Author: BBC

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.…

Ukraine Emergencies MinistryRescuers needed to cut victims from the wreckageFourteen people have been killed in a serious road accident in western Ukraine.A senior regional official said the fatalities resulted from a lorry driving into oncoming traffic and colliding with a minibus. Twelve passengers, including a six-year-old child, and the two drivers were killed, while one woman survived with serious injuries, officials said. Criminal proceedings have been opened into the incident.It happened near the village of Verkhiv, in Rivne region at about 15:45 local time (12:45 GMT), the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Koval, said on his Telegram channel.Possible…

Papua New Guinea’s influential petroleum minister Jimmy Maladina has been charged with assault following an alleged “domestic dispute” in Australia, according to court documents.Police said a 31-year-old woman was allegedly attacked in Sydney by a 58-year-old man who was known to her on Saturday morning local time. Mr Maladina was granted conditional bail ahead of a court appearance on 11 July.In a statement, he said he was “aware of the recent media reports” and was “cooperating with the authorities to address this matter”.”I understand the gravity of this situation and the concerns it raises,” said Mr Maladina.”As a public servant,…

Jon Landau – the Oscar-winning producer of some of the world’s highest-grossing movies of all time, including Titanic and Avatar – has died aged 63.Landau, who was the long-time producing partner of filmmaker James Cameron, reportedly died on Friday after living with cancer for more than a year.His sister Tina confirmed his death on social media, calling him “the best brother a girl could ever dream of”.”My heart is broken but also bursting with pride & gratitude for his most extraordinary life, and the love and gifts he gave me – and all who knew him or his films,” she…

Getty ImagesRob Delaney’s son Henry died in 2018The US actor and comedian Rob Delaney has said he wants to buy the home his son died in so he can also experience his last moments there.Delaney’s two-year-old child Henry died in 2018 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Delaney told Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs he asked the landlord when he moved out: “Listen, if you ever go to sell this place, let me know first because I would like to buy it.”So when I’m 81 I can crawl in here and die. In the same room that my son…

3 hours agoBy Katya Adler, Europe editorGetty ImagesHow likely is France to wake up on Monday morning to a new far-right dawn?That was the garishly painted, hotly debated scenario in media headlines, the EU in Brussels and seats of government across Europe following the first round of France’s parliamentary vote last week.But despite the spectacular showing by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party, the short answer is: an RN majority is possible. Not probable.French centrist and leftist parties have strategically withdrawn candidates to bolster each other’s contenders ahead of Sunday’s decisive second round.But the impact of this election will be seismic,…

Holly JacksonHolly’s debut novel A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has been turned into a series for the BBCBestselling author Holly Jackson shares her secrets for plotting a modern murder mystery – and explains how true crime has influenced her.For the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, the process of writing a whodunnit is as meticulous as investigating a crime.”I am obsessive about it,” she says. “I don’t quite have a ‘murder board’ because it’s not on the wall, but it is on the floor.”Each scene in one of Holly’s books corresponds to an index card, which is…