Europe
Novel analysis reveals playful side of Alan Turing
Image caption, Prof Sarah Dillon studied Alan Turing's short story, Pryce's Buoy A story written by World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing suggests he was a man with playful humour embracing his homosexuality, according to new analysis. The six-page hand-written short story, Pryce's Buoy, has been transcribed in full for the first time and studied by Sarah Dillon, professor of literature at the University of Cambridge. Dillon said the story offered fresh insights that challenge the view of Turing as an isolated, lonely genius. We've distilled a version of Turing that is a two-dimensional stereotype, she added. Turing played a crucial role in the Allies' victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two by helping to crack codes and deciphering the infamous Enigma machine at Bletchley Park.
Scientists find building blocks of birdsong's 'spectacular diversity'
Scientists find building blocks of birdsong's'spectacular diversity' Scientists in France say they have discovered the building blocks of the incredible diversity of birdsong. A team analysed the songs of more than 100,000 songbirds and revealed that the world's birdsongs are composed of eight fundamental types of sound that the researchers call motifs. Birdsong all around the world, they say, is made up of combinations of these motifs - three types of trill, three types of whistle, chaotic notes and harmonies. Birdsong is one of the natural world's most sophisticated forms of sound-based communication. Its variety and complexity has fascinated biologists, but with so many different songs, it has been difficult to study on a global scale.
UK complacent about war threat, warns defence boss
The UK has been too complacent about the risk of foreign attack, the boss of Europe's biggest defence contractor BAE Systems has warned. Dr Charles Woodburn told the BBC in an exclusive interview that the level of threat was the highest he'd seen in his lifetime. He welcomed the recent boost to defence spending but said much more would be needed to hit the government's commitment to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035. He also warned we were not far from the use of autonomous lethal weapons by countries that may not follow the UK's policy of maintaining human control. In a rare interview, Woodburn told the BBC the reality of modern warfare had changed quite profoundly and that UK defence spending had to change with it.
UK mortgage rates rise to highest level for a month
UK average mortgage rates have risen back to the level of a month ago as renewed tensions in the Middle East feed through to homeowners. Lenders' funding costs have increased as markets judge that a prolonged conflict reduces the possibility of interest rate cuts by central banks. The five biggest High Street banks are among a host of lenders which have increased their interest rates on new fixed deals in recent days. Recent projections by the Bank of England suggest just over five million homeowners should expect their monthly mortgage repayments to increase by the end of 2028. Mortgage rates had been falling as a ceasefire between the US and Iran initially appeared to hold.
We split bills equally even when one of us earned a lot more
Hannah and Max have always split their money equally even when one has earned considerably more than the other. We've always wanted to do things 50/50, Max, 31, says. We made a commitment to each other that what's mine is yours, and vice versa. The couple got married after two years together, when Max was earning £70,000 a year working in tech, and Hannah, who works in the charity sector, was earning considerably less. Their salaries go into a joint account and their mortgage, bills, food, petrol and other household costs are paid out of this.
Wildfire spotted from space as helicopter brought in to tackle blaze
Satellite images have captured plumes of smoke and damage caused by a wildfire in north Wales. Data gathered by BBC Verify suggests an estimated 951 hectares (2,350 acres) of the Rhinogydd mountains in Gwynedd have been burned by a wildfire which broke out earlier this month. Nasa's satellite-based FIRMS monitoring system has also detected heat signatures from four areas of Wales where wildfires have broken out. Natural Resources Wales said a specialist firefighting helicopter will be deployed to Rhinogydd on Friday morning after calls for aerial support. On Wednesday the Welsh government activated crisis management arrangements to tackle the wildfires that have broken out across Wales.
Influencer apologises for leaving bathtub on mountain
Image caption, Tom Christopher says he left the bathtub on the mountain's summit after being urged by hundreds of people on social media A content creator who took a bathtub up a mountain and left it there has apologised for what he called an honest mistake. Tom Christopher, 25, posted footage online of him carrying the tub up Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, in flip flops during hot weather on 17 July, before bathing in it at the summit. Christopher, from Swansea, said he had planned to take it back down immediately, but people asked him to keep it there so they could take pictures - sparking backlash about its impact on the environment. A day later Cardiff Rugby academy players found the tub while doing volunteering work, and handed it to park officials. Christopher said he wanted to make a cool, wholesome video which made people smile by carrying the bath up Pen y Fan, which stands 2,907 feet (886m) above sea level.
PM to spend first day working from northern branch of No 10
Andy Burnham is set to spend his first day working at the northern branch of Downing Street. No 10 North in Manchester will form part of the prime minister's aim to shift power from Whitehall and Westminster to regions across the country. Ministers Lucy Powell and Louise Haigh will also operate regularly from the new site, with up to 300 civil servants expected to join them by the end of next year. On Friday in Manchester Burnham will chair a meeting of the National Economic Council, a cabinet committee first launched in 2008 to respond to economic challenges around the UK. Ahead of that meeting, the PM said: For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve.
Weekly quiz: What creepy-crawly cuisine could land a Michelin-starred restaurateur in jail?
Weekly quiz: What creepy-crawly cuisine could land a Michelin-starred restaurateur in jail? This week, Ukraine continued to target Russia's largest online retailer as the war between the two countries showed no sign of ending, the world of sport mourned two legends - footballer Kevin Keegan and cricket's Sir Garfield Sobers - and Prince George turned 13 . But how much attention did you pay to what else happened in the world over the past seven days? What information do we collect from this quiz? Try last week's quiz, or have a go at something from the archives . US imposes tariffs on dozens of trade partners over'forced labour' imports Even camels can't cope: Africa's ships of the desert hit by rising temperatures The Papers: 'Burnham eager to get drilling' and'Tardis fit for a King' 'Life-changing' MS drug to help people walk now on NHS in England Bonnie Tyler's funeral to be broadcast online to fans around the world Girl'youngest' to have conscious brain surgery for condition Hosepipe ban in force as drought threatens - is your area affected?