NATIONAL

The Bank of England's top brass defended their record on Britain's monetary policy on Thursday, after a cabinet minister talked openly about diluting the central bank's operational independence.

British foreign minister Liz Truss clashed over the future of the economy with former finance minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday as the two contenders to be Britain's next prime minister debated the Bank of England's warnings of a long recession.

Australia lead the way in the overall medals tally with 46 golds, seven ahead of England, with Canada in third place on 16.

Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak said it was still "early days" in the contest to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as two opinion polls showed his rival Liz Truss had extended her lead in the race to be Britain's next leader.

The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates by the most since 1995 on Thursday, even as the risks of a recession mount, in an attempt to stop a surge in inflation from becoming embedded in Britain's economy.

A shark attack on a snorkeler off the British coast is being termed the most serious attack reported in the last 175 years.

More than 28,500 -- most of them young men -- arrived on British shores last year. The all-time daily record of 853 was set in November 2021.

Net profit hit $9.3 billion in the three months to June -- a threefold increase from the same period last year, the company said in a results statement.

Britain's financial watchdog said on Tuesday that the cost of living crisis, meeting climate targets and improving diversity should be reflected in how banks determine pay and bonuses.

British foreign minister Liz Truss, the front-runner to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister, was forced to backtrack on one of her most striking pledges a day after announcing it following a backlash from fellow Conservatives and opposition parties.

Scotland's ruling nationalists on Tuesday angrily rounded on British Conservative frontrunner Liz Truss.

The whole of England recorded an average of 23.1 mm of rain -- the lowest figure for the month since 1935 and the seventh lowest July total on record.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Nobel Peace laureate David Trimble as a giant of British history for leading Northern Ireland's Protestant majority to a 1998 peace deal, as allies and former enemies joined to pay their respects at his funeral.

The Bank of England is now expected to lift borrowing costs by a bigger 50 basis points to 1.75% on Thursday as it battles soaring inflation, according to a Reuters poll taken over the past week after several economists changed their minds.

The Portuguese star rejoined the squad after having been absent for most of the pre-season activities.

England's Olympic omnium champion Matt Walls was catapulted over the barriers and into the crowd in the men's 15km scratch qualifiers.

Queen Elizabeth II led the tributes to the Lionesses, calling them an "an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations".

Around 5,000 train drivers across almost a quarter of Britain's rail network went on strike on Saturday, as part of a campaign for higher pay after the country's inflation rate hit its highest in 40 years.

British businesses do not expect any growth over the next three months, as a surging cost of living squeezes consumer demand, a monthly survey showed on Sunday.

Regulators require finance companies to keep a record of vast swathes of staff communications to deter and uncover infringements such as insider trading.

In central England, birthplace of the industrial revolution, factories are buzzing anew, hammering out parts for cars, planes and medical machines that used to be made in Asia.

Few members of the governing Conservative Party supported foreign secretary Liz Truss when the leadership contest began this month, but now there's a sense of inevitability that she will become Britain's next prime minister.

Prince Charles arrived with his wife Camilla in his personal Aston Martin during a segment highlighting Birmingham's rich history of motor manufacturing.

Former finance minister Sunak has denounced Truss's "fairy tale economics", vowing to tame surging inflation first, but has admitted that he is the "underdog" against the foreign secretary.

Britain's rail network suffered major disruption again on Wednesday as staff walked out in a row over pay and conditions, the latest in a wave of industrial unrest as wages fail to keep pace with soaring inflation.

The UK government has taken a stricter approach and has banned British troops from paying for prostitutes while overseas.

A record crowd of 87,000 for the women's Euro is expected at a sold-out Wembley on Sunday

Trimble, who won a Nobel peace prize for his role in the landmark 1998 peace deal that helped end three decades of conflict, died Monday aged 77.

By convention, the winning country hosts the kitsch celebration of music the following year. Britain last hosted it in 1998.