17 h. ago Wolverhampton cemetery’s extra fee for wider graves criticised as ‘fat tax’

Council says measure at Danescourt cemetery in Tettenhall is in response to increase in obesity levels in cityResidents of Wolverhampton have criticised what is being called a “fat tax” on burial plots after a city cemetery imposed a premium on wider graves.Danescourt cemetery in Tettenhall will charge an extra 20% to families whose loved ones need a 6ft-wide plot, as opposed to a standard 5ft grave. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Mountain rescue team scrambled to two emergencies in 48 hours on Scots mountainside

Volunteers from Killin Mountain Rescue Team were called out to two incidents on Beinn a' Chroin, near Crianlarich, in less than 48 hours.

Events

22 h. ago State of emergency declared in New Mexico following rise in crime and drug use

Local authorities and tribal officials in the county had called for state reinforcements to combat the escalating crime linked to illicit drug use

Events

22 h. ago NGOs call for end to Israel’s ‘weaponisation’ of aid – Middle East crisis live

More than 100 international NGOs sign letter saying more than 60 requests to bring in food, water and items for shelter were denied by authorities in July aloneThe UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has just issued a warning on X, saying that soaring temperatures in Gaza are now above 40°C, making an already dire humanitarian situation “far worse”.“With very limited water available, dehydration is increasing,” the agency said in a post on X. It added that bombardments and forced displacement continue, while limited electricity and fuel mean there is “no relief from the extreme heat”.Approval of construction plans in E1 buries the idea of a Palestinian state and continues the many steps we are taking on the ground as part of the de facto sovereignty plan that we began implementing with the establishment of the government.After decades of international pressure and freezes, we are breaking conventions and connecting Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem. This is Zionism at its best – bui...

Events

24 h. ago Israeli airstrikes on Tehran killed inmates in ‘apparent war crime’ – report

Human Rights Watch also finds that Iran abused survivors of June attack, which killed 80 peopleIsraeli airstrikes on Tehran’s Evin prison in June killed scores of detainees, visitors and staff in what Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called an “apparent war crime”. Iranian authorities have since subjected survivors to abuse, enforced disappearances and inhumane detention conditions, the rights group said on Wednesday.HRW’s investigation, based on satellite imagery, videos and witness accounts, found the 23 June Israeli airstrikes destroyed visitation halls, prison wards, the central kitchen, the medical clinic and administrative offices. No evident military targets were identified in the facility, which held more than 1,500 prisoners at the time, many of whom had been jailed for peaceful activism. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Russia clamps down on WhatsApp and Telegram over data sharing

Calls via foreign-owned platforms curbed as critics say Kremlin is pushing for greater control over Russia’s internetRussia has announced restrictions on the messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, accusing the foreign-owned platforms of failing to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases.Moscow has clashed with foreign tech platforms for several years over content and data storage in a simmering dispute that intensified after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Critics say Russia is trying to expand its control over the country’s internet space. Continue reading...

Politics

43 h. ago Simon Jordan flies off the handle after Emma Raducanu asked for crying child to be ejected

After suggesting a crying baby should be ejected from her Cincinnati Open match against Aryna Sabalenka, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has come to Emma Raducanu's defence

Politics

44 h. ago Washington Mayor slams Donald Trump's city takeover as troops flood capital

Donald Trump has hinted he will send the National Guard wing of the US armed forces to Democrat-run cities in what his supporters call a crackdown on rampant crime

Events

50 h. ago National Guard troops on the streets of DC to fight what Trump calls ‘out of control’ crime in the nation’s capital

The presence of troops in the capital is expected to grow over the next week and the president is threatening to take similar tactics to other Democratic cities

Politics

53 h. ago National guard begins deploying on DC streets after Trump police takeover

Officials say troops to start appearing in nation’s capital on Tuesday night as president’s move widely condemnedUS politics live – latest updatesThe Washington DC national guard will begin deploying on the city’s streets on Tuesday night, a day after Donald Trump ordered their arrival and took control of the city’s police force, calling Washington DC a “lawless” city, despite official crime statistics saying otherwise, a White House official confirmed.The national guard is expected to “begin being on the streets starting tonight”. Defense officials said a small number of the roughly 800 guard members planned for the mission had already been mobilized by Tuesday afternoon, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Tennis star loses it over crying baby in the stands: ‘Do you want me to send the child out the stadium’

British tennis star was knocked out of Cincinnati Open after a close defeat to Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka

Politics

61 h. ago Emma Raducanu most confident about US Open chances since 2021 slam win

World No 34 yet to win match in New York since titleBriton has impressed on hard court circuit this yearEmma Raducanu said she will return to New York feeling calmer and more confident about herself and her prospects at the US Open than she has since she won the title there four years ago after a positive summer on the North American hard courts.Raducanu put together a brilliant performance against Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the Cincinnati Open on Monday, narrowly losing 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) after three hours and nine minutes. Her impressive level was a reflection of the significant progress she has made over the past few months. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Middle East crisis live: 25 foreign ministers issue joint call for ‘flood’ of aid into Gaza

Representatives from countries including UK, Australia and France say that humanitarian suffering has reached ‘unimaginable levels’In a post on X, Israel Defense Forces claim to have “debunked” what it called Hamas’s “starvation campaign” in Gaza.The IDF said that reviews of documents showed that most deaths by malnutrition in Gaza were linked to “severe pre-existing conditions” and that only a handful of the 133 deaths by malnutrition claimed by Gaza’s authorities in July could be “verified”. The post said that the “expert review concluded that there are no signs of a widespread malnutrition phenomenon among the population in Gaza”. Continue reading...

Events

65 h. ago Trump’s Washington DC intervention labelled as ‘unsettling and unprecedented’ by mayor – US politics live

Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, declined to criticise president directly while head of National Action Network calls move ‘disgusting and dangerous’Later on, we’ll hear from the Trump administration for the second day in a row. The president won’t make an appearance, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a White House briefing at 1pm ET.Defense secretary Pete Hegseth says he’s proud to be part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, an archconservative network of Christian congregations.Pastor Doug Wilson, a CREC co-founder, leads Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, the network’s flagship location. Jovial and media-friendly, Wilson is no stranger to stirring controversy with his church’s hard-line theology and its embrace of patriarchy and Christian nationalism.Wilson told The Associated Press on Monday he was grateful Hegseth shared the video. He noted Hegseth’s post was labeled with Christ Church’s motto: “All of Christ for All of Life.” Continue reading...

Politics

68 h. ago Emma Raducanu leaves Aryna Sabalenka saying 'we need to take action' after Brit's loss

Aryna Sabalenka edged out Emma Raducanu in a three-set thriller in Cincinnati, and the world No. 1 made a surprising comment about her fitness levels after the match

Politics

68 h. ago Emma Raducanu complains about crying child in crowd in narrow defeat at Cincinnati Open

Watch as Emma Raducanu complains about a crying child in the crowd during her narrow defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open on Monday (11 August).

Society

69 h. ago Who's noisy now?! Emma Raducanu is handed a dressing down by umpire for breaking rules with her VERY vocal new coach, moments before calling for crying child to be kicked out of match

Raducanu was warned by the chair umpire following a discussion with Roig, who was formerly part of Rafael Nadal's set-up and was last week confirmed as the eighth coach of her still young career.

Politics

69 h. ago Viewers stunned as Emma Raducanu halts match to ask for child to be removed

Emma Raducanu was involved in a fiery exchange with the umpire as she attempted to serve out a mammoth game in her third round clash with Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati

Politics

69 h. ago Emma Raducanu pinpoints exciting trend for US Open despite Aryna Sabalenka loss

Raducanu pushed the world No 1 close in Cincinnati to continue to show promising signs

Politics

2 d. ago Waterworld speaks out on claims tragic girl, 4, died in wave pool at park

Staffordshire Police were called to reports of a four-year-old girl in a critical condition following an incident at Waterworld at Festival Park on Monday, August 8

Events