The English Folk Dance and Song Society has formally changed its trading name to Folk England, a decision it says aligns with a mission to “make folk music, song, and dance inclusive for all.”

Founded in 1932 following the merger of the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society, the decision represents one of the biggest change in the organisation’s history.

Edward Ryan, who served with Avon and Somerset Police, was found guilty of gross misconduct following a two-day hearing after colleagues reported his behaviour at an off-duty gathering in Bristol in April 2024.

The hearing heard that Ryan made a transphobic comment during a conversation about a television programme and also made sexualised remarks and gestures about a woman he knew outside of work. The comments were made in a public setting in front of colleagues, who reported the incident to the force's Professional Standards Department within 48 hours

Brand, 51, faced seven charges in total, including three counts of rape. The judge tells him: "Obviously a custodial sentence of some length will result."

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Russia’s disinformation war on the UK has reached new highs as Kremlin-backed media seek to sow chaos amongst Britons and ramp up attacks on their “main adversary”, experts warn.

In the past six months, state-affiliated media have pushed hundreds of thousands of stories on social media portraying Britain as ungovernable, defenceless, and a legitimate Russian target, The Independent can reveal.

Analysis by risk intelligence firm Osavul, which tracks global hybrid threats and supplies technology to Nato, shows such media output rose by around 15 per cent in September, when it produced around 40,365 stories about the UK, while similar levels of disinformation pushed in October.

False claims that the UK bombed the city of Voronezh with storm shadow missiles, that British police were threatening to arrest people for using air conditioners, and that Andy Burnham was “powerless to stop the UK's collapse” are among several posts seen by The Independent.

Osavul said the aim was “to leave British readers with a lower opinion of their own state, and readers abroad with the sense that Britain is not a serious power”.

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