Olivia Beeson

Trainee police officer Mohammad Hassan, 23, has been suspended by Greater Manchester Police and charged with oral rape, kidnap, strangulation, sexual assault, theft of a mobile phone and dangerous driving. The charges followed reports of a woman in distress inside a vehicle and a pursuit on the M62 in West Yorkshire. Police said the woman was safeguarded and is receiving specialist support. Hassan is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

A vulnerable Portsmouth woman, identified as Mrs Y, was fed three mouthfuls of microwaved dog food by a contracted home-care worker after suffering a mini-stroke and requiring a soft diet. A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found a wider pattern of serious failures, including prolonged periods left alone, missed or inaccurate visits, inadequate staffing, poor communication, and allegations of falsified records. Portsmouth City Council apologised, ended its contract with Radis early, and was told to reimburse care costs and pay the family £1,000 for distress and delays in the safeguarding investigation. Radis accepted responsibility, took disciplinary action and apologised; Mrs Y later died from frailty of old age.

The Met Office has issued an 11-hour yellow thunderstorm warning for parts of eastern Scotland, covering the potential for flooding, lightning and strong winds. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued flood alerts for seven areas and a flood warning for Strath Oykel. Rain is expected across northern England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, while central and southern England are likely to receive little precipitation. Forecasters say southern England, which experienced its driest July on record, may remain unusually dry through much of August, with possible further hot spells.

An 88-year-old woman has died after a red Honda Jazz collided with a parked Nissan Note and then a wall at St John's Church on Ranmoor Park Road in Sheffield on July 26. The 88-year-old male driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while two other passengers in their 80s suffered minor injuries. South Yorkshire Police is investigating and has appealed for witnesses or anyone with relevant footage to come forward.

Ilford-based Yourtravelshop.com Ltd, which organised Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarat pilgrimages, entered voluntary liquidation on July 21 after operating under its current name since 2004. Donald Harper and Andrew Maak of The Insolvency Practice Limited were appointed joint liquidators. The company’s website no longer lists trips, and it remains unclear whether previously scheduled departures are affected. The collapse follows several other UK travel-sector failures, including Strachan Travel Ltd and Groupia Ltd with subsidiaries StagWeb and GoHen.

A major fire broke out shortly after midnight at the 150-year-old St Andrew’s Church on Jarrom Street in Leicester, sending thick smoke across the city centre. Multiple crews from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended and advised residents to keep windows and doors closed. Videos appeared to show flames and roof damage, but the extent of the destruction, the cause of the fire and whether anyone was injured remained unconfirmed. Investigations are expected once the building is safe to enter.

A fallen tree at the PGL outdoor activity centre in Hindhead injured multiple children, prompting a major emergency response. One child was airlifted to a London hospital with a severe leg injury, six others were taken to Royal Surrey Hospital, and eleven more were treated on site. Emergency services including ambulance, police and fire crews attended, with local MP Gregory Stafford confirming several injuries but no fatalities. PGL stated that safety remains its priority and is working with schools and emergency services. The centre was previously fined £1 million in 2023 for a separate incident involving injuries to children.

Multiple schools across England and Wales plan early closures as a heatwave drives temperatures above 30C, with southern areas potentially reaching 36C. Amber heat-health alerts are active for the Midlands and southern England. Recent heat records include eight days above 34C this year. Authorities warn of increased wildfire risks and urge caution with barbecues, cigarettes and glass bottles. Safety advice emphasizes preventing wildfires and accidents as schools begin summer break.

Several UK schools will allow pupils to arrive later than usual on Monday due to England’s 1am World Cup match against Mexico. Head coach Thomas Tuchel encouraged parents to let children watch the game, prompting some schools to relax start times or screen replays in the morning. The Education Secretary urged punctual attendance but left decisions to families. Reactions among parents are mixed, with some prioritising education and others emphasising the significance of major sporting events. Schools across Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, County Durham and other regions have announced adjusted schedules to accommodate students.

Two boys aged eight and ten were found dead inside a car in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus after reportedly being left there to sleep. Their father and stepmother were arrested on suspicion of negligence. The children showed signs of sun exposure and possible asphyxiation, with post-mortem examinations pending. The incident occurred amid extreme heat across Europe, where several similar child deaths in vehicles have been reported, including two cases in France.