Author: BBC

2 hours agoBy Toby Luckhurst, BBC News, LondonGetty ImagesThe Tokyo governor, Yuriko Koike, wins a third termTokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is certain to win a third consecutive term in Sunday’s gubernatorial election, according to exit polls.The 71-year-old first female governor of Japan’s most populous city, will secure her position for another four years.Her victory will be a relief for struggling Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), who backed the 71-year-old to win a third term.She was elected in 2016, and won her second term in 2020. The conservative governor successfully guided the city through the coronavirus pandemic and…

Thousands of people have been demonstrating against mass tourism in Barcelona.Footage filmed in the Spanish city over the weekend shows diners in popular tourist areas being squirted with water pistols and crowds of protesters chanting “tourists go home”. The mayor of Barcelona recently pledged to eliminate short-term tourist lets in the city within five years. Source link

Spain’s famous San Fermin festival has kicked off with thousands cramming into Pamplona’s main square for the lighting of the ‘chupinazo’ firecracker. Many festival goers will take part in the ‘running of the bulls’ over the coming days, the controversial centrepiece of the week-long event. Crowds cheered “long live Saint Fermin” as they danced, drank and sung at the opening of the festival on Saturday. Source link

13 minutes agoBy Charlotte Gallagher, Culture reporterGetty ImagesThe actor described the film as ‘incredibly personal’ Before Simon Pegg was Tom Cruise’s right hand man in Mission Impossible he was known for his British comedy hits. Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End are called The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy due to their repeated references about the ice cream. And like with any cult classic there are calls for sequels and reboots, especially with Shaun of the Dead marking its twentieth birthday this year. But Pegg, who wrote the film with director Edgar Wright, said the pair would be “incensed”.…

US actor and wrestler John Cena has announced he is retiring from competing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events.Cena made the surprise announcement to fans during an appearance at the WWE Money in the Bank event in Canada. The 47-year-old, who made his move into acting 18 years ago, said his final in-ring competition will be in 2025 as part of a farewell tour. Cena is often regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and achieved world champion status 16 times since joining WWE in 2001. “Tonight I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” he…

58 minutes agoBy Huw Thomas, Business Correspondent, BBC Wales News • Nick Bourne, BBC NewsPort Talbot’s Tata steel plant future a ‘major priority’ – ReynoldsThe UK government’s new business secretary has said “job guarantees” will form part of the negotiations with steel giant Tata about its Port Talbot site.Jonathan Reynolds said there was “a better deal available” on the future of the plant, but said newer technologies would employ fewer people.The previous Conservative government agreed a £500m rescue package to help keep the plant open and shift to greener production methods, but 2,800 UK jobs would still be lost.Mr Reynolds said he and Prime Minister…

5 hours agoBy Katy Prickett, BBC News, HertfordshireLiam BononiContemporary artist Liam Bononi, known for creating hyper-realistic portraits, is one of 20 creating bespoke works for Ashridge HouseA Grade I-listed house showcasing street art by at least 20 artists hopes it will attract “people who might not ordinarily visit a stately home or garden”. The works, by creatives such as Liam Bononi, WRDSMTH and Curtis Hylton, will go on display across 190 acres of the Grade II-listed gardens surrounding Ashridge House, near Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in August.Artists were asked to use the property’s history as inspiration and “take something off on to their own…

A record-breaking heatwave that has already caused large wildfires in western US states is set to continue next week.Around 130m people were under some form of heat warning or advisory on Saturday. Nearly 57m people remain under heat alerts, as at least one child has already died in heat-related circumstances in Arizona.Meteorologists are warning that warm nights will lead to people suffering heat stress. Temperatures could reach 128F (53C) in Death Valley on Monday.While it is hard to link individual heatwaves to climate change, scientists say they are becoming more common and intense because of it. Source link

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson has died in a car crash at the age of 24.Rookie Jackson and two former high school team-mates, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr, died early on Saturday morning in Prince George’s County, Maryland.The Dodge Charger they were travelling in collided with another vehicle that was trying to change lanes at high speed.”I am absolutely crushed by this news,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his team-mates to him.”In our short time together, it was evident Khyree…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says he has appointed a CEO known for employing ex-offenders as the new prisons minister because he “walks the walk”. James Timpson, of the Timpson Group, which provides key cutting and shoe repair services, has made a name for himself hiring hundreds of former prisoners. He previously said only a third of people in prison should be there. During his first news conference as prime minister on Saturday, Sir Keir said Mr Timpson had invested “a huge amount over many years” into rehabilitating offenders and he was “very pleased” to have given him the post.…