Shropshire Star

From the Shropshire Star today:

• 'My injuries were pointless', says paralysed Afghan veteran, external
• Shrewsbury model who was victim of brutal knife attack features in BBC series, external
• Arriva announces bus timetable changes across Shropshire, external

Coventry City is set to pay tribute to one of its fans who died days after suffering a cardiac arrest at one of its matches.

Paul Jones, widely known as Rex, suffered the cardiac arrest at the Sky Blues' home game against Nottingham Forest on 8 August.

He died on 15 August, the club said.

Image source, Getty Images

In a statement, the club said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with Paul’s family and friends at this very sad time, and the support of the entire Sky Blue family is with them.

"We understand that fans are planning a minute’s applause in Paul’s memory on Saturday, and the club will be supporting this 12th-minute tribute by Paul’s fellow supporters."

Birmingham City Council has just two weeks to find a new provider before the new term.

The men suffer serious injuries in the violence outside Birmingham's Spearmint Rhino club.

BBC Sport

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez says he "feels like a player again" after making his Premier League return nine months after fracturing his skull.

Image source, Getty Images

The 30-year-old played the full 90 minutes in Wolves' opening-day defeat to Leicester.

It was the first competitive match he has been involved in since he sustained the traumatic injury against Arsenal.

"I always thought that after my recovery I would be back to do what I love to do," said Jimenez.

"I never thought about finishing my career. There was a chance of that, but I was always confident I was going to return."

Three men have suffered serious stab wounds after disorder in Birmingham early this morning, police have said.

West Midlands Police said it happened at about 03:00 in Hagley Road and involved up to 12 men.

Shortly afterwards, two men attended the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with stab injuries, while another later turned up at City Hospital, also with a stab wound. None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Witnesses should contact police on 101.

The three boxers from the West Midlands have fond memories of their time in Tokyo and medal wins.

Patients with pacemakers can now get a check-up at a drive-through clinic at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Pacemaker patients need to have their devices checked at least once a year, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, it has been difficult for the cardiology team to see patients face-to-face.

The hospital trust said the drive-through meant the medical team could see more patients, while freeing up capacity in the hospital itself for other cardio-pulmonary treatments.

Image source, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Becky Macdonald, from the trust, said: “Some patients are still reluctant to come into a hospital clinic due to anxieties around Covid-19, some may struggle with mobility, and some simply find parking difficult and stressful.

“If everything is fine then it gives the patient the peace of mind they need and they won’t need to hear from us until their next appointment.”

Rob Needham is thought to have killed partner Kelly Fitzgibbons and their daughters, then himself.

Birmingham Live

Here are some of the headlines on the Birmingham Live website today:

• Birmingham student rescued from Kabul holiday 'should've given up seat for Afghan refugee', external
• 'Members of 61 gang tried to buy replacement shotgun' - court told, external
• 110 mph police chase driver "could have killed unborn child", external

The 32-year-old says life sometimes feels like a running machine at the gym with no stop button.

Manish Pandey
Newsbeat reporter

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan may be happening more than 3,600 miles away from the UK, but it feels much closer to home for British-Afghans.

Before coming to the UK as an asylum seeker, 24-year-old Parwiz Karimi was born and grew up in Afghanistan.

Image source, Parwiz Karimi

His childhood memories include being confronted by Taliban members who would cross into his village with their weapons, with his grandmother telling him and his siblings to "run to the mountains" to find safety.

As he tries to keep track of the fast-moving situation in his home country, Parwiz, now living in Wolverhampton, is feeling guilty and worried about his many family members who still live there.

"I'm here sitting in my house peacefully studying. And they're struggling to find food," he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

"There is so much I can do here but at the same time, there's nothing I can do for them."

You can read more of his story here on the BBC website.

Rebecca Currie says her five-year-old son's health has suffered by living next to the landfill site.

Four Afghans who settled in the North West tell of their fears for loved ones in their homeland.

Two men are in custody on suspicion of cultivating cannabis after a raid on a house in Rugby.

Warwickshire Police said officers conducted the operation on Victoria Street on Tuesday after reports of suspicious behavior.

Inside the property, it said, officers uncovered a cannabis factory and arrested the two men, aged 21 and 27.

Image source, Warwickshire Police

A Wolverhampton community hub is set to reopen after its roof was repaired.

A series of leaks at the Bob Jones Community Hub in Blakenhall caused significant damage to the building and to gym equipment.

The work by City of Wolverhampton Council is nearing completion and the centre will reopen on 31 August

Image source, Google

BBC Weather

It will be dry and cloudy for much of Wednesday with just the chance of the odd shower this afternoon. High: 19C (66F).

Image source, Mrs Baffin-Massie

Staying overcast this evening but most places will remain dry although there could be the odd shower overnight. Low: 13C (55F).

You can get the latest forecast for your area at any time by going to the BBC Weather website.

Express and Star

The Express and Star has these headlines today:

• 'It's a betrayal': Afghan refugee who was tortured by the Taliban, external
• More than 200,000 on hospital waiting lists in Black Country and Staffordshire, external
• People urged to have their say on green belt housing plans, external

BBC Sport

Birmingham Phoenix's Liam Livingstone says he is not bothered who the side face in the men's Hundred final after powering them into the climatic match.

Image source, PA Media

His devastating hitting helped them to a crushing eight-wicket win over Northern Superchargers at Headingley.

At one stage Livingstone seemed to be in his own six-hitting contest as he smashed the highest score of the tournament so far - 92 not out from just 40 balls.

Livingstone hit an incredible 10 sixes as his side raced to victory with a massive 26 balls remaining.

Birmingham are now guaranteed to take top spot in the men's Hundred table meaning they go directly into Saturday's final at 18:30 BST, live on BBC Two. Southern Brave and Trent Rockets meet in Friday's eliminator.

"I'm not bothered about who we face. We'll take on anyone!" Livingstone confidently joked.

"We deserve to be there and we're playing good cricket, but we're just going to go out there and enjoy it."

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez talks about his return to action following his skull fracture last season.