Drivers commuting on the M8 through Glasgow are facing long delays going eastbound.

A serious crash on the M8 in Glasgow left two cars upside down on their roofs as motorists face long delays.

Emergency crews rushed to the eastbound carriageway near Junction 23 at the Dumbreck Interchange around 6.30am this morning. An alarm was raised following reports of a two-vehicle crash.

Commuters were told to expect delays of up to 26 minutes at around 6.51am this morning. Traffic Scotland cameras at Govan and Hillington showed massive tailbacks on the M8 eastbound.

At 7.20am the road was cleared, however, drivers were warned to expect delays of up to 33 minutes. The M74 is understood to have also been affected with traffic building as a result of drivers using it to avoid the crash.

Traffic Scotland wrote on X at 7.20am: “The M8 is now running clear eastbound following an earlier road traffic incident.

“Drivers should still use caution on approach and expect delays as queues remain.

“Current delay approx. 33 min.”

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Police are now looking for a 40-year-old man and a van as part of their investigation

Police are looking for a man who they believe can assist them with an investigation after a man died following violent disorder in Pontypool.

A murder investigation was launched in the days following the incident as a man, named as Anthony “Tony” Jones, 56, died from injuries sustained in the violence. Mr Jones was sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries alongside two other men after the incident, which is alleged to have occurred at around 7pm in Mill Street, Pontnewynydd.

Ten men, aged 31, 33, 34, 39, 40, 40, 45, 59, 61 and 73, were arrested in connection with the disorder. Three men – aged 39, 45 and 61 – have since been released on bail. The other seven men remain in police custody.

Investigating officers have launched an appeal to find 40-year-old Anthony Paul Jones, as they believe he may be able to assist them with their enquiries.

Police also want to locate a blue Ford Transit van, with the registration MA23 FLC, which was reportedly involved in the disorder. The Ford Transit is believed to be missing its front lower nearside panel.

Gwent Police senior investigating officer, DSI Laura Bartley said: “We recognise that reports of this nature will cause concern in our communities, but our officers are working around the clock and conducting enquiries as part of this live investigation.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the victim.”

Advertisement

“Anyone with information on Anthony Paul Jones or the blue Ford Transit van’s whereabouts, is urged to submit information via the Major Incident Public Portal:https://mipp.police.uk/operation/6126A72-PO1 or contact us quoting log reference 2600255536.

“You can also call us on 101 or direct message us on our Facebook or X social media pages.

“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, with information on 0800 555 111 or visit online.”

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice

Fire crews say there is a “significant risk” of the blaze spreading

Firefighters are urging people to stay away from a “serious” ongoing fire at Holme Fen in Holme. Fire crews have been tackling the major blaze in the open since Saturday morning (August 8) and say there is a “significant risk” of it spreading.

Firefighters arrived to find a fire “well alight” involving hedges and undergrowth. Crews were at the scene throughout the weekend working to make it safe and bring the fire under control.

More than 80 firefighters were at the scene during its peak, including from neighbouring fire and rescue services. That has now been scaled down to around 20 firefighters. Locals have been told that, due to the weather conditions, they may still see or smell smoke in the area.

In an update shared to Facebook, area commander Simon Thompson said: “Over the last few hours we have had to change our firefighting tactics which has delayed some of the response for us. The reason for that is over the last few hours our firefighters have started experiencing trees falling in and around the area within the forest. So as a matter of safety we are having to bring our firefighters to a point of safety where they can also try and protect the fire.

“There’s still a significant risk that this fire can spread and we are working incredibly hard through the night and into tomorrow [Monday] to try and make sure that this won’t happen. What we would ask at this time is for all people to please stay from the area whether that’s pedestrians who want to come to the area to walk, or other vehicles.

“With 20 appliances on scene and firefighters in the area, the area is unsafe in places and we would not want people to put themselves at risk of any harm. Likewise with 20 appliances there are a number of vehicle movements in the area so the road network is quite busy in the small area.”

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service previously said three are road closures in place at the junction of Hod Fen Drove and Holme Lode, all of Holme Lode and the junction of Long Drove/B660 and New Long Drove. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Officers were on patrol in Trimdon on Saturday (August 8) when a black Keeway 125 came travelling in the opposite direction in convoy with a scooter.

The scooter was being ridden by a male wearing a balaclava while the Keeway was ‘two up with the rider and pillion wearing matching balaclavas.

Neither vehicle was displaying a registration plate. On sighting police, the vehicles split up.

Durham Police said The Keeway was pursued by one of the force’s motorcycle officers before it crashed and the rider was apprehended.

A teenager was arrested after a police chase in Trimdon (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

A 15 year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of numerous offences, including driving without a licence and insurance. 

Checks on the Keeway also found it had been stolen last month in Sunderland.

A teenager was arrested after a police chase in Trimdon (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

Later, the Sur Ron Ultra Bee pictured below was sighted by one of the traffic cars. The rider was also wearing a balaclava and no helmet. 

A teenager was arrested after a police chase in Trimdon (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

A lengthy chase followed before it was successfully stung, and the rider made off into a crop field before abandoning the bike and an escape on foot.

The Sur Ron was brand new, with only 300 miles on the clock. 

Enquiries continue to identify the rider.

Police said a member of the public helped officers with the arrest and would now appreciate him giving them a call on 101, ext. 202960.

Usher dismissed claims that he used a “clone” or body double during a recent concert after footage from a show in New Jersey prompted speculation about whether the performer on stage was really him.

The rumours started after videos filmed at his 7 August performance at MetLife Stadium spread on social media.

“Usher you can’t fool New York, that’s not you bro, I want my money back,” one fan posted on X.

“The Usher clone stuff is hilarious because I was watching someone’s live of the show last night and was thinking during his first set something was off about him,” another said.

“Usher, why’d you have to play us all like that last night? That is NOT Usher,” a third fan wrote on TikTok.

In some of the clips circulating online, Usher’s face is obscured by a hat and sunglasses, which many users say makes him look just different enough to raise eyebrows, with one fan dubbing the alleged double “Unsure”.

The “Yeah!” singer responded directly to the allegations. “Ya’ll are funny,” he said, “clone? They can’t clone this?”

“How ya’ll come up with this? AI ain’t that advanced,” he said in a comment on Power 105.1’s Instagram post debating who was really on stage.

Usher is co-headlining the “Raymond & Brown Tour” alongside Chris Brown. The North American stadium run began on 26 June in Denver and was scheduled to continue through December, with performances in major cities like Detroit, Washington, DC, and Toronto.

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply.

Advertisement

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Usher faced similar claims in 2024, when fans questioned whether he had used a body double on stage during the Past Present Future tour, which was delayed after he suffered a neck injury doing rehearsals, forcing him to postpone the first shows in Atlanta.

“My hope was that with physical therapy and medical treatment, I would be able to overcome the injury and be ready for opening night,” he said at the time. “Unfortunately, the injury hasn’t healed yet, and my doctors have instructed me not to perform any shows this week.”

During the Nashville leg of the ongoing tour last month, Usher had to stop a planned onstage serenade after a fan appeared visibly uncomfortable. The segment, a regular feature of his performances, saw the singer paused mid-song and tell the crowd that he didn’t think the fan wanted to be on the stage before she was escorted off.

The incident sparked a debate online, with some criticising the fan for agreeing to go on stage. She later defended herself on social media, saying “nobody is declining to go on stage” and that she had hoped to be brought up by Chris Brown instead.

Degree courses with some of the worst employment records in the country will be trying to scoop up students in Clearing on A-level Results Day this week.

New analysis by the Daily Mail has identified the top 20 course groupings, by university, for graduates being out of work five years after leaving.

The worst one, Creative Arts and Design at the University of West London, had almost a quarter – 23.7 per cent – of graduates out of work, while the median salary for those that did work was just £24,900.

The university is entering courses from this category into Clearing which have historically admitted students with A-level grades of just DDD.

Meanwhile, the second worst in the analysis was Business and Management at the University of East London, with 22.6 per cent out of work.

The top 20, which also included Law and Psychology at other universities, all had at least one in six graduates out of work, while five have median salaries of less than £25,000.

This is despite many graduates having racked up more than £50,000 in debt during their degrees, including three years of tuition fees charged at more than £9,000 annually.

All of the listings in the top 20 are entering Clearing – with the vast majority allowing students entry with a string of C,D and E grades.

Last night, Tory education spokesman Laura Trott said of the Daily Mail’s analysis: ‘Too many young people are leaving university saddled with debt and facing poor job prospects.

‘With youth unemployment rising on Labour’s watch, many will never be able to pay off their loans, taken out to pay for courses that aren’t delivering a return.’

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, added: ‘A generation of less academically able kids have been led along a pathway to financial and career ruination.

‘They are left with huge and unpayable debts that will have to be picked up by hard working taxpayers.

‘Too many universities have placed their own financial survival above the best interests of young people and of the country.

‘Universities should be excluding most youngsters whose A-Level grades fall below A and B.

‘We need to convert half of universities back into vocationally orientated polytechnics.’

On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of pupils will pick up their A-Level results, with those who fail to make their grades entering Clearing to find an alternative course.

New analysis by the Daily Mail has identified the top 20 course groupings, by university, for graduates being out of work five years after leaving (pictured: the University of West London tops the list)

Included in our top 20 analysis is Computing at London Metropolitan University, which had 19.7 per cent out of work, Law at Middlesex University and Psychology at the University of Greater Manchester, both with 17.3 per cent.

For comparison, Cambridge had no graduates recorded as unemployed for its Veterinary Sciences courses.

Meanwhile, Southampton’s Computing courses had only 2.1 per cent out of work, and Bristol’s Business and Management courses had only 3 per cent.

The Daily Mail’s analysis looked at the Department for Education’s Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data, which is based on tax and benefits records.

It examined employment figures in the year 2023-2024 – the latest available – for those graduating in 2017-2018 from various subjects at individual mainstream universities. Similar subjects were grouped together into course categories.

The Daily Mail ranked categories at different universities according to the proportion of UK graduates who were not in sustained work or further study in 2023/24, with only those with 50 or more graduates included.

This captured those living in the UK who do not have a job, were not studying and were not self-employed, as well as those who may have intermittent but not consistent work.

It comes after the Government announced new vocational routes for 14-year-olds to sit alongside academic subjects, to offer an alternative route for those who are less suited for university.

The Government is also consulting on introducing a minimum requirement of a pass in GCSE English to access student finance.

A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘A university degree remains a worthwhile investment, but too many courses don’t deliver the outcomes promised to students.

‘We are taking action to restore universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth by cracking down on poor quality courses.

‘Going to university isn’t the only route to success which is why we’re putting technical and academic education on an equal footing by announcing plans to provide more, prestigious vocational routes from aged 14 and introducing V Levels from aged 16.’

A University of East London spokesman said it had redesigned its curriculum since 2018, with the more recent Graduate Outcomes Survey – which is self-selecting – showing improvements in outcomes.

They added: ‘There’s a reason the University of East London has achieved the fastest, largest increase in graduate outcomes… This is the multi- award-winning careers-first advantage for the UK’s most socially inclusive student population – graduates going further, faster.’

A London Met spokesman said it had made ‘significant changes in teaching, student support, and employability provision’ since the graduates measured had left in 2018.

They said the same survey shows London Met now ‘leads all London post-92 universities for graduates entering managerial and senior roles’.

A spokesman for London South Bank University said the employment data was not reflective of today’s courses because only some of the subjects included are still running.

A Wolverhampton spokesman said: ‘Creative Arts and Design graduates often pursue portfolio careers, self-employment, freelance work and entrepreneurial opportunities, many of which are not always fully reflected in traditional employment datasets. Graduates may also move between projects, commissions and short-term contracts in the years following graduation as they establish their careers.’

The other universities were contacted by the Daily Mail.

A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents most vice chancellors, said: ‘The evidence is clear that a university degree still pays off in a big way for the large majority of people – and that the Treasury makes a strong return on investing in students.

‘The graduate premium is holding up, despite growth in the minimum wage and the generally poor performance of the economy which has held back wage growth.’

Ben Jones, who played Cooter Davenport in the TV show Dukes of Hazzard, has died aged 84.

The actor suffered a ‘massive heart attack’, according to his wife who shared the news on Facebook on Sunday.

Alma Viator wrote: ‘I lost the love of my life today.

‘Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favourite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees.

‘Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many.

‘He will be missed. I loved him so so much.’

As well as starring as the mechanic ‘Crazy’ Cooter Davenport in all seven seasons of The Dukes of Hazzard, Jones had roles in TV and film projects including ‘Smokey and the Bandit’, ‘As the World Turns’, and ‘Moonrunners’.

Jones also served two terms in the US House of Representatives as a Democrat from Georgia.

Fans mourned Jones’ loss under Viator’s post on social media.

Kyle Willis wrote: ‘So sorry Miss Alma I’ve grown up watching Ben on the Duke’s of Hazzard my whole life he made the show worth watching. I wish I could’ve met him, you and your family will be in my prayers.’

And Thomas Lake said: ‘I’m so sorry miss Alma, meeting you and Ben was a highlight for me as my younger life was guided by Cooter.’

More to follow.

MORE: Madonna pays tribute to legendary producer William Orbit after death: ‘You were so otherworldly’

MORE: Spider-Man: No Way Home star Mary Rivera dies aged 82 after suffering stroke

MORE: Comedy legend Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80 after short illness

Anne Hathaway was roasted by some fans over her maternity outfit while making an appearance at The End Of Oak Street premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday. 

The 43-year-old actress, who announced her third pregnancy back in June, proudly showed off her growing baby bump as she paused for a photo session on the red carpet at Warner Bros. Studios. 

The Odyssey star flashed a cheerful smile wearing a sleeveless, light blue top that was cropped at the front and flowed down behind her into a short train. 

Vibrant red material could be seen on the inside for a unique flare, and Hathaway also opted for a pair of low-waisted, denim jeans. 

She additionally slipped into a pair of closed-toed, red pumps and pulled back her brunette locks into a sleek ponytail. 

Hathaway accessorized the look with dangly earrings and a flashy bracelet on her left wrist. 

The actress proudly showed off her growing baby bump as she paused for a photo session on the red carpet at Warner Bros. Studios

Social media users offered their thoughts on the red carpet ensemble, with one penning that it ‘looks ridiculous.’ 

Another wrote, ‘This one is so wrong sorry,’ and a fan typed, ‘Jeans? JEANS?! That dazzling top deserves a better companion.’

One X user commented, ‘The jeans make it worse.’ 

Over on Instagram, a fan shared, ‘I love her. I do not understand why her stylist did this to her.’

‘Ya no to her outfit,’ one penned, and another typed out, ‘That’s very tacky.’ 

An Instagram user added, ‘Unflattering styling for a beautiful pregnant woman,’ and another said, ‘love her – outfit just No.’ 

Other fans shared on X, ‘She looks radiant…,’ as well as, ‘Anne hathaway at a world premiere is always a win, she looks stunning.’

Jersey Shore alum JWoww penned on Instagram, ‘I love her so much omg.’ 

The Odyssey star flashed a cheerful smile wearing a sleeveless, light blue top that was cropped at the front and flowed down behind her into a short train

She additionally slipped into a pair of closed-toed, red pumps and pulled back her brunette locks into a sleek ponytail

Along with Hathaway, the cast also includes Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Social media users offered their thoughts on the red carpet ensemble, with one penning that it ‘looks ridiculous’

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Hathaway for comment, but has yet to hear back.

The star has been showcasing her adventurous maternity style on recent outings, such as when she stepped out in NYC late last month in a white netted top. 

The actress recently took on a leading role in the upcoming sci-fi adventure The End Of Oak Street which hits theaters on August 14. 

Along with Hathaway, the cast also includes Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery. 

The premise is: ‘The Platt family bands together to navigate their new surroundings after a cosmic event transports their suburban neighborhood to someplace unknown,’ per IMDB. 

‘It’s just so much fun and it’s such a great time at the movies,’ she told Extra during an interview on Sunday. 

‘It’s a family horror movie which I’ve never had the opportunity to be a part of and I’m excited.’

Hathaway has had a busy year thus far by additionally starring in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. 

Hathaway has had a busy year thus far by additionally starring in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Advertisement

The actress has since garnered critical praise and Oscars buzz based on her performance as Odysseus’s wife Penelope. 

Hathaway is also preparing to welcome her third child with husband Adam Shulman, whom she tied the knot with in 2012. 

She made her pregnancy announcement two months earlier in June by sharing a video to Instagram. 

In the clip, the Hollywood star could be seen stepping into frame wearing a white linen co-ord with her arms initially covering her stomach. 

She then dropped her arms to unveil her baby while flashing an excited smile on her face. 

During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Hathaway opened up about her ‘buzzer beater’ pregnancy. 

‘I mean, we knew what we were doing, but we were so shocked it worked! We knew, and yeah, but no, we were just – we were so shocked it went this way,’ she said. 

Hathaway made her pregnancy announcement two months earlier in June by sharing a video to Instagram

Advertisement

She is preparing to welcome her third child with husband Adam Shulman, whom she tied the knot with in 2012; the couple seen in May in NYC 

Back in April, she also talked about motherhood while talking to People. 

‘I know that not everybody who wants to be a parent gets to be. I’m just blown away by how fortunate I am. It went really well for me twice, and that’s really lucky.’

The actress also gushed about her supportive husband, adding that, ‘I’m so lucky that he’s my partner that I spend my life with.

‘If I didn’t know that before this past year, I think I really know it now because with absolutely everything he’s just, he’s on it. He holds it down. I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m bragging, but he’s a dream partner to me.’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s Electoral Commission launched a campaign Monday urging New Zealanders at home and abroad to register to vote or update their details in the system, warning that a legal change ahead of November’s election means voters must be enrolled in advance.

Measures enacted by government lawmakers in December and lambasted by their opponents removed a policy allowing New Zealanders aged 18 and older to enroll on election day, including when they arrived at a polling place to cast their vote.

New Zealanders must now be registered and have their addresses and other details updated in the system 13 days before election day, or they will be turned away from polling places. This year’s enrollment deadline is Oct. 25 ahead of the Nov. 7 election. They can begin voting from Oct. 26 in the country, or from Oct. 21 if they are overseas.

The country’s center-right government, which is seeking a second term in power, introduced the enrollment cut-off in a suite of changes to electoral law, which also included a ban on prisoners voting and approval for larger anonymous political donations.

Enrollment deadline introduced to speed up the result

Governing parties said the deadline to enroll was enacted to curb the increasing length of time taken to reach a final result after election day.

“The experience last time was by virtue of having on-the-day enrollment we ended up in a situation where it took us three weeks to count the vote, which was the longest it had ever taken us as well,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, leader of the National party, told Radio New Zealand in July.

Detractors, including the center-left opposition parties, said the government wanted to curb so-called special votes, which are cast by New Zealanders abroad or away from home and by those not already registered to vote on election day and counted afterward. Special votes have favored left-wing parties in modern times.

“Something that potentially disenfranchises tens of thousands of New Zealanders is not the sort of change that an individual government should make,” Chris Hipkins, leader of the opposition Labour party, told reporters in July when he pledged to reverse the measures if he became prime minister.

The Electoral Commission, an independent agency that runs New Zealand’s vote, said about 700,000 special votes were still expected. Officials predicted that even with the new enrollment deadline, reaching an election result would take 20 days after voting finished, instead of 23 days without the cut-off.

New Zealanders can vote from abroad if deadline is met

A total of 89% of those allowed to vote in New Zealand were enrolled so far, according to Electoral Commission figures. Voting is optional in New Zealand but enrollment for those eligible and living in the country is compulsory, with failure to do so punishable by a fine of 100 New Zealand dollars ($59).

There are up to 1 million New Zealanders living abroad, although it isn’t known how many are eligible to vote. Those eligible can vote from overseas by downloading ballot papers from the commission’s website, having them signed by someone else and uploading them online.

A council has ordered for the caravans to be removed from the site

A man is appealing for mobile homes to remain on his land after a council ordered for them to be removed. On June 11, East Cambridgeshire District Council sent an enforcement notice for caravans to be removed from land at The Produce Connection in Ely Road, Chittering.

The council said the land was being used without planning permission and it had breached a “material change of use of the land to the siting of caravans for residential purposes”.

In an enforcement notice, the council said that the caravans on site were of a “poor quality”. The council also said the land is in Flood Zone 3, the highest risk of flooding.

There were “concerns that the occupants of the mobile homes may not be safe in the event of a breach of any flood defences”, as stated in the notice. The notice also raised concerns about how long the mobile homes have been on the site.

It said: “Given the length of time the mobile homes have been in place and that their numbers have increased, this suggests that their use is now permanent and not temporary which the Environment Agency has advised is essential to control.”

The notice requires the following steps to be taken:

• Cease the use of the land for the siting of caravans for residential purposes;
• Remove the caravans from the land;
• Remove all associated development including but not limited to concrete pads, pathways, gravel and sheds;
• Return land to its original condition.

Land owner Mr S Ripley is appealing against the notice. Mr Ripley is appealing on the ground that:

• Planning permission should be granted for what is alleged in the notice;
• There has not been a breach of planning control;
• The steps required to comply with the requirements of the notice are “excessive and lesser steps would overcome the objections”.

If anyone wishes to make a comment, they can do so online here by September 15. Mr Ripley has been contacted for comment.