Christie and Quinten James (S) 4.00 Castle (R) (S) 4.55 Love Nature (R) (S) 5.00 5 News with Dan Walker (S) 6.00 Motorhoming with Merton & Webster (R) (S) 6.55 5 News Update (S)

Motorway Cops: Catching Britain's Speeders

7.00 Cycling: Vuelta a España 2026 Action from stage four (S)

8.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain's Speeders On the M6, officers are called in after a car fails to stop for Cheshire Police (S)

9.00 The Tudors with Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman A look at when England braced for the arrival of the Spanish Armada in 1588 (S)

10.30 Murder on the Doorstep: Who Killed Alistair Wilson? The 2004 murder of a Scottish banker (R) (S) 12.05 am Nigel Farage: Where Does the Money Come From? 1.00 Cruise TV with LoveitBookit 2.00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 2.50 Castle 3.40 Friends 4.05 Friends 4.30 The Highland Vet 5.25 Entertainment News on 5.35 Paw Patrol 5.45 - 6.00am The Adventures of Paddington

Sky Arts

FV 36 FS 143 SKY 822 VIRGIN 123

6.00 am Venice: A Concert for Our Climate (S) 7.00 Backstage with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (S) 8.00 Artist of the Year: Masterclass (AD) (S) 8.30 Artist of the Year: Masterclass (AD) (S) 9.00 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) (S) 9.30 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) (S) 10.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (S) 10.30 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (S) 11.00 Discovering: Gene Wilder (S)

12.00 The Art of Film with Ian Nathan (AD) (S)

(AD) (S) 1.00 pm Tales of the Unexpected (AD) 1.30 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) (S) 2.00 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (S) 3.00 The Nineties (S) 4.00 Discovering: Laurence Harvey (S) 5.00 Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 (AD) (S)

6.00 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) (S) 6.30 Tales of the Unexpected (AD) (S)

The World in a Painting: Vermeer's Hat

7.00 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Caroline Hardy develops an infatuation (S)

7.30 Alfred Hitchcock Presents A man's wife is assaulted by an unknown attacker (S)

8.00 The World in a Painting: Vermeer's Hat A look at the modern world through the lens of a 17th-century painting (AD) (S)

9.15 Art Traffickers: Treasures Stolen from the Tombs The most sensational thefts of ancient masterpieces in history (AD) (S)

10.15 Wonderland: From JM Barrie to JRR Tolkien The worlds created by authors of classic children's literature (S)

11.15 The Movies 12.15am Tilda Swinton: The Wildcards 1.30 A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things 3.15 Stories from Tate Britain 4.10 A Play in a Day 5.05 - 6.00am The Art of Film with Ian Nathan

U&Drama

6.00 am Teleshopping 7.20 The Bill (S) 8.10 Doctors (S) 8.45 Doctors (S) 9.20 Classic Holby City (S) 10.40 Casualty (AD) (S) 11.40 The Bill (S) 12.40 pm Classic EastEnders (S) 1.20 Classic EastEnders (S) 2.00 Classic Neighbours (S) 2.35 Classic Neighbours (S) 3.05 Whitstable Pearl (AD) (S) 4.10 Kingdom (S) 5.15 As Time Goes By (S) 6.00 Last of the Summer Wine (S) 6.35 Last of the Summer Wine (S)

Last of the Summer Wine

7.20 Last of the Summer Wine Digby's donkey is on the loose (S)

8.00 'Allo' Allo! Rene is on a mission at the chateau (S)

8.35 'Allo' Allo! Edith accepts Monsieur Alfonse's proposal (S)

9.10 'Allo' Allo! Yvette and Edith both question René about the whereabouts of the gold (S)

9.40 New Tricks Sandra's private and professional worlds become intertwined when her mother needs to go into a care home, but her first choice turns out to be the scene of a suspicious death (AD) (S)

11.00 Luther 12.20am Lovejoy 1.30 Sister Boniface Mysteries 2.35 The Chelsea Detective 3.25 Birds of a Feather 4.00 - 6.00am Teleshopping

FV Freeview FS Freesat (AD) Audio description (R) Repeat (S) Subtitles (SL) In-vision signing

Talking Pictures TV

6.00 am FILM: The Happiness of Three Women (1954, b/w) Comedy starring Brenda de Banzie (S) 7.35 FILM: Juggernaut (1936, b/w) Thriller starring Boris Karloff (S) 8.50 FILM: The Big Bluff (1955, b/w) Crime thriller starring John Bromfield (S) 10.20 The Better Milk Story 11.05 FILM: The Battle of the Rails (1946) Drama starring Marcel Barnault 12.45 pm Look at Life 1.00 The Adventures of William Tell (S) 1.30 FILM: Jassy (1947) Period drama starring Margaret Lockwood (S) 3.30 Dial 999 (S) 4.00 That's My Boy (S) 4.35 FILM: Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945, b/w) Period crime drama starring Googie Withers (S) 6.20 Food Flash Dried Eggs 1942 6.25 Whiplash (S) 6.55 The Man from UNCLE (S)

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four

7.55 Buccaneer Mason frees Tony from an African prison, and makes a deal to offload the suspicious cargo. Monica learns the shocking truth about her husband's past business dealings (S)

9.00 Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four Holmes is presented with a mystery surrounding a woman's unknown benefactor – and uncovers a story of hidden treasure, vengeance and death. Jeremy Brett stars, with John Thaw (S)

11.05 Fortean TV 11.40 FILM: The Siege of Sidney Street (1960, b/w) Fact-based period crime drama with Peter Wyngarde 1.35am FILM: The Long Haul (1957) Drama starring Victor Mature and Diana Dors 3.20 Cinebox Memories 3.25 Scotland Yard 4.00 Target: The Corruptors 5.00 - 6.00am The Man from UNCLE

Film4

FV 14 FS 300 SKY 855 VIRGIN 428 11.00 am FILM: Togo (2019) Adventure based on a true story starring Willem Dafoe (AD) (S) 1.15 pm FILM: Sherlock Holmes: Terror By Night (1946, b/w) Mystery starring Basil Rathbone (S) 2.30 FILM: It Came from Outer Space (1953, b/w) Sci-fi adventure starring Richard Carlson (S) 4.05 FILM: Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) Period comedy starring Terry-Thomas (S)

Drive-Away Dolls

6.45 FILM: Midway (2019) The story of the Battle of Midway, one of the most important and decisive battles of the Second World War. Drama starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson and Woody Harrelson (AD) (S)

9.30 FILM: Drive-Away Dolls (2024) Premiere. Two women cross paths with a group of inept criminals while on a road trip. Action comedy starring Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan (S)

11.15 FILM: Hustlers (2019) Comedy crime drama starring Jennifer Lopez 1.25 - 3.40am FILM: Queenpins (2021) Crime comedy starring Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste

How the war in the Middle East is reshaping our world

More channels

Telegraph Iran: The Latest

FV 9 FS 173 SKY 116 VIRGIN 108 7.00 pm The Architecture the Railways Built 7.45 The Flying Gardener 8.00 To the Manor Born 8.25 Keeping Up Appearances 9.00 How the Celts Saved Britain 10.00 Britain in Focus: A Photographic History 11.00 The Secret Genius of Plants 11.55 Do We Really Need the Moon? 12.55 am The Flying Gardener 1.10 The Secret Genius of Plants 2.05 - 3.05am How the Celts Saved Britain

YouTube

BBC Four

Watch or listen daily

11.30 am Heartbeat
12.35 pm Heartbeat
1.35 Midsomer Murders
3.35 Classic Emmerdale
4.05 Classic Emmerdale
4.40 Classic Coronation Street
5.15 Classic Coronation Street
5.50 Heartbeat
6.55 Heartbeat
8.00 Vera
10.00 Lewis
11.50 Trial & Retribution
12.50 am Trial & Retribution
1.50 George and Mildred
2.15 Unwind with ITV
2.30 - 6.00am Teleshopping

FV 10 FS 115 SKY 119 VIRGIN 117

ApplePodcasts

Challenge

ITV2

Telegraph app

11.10am Charmed 12.05pm Deal or No Deal 1.05 Celebrity Supermarket Sweep 2.05 The Floor 3.10 The Only Way Is Essex 4.10 The Real Housewives of Potomac 5.00 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills 6.00 Celebrity Catchphrase 7.00 Wheel of Fortune 8.00 The 1% Club Rollover 9.00 Olivia Attwood: The Price of Perfection 10.00 Family Guy 11.35 American Dad! 12.35am Bob's Burgers 1.30 Plebs 1.55 Deep Fake Neighbour Wars 2.20 Unwind with ITV 3.00-6.00am Teleshopping

Discovery

ITV3

11.20am Yukon Gold 12.20pm Top Gear 2.20 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 3.00 Guy's Garage 4.00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 5.00 Rick Stein's India 7.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 7.40 Would I Lie to You? 9.00 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 10.00 QI XL 11.00 Taskmaster 12.00 Mock the Week 12.40am Would I Lie to You? 2.00 QI XL 3.00 Richard Osman's House of Games 3.30-4.00am Parks and Recreation

Spotify

U&Dave

FV Freeview FS Freesat (AD) Audio description (R) Repeat (S) Subtitles (SL) In-vision signing

FV 26 FS 117 SKY 120 VIRGIN 118 11.20 am Robin of Sherwood 12.25 pm Magnum, PI 1.30 Magnum, PI 2.35 The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes 3.45 Boon 4.50 The Professionals 5.55 Minder 7.00 Aussie Pickers 8.00 The Motorbike Show 9.00 Ice Road Truckers 10.00 All Elite Wrestling: Collision 12.00 Dark Side of the Ring 12.55 am Minder 1.50 BattleBots 2.45 Unwind with ITV 3.00 - 6.00am Teleshopping

Quest

11.00am Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 12.15pm Lily Savage's Blankety Blank

1.00 Classic Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 2.00 Bridge of Lies 3.00 The Chase 4.00 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 5.15 All Star Family Fortunes 6.00 Tenable 7.00 The Chase Celebrity Special 8.00 Beat the Chasers 9.00 The Chase 10.00 The Celebrity Chase 11.00 Bullseye 12.00 Bridge of Lies 1.00am The Chase 2.00 The Chase Celebrity Special 3.00-4.00am The Chase

Noon Outback Opal Hunters 1.00pm The Repair Shop 2.00 Shed and Buried 3.00 Shed and Buried: Classic Cars 4.00 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 5.00 The Yorkshire Auction House 7.00 Antiques Road Trip 8.00 Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic 9.00 Johnny Vegas' Little Shop of Antiques 10.00 The Repair Shop 11.00 How Do They Do It? 1.00am Salvage Hunters 3.00- 4.00am Salvage Hunters: The Restorers

ITV4

Noon Building Off the Grid 1.00pm
Dr Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet 3.00 How
It's Made 5.00 Alaska: Homestead
Rescue 7.00 Wheeler Dealers 9.00
Deadliest Catch 10.00 In the Eye of
the Storm 11.00 Expedition X 12.00
Deadliest Catch 2.00am In the Eye of
the Storm 3.00-4.00am Gold Divers

Sky Documentaries

Variations

FV 18 FS 124 SKY 136 VIRGIN 147 11.35 am Four in a Bed 12.10 pm Four in a Bed 12.40 Come Dine with Me 3.20 Four in a Bed 3.50 Four in a Bed 4.20 Four in a Bed 4.50 Four in a Bed 5.20 Four in a Bed 5.50 Car S.O.S 6.50 Car S.O.S 7.55 Grand Designs 9.00 PopMaster TV 10.00 Little Trains & Big Names with Pete Waterman 11.05 Police Rescue 12.05 am 999: On the Front Line 1.10 24 Hours in A&E 2.15 24 Hours in A&E 3.20 - 3.45am The Perfect Pitch

11.50am The Mughal Empire 1.00pm The World After Stonehenge 2.10 The Normans 3.25 The Mughal Empire 5.50 The World After Stonehenge 7.00 The Normans 8.15 The Mughal Empire 10.45 Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland 12.00 The Normans 1.15am Weathered: Earth's Extremes 2.00-6.00am Teleshopping

Sky History

Noon Ice Road Truckers 1.00pm
History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren 2.00 History's Greatest Mysteries 3.00 Greatest Prison Escapes with Billy Hayes 6.00 American Pickers 7.00 Forged in Fire 8.00 History's Greatest Aircraft 9.00 History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren 10.00 History's Greatest Mysteries 11.00 Original Gangsters with Sean Bean 12.00 Greatest Prison Escapes with Billy Hayes 1.50am History's Greatest Aircraft 2.50 History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren 3.40-4.25am History's Greatest Mysteries

Noon Wild Wild Space 1.50pm My Icon: Michael Campbell 2.00 PL 360 4.00 The Directors 5.00 Discovering: Emma Thompson 5.55 Chimp Crazy

More4

PBS America

FV 27 - FS 159 SKY 155 VIRGIN 129 Noon Antiques Roadshow 1.00 pm Antiques Roadshow 2.00 Bangers & Cash 3.00 Bangers & Cash 4.00 Secret Nazi Bases 5.00 The World at War 6.00 Antiques Roadshow 7.00 The Blue Planet 8.00 Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics 9.00 Bangers & Cash 10.00 Bangers & Cash 11.00 Bangers & Cash 12.00 Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics 1.00 am Find It, Fix It, Flog It 2.00 Abandoned Engineering 3.00 - 6.10am Teleshopping

U&Gold

SKY 110 VIRGIN 124

12.30 pm Only Fools and Horses
1.10 Keeping Up Appearances
1.50 Dad's Army
2.25 The Green Green Grass
3.05 Are You Being Served?
3.45 Ever Decreasing Circles
4.25 Dad's Army
5.00 Last of the Summer Wine
6.20 Keeping Up Appearances
7.00 Only Fools and Horses
7.40 Dad's Army
8.20 Are You Being Served?
9.00 The Office
9.40 Fawlty Towers
10.20 Not Going Out
11.00 Mrs Brown's Boys
11.40 The Office
12.20 am Fawlty Towers
1.00 - 1.35am Not Going Out

Great! Mystery

U&Yesterday

11.25 am House of the Dragon 12.40 pm Homicide: Life on the Street

6.55 Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God 8.00 Salt Path: A Very British Scandal 9.30 The Sleepwalker 11.15 FILM: JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass (2021) Documentary examining the assassination of US president John F Kennedy 1.30am Chernobyl: My Promised Land 2.00-4.00am Rainbow Warrior

1.35 Homicide: Life on the Street
2.30 Billions
3.35 Billions
4.40 Django
5.35 Django
6.45 House of the Dragon
7.50 House of the Dragon
9.00 Little Bird
10.00 Little Bird
11.00 Das Boot
12.15 am Possession
1.15 Possession
2.15 House of the Dragon
3.30 - 4.35am House of the Dragon

Sky One

Noon Africa's Hunters 1.00pm Hawaii Five-0 3.00 S.W.A.T. 5.00 The Simpsons 6.00 Rob & Romesh vs Anthony Joshua Revisited 7.00 The Simpsons 8.00 Best Medicine 9.00 Micky Flanagan – An' Another Fing Live 10.45 The 'Burbs 11.40 Grimm 12.40am Evil 1.35 Road Wars 3.00-4.00am Hawaii Five-0

BBC One: 10.40pm House of the Year 11.10 FILM: Arthur the King (2024) 12.50am The Hit List 1.35 - 6.00am BBC News BBC Two: No variations UTV: 11.15pm Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes 11.45 - 12.10am Mahon's Way

Noon Unforgettable 1.00pm In Plain Sight 2.00 Castle 3.00 Diagnosis Murder 5.00 Murder, She Wrote 7.00 Castle 8.00 Unforgettable 9.00 In Plain Sight 10.00 FILM: Mystery 101: Words Can Kill (2019) Thriller starring Jill Wagner 10.56 Good News on GREAT! 11.01 FILM: Mystery 101: Words Can Kill (2019) Thriller starring Jill Wagner 11.55 FILM: Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds (2020) Crime drama starring Alexa PenaVega 12.51am

Northern Ireland

Scotland

BBC One: 7.00 - 7.30pm River City 12.20am Scotcast 12.50 The Hit List 1.40 - 6.00am BBC News

SKY 108

BBC Scotland: 7.00pm Reporting
Scotland: News at Seven 7.30 The Great
Food Guys 8.00 This Farming Life 9.00
Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser's
Killer 10.00 Murder Case: The Hunt for
Arlene Fraser's Killer 11.00 Scotcast
11.30 Icons of Football midnight Close
STV: 11.35pm FILM: Rush Hour (1998)
1.15 - 3.00am Shop on TV 3.50 -
6.00am Night Vision

Sky Atlantic

Good News on GREAT! 12.56 FILM: Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds (2020) 1.45 FILM: Her Final Bow (2017) 3.15 Good News on GREAT! Extra 3.25-4.50am FILM: Web of Lies (2009)

Sky Cinema Premiere

10.10am Hamnet (2025) Period drama starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley 12.25pm Five Nights At Freddy's 2 (2025) Horror sequel starring Josh Hutcherson 2.25 Normal (2026) Action comedy starring Bob Odenkirk 4.00 Twinless (2025) Dark comedy starring Dylan O'Brien 5.45 Hamnet (2025) Period drama starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley 8.00 Five Nights At Freddy's 2 (2025) Horror sequel starring Josh Hutcherson 9.50 Normal (2026) Action comedy starring Bob Odenkirk 11.25 Twinless (2025) Dark comedy starring Dylan O'Brien 1.10am Primate (2025) Horror starring Johnny Sequoyah 2.45-4.20am Seven Snipers (2026)

Noon Transfer Talk 1.00pm Lunchtime Live 2.00 Sports Desk 2.30 Transfer 360 3.00 Live US Open Tennis. Coverage of day one of the mixed doubles tournament 7.00 Live EFL Cup. Nottingham Forest v Leeds United (kick-off 8.00pm) 10.30 Live

Sky Sports Main Event

US Open Tennis. Coverage of day two of the qualifying event for the Grand Slam 1.00am Live: Roger Federer in New York 3.00-6.00am Live Tennis. The ATP Winston-Salem Open and WTA Monterrey Open

Sky Sports Premier League

Noon Transfer Talk 1.00pm Premier League Highlights 2.30 Transfer 360 3.00 Premier League Highlights 4.30 MNF Hlts 5.00 The Premier League Show 7.00 Gillette Labs Soccer Special 10.30 Premier League Review 11.30 Premier League Stories 12.00 Netbusters 12.30am Premier League 100 Club 1.00 PL Retro 3.00-4.00am PL Greatest Games

TNT Sports I

1.30pm Live: La Vuelta Men. Coverage of stage four of the Grand Tour race 5.00 Premier League Netbusters 5.30 Groundbreaking 5.45 Live Uefa Champions League. Sabah v Hapoel Be'er Sheva (kick-off 5.45pm) 7.45 Premier League Reload 8.00 Live Uefa Champions League. Bodo/Glimt v NEC (kick-off 8.00pm) 10.00 Premier League Stories 10.30 MLB Highlights 11.30 MLB Lead Off 12.00 Live MLB. Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers (start-time 12.15am) 3.00am MLB Closer 3.30 TNT Sports Cricket Reload

3.45-4.15am UCI Mountain Bike World Series Review

BBC News

Noon BBC News Now 2.00pm BBC News Now 2.30 Business Today 2.45 BBC News Now 3.00 Verified Live 4.30 Business Today 4.45 Verified Live 5.30 BBC News 6.30 The World Today 8.00 The Context USA 9.00 The Context 10.00 BBC News at Ten 10.30 Newsnight 11.00 BBC World News America 12.00 BBC News 12.30am Newscast 1.00 BBC News 1.30 The Media Show 2.00 Newsday 2.30 Business Today 2.45 BBC Sport 3.00 Newsday 3.30 Business Today 3.45-4.00am Asia Specific

GB News

Noon Good Afternoon Britain 3.00pm
Martin Daubney 6.00 Dewbs & Co
7.00 GBN Tonight 8.00 Jacob Rees-Mogg's State Of The Nation 9.00
Patrick Christys Tonight 11.00 Patrick Christys Tonight Late Edition 12.00
The Late Show Live 3.00-5.00am
Patrick Christys Tonight Replay

Sky News

Noon Sky News Today 5.00pm The News Hour with Mark Austin 7.00 Sky News 10.00 The Wrap with Anna Botting 12.00-6.00am Sky News

Wales

No variations

ITVI Regions

No variations

S4C

6.00am Cyw 12.00 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd 12.05pm Codi Pac 12.30 Heno 1.00 Bwrdd i Dri 1.30 Arfordir Cymru: Sir Benfro 2.00 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd 2.05 Prynhaun Da 3.00 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd 3.05 Gwesty Aduniad 4.00 Awr Fawr: Blociau Lliw 4.05 Awr Fawr: Twm Twrch 4.15 Awr Fawr: Fferm Fach 4.30 Awr Fawr: Blero yn Mynd i Ocido 4.45 Awr Fawr: Byd Tad-Cu 5.00 Stwnsh 6.00 3 Lle: Ffion Dafis 6.30 Codi Hwyl 7.00 Heno 7.30 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd 8.00 Pobol y Cwm 8.25 Nol o'r Dibyn gyda Iolo Williams 8.55 Newyddion S4C a'r Tywydd 9.00 Siwrna Scandi Chris 10.00 laith ar Daith 11.00 - 12.05am Y Cosmos

Forecast

General situation

Cloud and sunny spells across the United Kingdom today with the odd shower in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Afternoon showers, some thundery, in southwest England.

- London, Cent S England, Channel Is, SW England, E England, SE England, E Anglia, Midlands: Sunny spells and felling warm today. Max 70-78F (21-26C). A gentle easterly wind. Broken cloud and scattered showers, some thundery, tonight. Min 54-62F (12-17C). - NW England, Lake Dist, IoM, Cent N England, NE England: Sunny spells today with the odd shower. Max 57-73F (14-23C). A gentle E wind. Broken cloud tonight. Min 48-60F (9-16C). - Wales: Showers, some thundery, later today and tonight. Max 62-75F (17-24C). A light to

gentle E wind. Min 52-62F (11-17C). N Ireland: The odd shower today. Max 55-68F (13-20C). A gentle E to SE wind. Showers later tonight. Min 48-58F (9-15C). SW Scotland, NW Scotland, Glasgow, Cent Highlands, Argyll, W Isles, SE Scotland, NE Scotland, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Moray Firth, Orkney, Shetland: Sunny spells today with the odd shower. Max 48-70F (9-21C). A light to gentle E wind. Clear periods tonight. Min 41-57F (5-14C).

The Telegraph • TRAVEL

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR OWN

Expert opinion, trusted reviews and travel planning advice ♦ telegraph.co.uk/travel

	Sun hrs	Rain in	Max/Min °C	Daytime weather
Aberdeen	8.1"	0.00	19"	11" p/cloudy
Aberystwyth	9.8"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Antrim	9.8"	0.00	21"	4" p/cloudy
Aviemore	9.2"	0.04	17"	10" p/cloudy
Barnstaple	9.2"	0.00	23"	13" p/cloudy
Barrow-in-Furns,	10.3"	0.00	22"	9" p/cloudy
Basingstoke	9.6"	0.00	23"	11" p/cloudy
Bedford	7.7"	0.00	22"	11" p/cloudy
Belfast	9.4"	0.00	21"	8" p/cloudy
Berwick	9.8"	0.00	19"	7" p/cloudy
Birmingham	8.9"	0.00	23"	10" p/cloudy
Bodmin	7.8"	0.00	19"	14" windy
Bournemouth	9.3"	0.00	23"	13" windy
Braintree	8.4"	0.00	22"	11" p/cloudy
Brecon	9.1"	0.00	22"	12" p/cloudy
Bridlington	8.2"	0.00	19"	10" p/cloudy
Brighton	8.8"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Bristol	9.2"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Camborne	6.7"	0.00	21"	14" windy
Cardiff	10.4"	0.00	23"	13" p/cloudy
Carlisle	10.2"	0.00	21"	8" p/cloudy
Catterick	8.9"	0.00	21"	7" p/cloudy
Cheltenham	9.0"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy

	Sun hrs	Rain in	Max/Min °C		Daytime weather
Chester	9.7*	0.00	22*	9*	p/cloudy
Coventry	9.3*	0.00	22*	11*	p/cloudy
Doncaster	6.2*	0.00	21*	9*	cloudy
Dover	10.5*	0.00	22*	13*	p/cloudy
Dundee	7.0*	0.00	19*	9*	p/cloudy
Eastbourne	10.0*	0.00	22*	13*	windy
Edinburgh	11.0*	0.00	20*	6*	sunny
Epsom	7.0*	0.00	22*	11*	p/cloudy
Falmouth	7.0*	0.00	20*	13*	windy
Farnborough	8.1*	0.00	23*	11*	p/cloudy
Fort William	10.6*	0.00	21*	9*	p/cloudy
Glasgow	8.0*	0.00	22*	5*	p/cloudy
Great Malvern	10.0*	0.00	23*	12*	p/cloudy
Grimsby	6.4*	0.00	19*	10*	cloudy
Guernsey	11.6*	0.00	22*	17*	sunny
Hereford	9.7*	0.00	23*	12*	p/cloudy
High Wycombe	7.6*	0.00	23*	11*	p/cloudy
Holyhead	10.3*	0.00	22*	11*	p/cloudy
Huddersfield	8.4*	0.00	19*	8*	p/cloudy
Ipswich	8.0*	0.00	20*	9*	p/cloudy
Isle of Man	9.8*	0.00	20*	10*	p/cloudy
Isle of Skye	6.6*	0.00	17*	11*	cloudy
Isle of Wight	7.5*	0.00	22*	12*	windy

	Sun hrs	Rain in	Max/Min °C		Daytime weather
Isles of Scilly	8.1*	0.00	23*	12*	p/cloudy
Jersey	11.6*	0.00	23*	17*	sunny
Keswick	10.7*	0.00	21*	8*	p/cloudy
Kew Gardens	6.3*	0.00	23*	12*	cloudy
King's Lynn	7.8*	0.00	21*	8*	windy
Leeds	6.8*	0.00	20*	9*	cloudy
Leek	9.2*	0.00	20*	9*	p/cloudy
Leominster	10.3*	0.00	23*	12*	p/cloudy
Lincoln	4.6*	0.00	21*	9*	cloudy
Liverpool	11.9*	0.00	22*	9*	sunny
London	5.9*	0.00	24*	13*	cloudy
Manchester	11.2*	0.00	21*	10*	sunny
Middlesbrough	8.7*	0.00	20*	7*	p/cloudy
Newcastle	11.1*	0.00	20*	6*	sunny
Newquay	7.8*	0.00	21*	16*	windy
Nottingham	7.8*	0.00	21*	9*	p/cloudy
Orkney	4.4*	0.00	16*	12*	cloudy
Oxford	7.6*	0.00	23*	11*	p/cloudy
Perth	10.0*	0.00	19*	8*	p/cloudy
Peterborough	8.7*	0.00	23*	10*	p/cloudy
Plymouth	7.5*	0.00	21*	16*	windy
Portsmouth*	9.0*	0.00*	23*	12*	windy
Prestwick	10.3*	0.00	22*	7*	p/cloudy

Atlantic front

Noon today: Showers and thunderstorms from France and northern Spain to southern Germany and northern Italy. Dry in northeast Europe.

Homelifts by pollock Homelifts

Crossword 31,327 telegraph.co.uk/puzzles
High water
Sun & moon (Greenwich)

Sun rises	0603
Sun sets	2003
Moon rises	1914
Moon sets	0227
Full moon	Aug 28

Lighting up
Provided by the National Polen and Aerobiology Research Unit

Warmest	Yeovilton 25C (77F)
Coldest	Omagh 4C (39F)
Wettest	Aviemore 0.04 in.
Sunniest	Boulmer 12.0 hr.

0800 472 5001 www.pollockhomelifts.co.uk • Market leading technology • Smallest lift on the market • Quick and easy to install • 12 month warranty • Certified to the British Standard 5900:2012

Aberdeen	2025 to 0558
Belfast	2034 to 0621
Birmingham	2012 to 0609
London	2003 to 0605
Manchester	2015 to 0608
Penzance	2021 to 0628

Aberdeen	--	--	1203	3,6m
Belfast	0935	2,9m	2148	3,2m
Cardiff	0455	9,9m	1721	10,6m
Dover	0926	5,8m	2151	5,8m
Falmouth	0325	4,2m	1541	4,6m
Harwich	0952	3,5m	2224	3,6m
Holyhead	0856	4.7m	2100	5,0m
Hull	0407	6,3m	1653	6,2m
Liverpool	0934	7,8m	2143	8,4m
London	--	--	1201	6,0m

	Sun hrs	Rain in	Max/Min °C	Daytime weather
Ramsgate	9.3"	0.00	22"	13" windy
Rhyl	10.5"	0.00	21"	11" p/cloudy
Rugby	9.2"	0.00	22"	10" p/cloudy
Salisbury	8.1"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Scunthorpe	6.8"	0.00	21"	9" cloudy
Sheffield	6.2	0.00	21	9 cloudy
Shetland	5.7"	0.00	16"	12" cloudy
Shrewsbury	10.1"	0.00	22"	10" p/cloudy
Skegness	7.2"	0.00	21"	11" p/cloudy
Southampton	10.7"	0.00	24"	12" p/cloudy
Southend-on-Sea	6.3"	0.00	22"	12" cloudy
Stockport	9.8"	0.00	21"	10" p/cloudy
Stornoway	2.2"	0.00	17"	7" cloudy
Swansea	9.6"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Swindon	9.2"	0.00	23"	12" p/cloudy
Thirsk	7.9"	0.00	21"	6" p/cloudy
Tiree	3.9"	0.00	17"	10" cloudy
Weymouth	6.4"	0.00	22"	13" windy
Whitehaven	10.5"	0.00	21"	9" p/cloudy
Windermere	10.0"	0.00	20"	9" p/cloudy
Worcester	9.8"	0.00	23"	11" p/cloudy
Yeovil	10.3"	0.00	25"	9" windy
York	8.8"	0.00	21"	8" p/cloudy

Fungal spores are high. Weed pollen is moderate. Tree and grass pollen are low.

S North Sea: A moderate to strong east-northeasterly wind today. Seas will be moderate. Visibility will be good.

Sea forecast

Help with today's clues Single clues 0905 757 0120. All Across/Down clues 0905 757 0121. Calls cost £1/minute, plus network access charge. You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer's permission. Services open Mon-Fri. SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390.

Dover Strait, English Channel: A gentle to fresh east-northeasterly wind today. Seas will be moderate on the east and will be slight on the west. Visibility will be good.
St. George's Channel: A gentle to fresh east-northeasterly wind today. Seas will be very rough. Visibility will be good.

Irish Sea: A gentle to moderate easterly wind today. Seas will be rough. Visibility will be good.

Across

1 This could make pals very generous (4-2)
2 American poet's pens (6)
3 Command from king stuck in river (5)

4 Allowance for the elderly beginning to be changed, creating anxiety (7)
6 Discover men tried out exfoliating at first (9)
7 Start in Italy with fourth of exhibits in art gallery (8)
8 Adore sugar ultimately in hot drink? Certainly! (8)
11 Assist European husband lifting large piano (4)
15 New lease isn't necessary (9)
17 District Attorney picked up on US vice-president's sexual overtures (8)

1 Holds up drinks after drink (8)
5 Lost penny in a crack (6)
9 Rich sailor and German social worker (8)
10 Hit second three-wheeler (6)
12 Constrained by fib about northern accent (9)
13 Checks rules, by the sound of it (5)
14 Some rowan we have flipping chopped (4)
16 Dog lead (7)
19 Dopiest mongrel getting stick (7)
21 Report penned in excitement (4)
24 Once more adult pursues profit? On the contrary! (5)
25 Get rid of dodgy email I sent, ignoring son (9)
27 Clergyman initially celebrated and left Morecambe? (6)
28 Found everyone following British sport (8)
29 Place in Washington no American is calm (6)
30 Perceived old Spanish coin instead, oddly (8)

18 Supposed dad upset mum? (8)

20 X enthrals English

Across

21 Ape - one with oomph in China (7)

Down

22 Badger – tough, short animal (6)

1 Boss of SpaceX (4)
4 Strike (3)
6 Cry loudly (4)
8 Break in continuity (6)
9 Get (6)
10 Match officials (8)
11 Location (4)
12 Traditional poems for children (7,6)
17 Huge (4)
19 Peevish (8)
22 Customs (6)
23 Sew (6)
24 Wimpy person (4)
25 Female sheep (3)
26 Expanded (4)

Quick Crossword

23 Successfully treated the Parisian's cut bonce (6)
26 This writer would relish taking top off model (5)

7 Simple wind instrument (7) 10 Sprint (3) 13 Ignorant (7) 14 Retort (7)

2 Join (5) 3 Young cats (7) 4 Hurriedness (5) 5 Take surreptitiously (7) 6 Nibbles (5)

Down

Help with today's Quick Crossword clues Single clues 0905 757 0122, Solution 0905 757 0123, Calls cost £1/minute, plus network access charge. You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer's permission. Services open Mon-Sat. SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390.

15 Shouting (7) 16 Drunkard (3) 18 Attempted (5) 20 Flavour (5) 21 Alcove (5)

Across: 1 Tour, 3 Kiss, 9 Cheep, 10 (Talk is cheap) 10 Racketeer, 11 Overt, 12 Armadillo, 15 Ironed, 17 Mexico, 19 Utterance, 21 Weird, 23 Intuition, 24 Smart, 25 Etch, 26 Thor. Down: 1 Terrapin, 2 Uncommon, 4 Ideals, 5 Scrooge, 6 Here, 7 Spot, 8 Feud, 13 Fiendish, 14 Governor, 16 Erudite, 18 Static, 20 Raid, 21 Wash, 22 Imam.

Solution No 31,326

Visit telegraph.co.uk/puzzles today*

European readings Last night's report for 24 hours to 6pm

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
Akrotiri	31	24	sunny
Alicante	33	26	p/cldy
Amsterdam	21	10	p/cldy
Athens	38	29	sunny
Barcelona	31	22	rain
Bari	31	22	sunny
Belgrade	32	15	sunny
Benidorm	31	25	storms
Bergen	15	11	p/cldy
Berlin	21	9	p/cldy
Biarritz	32	20	sunny
Bodrum	37	24	sunny
Bordeaux	33	19	showers
Brest	25	17	p/cldy
Brussels	22	10	sunny
Bucharest	33	22	storms
Budapest	29	11	sunny
Cagliari	33	24	sunny
Chamonix	24	13	rain
Copenhagen	21	14	p/cldy
Corfu	37	24	sunny
Cork	20	10	p/cldy
Corsica	31	21	showers
Crete	31	24	sunny
Dublin	20	6	p/cldy
Dubrovnik	33	24	sunny
Faro	25	21	p/cldy
Florence	35	18	sunny

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
Frankfurt	23	9	p/cldy
Funchal	24	21	rain
Gdansk	21	11	p/cldy
Geneva	27	14	p/cldy
Gibraltar	28	21	showers
Hamburg	20	11	p/cldy
Helsinki	18	12	showers
Innsbruck	27	12	p/cldy
Istanbul	32	23	sunny
Kyiv	23	13	sunny
La Rochelle	29	19	rain
Lisbon	24	20	rain
Locarno	27	13	rain
Luxembourg	18	9	p/cldy
Madrid	29	20	windy
Majorca	32	24	showers
Malaga	32	21	sunny
Malta	33	27	sunny
Marseille	33	19	windy
Menorca	31	25	storms
Milan	30	19	p/cldy
Monaco	30	22	p/cldy
Moscow	19	13	windy
Munich	23	8	sunny
Naples	34	25	sunny
Nice	31	24	p/cldy
Nicosia	37	20	sunny
Oporto	21	19	showers

World readings

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
Accra	29	24	showers
Addis Ababa	24	14	rain
Adelaide	16	12	rain
Alexandria	32	21	haze
Algiers	37	25	p/cldy
Amman	35	24	sunny
Anchorage	12	9	p/cldy
Ankara	33	16	sunny
AscensionIs.	28	23	showers
Auckland	16	9	p/cldy
Baghdad	46	32	haze
Bahamas	32	26	storms
Bahrain	40	34	sunny
Bamako	34	23	storms
Bangkok	34	28	p/cldy
Beijing	33	25	storms
Beirut	37	23	sunny
Bermuda	30	26	storms
Bogota	18	12	p/cldy
Bridgetown	30	27	storms
Brisbane	23	15	showers
Buenos Aires	10	8	p/cldy
Cairo	37	25	haze
Canberra	19	1	p/cldy
Cape Town	22	12	sunny
Casablanca	30	18	sunny
Chicago	24	14	p/cldy
Christchurch	17	0	p/cldy
Colombo	31	26	rain

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
Damascus	38	19	haze
Dar es Salaam	31	21	sunny
Dhaka	33	27	rain
Dubai	42	35	sunny
Falkland Is.	5	1	cloudy
Harare	26	11	sunny
Havana	33	22	p/cldy
Hong Kong	33	29	rain
Honolulu	27	26	p/cldy
Jakarta	34	25	sunny
Jeddah	38	31	haze
Jerusalem	31	21	sunny
Johannesburg	22	6	haze
Kabul	31	17	haze
Karachi	33	27	p/cldy
Kolkata	31	28	rain
Kuala Lumpur	34	25	p/cldy
La Paz	3	0	snow
Lahore	37	29	p/cldy
Lima	24	19	haze
Los Angeles	30	21	sunny
Maldives	33	28	p/cldy
Manila	31	26	storms
Marrakesh	35	18	sunny
Melbourne	19	9	cloudy
Miami	32	25	storms
Montego Bay	32	27	storms
Mumbai	31	27	rain
Nairobi	27	13	p/cldy

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
Oslo	20	7	sunny
Palermo	32	27	sunny
Paris	27	16	p/cldy
Perpignan	33	21	rain
Prague	21	9	p/cldy
Reykjavik	10	7	rain
Rhodes	32	25	sunny
Riga	18	13	p/cldy
Rome	33	21	sunny
Saint Malo	28	18	sunny
Salzburg	25	11	sunny
Santander	27	18	showers
Santiago/Comp.	22	15	showers
Sofia	32	20	storms
St. Petersburg	15	13	showers
Stockholm	20	10	sunny
Strasbourg	24	14	showers
Tenerife	28	22	windy
Tirana	35	21	sunny
Toulouse	31	22	showers
Valencia	33	25	p/cldy
Venice	29	20	sunny
Vienna	26	15	p/cldy
Vigo	22	17	rain
Vilnius	19	12	showers
Warsaw	18	11	showers
Zagreb	30	13	sunny
Zurich	25	12	sunny

	Max °C	Min °C	Daytime weather
New Orleans	33	27	storms
New Delhi	32	25	rain
New York	25	18	p/cldy
Ottawa	20	13	storms
Perth	19	8	p/cldy
Port-of-Spain	31	25	showers
Rio de Janeiro	21	20	showers
Riyadh	44	29	sunny
San Francisco	19	14	p/cldy
Santiago	13	9	cloudy
Seattle	18	14	haze
Seoul	33	24	sunny
Seychelles	29	26	cloudy
Singapore	33	27	haze
Sydney	25	12	sunny
Taipei City	31	26	storms
Tangier	27	20	p/cldy
Tel Aviv	33	25	sunny
Tokyo	33	26	p/cldy
Toronto	19	14	showers
Tunis	41	27	p/cldy
Vancouver	20	13	p/cldy
Washington	28	18	p/cldy
Wellington	17	8	windy
Winnipeg	21	15	storms

Nature Notes

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather.com ©2026

Zoo inhabitants on the scales

PENGUINS, capybaras, squirrel monkeys and a Vietnamese magnolia snail were among 10,000 animals measured at ZSL London Zoo's annual "weigh-in" yesterday.

Every mammal, bird, reptile, fish and invertebrate was weighed, with some scales disguised in habitats to ensure animals hopped on.

A Bolivian black-capped squirrel monkey was placed on a perch for the weigh-in while brother and sister capybaras Gizmo and Kiwi were lured onto the scales with food.

There are more than 10,000 animals at the zoo across 4,000 species and the smallest are Partula snails, which weigh less than a gram.

London Zoo's animal operations manager Daniel Simmonds said: "Regular weigh-ins help zookeepers track the health of our animals and genuinely help us manage the care of these animals, who play a vital role in our global conservation efforts."

Sujiko® MODERATE NO 5467

To play Sujiko, enter the numbers 1 to 9 in the spaces so that the total in each circle is equal to the sum of the four surrounding squares. Today's solutions appear tomorrow.

Suguru NO 2555

The aim of Suguru is to fill the grid so that no same digit is touching. A two-cell outlined block contains the digits 1 and 2; a three-cell block contains 1, 2, 3; and so on. The same digit must not appear in neighbouring cells, not even diagonally.

Yesterday's solutions:

Sujiko 5466:	592	Suguru 2554:
	681
	437
Suko 1183:	713	Suko 1184:
	826
	549

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