O’Neill Associates, acting on behalf of Pure Cremation, said the proposed site of the mortuary in Nether Poppleton’s York Business Park was screened from the nearest homes around 140m away.

The applicant’s agent added the facility would cause negligible levels of traffic and noise issues and the scale of the building would remain unchanged.

It follows a backlash to the proposed conversion of a former mobile network switching centre, in the business park’s Great North Way, into Pure Cremation’s main mortuary for the North East.

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Plans lodged in June propose installing six cooling units on the outside of Unit 1, Hudson Court as part of works to allow bodies to be stored there.

The mortuary, which would operate all day, every day, would take bodies collected from residences, care homes and hospices for storage before they are sent for cremation.

Works would include the addition of six cooling units so bodies collected from residences, care homes and hospices can be stored there.

Bodies would arrive in private ambulances in body bags and be checked on arrival before being placed in coffins.

Racks five coffins high would store them for three to four days before they are transported on to the company’s crematoriums in Hampshire or elsewhere or to third party facilities.

Up to 35 staff would work at the site which would be closed to the public and monitored by CCTV.

But four objections have so far been lodged, including from local funeral directors, claiming bodies would be stored in an undignified and industrial facility.

Cllr Anne Hook, Rural West York’s Liberal Democrat ward councillor, has also called for the application to go before the council’s Planning Committee for a decision.

The applicant’s agent stated the call for a vote amid concerns over residential amenity, highways, noise, traffic, over-development and impact on neighbouring businesses did not stand up to scrutiny.

Pure Cremation has defended its plans for a mortuary storing up to 700 bodies in York (Image: Unsplash)

O’Neill Associates said: “The proposal will employ 35 people, working in shifts over a 24-hour period, with the result that only 20 employees will be on site at any given time.

“The level of employment is unlikely to have any adverse impact on the surrounding highway network.

“The site now has well-established landscaping providing screening to surrounding business units.

“Apart from vehicles entering and leaving the site all activities, including the transfer of the deceased, occur within the building, the only noise will be from external cooling units.

“Pure Cremation occupy a similar premises on a business park in Knutsford, Cheshire, no complaints or adverse impact is reported from that site.”

Cllr Hook said in her request to call the application in that the facility could put other businesses off moving to the business park.

Other objectors said the proposed mortuary was appalling, horrific and undignified and likened it to a mass storage facility, production line and factory.

They also claimed it could negatively affect the local bereavement sector and cause traffic problems due to round-the-clock deliveries.

A fire tore through a hotel in India’s eastern city of Kolkata, killing at least nine people including a child, the latest in a series of fire incidents in the state.

The blaze erupted around 2am on Wednesday when guests were asleep in the hotel located on the highly congested Mirza Ghalib Street, formerly known as Free School Street in the central part of the city.

All nine people killed in the blaze have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals who had come to India for medical treatment, the Fire Department said.

At least 28 people were rescued from the hotel, the local police said.

Six people with injuries were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The fire broke out on the second floor of the Sikha Inn, according to reports.

Local media reports suggested the fire was triggered by an air conditioner explosion. However, the authorities said they were still investigating the cause of the blaze.

The budget hotel was located across two floors of an ageing building that housed several such small inns, mostly catering to Bangladeshi travellers in the area. Footage from Wednesday morning showed the building, which reportedly did not have any fire escape route or fire extinguishers, was completely burnt down.

The hotel only had a small gate for entrance and exit, which made it difficult for trapped people to exit the building, locals said.

Four fire tenders were pressed along with a disaster management team to bring the blaze under control, the officials said.

The incident comes just two days after another deadly blaze tore through a hotel in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, killing at least eight pilgrims.

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Prince Harry seems to have at least partially repaired his relationship with His Majesty the King, but he and older brother Prince William still have a long way to go, claims expert Jennie Bond

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, and it’s sure to be a powerfully emotional time for her two sons. There are several memorial events planned, and, as yet, there has been no indication as to whether Prince William and Prince Harry will reunite and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in memory of their mother, or if their bitter estrangement will continue.

“Either scenario will be a drama,” says former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond. Writing in the i newspaper, she adds that while much of Harry’s youthful fury has faded, “the anger smouldering inside William – who is known to be stubborn – could be much harder to extinguish.”

William felt “betrayed” after Harry revealed family secrets in his bombshell memoir Spare, Jennie says, and it will be a “big ask” for Harry to expect his family to forgive and forget.

There has certainly been a thawing of relations between Harry and his father. The prodigal prince met up with King Charles and his stepmother Queen Camilla at Highgrove in Gloucestershire in July, and there are reportedly plans to be coming back to the UK “more and more” over the coming year.

He’s expected be back for a week in September to carry out engagements during the annual WellChild Awards, a UK charity for which he has been a royal patron since 2007. A source close to the prince told The Times that the royal “wants more of a foothold” in the UK, adding that he “always loves” to see his family.

Harry was feeling “buoyed, very happy, and really energised” after the Highgrove reunion. But while Harry, his wife Meghan and their children had a meeting with the King and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, William and Kate were almost 90 miles away at a charity polo match in Windsor.

The brothers are not known to have spoken since the funeral of their late grandmother, the Queen, in September 2022.

Since then, the Prince and Princess of Wales have focused solely on juggling their royal duties with bringing up their three children – while Kate has also faced a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and is now in remission.

Jennie also told the Mirror: “William, as far as we can see, seems set on concentrating on his own family and his work without the angst of dealing with his rift with Harry.

“But, if Harry does start to come to the UK more often and to see their father, it’s going to become increasingly hard for William to ignore the situation.

“Could Catherine perhaps act as peacemaker? Well, maybe. But only if she is satisfied that it is something William wants. At this stage, there is absolutely no indication that this is the case. However, circumstances and feelings can change with time and so, as I always say, ‘never say never’.”

And while Harry is hoping for a public reunion with his father at next year’s Invictus Games, many believe it could push the King into a difficult position when it comes to his still-warring sons.

The man accused of leading an alleged cocaine trafficking ring at Penn State University has turned himself in, according to prosecutors, after more than a dozen people were charged on Monday morning. 

Agostino Abbatiello, 24, surrendered along with two others on Tuesday morning after an investigation uncovered the alleged drug ring running through two off-campus fraternities, Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi, the attorney general’s office said.

‘We are pleased to report that the most significant members of this cocaine-trafficking organization are accounted for, and will have their fair process in court,’ Attorney General Dave Sunday said on Tuesday.

‘These are very serious charges and the next steps will be preliminary hearings.’

Abbatiello was arraigned over numerous alleged felonies, including multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy, Attorney General Sunday said.  

The Long Island native and Thomas Robinson are the two people accused of being at the ‘very top of the chain’ in the alleged drug ring.

Both allegedly made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for ‘large quantities of cocaine,’ according to the Attorney General.

‘This was a coordinated and highly profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers and pledges,’ Sunday previously said. 

More than a dozen Penn State students in two off-campus fraternities face drug-related charges after members allegedly cut and packaged cocaine and distributed it to others

Both Robinson, above, and Abbatiello allegedly made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for ‘large quantities of cocaine’

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‘In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.’ 

Court documents obtained by Fox News alleged the suspect made tens of thousands of dollars in profit from the trafficking ring. 

A co-defendant told investigators that, in one transaction, he purchased over $50,000 worth of the drug from Abbatiello through cash and digital transactions, the outlet reported. 

Neighbors of the alleged drug ringleader told Fox News that Abbatiello ‘had a good job in accounting.’

‘His father said he had a nice job in accounting. He was doing well,’ they added. 

The neighbor added that Abbatiello and his siblings were ‘spoon-fed.’

‘They weren’t the kind of kids to take the garbage out or shovel the snow,’ they said.  

Abbatiello was said to have failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on Monday morning, according to the attorney general’s office. 

Mohammed Hurabi (left) and Lars Zeepvat (right) were charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and other offenses

Robert Zanolla (left) was charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as other misdemeanor charges. Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father (right), was charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation

Michael Church, Sigma Chi’s executive director, said in a statement that the allegations are ‘an egregious violation of our values’ and all three members charged have been suspended

He and Robinson were two of four charged; Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat were charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and other offenses. 

A fifth person, Robert Zanolla, was charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as other misdemeanor charges, the release stated. 

Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father, was charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation. 

‘In all, 13 defendants were Penn State University students at or around the time of the alleged conduct, in 2023 and 2024,’ the release from the attorney general’s office stated.

Of those charged, four are current Penn State students, according to the attorney general’s office. 

Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs at Penn State University, said: ‘We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students.

‘Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can.’

Abbatiello (left) and Robinson (right) stand accused of being the main suppliers for the frats

‘We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations,’ Dowhower added.

The university said in a statement that Delta Upsilon would be placed on interim suspension, and that Sigma Chi operates outside of the university and is not recognized as an organization. 

Michael Church, Sigma Chi’s executive director, said in a statement to the outlet that the allegations are ‘an egregious violation of our values’ and that all three members charged in the investigation have been suspended. 

The Daily Mail has approached representatives for Abbatiello, Delta Upsilon and the attorney general’s office for comment.

“I found them to be a world apart from budget supermarket pans”

Pans are often one of those overlooked kitchen essentials. We use them just about every day, yet few people are willing to spend a sizeable chunk of cash on.

It’s a problem I’m all too familiar with. For years my cookware collection had consisted of a higgledy piggledy collection of random pans that just happened to be on offer at the supermarket when the previous one gave up the ghost.

As such, I’d found them all much of a muchness and had no clue the difference a top quality one can make. After all, they simply heat up and cook food, don’t they?

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That’s precisely what I believed until I put a range from Made In Cookware, a the brand that “chefs actually use”, through its paces. Given that the handle had recently snapped off one of my well-worn pans that had clearly seen better days, I took it as a sign that an upgrade was long overdue.

So I was thrilled to get my hands on Made In Cookware’s 5-piece stainless steel set. Currently priced at £309, reduced from £377, the set comprises a 25cm stainless clad frying pan, a 1.9L stainless clad saucepan with lid and a 2.8L stainless clad saucepan with lid.

The first thing that struck me was the sheer quality on offer, they are a world away from the run-of-the-mill pans you’d find on supermarket shelves, and frankly so good I was almost reluctant to cook with them, reports the Daily Record. They’re also genuinely stylish.

From the premium packaging to the satisfying weight and feel, they exude luxury and genuinely make you feel like a professional chef. Crafted from 5-ply stainless steel, they deliver rapid, even heat distribution for superior cooking results, while minimising hot spots where food is prone to sticking and burning.

Testing the pans myself, I found they require noticeably less heat from the hob compared to my previous set. The handles remain cool to the touch, which is particularly useful as I’d almost certainly forget and burn myself otherwise, and they’re compatible with gas, electric and induction hobs.

While the price tag is undoubtedly a significant outlay, the quality is reflected in Made In Cookware’s lifetime warranty on the set. It’s easy to understand why so many professional chefs swear by them — once you master pre-heating the pan and using the correct amount of oil, the results are outstanding.

The five-piece set strikes me as an excellent starting point for home cooks, and is particularly well-suited to couples or those living solo. The frying pan handles everything from eggs to steak with ease, while the saucepans are ideally sized for cooking pasta in one and a sauce in the other.

Several other options are currently available, including six, 10 and 13-piece stainless steel sets. The six-piece is reduced to £499 from £566, the 10-piece is £699 down from £834, and the 13-piece is £979 down from £1,201.

One worthwhile consideration is that the pans are fairly weighty — a quality that speaks to their premium construction, though it could prove troublesome for those who struggle with heavier cookware. Tefal is also a well-regarded and dependable name in the cookware market, with its Ingenio Simplicity 22-Piece Pan Set priced at £375.

That set is specifically designed with space-saving in mind, with the stackable pans taking up 50% less room compared to standard cookware, according to the brand. Also worth considering is Salter’s Timeless 5-piece set, priced at an even more affordable £65 at Argos. It includes three saucepans in varying sizes, one frying pan and a milk pan.

To date, more than 110,000 verified reviews have been left for the Made In Cookware brand, with the vast majority of buyers awarding a full five stars. One customer said: “I’ve been cooking with the sauté pan now for 3 months on a daily basis and it has been fantastic. Everything that I wanted in a pan and exceptionally well constructed. I highly recommend.”

Another added: “Great pan, heats evenly and has rounded corners for easy stirring and even cooking. Hefty and well built, with a comfortable handle.”

A third reviewer commented: “Great pan, large cooking surface and hefty. Feels durable and the finish is great. Heats evenly and can cook eggs with minimal sticking with proper heat control and some oil. Handle is comfortable.”

One shopper noted that while they “love the look and feel” of the pan, they found it “difficult to clean”. The Made In Cookware 5-piece stainless steel set is available in the sale for £309.

One person has died and hundreds more have fallen ill as a result of a food poisoning outbreak, health officials have confirmed. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated that the salmonella outbreak “may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK”.

The UKHSA has confirmed one fatality associated with the outbreak. Salmonella typically causes a self-limiting gastroenteritis, with symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting or fever.

More than a third of those affected (38%) required hospital admission, with two individuals developing potentially life-threatening bloodstream infections.

The UKHSA has confirmed that between August 11 last year and August 1 this year, 207 cases have been recorded – 199 in England, six in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland, reports North Wales Live.

The areas of England with the greatest number of cases are London, where 47 cases were confirmed, and Yorkshire and Humber (38).

Those affected range from babies to individuals as old as 90, according to the UKHSA.

Hannah Charles, lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA, said: “We’re working with Food Standards Agency and other public health agencies to investigate a salmonella outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK.

“Salmonellosis is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can be spread rarely from person-to-person.

“Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, although vulnerable groups with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness.

“Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance.

“There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella: wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly, and if you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.”

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About 100 firefighters are tackling a massive blaze at a waste facility in south-east London.

Fifteen fire engines were called to Landmann Way in Bermondsey shortly before 20:00 BST after about 50 tonnes of household waste caught fire.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) warned that a large amount of smoke was being produced by the blaze and advised local residents to keep their doors and windows closed.

LFB said the cause of the fire was not yet known, but firefighters tackled a blaze at the same facility in June.

Speaking from the scene, station commander Duncan Rees said: “Crews are working hard in difficult conditions to bring the fire under control.”

He added that a 32m ladder and a 64m ladder were being used to tackle the flames from above.

Crews from East Greenwich, Old Kent Road, Deptford and surrounding fire stations were dispatched to the scene.

The LFB said it was likely to be a “protracted incident” and crews would work overnight to bring the fire under control.

Rail services into London Bridge from New Cross have been affected due to the fire blocking railway lines, National Rail said.

“Trains between these stations may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 100 minutes or revised,” it added.

Rachael Jardine, a freelance journalist based in New Cross, told BBC London that trains on a nearby Overground track were continuing to pass despite the “thick black smoke”.

A local resident said he had first spotted the blaze while cycling home.

“I was coming back from Tescos and I could see the smoke from the road,” he said.

“We cycled back to mine and realised it was just across the road… it’s pretty mental.”

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Norgaard, 32, joined Arsenal from Brentford in a £10m transfer last July, but was limited to a peripheral squad role throughout the campaign. Arsenal were not short of matches as they reached the latter stages of all three cup competitions, but Norgaard was limited to just 20 appearances, 11 of which were starts.

Jason Mulhern, 57, and his wife were due to fly to Dalaman, Turkey, from Manchester Airport on June 22, 2024, when a drunken outburst from the unruly passenger caused the Jet2 flight to be cancelled, stranding 300 passengers

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A drunken man’s foul-mouthed outburst directed at cabin crew left more than three hundred passengers with their holidays ‘ruined’ after a Jet2 flight was cancelled.

Jason Mulhern, 57, and his wife were due to board a flight to Dalaman, Turkey, from Manchester Airport on June 22, 2024, when she passed comment on a fellow passenger’s accent.

When Mulhern joined in and started ‘shouting’, cabin crew intervened and subsequently informed the pair they would no longer be served alcohol. Mulhern, from Trafford, then turned ‘aggressive, defensive and angry’, Manchester Crown Court was told.

He told staff they were ‘out of order’, that he and his wife were ‘on their holidays’ and wanted to ‘booze up’. Following a further warning from the captain that they faced removal if they carried on, the couple ‘disgruntledly’ accepted the situation.

However, as the aircraft began taxiing towards the runway, Mulhern launched into a verbal attack on a crew member, calling her a ‘f***ing Nazi and a c***’. He further declared that ‘he was an adult and could do as he wished’, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Prosecutor Betsy Hindle told the court that the 20-year-old crew member felt so uncomfortable and intimidated that she relocated her seat while the plane was still taxiing. “The defendant was saying: ‘You can’t call anyone a c*** these days, even when they are being one. If I want to call you a c***, I will’. He also said all the crew were Nazis,” Ms Hindle said.

The court was told the captain was notified and took the decision to remove Mulhern and his partner from the aircraft, prompting applause from fellow passengers. Consequently, the flight was called off and had to taxi back to the gate, with police being contacted.

The court heard the flight had already experienced a two-hour delay.

Officers spoke to Mulhern on board, noting he was slurring his speech and constantly interrupting them. When they explained he had committed an offence, his response was: “Oh f*** off”, followed by: “I can say whatever I want, it’s a free county. If I think you’re a Nazi, I’ll say it.

“As a result of this, the aircraft was significantly delayed and cancelled altogether due to restrictions on safe flying hours. Three hundred passengers had to disembark and decontrol through security. Accommodation and meals had to be sought for those on the flight. Also three hundred passengers in Turkey were affected, who were due to return to Manchester on that same plane,” Ms Hindle informed the court.

The court heard several passenger statements were gathered. One passenger described Mulhern as ‘obviously drunk’ and being ‘verbally abusive’.

Another recalled hearing him tell staff: “I don’t understand why I can’t have a drink like a f***ing adult’. Ms Hindle revealed Jet2 will be pursuing a civil claim totalling £44,710, covering expenses for accommodation and delays.

Lisa Judge, representing the defence, asked the court to view the incident as being at the ‘lowest level of culpability’ given the absence of physical violence. She acknowledged that Mulhern and his wife had consumed alcohol before boarding, and noted the flight had already experienced delays.

“This was the use of language only,” she said. She highlighted that character references showed him to be an important person in his team, describing him as ‘responsible and mature’. She further explained that his previous service in the Armed Forces had led to him ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol.

“Nobody was forcing you to drink. There was no need to drink, that was a choice you took,” Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said.. “Your conduct caused the plane to be delayed again. Your conduct alone was responsible for the loss of that day’s flight.

A flight that everyone’s holidays had to be deferred, everyone had to make alternative arrangements, everyone had to be put up in hotels. “. “You ruined or potentially ruined every other person’s holiday who boarded that flight. That was the impact of your single behaviour.”

Judge Nicholls told Mulhern, who was supported by his wife in the public gallery: “What you did was quite frankly despicable. It caused chaos and distress to a large number of people. I hope you now understand the consequences of your behaviour.”

Mulhern, of Jewel Close, Urmston, received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. In addition, he was ordered to complete five days of rehabilitation activity requirements, a 120-day alcohol abstinence order and 300 hours of unpaid work, along with £500 in court costs.

The court also confirmed that he faces a lifelong ban from travelling with Jet2.