Ursula von der Leyen’s plane forced to land blind after suspected Russian interference

Alleged Russian interference jammed the GPS of a plane carrying European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen in Bulgaria on Sunday, a commission spokesperson has told The Independent.

Bulgarian authorities suspected the “blatant interference” with the GPS was carried out by Russia, the spokesperson said, adding that the plane landed safely. Sources familiar with the incident told CNN the pilots landed using paper maps.

Ms von der Leyen has been touring eastern EU countries to rally support for Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin told leaders gathered in China that he came to a number of “understandings” with Donald Trump regarding the end of the Ukraine war.

The Russian president was addressing leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation forum in Tianjin, where he has held meetings with China‘s Xi Jinping and India‘s Narendra Modi.

Earlier, Ms von der Leyen said Europe had prepared a “pretty precise” plan to send troops to Ukraine once the conflict ended. She said they would be backed by US command, intelligence and surveillance support.

Scandal-hit former Tory MP found dead in London flat aged 59

A former MP who resigned after facing allegations of sexual misconduct and cocaine use has died aged 59.

David Warburton represented the Somerton and Frome constituency in Somerset from 2015 until June 2023.

Scotland Yard said police were called to an address in Sands End, west London, on August 26 where a man in his 50s was found dead at the scene.

Officers are treating the death as “unexpected but not suspicious”, the force said.

The former MP had admitted cocaine use but denied claims of sexual misconduct against him and hit out at a parliamentary probe into the allegations, which had taken 14 months at the time of his resignation.

He said he had been denied a fair hearing and left with “no choice” but to provoke “the upheaval of a by-election”, which was won by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke.

The seat was abolished as part of boundary changes that came into effect at last summer’s general election.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Monday: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.47hrs on Tuesday, 26 August to an address at Chelsea Crescent, Sands End.

“A man in his 50s was found dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

“His death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called on Tuesday 26 August at 10.14am to reports of an incident in Chelsea Crescent, Chelsea Harbour, SW10.

“We sent (an) ambulance crew and a clinician on a bicycle.

“Sadly, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Nestlé fires its CEO for ‘inappropriate relationship’ with an employee

Nestlé has fired its chief executive officer, Laurent Freixe, for what it claimed was an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate employee.

The world’s largest packaged-food maker said in a Monday press release its board of directors had ordered a probe into the undisclosed romantic relationship which it found had violated the company’s code of conduct.

“This was a necessary decision,” the board’s chairman, Paul Bulcke, said. “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company.”

Bulcke also thanked Freixe for his “years of service” at the Swiss company.

The Independent has reached out to Nestlé for comment.

Freixe had worked at Nestlé for nearly 40 years but his time as CEO was rather short. He was appointed to the position in September 2024 replacing Mark Schneider.

When Schneider was ousted that August, the Wall Street Journal reported there had been concerns from senior employees and board members about whether he was a good cultural fit for the company.

Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé Nespresso, a Nestlé company that produces coffee makers, will assume Freixe’s role, the company announced Monday. Navratil has been with the company since 2001 and joined its executive board this past January.

“I am honored by the trust the Board has placed in me, and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of leading Nestlé into the future,” Navratil said in a statement Monday.

“I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance.”

While Nestlé may be best known for its Toll House chocolate chips or Nesquik, it owns a plethora of grocery brands, from DiGiorno frozen pizza to Gerber baby food to Purina pet food.

The company reported in July organic sales growth of 3 percent for its second fiscal quarter. That same month, Nestlé said it was reviewing its underperforming vitamins, minerals and supplements business, according to multiple reports.

Dwayne Johnson could be headed for Oscar with The Smashing Machine

It would be wrong to suggest that Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine shows Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in an entirely new light. Johnson is playing a professional wrestler – and so the new role is a chip off the old block. Safdie, though, is forcing one of Hollywood’s most popular mainstream stars to grapple with parts of his personality that are usually left untouched. Johnson gives a performance of immense pathos, intensity and depth – one that looks bound to win him awards recognition. At the early press screening in Venice, the film (playing in competition) was warmly applauded by an audience of critics who never paid much attention to him in Jumanji or Hobbs & Shaw.

Co-star Emily Blunt (who previously worked with Johnson in the goofy action comedy Jungle Cruise) is likewise a long way out of her comfort zone as the wrestler’s loyal but emotionally unstable girlfriend. She is both his biggest support, and, at times, the agent of his destruction.

The film, set in the late 1990s, plays like an anti-Rocky. This is the story of the real-life mixed martial arts and UFC fighter, Mark Kerr. The tone is deliberately dour and downbeat. One of the main pleasures here is the way the picture turns so many of the traditional sports movie conventions on their head. Safdie’s screenplay focuses as much on Mark’s addiction to painkillers and opioids as to his exploits in the ring.

Of course, Mark is also addicted to winning. He rhapsodises about the orgasmic high of imposing his will on his opponent in front of 40,000 baying fans. He’ll go to extremes to achieve that high. If he needs to stick a finger in his opponent’s cut to maximise his pain and thereby secure a victory, that’s what he’ll do. Moments later, though, he’ll be trying to console the man he has just battered into submission.

Mark’s victories exert a huge toll on himself too. He is in constant physical pain, and his mental state deteriorates. Perversely, Dawn (Blunt) seems happiest when Mark is at his lowest ebb because that is when he is most dependent on her. She likes parties, booze and high-jinks, and isn’t the ideal partner for an athlete trying to keep himself in shape.

Safdie shoots the film in deliberately grungy, naturalistic fashion, as if it’s an observational documentary rather than a dramatic movie. The camera is always handheld. Interiors – whether gyms, hotels, sports venues or Mark’s home – are darkly lit. The fights themselves are sickeningly brutal. Mark fought in a period when anything seemed to go, from biting to kneeing your opponent in the head or gouging their eyes.

Ukrainian boxing world champ Oleksandr Usyk has a supporting role as Igor Vovchanchyn, one of Mark’s toughest, most vicious opponents. Usyk doesn’t camp it up like Mr T in Rocky but plays the role straight, albeit occasionally flashing that gap-toothed grin that has put the fear of god into so many of his British opponents.

Safdie doesn’t avoid the cliches altogether. Mark’s bond with his coach and fellow fighter Mark Coleman (played by real-life MMA star Ryan Bader) is almost as strong as his relationship with Dawn. The film has its share of gnarled old coaches sharing their wisdom. “Pain is temporary, pride is forever,” one has emblazoned on his T-shirt.

This, though, is a story in which winning finally begins to seem very hollow. The real way Safdie puts a chokehold on his audience is by examining Mark and Dawn’s physical and emotional weaknesses in such forensic detail. The Smashing Machine may not provide the pay-offs that audiences expect from more conventional sports movies, but this is the most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been on screen. Once you’ve seen him this exposed, you won’t watch his typical action movie stunts in quite the same way ever again.

Dir: Benny Safdie. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Oleksandr Usyk. 123 mins, cert 12A.

‘The Smashing Machine’ will be released on 3 October

Boy arrested over 12-year-old’s death from park roundabout

A teenager has been arrested after a boy died after falling from a roundabout in a playground.

Cheshire Police is investigating reports 12-year-old Logan Carter died after the wheels of an e-bike were used to propel the roundabout in Winsford, Cheshire, on Friday.

A 13-year-old boy has now been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation.

Officers were called to the scene near Ledward Street at around 6.11pm by the North West Ambulance Service, and found the boy seriously injured, Cheshire Police said.

Floral tributes have been left near the roundabout which has been covered with tape while investigations are ongoing.

Cheshire Police said it is exploring a “number of lines of inquiry” into what happened at the park.

A force spokesperson said: “As part of this, officers are exploring reports that an e-bike was used to propel a children’s roundabout in the park at around the time of the incident occurring.”

In a statement released by Cheshire Police on Sunday, Logan’s family paid tribute to “a little boy who was so full of life”.

“Logan was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, cousin and friend to many,” the family statement read.

“He had an infectious personality and a beautiful smile.

“Everyone wanted to be where Logan was.

“He was a little boy who was so full of life and wanted to make everyone laugh.

“He made every day worth living.

“Logan was everyone’s therapy person, their calm and he will be missed more than we can ever put into words.

“We are taking comfort from the words of support we have received whilst we take time to come to terms with the untimely loss of our blue-eyed boy.”

His family shared a picture of their son holding a large fish after a fishing trip, smiling at the camera in the sun. A GoFundMe has been set up in the 12-year-old’s memory to support his family which as so far raised close to £9,000 in less than 24 hours with a target of £13,000.

Make the most of London this summer with this stadium experience

Whether you’re experiencing London for the first time or you’re a family with kids keen to create unforgettable memories during the holidays, a visit to this world-famous stadium in North London is a must.

After 90 years at their beloved Highbury stadium, Arsenal’s ambitions outgrew their original home and in 2006, the club opened the Emirates. With a seating capacity of over 60,000, the Emirates stadium is one of the largest in England. The sheer scale of this field of dreams must be seen to believed — and thanks to its easy-to-reach location, you can hop on a bus or train and get there in no time.

Once there, Arsenal’s award-winning tours open the doors to parts of the stadium that are usually off-limits to the public. For sightseers who prefer to go at their own pace and for those with little ones who tire easily, the club’s self-guided audio-visual tour is a great option.

Fans and families can take their time to soak in the atmosphere and stroll in the footsteps of footballing legends, imagining the roar of the crowd as you step into the players’ tunnel. Afterwards, feel the tension rise in the dugout and experience the best seats in the house in the directors’ box.

It’s a rare opportunity to glimpse the inner workings of a prestigious football club and explore normally restricted areas that also include the home and away dressing rooms, the media lounge and the exclusive members-only Diamond Club.

Available in seven languages on a state-of-the-art handheld device, the tour is narrated by Arsenal presenter David Frimpong, otherwise known as ‘Frimmy’, as well as featuring commentary from Arsenal legends Alex Scott and David Seaman.

As well as audio, the tour recreates the electric atmosphere of matchday using 360-degree augmented footage and includes brand new interactive elements. You can also take souvenir photos with iconic Arsenal trophies, including that of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The Arsenal Legend Stadium Tour is a more bespoke alternative to the self-guided tour, where visitors can explore the stadium for 90 minutes alongside an Arsenal hero. Tour guides include Nigel Winterburn and Perry Groves, as well as former women’s captain Faye White MBE.

During the tour, the Arsenal legend will share memories, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the pitch, offering a unique insider’s perspective on life at the club. Expect plenty of humour, fascinating insights and a chance to hear back-room gossip straight from the legends themselves. There’s also a chance for a Q&A and photo opportunity with your Arsenal legend of choice.

Included with every tour ticket is entry into Arsenal’s interactive museum situated right next door to the stadium. Chart the club’s evolution from humble origins in Woolwich in 1886 to its modern powerhouse status with a global following of over 100 million fans.

The museum features two impressive video theatres, showing highlights from the club’s origins to the present day as well as twenty major displays of Arsenal’s proud history. Feast your eyes on silverware from the club’s most successful eras, Michael Thomas’s boots from Anfield 1989 and Jens Lehmann’s goalkeeper gloves worn for every league match of the unbeaten Invincibles season in 2003/4.

For lifelong Gooners, it’s a trip down memory lane. For families and tourists, it’s an eye-opening lesson in why football matters so much to the UK and is the perfect outing to experience London at its most authentic.

This content is brought to you by Living360, a digital lifestyle destination keeping you up to date with health and fitness, food and drink, homes and gardens, beauty, travel, finance trends and more.

Police launch investigation after newborn baby found dead

Police have launched an investigation after they were called to the “sudden death” of a newborn baby in South Wales.

Emergency services were called to an address in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Monday where the 11-week-old child was found dead, police said. A large police presence has been reported in the area as officers work to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, South Wales Police said there will continue to be an increased police presence in the South Wales town as detectives investigate.

The circumstances of the infant’s death are not yet clear and police have not released any further details at this time.

The force added the child’s family have asked to be given privacy during this time and that investigations are “ongoing”.

In a statement a South Wales Police spokesperson said: “South Wales Police was called this morning to the sudden death of an 11-week-old baby in Tonypandy. Investigations into the death are on-going and you will see an increase in police presence in the area during this time.

“The family of the child have asked to be given space during this time.”

Tonypandy is a town and community in the borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf in South Wales.

£25bn Heathrow plan could mirror ‘world’s best airport’ in Singapore

A Heathrow expansion plan headed up by a hotel tycoon is partnering with an airport in Singapore and promises flyers “ the best passenger experience in the world”.

Hotel tycoon Surinder Arora’s Heathrow expansion plan is being partnered by Singapore’s Changi airport, which is ranked by Consultancy Skytrax as the world’s best airport, with features such as a swimming pool, cinema and butterfly garden.

Arora Group and Heathrow’s owners both recently submitted plans to the Department for Transport for a third runway at the west London airport.

The former wants to build a 2,800-metre runway, while the latter is seeking permission for a full-length 3,500-metre runway.

Arora Group says the “primary benefit” of its plan, named Heathrow West, is that it would avoid the costly and disruptive need to divert the M25 motorway.

A shorter runway could have limits on its use, although Arora Group insists it would be able to accommodate aircraft of all sizes.

Mr Arora, who is one of the largest landowners at Heathrow, said: “We are proud to deliver a highly credible proposal for a shorter runway and more efficient expansion at Heathrow.

“This reduces the costs, the delivery timescales and significant construction risks building across the M25 alike.

“We welcome all debate on which scheme demonstrates better value for the airlines, passengers and the British economy as a whole and continue to engage with the Government on the merits of our plan.”

Arora Group stated the new runway could be fully operational by 2035, while a new terminal would open in two phases, in 2036 and 2040.

The plan, developed with infrastructure company Bechtel, has a cost estimate of under £25 billion, not including the redevelopment of the airport’s existing central area.

Heathrow has said its runway and airfield plan would be privately funded at a cost of £21 billion.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is reviewing the plans so that a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) can begin later this year.

The ANPS will provide the basis for decision-making on any development consent order application.