News 26/08/25

An asylum seeker living in an Epping hotel has appeared in court accused of trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl and telling her he wanted to have a baby with her.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu made inappropriate comments to the teenager and her friend shortly after she offered him pizza because he looked hungry. Prosecutors say he then invited the girls back to his hotel.

The alleged incident sparked protests and counter-protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, where Kebatu was living, as part of wider demonstrations over the housing of asylum seekers. Several men have since been charged in connection with the unrest.

Nasser hospital in southern Gaza has rejected Israeli claims that Hamas was using its premises to monitor troops.

In a statement, the hospital said it “categorically rejects” Israel’s justification for a strike that killed 20 people, including five journalists. The Israeli military said its initial findings showed a Hamas camera was operating near the hospital, but it has not provided evidence.

Taylor Swift has announced she is getting married to her NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

The pop singer and Kansas City Chiefs tight end shared the news in a joint Instagram post, joking: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Within half an hour, the post had more than 1.7 million likes. The couple began dating in 2023, shortly after Kelce revealed on his podcast that he had tried and failed to meet Swift at her Eras Tour show in Kansas City.

Emma Heming Willis, the wife of retired Hollywood actor Bruce Willis, has given a candid update on his battle with dementia.

She said his brain is “failing” and his “language is going.” The Die Hard star, now 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia more than three years ago. Speaking on ABC News, she said her husband remains physically healthy and mobile, but the family has had to adapt how they communicate. Heming Willis is releasing a book about caring for a loved one with dementia and says she hopes to support others facing similar challenges.

The Israeli military has released what it calls an initial inquiry into its double strike on the Nasser hospital in southern Gaza.

Local health officials say 20 people were killed, including five journalists. The IDF claims its forces identified a Hamas camera near the hospital being used to track Israeli troops, but has not provided evidence. It said the finding was consistent with what it described as terrorist groups using hospitals during the war.

Police in Northern Ireland have launched a murder investigation after an 84-year-old man was found dead outside his home in Newcastle, County Down.

Sean Small, who had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for sexual offences, was discovered on Sunday night following what detectives described as a “brutal and sustained” attack. His home and a neighbouring property remain sealed off for forensic work.

Sir Ed Davey has accused Nigel Farage of fuelling the rise in small boat crossings and making it harder to remove people from the UK.

The Liberal Democrat leader said Mr Farage’s call to quit the European Convention on Human Rights would put Britain in the company of Vladimir Putin. He added that Winston Churchill, who supported the creation of a universal human rights charter after the Second World War, would be “turning in his grave” at such a move.

Poundland has avoided administration after a High Court approved its rescue plan just days before the discount chain was due to run out of cash.

The retailer, which employs nearly 15,000 people, had warned it would be unable to continue trading beyond early September without fresh funds. Around 1,000 jobs remain at risk following the closure of 68 shops.

Two of the three people killed in a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight have been named.

Emergency services were called just after 9.20 yesterday morning to Shanklin Road, where the aircraft came down during a flying lesson. Police confirmed four people were onboard. Three died at the scene, while one person was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Family members have named two of the victims as passengers Justyna Czoska and Wojtek Kowalkowski.

A new campaign is being launched in London today urging passengers to use headphones when listening to music on public transport.

From this morning, posters will appear on the Elizabeth line reminding travellers not to play music out loud or use speaker mode during calls, as it can disturb others.

The move is part of Transport for London’s wider Travel Kind campaign, which is being rolled out across the network.

Rules already ban playing music out loud on trains, but enforcement is left to British Transport Police and train operators.

Police in Australia are searching for a gunman who shot dead two officers at a rural property in Victoria.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning in Porepunkah, an alpine town around 300 kilometres northeast of Melbourne.

Victoria Police say ten officers went to the property shortly after half past ten. Two were killed, while a third officer was wounded in the lower body.

A manhunt is now under way to track down the gunman.

Police in Australia say they are dealing with an “active incident” in the rural town of Porepunkah, northeast of Melbourne.

Victoria Police confirmed officers are at a property around 300 kilometres from the city but have not released details of what has happened.

Local media, quoting unnamed sources, report two officers have been killed while carrying out a search warrant.

Police say they will provide further information once it is operationally safe to do so.

The main screening tool used to decide which domestic abuse victims get urgent support “doesn’t work”, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips has admitted to the BBC.

Police, social services and healthcare workers across the UK have largely relied on the Dash questionnaire to assess risk since 2009.

But there are now mounting concerns from academics and those working in the sector that the checklist does not correctly identify victims at the highest risk of further harm.

Phillips told the BBC’s File on 4 that she was reviewing the entire system supporting victims but said it wouldn’t “change overnight”.

Nigel Farage says he would scrap the Human Rights Act if he became Prime Minister to allow the mass deportation of illegal migrants.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph ahead of a speech later today, the Reform UK leader also pledged to withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights and other international treaties, which he described as blocking deportations.

If Britain left the ECHR, it would join only Russia and Belarus as the countries in Europe not signed up.

The government has agreed plans to allow around 40 students from Gaza to travel to the UK in the coming weeks to take up funded university scholarships.

Nine will receive help to leave Gaza under the Chevening scheme, a government-funded initiative for international students. A further 30 students with fully funded private scholarships are also expected to be supported.

They would be the first students to leave Gaza to study in the UK since the Hamas-Israel war began in 2023. However, Israel must approve each individual departure.

Food price inflation has hit its highest level in 18 months, according to the latest figures.

The British Retail Consortium says food inflation rose to 4.2 percent this month, up from 4 percent in July. It is the highest figure since March last year, when inflation stood at 3.7 percent.

The BRC says chocolate, butter and eggs are among the items driving prices higher, although parents preparing for the new school year will find some relief in lower costs for clothing, books and stationery.