LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC advised Olympic sports bodies on Tuesday to end a three-year program vetting Russians for neutral status ahead of qualifying events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The move was expected since the International Olympic Committee advised two months ago that athletes from Belarus, Russia’s military ally in the full military invasion of Ukraine, should be allowed again to compete with their full national identity.

“The IOC stands in solidarity with the Olympic community of Ukraine, which the Olympic movement has supported since the beginning of the war, and will continue to do so,” the Olympic body said in a statement after a meeting of its executive board.

The IOC eased entry requirements to its own events for Russian athletes and teams while provisionally lifting its suspension since October 2023 of the Russian Olympic Committee.

The terms of that suspension — imposed when the Russian Olympic body incorporated regional sports councils from occupied regions of Ukraine — no longer applied, the IOC said.

Just 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics as approved neutrals, and combined to win five medals. The Russian team had more than 300 athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and won 71 medals.

The IOC did not yet approve letting Russian athletes and teams compete with their flag and anthem. That decision will come “at an appropriate time,” it said.

The next Olympic competition is the 2026 Youth Summer Games in Dakar, Senegal opening Oct. 31.

The IOC said to “address the lack of confidence in the global sporting community relating to the return of Russian athletes to international competition,” those athletes must give multiple doping controls and be part of a recognized testing program.

The IOC said it will continue to “not organize IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events.”

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Retailers have removed Nature Craft by Galt Toys from the shelves after sand in the activity game was revealed to be contaminated with a “small quantity” of asbestos.

Another item, Kluster – Magnetic Game by Borderline Editions, has also been recalled following concerns that small magnets contained posed as a risk if swallowed.  

Recommended reading:

Nature Craft by Galt Toys has been removed from shelves after sand in the game was found to be contaminated with a “small quantity” of asbestos (Image: Supplied)

Speaking about Nature Craft, a sign posted on Waterstones’ window in Coney Street said: “This product was sold through John Lewis, Hobby Craft, Toy Master and Garden Centres and websites between 2024 and April 2026.

“We are advising customers to stop using this product immediately and keep it out of reach of children.”

Customers are advised to place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double-tape it securely if it is still in the packaging.

If it has been used, clean up the area with wet cloths to avoid generating dust, wearing gloves and a mask, and then place all items in a heavy-duty bag that is double taped.

The sand can be placed in general household waste.

Kluster – Magnetic Game by Borderline Editions has been recalled after loose magnets posed as a swallowing risk (Image: Newsquest)

Parents have also been advised to stop their children using the Kluster – Magnetic Game immediately.

A full refund is available on return to the shop.

LONDON (AP) — Coco Gauff overcame a shaky start and beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time.

The two-time major champion raised her arms in the air after Pegula sent a weak backhand into the net on the first match point in an all-American quarterfinal on Centre Court.

With the victory, the 22-year-old Gauff became the youngest player to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who accomplished the feat at the 2007 French Open.

In Gauff’s six previous appearances at the All England Club, she had never gotten past the fourth round.

Gauff will face either Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova for a spot in Saturday’s final.

On No. 1 Court, defending champion Jannik Sinner was facing Jan-Lennard Struff.

Heating up at Wimbledon

Under a sunny sky, the early afternoon matches started with the temperature at 29 Celsius degrees (84 Fahrenheit) and expected to rise to 31 C (88 F).

Sinner, who lost in the second round at the French Open amid a heat wave in Paris, used an ice towel around his neck on changeovers.

Early in her match, Gauff asked the chair umpire: “Do you guys have an ice pack?” The American dabbed what appeared to be a blue ice pack to her cheeks and top of her thighs.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

It means the near 300-hectare Greencroft Forest Park can now proceed as planned, with planting due to restart this coming winter.

The North East plantation was initially approved by the government agency in early 2025, only to be subject to a Judicial Review in September last year over whether or not it had applied its environmental planning rules appropriately and effectively.

Despite a judge ruling in favour of the FC then, Lanchester Properties – part of the County Durham-based Lanchester Group – demanded an oral hearing to restate its case, which was heard in early June 2026.

Now, a High Court judge has ruled in favour of the Forestry Commission and True North, the asset manager behind the plantation.

Harry Humble, of True North Asset Partners, said: “We are relieved that this positive outcome has been reached and acknowledge the judge’s careful and considered determination.

“It is regrettable that this Judicial Review has taken up so much time and money, tied up valuable court resources and delayed much-needed tree planting in England.

“Now that the case has been resolved, we hope to move forward with the planting and delivering the significant economic, ecological and environmental benefits the forest will bring.

“The case has now been rejected by two High Court judges and has occupied three full days of High Court time, with legal costs exceeding £500,000.

“We sincerely hope this legal process has now come to an end and that Lanchester Properties will accept the High Court’s decision. In time, we hope they will also recognise the value of the forestry scheme and support the lasting benefits it will deliver for the local community.”

In his judgement – published on July 3 – Judge Jonathan Klein found that the Forestry Commission had sufficient information before making its decision. According to the official ruling, the lawyer acting on behalf of Lanchester accepted this, too, even as he continued to challenge its lawfulness.

The Judge wrote: “I have also considered whether the decision was unreasonable and have concluded that it was not.”

The judge further went on to argue that “it does not follow … that afforestation of this extent and nature is almost inevitably likely to have a significant environmental impact”.

Greencroft Forest Park is set to be made up of a total of 31 species and 600,000 individual trees.

A High Court judge ruled in favour of the Forestry Commission. (Image: Stock image)

A Forestry Commission spokesperson said: “We welcome the Court’s judgement, which confirms that the environmental impacts of the proposed Greencroft Forest Park woodland creation scheme were appropriately considered.”

 Lanchester Properties confirmed it was looking to appeal the decision.

Director Caroline Cleary-MacArthur said planting commercial Sitka spruce on this scale and next to villages was “fundamentally wrong”.

Pointing to comments made by Forestry Commission chair Baroness Young last year, Caroline added that “monoculture Sitka Spruce plantations do little to enhance biodiversity, landscape quality or public enjoyment of the countryside”.

She said: “This has never been about opposing trees. It is about ensuring that the right trees are planted in the right places, with genuine local engagement and a fair balance between commercial interests, environmental outcomes and the communities that live with the consequences.”

Airdrie Islamic Centre hosted the festivities, which were organised by Friends of Airdrie and Coatbridge Islamic Centre (FACIC) and North Lanarkshire Muslim Women and Family Alliance (NLMWFA).

Around 400 people from across North Lanarkshire lapped up the sensational sights and sounds of the vibrant latest Community Connections Day.

Airdrie Islamic Centre hosted the festivities, which were organised by Friends of Airdrie and Coatbridge Islamic Centre (FACIC) and North Lanarkshire Muslim Women and Family Alliance (NLMWFA).

The aim of the gathering was to celebrate “togetherness, diversity, and neighbourly spirit”.

People from all walks of life and different ethnic backgrounds came together in an atmosphere filled with warmth, friendship and genuine community connection.

Dr Irfan Jehangir, FACIC chairperson, said: “Men, women and children attended throughout the day, creating a welcoming and lively environment that reflected the values of openness and inclusion.

“Visitors enjoyed a wide range of attractions and stalls including delicious food, clothing and jewellery displays, which received excellent feedback from attendees.

“The positive response highlighted not only the quality of the event but also the spirit in which it was delivered.

“For younger visitors, there was plenty to enjoy. Children especially loved the face painting, the opportunity to explore the police van, and meeting the ever-popular Bumblebee mascot, which brought smiles and excitement throughout the day.

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“Unfortunately, the planned mini zoo was cancelled at short notice by the providers.

“We sincerely apologise to those who were looking forward to this attraction and appreciate everyone’s understanding.

“Despite this unexpected change, the day proved to be a tremendous success and generated overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, many of whom praised the welcoming atmosphere and the opportunity to meet and connect with people they may not otherwise have encountered.”

Dr Jehangir added: “Events like this play an important role in strengthening community relations, building understanding and bringing people together.

“Airdrie Islamic Centre remains committed to creating opportunities that foster friendship, respect and shared experiences among all members of society.

“We would like to thank all volunteers, organisers, participants and visitors from the North Lanarkshire community who helped make the day such a success.

“Together, we continue building stronger communities and helping make Scotland a better place for everyone.”

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Issue: In order to push out cold air, a portable air conditioner inhales warm, humid air and blasts it with refrigerant chemicals before running it over cool metal coils. The remaining heat is vented outside through its hose.

This creates a vacuum, with the hot air removed from your room needing to be replaced. In my experience, what almost always happens is that more warm air from outside seeps back into the room through cracks in the floorboards or gaps above the door, counteracting the work of the air conditioning unit.

As the exhaust pipe expels air outside, some residual heat may radiate back into the room, too.

Solution: Position the air conditioner as close to a window as possible, keeping the hose short.

Check your window adaptor too. If it achieves anything less than an airtight seal, hot air will start to creep back in. Most portable air conditioners come with a window kit included, but if it doesn’t seem reliable enough, then I would recommend purchasing a better one online.

Dual-hose air conditioners are the best solution, as these cool air drawn from the outside, eliminating the aforementioned negative pressure problem. Unfortunately, EU and UK energy regulations mean that these aren’t readily available.

Don’t worry about the noise

NEW YORK (AP) — “Being Heumann,” director Siân Heder’s film about the late disability rights activist Judith Heumann, will open the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.

Festival organizers announced Tuesday that “Being Heumann,” starring Ruth Madeley as Heumann, will make its world premiere on the opening night of the Canadian festival Sept. 10. The festival runs through Sept. 20.

Heumann, who died in 2023, has been called the “mother of the disability rights movement” for her longtime advocacy and for lobbying for what eventually led to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Heumann, who lost the ability to walk at age 2, was also a central figure in the Oscar-nominated 2020 film “Crip Camp.”

“Being Heumann” is Heder’s follow-up to the 2021 film “CODA,” which won best picture at the Academy Awards. The win marked a milestone for the deaf community and signaled the first time a streamer, Apple, won Hollywood’s top award. Apple is also releasing “Being Heumann.”

“We’re thrilled to open this year’s Festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar winning ‘CODA,’” Cameron Bailey, chief executive of TIFF, said in a statement. “‘Being Heumann’ features an electric performance from Ruth Madeley in the story of Judy Heumann, a world-changing advocate for accessibility.”

The festival, one of the premiere launching pads of fall movies, also announced gala world premieres of Susanna White’s legal thriller “Prima Facie,” starring Cynthia Erivo, and of Hur Jin-ho’s Korean thriller “The Assassin(s).”

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The story has been updated to correct that the film “Crip Camp” was from 2020, not 2000.

‘The world is on fire’ and Britain’s allies are ‘dismayed’ by our failure to prepare for war, MPs were told today in the starkest warning yet about a future conflict with Russia.

General Sir Richard Barrons and Lord Robertson, who wrote a defence plan rejected by Downing Street as unaffordable, offered a terrifying view of the UK’s vulnerabilities.

Appearing before a parliamentary committee today they exposed how this country is comfortably in range of Russian ballistic missiles and how its defences are near non-existent.

Gen Sir Richard and Lord Robertson previously wrote the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which was published last year and set out the requirements for Britain to thwart Kremlin aggression.

The SDR was supposed to be followed urgently by the government’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) but instead ministers wasted a year arguing what cuts to make.

A plan for an ‘Iron Dome’ to protect Britain’s major cities from Russian aerial attacks was costed at a basic £80billion – yet Labour offered just £1billion as part of the DIP.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former UK government advisor on defence lambasted Labour’s record today, including that ministers wasted a year in the race to prepare for possible conflict with Russia.

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson criticised UK government failures to publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and warned Sir Keir Starmer could face stinging criticism from US President Donald Trump, and other allies, at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. 

Speaking in detail for the first time about the Labour government’s failure to address Britain’s vulnerabilities, Sir Richard told the Defence Committee:

‘The world is on fire now. The UK does not own the clock on when we need to be ready by. It is set by Russia and likely on the back of an outcome in Ukraine. Which is why people talk credibly about 2030 or sooner.

‘Integrated missile defence is the iconic thing that did not get into the SDR. But we got £1 billion for it in the DIP. That buys you some improvements to defence missiles, some improvements to the Type 45s [air defence warships] and advanced command and control. You’ll know better that you are going to be hit by a missile.

‘Entry level Integrated Missile Defence (IMD) is probably £80 billion over ten years. The IMD of my dreams is probably £120billion. People assume there is a sort of ‘Iron Dome’ over London but it is not even remotely there. We shouldn’t kid ourselves that if we have arguments around the margins of the DIP that we are somehow fixing defence. It’s just not true.’

Sir Richard continued that Labour’s delay over publishing the DIP has depleted the UK’s defence industrial base, as companies either went bust or accepted foreign orders for weapons as ministers awaited guidance on how much to spend.

Sir Richard said Labour’s shambles over defence was ‘profoundly dangerous’ and also made no sense considering Sir Keir Starmer has warned how Britain could be involved in direct conflict with Russia by 2030.

Another alarming factor is how President Putin appears increasingly willing to lash out towards the West and is targeting the UK, they told the committee.

It emerged yesterday how a Russian aircraft harassed the Royal Navy’s £3.5billion aircraft carrier the HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea and how Kremlin drones launched from a shadow fleet vessel in the North Sea flew over UK nuclear facilities and airbases in 2024.

Meanwhile, Russia’s ally Iran fired a ballistic missile towards the UK’s airbase on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia after Downing Street accepted a US request to use the airbase for long-range bombing missions targeting Tehran’s Islamic dictatorship earlier this year.

MPs were warned Russian President Vladimir Putin appears willing to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

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Sir Richard added: ‘The delay publishing the DIP was significant as the SDR had articulated a narrative for war in the 21st Century, it had built a sense of expectation and relief. Then there was no money and nothing happened. By far the most dangerous consequence of the delay was the Prime Minister saying Russia could attack NATO by 2030 and then we lost a year of mobilising for that. That was profoundly dangerous.

‘We’ve gone from the UK being a major NATO spender to 12th and, ranked against our capability targets you are 31 from 32 and the other member does not have any armed forces. So how do you implement the SDR fast enough to deter your enemies and to be the leading influence we keep claiming to be? That brings you back to the money. Find more money sooner. Make different choices. That’s it.’

Sir Richard and Lord Robertson explained how the SDR was drafted on the assumption that the UK was going to spend 3.0 per cent of GDP ‘by the new parliament’, which would mean 2028 or 2029. Instead, based on current Labour spending projections, the UK will spend a mere 2.7 per cent by 2030.

Sir Richard explained: ‘It was clear by last summer that they [the government] had looked at the figures, added some new things in and it was clear there was a gap. Let’s say that was £24billion over four years –to implement the 62 recommendations and the money the government wanted to find in those four years.

‘We knew there was no new money for the first two years and then only a dribble for the rest of this parliament. That wasn’t a surprise. What it is exposed was a really clear choice. If you want to implement this review, and you have said that you do, you will have to find more money sooner.

‘If you won’t find more money sooner then what would you like to cut from the review you have just announced? And they went around in that circle three times a week, every week between September [2025] until basically when the announcement was made. And for me that just was not good enough.’

Lord Robertson said Sir Keir Starmer may face the wrath of allies, particularly US President Donald Trump, at the NATO summit due to the UK’s defence spending crisis.

He said: ‘Our allies are dismayed. They look at how long it has taken, the delay putting the flesh on the bones. It confused them. The Prime Minister is in Ankara for the NATO summit. He will be sitting beside President Trump in alphabetical order around the North Atlantic Council table. Relations may be quite frosty.

‘Allies around the table are stepping up to the mark and are spending more on defence and some of the bigger countries like Germany and Poland are spending considerably more than we are. The delay and the reality will have disturbed our allies who have expected more of the United Kingdom given we have always claimed to have a leading role in NATO.

‘We said in the SDR it may be necessary to go faster. The plan can be accelerated. We are running out of years. The reality is the challenge is bigger now, more serious and more clear than we anticipated. Yet the Defence Investment Plan itself doesn’t come up to it.’

Odhran Kelly’s body was found beaten and burned inside a car ablaze in the Edward Street area

Two women appeared in court today (Tuesday) on charges arising from the murder of 23-year old nursing student Odhran Kelly.

Mr Kelly’s body was found beaten and burned inside a car ablaze in the Edward Street area of Lurgan in December 2023.

The first accused to enter the dock of Belfast Crown Cour t today was Andrea Catherine Theresa Stevenson from Faulkner Heights in Bangor.

After she confirmed her identity to a court clerk, the 45-year old was charged with murdering Mr Kelly on December 3, 2023.

When asked how she pleaded, Stevenson replied “not guilty.”

She was then charged with assisting offenders on the same date – namely assisting others ‘in the removal and destruction of Odhran Kelly’s body.’

Asked to enter a plea to this offence, Stevenson again replied “not guilty.”

Following Stevenson’s arraignment, Stephanie McClelland (38) from Lagmore Grove in Lisburn then entered the dock.

She was also charged with assisting offenders by assisting others ‘in the removal and destruction of Odhran Kelly’s body’ on December 3, 2023.

When asked how she pleaded, McClelland replied: “Not guilty.”

Two other co-accused from Lurgan, who did not attend today’s hearing, appeared in court back in November 2024 when they both denied murdering Mr Kelly.

Gary Damien Scullion (34) from Edward Street and 34-year old Shane Harte from Garland Avenue were jointly charged with murdering Mr Kelly on December 3, 2023 – with both defendants entering ‘not guilty’ pleas to the murder charge.

After both women were arraigned on the charges today, they were released on continuing bail by Madam Justice McBride who said she would review the case on September 18.