€5.5bn project has transformed the Emscher from ‘the sewer of the Ruhr’ to a place where nature is starting to flourish

Strolling beside the Emscher, the Tyczkowskis say it is the stench that they remember most about the river’s darker days.

“The whole thing was filthy and it stank terribly,” says the couple, a retired watchmaker and tax adviser in their 80s. Were they ever tempted to take a dip? “No,” they laugh in disgust. “There were other things swimming inside.”

Passion, inclusivity and family bonding are on show at an England supporters watchalong in west London

Tables were thumped, hugs shared and arms raised in the air. There was a palpable sense of relief in the room at the Toca Social bar in White City as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses romped to a commanding 4-0 win over the Netherlands to keep their Euro 2025 dreams alive.

More than 50 people had gathered at the bar, in which the England captain Leah Williamson is a stakeholder. The event was organised by members of the advocacy group Women In Football (WIF) and every England tackle and pass forward were cheered.

Four arrested on suspicion of breaching Computer Misuse Act, blackmail, money laundering and joining activities of organised crime

Four people have been arrested at addresses in the West Midlands, Staffordshire and London as part of an investigation into a trio of cyber-attacks on Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Harrods.

The National Crime Agency said two 19-year-old men, a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman had been apprehended on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act, blackmail, money laundering and joining the activities of organised crime.

Tech sector boss chosen to help develop AI and digital offerings and rebuild battered share price

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WPP has appointed top Microsoft boss Cindy Rose as its new chief executive as the marketing services giant aims to implement a sweeping restructure to turn around the ailing London-listed company.

Rose, who is Microsoft’s chief operating officer for global enterprise and a former head of its European and UK businesses, will take over from Mark Read on 1 September.

Number living in affected households rose by 37,000 (2%) in year to April, as pressure grows on government to scrap policy

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A further 37,000 children were affected by the two-child benefit limit in the year to April, with 1.7 million now living in households affected by the policy, according to new figures described as “devastating and shameful” by charities.

Data released by the Department for Work and Pensions on Thursday shows that one in nine children are now affected by the policy, while 62% of affected families have three children and 59% are in work.