The East Midlands Combined County Authority has signed off on spending £1.2 million to bring HR and payroll services in-house from Nottinghamshire County Council, a move approved by chief executive Amy Harhoff under delegated powers. The decision comes as all 19 councils in the region are set to be replaced by five authorities from April 2028, with the spending spread over the next three years.
George MacIntyre will back up freshman starter Faizon Brandon at Tennessee, but history under Josh Heupel suggests he'll still see meaningful snaps. The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports backup quarterbacks have started 14 games in Heupel's tenure, and MacIntyre is expected to play early against non-conference opponents.
The preliminary examination for John Skelton, charged with murder in the disappearance of his three sons, began this week in Lenawee County. Witnesses, including the boys' mother and family pastor, testified about Skelton's statements and behavior surrounding the 2010 disappearance.
Police in Sandakan have detained ten people, all related, in connection with the murder of a 62-year-old woman. The victim's body was found in her home with her hands tied and head covered. Authorities say the case stems from a dispute over renovation payments and a rent increase.
Horticultural expert Monty Don advises gardeners to prune lavender now to ensure strong regrowth next year. Both Surrey Advertiser and Liverpool Echo emphasize the urgency of the task before the end of August.
Keith Caesar, the hip-hop pioneer known as Keith Keith of the Funky 4+1, has died at age 64. The group made history as the first hip-hop act on Saturday Night Live, and tributes have come from Grandmaster Flash and fans.
Iran's rial fell to a record low against the US dollar on Monday amid US plans to unveil new sanctions, described by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as an 'economic D-Day.' The currency drop comes as a US naval blockade restricts oil exports and diplomatic efforts continue involving Pakistan and Oman.
President Droupadi Murmu received credentials from the newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners of Germany, Sweden, South Sudan, UAE, Nigeria, and Moldova at a formal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The UAE envoy reaffirmed commitment to the bilateral partnership, and the President expressed confidence in deepening ties.
The Trump administration has proposed a $103,265 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, seeking to make permanent a charge first imposed by proclamation and later blocked by courts. The proposal, published Monday, would apply to cap-subject petitions and is expected to significantly affect Indian professionals, who account for the largest share of beneficiaries.
Alexander Isak's return to St James' Park ended in a 2-2 draw, but his performance drew criticism from Michael Owen and Gary Neville. Owen said Isak is 'running out of excuses' and that Liverpool need him to deliver, while Neville labelled him and Florian Wirtz the 'biggest disappointments'. Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker also debated the decision not to let Isak take a late penalty.
At the UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted India's restoration of over 21 million hectares of degraded land, generating 1.22 billion person-days of employment. He called for international finance and a proactive approach to drought resilience, positioning restoration as an investment in long-term sustainability.
Two high school football players, Odin Hensley of Lake Travis High School in Texas and Rylan Reece of Pawnee Heights High School in Kansas, died in August after suffering medical emergencies during practice. Lake Travis canceled its season opener following Hensley's death, and an autopsy was performed to determine Reece's cause of death.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree enabling the state to temporarily manage critical infrastructure if owners fail to protect it from attacks or repair damage promptly. The measure, published on Monday, comes amid intensified Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and warehouses. Officials say it does not imply nationalization.
The European Commission has put forward a proposal to further restrict fishing in the western Baltic Sea, aiming to protect herring stocks that remain below sustainable levels. The plan includes scrapping a coastal exception and reducing bycatch limits, though a similar proposal failed to gain member state support last year.
At Nairobi’s Otamatsuri anime and manga convention, Kenyan cosplayers like Julius Mokaya and Yvonne Chockey craft elaborate costumes from recycled materials, showcasing creativity and passion despite financial constraints. Organiser Jotham Micah reports over 4,000 attendees, highlighting the growing cultural reach of anime in Africa.
Unconfirmed reports say Devin Haney's mother, April Clay, passed away unexpectedly on August 22, 2026. Gervonta Davis posted inflammatory comments about the news, sparking backlash, while Haney and his family have not publicly confirmed or commented.
Dhruv Jurel's unbeaten 115 and Rishabh Pant's aggressive 63 helped India declare at 503/9 on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka, leaving the hosts at 8/2 and 495 runs behind. Pant's availability for wicketkeeping remains uncertain after he suffered pain in his right shoulder, with Jurel taking over behind the stumps.
A three-alarm fire broke out early Monday in Santa Clarita's Old Town Newhall, destroying the Newhall Refinery restaurant, The Main Theatre, and several other businesses. No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation. The community has rallied with support and fundraising for affected business owners.
President Donald Trump announced he will raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50% starting January 1, 2027, escalating a trade dispute after negotiations collapsed. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed dollar-for-dollar retaliation, with tariffs on U.S. goods set to take effect September 8.
Cheshire Police have uncovered a stash of drugs buried at the Creamfields Festival site in Daresbury, including 204 canisters of nitrous oxide and large bags of ecstasy, MDMA and ketamine. The discovery was made during pre-event searches, with more than 80,000 people expected to attend from Thursday. Superintendent Andy Blizard said there is a zero-tolerance policy and that further searches may reveal more.