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15/08/2025

NEWS: The King and Queen will honour Second World War veterans on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Royal British Legion guests of honour at a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on Friday include 33 veterans aged from 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific.

Charles, patron of the RBL, Camilla, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will attend the event which honours British, Commonwealth and Allied veterans who served in the Far East theatres of war including Myanmar and the Pacific and Indian Ocean territories.

Ahead of the service, the King, in an pre-recorded audio address to the nation, will vow that the sacrifice of heroes who fought and died in the campaigns “shall never be forgotten”.

He will reflect on the horrors experienced by prisoners of war and innocent civilians of occupied lands in the region “whose suffering reminds us that war’s true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life”.

Charles will describe how the collaboration of countries demonstrated “in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear but the arms you link”.

Around 1,500 guests at the national commemoration will hear first-hand testimony from veterans who experienced conflict in the Far East before the war ended when atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan’s surrender and VJ Day on August 15 1945.

The service will begin with a national two-minute silence and include flypasts by the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster – with military bagpipers playing at dawn in the Far East section of the Arboretum.

The Prime Minister held a special reception at Downing Street for veterans on Thursday, at which he described the Government as one of “service”.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: An agreement in principle has been reached for the sale of Morecambe to new owners, the club have announced.

The club are currently suspended by the National League over their financial issues and at risk of closure, but a statement was published on the club’s website on Thursday afternoon announcing a deal was now in place for the transfer of majority shareholding to Panjab Warriors from the Bond Group.

Bond Group said in a statement: “We would like to thank all of the staff at the club for their forbearance and can only apologise for the stress this has caused.”

The club said final legal documentation was now being prepared, and that “immediate steps” were being taken to inform key stakeholders, including the National League.

The club said they hoped the agreement “paves the way for continued stability and a positive future both on and off the pitch”.

Panjab Warriors have been contacted for comment.

Supporters’ group the Shrimps Trust said in a statement: “The Trust can confirm that a constructive meeting has taken place between Bond Group and Panjab Warriors.

“We understand that formal negotiations have now concluded and that sale and purchase agreements are in the process of being documented for submission to the National League.

“This represents a significant step forward in the process. While we remain cautious until the necessary approvals have been confirmed, all parties have verified this information with us, giving us some assurance that a resolution is in sight.”

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14/08/2025

NEWS: European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer could attend a second meeting with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky which could bring the war in Ukraine to an end, the US president has said.

On the eve of the summit, Mr Trump said leaders from Europe, which could include members of the so-called “coalition of the willing” that have supported Ukraine, could attend a subsequent meeting if the event in Alaska on Friday is successful.

The Prime Minister has been a key player in the group which has also included French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Mr Trump said: “We have a meeting with President (Vladimir) Putin tomorrow, I think it’s going to be a good meeting.

“But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that we’re having. We’re going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelensky, myself, and maybe we’ll bring some of the European leaders along. Maybe not.”

He added: “I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. We’ll see if they can get along. And if they can it will be great.”

Mr Trump said the summit aims to bring peace to Ukraine, and “save a lot of lives”.

Earlier this week the US leader told his European counterparts that his goal for the summit was to secure a ceasefire.

Sir Keir chaired a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Wednesday – a European-led effort to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to monitor any deal – and said there was a “viable” chance of a truce.

It came after Sir Keir and Mr Zelensky met on Thursday at Downing Street, where they said there was “strong resolve” for peace in Ukraine.

The two leaders embraced as the red carpet was rolled out for Mr Zelensky’s arrival in Downing Street, and they later had breakfast.

They expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce “as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious” about ending the war, a Downing Street statement said.

In a separate statement, Mr Zelensky said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal “truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing”.

But concerns linger over the prospect of Kyiv being excluded from negotiations over its own future, and pressured to cede territory, after Mr Trump suggested any agreement may need to involve “swapping of land”.

Ukraine has already rejected any proposal that would compromise its borders.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: The death of a teenage girl, who was left alone at a children’s mental health ward by an inexperienced agency worker using fake ID, has been ruled as an unlawful killing by an inquest jury.

Ruth Szymankiewicz was being treated for an eating disorder at Huntercombe Hospital in Berkshire and had been placed under strict one-to-one observation when on February 12 2022, she was left on her own by the member of staff responsible for watching her.

The 14-year-old was able to shut herself in her bedroom at the hospital’s psychiatric intensive care unit – also known as Thames ward – where she self-harmed.

She died two days later at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

On Thursday, an inquest jury sitting at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court in Beaconsfield returned a conclusion of unlawful killing.

“Ruth was not prevented from accessing the restricted material which could be used to self-harm,” the jury foreman told the hearing.

“Ruth was not prevented from accessing harmful material on the internet.

“Ruth’s care pathway … was insufficient to allow improvement for discharge.

“From Ruth’s admission to Thames ward, her responsible clinician deemed the ward to be neither suitable nor conducive to her recovery.

“Ruth’s parents were not given adequate information about the appeal process, and refusal rights.”

Jurors could be seen crying as they recorded their conclusion, as well as the coroner and members of the family.

The agency worker responsible for watching Ms Szymankiewicz – a man then known as Ebo Acheampong – had never worked in a psychiatric hospital environment before coming to Huntercombe on February 12 2022 for his first shift.

A police investigation later found he was hired by the Platinum agency – which supplied staff for Huntercombe Hospital – under a false name.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: Weather warnings have been issued for thunderstorms across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland as the fourth heatwave of the summer continues.

The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for large part of north-eastern Scotland, where it said up to 70mm of rain could fall in two hours.

A yellow thunderstorm warning has also been issued for the eastern part of Northern Ireland, which could see up to 50mm of rain.

Flood alerts have also been issued for Scotland.

In both areas the Met Office has warned of difficult driving conditions and possible disruption to public transport and power supplies, and of a risk of flooding to homes and businesses.

The forecaster also said fast-flowing or deep floodwater could pose a danger to life.

Both yellow thunderstorm warnings are in place until 10pm on Thursday.

It comes as heat health alerts were extended into next week for much of England.

The UK Health Security Agency said yellow warnings will now be in place for Yorkshire and Humber, the East and West Midlands, London and the South East, South West and east of England until 6pm on August 18.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said heavy thundery showers or rain may affect the region on Thursday, with a risk of significant localised flooding from surface water and smaller rivers.

Heavy rain and thunder hit London and Kent on Wednesday.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: A man accused of driving into crowds at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade faces an additional 24 charges, including two relating to alleged victims who were babies.

Paul Doyle, 53, was in tears as he appeared over videolink from prison for the Liverpool Crown Court hearing on Thursday.

He was originally charged with seven offences after the incident on Water Street in the city centre just after 6pm on Monday, May 26.

Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday heard six of the new charges relate to children, including two babies, one aged six months at the time and one aged seven months.

Doyle, wearing a grey T-shirt, did not enter any pleas during the hearing, which lasted about 20 minutes.

Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC adjourned the case until September 4 when Doyle is expected to enter pleas.

The new charges include 23 assault charges and one count of affray.

Merseyside Police said 134 people were injured when Doyle allegedly drove his Ford Galaxy Titanium into crowds who were leaving the waterfront after the parade.

Doyle, of Croxteth, Liverpool, was charged in May with two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of dangerous driving.

A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to children, aged 11 and 17.

Earlier this year, a provisional trial date was fixed for November 24, and the case is expected to last three to four weeks.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street as Europe braces for Donald Trump’s face-to-face discussions with Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The Ukrainian president and Prime Minister embraced and posed for the cameras in front of Number 10 with a handshake as he arrived in Westminster on Thursday morning while gathered media in Downing Street shouted questions.

A red carpet had been rolled out for his arrival.

The Prime Minister’s meeting with Mr Zelensky comes after he said Britain stands ready to “increase pressure” on Russia if necessary.

During a call with the US president and European allies on Wednesday, Sir Keir praised Mr Trump for his work to bring forward a “viable” chance of an end to the war ahead of his scheduled meeting with the Russian leader.

Concerns have been raised over Mr Zelensky’s exclusion from the discussions between Mr Trump and Mr Putin, which are set to take place in Alaska on Friday.

Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: “This meeting on Friday that President Trump is attending is hugely important.

“As I’ve said personally to President Trump for the three-and-a-bit years this conflict has been going on, we haven’t got anywhere near a prospect of actually a viable solution, a viable way of bringing it to a ceasefire.

“And now we do have that chance, because of the work of that the president has put in.”

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14/08/2025

NEWS: US vice president JD Vance has arrived in Scotland as he continues his family holiday to the UK.

Donald Trump’s second-in-command landed at Prestwick Airport on Wednesday evening before travelling with a large motorcade to the luxury Carnell Estate near Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire.

He was greeted at the resort by dozens of pro-Palestine protesters, who accused him of supporting a “genocide” by Israel in Gaza.

The demonstrated were kettled by police as they bashed pots and pans, waved Palestine flags and shouted pro-Palestine chants.

Police had initially told the protesters they would need to move and that officers would do so if they refused to leave to a different space nearby.

Airspace restrictions are in place around the estate until Sunday.

Mr Vance will reportedly spend five days in Scotland – the same amount of time his boss did during his trip to the country last month.

President Trump split his stay between his golf courses in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, during which time he met the First Minister and Prime Minister.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “This visit requires a significant police operation and we have appropriate resources in place using local, national and specialist officers from across Police Scotland.”

Mr Vance had been holidaying in the Cotswolds, but travelled to the Foreign Secretary’s Chevening House retreat in Kent on Friday – and he joined David Lammy for a spot of carp fishing at the countryside estate.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Vance described the UK-US relationship as “a beautiful alliance” during a speech at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: Tottenham yielded a late two-goal lead before suffering shoot-out pain in Thomas Frank’s first match in charge to lose a thrilling Super Cup final against Paris St Germain.

Set-piece goals by Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero had Spurs halfway towards another trophy – only three months on from Frank’s predecessor Ange Postecoglou clinching Europa League success in May.

Champions League winners PSG, who only returned to pre-season last week following their Club World Cup exploits in July, produced a stirring response with Kang-in Lee pulling one back with five minutes left.

Substitute Goncalo Ramos forced spot-kicks when he headed home in the fourth-minute of stoppage-time to stun the north London club.

It was initially advantage Tottenham in the shoot-out when Vitinha missed PSG’s first kick but it was followed by Van de Ven and Mathys Tel failing to score their penalties as Luis Enrique’s men triumphed 4-3 on spot-kicks despite a fine display on Frank’s competitive debut.

This fixture marked Romero’s first official match since being appointed Spurs captain, following Son Heung-min’s departure, and he lined up in a back-three as Frank immediately stamped his authority.

Tottenham edged the opening stages before PSG attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dragged wide to provide a reminder of his talent.

Chances remained limited until Richarlison let fly from 20 yards but PSG debutant Lucas Chevalier – preferred to Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma – tipped over.

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14/08/2025

Two-time former champion Venus Williams has been handed a wild card into this month’s US Open at the age of 45.

The seven-time grand slam winner made a surprise comeback to tennis earlier this summer after more than a year out of the sport.

Williams showed she can still compete after beating fellow American Peyton Stearns in the first round at the Washington Open.

Now the former world number one is set to become the oldest singles player to compete at Flushing Meadows since Renee Richards, aged 47 in 1981.

It will be Williams’ 25th appearance at the New York major, 25 years after she first won it in 2000.

She is also on the entry list for the new-look mixed doubles event alongside another American, Reilly Opelka.

Williams’ sister Serena, who won six US Opens among her 23 grand slam titles, retired after the tournament in 2022.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: David Lammy has referred himself to the environment watchdog because he did not have a rod licence to go fishing with JD Vance.

The Foreign Secretary failed to catch any fish when he hosted the US vice president at his grace-and-favour retreat at Chevening House, Kent.

Anglers in England and Wales aged 13 or over must have a rod licence to fish for freshwater species, such as carp, according to the Environment Agency.

“The Foreign Secretary has written to the Environment Agency over an administrative oversight that meant the appropriate licences had not been acquired for fishing on a private lake as part of a diplomatic engagement at Chevening House last week,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

“As soon as the Foreign Secretary was made aware of the administrative error, he successfully purchased the relevant rod fishing licences.

“He also wrote to the Environment Agency notifying them of the error, demonstrating how it would be rectified, and thanking them for their work protecting Britain’s fisheries.”

During their visit, Mr Vance described Mr Lammy as a “good friend” and a “very, very gracious host”.

The vice president added: “Unfortunately, the one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the Foreign Secretary did not.”

All fish that were caught were returned to the private lake, the PA news agency understands.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Everyone who goes fishing needs a licence to help improve our rivers, lakes and the sport anglers love.

“We understand the relevant licences have been purchased.”

Mr Vance visited Chevening while on holiday in the Cotswolds with his family.

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14/08/2025

NEWS: Sir Keir Starmer has led the tributes for Welsh Labour politician Hefin David, who has died suddenly aged 47.

Mr David, who has served as the Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly since 2016, died on Tuesday. He would have turned 48 on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir called him a “powerful voice for the people of Wales”, who dedicated his life to making sure every community in the country had the “opportunities they deserve”.

Mr David’s death was first confirmed by Eluned Morgan, the Welsh First Minister, who described him as a “much-loved member of the Labour family” and an “outstanding politician”.

His partner was Vikki Howells, the Cynon Valley MS and minister for further and higher education in the Welsh Government.

In a statement following Mr David’s death, Sir Keir said: “The entire Labour movement will join me in grieving the loss of Hefin David.

“He was a powerful voice for the people of Wales and a committed public servant, who dedicated his life to making sure every person and community in Wales had the opportunities and support they deserve.

“As Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly, where he was born and lived, he was incredibly proud of his community.

“Our hearts are with his family and those who knew and loved him at this painful time. May he rest in peace.”

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