Organisers hope the 'peace podium' will help promote tolerance and understanding in the future.

BBC Business News

National Express has confirmed it is in talks to buy rival transport firm Stagecoach.

Image source, National Express

Under the terms of the potential deal, National Express would own about 75% of the combined group and Stagecoach 25%.

Birmingham-based National Express said it would be able to slash costs as a result of the merger, and expected the newly formed group to find savings of at least £35m.

Travel restrictions and fewer commuters travelling to work have dented passenger numbers during the pandemic.

BBC Radio WM

Wolves' new music label will give new artists a huge amount of opportunity, an organiser has said.

Image source, Wolves

The club have partnered with Warner Music UK to start Wolves Records.

New signings will get airplay at Molineux Stadium and across the club's digital productions.

Ricky Hill said the idea has been worked on for about 11 months as part of Wolves' ambitions to venture into new markets.

"Every day, there is social media content of highlights or behind the scenes footage going out and all of that has music accompanying it."

Wolverhampton-born fan and singer/songwriter S-X, who has previously worked with Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino and Skepta, has teamed up with Wolves Records.

"In Wolverhampton, all we really have is the football team and that is it so to be doing something for our community and the local artists is important," he said.

A Staffordshire head teacher says her school won't be pressuring students to have Covid vaccinations now the roll out for 12 to 15-year-olds is under way in England and Scotland.

Nicola Mason, of Chase Terrace Academy, in Burntwood, told BBC Breakfast her school was in a similar position to others in the area, having a provisional plan in place after meeting with the local authority.

"Our job now is to make sure that families have the right information," Ms Mason said, adding the school's stance was to be neutral.

"Our job is to educate and make sure children make an informed decision with their families but it's the families' decision."

BBC Weather Watchers

Wildlife photos have been coming in from our BBC Weather Watchers and here are three we've picked out.

Users Neil in Gnosall, Staffordshire, Littleacorns in Southam, Warwickshire and Ken M in Lydbury North, Shropshire, send these in:

Image source, Neil

Image source, Littleacorns

Image source, Ken M

A reward of £10,000 is being offered by Crimestoppers for information about the fatal stabbing of Kyle Sheehan who died nine years ago.

The 16-year-old was stabbed in the leg on Jiggins Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, on 21 September 2012.

He later died in hospital.

His killer has never been found and the charity is offering the reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Mick Duthie, director of operations at Crimestoppers, said: “It’s impossible to imagine the suffering and pain of Kyle’s family and friends since his death nearly a decade ago.

"No-one should ever experience losing a child like this and our charity is certain that someone knows what happened, and who was involved, but has until now held back.

“If you know who was involved, please make things right and help Kyle’s grieving family and friends see justice and answers that they so desperately seek.”

The University of Worcester has opened its vaccination clinic to the wider public.

The clinic, at the City Campus, had previously been available for students and staff only.

It will now be offering walk-in vaccinations from 08:00 to 20:00 from Tuesday to Saturday in the Charles Hastings building.

Image source, Google

Hereford Times

The Hereford Times is covering these stories:

• Walkers killed in Herefordshire A44 motorcycle crash named, external
• Shock as care home residents told to go, external
• Huge cannabis plants found after smell reported in Hereford, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

The value of Walsall's main shopping centre has dropped by more than £8.5m since the council bought it four years ago.

Image source, Google

Councillors were told on Monday the Saddlers Centre's current value is £3.9m.

The authority's leader, Conservative Mike Bird, said the centre was making a loss.

The town centre facility was bought in 2017 by the then Labour-led administration for £12.5m.

More than £1m of gold and silver historical artefacts were stolen in May.

As students return to colleges and universities, police say officers are there to support anyone concerned about their safety.

West Midlands Police says its Safer Students , externalscheme offers help at what can be a "daunting" time.

BBC Radio WM

Labour councillors have walked out of a meeting in Walsall after Conservatives blocked their nomination for deputy mayor citing his mental health as one of their reasons.

Sean Coughlan said he tried to take his own life in 2019 after dealing with the pressures of government cuts and the liquidation of a community association which he managed.

Mr Coughlan had been selected to replace Harbans Sarohi, who died suddenly in May, and said he was feeling better and ready for the role following treatment for depression.

But ahead of the meeting, Conservative councillors said they intended to vote against him.

Tory council leader Mike Bird said he and his party colleagues had been accused by councillor Coughlan of pushing him towards suicide and did not want to be in that position again.

Labour leader Aftab Nawaz said the decision to block him from taking up the civic role was a vote against people with mental health problems and led his group out of the town hall.

As no alternative nomination was put forward, the issue of choosing a new deputy mayor was deferred.

A family feud leads to the death of Thomas Rogers at the hands of David and Samuel Rogers.

The 10-year-old with cerebral palsy is covering the length of a mountain trail at home.

Express and Star

From the Express and Star today:

• Man suffers burn injuries after Wolverhampton van fire spreads to house, external
• Shock as woman killed in second 'domestic murder' in Wolverhampton in two days, external
• Violent attacks prompt dispersal order in West Bromwich, external

A man has been charged with burglary after a 95-year-old woman had her purse stolen by someone pretending to sell homewares door-to-door, say police.

Officers said the woman in Allesley, Coventry, opened her front door last month to a man offering items such as cloths and tea towels.

He "sneaked inside" and stole her purse, which contained cash and cards, when she went to get him a glass of water after he claimed to be thirsty.

The force wants to hear , externalfrom any residents "who may have experienced this type of con in recent weeks".

"The scam involves the offender suggesting they’ve been released from prison and are trying to turn their life around as a salesperson offering housewares to residents," it added.

Birmingham Live

From the Birmingham Mail:

Hotelier on 'never-ending' heartbreak after brother's brutal 'royal connection' murder, external

Watch as armed police flood Erdington street in hunt for One Stop robbery suspect, external

Brothers convicted of killing third sibling in Bristol Road stabbing horror, external

A fundraising page set up in memory of a teenage rugby player has raised nearly £6,000 in a day.

Image source, Bishop's Castle RUFC

The body of Dylan Price, 17, was found on Brampton Road, near Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, in the early hours of Sunday.

Police said they believed he was hit by a vehicle.

The GoFundMe page has been established by members of Bishop's Castle Rugby Club, who call teammate Dylan "an unforgettable friend" and say the money will go to help the teenager's family.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Christian Barnett

A blueprint setting out the locations for tens of thousands of new homes in Worcestershire over the next 20 years is at least two years behind schedule, it has been revealed.

Image source, Getty Images

The three councils involved - Worcester, Malvern Hills and Wychavon - blame delays on sewerage, transport and power infrastructure providers not sending through information.

The South Worcestershire Development Plan for an extra 14,000 homes by 2041 includes a new 5,000-home village next to Worcestershire Parkway railway station and an extra 1,000 homes in Rushwick.

The proposals, which also include plans for hundreds more homes in towns such as Evesham and Malvern, should have been approved by November 2021.

But the councils say the delays mean the project won't be ready for the public to have their say until July 2022 - and could take until October 2023 to be adopted.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

We are set to see some more sunshine and there is quite a warm day in store again.

There may be some mist and fog early on and some cloud about but gradually that will be clearing up to leave us with some sunny spells this morning and into the afternoon.

Highs of 21C are expected.