George Russell said it was “good to remind himself that he can do it” as he claimed a morale-boosting victory from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in Austria.

It was Russell’s first win since the opening day of the season in Melbourne and allowed him to close to within 40 points of Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the top of the championship. The Italian teenager finished third, narrowly running out of time to catch Verstappen at the end.

There was disappointment for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, who were well off the pace both in terms of their car and their strategy. 

Hamilton finished fifth on a three-stop strategy, over 26 seconds behind Russell, with team-mate Charles Leclerc even further back. 

It is a blow to the seven-time world champion’s hopes of winning a record eighth title, although the Red Bull Ring is a bit of an outlier given its altitude. Hamilton drops behind Russell in the championship, 46 points behind Antonelli.

“The tough races definitely test you psychologically,” Russell said at the finish. “These last two weekends for me have been vitally important to remind myself I can do it. Single lap, race pace, was very strong this weekend, on a track that was probably not well suited to my style. I look forward to heading to Silverstone!”

More to follow…

Fourteen people were killed when a helicopter crashed in Saudi Arabia, state media reported on Sunday.

The helicopter, belonging to state oil giant Aramco, crashed in the eastern coastal city of Ras Tanura at 06:00 local time (03:00 GMT) killing all those on board, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

All 14 victims were Saudi citizens, it reported, with investigations under way to determine the cause of the crash.

Aramco did not immediately comment.

The Saudi energy ministry shared its condolences with the victims’ families.

Ras Tanura is home to a major Aramco oil refinery – one of the largest in the Middle East.

The Reuters news agency reported that the company had resumed crude oil loading at the site on Friday after an almost four-month pause due to the war in the Middle East.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The incident happened at around 1.50am on Sunday

A bus was attacked by a group of masked youths in the early hour of this morning in Derry. Police received a report at 1.50am on Sunday, June 28, that a bus was attacked in the Drumahoe Park and Ride area of the city.

It was reported there had been an altercation on the bus, and as it approached Drumahoe, it was met “by a group of around 10-15 youths wearing face coverings.”

The bus driver drove off, believing the group wanted to board the bus and continue the altercation. This resulted in the youths throwing items at the bus, as well as punching and kicking the vehicle.

A top-level window was smashed and another window was damaged in the incident. In case any passengers had been injured, the driver continued on to the hospital.

However, another small group of around six people wearing face coverings attempted to attack the bus as it passed the Ivy Mead area.

PSNI Chief Inspector Ferriby said: “We received a report at around 1.50am that a bus had been attacked in the Drumahoe Park & Ride area of the city.

“Officers attended the scene, where it was reported that there had been an altercation on the bus, with reference made to the park and ride area. As it approached Drumahoe, the vehicle was subsequently met by a group of around 10-15 youths wearing face coverings.

“Believing the group wanted to board the bus and continue the altercation, the driver drove off, resulting in the youths throwing a number of items at the vehicle. They also punched and kicked the bus.

“One of the top-level windows on the bus was subsequently smashed and another window damaged.

“The driver continued on to the hospital, in case any of the passengers had been injured. As the bus passed the Ivy Mead area, however, another smaller group of approximately six people, again wearing face coverings, attempted to attack the bus.

“Our enquiries are ongoing and we would ask that anyone with information which could assist, contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 175 of 28/06/26.

“Alternatively, you can call us on the 101 number or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Rail replacement buses are now available to those facing disruption today, with services running in both directions between Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent, National Rail says.

The first bus is estimated to arrive at Crewe at 5pm, while in Stoke-on-Trent, the first bus is set to arrive at 4:45pm.

Former President Joe Biden has launched a fiery attack on President Donald Trump, dubbing his successor a “loser” for his ongoing beautification projects of the nation’s capital, some of which have become mired in controversy.

Biden was met with loud cheering as he listed Trump’s “vanity projects” during a speech at a state Democratic Party convention in Hanover, Maryland, Saturday evening.

“Tearing down the East Wing of the White House, making room for ‘his’ ballroom? Putting his name on the Kennedy Center. Building an arch in his own honor. Even hiring his own pool guy to fix the reflecting pool,” Biden said.

“Whoa, what a loser.”

The Trump administration has embarked on a long list of renovation projects including an effort to resurface and refurbish the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The project has ballooned to more than $16 million in costs amid persistent algae blooms and damage to the pool’s new spray-painted aqua blue coating, which the president and National Parks Service have blamed on vandalism.

Trump was also criticized for awarding a no-bid contract to his “pool guy” to resurface the Reflecting Pool which he initially estimated at $2 million in costs.

Videos and photos from the past two weeks have shown large chunks of the pool’s coating floating up to the surface in the murky, algae-stained waters. For days, workers were seen onsite dumping hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals into the water in attempts to fight the algae. Last weekend, a dead duckling was found in the pool amid the cleaning efforts.

At the event Saturday, Biden also slammed his White House successor over his “corruption” amid claims that Trump and his family have positioned themselves to make billions of dollars during his second term.

“He has no shame, and frankly it’s embarrassing for the country. But Trump? Trump could care less,” Biden said.

The former president urged Democrats to keep their energy and enthusiasm strong head of November’s midterms. “To all you who love our country, my message tonight is straightforward and simple: Get up, dammit. Get up now. Continue this fight!” he added.

In June, the Trump administration announced plans to build a walkway down to the Potomac River waterfront extending from the side of the Kennedy Center opposite the Reflecting Pool. The president described his plans for a “promenade” as honoring the supposed original intent of the Memorial’s architects. Cost estimates for that project have not yet been released.

Trump’s White House ballroom has produced perhaps the most jarring images of any of the president’s renovation projects with the flattening of the East Wing.

In March, President Donald Trump said his vast White House ballroom would cost $400 million and be funded entirely by private donations, noting: “We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents.”

But weeks prior to these public remarks, the project’s contractor had warned the administration that total costs would reach $600 million — with at least half expected to be covered by taxpayers.

At the Kennedy Center, grey tarp and scaffolding now covers the building’s signage as a legal battle over the Center continues. Trump was previously ordered to remove his name from the structure after a judge ruled that only Congress has the authority to rename the building, and explicitly intended it to be a memorial for John F. Kennedy.

The judge overseeing the case ordered the administration last week to explain why the sign remains covered up, and the case remains in limbo for now.

Other beautification projects have been undertaken at parks and monuments around the city of Washington D.C. ahead of plans to celebrate America’s 250th birthday this summer, culminating in events around the July 4 holiday.

Many of those sites, such as D.C. iconic Union Station, now bear large banners touting the Trump administration’s focus on “cleaning up” D.C.

Story Homes has confirmed that surfacing works to roads and pathways at The Willows development, on Carmel Road South in Blackwell, are now complete.

The developer said it is now preparing to carry out landscaping works at the estate, with the programme currently indicating that the site could be finished in early September 2026.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

But residents are still hitting out at Story Homes, citing that they have “waited long enough” for these changes at the estate, where houses were first advertised for up to £750,000.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

One resident told The Northern Echo: “The time it’s taking developers to do this site is ludicrous.

“We just want to live on an estate that’s complete, that’s surely not that difficult?”

Construction of the 59-property development began around six years ago, but residents have previously raised repeated concerns over unfinished roads, pavements, lighting, drainage and public open spaces.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Last year, people living on the estate branded the site a “bomb site” and said a number of issues remained unresolved, despite some improvement works having taken place.

At the time, residents said they had been left dealing with uneven roads, unfinished paths and safety concerns, while some complained that the work had come “years too late”.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Story Homes has now said progress is continuing at the development, with work on roads and pathways virtually completed.

A spokesperson for Story Homes said: “We’re continuing to make progress at The Willows, with the surfacing works to the roads and pathways now complete.

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“In relation to the landscaping works, we have appointed an ecological consultancy to secure the preferred ecological licensing route through a District Level Licence (DLL), ensuring compliance with our obligations for the protection of great crested newts.

“The licence is anticipated to be in place by late July 2026.

“Landscaping works will commence thereafter and are expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete, with the programme currently indicating completion in early September 2026.”

The Story Homes development in Blackwell, Darlington (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Darlington Borough Council said it continues to work with developers across a number of housing developments to support the completion of roads, footways, public open spaces and other infrastructure before they can be considered for adoption by the authority.

A council spokesperson said: “We continue to work with developers across a number of housing developments to support the completion of roads, footways, public open spaces and other infrastructure required before these can be considered for adoption by the council.

“Until works are completed to the agreed standards and all relevant requirements have been met, responsibility for these areas remains with the developer.

“The council cannot formally adopt highways or other infrastructure until it is satisfied that the necessary standards have been achieved.

“We remain in regular dialogue with developers and will continue to work with them to help progress sites through the adoption process as quickly as possible.”

The stone barn sits just east of the listed farmhouse at Ricknall Grange Farm, near Preston-le-Skerne.

It has stood empty for some time and is no longer useful for modern farming, the applicants say.

Under the plans, the barn will be repaired and turned into a three-bedroom house for private use.

The work will keep the main shape and character of the old building, with new slate and pantile roofs and careful repairs to the stone walls.

Extra sheds and large extensions will not be allowed without further permission, so the setting stays rural and simple.

To protect wildlife, new bat and bird boxes will be fitted, and outside lighting will be strictly controlled.

An electric car charging point must be installed before anyone moves in.

One key part of the permission is a promise to set aside nearby farmland and plant it with scrub and trees.

Farming will stop on that small plot for at least 100 years, to help cut pollution reaching protected coastal sites downstream.

The council says the plan will save a historic farm building, add one new home, and keep the local countryside largely unchanged.