Gavin Williamson ordered to apologise over bullying texts to Wendy Morton // Former cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson has been ordered to apologise after an inquiry found he had bullied a colleague in texts. Sir Gavin quit as a minister last year after sending expletive-laden texts to former Tory chief whip Wendy Morton. In the texts, Sir Gavin accused Ms Morton of excluding some MPs from the late Queen's funeral last September. He sent the texts in the run-up to the funeral and Ms Morton lodged a complaint with Parliament in November.
Ozempic shortage hits diabetes patient after weight loss use // A man with diabetes has just a month's supply left of a drug to help manage his condition after a surge in demand by people using it to lose weight. It follows a global shortage of the drug Ozempic, with supplies not expected to return to normal until June 2024 at the earliest. The Welsh government said people's medication will be reviewed and alternatives prescribed where possible.
Nitrous oxide: Laughing gas to be illegal by end of year // Laughing gas will be categorised as a class C drug and made illegal by the end of the year, the UK government has announced. Possession of nitrous oxide, also known as NOS, will carry a sentence of up to two years in prison. Laughing gas is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs by 16 to 24-year-olds. Heavy use can lead to a range of illnesses including nerve-related symptoms. Supply of nitrous oxide for recreational use is currently banned - but possession is not.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner say their divorce is amicable // Singer Joe Jonas and actress Sophie Turner have said their divorce after four years of marriage is "amicable". The 34-year-old Jonas Brothers singer filed to end the marriage in Florida's Miami-Dade County Court on Tuesday. In a joint statement posted online, the pair said: "After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage.”
King Charles III message marks anniversary of late Queen Elizabeth II's death // King Charles III has recorded a message and released a favourite photograph of Elizabeth II to mark the first anniversary of his mother's death. In the message, the King said he recalled the late Queen's "devoted service and all she meant to so many of us". The photograph chosen by the King shows a young Queen, then 42, at an official portrait sitting in 1968. Elizabeth II died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle on 8 September last year.
Top Boy: Netflix crime drama bows out with a bang, say TV critics // The final series of Top Boy, Netflix's hit London street crime drama, has gone down well with TV critics. The friction between powerful drug dealers Sully (played by Kane Robinson) and Dushane (Ashley Walters) "defines the final season of the gripping gang drama", the Guardian said. Radio Times described the swansong as "frenetic" and "pacy and powerful", but one that "leaves you wanting more". "Top Boy and its captivating characters will be sorely missed," it added. The final series, which will arrive on Netflix on Thursday, finds the fictional Summerhouse Hackney estate facing up to the consequences of long-running corruption while also facing new violent threats.
Nicolas Pepe: Arsenal winger joins Trabzonspor // Arsenal's former club record signing Nicolas Pepe has joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, ending a disappointing three-year spell at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, who paid £72m to sign the Ivory Coast winger from Lille in 2019, agreed to terminate his contract. He scored 27 goals in 112 games for Arsenal and spent last season on loan with French side Nice. Pepe, 28, was not involved in any of Arsenal's matchday squads this season. He had been their record signing until the £100m arrival of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer.
Lewis Hamilton: Briton wants to 'improve pipeline' in STEM fields for those from diverse backgrounds // Lewis Hamilton says he wants to "improve the pipeline" for children from diverse backgrounds to work in industries around science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The project builds upon his efforts to boost the number of black teachers in STEM subjects. "We want these kids to know they are the future," said Hamilton. The Hamilton Commission report also previously addressed the lack of diversity in UK motorsport. Via his Mission 44 charity, the British seven-time world champion's latest initiative is supporting the Young STEM Futures Programme in his hometown of Stevenage, while drawing on his own experiences as a child and in motorsport.
US Open 2023 results: Coco Gauff beats Karolina Muchova, Aryna Sabalenka edges past Madison Key // American teenager Coco Gauff reached her first US Open singles final by beating Karolina Muchova in a semi-final disrupted by climate protesters. Gauff, 19, wrapped up a 6-4 7-5 win over Muchova and will face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final. Four protesters chanting for the end of fossil fuels had interrupted the Gauff-Muchova match for 49 minutes. One man glued his feet to the floor on Arthur Ashe Stadium with some chants of "kick them out" towards the protesters. Security escorted three out but it took longer to the remove the fourth. The United States Tennis Association said all four were in New York Police Department custody.
Bank of England boss says interest rates close to peak // Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has said interest rates are close to their peak, but that they may still have further to rise. He told MPs "we are much nearer now to the top of the cycle" of rate rises. The Bank has hiked rates 14 times in a row as it tries to slow the fastest pace of price rises among the world's big economies. It is expected to raise borrowing costs again later this month, taking the Bank rate to 5.5%. The theory is that raising interest rates makes it more expensive to borrow money, meaning people have less to spend, reducing demand and slowing inflation, which is the rate at which prices rise. But the Bank rate is currently at its highest level for 15 years, and inflation has remained stubbornly high.
Another FTX executive Ryan Salame pleads guilty // Another former FTX executive has pleaded guilty in the US in a case stemming from the dramatic collapse and bankruptcy of the once popular cryptocurrency exchange. Ryan Salame, one of the firm's top executives, admitted he had violated campaign finance laws and operated an illegal money-transmitting business. He agreed to surrender more than $1.5bn (£1.2bn) to authorities. The pleading comes ahead of the October trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
Apple shares slide after China government iPhone ban reports // Shares in Apple have fallen for a second day in a row after reports that Chinese government workers have been banned from using iPhones. The firm's stock market valuation has fallen by more than 6%, or almost $200bn (£160bn), in the last two days. China is the technology giant's third-largest market, accounting for 18% of its total revenue last year. It is also where most of Apple's products are manufactured by its biggest supplier Foxconn. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Beijing had ordered central government agency officials to not bring iPhones into the office or use them for work.