City, administrative centre and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England
Power outage at CrossCountry's Birmingham control centre has disrupted services across almost all UK routes. Operators are restoring services; tickets remain valid on alternative routes; delays and refunds are available as National Rail and partner operators assist.
Zoopla finds a widening gap between house and flat prices since 2016, with houses up 43% and flats 10%, widening the house-to-flat ratio from 1.3x to 1.7x. Regional disparities are strongest in the Midlands and North, while Scotland remains stable. London shows a different pattern, with slower price growth.
Wolves have concluded a leadership change after the season review, appointing a new head coach as they prepare to compete in the Championship next season.
Camra says multinationals dominate UK beer, misleading on craft credentials. CMA urged to review anti-competitive practices that squeeze independent brewers from pubs. Three leading groups defend transparency, while independent brewers warn of job risks and shrinking choice.
Pub groups report strong World Cup demand lifting like-for-like sales on matchdays, with Grandstand venues leading the gains. For the 42 weeks to July 18, overall sales show softer performance outside peak periods, as weather and economic headwinds weigh on non-event periods.
The Range Rover Sport Electric has been shown in prototype form at Goodwood. It follows the full-size Range Rover Electric, with deliveries due in 2027. The Sport aims for more dynamic driving while preserving Range Rover comfort and off-road ability.
Jaguar Land Rover plans to cut fewer than 300 UK jobs as it continues its recovery from a cyber attack that halted production last year and amid tariff pressures. The company says affected staff may be redeployed or offered voluntary exit, with locations and roles undisclosed.
Pooja Kanda and families affected by knife crime welcome the government’s expansion of knife-surrender bins and a mobile surrender van. Since July last year, more than 14,500 weapons have been handed in, with knife-enabled robberies and homicides showing declines. The scheme aims to remove dangerous weapons from streets, with new bins in Yorkshire and other areas.
The NHS has been forced to confront ongoing summer pressures as heatwaves drive higher A&E attendances, equipment failures, and drought-related health risks. Officials say planning for summer pressures is now essential, with public awareness campaigns and infrastructure upgrades in focus.
British sprinter Matt Hudson-Smith has claimed his fifth continental gold at the European Championships, defending his title in the 400m in front of a home crowd at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium. He powered to victory in 44.17 seconds from lane nine, ahead of France’s Muhammad Abdallah Kounta and the Netherlands’ Jonas Phijffers. The night also saw Emily Newnham win silver in the women’s 400m hurdles and Amy Hunt reach the 200m final.