ITV Lunchtime News

Two police officers, PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto, had gross misconduct allegations upheld after tasering 92-year-old amputee Donald Burgess in his care home; a panel ruled their force was excessive, breached professional standards, and that he posed no risk, and upheld a misconduct claim over a Facebook post. In France, high school students protested in about 30 cities over resources and opportunities in disadvantaged schools; around 2,000 schools were closed or blockaded, more than 6,000 arrests and hundreds of injuries were reported, and police in Paris used tear gas, batons and shields. ASOS customers received a push notification apparently from hackers claiming they had fully compromised the Snowflake instance and would leak it unless contacted; share prices fell over 10%, ASOS's website chatbot said it was aware and investigating, and it was not yet confirmed whether this was a hack or a spoof. Counter-terrorism police made a seventh arrest, of a 22-year-old British national in London on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts, in the RAF Fairford investigation.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch defended plans for a defence system for Britain, with a Tory press release comparing her Britannia Shield to Israel's Iron Dome, though she said that was not what she wanted to build and rejected claims it was a gimmick; military experts questioned the £10bn price tag and whether it could protect the country. The Tories said it would include new interceptor missiles to protect national infrastructure and military bases, funded by cuts to welfare and net zero funding. Labour said the Conservatives left the armed forces hollowed out and underfunded, and defence secretary Wes Streeting called their record abysmal. There was uncertainty over when the government would set out a plan to reach 3% of GDP on defence spending, with reports suggesting a delay until next autumn. New research from the World Cancer Research Fund found under-50s were also getting other cancers, with increases in prostate, kidney, womb, liver, pancreas and breast cancers and bowel cancer doubling. Dr Helen Croker said causes were not fully understood and behavioural factors likely played a role; advice included healthy weight, fibre, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking and sun exposure, and seeing a GP about persistent changes such as altered bowel habit, persistent cough, unexplained bleeding or weight loss.

Farmers called for a change in the law over the huge cost of clearing rubbish dumped by fly tippers. Alex Sell said his cleanup bill was £350,000 after 2,000 tons of waste was deposited on his land in Essex, ruining crops; police told him it was a civil matter and they would only investigate the breaking and entering of a padlock. The National Audit Office recorded a spike in waste crime, and the Environment Agency said it had increased budgets to local authorities for enforcement, including more boots on the ground, drones and powers to crush vehicles illegally dumping waste. The RSPCA said it was overwhelmed by an increase in rescues involving countless animals found in one home or site; last year it carried out 75 rescues involving more than 100 animals, equivalent to one a week, and staff lacked space for large intakes, though all 200 dogs from one rescue were rehomed. Jeffrey Archer died suddenly at 86; friend Gyles Brandreth called him the ultimate storyteller, and former leader Sir John Major called him the highest selling author of our time. Archer was elected to the House of Commons at 29, quit over a dodgy investment scheme, paid debts by writing novels, returned as Conservative deputy chairman, quit again in 1986, sued for libel and won, was selected as Tory mayoral candidate, and was later convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice and sentenced to four years.