Trump’s Washington DC police takeover ‘unsettling and unprecedented’, mayor says

Monday marked the formal beginning of Donald Trump’s plans to deploy members of the National Guard in Washington, DC, and take control of the city’s police force.

The dramatic move was in response to what Trump claims is an “out of control” crime problem in the capital, even though data shows a recent decline.

DC mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday while the White House’s plans are “unsettling and unprecedented,” she was “not totally surprised” by them.

“My message to residents is this: we know that access to our democracy is tenuous,” Bowser said at a press conference. “That is why you have heard me and many, many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood for the District of Columbia.”

To federalize law enforcement in the city, Trump invoked section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.

Guardsmen will also be deployed “to help reestablish Law Order of public safety,” Trump said at a press conference on Monday with top officials, adding, “This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back.”

Later Monday, the administration announced it was instituting another 90-day pause on higher tariff rates against China taking effect, after a similar compromise was reached in May.

Amber heat health warning begins as UK temperatures set to soar to 34C

Temperatures in the UK are set to soar to 34C in some places as the nation braces for its fourth heatwave of the summer.

Authorities have warned that there could be a rise in deaths as amber and yellow health alerts come into effect at 9am on Tuesday.

The hot and dry conditions have prompted officials to warn England is suffering from “nationally significant” water shortfalls despite rain in July, as fires were seen in areas of east London on Monday.

Southern areas including Berkshire, Oxfordshire and outskirts of London such as Heathrow may reach 34C on Tuesday as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) set heat health warnings for all of England.

The East Midlands, West Midlands, east of England, London and the south east, which are all under more severe amber alerts, have been warned there could be a rise in deaths particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

However, the UKHSA added that there may also be impacts on younger age groups, with a likely increase in demand for health and social care services.

On Monday, officials warned that England is suffering from “nationally significant” water shortfalls despite rain in July.

The national drought group – which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations – has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status.

England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said.

Experts warn climate change is driving more extreme weather conditions in the UK, worsening drought and dry spells, and making heatwaves more frequent and severe.

Wednesday could bring 33C to 34C heat to eastern England including Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and East Anglia, and Thursday may see 29C to 30C in London and East Anglia.

Monday’s highest temperature was 31.9C at Heathrow.

Seasonal averages are generally between 18C and 22C in Britain, and go up to 23C for London.

Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said on Monday that the UK is on day two of the heatwave and there is “overall a very hot, very warm week to come”.

The Met Office defines a heatwave as temperatures meeting or exceeding a certain threshold for three consecutive days or more.

This is 25C for most of the UK, but rises to 28C in London and its surrounding area, where temperatures are typically higher.

Lower pressure to the west and higher pressure to the east of the country is creating a southerly airflow which is drawing in hot and humid air from Europe, he added.

The near continent is experiencing high temperatures with France reaching the low 40Cs on Monday.

“As we go through the week, there’s lots of sunshine and the air isn’t really going anywhere … that sort of then hangs around,” he added.

“It’s drawing in at the moment and then sort of stays across the UK for the rest of the week.”

Wales may see its hottest day of the year on Tuesday but temperatures are not expected to break 2025 records in other parts of the UK. England’s high for 2025 stands at 35.8C recorded in Faversham, Kent, on July 1.

‘It was horrific’: Witnesses tell of moment Israeli missiles killed journalists in Gaza

Sheltering in tents on the grounds of the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City, the Al-Jazeera journalists had just bid each other good night. Another day of reporting on the violence, starvation and brutality in their besieged homeland had ground to an end.

Fifteen minutes later, Israeli missiles tore through the sky and eviscerated the tent.

Anas al-Sharif, 28, one of the news channel’s most prominent voices in Gaza, was killed alongside reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. A sixth journalist, a freelance, was killed nearby.

Sharif had been intentionally targeted by the Israelis, who accused him of being the head of a Hamas terror cell but offered no credible evidence to back up their claim. There was no explanation for the killing of the other men alongside him.

Saed, a Palestinian journalist staying in a nearby tent on the same site, was thrown to the ground by the deafening explosion when the strike hit.

“I lost consciousness,” he told The Independent. “Suddenly, my eyes went back to the area, and I saw that the journalists’ tent had been targeted.”

Amer, 31, also in the same compound, came rushing out. He described seeing one journalist, injured in the legs and back, screaming for help.

Sharif – who had faced numerous death threats in the run-up to the strike – was lying dead on the ground behind him. His colleague Mohammed Qreiqeh was alive, just about, but on fire. Those around him scrambled to try to extinguish the flames, Amer continued.

“One man was killed while sitting in a chair, and another was killed inside the journalist tent next to us. It was horrific,” he added, visibly shaken.

Shrapnel had sprayed the journalist syndicate tent, killing a sixth journalist who did not work for Al Jazeera, as well as a passer-by.

“These journalists were the voice and the image of our suffering here in Gaza – and now they have become the subject of the stories they were covering,” Amer said.

“Anas expected that he would be targeted at any moment. He accepted the possibility, based on the threats against him. He was reporting to the world what was happening, conveying the images and the massacres being committed in the Gaza Strip. There was no place for him to hide.”

Sharif had prepared for his death. A lengthy and heartbreaking statement posted to his X (Twitter) account after he was killed read: “This is my last will and testament. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.”

The message concluded: “Do not forget Gaza… And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.” Shortly before he was killed, he posted that there was “non-stop bombing” in the area.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned last month that it was gravely concerned for Sharif’s safety as he was being “targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign”, and said that the unfounded accusations “represented an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif”.

Sara Qudah, the group’s director for the Middle East and north Africa, said two weeks ago that the level of danger to al-Sharif’s life was “now acute”.

A UN expert previously warned that Sharif’s life was in danger because of his reporting from Gaza, while special rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israel’s claims against Sharif were unsubstantiated.

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming Sharif was a Hamas militant who was responsible for coordinating rocket attacks.

Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the CPJ, said the organisation had yet to see “any credible evidence” to back Israel’s allegations against Sharif.

“They’ve been making this claim for many, many months, most recently in the last couple of weeks following a report that Anas did on starvation in Gaza, in which he cried on air,” Ms Ginsberg said. “We’ve asked for evidence repeatedly from Israel.”

The journalists’ deaths were roundly condemned across the world, with Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson saying the prime minister was “gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza”.

They added: “Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely.”

Al Jazeera Media Network condemned what it called the “targeted assassination” of Sharif, and said he and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza providing the world with “unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people”.

Omar Shakir, from Human Rights Watch, added: “The brazen targeted killing of Palestinian journalists Anas al-Sharif and Mohammad Qreiqeh, along with four other media workers, highlights the unimaginable peril Palestinian journalists in Gaza face, and the Israeli military’s complete disregard for civilian life.

“As Israel continues to impose a ban on journalists entering Gaza, Palestinian journalists play an indispensable role in documenting and reporting Israel’s ongoing extermination of Palestinians.

“Rather than killing voices reporting on its atrocities in Gaza, Israel should stop committing them.”

Taylor Swift announces new album on Travis Kelce’s podcast

Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album during an appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, revealing its title to be The Life of a Showgirl.

On Monday, Swift posted a countdown on her website, leading to a flurry of fan speculation that a new album could be on its way.

That was then confirmed a short time later when Kelce announced the singer would be featuring as a surprise guest on New Heights, the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Jason.

In a clip from the podcast video feed, Swift said: “So I wanted to show you something,” and then lifted up a blurred-out album cover. “This is my brand new album, The Life of a Showgirl,” she added.

The full album cover and artwork is expected to be revealed when the full podcast episode drops on Wednesday.

The countdown on Swift’s website ended officially at 12.12am ET on 12 August, with the album then made available for preorder.

No release date has been confirmed yet.

But there were some clues about a timeline for the album’s release in a listing on her website for a special limited vinyl edition of the album in “portofino orange glitter”. The website said this and other vinyl editions would be shipped by 13 October.

The multi Grammy-winning pop star’s last album was The Tortured Poets Department, released in 2024. In the same year, she ended her record-breaking Eras Tour, which sold tickets worth an estimated $2.2bn (£1.6bn) in its nearly two-year run, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time for two years in a row.

The Life of a Showgirl will be Swift’s first album since she bought back the full rights to her first six albums from investment fund Shamrock Capital.

“All of the music I ever made… now belongs… to me,” she wrote in a digital note shared to her website. “My entire life’s work.”

“To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it. To my fans, you know how important this has been to me – so much so that I meticulously re-recorded and released four of my albums, calling them Taylor’s Version,” Swift added.

Her albums were first acquired by music mogul Scooter Braun in 2020 in a deal believed to be more than $300m.

The sale caused major furore at the time as Swift claimed she had begged to buy her own work outright, but was denied the chance.

In August 2019, she announced she would be working to re-record her early albums as a way to gain ownership of her music. So far, she has released Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version), all of which have been commercial successes.

Fans had been expecting Swift to follow these with the remake of Reputation (2017) and her debut album, Taylor Swift (2006). While sharing that she had “already completely” re-recorded the entire debut album, the singer said she hadn’t “even re-recorded a quarter of” Reputation.

“The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life, and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it.” She claimed that it’s the “one album in those first six that I thought couldn’t be improved upon by redoing it.”

“So I kept putting it off. There will be a time (if you’re into the idea) for the unreleased Vault tracks from that album to hatch.”

Raducanu loses three-hour epic to Sabalenka at Cincinnati Open

Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open after a battling performance saw her slip to a narrow third-round defeat against world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

Monday’s match was the pair’s second meeting of the year after Sabalenka edged to victory in their third-round encounter at Wimbledon.

Another thrilling outing followed in Cincinnati, where an incredibly tight match lasting over three hours saw Raducanu take the 27-year-old to a third-set tiebreak.

In a tense finale, Sabalenka emerged victorious to clinch a 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5) win.

Raducanu’s path to the third round of the competition saw her beat Olga Danilovic in the previous match, her first since Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francis Roig joined her team.

The British number one made a quick start, earning her first break point in the second game of the opening set, before Sabalenka responded with a break of her own and soon levelled the score.

Sabalenka looked to have taken control of the match, breaking Raducanu’s serve again on her way to winning four successive games, but Raducanu managed to level at 4-4 and showed her strength to snatch the ninth game following a lengthy deuce.

A tight tussle saw Sabalenka able to set up a tiebreak and she withstood some solid resistance from the Briton to clinch the first set in just under an hour.

Another close contest followed as both players held their serve in the early stages of the second set, but Raducanu managed to shift the momentum by winning a break point in the seventh game to take the lead.

The Briton then served out the set in style with an ace to tie the match.

Little could separate the pair throughout the third set as both players continued to hold their serve and an incredible eighth game saw 13 deuces take place, with Sabalenka unable to convert four break points before Raducanu finally clinched the game.

For the second time in the match the set reached a tiebreaker and, with her second match point, Sabalenka squeezed through to the next round.

The world number one will meet Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round of 16 after the Spaniard beat Taylor Townsend earlier on Monday.

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.

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.”

Minister admits government hasn’t tackled small boats crisis as crossings set to hit 50,000

A minister has admitted that the government has so far failed to tackle the small boats crisis, as the number of people who have crossed the Channel since Labour took power looks set to surpass 50,000.

Home office minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said the number of people coming to the UK after making the dangerous crossing is “a problem that, up to this point, we haven’t managed to tackle” – but insisted that it was the fault of the previous government.

“The last government enabled this hideous criminal activity to really get its roots across Europe”, she said, adding that there is now “really important action being taken to tackle it.”

It comes as the government ramps 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 the government is yet to get a grip on the numbers of people making the dangerous crossing, with the latest Home Office figures showing that 49,797 people have arrived on British shores by small boat since Labour won last year’s general election.

It took Rishi Sunak 603 days in office to surpass the 50,000 milestone, while it took Boris Johnson 1,066 days – a figure which spanned over the Covid-19 pandemic.

When the figure was put to the home office minister on Sky News, she said: “This is a problem that has, up to this point, we haven’t managed to tackle in terms of the numbers who are coming here.

“But it is a completely legitimate claim to say that is happening is the result of the last government who chose to focus on gimmicks, the Rwanda scheme which returned four volunteers.”

She added: “We’re taking responsibility. I don’t believe it was our fault that it was enabled to take root in the way in which it has done by a government who failed to do what was necessary.”

But asked at what point in Labour’s government the numbers of boat crossings would become their fault, Baroness Smith declined to say.

“What I’m pointing out is that we’ve taken our responsibility to work internationally, to change the law… the last government did none of those things and focused on gimmicks”, she said.

“It’s because of that that the crime behind this got embedded in the way in which it did and that won’t be solved overnight. And we’re absolutely clear about that responsibility.”

Labour has put a pledge to crack down on the number of people coming to the UK on small boats at the centre of its plan for government.

But with boat crossings at a record high, and the asylum backlog still above 75,000, there is mounting pressure on ministers to take more drastic action, pressure which is exacerbated by the success of Reform UK in the polls.

The government is hoping its latest measures will turn the tide on the numbers of people arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel, amid mounting tensions over the issue in recent days.

There have been protests across the UK opposing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with a number of people arrested.

Figures from last month showed that the number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel topped 25,000 – the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 25,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018.