Wessex Water granted its chief executive a pay rise well above inflation despite being prohibited from issuing bonuses due to sewage discharge incidents, newly released accounts show. Ruth Jefferson’s base salary rose by 14% in October, increasing from £590,000 to £670,000, before additional benefits were included. This uplift significantly exceeded the 3.5% awarded to staff and placed her earnings at 18 times the company’s median salary. Executive compensation in the water sector has faced

Starting July 18, 2026, three zodiac signs will be able to take advantage of an important opportunity that appears precisely when they are truly ready for it. On this day, the influence of the stars will help them recognize prospects that may have previously gone unnoticed. The retrograde lunar node is associated with destiny, life direction, and pivotal turning points. Its energy can encourage decisions that may seem risky at first, yet ultimately lead to meaningful and lasting change. Taurus

The co-founder and chief executive of Ocado has said he has “no intention of being a puppet master” overseeing staff decisions, amid signs of tension in the boardroom over succession plans at the grocery technology group. Tim Steiner, who is due to step down as chief executive in 2028, indicated that any incoming leader would be comfortable continuing to work alongside him. Shares in the company fell by almost 15% on Thursday, reaching their lowest level in more than ten years, after Ocado

In summer, cucumbers react instantly to even minor care mistakes, and slight stress can affect the shape of the fruit long before any other warning signs appear. Although their appearance does not influence taste or nutritional value, the shape can reveal what the plant is lacking and help you correct the problem in time. Let’s explore why cucumbers curl as they grow and what causes this feature. Why Cucumbers Grow Curved – What the Shape of the Fruit Reveals It is not always possible to

During a sweeping reshuffle of Ukraine’s government, Defense Minister Mykhaylo Fedorov was dismissed from his post despite a period marked by notable military achievements — a move that has triggered public demonstrations and unease within the armed forces. The 35-year-old Fedorov earned recognition for his forward-thinking use of technology and new recruitment strategies, though his methods reportedly created friction within parts of Ukraine’s defense leadership. He strongly backed Ukrainian

China’s economic expansion slowed markedly from April to June, as subdued domestic demand and the effects of the Iran conflict on oil prices weighed on the economy, despite robust export performance. Official gross domestic product (GDP) data indicated that the world’s second-largest economy grew by 4.3% in the second quarter, falling short of Beijing’s yearly target and down from the 5% growth recorded in the first quarter. The figures were released a day after separate statistics showed that

From midnight on July 15, 2026, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar officially lifted border controls with Spain. Prior to this decision, the border checkpoints and the metal fence erected back in 1908 had already been dismantled. As Tagesschau recalls, Spain and Gibraltar had been separated by border checks for more than a century. Under the new agreement, however, entry into the British territory is now governed by Schengen Area regulations. Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José

Long before his name was attached to one of the most formidable predators ever to walk the Earth — or appeared in the pages of an auction catalog — the late Gary “Gus” Licking, a cattle rancher in South Dakota, had a strong feeling that something extraordinary lay beneath his land. The Licking ranch sits within the Hell Creek Formation, a renowned fossil-rich region spanning Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. It is considered the most significant site in the world for Tyrannosaurus rex. One of

KUBUQI DESERT, China (AP) — For five decades, millions of workers have carried out the same careful routine across the windswept deserts of northern China: pressing forearm-length sticks into loose sand in straight rows, then crossing them with another set to create a tight grid. In the middle of each small square, young saplings are planted. This approach, known as “straw checkerboards,” is a straightforward but effective way to anchor shifting dunes. The grids reduce wind speed at ground

At least 51 people have died and over one million residents have been impacted by days of relentless rainfall across Bangladesh. Severe flash floods and landslides have destroyed homes and displaced thousands in many regions of the country, including the capital city, Dhaka. More than half of the confirmed fatalities have been recorded in Cox's Bazar, an area that hosts a large Rohingya refugee community. In that district last week, several students and a teacher lost their lives after

A massive blaze ripped through a bar in Bangkok late on Sunday night, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and leaving 22 others in critical condition. The fire reportedly began near the stage area of the venue in the bustling Chatuchak district. It quickly spread throughout the premises, cutting off electricity and filling the space with thick smoke, according to witnesses. Videos shared on social media captured scenes of chaos, with terrified patrons screaming as they rushed toward the

While Spain’s most famous tourist regions struggle with protests and Venice considers new limits on visitor numbers, another corner of Europe is eager to welcome more travelers. According to Travel Off Path, the Turkish city of Fethiye is actively working to attract new guests and has launched a large-scale promotional campaign to boost its visibility. The publication notes that in July, advertisements for Fethiye appeared across London’s public transport network. Although the campaign is

If you’re heading to Paris this summer, you might consider adding a swim in the Seine to your plans. After the intense heat the city has endured in recent weeks, it may feel less like a novelty and more like a necessity. Paris recently recorded its hottest day ever, with temperatures climbing above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in late June. As a third heatwave approaches, the reopening of three designated swimming areas along the river arrives at exactly the right moment.

Apple on Friday accused OpenAI of misappropriating trade secrets as the artificial intelligence company moves forward with plans to develop its own hardware for ChatGPT, marking a significant breakdown in relations between the longtime partners. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in California, Apple alleges that OpenAI encouraged Apple employees it was attempting to hire to share confidential company information, and even advised them on how to avoid detection during the transition. “This

Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has dropped to its lowest level in ten years during the first half of 2026, according to newly released government data. The figures, published on Friday, represent a significant achievement for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has made reducing destruction in the world’s largest rainforest a central goal of his administration. Between January and June, approximately 1,295 square kilometres (500 square miles) of forest were cleared in the

Budget carrier EasyJet has announced that it has reached an agreement in principle on a £5.7bn takeover approach from US private equity group Apollo Global Management, only days after backing a proposal from a competing bidder. The airline stated that Apollo’s proposal offered “a superior outcome” for shareholders compared with the earlier bid from US investment firm Castlelake, which EasyJet had provisionally supported over the weekend. EasyJet ranks among Europe’s biggest airlines. It employs

July 9 - President Vladimir Putin is dismissing appeals to open peace talks with Kyiv, according to three individuals close to the Kremlin, as Ukraine’s recent drone attacks on Russian oil facilities and ports appear to have reinforced his determination to continue the war. Two of the sources, who requested anonymity, said Putin is more inclined to intensify military operations as the conflict enters its fifth year. One person who regularly meets with the president described a “strong

Last month became the warmest June ever observed in Western Europe, with temperatures exceeding the 1991–2020 average by more than three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. In a statement released Thursday, the climate monitoring agency reported that the region’s average temperature climbed to 20.74C (69.33F). The surge was largely driven by a powerful heatwave in the latter half of the month that shattered records in

• Russia announced a ban on diesel exports on Wednesday as part of a broader package of steps aimed at stabilising its domestic fuel market. The move follows repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which have disrupted production, caused gasoline shortages and driven up prices. In many regions, motorists have been forced to wait in long queues to fill their tanks as supplies of diesel and petrol tighten. Deputy prime minister Alexander Novak told a televised government