Arsenal did not pursue a deadline-day deal for Malick Fofana after Mikel Arteta raised concerns about the Lyon winger, according to reports.

The Belgium international emerged as a target late in the window as Arsenal considered strengthening their forward line following a number of high-profile snubs.

Deals for Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior failed to materialise, with Christos Tzolis the only arrival to replace Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

The Gunners had been holding out hope of a late deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, but the Argentine indicated he wasn’t keen on a Premier League return.

However, Arsenal almost sprang into action on deadline day after they were offered the chance to sign Fofana as Lyon looked to raise funds after missing out on the Champions League.

The 21-year-old has previously attracted interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, and was available for around £30million, a similar fee to that which Arsenal paid to bring Tzolis to the Emirates earlier in the summer.

However, The Athletic reports that Arsenal were only willing to pursue a loan deal to avoid the possibility of breaching UEFA’s spending limits.

It is also said that Arteta spoke with Fofana, but held concerns about the winger’s ability to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League.

Despite Arsenal’s decision, Fofana did ultimately end up in the English top-flight after a remarkable transfer tussle between Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

The Black Cats struck a deal first for the winger before Palace looked to hijack the transfer after agreeing a similar deal with Lyon.

Ultimately, Sunderland rescued their deal by offering more commission to the Belgian’s agents, with a five-year deal agreed for the pacey winger.

‘Malick has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League,’ Sunderland’s Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said.
 
‘He is a player with huge potential and Sunderland AFC will provide him with the right environment to continue to develop and prosper.
 
‘He operates off the left and will complement the versatility of the other wide men we have at the club, who can play across both flanks.
 
‘We are delighted to welcome Malick to the Club and look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career.’

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Freely available satellite radar imaging is being used for the first time to help track colonies of endangered emperor penguins in Antarctica throughout the winter months.

Typically satellite images need sunlight to be useful, and Antarctica is dark in the winter. This has meant that colonies have been hidden at a critical time in the emperor penguin breeding cycle, when eggs are laid, chicks hatch and adults take part in those iconic huddles.

Almost 70 colonies of emperor penguins, many of which have never been visited by humans, occupy the sea ice that is fastened to the coastline surrounding Antarctica.

Now using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), an instrument operating on satellites that sends microwave pulses down to Earth, and measures how those pulses return, our research team has been able to track what the penguins do during these months.

Unlike other forms of satellite imagery, SAR is not reliant on sunlight, or affected by cloud, and therefore provides radar imagery of Antarctica through the dark polar winter.

SAR’s signal is sensitive to the properties of what it interacts with, and has been used for years in the poles to research things like the properties of sea ice and melt on glaciers.

When looking at SAR images from the free European Space Agency satellite, Sentinel-1, showing the location of an emperor penguin colony during winter, my team started to notice a bright white splodge of pixels moving around against a backdrop of dark, smooth sea ice.

Features like icebergs or rough sea ice can look bright in SAR imagery, but it didn’t make sense for those to be moving around at that time of year, when the sea ice was fixed and stable. Could it be the emperor penguin colony?

We soon found the same thing at the locations of other colonies – clusters of bright moving pixels on stable ice. We were then able to obtain optical images from September when the sunlight first starts returning, and compare them with the SAR, and confirmed it was indeed the colonies we were observing.

Tracking through the whole year

This finding opened up an exciting opportunity to track colonies throughout the whole breeding cycle, by combining SAR images in winter with optical images in spring/summer, and all using freely available data that has been routinely collected for years.

We went back through eight years, from 2017 to 2024, and followed three of the largest colonies year-round. We were able to follow their movement, sometimes even daily from early in the winter until chicks grow their first feathers in December and January.

We observed that colonies were typically less mobile in the winter, before spreading out and moving greater distances in the spring and summer. Interestingly, we found that the Atka Bay colony moved up from the sea ice onto the glacier ice that flows from the continent in seven of the eight years in the early spring. The colony did this despite the sea ice – the typically preferred habitat for the species – being stable. We need more research to understand why this is.

Satellite remote sensing has been a crucial tool for observing the emperor penguins in the summer months since 2009. It was discovered then that colonies could be found in satellite images because of the dark guano stains they leave on the snow and ice. Overall, these observations have revolutionised our understanding of the species and have led to the discovery of many more colonies.

After a period of stability, Antarctic sea ice has declined markedly since 2016 and likely entered a new state, characterised by lower extent and increased instability. Earlier this year, emperor penguins were added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list and classified as endangered, predominantly due to projected declines in sea ice.

This makes better understanding and monitoring of emperor penguins more important than ever. The ability to observe colonies throughout the breeding cycle using freely available, routinely collected satellite data creates opportunities to better understand their response to changing environmental conditions.

George Clooney is the latest star to defend Mark Ruffalo after Paramount had accused the star of antisemitism.

The 65-year-old A-lister stood up for free speech and the embattled 58-year-old Avengers star, who was also recently defended by 170 Jewish entertainment figures in an open letter.

Ruffalo, 58, was accused of ‘antisemitic tropes’ by Paramount Skydance after opposing the company’s merger with Warner Bros Discovery. He has insisted that his issue has to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people. He had previously described Israel’s military actions as ‘genocide.’

Paramount CEO David Ellison is the son of billionaire technology mogul Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of major software company Oracle, which has provided technological assistance to Israel amid its strikes on Gaza.

Now, Clooney has defended Ruffalo during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival ahead of receiving the fest’s highest honor, a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.

The ER star was asked to respond to Paramount’s criticism of Ruffalo as he replied: ‘I support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I think that that’s ridiculous. We’re not going to ban speech.

Ruffalo, 58, was accused of ‘antisemitic tropes’ by Paramount Skydance after opposing the company’s merger with Warner Bros Discovery. He has insisted that his issue has to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people

‘I believe in free speech even when I completely disagree with it. That’s important, right? In fact, it’s part of how a democracy works. There are going to be people tonight in the room that are going to disagree with most everything I say or stand for. Fair enough. That’s how it’s supposed to be. We’re supposed to argue these things out and come to a conclusion based on the information that we take in.’

Clooney then went on to speak about Ruffalo personally.

He said: ‘I will always support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I like him. He’s a good man.’

The global ambassador for Nespresso then touched on how he felt about the merger itself, which he called a ‘complicated thing,’ and said that he predicts it doesn’t go through and feels like it won’t actually benefit the people behind it like the aforementioned Ellison.

Clooney said: ‘I don’t know how this goes through. There are so many issues involved.

‘It doesn’t matter how much money you have; it’s going to be very tricky to do. So, my opinion on the merger is: I always worry whenever big companies are consolidating because it usually means a lot of people lose their jobs. That’s the truth.’

This comes after Ruffalo was defended by nearly 200 Jewish figures in entertainment.

Actress Hannah Einbinder, who previously defended the actor, led the signatures of Jewish entertainment industry members in an open letter of support for the Marvel actor.

The ER star was asked to respond to Paramount’s criticism of Ruffalo as he replied: ‘I support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I think that that’s ridiculous. We’re not going to ban speech’

Clooney hopping on a water taxi at the Venice Film Festival ahead of him receiving the fest’s highest honor, a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement

Other notable names included: Joel Coen, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun and Wallace Shawn. 

The new letter, published on Tuesday, defended Ruffalo as it argued against what it said were ‘false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism.’

In his previous statement, Ruffalo had highlighted the links between the Ellison family and Israel, which the open letter reiterated.

It read: ‘Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty.’

Broad City actress Glazer also released a statement along with her signature that read: ‘Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd— it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism.

‘Mark has consistently spoken out against antisemitism while also standing up for Palestinian rights and dignity for all people. It’s an American’s right to debate media consolidation and the dangers of monopolized corporate power without weaponizing antisemitism to bully people into silence.’

Last week, Einbinder took to social media to defend Ruffalo after Paramount called his merger attack ‘antisemitic.’

The Hacks star made her thoughts clear on Instagram Stories last Monday following Ruffalo’s criticism of Paramount’s jabs at him as ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest.’ 

Ruffalo has also been defended by nearly 200 Jewish figures in entertainment 

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Actress Hannah Einbinder, who previously defended the actor, led the signatures of Jewish entertainment industry members in an open letter of support for the Marvel star

Ruffalo said on Saturday: ‘The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest’

Other notable names included: Joel Coen (above), Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun and Wallace Shawn

Broad City actress Glazer also released a statement along with her signature that read: ‘Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd – it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism’

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In her statement, Einbinder, who is Jewish, said she was ‘so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover.’

She said Ruffalo correctly ‘pointed out that this is a dangerous consolidation of power that could ultimately be used against us.’

The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Einbinder, Ruffalo and Paramount at the time for further comment. 

In her statement, Einbinder said that ‘the idea that [Ruffalo] only said these things because the Ellisons are Jewish is LUDICROUS,’ asking, ‘Is it also antisemitic to point out that Safra Catz, the Oracle executive vice chair who boasted about the “profoundly scary technology” provided to the IDF, also sits on Paramount’s board?

‘Or that Larry Ellison has been buying favor with Trump by donating tens of millions to his political efforts for years? Or that he once offered Netanyahu a lucrative Oracle post?’

The Los Angeles-born actress said that Ruffalo’s words marked ‘criticism of RIGHT WING technofeudalist oligarchs who are in the process of carrying out the largest media acquisition in history,’ adding that ‘people are not too stupid to see these obvious connections.’

Einbinder added: ‘If you want to make it about the Ellisons being Jewish, then you are the one being antisemitic.’

She said that ‘every time Zionists equate criticism of Israel, its genocide, or anyone who supports it to antisemitism, they rob the word of all of its meaning.

‘For those of us who ACTUALLY care about Jewish safety, we want that word to mean something so that when Jews are actually in danger it’s taken seriously.’

Einbinder, who is Jewish, previously said she was ‘so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover’

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Ruffalo has been a loud opponent of the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and his criticism has sparked a public feud with Paramount – whose CEO is David Ellison

Einbinder also said she supports Ruffalo’s comments that the merger had major implications for the entertainment industry as a whole.

‘Opposing this merger is also about fighting for the working class of Hollywood: the crews and other workers that we artists claim to care so much about, who could lose thousands of jobs if it goes through,’ Einbinder said.

She said that Ruffalo was an inspiration for artists in his willingness ‘to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence.

Einbinder wrapped up by saying: ‘Visibility is a responsibility. Those of us with a platform need to use our voices before speaking out is outlawed altogether.’

In an extended social media post Saturday, Ruffalo called the company’s remarks ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest,’ stating that his fault-finding had to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people.

Ruffalo has been a loud opponent of the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and his criticism has sparked a public feud with Paramount.

The actor, who wore an ‘ICE Out’ pin at the 2026 Golden Globes in January, used the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ in a previous social media letter criticizing the funding behind the $111 billion business transaction.

A Paramount spokesman swiftly condemned Ruffalo’s rhetoric as invoking antisemitic tropes, further stating that applying words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ to a corporate business deal was a ‘bridge too far,’ according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.

In an extended social media post, Ruffalo called the company’s remarks ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest’

On Saturday, Ruffalo slammed that statement, writing: ‘The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. 

‘Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people.

‘This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.

‘Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life,’ Ruffalo added.

On Friday, the Dark Waters star blasted Paramount in a post on Instagram Stories, in which he accused billionaires Ellison, 43, and his father Larry, 82, of ‘powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world.’

Ruffalo shared a years-old video of Israeli-American business executive Safra Catz, the former Oracle CEO who is now its executive vice chair of the board of directors.

‘This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David’s Warner Bros acquisition,’ Ruffalo wrote to his 20.5 million followers.

In Saturday’s lengthy follow-up, Ruffalo railed: ‘This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country.

The actor used the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ in a previous social media letter criticizing the funding behind Paramount’s proposed $111 billion business merger. Above, Ruffalo attends a political event in New York City in 2025

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Ellison’s company said that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ as it dressed down Ruffalo’s remarks

‘Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary.

‘The $111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public.

‘Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede,’ he concluded.

In his previous post, Ruffalo also called Larry Ellison a ‘classic oligarch’ who would own most of what he disparagingly coined ‘Para Bros.’

‘They are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance,’ Ruffalo wrote.

Ruffalo noted that 12 Attorneys General were suing to stop the Paramount-Warner Bros merger.

‘It will be catastrophic for our film industry,’ Ruffalo wrote. ‘Merger [sic] like this are almost always bad for workers, consumers, and the industry they tend to dominate.’

The effort to stop the merger is being led by California, whose film industry has struggled in recent times.

Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros could cost Los Angeles County approximately 4,500 film and television jobs, according to a report published by LA County on Tuesday.

The video of Catz speaking that Ruffalo shared was from the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The Paramount chairman and CEO is the son of billionaire technology mogul Larry Ellison, who is a cofounder and executive chairman of the major software company Oracle

‘Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people,’ Ruffalo said in his Saturday rebuttal

Ruffalo wrote in his Instagram story: ‘Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.’

In the clip, Catz talked about advancing ‘the agenda for the Israeli military’ and mentioned ‘really profoundly scary technology at Oracle.’

‘We wanted to make sure that it was available for the effort,’ she said, referring to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Paramount’s spokesman turned the argument on Ruffalo: ‘This doesn’t deserve a response in kind – and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.’

The media conglomerate emphasized that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ insisting that it would ‘rather build than further engage in such rhetoric.’

Paramount said that Ruffalo’s remarks ‘simply expose the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction,’ referring to its proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.

The company said it was committed ‘to every story, every storyteller, and no blacklists, no exceptions, for anyone.’

‘We understand people feel strongly about this merger and are hopeful and expect that it will be judged based on the legal merits, not underlying bias,’ Paramount continued.

Paramount’s statement finished by asking for ‘less rhetoric, more understanding.’ 

A pervert who filmed a couple having sex through their window was found to have waged a four-year campaign of voyeurism that involved up to 90 women.

Jake Austin was caught when a horrified woman was ‘being intimate in the bedroom’ and saw a face peering into the ground floor window, which had the curtain partially drawn.

Police were called and seized his phone after finding him nearby the Norwich property. They also raided his home to look at his hard drive and desktop computer.

Checks revealed the 31-year-old had been spying on the woman for four months but also that he had invaded the privacy of scores more.

This included filming them through windows or gaps in blinds in various states of undress and ‘upskirting’ victims in supermarkets, pubs and in the street.

Most have never been identified by police and remain unaware that their privacy had been invaded.

Austin has now appeared at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing after previously admitting five charges of voyeurism and three counts of recording an image under clothing without consent.

The tearful defendant also pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children – including eight photos and 13 videos that were classed as the most serious type, Category A.

Jailing him for 31 months, Judge Andrew Shaw condemned the ‘campaign of voyeurism and upskirting’ involving ‘multiple’ victims for the purposes of sexual gratification.

Women had been forced to go through the ‘indignity’ of identifying themselves in evidence uncovered by police.

Judge Shaw also said Austin’s actions caused the ‘gravest concern’ and he considered him to pose a high risk of serious harm to the public.

In victim impact statements read in court, some of the woman Austin spied on described the effect his offending had had on them.

One said: ‘This was a significant violation of my privacy and the comfort I should feel in my own home. This experience has made me much more guarded around strangers.’

Another revealed: ‘It is a very strange feeling knowing that someone has been watching you without your knowledge.

‘The fact that he decided to film me made me feel even more disturbed.’

A third described feeling ‘vulnerable’ when she learned she had been secretly filmed.

Judge Andrew Shaw condemned the ‘campaign of voyeurism and upskirting’ involving ‘multiple’ victims for the purposes of sexual gratification

‘When the officer told me, I was still breastfeeding my young daughter and this made me worried about a completely normal act and if strangers might use it for their own personal gain to take photos. It gave me a lot of anxiety,’ she said.

The court heard that he was arrested in March 2024 when the woman was having sex with her partner and ‘saw a man with his face pressed against the glass’.

Images found on Austin’s devices included one of her ‘sitting naked on her bed with a towel on her head’.

The voyeurism took place from June 2020 until his arrest but only six victims had been identified and contacted by Norfolk Police.

Andrew Oliver, defending, told the court last month his client had developed the ‘unhealthy’ obsession after he was involved in a ‘toxic’ relationship with an alcoholic which led to him suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

But Austin, who had no previous convictions, accepted his actions were deliberate and was ‘very sorry’ for what he had done.

Outside court, investigating officer Detective Constable Matthew Hubbard said: ‘Austin’s offending represented a serious and sustained pattern of predatory behaviour.

‘He deliberately targeted women who were completely unaware they were being filmed and did so both in public and in the privacy of their own homes without their knowledge or consent.

The hearing at Norwich Crown Court was told most of the women Austin targeted had never been identified 

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‘He violated their privacy and I know that these crimes have had a profound impact on them.’

He added: ‘We would always encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences this kind of behaviour to report it to the police.

‘Voyeurism and upskirting can sometimes indicate escalating behaviour so reporting it allows us to build intelligence and work to intervene to prevent further harm.’

Austin, who lives in Norwich, was also put on the Sex Offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Cambridgeshire County Council has discussed using cameras to enforce restrictions around schools during pick-up and drop-off times

The county council is considering the use of cameras to enforce school streets. School streets restrict car movements at drop-off and pick-up times to reduce pollution and encourage walking and other active travel methods.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways and transport committee was asked to approve a report detailing their approach to using cameras to enforce traffic rules.

They were told that “initial planning work” has started on installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to enforce turning restrictions on roads such as Downing Street.

Council officers also said they had started looking into using the cameras to enforce school streets, but these would need further assessment before being approved.

Cllr Darren Green, of Romsey, said he was “very, very happy” that the council was considering this.

The Green councillor said: “We know already that school streets can be very fragile and rely on a lot of volunteer work and best practice would be to back this all up with a camera system.

“I hope going forward, once this is in place, that we can prioritise using cameras on school streets.”

Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the committee, stressed that volunteers would still be important regardless of if the cameras had been installed.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: “When the general public see that there are actually members of the community willing to stand up and man the school streets, and protect that school, it has a much better impact that having a no-name camera that feels a bit like it’s the state doing it, or the council doing it, when actually most school streets are really supported by the parents and those there.

“I think wherever possible I would support the use of volunteers on school streets but I do know that is increasingly challenging in some places.

“In some places unfortunately the level of harassment that is given to those school streets volunteers means the cameras might be a better approach.”

A disclosed minute shows a CEO report stating: ”Discussion took place ahead of visitors arriving relating to ReGen odour issue.”

Disclosed minutes from a Co Down harbour board have shown escalating concerns over a town stench dominated its meetings for almost two years.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) has released the files following a refusal to complete a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has now compelled the harbour to provide the details.

READ MORE: Parking row prompts calls to change NI double yellow line rules

READ MORE: Council refuses to reveal CCTV monitoring details despite ‘grave concerns’

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has seen the disclosed minutes (June 2023 to July 2025) showing an increase of meetings on the perceived bad odour.

A disclosed minute shows a CEO report stating: ”Discussion took place ahead of visitors arriving relating to ReGen odour issue.”

It adds: ”ReGen representatives agreed…(redacted) to participate in future stakeholder forum, if properly chaired, not hosted by a protest organisation and not open to non-residents/ non-stakeholders eg Rostrevor residents.”

The campaign group Rostrevor RARE have been outspoken on the bad smell in Warrenpoint.

On 26 March 2024, an external presenter specifically told the board that UK ports are not subject to FoI law, but Northern Ireland trust ports, including WHA are.

This point is recorded in the minutes without further discussion noted.

However, the timing of it shows the board was aware, from an early stage of the bad smell controversy, that its internal discussions of the issue were disclosable

The disclosed minutes also show the board was itself repeatedly under-strength.

In March 2024, the board’s own minutes described the “current unsatisfactory position” in relation to member numbers.

The minutes read: “It was agreed that chairman of WHA, given current unsatisfactory position, should lobby DfI (Department for Infrastructure) minister to expedite additional board appointments to ensure the board of WHA can function properly.

“And as a minimum, secure assurance on potential temporary arrangements that may enable board-decision making continuity if board numbers fall further.”

In 2025, Sinn Féin and the SDLP withdrew from the WHA board amid concerns over the bad smell in the seaside town.

The final councillor on the board has now also resigned (August).

The board is made up of one chairperson, two executive directors, three sitting councillors from Newry, Mourne and Down Council, and four additional non-executive directors.

The board meets monthly or more often if required..

A DfI deadline for councillors to take up posts on the board has now passed ( 28 Aug) with no applications made.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) generated a community forum in 2024 after facing heavy local criticism over a perceived bad odour from its port since 2023.

It has been claimed that tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) from Newry waste management company Re-Gen awaiting shipment for incineration has caused a “disgusting stench”.

In September last year, WHA stated that it had extensive engagement with Re-Gen, with the Newry company agreeing to remove all RDF from the port with a proposal to no longer store the waste there, but instead transport it directly to ships for export.

Only Solid Recovered Fuel was to be stored in the future on the site, which the WHA was told should be non-odorous.

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

A remarkable, record-breaking summer window slammed shut last night as the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all finalised their squads for the next few months. For the Gunners, the dream of Julian Alvarez never materialised, as Deadline Day saw outgoings and no incomings, despite being offered Malick Fofana, who went to Sunderland. Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Saudi Arabia is still to be confirmed.

By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 14:22 BST, 2 September 2026 | Updated: 15:18 BST, 2 September 2026

Andy Burnham today doubled down on his attack on Brexit, saying the 2016 vote had been responsible for a subsequent ‘decade of low growth’ in Britain.

The Labour leader used Prime Minister’s Questions to vow to use an upcoming summit with European Union leaders to continue the work done by Sir Keir Starmer on pushing the UK back into its orbit.

The PM raised eyebrows and provoked some laughter from opposition benches when he singled out UK farming and steel manufacturing as two areas he wanted to talk to the EU about.   

This afternoon he used a PMQs request by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to have the UK rejoin the single market – which includes freedom of movement – into an attack on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

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‘It is clear the decade of low growth has partly been the result of Brexit and the sooner the party opposite (the Tories) accepts that the more we can start to face up to Britain’s future and where we go from here,’ Mr Burnham told Sir Ed.

‘I do want a closer relationship, I will build on the work of my predecessor… It is imperative that we work hard to get a good deal for British steel, for British farming, as part of that new deal he talks about.’

It came less than 24 hours after he used his first Commons appearance since replacing Sir Keir to blame Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for many of the UK’s woes. 

On Tuesday he said ‘Britain is not where any of us would wish it to be’ as a result of a ‘series of wrong turns’ since the 1980s, including ‘hollowing out councils’, austerity measures and Brexit.

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This afternoon he used a PMQs request by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to have the UK rejoin the single market into an attack on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

The new PM vowed to use an upcoming summit with European Union leaders to continue the work done by Sir Keir Starmer on pushing the UK back into its orbit.

It comes as Mr Burnham prepares to meet French president Emmanuel Macron in London.

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They and their wives will join the King and Queen tonight for a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum.

The European Union earlier this year unveiled regulations designed to protect the steel industries in its member states, amid fears global overproduction of the alloy was affecting the bloc’s steel market.

The deal limited tariff-free import volumes to 18.3million tons a year – a 47 per cent reduction compared with 2024 quotas.

The UK Government also lowered the tariff-free quota level for steel importers by 51 per cent compared to current arrangements, and any imports above these levels will face a 50 per cent tariff.

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Sir Ed told the Commons: ‘The Prime Minister said yesterday that Brexit ushered in a decade of low growth and stalled regeneration – he is right.

‘Our economy is stuck in this mess thanks to the Conservatives and the leader of Reform (Nigel Farage) and their terrible Brexit deal.

‘Unless we grow the economy, there is no way we can end the cost-of-living crisis or cut the cost of borrowing for the Government.

‘The answer is staring him in the face – join the single market.

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‘Get a new deal with Europe and cut costs for families, businesses and government.

‘It’s the bold step our country desperately needs – will the Prime Minister take it?’

Responding, Mr Burnham said: ‘I think he is absolutely right to share the analysis that I laid out yesterday.

‘It’s clear the low growth we’ve had – the decade of low growth – has been partly a result of Brexit.

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‘And the sooner the party opposite accepts that, the more we can start to face up to Britain’s future and “where do we go from here?”

‘I do want a closer relationship – I will build on the work of my predecessor.

‘There are issues facing British farming right now and there are issues facing British steel right now.

‘And the Made In Europe agenda could pose significant problems for British Steel.

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‘So, as he will know, we are approaching a UK-EU summit in the next couple of months.

‘It is imperative, I believe, that we work hard to get a good deal for British steel, for British farming as part of that new deal that he talks about.’

New legislation will ban re-sellers to list tickets for more than their face value

The Government has announced more details of its plan to crack down on ticket touting and second-hand reselling sites making huge profits on tickets.

As soon as well-known artists announce a tour or a gig, it generates huge excitement amongst fans which quickly turns to desperation to secure tickets. But failure to secure tickets in competitive sales is usually followed by bitter disappointment and a scramble to get a hold of them by other means.

But many of the tickets on offer immediately get snapped up by resellers – also known as touts – which buy huge volumes of tickets online using automated bots before re-listing them on other platforms at hugely inflated prices, causing misery for millions of genuine and passionate fans and damaging the live events industry.

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And this trend of tickets immediately being offered for resale at extortionate prices is an issue that has grown in recent years. Recent examples include Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour, Oasis Live 25, or Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine, where disappointed fans missed out due to tickets being snapped up by touts.

But last year, new rules announced by the government aim to change this unfair practice by making it illegal to resell tickets for live events above their original cost.

This piece of legislation will prohibit ticket touts from selling tickets beyond their original price. These new measures will “destroy the operating model of ticket touts” and significantly reduce costs for enthusiasts attending live performances, according to officials.

The law will criminalise the resale of tickets to concerts, theatre productions, comedy shows, sporting events and other live entertainment for amounts exceeding their initial cost.

And now, the Government has issued a further update on the implementation of the new legislation.

In a written parliamentary question, Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis queried the impact of the time taken to introduce the new legislation,

The MP for Eastleigh asked what assessment has been made “of the potential impact of the time taken to introduce legislation relating to secondary ticketing platforms on consumers”.

Scottish Labour MP and Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Ian Murray responded with an update on the timeline, confirming that a draft bill will be published during the current parliamentary session.

He added that the government was taking time to “get this right”.

Mr Murray said: “We are fully committed to putting fans first by ending the scourge of industrial-scale ticket touting and protecting consumers on the secondary ticketing market.

“That is why we announced plans last year to introduce a price cap prohibiting the resale of a live events ticket for more than the original ticket cost.

“We are taking the time to get this right and will publish a draft bill in this session of parliament for pre-legislative scrutiny. This will allow us to draw on expertise from parliamentarians, industry organisations and campaign groups to ensure that the legislation is effective, enforceable and future-proof.

“Following our consultation last year, the ticketing industry is also stepping up to establish new best practice on ticket sales. We welcome the work undertaken by the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) who have already convened the sector to begin this work.”

The proposed new rules announced by the government in November 2025 include:

• Ticket resale above face value will be illegal – this will be defined in legislation as the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees, including service charges
• Service fees charged by resale platforms will be capped to prevent the price limit being undermined
• Resale platforms will have a legal duty to monitor and enforce compliance with the price cap
• Individuals will be banned from reselling more tickets than they were entitled to buy in the initial ticket sale

The supermarket giant has recalled three handbags which pose a risk to customers due to excess phthalates.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) warned that phthalates can harm the health of children, and could cause damage to reproductive systems.

 The spokesman added: “The product has been recalled from end users by ASDA.

⚠️Here is our monthly product safety recall roundup for August ⚠️
Visit: 🔗 https://t.co/My7Q0rlRuh for more information. #ProductRecalls #UkRecallsAndAlerts pic.twitter.com/twuoTD01HC

— Office for Product Safety and Standards (@OfficeforSandS) September 1, 2026

“We recommend that consumers stop using the product immediately. Return the product to any ASDA store for a full refund.

“For further information, please visit Product Recall – Ladies Handbags or contact ASDA on 0330 053 0111.”

These are the handbags, with their product codes and barcodes, affected by the Asda recall:

• Front Pocket Xbody Bag, 1100258937001, 5059206286959
• Opp Tote Bag, 1100260834001, 5059206491797
• Black Nylon Phone Bag, 1100258939001, 505920628577

Before you buy:

✅ Check the seller

✅ Read their reviews

✅ Verify product descriptions

✅ Check if the product has been recalled. 

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Check our product recalls: https://t.co/My7Q0rlRuh

Safety advice: https://t.co/vRZ5ynrhwX    
  #StaySafeThisSummer pic.twitter.com/2i0BTjVldq

— Office for Product Safety and Standards (@OfficeforSandS) August 28, 2026

An Asda spokesman added: “The product presents a serious chemical risk as it contains excessive concentrations of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Phthalates are harmful to health and may cause damage to the reproductive system.

“The product does not meet the requirements of the REACH Regulations.

“If you have purchased any of the above bags, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund. You do not need your receipt. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.

“If you would like any further information, please contact: Asda Customer Relations – 0330 053 0111.”