Trump takes over DC police and deploys National Guard – latest

President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy member of the National Guard in Washington D.C. in response to what he claims is an “out of control” problem with street crime in the nation’s capital – which is not supported by the official figures.

Speaking at a White House press conference Monday, the president invoked section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.

Guardsmen would be deployed “to help reestablish Law Order of public safety,” trump said, adding “This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back.”

It comes after the White House announced a plan to utilize federal law enforcement on the streets of Washington Thursday, an initiative seemingly motivated by the recent attack on former DOGE employee Edward Coristine, who was assaulted in an attempted carjacking.

“We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital,” he posted. “The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

It has also been reported that the president is sending in 120 FBI agents on overnight shifts to help local law enforcement battle crime in the district.

Arresting hundreds for protesting against a ban on Palestine Action shames us all

Sometimes, you see something and you know it just doesn’t feel right. Watching the hundreds of Palestine Action protestors being arrested for doing nothing more than holding up a placard is, rightly, uncomfortable. About half of those arrested and carried off by unhappy-looking police officers at Saturday’s event in Parliament Square – who have already been dubbed “march martyrs” – were over 60.

Of course, people of that age can be dangerous in all sorts of ways, not least, to themselves, but they do not, by and large, make for ideal terrorists. Calling them such, and detaining them under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, feels absurd. It’s just too heavy-handed and inappropriate.

If it happened in Russia, say, to some dissidents calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine, we’d be hopping mad about it. Because it happens here, and the bobbies are doing it, and, to be fair, as gently as they could to some slightly frail individuals, there seems to be less of an outcry. Yet we’re supposed to be the free nation.

In Trump’s America, it could happen – but at least they’d have a constitutional safeguard: the First Amendment, an inviolable law. The British have the 1998 Human Rights Act, and the European Convention on Human Rights, which the Tories and Reform UK would probably scrap.

It’s frankly ridiculous, as well as pathetic and offensive, that Jonathon Porritt, the well-known environmental campaigner and former adviser to King Charles, is at risk of acquiring a criminal record because he supports Palestine Action. Or, rather, has the audacity to wave a piece of cardboard around stating such.

However, perhaps the most extraordinary case is that of Alice Oswald. At 58, she’s on the young side, but this former Oxford professor of poetry and winner of the TS Eliot Prize can be nobody’s idea of an Islamist hate-preacher. Anything but.

She is, however, as you’d expect, a perceptive observer: “Clearly, there were some police officers who were really struggling with what they had to do,” she said. “You could see the slightly shifty look on their faces, too. When I was speaking to them in the police van, I did say: ‘Write to Yvette Cooper and tell her that this is making your life impossible.’”

I hope they do at least make their feelings known to their more senior officers. It does at least defeat the myth that we have two-tier policing – the police once again arresting people on the pro-Palestinian side and upholding the rule of law, even if it’s not a particularly good law.

One defect in its present application is to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation with insufficient evidence for it. They certainly use force and violence against property, and have done some serious damage to RAF aircraft when they virtually strolled into a lightly fenced-off base in Oxfordshire. But is that “terror”?

It is not the same as blowing up a Tube train or a shopping centre, or equivalent to the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Being a supporter of Palestine Action doesn’t automatically make you a Hamas supporter.

There should be some special category of offence regarding groups who sabotage equipment essential to the defence of the realm, like the old law that made arson in a naval dockyard punishable by hanging.

The authorities mumble about Palestine Action having a dark side that can’t be disclosed for security reasons, but that doesn’t sound like it’s convincing enough to justify putting a poetry professor in a cell.

The wider question is, of course, free speech, which for some reason seems to have become the preserve of the radical Right. In other words, if someone actually wants to wander around a city or go on a march with the message “I Support Hamas”, or an Isis flag, or some IRA banner, should they be at liberty to do so? Should they be allowed to write that online, in a newspaper, or say it out loud on radio or television? What about the terrorists’ “political” spokespeople?

Back in the 1980s, we had a situation where Mrs Thatcher decided that the IRA should not be given the “oxygen of publicity”, and so Gerry Adams could be seen but not heard on the Nine O’Clock News after some murderous attack, with the reporter stating what he was saying (or, as if in parody, an actor voicing the words in a Gerry Adams Irish accent).

I don’t have an answer to this, except to resort to that notion of what feels right and wrong.

A recruitment stall for Isis on a high street dishing out hateful antisemitic propaganda feels wrong, and dangerous. So, too, would an extreme right-wing “patriotic” group dishing out ugly Islamophobic material, inciting hatred.

We have public order laws preventing such things. But taking someone off the street for holding up a copy of a quip from Private Eye can’t be right.

For the record, it was this: “Unacceptable Palestine Action: spraying military planes with paint. Acceptable Palestine Action: Shooting Palestinians queuing for food.”

There. I’ve said it, too. Should I now expect to be arrested? And if not, why not? I’m fashionably old enough, you know.

Amber heat health alert for England amid warning over rise in deaths

An amber heat health alert has been issued for large parts of England, with authorities warning soaring temperatures this week are likely to cause a rise in deaths.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued alerts in London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, the East of England and the South East, which are due to come into effect at 9am on Tuesday.

It warns that there could be a rise in deaths particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. However, it added that there may also be impacts on younger age groups, with a likely increase in demand for health and social care services.

The amber alerts are set to remain in place until 6pm on Wednesday, with yellow alerts in place for the remainder of England at the same time.

It comes as the UK is set for its fourth heatwave this summer after temperatures are forecast to soar over the coming days.

Those under amber warnings have been told temperatures in care settings such as hospitals and care homes may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment, with overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings.

The heat could also lead to issues managing medicines, and cause an increased demand for power exceeding capacity. The UKHSA has also warned that it may affect the ability of the workforce to deliver services, and that there could also be travel delays.

Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-thirties in the south of England this week, according to the Met Office, with London marking 32C on Tuesday.

It is set to remain warm in other parts of the country, with Manchester clocking temperatures of 28C on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree said: “Warmth is the focus in the forecast in the first half of this week, with temperatures likely to peak on Tuesday around the mid-30s, but remaining above average in the second half of the week, particularly further to the southeast.

“The exception to the widely warm conditions will be northwest Scotland on Monday, where showers will be more frequent. Warmth will develop there from Tuesday with temperatures peaking in the mid to high 20s.”

In addition to high daytime temperatures, warm nights are also likely in southeastern parts of the UK early in the week, with even a chance of a tropical night in a few places, which is where temperatures do not drop below 20°C overnight.

A heatwave is identified when a location records maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value across at least three consecutive days, according to the Met Office. For most of the UK, this is 25C, but rises to 28C in London and the surrounding areas where temperatures are typically higher.

The hottest day of the year so far saw 34.7C recorded at St James’s Park in central London on 1 July. As it gets hotter once again, Britain is expected to see its fourth heatwave after one in June and two in July.

Two girls arrested after hotel destroyed in suspected arson attack

Two girls aged 13 and 14 have been arrested after a major fire gutted a historic former hotel.

West Mercia Police said the teenagers had both been released on bail as part of its inquiry into damage caused to the Grade II-listed Raven Hotel in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it responded swiftly to the fire at 4.45pm on Sunday, with the first fire engine arriving on scene within two minutes of the initial emergency call.

The brigade said eight fire engines and multiple specialist vehicles were deployed to tackle the blaze, which did not lead to any casualties but “totally destroyed” the building.

In a statement issued on Monday, the West Mercia force said: “Police attended a large fire at the Raven Hotel on St Andrews Street in Droitwich.

“It was believed the fire had been started deliberately but thankfully nobody has been injured.

“Two girls, 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of arson and have since been released on bail.”

Officers remain at the scene, the force said, and are asking that the public stay away from the area at this time.

Scaffolding was put up around the privately-owned building by Wychavon District Council after an incident in September 2024 where guttering and debris fell into the road.

The incident also prompted an urgent inspection by the authority, which found that the condition of the disused structure, part of which dates back to the 16th century, posed risks to the public.

Fire service Group Commander Simon Cusack said: “This was a challenging incident, and I want to commend the professionalism and dedication of our firefighters and partner agencies.

“The rapid response and teamwork ensured that the fire was quickly contained and extinguished without injury. We appreciate the public’s support and will continue to work with the local authority and business owner to secure the site.”

The district council said it shared the community’s upset and anger at the “devastating” fire.

The council said in a statement: “We understand completely the strength of feeling and affection for this historic building and the significance it has for the town.

“Over the last six months we had been working hard to ensure that urgent works were carried out to protect the building in line with the court order we secured late last year. These works were due to finish this week and we will still invoice the owner for payment.

“We are working closely with the fire service and our building control officers were visiting the site this morning to review the building and advise of the next steps.

“We will issue a further statement very soon, once we have an update regarding the state and safety of the structure.”

Strictly Come Dancing reveals first celebrities for 2025 lineup

Strictly Come Dancing has announced Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as celebrity contestants for the 2025 series.

They join Gladiators star and Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey on the line-up.

Dyer, who shot to fame after winning Love Island in 2018, said of her appointment: “Getting the opportunity to be on Strictly is the second most amazing thing I’ve done this year.

“I feel very very blessed and cannot wait to get my dancing shoes on,” the 28-year-old TV personality added.

Actor Kingston, known for her roles as Elizabeth Corday in US medical drama ER and River Song in sci-fi show Doctor Who, said she was inspired to join the show after seeing her friend, Miranda actor Sarah Hadland, finish as a runner up on last year’s series.

The British performer, 62, also said she has wanted to take part on the show for years.

Dutch football star Hasselbaink, who currently works alongside Gareth Southgate as assistant coach for the England football team, said he decided to join the show at the request of his family.

Announcing his participation on The One Show, Hasselbaink, 53, said the dancing competition will bring him “totally out of my comfort zone”.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro to Gladiators fans, said: “I’m so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got.”

The athlete, a former Team GB sprinter who joined Gladiators in 2023, took part in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special alongside professional dancer Nancy Xu.

Aikines-Aryeetey said the Christmas Special “was so nice I just had to do it twice”.

He has competed at two Olympic Games and is a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion. He also became the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships. He won the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, aged 17.

He follows in the footsteps of his Gladiators co-star Montell Douglas, who appeared on last year’s 20th anniversary series of Strictly and was eliminated in week 10.

The remaining contestants will be announced throughout August.

The rumoured names for this year’s series include former GB athlete Mo Farah and Sort Your Life Out presenter Stacey Solomon.

Strictly has already revealed two new additions to the professional cast for 2025. Alexis Warr, former winner of the US series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022, and Julian Caillon, a ballroom TV star from Australia, will both be arriving on the dancefloor this autumn.

They will be joining returning professionals Dianne Buswell – who won the BBC dance competition with Chris McCausland in 2024 – alongside Nadiya Bychkova, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal.

Amy Dowden, who pulled out of last year’s competition following a foot injury, will also return to the show. She will be joined by Carlos Gu, Kai Widdrington, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjane, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, Vito Coppola and Karen Hauer.

It’s been revealed that Marquez, one of Strictly‘s best-loved regular professionals, will not be partnered with a celebrity in the 2025 series. He will be absent for up to four weeks of the BBC show’s next run, as he is appearing as a judge on the Spanish version of the competition, Bailando Con Las Estrellas, in October.

All four judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke – will return.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One from September through to December.

Jet, Set, Glow: How to turn pre-flight time into a wellness ritual

The airport might not be the first place you think of when you think about wellness, but believe me, you can hone healthy habits just about anywhere. Feeling well is about small incremental changes that are easy to manage and I’ve got plenty of tips on how to apply these ahead of a holiday.

Part of my job is travelling to health retreats around the world so there are a few things I do when I arrive at Heathrow to prepare me for this. Read on for my tips on how to transform waiting at your gate into a wellness ritual.

There are great wellness wins to be found in Duty-Free if you know where to look. Discounted skincare? Yes please. I’ll always head to the World Duty Free stores to stock up on my flight favourites to hydrate, protect and soothe stressed out skin and wellness tools to fight jet-lag and keep my healthy habits up on the other side.

Don’t believe what you see on TikTok – you don’t want to be putting on a load of skincare and facemasks on a plane. Dermatologists agree that less is more, so I pick up one of Aesop’s simple Venturer kits and use it as soon as I’m on the plane. The mouthwash and deodorant contain no nasties and the natural scents soothe the nervous system.

I also head to the Charlotte Tilbury counter to make the most of the deals there. The Magic Cream is gentle and hydrating so I use it on the plane once I’ve taken any make up off to stop my skin drying out in transit. I also usually pick up an In-Flight Hydrate, Protect and Glow kit, which contains a hydrating travel-sized mist, primer and lip oil.

If you’re concerned about your circulation on a flight, you can find incredible ayurvedic massage tools and neurocosmetic oils from Mauli Rituals to give the brain and skin a boost while you’re waiting to board and in flight. The brand’s bath salts are great for jet lag recovery too.

I slather hand cream on to prevent dryness while I’m in air conditioned spaces so I also make a beeline for L’Occitane products while I’m in the World Duty Free store – the minis are great for travelling and there are some cute travel exclusives available, such as the Shea Travel Must Have’s Set. Elemis also does a great selection of minis. If you don’t want to bring your entire skincare routine on holiday, opt for the whole Elemis protocol in minis in a travel exclusive set for a gentle hydrating pro‑collagen fix.

You can reserve your products online up to 30 days before your trip, so rather than stressing about what’s in stock or turning up without a clue, I recommend pre-ordering and heading straight to the desk for what you need. Then enjoy a bit of a browse. Stress isn’t great for you at any time, let alone when you travel so don’t stress yourself out by spending too long looking for what you need and having to run to your gate.

I recommend pre-ordering the Aesop kit, Charlotte Tilbury skincare or Mauli Rituals’ travel-size oils. It’s also worth looking for travel-exclusive offers and sets. The Charlotte Tilbury, Elemis and Clinique travel sets are often much better value than high street versions

There are a host of other stores I like to visit for essentials when I arrive at Heathrow and Boots is obviously one of them. This is where I find all my supplements – magnesium for sleep and muscle tension, electrolytes to maintain hydration while travelling and probiotics or digestive enzymes to keep my gut happy.

I also head to the Rituals store for more aromatherapy goodness but usually I’ll have already stocked up in World Duty-Free. One thing I won’t have found in Duty-Free is clothing, so I go to Lululemon for buttery-soft comfies to wear on the plane. Of course, no airport visit is complete without popping into WH Smiths for a book – next on my list is Genius Gut by Dr Emily Leeming.

Did you know that Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 both offer quiet areas for stretching? This is a must if you’re going to be sitting down for ages on your flight. A quick stretch or yoga session helps to alleviate tight hips, back and neck pain and avoid swelling – especially if you do it before you board and after you land.

Compression socks can also help with swelling and improve your circulation but it’s great to wake the body up too. Try ankle rolls, neck rotations, legs up the wall and cat-cow stretches. You can also use this time to use your Mauli Rituals massage tools to boost circulation and get your muscles nice and relaxed before having to sit still for an extended period.

Even if you’re flying economy, you can also book into lounges like Plaza Premium or No1 Lounge for a fee. Many include quiet zones, hot food, showers and complimentary herbal teas. Terminal 5 also has a spa inside some lounges like the Sofitel Heathrow if you’re really in need of some downtime whilst passing through the airport, perhaps for a connecting flight.

There are so many eateries and shops I recommend at Heathrow, you just have to know where to look for the healthiest finds. Eating high protein and fibre options will mean you stay fuller for longer and feel comfortable on your flight. You might also want to think about whether you plan to sleep on the plane or not, and either go for foods and drinks that will relax you, or give you an energy boost, depending on your plans.

I’ll always go for a high protein breakfast from Pret over a fry up at ‘spoons. I also love their ginger shots for an extra immunity boost before breathing in aeroplane air.

If I want to feel awake and invigorated, I’ll go for a juice and a matcha from Joe and the Juice. Leon is a great shout if you want something more filling that won’t leave you feeling sluggish – think fast, fresh options including quinoa bowls, grilled chicken, and veggie pots.

For a sit-down meal, head to Giraffe for global-inspired meals with veggie options, smoothies and herbal teas. My all-time favourite spot is Itsu for sushi, miso soup, edamame and gut-friendly options that won’t leave me feeling bloated or uncomfortable during the flight.

Then I’ll stock up on snacks from M&S food for the plane – fresh fruit, nuts and coconut water for hydration. Eating mineral-rich food like this and staying hydrated can help lessen jet lag.

Heathrow has water refill stations in every terminal after security. Staying hydrated is one of the easiest ways to reduce jet lag, boost focus, and support digestion—especially important if you’re flying long haul. I fill mine up with filtered water and then drink it before I go through security. On the other side it’s easy to refill your bottle or buy a new bottle of filtered water.

You can also bring your own herbal tea bags, electrolytes and soothing adaptogenic drinks from home. Most come in travel-size sachets and all you have to do is politely ask any coffee shop or restaurant for hot or cold water in a takeaway cup or your reusable cup to mix them up.

I always create a personal ritual to feel grounded whilst I’m in an airport. They can be busy frenetic places and you might already feel tired from an early start. I like to do a guided meditation (there are plenty of free ones on Spotify) with my headphones on while I’m sitting down paired with some box breathing exercises. I also do it again once I’m in my seat on the plane. This relaxes the nervous system and gets you into a more positive mental state. It’s great for alleviating any stress, preparing you for any stressful or challenging situations or calming your nerves if you happen to be a nervous flyer.

You can also use your aromatherapy oils, a rollerball or a spray to soothe your senses and reset. Just be mindful of other people around you if you’re spraying something. I also try to use the opportunity of time spent waiting at my gate to read a book, instead of doom-scrolling on my phone. If I’m doing this, I pop my earplugs in to drown out the noise around me – my favourites are from Loop. If you prefer to take in your surroundings, pop your headphones on and listen to a soothing or uplifting playlist. I like to curate these before I head to the airport to help me get into the right headspace when I need it.

If you do suffer with anxiety around crowds, feel nervous about flying or just want to feel more grounded, you can practice saying a few affirmations and mantras for confidence and calm. This could be something as simple as: “I am safe and I travel with ease”.

Armed with all these tips you’ll hopefully be able to board your flight feeling relaxed, prepared and excited to travel to destinations far and wide. Though the unknown can be stressful, there are plenty of ways to feel more optimistic and resilient if we know how to take better care of ourselves, wherever we are.

Find out more about Heathrow’s Redefine Your Beauty campaign, including treatment menus, participating brands and exclusive offers here.

Kemi Badenoch suggests putting asylum seekers in ‘migrant camps’

Kemi Badenoch appeared to suggest the setting up of migrant “camps” when speaking about possible alternatives to using hotels to house asylum seekers – comments that have been dubbed “deeply troubling” by refugee campaigners.

As she met members of the community in Epping, Essex, the Conservative Party leader said: “We’ve got to turn things around very quickly. We cannot use rules from 1995, or 2005, or even 2015 for 2025.

“Our world is changing very quickly, and we need to adapt to it.”

Mrs Badenoch, who is attempting to persuade voters that the Tories can be trusted on the issue of migration in the face of a growing threat from Reform UK, added: “Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities?

“As a party, we need to also hear from the community about what you think the solutions are. We don’t have all the answers; it’s important that we make sure that the community is part of the problem solved.”

Responding to her remarks, Refugee Action’s Tim Naor Hilton told The Independent: “It’s deeply troubling that our political leaders appear to be in a race to the bottom for who can treat people seeking asylum the most cruelly.

“It is creating an incendiary atmosphere in our communities that is emboldening dangerous far-right groups and leading to racist attacks on people seeking asylum.

“Hostile policies and rhetoric must stop now. People must be treated with dignity and housed properly in our communities so they can rebuild their lives in peace.”

It comes amid mounting tensions over asylum seekers housed in hotel accommodation in recent days, with protests taking place across the UK.

Meanwhile, the government is ramping up its efforts to bring down migration amid growing public anger over the issue, announcing on Friday that the new “one in, one out” returns deal with France was up and running.

The Home Office has also expanded its “deport now, appeal later” scheme, which sees foreign criminals deported before their appeals have been heard.

But Ms Badenoch said the fresh government effort to deport foreign national offenders was “the sort of stuff that they should have been doing on day one”.

Asked about the recent announcements, the Conservative Party leader told broadcasters: “When we were deporting criminals, Keir Starmer was writing letters trying to stop our deportations, so I’ll believe it when I see it.

“This is the sort of stuff that they should have been doing on day one. The fact that they tried to stop deportations before means that I don’t really believe it.

“The government has released 26,000 prisoners since they came to power, released them early, there are now more criminals on our streets, that’s what I’m really worried about.”

The “deport now, appeal later” scheme has been expanded to include offenders from another 15 countries including India, Bulgaria and Australia, bringing the total to 23 countries.

It allows the UK to deport offenders who have had a human rights claim against their removal rejected, with any appeals heard from abroad over a video link.

Three children arrested on suspicion of murder after man dies in Kent

Three teenagers have been arrested following the death of a man on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

Kent Police officers were called to the Warden Bay Road area in Leysdown-on-Sea shortly after 7pm on Sunday to reports of an altercation and a serious assault on a man.

Paramedics also attended, and a man in his 40s was confirmed dead.

His next of kin has been informed.

A 16-year-old girl and two boys, aged 14 and 15, have since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

They remain in custody pending further inquiries, police said.

On Monday, a police cordon could be seen in a large clearing behind the beach in the Leysdown-on-Sea resort, in front of a caravan park.

One local resident was surprised that her afternoon walk was disrupted, as she thought the helicopter sent last night was the coast guard which they “get a lot” at this time of year.

A crew of Kent police officers remained at the scene on Monday.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01622 690690 quoting 10-1384.