Hundreds of first responders have told me they remember exactly how they felt during the World Trade Center attacks, even 25 years on…
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In a new health advisory, the CDC raised the alarm over a surge in rabies cases. The virus is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
A baby has died and two individuals have been arrested following an incident in Atherstone today.
Emergency services were called to Long Street, Atherstone, on Friday, September 11, at approximately 11.50am, following reports of a one-year-old girl in cardiac arrest.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics to save her, the young girl tragically died. A man and a woman have since been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.
A partial road closure remains in place on Long Street, with a significant emergency services presence still at the scene, reports Coventry Live.
A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: “Two arrests have been made as detectives investigate the death of a child today, 11 September.
“At around 11.50am we were called to a home in Atherstone to reports of a one-year-old girl in cardiac arrest.
“Sadly, despite us and our ambulance colleagues making every effort to save her, she passed away.
“A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and they remain in custody at this time.
“There is a scene in place and a partial road closure on Long Street and we would like to thank residents for their understanding.
“We know many will find this news upsetting. Officers will be in the area for the time being – please speak with them if you have any concerns.”
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HMRC says the Winter Fuel Payment is designed to help many people to cover part of their heating bills for winter 2026
HMRC officials have released a fresh update that affects many people who get the Winter Fuel Payment. The payment means that if you were born on or before 27 June 1960, you may be entitled to between £100 and £300 to assist with your heating costs for winter 2026 to 2027.
The majority of eligible people receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically and are sent a letter in October or November confirming the amount they will receive. Payment is typically made in November or December 2026 – however, approximately 2 million people are required to repay it.
If your total income exceeds £35,000, HMRC will reclaim your Winter Fuel Payment. Your partner’s income is not included in your total.
It should be noted that if you reside in Scotland, you are not eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment, though you may qualify for Pension Age Winter Heating payment. In 2025/26, approximately 10.2 million people were expected to benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment or PAWHP schemes. Around 12.3 million people in the UK were projected to receive payments, with roughly 2.2 million forecast to have incomes exceeding £35,000, meaning any payment would be withdrawn through the Winter Fuel Payments Charge.
This week, HMRC released a fresh update containing information for those who may need to repay it. The update included two deadlines – one this month and another at the beginning of the year.
The agency said: “Customers who received the Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating Payments in Scotland, and are in Self Assessment, will see the Winter Fuel Payment pre-populated in their 2025 to 2026 online tax return where possible, payment is due by 31 January 2027. Customers should check and add it manually if it is not shown. Paper filers will need to add it on their tax return, due by 31 October 2026.
“Customers with a total income over £35,000 will then pay the payment back through their Self Assessment tax bill. You can choose to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment by 23:59 on 20 September 2026. Customers in Scotland can opt out of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment by midday on 19 October 2026.”
Before winter 2024/25, the payments had been distributed universally to everyone of State Pension age. In July 2024, the newly-elected Labour administration under Sir Keir Starmer announced that pensioners in England and Wales would no longer qualify unless they were in receipt of Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits, cutting the share of eligible pensioners to approximately 13%.
Scotland and Northern Ireland subsequently adopted the same approach. Opposition parties and numerous campaign groups condemned this means-testing strategy.
In June 2025, ministers revealed that from winter 2025/26 onwards everyone above State Pension age would once more be entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment, but those with annual incomes above £35,000 would be required to repay it via the tax system – the Winter Fuel Payments Charge.
This means that over three quarters of pensioners are set to benefit, official information says, adding that devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Scotland have adopted this approach. According to the House of Commons Library, if an individual’s taxable income exceeds £35,000 for the relevant tax year, and they are not simultaneously receiving a means-tested benefit, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will recover their Winter Fuel Payment (or PAWHP) through the tax system.
The Winter Fuel Payments Charge rules
This Winter Fuel Payments Charge is applicable throughout the UK. The charge is levied on individuals, not households. Consequently, where only one partner in a couple has taxable income above £35,000, solely that partner’s portion will be recovered. The other partner will retain their payment.
The charge is implemented either through an adjustment to pay as you earn (PAYE) tax codes, or by including the amount on self assessment tax returns. People can verify on gov.uk whether their income surpasses the threshold and how HMRC will reclaim it.
People can choose not to receive the Winter Fuel Payment or PAWHP if they prefer not to. Once someone has opted out, they will not receive payments in subsequent years unless they opt back in.
The fresh communication from HMRC arrived as it notified people of an update to the Self Assessments system. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has introduced an enhanced registration service making it simpler than ever to register for Self Assessment, it says.
Anyone uncertain whether they need to submit a tax return can use HMRC’s free online checking tool on GOV.UK to determine what, if anything, they should do next. More than 640,000 customers registered for Self Assessment in the 12 months to 31 March 2026.
The deadline for submitting a tax return and paying any tax owed for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027. However, those with income to declare who are not yet registered for Self Assessment must do so before they can begin their tax return.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Anyone new to Self Assessment may not realise they need to register before they can submit their tax return. Registering is quicker and easier than ever. And if you register now, you’ll get your Unique Taxpayer Reference so you can start completing your return with plenty of time before the 31 January deadline.”
HMRC officials say changes to their online registration system mean that those new to Self Assessment will be able to sign up quickly and straightforwardly through their Personal Tax Account, thanks to what they say is a more simplified process. For more on the Winter Fuel Payment, visit the gov.uk web page.
Barry Coastguard reported 17 emergency call-outs during August, including casualty care incidents, missing persons, and despondent individuals.
Other incidents involved people in the water, those stuck in mud, paddleboarders in difficulty, and children reported missing on Barry Island.
A spokesperson for Barry Coastguard said: “In a fairly busy August the team responded to 17 official emergency call-outs involving: casualty care incidents; despondents; missing persons; persons in the watererson stuck in mud; paddleboarders in difficulty; persons cut off; missing children (Barry island); and investigations”.
The spokesperson also thanked their partner agencies for their support throughout the month.
The spokesperson said: “Thanks to assistance of our flank stations Penarth and Llantwit CRTs.
“Together with valued partner agencies [including] Barry Dock RNLI; RNLI Lifeguards South East Wales; Vale SLSC; National Coastwatch Institution NCI Nell’s point; South Wales Police; and South Wales ambulance trust”.
The team also attended public events, carried out regular training exercises, and maintained coastal patrols throughout the month.
Members of the public are also being reminded what to do if they need help on or around the coast.
The spokesperson said: “If you need help on or around the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard!”.
Officials are warning of the spread of an outbreak of deadly bacteria linked to contaminated broccoli sprouts.
Idaho-based Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC announced Thursday it is voluntarily recalling 215 cases of broccoli sprouts because they may be contaminated with salmonella bovismorbificans, a type of bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea.
The affected cases, which had six 4oz bags in each, were distributed to food co-ops, restaurants, food service customers and grocery stores in Washington state, Montana and Idaho.
The products are packaged in plastic bags or plastic clamshell containers with expiration dates of September 7, September 9, September 11, September 14 and September 16.
According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 people have been sickened in Washington, Montana, Idaho and Utah. There have also been two hospitalizations but no deaths reported.
FDA officials also note the contaminated products may have reached other states as well.
The recall has not been classified, though – given previous similar recalls – it may be given a Class I designation, which represents ‘a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
While most people recover from salmonella on their own, vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals may be at risk of several complications such as infections and organ damage.
Broccoli sprouts have been recalled as they may be contaminated with salmonella (stock image)
The FDA urged consumers, restaurants and retailers to not eat, serve or sell the recalled broccoli sprouts.
Customers who purchased or received the sprouts should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that they touched to reduce the spread of salmonella, the FDA said.
A total of 22 illnesses have been reported to the CDC, though the agency notes more recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick individual is part of an outbreak.
The true toll is also likely higher because many people recover without seeking medical care or testing.
According to the CDC, illnesses tied to the outbreak began July 7 and continued through August 26.
Of those, all 19 of those interviewed by state and local public health officials confirmed eating sprouts before becoming ill. All but two of the same group said they specifically ate broccoli sprouts.
Washington reported the highest number of illnesses at 16. There were four people sickened in Montana, one in Idaho and one in Utah. The two hospitalized individuals both live in Washington.
On September 2, the Washington State Department of Health announced it was investigating a salmonella outbreak after 13 residents reported becoming ill after eating the company’s sprouts between July 7 and July 18.
The following day, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services announced its own investigation after two people became ill.
Evergreen Fresh Sprouts recalled its broccoli sprouts based on a positive salmonella test result from a sample analyzed by Montana officials, according to the FDA.
Salmonella bovismorbificans is a strain of salmonella that can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration – symptoms that require medical attention, particularly for children under five, adults over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
Pictured above is a package of the recalled broccoli sprouts
The above CDC map shows states where illnesses related to the outbreak have been reported. Most of the illnesses (16) were in Washington
The CDC estimates that salmonella causes approximately 1.3 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the US each year.
While most cases resolve with supportive care, primarily hydration and rest, the bacteria’s ability to survive stomach acid and invade intestinal cells makes it a powerful pathogen.
In severe cases, the infection can escalate beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
When salmonella enters the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia, it can travel to other parts of the body and cause secondary infections.
These can include endocarditis, or infection of the heart valves; osteomyelitis, or bone infection; meningitis, or an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; or septic arthritis, a joint infection.
These invasive infections are particularly dangerous and require prompt treatment with antibiotics, often administered intravenously in a hospital setting.
Invasive salmonellosis can also lead to long-term complications, even after the initial infection resolves.
Some people develop reactive arthritis, a condition characterized by joint pain, eye inflammation and painful urination that can persist for months or even years.
Others may experience post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome, with chronic digestive issues stemming from the damage the bacteria caused to the intestinal lining during the acute phase of illness.
Salmonella is resilient. It can survive on surfaces for weeks and is resistant to certain environmental stresses, making it difficult to eliminate completely from food manufacturing facilities.
Because contaminated foods look, smell and taste completely normal, the only way to protect consumers is to remove them from the supply chain before they can be eaten.
The cases come amid a nationwide recall of jalapenos that were contaminated with salmonella. As of August 21, there have been 431 cases and 57 hospitalizations across 32 states in that recall.
Meet The Gruffalo
Head to Griffin Books for a special Gruffalo Granny celebration, marking the release of the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years. Enjoy a stroll through the ‘deep dark wood’ and meet The Gruffalo himself, with the chance to pick up your pre-ordered copy of Gruffalo Granny and snap a photo to remember the day. Tickets are £15 including the book and a meet and greet, and you’ll need to choose a slot when booking. The event takes place on September 10, between 4–4.30pm and 5–5.30pm.
Drawing Workshop
Join artist Janet Chaplin at Penarth Pier Pavilion’s Panoramic Room 617 for a two-hour drawing workshop inspired by the stunning views of Cardiff and the Bristol Channel. Janet will guide you through composition and expressive mark-making, with all materials provided and all skill levels welcome. As Janet said: “It’s about looking, and the memories that inform the painting. The details help with the accuracy of the shapes, but ultimately it’s about the experience.” The event takes place on September 14.
Stitch + Sea
Bring your yarn, needles or hooks to Penarth Pier Pavilion for ‘a cozy space for knitters, crocheters, and yarn-lovers’ of all kinds. This isn’t a class, just a friendly, informal meet-up where you can work on your latest project, share ideas and enjoy ‘great views’ with fellow makers. All skill levels are welcome. The event takes place on September 15.
Singing and Social Groups for Older Adults
With Music in Mind runs informal, inclusive singing and social sessions for older adults at St. Augustine’s Parish Hall. The group meets most Wednesdays and costs £5 per session, with carers going free and the first session free of charge. Booking ahead is essential due to limited numbers. The event takes place on September 16, 10am to 12pm.
Canada and Australia are both democracies built on abundant resources, extraordinary biodiversity and world-class science, with prosperity built substantially on mining, oil and gas. We are major fossil fuel exporters running an economic model incompatible with a stable climate, and living the consequences through worsening bushfires, floods and drought.
As I prepare for the Climate Integrity Summit in Sydney, I am struck less by the distance between our countries than by how much we have in common. We face the same defining question: how do we move beyond fossil fuels without sacrificing prosperity or nature?
Our political systems differ, but Australians are asking the same questions Canadians are: young people wanting action to match promises, Indigenous communities wanting real recognition of their rights, scientists warning about tipping points, businesses recognising that tomorrow’s economy will reward innovation over dependence on yesterday’s technology.
The challenge facing our countries is not technological. It is governance.
Canada and Australia have focused on reducing emissions from fossil fuels while avoiding the harder conversation about reducing our dependence on them. That distinction matters. It determines whether we are managing decline or genuinely transforming our economies. The world is already moving to renewable energy. Australia has started that shift, Canada is late to it. Expanding renewables while continuing to expand fossil fuels is not a transition, it is addition. Every extra tonne of greenhouse gas warms the planet, no matter how sophisticated our accounting becomes.
This debate is especially live in Australia now. Parliament is reviewing reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism, the country’s main industrial emissions framework. The central question: should major emitters meet their obligations by buying carbon offsets instead of cutting emissions on-site?
Canada has wrestled with near-identical debates over carbon capture and offset markets. My own view, shaped by science rather than ideology, is that offsets and carbon capture have a limited role, for genuinely hard-to-abate emissions only. They should never excuse delaying the transformation science tells us is unavoidable.
Climate integrity means being honest about the gap between emissions reduced on paper and emissions reduced in the atmosphere. Research increasingly questions whether offset credits are truly additional, or whether buyers decarbonise any faster than those who don’t. If offsets stay cheaper than innovation, we reward the status quo. Canada’s own wildfires have shown, starkly, that forests are not permanent carbon stores.
Finance is another area of convergence. Australia has introduced a science-based Sustainable Finance Taxonomy directing investment toward net zero activities. Canada has pursued mandatory climate disclosures, and through my proposed Climate-Aligned Finance Act, I am seeking to align financial markets with our climate commitments. The question is no longer whether finance should support the transition, but whether policy keeps favouring yesterday’s industries. Canada’s own taxonomy debate shows how hard these choices remain: sustainable finance only works when it reflects science, not political compromise.
Climate cannot be separated from biodiversity loss, inequality or reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Tackled together, these challenges produce more resilient, equitable solutions. Australia’s integration of Indigenous safeguards into its finance framework offers Canada real lessons. Canada’s parliamentary oversight and accountability legislation may offer something back.
Neither country has the perfect model, and legislation on both sides remains fragmented. That is why dialogue between democracies matters, and why Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Future exists: legislators cannot solve global problems in national silos. As the talks in Colombia showed, sharing our successes is valuable, and sharing our mistakes may be more valuable still.
Canada and Australia should see this transition as an opportunity, not a sacrifice. The countries that lead will be those that channel investment into innovation, protect nature and build economies generating long-term wellbeing within planetary limits.
We have the capacity to lead. What remains to be seen is whether we have the political courage to make our climate commitments more than declarations. Climate integrity is ultimately a question of trust: whether citizens believe governments and industries will align decisions with the science they publicly accept. Trust may be our most valuable national resource.
Together, as two middle powers with complementary experience, we can help show that prosperity, biodiversity, Indigenous reconciliation and climate leadership are not competing ambitions. They are the foundations of the same future.
Officials have admitted that state pensioners are increasingly receiving tax letters over their savings interest, as banks share data with the taxman
Pensioners could find themselves on the receiving end of legal letters about their savings, HMRC officials have conceded. The tax authority informed a committee of MPs that individuals are increasingly likely to be targeted, owing to the freeze on the personal tax threshold alongside frozen interest tax bands.
Officials also told the Treasury Committee that banks are forwarding details of state pensioners’ savings directly to HMRC — with many now facing tax demands for the very first time.
Dame Harriett Baldwin raised the case of one of her constituents, a pensioner in her mid-70s, saying: “Suddenly got a demand for a past year-something like two or three years ago-based on bank data. Are you suddenly getting a lot of cases open retrospectively because you are now receiving more information on savings interest from banks? Is that something that is happening?”.
HMRC Director General for Customer Compliance Group Penny Ciniewicz responded that officials are “Certainly using bank and savings data more than we used to.”
The growing number of pensioners being pursued is a direct consequence of the frozen personal allowance, with rising interest rates and inflation pushing increasing numbers of people beyond the threshold. The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) permits individuals to earn a certain amount of interest on their savings each tax year without incurring UK income tax.
The allowance varies depending on an individual’s Income Tax bracket — basic-rate (20%) taxpayers can earn £1,000 of tax-free interest, while higher-rate (40%) taxpayers are entitled to £500 of tax-free interest. Jonathan Athow, Director General of Strategy and Policy at HM Revenue and Customs, said: “For about ten years now, banks have sent us data on the interest people have received. We will put that together with other information we know. If you are a pensioner, say you have savings interest in a state pension from DWP; DWP will tell us how much pension you are getting, and we will then understand how much interest you are getting.
“If that is below the personal allowance, we do not contact somebody, but if it is above the personal allowance, we will write to them saying, ‘There is this bill that you need to pay.'”. Dame Harriett asked: “Are you suddenly doing more of that retrospectively?”
Mr Athow replied: “There are two things: the state pension has been increasing relative to the personal allowance, which we have already discussed; and two or three years ago interest rates went up, meaning more people were getting more interest. In the past couple of years, therefore, we have seen that, as we do the end-of-year reconciliation – which normally happens in the summertime following the April – it is for the year before.”
The committee was further informed that HMRC has yet to finalise how it will handle pensioners who exceed the personal tax threshold of £12,570 as a result of the triple lock. The Government has committed to ensuring that those receiving only the new full state pension — which is set to surpass the point at which tax liability begins next year — will not be required to pay tax.
Mr Athow stated: “The Chancellor has indicated that the arrangements for that will be set out in the Budget.” Dame Harriet responded: “So you have worked it out, but it will not be announced until the Budget?”.
Mr Athow replied: “The Chancellor has said that the Budget is when that will be set out, and that is what we are expecting.”
The matter of individuals receiving legal correspondence regarding tax payment for the first time was brought up. Dame Harriett mentioned a pensioner who received a demand from a law firm.
She enquired: “I just wondered, Ms Ciniewicz, if you are using law firms more and how often you reconcile that data. Is that something that you are using more, particularly with regard to pensioners?”.
Dame Meg Hillier, the committee chair, asked: “As a general rule, do you outsource chasing a debt to law firms, or is it something that could be a scam? Do you have any message for taxpayers if that were to happen?”
John-Paul Marks, First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs, explained: “On debt, it is the case that the Government have funded additional capacity in debt-collection agencies to support our debt operation. Debt will only be passed to a third party after a whole bunch of checks and safeguards have gone through, so it is possible that in that situation, the customer resolved the debt with us, but that had not yet reconciled.”
Dame Harriett added: “Am I right to be worried that more and more pensioners across Great Britain and Northern Ireland are going to be getting letters from debt collection agencies and suddenly interacting with a tax system that they have previously not had to worry about?”
Mr Athow said: “There are going to be more interactions with pensioners, and more people will be brought in. As I said, there are particular challenges. If they have a private pension, we would collect the tax through that, but no PAYE is worked on the state pension, so that means we have to ask people for the money. There is going to be more of that, but we can also write to you about how the customer journey works.
“We do use debt collection agencies, but that is only a last resort-the idea is not to hand people straight over. We can explain the process and hopefully give you reassurance on how that will work. We write to more pensioners to say that, because of their pension and interest, there is tax to be charged.”
This Morning’s TV doctor Dr Amir Khan has shared NHS GP appointment advice, revealing the things patients unnecessarily apologise for during doctor visits, and he hears them all the time
Dr Amir Khan urged people to stop apologising for these things…(Image: Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images)
Dr Amir Khan has shared the things he wishes his patients would never apologise for when they come to visit him at his GP’s surgery, urging others to stop apologising for the same things, too, when they book an appointment to see their doctor.
Dr Amir, a familiar face on ITV’s This Morning and daytime telly, has earned a reputation for his extraordinary compassion towards his patients, with many expressing a wish they could “clone him” due to his outstanding approach to healthcare, an attitude which is not always mirrored across the NHS.
“Team, honestly, no need to apologise, it’s literally why I’m here!” he wrote, before revealing the kinds of apologies he regularly receives from patients, and why he insists they stop, as he doesn’t really care at all!
‘Sorry, I haven’t shaved’
Dr Amir made clear that he has absolutely no concern over whether you’ve shaved your legs, or whether you feel your “toenails look a mess”.
So long as he can properly examine whatever has brought you in and offer appropriate advice or a referral, that is genuinely all that matters to him.
He quipped that he’s “seen hairy legs before,” adding that even during an intimate examination, the absence of shaving is of no consequence whatsoever.
“Please, you’re having a medical examination, I am not bothered about anything else,” he reassured.
‘Sorry, I’ve gained weight’
Dr Amir also encouraged patients not to apologise if they’ve put on weight, as this is something you can discuss with your GP to understand the underlying reasons if they’re not already apparent.
‘Sorry, I can’t stop crying’
Dr Amir explained that becoming emotional during a doctor’s appointment requires no apology whatsoever.
“If you need to cry, cry,” he said.
‘Sorry, I’ve forgotten the name of one of my tablets’
He encouraged people not to apologise for forgetting their medication names. “I’ve got a computer, I can look it up,” he reassured.
‘Sorry to waste your time’
He stated: “Please don’t say things like I’m sorry to waste your time. If something is worrying you enough that you’ve come to make an appointment to come and see me, that’s what I’m here for”.
‘This is really embarrassing, doctor’
Dr Amir assured patients that nothing is embarrassing, explaining: “I promise you that whatever you’re about to tell me, there is a very, very, good chance that I’ve heard it before.
“Bodies bleed, they leak, they smell, they make noises at deeply inconvenient moments. They grow lumps and rashes and hairs in places you’re not expecting. That’s what being human is all about. So you don’t need to apologise for any of it”.
‘Sorry, I didn’t come in sooner’
He added that there’s no need to apologise for delaying your visit, because “you’re here now,” and if you’re “frightened,” he recognises that sometimes people need time before seeking help. He also mentioned that you’ve likely hoped it would “go away” or that “life got in the way”, but the crucial thing is that you actually come and consult him.
What does Dr Amir Khan actually care about?
Dr Amir said: “The only thing that I care about is that you feel able to tell me what’s really going on. Because the thing you might be embarrassed about might actually be really important, and I can’t help something you feel ashamed to tell me.
“So, come as you are, cry if you need to, don’t shave anything on my account, and please stop apologising for just being a patient. You’re not an inconvenience, you’re literally the reason why I’m here”.