Community
Pensioner Jailed for £4.7m Loan Shark Scheme Exploiting Vulnerable
A 66-year-old pensioner was jailed for 12 months after running an illegal money lending scheme, lending over £4.7 million and expecting £6.5 million in return, exploiting vulnerable borrowers.
Business
Key North East Appointments: Ward Hadaway, B7, DAC Beachcroft, Muse
Law firm Ward Hadaway appoints Helen Badger and Gemma Lynch as partners. B7 hires Daniel Gourley as social media manager. DAC Beachcroft elects Paul Davison as Newcastle location head. Muse appoints Max King as project management director.
Culture
Kelly Osbourne's Heartfelt Letter to Sharon on First Anniversary Without Ozzy
Kelly Osbourne wrote a heartfelt letter to her mother Sharon on what would have been her 46th wedding anniversary to Ozzy, who died last year. She said their love story 'even heaven could never end.'
Politics
Appeal Denied: TikTok Star's Mother Loses Murder Sentence Reduction Bid
Ansreen Bukhari, mother of TikTok personality Mahek Bukhari, loses appeal against her life sentence for murders following A46 car chase. Court rejects 'manifestly excessive' claim.
Sport
Health
DWP Confirms £0 TV Licences for Households on One Benefit
State pensioners aged 75+ on Pension Credit can get a free TV Licence worth £180. DWP confirms the £0 concession for low-income households.
Sick Note Overhaul: July Changes in Birmingham
From July 2026, sick note rules change in Birmingham and three other pilot areas, replacing tick-box fit notes with personalised return-to-work plans to help people recover and stay employed.
Girl Rushed to Hospital After Squishy Toy Bursts
A seven-year-old was rushed to hospital with blisters after a NeeDoh squishy toy burst onto her hand without being heated, her mother says. The incident has prompted distributor Bigjigs Toys to investigate.
Tributes to mum-of-four killed in light aircraft crash
Nicola Wright, 44, died after her plane crashed near Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon. Her family remembers her as an incredible mother and adventurous spirit.
DWP £86 Weekly Boost for Pensioners on 7 Benefits
State pensioners can get an extra £86.05 per week through Pension Credit if they receive certain benefits like PIP or Attendance Allowance.
TV & Film Quiz: British Screen Classics
From EastEnders and Doctor Who to James Bond, Only Fools and Horses and Wallace and Gromit, test your knowledge of classic British television and cinema. Lights, camera, quiz!
