Dan Wareing

A reticulated python at Chester Zoo has recovered after becoming the first snake believed to receive electrochemotherapy, a cancer treatment commonly used in humans. Vets removed a recurrent fibrosarcoma and part of the snake’s diseased jawbone before applying the therapy to target remaining cancer cells. Chester Zoo worked with University of Liverpool specialists, and the team plans to publish the procedure so veterinary professionals worldwide can build on the approach.

Zherko Rasul Osman, 24, died at the scene after being stabbed in a Levenshulme park on Chapel Street shortly after 19:00 BST on Saturday. His family described him as kind, friendly and loved by his friends, neighbours and community. A 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody, while a 27-year-old man previously arrested has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity has warned supporters that an unauthorised party accessed and exported data from Beacon CRM, including names, addresses, donation information and health-related details. The charity said there is no evidence the data has been misused, while Beacon’s investigation continues after reporting that more than 1,000 charities and organisations were affected. YBTC advised people to remain alert to suspicious messages and said it would hold Beacon accountable for its response.

Ian Mark Wrightson was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after admitting five historic sexual offences against a primary school pupil in York between 1990 and 1992. He lured the child to his bedroom under the pretence of playing video games and abused her before the games. Wrightson will remain on the sex offenders register for life and is barred from working with children. Police praised the victim’s courage in coming forward and encouraged other abuse survivors to report their experiences.

Two 19-year-old Craven College students, Zain Khan and Nahid Ali, lured a classmate to Airedale Park in Skipton in March 2024, threatened him with a knife, assaulted him and forced him to transfer more than £800. The attack was filmed and shared on social media. Khan and Ali admitted robbery, while Khan also admitted possessing a knife. Bradford Crown Court gave both suspended prison sentences and ordered them to complete unpaid work; two other participants were dealt with separately. The victim suffered multiple head injuries, facial swelling and extensive bruising.

Two 19-year-old former classmates, Zain Khan and Nahid Ali, were given suspended prison sentences after admitting to robbing a fellow Craven College student at knifepoint in Airedale Park, Skipton, in March 2024. The victim was beaten, threatened with a knife and forced to transfer more than £800, while footage of the attack was shared online. Khan received an additional suspended sentence for possessing a knife; both men were ordered to complete unpaid work. Two other teenagers involved had been dealt with separately.

Bradford car dealer Javid Akhtar has been ordered to repay £66,917 after admitting that he overstated Natasha Motors’ turnover to obtain a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in 2020. Following a suspended prison sentence and unpaid work order in March, he has three months to repay the money or face a further six months in prison. The Insolvency Service found that he had sufficient assets, including cars and a solar panel investment, to repay the loan. Akhtar was also disqualified from serving as a company director until 2029 after failing to provide adequate accounting records when Natasha Motors entered liquidation.

Second-hand car dealer Javid Akhtar has been ordered to repay £66,917 after obtaining a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan by overstating Natasha Motors’ annual turnover. He pleaded guilty, was previously given a suspended 20-month prison sentence and unpaid-work requirement, and has three months to repay the money or face possible imprisonment. An Insolvency Service investigation found he had sufficient assets, including cars and a solar-panel investment, to cover the debt; he was also disqualified from serving as a company director until 2029.

A fire that destroyed a barn and other agricultural buildings on Roman Road in Leeming, North Yorkshire, began when a controlled burn spread. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said all buildings suffered 100% fire damage, but the cause was believed to be accidental. Crews from five surrounding areas and a nearby RAF base helped extinguish the blaze.

Marie Stephenson plans to travel from Devon to Scotland milking 10,000 cows in 10 days to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and highlight mental health challenges in farming. She will visit various dairy parlours using rotary machinery while supported logistically by her employer, AB Agri. Motivated by personal losses and concerns for farmer wellbeing, she hopes the challenge encourages conversations about mental health as regional farm networks coordinate her route to meet the target.

Three planned Merseyrail strike days were cancelled after the operator improved its pay offer to RMT staff to 7.25% over two years, backdated to January 2026. The union welcomed the new proposal and will discuss it with members, allowing services to operate on a revised timetable during The Open Championship in Southport.

Two additional people were arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with a continuing moorland fire at Dove Stone Reservoir, which began on Saturday and continues to burn. Police confirmed one man and one woman were detained, with the woman released on bail, following earlier charges against Shania Care-Slede for aggravated arson and dangerous driving. Authorities warned the public against sharing information online during the investigation and highlighted the extensive efforts of fire crews. Road closures and restricted access remain in place as emergency services continue work at the scene.

A woman helped calm Shaun Ainscough’s 11-year-old son during a panic attack on a crowded, overheated train from Liverpool to Wigan, using reassuring words and a handheld fan. After the journey, Ainscough realised he had been too overwhelmed to properly thank her and has since appealed on social media for help identifying her so he and his son can express their gratitude in person with flowers.

Liverpool’s cultural and historical ties to Norway date back to Viking settlements in the 10th century, evidenced through archaeological findings and place names. Scandinavian migration through Liverpool during the 18th and 19th centuries shaped local identity, including the adoption of the dish lobscouse, which helped create the term Scouse. These long-standing connections continue to resonate today as Norwegian and Liverpool football fans gather for the Norway–England World Cup quarter-final, highlighting enduring social and cultural bonds.

A Manchester music graduate reported the theft of two saxophones worth £12,000, including a family heirloom once owned by his late grandfather. The instruments were stolen from a car outside his university house after his final night there. He described the emotional loss and its impact on his career, saying he now must borrow instruments and faces uncertainty if the stolen ones are not recovered. Police were contacted, and he hopes the saxophones can be returned to ease the burden.

More than 700 Jersey students from over 25 schools contributed feedback on education-related government policies through School Council Network sessions, generating over 6,000 responses on online safety, public health campaigns and further education planning. Online safety emerged as the strongest concern, with calls for greater support and understanding of social media risks. The network said the findings show children’s voices are increasingly integrated into policy development across government.

Jersey will not host an outdoor big screen for the remaining 2026 World Cup matches after the private organiser failed to secure the necessary sponsorship. The government, which had previously provided partial funding, declined additional financial support due to less family‑friendly match times and the availability of licensed pubs and bars showing the games. Public venues that extended their licences are expected to serve as the main viewing locations.

The Kernowfornia Festival in East Looe was cancelled after organiser Gracenote Promotion collapsed financially, leaving ticket-holders without refunds. Director Jonathan Robert Stafford announced that the company was entering liquidation and that he faced personal bankruptcy after guaranteeing its financial obligations. The festival, launched in 2025 as a successor to the previously debt-ridden Making Waves event, had been set to feature major acts including James Morrison, Kula Shaker and Reef. Organisers advised ticket-holders to pursue refunds through their banks.

Four calves at Clairval Organic Dairy Farm in Jersey died from pneumonia after extreme heat weakened their immune systems following record temperatures in June. The farm said the animals became vulnerable to infection after heat stress during a heatwave that reached 39.3°C, the island’s highest temperature on record. Jersey Met confirmed several consecutive days above 30°C during the late June heatwave.

Four calves at Clairval Organic Dairy Farm died from pneumonia after a severe June heatwave in Jersey weakened their immune systems. The farm confirmed the deaths and linked them to heat stress following record temperatures of 39.3°C. Jersey Met reported four consecutive days above 30°C during the late June heatwave, underscoring the event’s impact on livestock health.

Jersey’s new infrastructure minister Jonathan Renouf said his department lacks sufficient funding to meet infrastructure targets, citing a large backlog of projects and maintenance needs. The government has allocated £1bn over four years for infrastructure, buildings, IT and a new hospital, but Renouf said this would not cover all required work. He plans to assess project costs during the early part of his term before policymakers decide how to fund priorities.