UK

Washington Post reveals
President Donald Trump was secretly moved in an airport catering truck during his departure from Turkey last month as American officials responded to what was described as a credible threat linked to Iran, according to reports.
Trump had attended a NATO summit in Ankara and was publicly expected to leave Turkey aboard Air Force One. Instead, according to Reuters and other reports, he was discreetly transferred from the aircraft in a catering truck and taken to a smaller military C-32A aircraft. The unusual operation was reportedly designed to conceal the president’s movements and prevent a potential attack. Journalists and some members of the White House team were reportedly left believing that Trump remained aboard the visible aircraft, which continued toward Britain as part of the deception. The security operation came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Earlier reports had said US intelligence indicated a credible threat involving Iranian proxy groups, prompting the Secret Service to alter Trump’s travel arrangements.
The White House has defended the extraordinary security measures, saying that protecting the president requires precautions when credible threats emerge. The Pentagon has not publicly provided detailed information about the operation.
The episode highlights the growing security concerns surrounding Trump as tensions with Iran continue and demonstrates the lengths to which US authorities are prepared to go to protect the president from potential attacks.

Staff reporter
Councils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets under new plans announced by Andy Burnham.
Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street said could be in place from the start of next year.
which in effect requires councils to allow new gambling premises where applications meet licensing requirements.
This could mark a big shift from changes introduced by Keir Starmer in April that gave councils more scope to consider the number of gambling premises already in an area but stopped short of scrapping the “aim to permit rule”.

As mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham called on Starmer to abolish the rule in January, alongside almost 300 other politicians and campaigners.
Burnham said communities should have much more control over their high streets, where traditional shops, pubs and other services have disappeared while vape and gambling shops have expanded.
Burnham is attempting to make the first weeks of his prime ministership about tangible changes people can see in their everyday lives. Burnham is promising to scrap the “aim to permit” rule in the Gambling act 2005.
A No 10 source said the government was determined to crack down on vape and betting shops because they were two of the most visible signs of decline on high streets, and local people were genuinely concerned. A fast-tracked consultation on the new measures would take six weeks, with the aim of having the measures in place by the start of 2027.

City reporter
London
A rare astronomical spectacle of a total solar eclipse was seen in various parts of the UK and Europe after 26 years, which attracted millions of people.
The solar eclipse that took place on August 12, 2026, began in northern Russia and the northern regions of the Arctic, which was viewed by millions of people.
The total phase of the eclipse was visible in some limited areas of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal, while the sun was partially hidden behind the moon in most parts of Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.
A large number of citizens and tourists gathered in various cities and tourist destinations in the UK and European countries to watch the rare spectacle. In some areas, including Madrid and Barcelona, about 99% of the sun was hidden behind the moon, which created an unusual scene in the sky, however, an almost total partial solar eclipse was seen in these cities instead of a total one.
In addition to Europe, this scene was also partially visible in Canada, the northern regions of the United States and some parts of North Africa.
Astronomers warned citizens not to try to view the eclipse directly with their eyes. According to experts, it is necessary to use certified solar eclipse glasses or appropriate solar filters for observation, as ordinary sunglasses do not protect the eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. This astronomical event on August 12 is of particular importance for Europe, because it is the first time since 1999 that such a prominent view of a total solar eclipse was seen in many parts of the continent, and this is also the second solar eclipse this year.

Staff Reporter
Students across the UK are celebrating today as they receive their A-level results, marking an important milestone after years of study, revision and examinations.
Schools and colleges have opened their doors to students collecting their results, with many celebrating university offers, apprenticeships and other opportunities for their next steps.
For some students, the morning has brought excitement and relief, while others are considering their options after receiving results that were different from what they expected. Teachers and careers advisers are on hand to offer support and guidance.
Universities are also preparing for students to confirm their places through the admissions process. Those who have not achieved their expected grades may still have opportunities through alternative courses, clearing or other routes.
The results day marks the end of one chapter for thousands of young people, as they look ahead to university, employment, apprenticeships and further education.

Charlotte Coles
BBC
A chocolate bar has been made using entirely British ingredients for the first time in nearly a century, with cocoa from not Brazil or Bali, but Berkshire.
Created at the University of Reading, it was named the Reading 100 Chocolate Bar to mark the university’s 100th anniversary.
It is the first of its kind since 1932, when Rowntree’s gifted a six-year-old Princess Elizabeth the only other bar of UK-grown chocolate ever made.
Food security master’s student Maha Khan created the chocolate bar by harvesting, fermenting and processing the Reading-grown cocoa.
While the UK’s chocolate market is worth £10.4bn, it is entirely reliant on imported cocoa.
Maha told the Today programme she made the bar to highlight the challenges facing the cocoa growing industry.
She said: “It is incredible that we can make 100% British chocolate – but in the context of climate change, pests and diseases, there are estimates that 30 to 40% is lost.
“And we’ve seen with these heatwaves, climate change, these problems and challenges are only going to get exacerbated.”
The cocoa was grown at the University of Reading’s International Cocoa Quarantine Centre, a collection of more than 300 types of cocoa plant.
The climate-controlled centre in Berkshire is carefully managed to prevent the spread of pests and diseases between different cocoa-growing regions of the world, while also providing scientists with the opportunity to study the plants.
Maha said it was important to highlight the research being done at centre “which not many people are aware of”.
“It is the primary hub of transfer for 97% of cocoa growing countries,” she said.
“So the cocoa is quarantined there for two years, and so from those plants that are growing I decided to make this chocolate bar.”

Bureau Report
Manchester
The Consulate General of Pakistan has started a walk-in facility for Pakistani passport applicants due to the Hajj season. The consulate will facilitate applicants from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Monday to Friday, on a first-come, first-served basis. Previously, people could process their passport applications only through a prior online appointment. The Pakistani community has thanked Consul General Imtiaz Feroz Gondal for introducing the new service.

Staff reporter
Chairman of the Global Pak Kashmir Supreme Council, Raja Sikander Khan, together with the President of the All Party Kashmir Co-ordination Committee and President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, Fahim Kayani, organised a protest and rally outside the Indian High Commission in London to mark Kashmir Black Day on 5th August.
The protest commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Raja Sikander Khan welcomed and thanked the protesters who had travelled from across the United Kingdom to participate. In his opening address, he explained the purpose of the demonstration and highlighted the historical significance of 5th August. He urged all participants to conduct themselves in a peaceful and disciplined manner before inviting Fahim Kayani to address the gathering.

Fahim Kayani also spoke about the significance of the day, outlining the objectives of the protest and coordinating the proceedings from the stage.
On 5th August 2019, the Government of India revoked Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, removing the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, Kashmiris around the world have observed 5th August as Kashmir Black Day through protests, rallies, and public events to express opposition to these developments and to show solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hundreds of British Kashmiri and Britis Pakistani protesters gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London, travelling from across the UK to demonstrate their support and solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Participants carried the flags of Kashmir and Pakistan, along with banners and placards bearing slogans including, “Zionism and Hindutva are two sides of the same coin,” “Stop Killing in Kashmir,” and “Indian Army Out of Kashmir.”
Throughout the demonstration, protesters chanted slogans against the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. They called for the people of Kashmir to be granted what they described as their fundamental birth right to self-determination and demanded an end to India’s occupation of the region. Protesters also called for the release of Kashmiri political prisoners and the reversal of the life sentences imposed on Yasin Malik and Asiya Andrabi.
At the conclusion of the protest, Dr Sheikh Ramzy led a prayer for the people of Indian-administered Kashmir and for the wider Muslim Ummah.
In his closing remarks, Raja Sikander Khan thanked everyone who had attended for their valuable time, commitment, and support in making the demonstration a success. He wished all participants a safe journey home.

Staff reporter
Prominent religious scholars Sahibzada Pir Syed Munawar Hussain Shah Jamaati and Pir Tabassum Bashir Owaisi visited the London headquarters of the “AlMustafa Welfare Trust” and met with Chairman Abdulrazzaq Sajid. During the visit, they held a detailed discussion on the current state of the Muslim world and expressed particular concern regarding the recent instability in Azad Kashmir. They emphasised the urgent need to resolve this issue immediately through dialogue, urging government leaders to engage in talks with the protesters rather than resorting to the use of force, and to address the protesters’ legitimate demands to prevent further loss of life and property.