Omar Majed appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video-link from HMP Brinsford on Monday in front of Judge Andrew Smith KC.

Majed, who wore a grey prison T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, did not speak during the hearing, choosing only to nod when asked to confirm his identity by the court clerk.

(Image: PA)

Sat at a table next to a prison officer, Majed grinned during the short hearing with his arms crossed and put his head down on the table multiple times.

A pre-trial review hearing for Majed, of Saltley, Birmingham, who was charged with communicating false information to police contrary to the Criminal Law Act, was set for September 30.

The defendant has not yet been arraigned due to the need for psychiatric reports.

At a previous hearing, which was cut short after Majed started to take his clothes off, a trial date was set for November 3.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Smith said: “You will next appear before this court on September 30 this year.

“Between now and then, various doctors will need to speak to you and you should co-operate with these doctors.

“You will, between now and September 30, remain in custody as you currently are.”

At the end of the hearing, Majed stood up and appeared to bow multiple times before the link with the prison was cut.

Kay, 52, was ushered off stage during his show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on May 1 and the show was cancelled after the evacuation.

West Midlands Police later said “nothing suspicious was found” during searches.

In an update on May 2, the force said: “An evacuation of the arena was ordered yesterday evening after a report of a suspicious bag being left in the area.

“Following searches, nothing suspicious was found and we are grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding.

“As always, our priority is the safety of the public.”

The show was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never national tour, which will see all proceeds donated to 12 cancer charities.

Smoke filled the air as the fire broke out on Sunday

Firefighters have shared the cause of a large field fire in a Cambridgeshire town. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to Aliwal Road in Whittlesey at around 4.30pm on Sunday (July 26).

Smoke could be seen in the air as firefighters dealt with the incident. The cause of the fire has now been confirmed to be arson.

A fire service spokesperson said: “Cambridgeshire Constabulary has said there have been no arrests, a crime of arson has been raised and an investigation is on-going. Anyone with information or CCTV footage should use reference 35/57036/26.”

Fire crews scaled down the fire overnight. They reinspected it throughout Sunday and today (Monday, July 27) to make sure the area was safe.

A fire spokesperson added: “At 4.29pm on Sunday (26) crews from Stanground, the north roaming fire engine, Dogsthorpe, March, Thorney, Whittlesey, Wisbech, the Peterborough Volunteer Brigade, along with a specialist 4×4 vehicle from Thorney were called to a field fire on Aliwal Road in Whittlesey.

“Firefighters used hose reels and beaters to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading further.”

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Millions of benefit claimants could see their DWP payments arrive early in August 2026 due to the summer bank holiday

Millions of people claiming benefits could experience delayed payments from the Department for Work and Pensions next month, due to the summer bank holiday on Monday, August 31. Other payments will be issued as usual for the majority of the month.

Wales, England and Northern Ireland have the summer bank holiday on the same date. Payment dates that coincide with bank holidays are typically processed on the preceding working day.

Official government website guidance regarding bank holiday payments states: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account.

“If your payment date is on a weekend or a bank holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before. This may be different for Child Benefit,” reports the Liverpool Echo.

Currently, approximately 24 million people across the UK claim some form of DWP-administered benefits, including state pension recipients, accounting for roughly one in three individuals. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here

The benefit payments that could be impacted by the August bank holiday include:

• State pension
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Child Benefit
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance

The revised payment schedule also affects the state pension. The basic state pension is normally transferred directly to your bank account every four weeks.

The specific day you receive it corresponds with the final two digits of your National Insurance (NI) number. Here’s when payment should arrive based on those digits:

00 to 19: Monday

20 to 39: Tuesday

40 to 59: Wednesday

60 to 79: Thursday

80 to 99: Friday

The altered dates mean that funds will need to stretch further than in previous months, due to payments being made earlier. Should you be anticipating your benefits but they haven’t landed into your account, you’ll need to contact the Department of Work and Pensions on 0800 328 5644.

Bear in mind that the DWP may be closed during bank holidays.

Harry Heslop died at Cedar House on Foxwood Drive, Stockton, in the early hours of July 21, Cleveland Police previously said.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, Rebecca Hackett was not asked to enter any pleas to charges of murder and possession of a bladed article.

The 41-year-old, of Hartington Road, Stockton, will next appear at court for a plea hearing on September 24.

Judge Francis Laird, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded the defendant into custody, with a trial listed to begin on January 11 next year.

The Clinton Foundation unveiled a new initiative Monday to help state and local governments develop and enact nonpartisan policy solutions to improve health outcomes, especially for women and children, economic security and democracy.

The foundation’s first new initiative in more than a decade, the Clinton Policy Institute has already begun convening political leaders from both parties, research experts, and Americans affected by the issues being studied to create new approaches to long-existing problems.

“Rising costs, economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and growing pressures on our public institutions are making it harder for families to get ahead,” former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement to The Associated Press. “We created CPI because we believe there are still practical, evidence-based solutions that can improve people’s lives.”

CPI is building on its work with New York state in banning cellphones from schools in the past academic year. Though the institute did not technically exist last year when it teamed with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration on creating distraction-free schools in the state, the Clinton Foundation saw promise in its approach and decided to expand it before publicly announcing CPI’s creation. It’s a strategy that the foundation, also led by former President Bill Clinton and public health expert Chelsea Clinton, used when it launched the Clinton Health Access Initiative in 2004.

Zayn Siddique, former principal deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, will serve as CPI’s chief executive officer. Jennifer Klein, who was director of the White House Gender Policy Council under former President Joe Biden, will be CPI’s chair.

In New York, CPI helped create the Teen Tech Council so that students could help make the phone-ban program more effective. The result, according to Hochul’s office, was that educators found a marked improvement in classroom behavior and engagement.

“CPI is bringing together policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and community organizations to identify what works, build stronger policy networks, and help turn those ideas into policy,” Hillary Clinton said. “We’re taking a particular focus on states and local communities, where so much innovation is happening.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly praises CPI’s nonpartisan approach

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said a CPI conference on improving the lives of children earlier this month was “the best roundtable I’ve been involved with since becoming governor.”

Kelly, who will leave office in January due to term limits after serving two consecutive terms, said she was inspired by CPI’s nonpartisan approach to solving problems affecting children.

“I am a Democrat governor in what is considered a very red state,” Kelly told The Associated Press in an interview. “It became very clear to me that if I wanted to accomplish anything in my political life, I was going to need to do it in a bipartisan way.”

Kelly believes that, despite political polarization, CPI can succeed in finding nonpartisan solutions – especially to issues involving children and healthcare – and giving state leaders the research and other support to implement them.

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

Omar Majed did not speak during his first court appearance via video link from prison

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A grinning teen accused of calling in a fake bomb threat during a Peter Kay comedy show ‘bowed’ during his first court appearance. Today, Omar Majed appeared at Birmingham Crown Court, via video-link from HMP Brinsford.

Majed, who wore a grey prison T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, did not speak during the hearing, choosing only to nod when asked to confirm his identity by the court clerk. Sitting at a table next to a prison officer, Majed grinned during the short hearing with his arms crossed and put his head down on the table multiple times.

A pre-trial review hearing for Majed, of Saltley, Birmingham, who was charged with communicating false information to police contrary to the Criminal Law Act, was set for September 30. The defendant has not yet been arraigned due to the need for psychiatric reports.

At a previous hearing, which was cut short after Majed started to take his clothes off, a trial date was set for November 3.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Andrew Smith KC, said: “You will next appear before this court on September 30 this year. Between now and then, various doctors will need to speak to you and you should co-operate with these doctors.

“You will, between now and September 30, remain in custody as you currently are.”

At the end of the hearing, Majed stood up and appeared to bow multiple times before the link with the prison was cut. Kay, 52, was ushered off stage during his show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on May 1 and the show was cancelled after the evacuation.

READ MORE: First pictures of glam Scot charged after £5.7m ketamine haul found in boot of Aussie rental car

READ MORE: ‘I told cops my boyfriend wouldn’t harm a fly but he’d done the worst thing that anyone can do’

West Midlands Police later said “nothing suspicious was found” during searches.

In an update on May 2, the force said: “An evacuation of the arena was ordered yesterday evening after a report of a suspicious bag being left in the area. Following searches, nothing suspicious was found and we are grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding.

“As always, our priority is the safety of the public.”

The show was part of Kay’s Better Late Than Never national tour, which will see all proceeds donated to 12 cancer charities.

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It’s been six years since Tammy Slaton burst onto screens with her younger sibling Amy on TLC reality series, 1000-lb Sisters. 

Yet in that short period, Tammy has gone through more than many would in a lifetime, having nearly died, lost half her body weight, been widowed by her husband and found love again. 

She previously revealed that she shares aspects of her life so that others won’t feel alone, explaining: ‘By us putting our stories out there, we’re helping others. 

‘We’re helping others to see that they can lose weight too. They’re not alone. They thank us for putting our story out there. 

‘It’s kind of comforting knowing we’re putting smiles on other people’s faces.’

Now, as Tammy enters her fifth decade by turning 40 on Monday, The Daily Mail takes a look back at her rollercoaster life.  

By the end of the second season, Tammy’s weight had actually soared to 665 pounds, and she soon descended on a devastating downward spiral – turning to excessive drinking and partying

Tammy’s weight gain  

When 1,000-lb Sisters first premiered in January 2020, Tammy weighed 605 pounds, while her sister, Amy weighed about 400 pounds. 

She explained in the series premiere that she had struggled with her weight since childhood, when she was raised in Kentucky by mother Darlene alongside siblings Chris, Misty and Amanda. 

‘We grew up very poor,’ Tammy shared. ‘We grew up with fast food mostly. But if we didn’t have fast food, the church would give us food. 

‘There was five kids, so our mum worked three jobs. We didn’t really get much love and affection growing up. It was actually quite the opposite. We got told we were stupid, we were lazy.

‘My grandma was so important to me. She made me feel like I was no different from anybody else. After my grandma died, food was the only enjoyment we had.’

Tammy continued: ‘I’ve been overweight all my life. Kids in school were very mean. They would push me, call me names. By 20 years old, I weighed about 500 pounds.’

The sisters caught the attention of TLC bosses after they started vlogging about their struggles with their weight, with the premise of their show following Tammy and Amy as they attempted to shed enough pounds to be approved for bariatric surgery.

Yet while Amy quickly saw success – she dropped from 400 pounds to 275 pounds by the end of season two – Tammy was less triumphant.

In fact, by the end of the second season, Tammy’s weight had actually soared to 665 pounds, and she soon descended on a devastating downward spiral – turning to excessive drinking and partying to cope with her severe ‘depression.’

Tammy’s unhealthy lifestyle left those around her terrified that she wasn’t going to live much longer.

Her family were even seen discussing plans for her ‘final arrangements’ during one episode of the third season.

It resulted in many wondering if she would ever turn her life around.

Tammy’s rock bottom moment 

Things hit an all-time low for Tammy when she was rushed to the hospital and forced to go on life support after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in November 2021

Things hit an all-time low for Tammy when she was rushed to the hospital and forced to go on life support after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in November 2021.

She suffered from obesity hypoventilation syndrome – a condition that occurs when someone breathes at an abnormally slow rate, which results in too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen entering their blood.

‘They’re just telling us that her lungs have given up and like her body is shutting down,’ Amy said during an episode of the show, while discussing the horrifying medical emergency.

‘So at this point, we’re facing making funeral arrangements for my little sister … She’s been in such a bad place for so long.

‘She waited too long. And now that she has the courage to step out and get the help that she needs, now this.’

Tammy spent three weeks on life support and narrowly survived after getting a tube inserted into her chest to help her breathe. 

The terrifying incident was an eye opener for Tammy – who was up to 717 pounds at that point – and she decided it was time to head back to rehab for her food addiction. 

 Things started to look up for the star after that, with her brother, Chris, revealing in the season three finale that she had lost 115 pounds in rehab. 

‘She’s improving tremendously. She’s increased physical activity, which is amazing. She’s able to do more things on her own,’ a friend of hers told The Sun in early 2022, adding that she quit smoking and drinking ‘cold turkey.’

Tammy stayed out of the public eye for months, but when she shared a selfie from the rehab center in March 2022, her fans were quick to notice that she already looked fiercely different.

At the time, she told her followers that she was ‘staying on track’ and that ‘things were looking up.’

Three months later, Tammy had finally dropped enough weight to undergo bariatric surgery.

It was reported that she weighed 534 pounds when she went under the knife – which means she had shed a total of 180 pounds since entering rehab. 

Tammy finds love

While in rehab, Tammy found love with a fellow patient named Caleb Willingham and after getting engaged in the car park of the treatment centre, they tied the knot two months later

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While in rehab, Tammy found love with a fellow patient named Caleb Willingham. 

He proposed to the TV star in October 2022 in the parking lot of the treatment center, and the two went on to tie the knot two months later, during a small ceremony attended by their close friends and family.

‘They have a lot of the same struggles that they can share. They’ve been a huge support for each other [in rehab], which is awesome,’ an insider dished on their relationship.

Caleb, nicknamed ‘Double K’, starred on the weight loss show alongside his wife as they battled their chronic obesity. 

However, it was reported the following year that the two were set to divorce because Caleb was ‘refusing to stick to his diet’.

The state of the couple’s relationship had been the subject of speculation for months, with fans noticing Tammy had removed Willingham’s name from some of her social media handles.

‘They split up because Caleb hasn’t been following his diet in rehab,’ a source alleged at the time. ‘He has gained 30lbs and hasn’t been working his program.’

They claimed Caleb tried to repair their marriage while they were separated, but his efforts were unsuccessful and Tammy was reportedly set to finalise the divorce

Caleb’s tragic death 

In July 2023, Caleb passed away from unknown causes at the age of 40, just a year after their wedding. The pair were believed to be estranged at the time 

In July 2023, Caleb passed away from unknown causes at the age of 40, just a year after their wedding. 

Tammy paid tribute to her husband on Instagram, saying: ‘RIP sweet angel, you will forever be missed and loved so much thank you Caleb for showing me real love and happiness.’

His funeral service was held later that month in Kentucky and cameras were rolling to capture the private ceremony for 1000-lb. Sisters.

However, Tammy was reportedly left upset that producers had been ‘forcing drama’ at her estranged husband’s funeral. 

An insider claimed that Tammy thought: ‘The filming of the funeral was “completely not natural” and things were put in there to make it seem sad when it really wasn’t that sad. 

In addition, the reality star allegedly said: ‘People were having fun, but [TLC producers] made it depressing.

Tammy’s transformation 

After her weight loss, Tammy was left struggling with her excess skin but in 2025 she was approved for skin removal surgery and underwent the eight-hour procedure  

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Doctors removed ‘over 15 lbs’ of excess skin from her chin, arms and lower stomach during the surgery (Tammy pictured in her medical-grade shapewear post-surgery) 

After her weight loss, Tammy was left struggling with her excess skin. 

She explained on the show: ‘The only problem is this excess skin is out of control,’ and when a member of the crew asked how much she has now, Tammy quickly replied: ‘Too damn much!’ 

Tammy continued: ‘I get rashes under my stomach and that can get infected. And even though my mobility has gotten better, I kind of have to walk a little bow-legged because it’s dangling right there,’ pointing to in between her legs. 

‘I’m not trying to be nasty,’ she said, before adding: ‘So I’m hoping I’m ready for skin removal surgery.’ 

Tammy’s dream came true in 2025 when she was approved for the eight-hour procedure. 

She told People: ‘After six years and losing over 500 pounds, I was finally approved for surgery. I was just overwhelmed with excitement. 

‘I worked really hard for this, and now it’s here. I’m pretty sure it was noticeable on my face how immediately shocked and then overwhelmed with joy I was.’ 

Tammy traveled to Pittsburgh for her skin removal with plastic surgeon Dr. J. Peter Rubin at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the reality of the procedure hit her the night before.

She said: ‘I was really nervous for the skin removal surgery because I was really just kind of afraid of how I’m gonna feel looking at myself without the belly there.

‘The night before my surgery, I was, like, seriously freaking terrified. I was even more nervous about having skin removal surgery than I was for the [sleeve gastrectomy] surgery because they’re actually cutting the whole belly!’

Tammy underwent her skin removal surgery on January 18, when doctors removed ‘over 15 lbs’ of excess skin from her chin, arms and lower stomach.

The star’s complex surgery was documented on 1000-Lb. Sisters and during the season finale, all of her siblings were in awe of her transformation and praised her for how far she’s come in her weight loss journey.

Speaking on the show, after the surgery, Tammy said: ‘It feels so weird not having the ball sack hanging off my face and my bat wings are gone too, I look down and there is nothing there in my lap now.

‘It’s going to take a little while for me to get use to seeing myself like this’.

Tammy finds love again  

Last year, Tammy announced she was in a new relationship with Andrea Dalton, who she met on a dating app – three years on from the death of her husband Caleb. They are now engaged

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After one follower shared their vision board for a Kentucky Wildcats basketball-themed wedding, the couple marvelled at the quirky idea

That same year, Tammy announced she was in a new relationship – three years on from the death of her husband Caleb.

In April she spoke about her new budding romance in a confessional preview of the series – and admitted she hasn’t told her family yet.

Tammy said: ‘There’s something I haven’t told my family. Amy’s not the only one that’s been seeing somebody new. So have I…

‘I have been seeing someone for the past couple months and it’s going pretty well.’

She then added: ‘The person I’m dating is a woman. So I haven’t told my family because my family’s gonna have something to say about it.

‘I think my family probably has more opinions than the world has a**holes because they be farting so much.

‘A few years ago I came out as pansexual but after Caleb passing, I just don’t want to be with men anymore. I don’t know how my family is going to react when I tell them I’m seeing a woman.’

Tammy then revealed her mystery partner was Andrea Dalton, who she met on a dating app. 

Just two months later, she surprised fans when she announced that she was engaged and they had started to plan their wedding.

Tammy and her fiancée gave an insight into their big day after they asked fans to share some ideas on TikTok.

After one follower shared their vision board for a Kentucky Wildcats basketball-themed wedding, the couple marvelled at the quirky idea.

As photos of a basketball court inspired dancefloor, cake and sports jersey style bridesmaid dress were shared on screen, Tammy and Andrea shared their excited reactions.

While the couple have yet to announce the date of their wedding, it would seem that they could favour an unusual theme.

Ronnie Le Drew, the celebrated children’s TV star who operated and later voiced the puppet Zippy on the show Rainbow, has died aged 78.

His death was announced by the British Puppet Guild in a statement that honoured his legacy, including the fact that he’d been the President of the organisation for a decade.

‘We are saddened to announce the death of our President and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness,’ the announcement read.

‘Ronnie has been our President for 10 years, possibly the most active and supportive President we have ever had or will have.’

The Guild outlined how Le Drew would attend ‘nearly every event whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked’, and was ‘always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could’.

‘Ronnie was of course known for Zippy, but his legacy in the puppetry world stretches far more than that and there will be countless puppeteers mourning the loss of our dear friend,’ the statement continued.

‘He meant so much to so many and the legacy of his life will live on.’

Tributes have poured in for Le Drew, with people remembering how he ‘always had a smile on his face’ and how much he meant to the puppetry community.

Le Drew was one of the voices behind Zippy, a character originally voiced by Peter Hawkins from 1972.

Le Drew took over puppeteering the character from 1974, while Roy Skelton – who voiced the Daleks in Doctor Who – voiced Zippy from 1973 to 1992, in addition to special revivals.

Le Drew also provided the voice for Zippy from 1991.

In addition to Rainbow, the performer also worked on several Muppet movies, Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast and appeared in A Quiet Place: Day One.

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Steven Streeting, 50, died after suffering a serious head injury at 3am on Sunday, May 25, in the Church Street/Church Square area of Hartlepool.

A second man also suffered injuries and was treated in hospital before being discharged.

Aaron John Hopper, of Winterbottom Avenue, in Hartlepool, has since been charged with murder and attempted grievous bodily harm.

The 32-year-old was not asked to enter a plea to either of the charges.

Judge Francis Laird, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, remanded the defendant in custody until a further case management hearing on September 18.

In a tribute, Steven’s family previously said: “Steven was a much-loved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, but above all else, a devoted husband and loving father.

“He will be deeply missed by his family and by all who knew and loved him.”

A provisional trial date has been set.

The hearing will take place on November 23.

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