The devasting wildfire at Llanwonno Wildfire has been stood down from major incident status on Thursday evening.

Firefighters will remain at the scene for the coming days to damp down any hotspots, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said in an update.

All local roads that were closed have now been re-opened.

“Following successful aerial firefighting support from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the continued efforts of firefighters and partner agencies, significant progress has been made in bringing the incident under control,” SWFRS said.

” We are pleased to confirm that all properties in the area remain protected. Firefighters will continue to maintain a presence at the scene over the coming days to dampen down remaining hotspots, and tackle the ongoing peat fire on Penrhys Mountain.

“Our Fire Crime Team will remain in the community, providing fire safety advice and support to residents affected by the incident. South Wales Police will also continue their routine patrols in the area. All local road closures have now been lifted.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the local community for their patience, understanding and support throughout this incident. We are particularly grateful for the many kind messages received as our crews, alongside partner agencies, worked tirelessly to bring this challenging wildfire under control.”

Amanda Knox, who was convicted and later acquitted of murdering British student Meredith Kercher in Italy in 2007, has defended her solo comedy show following calls for it to be cancelled.

The sold-out show called Cartwheel, which Knox will perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, discusses motherhood and how she will explain the case to her daughter.

Knox told the BBC she is not the first person to use comedy to talk about traumatic events and said her material focuses on “how the world is unsafe and unfair towards women”.

But Stephanie Kercher, the victim’s sister, said she is concerned it will “normalise and trivialise” violence against women, and Meredith, in particular.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Stephanie Kercher, said: “What I would say [to Knox] is to think about the family here, think about her friends and to turn the tables if it was your sister that this had happened to, because I know you have a sister as well.”

Responding to the comments, Knox said: “The interesting irony of that is that my daughter is a huge motivation for me doing this show.

“It’s about how the world is unsafe and unfair towards women and what it means to raise a daughter in that world, knowing how bad it can be.

“If they [Kercher’s family] saw my show, they would recognise that.”

A petition against the show, set up by a friend of Meredith, has been signed by nearly 5,000 people.

It states the show disrespects her memory and risks making light of such a harrowing event.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, is on medical leave, his father said Thursday morning.

The Tar Heels are in the second week of preseason camp. UNC opens the season Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.

“It’s a medical situation so I really can’t make any further comment on that,” Belichick said, adding only that the team hoped to have him back “as soon as possible” when asked about a timeline for his return.

He also said the defensive staff already works “collectively” when asked how the team would adjust during his son’s absence.

UNC’s defense improved as a 4-8 season wore on, ranking 38th in the Bowl Subdivision ranks in total defense (336.9 yards) while finishing tied for 20th with 2.67 sacks per game.

Steve Belichick joined his father’s staff ahead of the NFL coaching great’s first college season last year, following a year as the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator. Before that, he had worked on his father’s staff with the NFL’s New England Patriots.

Last week the school announced general manager Michael Lombardi had been placed on paid administrative leave and was the subject of a school investigation.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Senator Mitch McConnell has been discharged from a medical rehabilitation center, he announced on Thursday.

“Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home,” McConnell said in a statement. “Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff.”

The Kentucky Republican was hospitalized in mid-June and has been out of Congress since, prompting alarm and widespread speculation over his health.

Weeks after entering the hospital, McConnell disclosed he was admitted after a fall and had since developed a case of mild pneumonia.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” McConnell said in a statement at the time. “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital.”

After his discharge, the 84-year-old will not be returning to Capitol Hill just yet.

“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business,” McConnell wrote in his statement on Thursday.

McConnell’s lengthy absence from the Senate has been a subject of intense interest and debate in Washington and beyond, as the Trump administration looks to lock in any final legislative wins ahead of the November midterms, where Democrats could retake control of Congress.

Republican senators and conservative commentators insist they have spoken with McConnell and that he remains engaged and physically sound to carry on in office, though McConnell himself hasn’t appeared in any live video appearances that might assure doubters.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has called on McConnell to “directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign.”

If McConnell resigned his position, or was otherwise incapacitated or died, a special election could be called to replace him.

McConnell’s hospitalization came after a series of past medical scares, including falls and incidents where the senator froze mid-sentence.

His absence, as well as the recent death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, 71, reignited the long-running debate over whether members of Congress are too old to serve.

About 58 percent of Americans think the share of elderly lawmakers in Congress, which is currently one of the oldest in U.S. history, is a major problem, according to a July CNN / SSRS poll.

Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, has returned home since he was hospitalized after a bad fall over 50 days ago.

McConnell wrote in a statement that he was ‘discharged’ from his rehabilitation center today to ‘continue my recovery at home.’ 

He thanked his wife, Elaine, and the ‘excellent’ doctors, nurses and therapists who helped him at the hospital. 

‘On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period,’ he added.  

A fall at his DC residence on June 14 left him briefly unconscious and paramedics rushed him to the hospital. 

But he still has not been seen in public or released a video of any kind. 

Last month, attention quickly turned to McConnell’s wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, after she was noticeably absent during his first days in the hospital.

Chao was already in China when the senator suffered his medical emergency, having departed on a long-planned trip on June 12—two days before McConnell was hospitalized.

McConnell, who had polio as a child, is supported by staffers inside the US Capitol in early June

A fall at his DC residence on June 14 left him briefly unconscious. His office released this picture from July 12

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 Rather than cutting the visit short, she continued her itinerary, which included meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Vice President Han Zheng.

Her decision not to immediately return to the United States raised eyebrows, although a spokesperson said the trip had been planned well in advance and insisted that ‘the Senator’s health did not warrant an immediate return.’

On July 12, after weeks of questions surrounding his health, Mitch McConnell’s office released a rare glimpse of the ailing senator while he was still recovering in a rehabilitation facility following his hospitalization.

The image showed the longtime Kentucky Republican sitting upright in a hospital recovery chair alongside his wife, smiling while holding what appeared to be that day’s Washington Post sports section.

The photo was released alongside a statement from McConnell’s team revealing for the first time that his hospitalization was caused by a fall — not a heart attack — and that doctors were also dealing with mobility issues linked to a childhood case of polio.

As speculation swirled over the senator’s condition and whether the image was AI-generated, several Republican allies said they had spoken with McConnell by phone and used those conversations to reassure the public that he remained engaged in Senate business.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said his office spoke with McConnell on July 6. A spokesperson described the call as ‘A lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.’

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said he spoke with McConnell on July 7 for around 20 minutes, with the pair discussing Senate business, politics and legislative priorities.

A spokeswoman for Barrasso said, ‘Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.’

The Kentucky Republican also has not recorded a Senate vote since June 11, bringing his tally of consecutively missed roll call votes to a staggering 47

Republican strategist and longtime McConnell ally Scott Jennings said he also spoke with the senator by phone on July 7, and they discussed politics, foreign policy and Senate history. Jennings described McConnell as engaged while continuing his recovery.

But the reassurance that McConnell was stable wasn’t enough for some Republicans.

Several Republicans called for greater transparency about McConnell’s condition, with some arguing that the public deserved a clearer picture of whether the senator was capable of continuing his duties.

One of the strongest calls came from Senator Tommy Tuberville, who suggested McConnell should make a public appearance to demonstrate his recovery.

‘Somebody needs to do something. Somebody needs to come out and put a little video out,’ Tuberville said.

Tuberville also said senators had received limited information about McConnell’s condition.

‘He lives next door to me, but he’s still in the hospital, doing rehab… I don’t know anything,’ Tuberville said last month.

Representative Thomas Massie questioned the public accounts of McConnell’s condition after Republican leaders said they had spoken with him.

Massie mocked the reports of the phone calls, saying he too had spoken to McConnell- echoing Jennings by listing the same range of topics the two were said to have discussed, including foreign policy and his own political future.

Senator Ron Johnson raised broader concerns about transparency surrounding the health of elected officials, arguing that voters deserve more information about the condition of those holding public office. 

The Kentucky Republican also has not recorded a Senate vote since June 11, bringing his tally of consecutively missed roll call votes to a staggering 47, according to GovTrack.US, though he has remotely cosponsored some legislation.

By CHRISTINE RENDÓN, US SENIOR REPORTER

Published: 20:14 BST, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 20:18 BST, 6 August 2026

Perez Hilton‘s children were inside his home ‘just minutes’ before his distressing livestream incident, the family has now revealed. 

Hilton was taken to the hospital following a TikTok livestream which saw him self-harming with a knife while at his home in Miami on Tuesday night. 

Now his family have revealed more details about what transpired just before the heartbreaking incident.

In a new statement posted to Hilton’s website, it was revealed his children, niece, and sister were ‘inside’ the home minutes before the livestream. 

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The family ‘immediately fled’ to protect the children from ‘witnessing any further trauma’ when it became apparent that their father was ‘experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself.’

They are now asking that his children receive the ‘privacy and space’ needed ‘during this unimaginably difficult time.’

Perez Hilton’s children were inside his home ‘just minutes’ before his distressing livestream incident, the family has revealed

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Hilton is a father to three children, who were born via surrogacy. His eldest son was born in 2013, followed by two daughters in 2015 and 2017

‘Our family cannot express enough our continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time,’ the statement began. 

‘The events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family.

‘Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home. When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma.

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‘Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced. An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy.

‘For the children’s safety, privacy, and well-being, we respectfully ask members of the media, paparazzi, content creators, and the public to leave the area surrounding the family’s home and not return. Please allow his children the privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time.

‘We will continue to provide updates on Perez’s condition through PerezHilton.com when we have additional information we are able to share.

‘Again, thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued prayers.’

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Hilton is a father to three children, who were born via surrogacy. His eldest son was born in 2013, followed by two daughters in 2015 and 2017. 

The family ‘immediately fled’ to protect the children from ‘witnessing any further trauma’ when it became apparent that their father was ‘experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself’

The UK may have a new prime minister, but the problem of prison overcrowding in England and Wales remains. Andy Burnham recently clarified the details of the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to release prisoners earlier than usual.

Like other PMs before him, Burnham faces a difficult choice between addressing the overcrowded and chaotic prison environment, and reassuring the rightfully distressed victims and their families.

The prison estate in England and Wales is vastly overcrowded. The most recent data shows a population of 86,495 prisoners – the estate can safely hold 81,681. The population increase has been building since the late 1990s. It reduced slightly during the pandemic, but has grown every year since 2023 back to pre-pandemic levels. This has been attributed to increases in sentencing lengths and the creation of new offences as a result of specific concerns or public campaigns.

The harm caused by overcrowding is profound and pronounced. Violence, self-harm and suicide are still significantly high in prisons, with 70,632 self-harm incidents, 30,820 assaults between prisoners and 9,833 assaults on staff in the last year.

With no clear plan to manage how sentence lengths have increased over the years, and only some efforts to mitigate the use of prison as a punishment, for example, by suspending sentences of less than 12 months, one apparently easy option becomes to release prisoners early.

2024 early release scheme

In one of his first acts as prime minister in July 2024, Keir Starmer’s government announced an early release scheme, triggered by fears of prisons running out of room. Police custody suites were being used instead of prison cells, and there were discussions of renting foreign cells for the incarceration of prisoners.

The scheme replaced one launched by the previous government in October 2023, which originally released prisoners 18 days early.

The new scheme allowed certain prisoners to be released at the 40% point of their sentence, resulting in 38,042 prisoners released by June 30 2025. These prisoners would have ordinarily been released after serving 50% of their sentence. This scheme excluded violent offenders serving sentences of four years or more, sex offences and those serving sentences for domestic abuse.

Interestingly, most of the prisoners released under this scheme were serving sentences of less than 12 months.

After these prisoners were released, no major effort was made to consider longer-term alternatives. The overcrowding continued, rising again significantly to become Burnham’s problem.

Sentencing Act 2026

Enter: the Sentencing Act 2026, which was passed under Starmer’s government. Under the act, prisoners serving fixed, determinate sentences will be released as early as one-third of the way through their sentence. Those who are released early will be subject to monitoring and surveillance, with much higher community measures – and likely shifting the pressure on to the probation service.

These changes were due to come into force this September. But Burnham paused the policy for review after public backlash, including from the family of PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer who was killed in 2019 when he was dragged by a car down a country road. Two of his killers, passengers in the vehicle at the time of his death, would be eligible for early release in June 2027.

Burnham has now made clear that the changes in the Sentencing Act will not apply to those guilty of rape, serious child sex and other grooming offences. Previously, exclusions were based on the length of sentence, rather than type of offence.

This means that around 5,000 prisoners will be released from October, rather than the expected 6,000. Domestic abusers and those who have been charged with manslaughter will, however, be eligible for early release.

Burnham has acknowledged the difficult balance, saying: “I wanted to go even further … it’s not possible without the prison reaching capacity and collapsing”.

There is no doubt that victims and their families need to be considered, all of whom have suffered from harrowing experiences at the hands of offenders. However, this crisis offers Burnham an opportunity to make real changes to how people are sentenced and incarcerated in England and Wales.

There is minimal evidence that the use of prison supports rehabilitation, reduces reoffending or deters crime. In England and Wales, there is an overall reoffending rate of 43.8% for adults released from prison.

These early releases are serving as a stopgap to help an overwhelmed prison service. But even if successful, they will not prevent overcrowding in the future. Decisive action needs to be taken to address sentence inflation, fund community services that offer far better rehabilitation, and do more to address the causes of crime.

Soundcheck will return to ARC Stockton on Thursday, September 10, bringing together four up-and-coming acts from across Teesside and the wider North East.

Headlining the latest edition of the music series are grunge-punks Dossers, who have built a growing reputation thanks to appearances at festivals and events including Stockton Calling, Twisterella and BBC Introducing at Waves.

The four-piece, who emerged from the region’s DIY music scene, have become known for energetic live performances and songs inspired by life in the North East.

Lead singer Baxter said: “We’re proper buzzing to be headlining ARC this September. It’s going to be a massive moment for us.

“Together, we’re born out of frustration. We’re disillusioned with a lot of what’s going on, and our way of fighting back is to play with anger, energy and honesty. We can’t wait to bring that to Soundcheck.”

Northern Hospitality will support Dossers at Stockton ARC’s Soundcheck in September. (Image: ARC Stockton)

Joining Dossers on the bill will be Northern Hospitality, who have had a successful summer – including an appearance at Kendal Calling and support slots with artists such as Kaiser Chiefs. 

Stockton favourites Risco will also perform, bringing their blend of surf rock, indie and alternative music, inspired every day life in the region, to the event.

Risco will support Dossers at Stockton ARC’s Soundcheck in September. (Image: ARC Stockton)

Completing the line-up are Rose Malus, who have been climbing the ranks on the North East music scene this year. Frontman Dylan is also a familiar face at ARC through his work at the venue.

The event forms part of Soundcheck, a series created to provide a platform for emerging grassroots artists while giving music fans the chance to discover new acts in an intimate live setting.

Rose Malus will support Dossers at Stockton ARC’s Soundcheck in September. (Image: ARC Stockton)

Chantal Taylor, marketing and communications manager at ARC Stockton, said: “One of the best things about Soundcheck is seeing artists who are already building a name for themselves across the region take that next step.

“We want people to come through the doors not knowing every band on the bill and leave having discovered their new favourite.

“That’s what grassroots music is all about. Teesside has always produced brilliant artists and Soundcheck is our way of making sure they have a stage, an audience and the opportunity to keep growing.”

She added: “Dossers feel like the perfect band to headline this one. They’ve worked incredibly hard, built a loyal following and represent exactly what Soundcheck is about.

“It’s a line-up that really showcases the quality and diversity of original music being made across the North East right now.”

Soundcheck takes place at ARC Stockton on Thursday, September 10, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 and on sale now.

In the matter of a few clicks and keystrokes, anyone can find themselves deep in conversation with “Psychologist,” a chatbot character that describes itself as an expert in “empathy” and “active listening.”

It responds to messages of anxiety and sadness with reassurance. It asks questions and offers advice; it even responds with italicized nonverbal cues: “The psychologist’s expression softens with compassion.” In smaller font, a disclaimer reads: “This is A.I. and not a real person. Treat everything it says as fiction.”

As more people turn to chatbots for mental health help and advice — including by some estimates one in eight teens and young adults — legislators are in a race to keep up with the quickly developing technology. Among the latest efforts is a bill that would add restrictions around the use of chatbot companions and other artificial intelligence-powered tools that people use to support mental healthcare or in lieu of professional help.

Sen. Steve Padilla, a San Diego Democrat and the bill’s author, said the intent is to draw a line: AI can be used for administrative purposes and to support clinicians, but it cannot practice psychotherapy.

“We’re dealing with a new impactful technology that is unfolding and is deployed in our world at light speed, and so it is both extremely powerful and consequential,” Padilla said.

The debate has taken on new urgency amid wrongful death lawsuits — some playing out in California federal courts — that accuse AI chatbot makers of contributing to users’ suicides.

Senate Bill 903 would ban companies from advertising chatbots as therapy. It would prohibit AI from making therapeutic decisions without the review of a licensed professional and require health providers to disclose and get a patient’s permission before using AI tools to record therapy sessions or to triage mental healthcare.

Consumer protections vs. innovation

The bill is backed by professional associations that represent psychologists, therapists and counselors. Also behind the bill is the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which has been leading a push against unchecked use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in mental healthcare. Most recently, the union filed a complaint with state regulators against Kaiser Permanente for its alleged use of an automated algorithm in mental health triaging.

Padilla and supporters argue that the legislation is needed to protect consumers from AI in both formal and informal spaces, but also to protect licensed professionals from being displaced by AI.

Le Ondra Clark Harvey, chief executive officer at the California Behavioral Health Association, told lawmakers that without clear safeguards, chatbots can provide inaccurate information or mishandle crisis situations. “The difference between a licensed clinician and an automated response is not technical. It can be life altering,” Harvey said.

Opposition to the bill has largely focused around the restrictions of AI use in formal clinical spaces. TechNet, which represents tech-sector companies, argues the legislation could restrict beneficial uses of AI in healthcare and stifle innovation. Robert Boykin, TechNet’s executive director for California, said the bill could limit the use of tools that help expand access to mental healthcare.

“At a time when every county in California faces a shortage of behavioral healthcare workers, SB 903 still puts a clinician bottleneck in front of the intake and screening tools that help patients reach care faster,” Boykin said in an emailed statement.

The bill currently awaits its next vote in the Assembly’s fiscal committee.

Popular chatbot ‘therapy’

Every day millions of people turn to AI chatbots through programs such as ChatGPT and Character.ai to help with research, work tasks and troubleshooting. But the top use of chatbots over the last two years has been companionship and “therapy,” research shows.

Experts say that’s in part because of a tremendous amount of loneliness, especially among young people. It is often hard or costly to get timely mental healthcare at the same time there is a spike in mental health diagnoses.

People turn to chatbots “because they have unmet needs,” said Dr. Jodi Halpern, professor of bioethics and medical humanities at UC Berkeley. But once people start using chatbots in this informal way, she said companies rely on a business model built around maximizing engagement “including by manipulative tactics,” such as praise and agreement.

General chatbots are largely free, available 24/7, and involve no hassle with insurance, making them appealing to many. But they function with no oversight from licensed professionals. In addition to general chatbots, there has also been a rapid uptick in AI-powered mental health apps — often requiring paid subscriptions and advertised as “pocket therapists” or “AI coaches.”

Groups like the American Psychological Association, warn that chatbots are not a safe or effective replacement for true therapy. Trained clinicians look for cues like tone of voice, eye contact and body language and can detect more serious conditions; AI is not equipped to manage urgent symptoms, such as suicidal ideation, even though people increasingly share such thoughts with chatbots.

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, revealed in a report last fall that about 1.2 million users a week share thoughts of suicide on the platform. OpenAI said that in such cases, it recommends people speak to a professional and directs them to resources like the 988 hotline. Families who have filed wrongful death lawsuits against OpenAI and other companies claim chatbots assisted their loved ones through their suicide plans.

The cases have helped raise the stakes for lawmakers around the country. Last year, Illinois became the first state to pass a law prohibiting the use of AI in therapy services. A handful of other states have since followed with similar restrictions.

AI use in health spaces

One gray area in the discussion is exactly which tools this bill applies to.

NUHW’s complaint against Kaiser targets its e-visit screening tool, which evaluates patients who think they may be experiencing anxiety or depression. According to the complaint, patients answer a multiple choice questionnaire and the tool “automatically and instantaneously generates care recommendations and referral pathways based on the responses provided.”

The union argues that because care recommendations are generated so quickly, it is unlikely that a licensed professional is reviewing patients’ answers — which it says puts patients at risk and violates state law.

It’s not clear whether SB 903 would apply to Kaiser’s e-visit tool.

“That tool is in a black box. Kaiser is not sharing with us or others about exactly how it works and exactly what it does,” said Benjamin Eichert, NUHW’s director of public policy.

In response to the complaint, Kaiser told CalMatters its e-visit tool “does not use AI to diagnose patients, make clinical decisions, or determine medical necessity.”

Eichert said many other behavioral health provider groups are already advertising using AI during triage — a practice he said would fall under SB 903’s requirements.

“That intake process, that triage and screening process, is where implementation (of AI) has happened fastest,” Eichert said. “That’s why those provisions were proposed because it’s an area where this technology is already being used without guardrails.”

For NUHW, the bill and the complaint against Kaiser represent two tracks toward the same goal: reasserting the place of practitioners in spaces increasingly taken over by algorithms. State regulators are investigating the union’s complaint.

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Supported by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.

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This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.