News 16/08/25

In Gaza City, the desperate toll of hunger is written on the body of nine-year-old Maryam Dawas.

She is so severely malnourished she can no longer eat. Her ribcage juts through her chest and her arms are thinner than her wrists. Family friends who filmed her say even blinking looks like a struggle. Asked what her dream is, Maryam whispered that she wants to go back to the way she was.

Once weighing 25 kilos, she is now just nine – the same as a baby who has not yet turned one.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the opening Premier League match of the season.

The incident happened in the 29th minute of the game against Liverpool, when the striker reported hearing unacceptable remarks from the crowd. A man was later ejected from Anfield. Merseyside Police has confirmed a 47-year-old from Liverpool is now in custody on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Officers say he will be questioned in due course as the investigation continues.

Donald Trump has declared what he called a “great and very successful day in Alaska” following talks with Vladimir Putin.

Writing on Truth Social, the US president said his late-night phone call with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders also went well. He said all parties agreed the only way to end the war is through a full peace agreement, rather than a ceasefire that could collapse.

Trump confirmed he will host Zelenskyy at the Oval Office on Monday afternoon.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has thanked fans for their support after he was allegedly racially abused during the Premier League’s opening weekend.

The forward reported the abuse to referee Anthony Taylor during the first half of the match against Liverpool, prompting a man to be ejected from Anfield. Writing on X, Semenyo said the response he received has been overwhelming, describing it as a reminder of why he loves the game.

He added that Anfield will stay with him forever, not for one man’s words, but for the unity shown by the football community.

At least one person has died and dozens more have been injured after a passenger train collided with a slurry tanker in southern Denmark.

Police say the crash happened between the towns of Tinglev and Kliplev near the German border, killing a 60-year-old woman and leaving 27 others hurt. Five passengers were seriously injured, with two in critical condition in hospital.

Emergency services used cranes overnight to lift damaged carriages to ensure no other victims were trapped inside.

Windsor MP Jack Rankin has joined the advisory board of a new cross-party campaign group aimed at speeding up housebuilding across the county.

The Representative Planning Group, co-chaired by former Royal Borough leader Simon Dudley and Labour’s Mike Reader, launched this week. It says the current planning system is broken, arguing it only listens to what it calls the “angriest 2 per cent.”

The group will push for faster planning decisions and more support for councils trying to meet housing targets.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer says Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin has brought the world closer to ending the war in Ukraine.

In a statement this morning, Sir Keir said President Trump’s leadership in pursuit of peace should be commended. But he added the next step must be further talks with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as peace cannot be agreed without him. Sir Keir also warned that Europe and the United States must keep strengthening Ukraine’s security guarantees and continue tightening sanctions until Vladimir Putin ends what he called his “barbaric assault.”

The mother of a young man shot dead in Liverpool three years ago has renewed her appeal for justice.

Twenty-two-year-old Sam Rimmer was killed on August the 16th, 2022, when attackers on electric bikes rode into Lavrock Bank and opened fire on him and his friends. Sam was shot in the back and died shortly after in hospital. Police have arrested ten people but no one has been charged. His mother, Joanne, described the last three years as agonising and said the passing of time has not eased her pain.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will meet Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.

The Ukrainian leader revealed he spoke with the US president for more than ninety minutes by phone, shortly after Mr Trump’s talks with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Zelenskyy said the White House meeting would focus on “ending the killing and the war” in Ukraine, adding that he was grateful for the invitation.

Donald Trump says his discussions with Vladimir Putin were “very productive,” with a number of issues resolved, but one major obstacle still preventing an agreement.

The two men met in Alaska for more than two hours to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, but gave little detail in a short media briefing afterwards and refused to take questions. Trump said there is now a “very good chance” of progress, but confirmed no deal has been reached.

Labour MP Afzal Khan has stepped down as the UK’s trade envoy to Turkey after facing criticism for visiting Northern Cyprus last week.

The territory is not recognised by Britain or the wider international community, following Turkey’s occupation of the northern third of the island in 1974. Khan, who represents Manchester Rusholme, also met the Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar. The Cypriot government condemned the meeting as “absolutely unacceptable.” Mr Khan said the trip was privately funded and included a family visit and an honorary degree ceremony.

One hundred newly qualified doctors have begun work at Frimley Health NHS Trust.

After five years at medical school, the graduates completed induction last week before starting shifts at Frimley Park and Wexham Park hospitals. Known as foundation year one doctors, they will rotate through areas including emergency medicine, cardiology, respiratory care, and surgery as part of their two-year foundation programme. The trust’s chief executive, Lance McCarthy, praised their commitment and said they will make an important contribution to patient care.

A man has been removed from Anfield after allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League’s opening weekend.

Referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the first half when the player reported the incident. An anti-discrimination message was read to fans inside the ground, and police later entered the referee’s room at half-time. Merseyside Police confirmed a 47-year-old man was identified, ejected, and is now under investigation.