Summary

  • Updates from 14-20 June

  1. Coventry woman 'begs' for mum's safe Afghanistan returnpublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 17 August 2021

    A photographer from Coventry says she is "begging" British forces to help her vulnerable mother return to the UK safely from Afghanistan.

    FerebaImage source, PA Media

    Fereba said her 79-year-old mother Layloma, who is a dual Afghan-British national, flew to Kabul last month to attend a funeral and has been unable to return.

    "My mother is low on medication which was provided by the NHS. It's not available in Afghanistan," Fereba said.

    "Once the Taliban enter the airports, there will be no hope for them, they will be slaughtered. All I'm asking for the world to do is to show some compassion for the Afghan nation."

    The government has deployed hundreds of troops to Kabul to assist with the evacuation of British nationals.

  2. 'Ballet dancing leaves me speechless'published at 06:28 British Summer Time 17 August 2021

    Isaac Bowry is from a Manchester council estate and wants to show that "dancing is for everyone".

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  3. 'Obsessed' man jailed for killing ex's new partnerpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Mark Chilman set his victim's car on fire in a bid to make it look like suicide, the court hears.

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  4. Malala calls on countries to open borders to Afghanspublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Nobel peace laureate, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012.

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  5. Men attacked with bottles in homophobic assaultpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    One man was knocked unconscious in an attack which began with abuse being shouted from inside a car.

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  6. 'It's shocking this would happen in 2021'published at 18:06 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Rob and Patrick faced homophobic abuse and were hit with bottles during a night out in Birmingham.

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  7. Doorman seen striking men with machete outside clubpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Tom Dare

    A nightclub is at risk of losing its licence after a doorman was seen attacking a group of men with a machete on CCTV.

    Vittoria Street, where Pavo Nightclub is locatedImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    Pavo Nightclub is on Vittoria Street in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter

    One of the men suffered a two-to-three-inch gash to his forehead in the assault outside Pavo, in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, last month, while the other two were left with hand injuries.

    West Midlands Police said the men and doorman were seen speaking outside the club at about 04:00 BST before the member of staff went into the venue and returned with a machete.

    Birmingham City Council suspended the venue's licence after police branded the events "unacceptable". However, a final decision will be made next week.

    Speaking at an earlier meeting before the licensing committee, the owner argued the doorman had "acted independently" and his actions could not have been foreseen by the club or its staff.

  8. Football fan knocked out in Birmingham attackpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    A football fan was knocked out and left with a broken nose after an attack before the Birmingham City game with Stoke City.

    CCTV imageImage source, West Midlands Police

    The 23-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was assaulted on Saturday at about 14:30 BST in Barwell Road, Small Heath, within a mile of St Andrew's stadium.

    The man was discharged from hospital later the same day and West Midlands Police said officers were treating the attack as linked to the football., external

    They have released an image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the assault.

  9. Drug-driver jailed over pedestrian's deathpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Junior Thompson was driving at twice the speed limit and had been smoking cannabis, police say.

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  10. Landmark set for Coventry city centre returnpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Local Democracy Reporting Service
    Tom Davis

    A landmark could return to Coventry city centre next summer after more than two years in storage.

    Artist's impression of the Coventry Cross at new locationImage source, Coventry City Council

    The Coventry Cross was removed from Cuckoo Lane in 2019 as part of plans for a restaurant behind Cathedral Lanes.

    The original Coventry Cross dated back to the 14th Century and was located at the top of Ironmonger Row.

    The second cross was situated in the market area until it was demolished in 1781. The latest replica was build in 1976.

    The current proposals are to place it near the city centre's Primark, overlooking Holy Trinity Church with artist impressions showing the bottom half reconstructed with glass.

    However, the city council said options had not been finalised but some restoration work would be needed and the total cost had not been confirmed.

  11. Covid-19: Self-isolation changes welcomed by music bosspublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    BBC Radio Shropshire

    A music venue owner has said managing to keeping his business going has been a "miracle" as a number of staff have been "pinged" by the NHS app and forced to self-isolate.

    Alberts ShedImage source, Google

    People in England no longer have to isolate if they have had two Covid vaccinations and come into contact with someone who tests positive for the virus.

    David Gregg runs Albert's Shed, which has venues in Shrewsbury and Telford, and said the changes were welcome.

    "We are certainly not out of the woods yet, we still have quite a journey to go on but any further lifting of the restrictions has got to be welcomed by hospitality."

  12. Man and dog killed in suspected hit-and-runpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Two people are arrested by police on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

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  13. Port Vale bring in Bolton's Politicpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Port Vale sign Bolton Wanderers midfielder Dennis Politic on a season-long loan deal.

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  14. Murder charge after man's deathpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Dawid Kurdziel died after allegedly being attacked in a park in Telford, police say.

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  15. Tributes after death of bravery-award police dogpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    Bacca was given the award after suffering slash wounds while bringing an armed man to the ground.

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  16. Family starts education foundation after son's stab deathpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    The family of a man who was stabbed to death just metres away from his parents' home in Walsall has set up an education foundation to help steer teenagers away from gangs and knife crime.

    James BrindleyImage source, Family photo

    James Brindley was 26 when he was killed in 2017 on his way home from a night out.

    Ammar Kahrod, from Aldridge, denied his murder but was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court in February 2018.

    The James Brindley Foundation, set up after his death, has now developed a 12-week lesson plan for teachers to help young people turn their back on crime.

    Mark Brindley

    James' father Mark (pictured) said his son had been a pivotal point in his life, about to start a health and fitness business and it was important to keep fundraising to provide help for youngsters.

    "The foundation is all about raising awareness around all the issues around youth violence and delivering educational programmes to help children away from criminal and anti-social behaviours," he says.

    The charity also plans to start a youth academy to help young people who've become disengaged from education.

  17. West Midlands weather forecast: Cloudy and mainly drypublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    BBC Weather

    It should be cloudy and mainly dry today with just the odd spot of rain around mixed with an occasional brighter spell. High: 17C (63F).

    Weather for today in the West Midlands

    It should stay cloudy and largely dry tonight with a few brief spells of rain at times. Low: 13C (55F).

    You can stay up-to-date on the latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

  18. Supported housing system 'a living nightmare'published at 06:33 British Summer Time 16 August 2021

    People tell the BBC they were housed next to criminals and attacked in poor and unsafe rooms.

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