A town at the heart of Greater Manchester
A heatwave has pushed wildfire risk to extreme levels across England and Wales. North Wales declared a major incident near Conwy Mountain as crews battle expanding wildfires. Similar blazes are under way in Derbyshire, the South Downs and other counties, with hundreds of firefighters battling ongoing fires and evacuations continuing.
The King’s Birthday Honours recognise Sir Kevin Sinfield for his MND fundraising, alongside six Lionesses MBEs and other figures, as part of a broader push to reflect community contributions in honours lists.
The Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs has confirmed its phased hearings, with London and several local areas including Oldham, Bradford and Keighley set to be investigated. Baroness Anne Longfield leads the probe, which will compel institutions to explain what they did to protect children and to review past safeguarding failures.
Shabir Ahmed, 73, the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader, has been released on licence and cannot be deported due to Immigration Act provisions. He will face strict license conditions and an exclusion zone around Rochdale, with victims and lawmakers reacting to the decision as details emerge from multiple sources.