By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 00:32 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 05:50 BST, 8 August 2026

The Green Party deputy leader who said Palestinians have a right to ‘fight back’ on October 7 has called for fewer people to be referred to the Government’s anti-extremism scheme.

Mothin Ali said that Prevent ‘sweeps too many innocent people into the security state’ after figures showed a record number of referrals to the flagship counter-terror programme.

Last night a former Prevent counter terror officer slammed the Green co-deputy leader’s ‘uninformed’ comments and warned they will ‘hinder national security efforts’.

A Reform UK spokesman said: ‘Prevent is already unfit for purpose, opting to prioritise the “far-right” over Islamic extremism which poses a real and immediate danger to our national security. 

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‘The fact Mothin Ali has still yet to be referred to Prevent for his extremist comments is evidence of that.

‘It’s no wonder he wants to scale back this programme in case it actually starts doing its job.’

Former Prevent officer Ghaffar Hussain said that ‘by definition’ the scheme is designed to ‘support those who are innocent yet at risk of being susceptible to extremist influence’.

He added: ‘Security is not just about dealing with criminals, it is also about going upstream and putting in place interventions that prevent criminality. These types of uninformed comments only hinder national security efforts.’

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Mothin Ali, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, is interviewed on the first day of the Green Party Conference in 2025

Rachel Millward, Zack Polanski and Mothin Ali arrive for the Green Party Conference at Bournemouth International Centre in October 2025

Mr Ali – who apologised after saying that Palestinians have a right to ‘fight back’ after the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 – acknowledged that violent extremism is a ‘real threat’.

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But the Green councillor for Leeds, 44, said that ‘dragging more and more children into a counter-terrorism programme is not the solution’.

‘British Muslims have long warned that Prevent is heavy-handed, undermines trust and sweeps too many innocent people into the security state,’ he added.

Mr Ali – who also caused controversy when he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after being elected and has described Gaza as ‘the world’s biggest concentration camp’ – said ‘counter-terrorism resources should be focused on genuine terrorist threats’.

He suggested that Prevent resources could instead be diverted to teaching, youth work, social work and mental health support.

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Mr Ali added: ‘We can’t defeat hate and radicalisation by treating vulnerable children as security threats and making entire communities fear the state.

‘Approaches that stigmatise communities and erode trust risk deepening the alienation that extremists seek to exploit.’

His comments came after new Home Office figures this week showed that a record 10,293 referrals were made to Prevent for 9,957 people in the year to September.

The scheme saw referrals rise 39 per cent from 7,408 in the previous 12 months. This is the highest number of referrals in a single year since records began in 2015.

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Of the total referrals, just 860 (8 per cent) related to concerns of Islamist extremism, while there were more than 2,100 (20 per cent) over suspected ‘Right-wing extremism’.

It comes more than two years after a highly critical official report accused Prevent of applying a ‘double standard’ regarding Islamism.

The review found the role of Islamist ideology had been ‘misinterpreted, misunderstood, or even overlooked’ by officials, who prioritised countering far-Right activity above tackling Islamism.

A celebration of the pub’s success took place at the Gait Inn at Millington, near Pocklington.

Publicans Harriet and Daniel, who took over the Gait Inn five years ago, were on hand to receive the certificate from branch stalwart Suart Barkworth. He wasn’t alone as he had a group of CAMRA colleagues there to enjoy the evening.

Chris Tregellis, branch Chairman, had arranged a bus to visit the pub and other local attractions.

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Chris added: “We all enjoyed the evening as the Gait is certainly worth the trip out to Millington for food and excellent beer.  

“Stuart had nominated the pub as it’s one of his favourites and we all enjoyed the Wensleydale and Theakston beers on offer. And the food!

“It’s one to try when out in the Pocklington area.”

Harriet and Dan outside the Gair Inn at Millington (Image: Pic supplied)

Earlier, Stuart said of the 16th Century pub: “Set in beautiful countryside in the Yorkshire Wolds near the famous Millington pastures and Millington woods. For summer, outside there is a good size partially covered beer garden with great views of the Wolds. In winter the wood burning stoves make it warm and cosy.”

He continued: “The bar has three regular cask beers and changing guest beers from local breweries.  Hearty home cooked food is very popular. Regular events include quiz nights  fish Fridays. A beer festival is held each July. The Gait Inn is popular with locals and visitors. It richly deserves the York CAMRA pub of the season award for Summer 2026.”

Landlord Dan Morgan said thanked CAMRA for their support and said the presentation night went very well, with plenty of locals adding to the CAMRA members.

He wasn’t sure if publicity surrounding the CAMRA award has boosted trade, saying summer is always busy. He also praised his staff for helping deliver success for the family-run village pub.

The popularity of the Gait Inn is borne in online reviews.

TripAdvisor awards the Gait Inn 4.5 stars out of five, based on 235 reviews, ranking it 173th out of 793 York restaurants.

The most recent awarded five stars said: “Fifteen friends pre booked our food. Everyone said the food was excellent and the service was excellent as well. Great choice of dishes , good portions so much so we could not manage dessert! Thanks for looking after us Friday and see you all again soon.”

Google awards 4.7 stars out of five, based on 547 Googe reviews.

The latest awarded five stars and said: “Brilliant little pub good value. Lovely food and beer. Great staff.”

At least three people, including a child, have been killed in overnight Russian attacks near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

In the early hours of Saturday missiles hit east of the capital and witnesses reported hearing powerful explosions just days after strikes across Ukraine killed 21 people.

Falling debris damaged apartment buildings and cars, while a fire broke out at a separate building, the head of the regional military administration Timur Tkachenko said. He added that three others had been wounded in the ballistic missile strikes.

Emergency crews were also fighting fires at a building and fuel tank in Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitchko wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine’s state emergency service DSNS shared photos showing garages, a business and a building on fire in Kyiv, adding: “The number of victims is being clarified.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Serbia for his first visit after raising concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to fend off Russian missile attacks due to depleting interceptors stockpiles.

Earlier in the week, Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from partners leads to “horrific casualties and destruction”, saying that having a stronger interceptor capability “could have saved lives” in recent deadly assaults.

The president later said the supply of interceptors from allies had been “significantly reduced” this year.

It came after Ukraine hit two oil refineries deep inside Russia along with Moscow-linked vessels in the Black Sea, which Zelensky said was intended to limit oil revenues used by Russia to “finance” its war in Ukraine.

Recent mediation talks have faltered, leading to an escalation of attacks between both sides.

The young driver also nearly crashed into cars when driving on the wrong side of the road

A dangerous driver who led police on two high-speed pursuits has been jailed. Cambridgeshire Police spotted Adam Abdellouche, 19, driving a silver Vauxhall Astra which they believed to have false number plates in Broadway, Peterborough on September 18, 2024.

Officers tried to stop Abdellouche, but the 19-year-old turned left into Granville Street and sped away at 55mph in a 30mph zone. He continued to speed along Dogsthorpe Road and he tried to get away from a pursuing officer.

As he drove, Abdellouche failed to give way and nearly crashed into other vehicles, before mounting a pavement, driving along it and crashing into a wall. He ran from the scene and was later arrested.

Abdellouche was released on bail while an investigation took place. However on April 10 this year, officers tried to stop him again near Tallington in Lincolnshire. An officer was concerned that Abdellouche may drive through a level crossing to get away, so he parked his vehicle to block the road and illuminated his blue lights.

Abdellouche made an immediate right turn, cutting across the wrong side of the road, mounting a grass verge and sped along Stamford Road. He drove at more than 120mph as he tried to get away. He also ignored keep left signs and drove the wrong way around roundabouts. Officers deployed a stinger to end the pursuit, with the vehicle stopping on the A15 between Glinton and Werrington.

When Abdellouche was searched by officers, he was also found with a knife. Abdellouche, of Allexton Gardens, Welland, Peterborough, admitted to two counts of dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without a licence and possession of a knife in public.

On Tuesday (August 4) at Cambridge Crown Court, he was jailed for 23 months and disqualified from driving for four years.

DC James Walker-Harrison said: “Abdellouche clearly had no consideration for the risk he put others in as he persistently drove dangerously in his failed attempts to get away from officers. Thankfully nobody was injured during these two incidents where he recklessly drove at high speed. I’m pleased he has now appeared in court and been jailed for his actions.”

Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, a prominent Democrat who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016, has warned of one Republican attack on progressive members of her party that will be “very effective” in the midterms.

After progressive Abdul El-Sayed’s victory over centrist congresswoman Haley Stevens in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, Clinton suggested that Republicans will baselessly label him as a “communist,” and it will work to dissuade voters.

“The real fight will be how do we make sure that people who voted for Haley feel comfortable voting for Abdul El-Sayed, and how do we get Independents to feel comfortable?

“And you can see that it’s not just about Michigan, but the Republican messaging is communist, socialist. It’s going to be a very effective attack,” Clinton told Kara Swisher during the journalist’s Pivot podcast with author Scott Galloway.

Trump was quick to celebrate El-Sayed’s election win, calling it “Great news for the Republican Party.”

“El-Sayed, a Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel, is the projected winner in his race with the Socialist…Now, the Dumocrats crazy policies will only get worse!” he wrote on Truth Social Wednesday.

Despite the pro-Israel group AIPAC spending tens of millions on Stevens’ campaign, El-Sayed — a former public health official who has accused Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas in Gaza — narrowly beat her in Tuesday’s race. Israel has vehemently denied allegations of genocide.

When Swisher probed further on whether labeling a politician a communist is an effective attack, Clinton said, “That’s the attack that Trump is leading with and I assume they’ve tested it and I assume that they have reason to believe that it’s effective or they wouldn’t be beating the drum on it.”

“It’s not just him. [Vice President JD] Vance has done it. Others are doing it. They are trying to bring back scare tactics about our candidates, and it didn’t work in New York. [New York City Mayor Zohran] Mamdani was elected, and there was a lot of money spent against him,” Clinton said.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who has been commonly misstated as a communist, won his election in November against a member of the Democratic establishment, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Two democratic socialists whom Mamdani backed in the June primaries in New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, also won their races.

The 40-year-old sent sexual messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl

A convicted sex offender who sent explicit messages to someone he thought was a teenage girl has been sent to prison. Daniel Coleman, 40, contacted the account in May 2025, not knowing it was a decoy run by an online child abuse activist group.

Despite the “child” telling him she was only 13 years old several times, he proceeded to strike up conversations of a sexual nature before arranging to meet her. Despite not using his real name, officers traced the IP address of the profile back to Coleman and he was arrested.

Coleman, of Bishops Road, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, breach of a sexual harm prevention order, inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register Requirements.

He was sentenced to four-and-half-years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on July 31. PC Alex Neill, who investigated, said: “Coleman is clearly a risk to children. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.”

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Senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have reopened an investigation into an incident reported to police last year.

BEIJING (AP) — Authorities in eastern China shut schools and tourist sites as Typhoon Dolphin made its way towards land on Saturday.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds were estimated at about 162 kilometers per hour (101 mph).

It will bring heavy rains, creating a risk of severe flooding as well as landslides. It’s expected to hit Zhejiang province and northern parts of neighboring Fujian province late Sunday. Shanghai is also in the path of the storm.

National authorities declared a level III emergency response, the second lowest level.

Many tourist destinations in Zhejiang are shut Saturday and Sunday, as well as all water-based activities, including ferries and cruises. Authorities in the city of Ningbo, one of province’s largest, ordered schools and other educational facilities shut this weekend.

Ruby Rae’s Country Bar opened in the former Jalou nightclub on Bridge Street.

It adds to the recently opened Silver Spur a few doors away in Bridge Street, which form part of a thriving UK country and western scene.

Ruby Rae’s began in Newcastle and York is the company’s second venue.

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Co-founder Dean Saunders chose the city as he has always loved it, he was a regular at Jalou, and when the former church became available, he could not refuse.

Business partners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke (Image: Pic supplied)

Dean says he has been working on developing the York site since February, which will be inspired by the world-famous Ryman stage in Nashville.

The venue will open Thursday to Sunday.

More of the interior (Image: Pic supplied)

In the renovations of the former church, all the floors have been changed. Much LVT flooring has been used, which Dean says is great for line dancing.

A new bar has been created, there is a revamped stage and DJ booth.

The theme is Nashville (Image: Pic supplied)

Furthermore, to add character there are plates reflecting the region, ‘dollar walls’, flags, lots of vinyls and ‘lots of neon signs everywhere’ to create a Nashville look.

Dean said of the first night: “We were blown away by the support from everyone on the opening night in York.

“It was great to see hundreds of people come through the doors on a Thursday to enjoy some amazing country music!

A most impressive interior. (Image: Pic supplied)

“Chuck Walton, Bryan Watson and Tom Humphrey performed all night with a special guest appearance from Twinnie, who is coming back tonight.”

Business partner Dan Cooke said: “After such a long month getting it ready, it was amazing to see the venue finally open with everyone enjoying themselves inside and we are already excited for the rest of the weekend.”

The pair reflected: “But it was a huge success and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. There were some amazing people who really loved their country music.”

Plenty of neon on display at Ruby Rae’s (Image: Pic supplied)

Already the venue is receiving rave reviews online, with 28 five stars reviews received by 4pm Friday.

One said: “Opening night! What a venue, great music and atmosphere!”

Another said: “If you like country music then this is the place for you.”

Plenty of dollar bills! (Image: Pic supplied)

And another said: “Beer and live country music. What else do you want? Get down now!”

And one added: “Absolutely amazing! Fantastic atmosphere, great authentic singers & huge venue. Can’t WAIT to be back.”

Have you been to Ruby Rae’s? What did you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

The August 12 solar eclipse will coincide with the peak of one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers – here’s everything you need to know about the Perseids

The solar eclipse won’t be the only spectacular celestial event next Wednesday as it falls just hours before the peak of one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers – the Perseids.

The celestial double whammy will kick off in the early evening of Wednesday, August 12, and continue overnight into Thursday, August 13.

People in the UK will witness the most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999, with the Moon covering up to 95 per cent of the Sun in Cornwall and 94 per cent in Pembrokeshire. Skygazers in many other locations, including London, will see around 90 per cent coverage.

As darkness falls, attention will turn from the Sun to the stars, where the already active Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak overnight.

The Perseids – active between July 17 and August 24 this year – are widely regarded as one of the year’s best meteor showers because of their high number of meteors and bright, fast-moving streaks of light.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

As the Earth orbits the Sun, it passes several times a year through trails of debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids.

The Perseids are caused by debris from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.

When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters resistance from the air, causing it to become extremely hot and eventually burn up. Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail – the end of a “shooting star”.

According to NASA, the Perseids can produce between 50 and 100 meteors per hour during the peak, provided viewing conditions are favourable.

Timings for solar eclipse and peak of Perseid meteor shower

While the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower is between midnight and 5.30am on Thursday, Royal Museums Greenwich says the radiant of the Perseids is always above the horizon as seen from the UK, meaning observers should be able to spot some meteors as soon as the Sun sets on Wednesday.

The exact timings of the solar eclipse on Wednesday evening will vary depending on your location.

In Edinburgh and Glasgow, the eclipse will begin at around 6.08pm, reach its maximum – when the largest part of the Sun is covered – at around 7.05pm and end at about 8pm, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

In London, Bristol and Cardiff, the eclipse will begin at around 6.17pm, reach its maximum at around 7.12pm and finish at around 8.06pm.

Timings for other locations in the UK are listed in the table below:

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How can I watch the meteor shower?

Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need any special equipment to watch a meteor shower.

Simply find a dark location away from city lights as competing sources of light – such as a bright Moon or artificial glow – are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloud-free nights, particularly when the Moon is at its least bright, offer the best viewing conditions.

Royal Museums Greenwich notes: “In 2026 the peak of the Perseid meteor shower fortunately occurs during new Moon, so conditions are ideal for seeing the peak.”

To view the eclipse, health officials have warned that people should use specially designed eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation.

For those without eclipse glasses, there are other ways to watch the eclipse safely using items you may already have at home, such as creating a pinhole viewer.

Key meteor shower dates for the rest of 2026

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the following meteor showers are currently active or will take place later this year:

Date of activity: July 3 – August 15. Date of maximum: July 30.

Date of activity: July 12 – August 23. Date of maximum: July 30.

Date of activity: July 17 – August 24. Date of maximum: August 12-13.

Date of activity: October 6 – October 10. Date of maximum: October 9.

Date of activity: October 2 – November 7. Date of maximum: October 21.

Date of activity: September 10 – November 20. Date of maximum: October 10.

Date of activity: October 20 – December 10. Date of maximum: November 12.

Date of activity: November 6 – November 30. Date of maximum: November 18.

Date of activity: December 4 – December 20. Date of maximum: December 14.

Date of activity: December 17 – December 26. Date of maximum: December 22.