The Ministry of Justice has announced that rapists and child sex offenders will face round-the-clock real-time tagging after serving their full prison term in the biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring

Rapists and child sex offenders will face round-the-clock real-time tagging after serving their full prison term in the biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring.

The government announced sex offenders will be monitored by GPS – which pins down their precise location – for at least a year after their release. It comes after Andy Burnham announced rapists and those guilty of child sex and grooming crimes will not be included in the controversial prisoner early release scheme.

This means they will not come out of prison a moment before they were due to. A new £700million package will use new tracking technology to monitor released sex offenders’ movements. It means police and probation will be able to act faster if they breach licence conditions.

Justice Secretary Alex Norris said: “Dangerous offenders should be under no illusion – if they break the rules we will know about it and put them behind bars.

“That’s why I’m launching the biggest expansion of tagging in British history, putting more criminals than ever under constant surveillance.

“And we’re backing our probation officers with new tech to act fast when offenders step out of line. That means tough punishment in the community, victims put front and centre and a probation service focused on what matters most – keeping the public safe.”

Up to this point probation staff have had to request location information from the electronic monitoring provider. The new system means officers can access pinpoint location data within minutes.

It is already in place in London and is set to be rolled out nationally by the end of the year, the Ministry of Justice said. And former prisoners will also be sent notifications on their phones if they are close to an area they are not allowed to go to – warning them to turn back.

Senior probation officer Amy Hughes said: “This is a real game changer for us. Previously, if we needed to check where someone had been, getting that information could take time. Now we can get a much clearer picture of their movements quickly and easily.

“It makes the day-to-day job simpler, but more importantly it gives you greater confidence that you can spot when something isn’t right. If someone’s behaviour is changing or their risk looks like it might be escalating, having that information at your fingertips helps you join the dots much sooner and take action before things potentially become more serious.”

The government is currently recruiting an additional 1,300 probation officers, on top of 2,300 brought into the service over the past two years.

It comes after a backlash over measures that will see around 5,000 prisoners released early from next month. Labour passed legislation to ease the prison crisis after years of Tory failure – which saw a shortage of spaces mean there were less than 100 places to send criminals to in summer 2024.

Mr Burnham ordered a review when he became PM, and announced that sex offenders and child groomers – who had been set to be included in the early release scheme – would no longer qualify.

He has said he wants to go further following an outcry over the expected release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. The Prime Minister has ordered Mr Norris to draw up water-tight measures to keep them behind bars by the time Parliament returns at the start of September.

Currently those guilty of manslaughter are still eligible for early release.

Under the Sentencing Act, which became law earlier this year, prisoners serving time for some violent or sexual offences were set to become eligible for release halfway through their sentences, rather than serving the current tariff of two-thirds.

Criminals including burglars and thieves are among prisoners who will be considered for release a third of the way through their sentences, down from the current 40%.

Iqra Wasim from Fishponds in Bristol has struggled with PMOS symptoms such as painful acne since the age of 11.

PMOS affects about one in eight women. It is a major cause of female infertility and symptoms can include irregular periods, excessive hair growth and weight gain.

Wasim, who learned more about it through asking doctors questions and social media, said she now educates her mum, who also has PMOS, on ways to manage symptoms.

“My mum was going through heavy bleeding with her PMOS and didn’t know what birth control was,” she said.

“I told her about it and she thought I was talking about being sexually active, but I explained there’s so much more to the medicine – that showed the main knowledge gap between us.

“My mum’s generation did have knowledge, but it only stayed between women, families or doctors and now someone can talk about their period and PMOS online and millions of women can relate to it.

“Our generation is more willing to ask whether something is normal.

“But I don’t think that social media is a replacement for a medical professional,” Wasim added.

Caroline Herman founded ‘All Yours Period Box, external‘ with her daughter, which operates in Wiltshire and donates boxes with period products to foodbanks.

She said there is still “a huge amount of work to be done” to improve menstrual health education.

“We have a generational gap in the country,” she said.

“We have generations like mine where we weren’t taught anything to do with our periods and then there’s our parents – there was this layer of silence that we’ve had to fight our way through.”

A woman identified as Jane Doe 4 has joined a lawsuit filed by three Tennessee teenagers against Elon Musk’s xAI over the role the company’s chatbot Grok allegedly played in creating child sexual abuse material.

According to a report in The Washington Post, the woman alleged that her stepfather used Grok to manipulate a photo taken when she was 11 years old to create more than 7,000 explicit images of her. The woman also said that her stepfather was found dead of suicide two days after the images were uncovered in a law enforcement raid.

“Limitless access to these tools is spreading so quickly,” said the woman. “It is taking everyday life and turning it into child sexual abuse.”

The teenagers who’d filed lawsuit accused xAI (now part of SpaceX) of failing to take basic precautions to prevent Grok from being used to create explicit images of real people, including minors. (X was flooded with millions of Grok-generated sexualized images earlier this year.) They are seeking class action status for their suit.

TechCrunch has reached out to xAI for comment.

If you are in a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Coventry City have agreed a deal worth about £17m for Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

The Sky Blues are expected to complete the deal before their Premier League return against Arsenal on Friday.

Awoniyi became Forest’s then record signing when he joined from Union Berlin in 2022 for £17.2m.

The 29-year-old scored 23 goals in 103 games for Forest but has been behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in the pecking order and was left out of last season’s Europa League squad.

The Nigeria international started just three games last season, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions.

In May 2025 he was placed in an induced coma, rupturing his intestine when he collided with a post during a game against Leicester.

Coventry are preparing to return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years and have already re-signed midfielder Gus Hamer from Sheffield United and goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, following his successful loan from Brighton.

Winger Loum Tchaouna joined from Burnley, defender Aurele Amenda arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ghana international Caleb Yirenkyi signed from Nordsjaelland.

Striker Haji Wright is currently injured, with Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms manager Frank Lampard’s fit striking options before their season opener.

Have you ever wanted to join the royals while they celebrate Christmas at Sandringham Estate in England?

Well, now you can! Sort of.

The more than 150-year-old estate in Norfolk, around 100 miles north of London, recently renovated the historic Water Tower on the property, and it is now available to rent.

Prices start at around 151 pounds a night — a little over $200 — but can be much more expensive for shorter visits. The price tends to decrease per night with a longer stay.

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The neo-Byzantine water tower was originally built in 1877 to provide fresh water to the royal residence and it was a functional part of the estate for nearly 100 years.

“THE WAIT IS OVER… Introducing The Water Tower,” Sandringham wrote on social media on Tuesday while sharing footage of the classic renovation. “Rising majestically above the Norfolk countryside on the historic Sandringham Estate, a remarkable piece of Royal history is being unveiled for a new chapter.”

Photos and videos of the “romantic retreat for two” give glimpses of an elegant living room replete with traditional British décor, including a fireplace, chandelier and royal and historic paintings showing the estate.

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The lush bedroom upstairs, which has its own fireplace, offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and a medieval-looking back staircase heads to the roof where even better views of the rolling English hills will have you thinking fondly of Jane Austen.

“Designed by renowned engineer James Mansergh, the Tower’s distinctive neo-Byzantine architecture, circular form and intricate brickwork have stood proudly above the Norfolk landscape for almost 150 years,” Sandringham added.

The water tower joins two other places on the estate — the Gardens House, which sleeps eight, and the Folly, which sleeps six — that are available to rent.

There are also several places where the royals go for their summer retreat,  such as Balmoral Castle in Scotland, available for rent.

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Charles inherited Sandringham and Balmoral, both of which are private estates, from the late Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Victoria bought Sandringham in 1862 as a retreat for her son, King Edward VII.

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Around 200 people work at the estate, which includes farms, a sawmill, a juice pressing plant, formal gardens, a restaurant, and the Sandringham Exhibition & Transport Museum.

A stunning influencer was bitten by a 7ft shark during a diving trip, highlighting a dangerous rise in viral stunts that experts warn could prove fatal

A glam Brazilian lawyer was dragged underwater after a massive 7ft shark locked its jaws around her leg. Stunning Tayane Dalazen, 37, was enjoying a shark-diving excursion off the coast of Brazil when the huge nurse shark clamped onto her thigh and dragged her under.

The social media personality was left with painful gashes on her leg after the horrifying ordeal, which occurred while organisers were allegedly feeding the beasts to draw them closer to tourists.

Reliving the terrifying moment, Tayane told the BBC: “I knew something was different because the sharks were on the surface. There were a lot of them.

“When the shark bit me, the pain was very strong. I stayed calm because I knew I couldn’t fight the animal.”

The São Paulo beauty posted a clip of the incident online, where it quickly racked up tens of millions of views.

Although she insisted she “wasn’t there for social media” and didn’t intentionally provoke the predator, Tayane admitted she got too close.

The horrific bite comes amid a shocking global trend of influencers putting their lives on the line to snap the “ultimate selfie”.

Experts are now sounding the alarm over a rise in viral videos showing reckless thrill-seekers petting, riding and swimming dangerously close to apex predators.

In July, a fishing content creator nearly lost his leg to a reef shark while spearfishing, while a Chinese influencer was bitten in the Maldives in December.

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, a tourist tragically had both hands bitten off while trying to photograph a bull shark in shallow water. Marine experts warn that clout-chasers are playing a deadly game with wild animals.

Shark scientist Kristian Parton, host of the Shark Bytes YouTube channel, said: “I’m seeing these videos every single week now and it’s way more than it ever used to be. We’re going to see people ending up in really serious incidents with sharks.”

He added: “We’re talking about a true apex predator, a very large wild animal. You wouldn’t walk into the Serengeti and try and put your hand on the face of a lion.”

Despite the alarming rise in bites, some famous ocean influencers continue to defend touching the animals for “educational” purposes.

Controversial shark diver Ocean Ramsey, 38, claimed her content is meant to inspire conservation, saying: “I observe their behaviour and they choose to interact with me. They always make the first approach. You’ve got to give the general public some accountability.”

However, scientists have slammed the influencers, warning that invading a shark’s personal space causes extreme stress to the animal and leaves humans at risk of defensive bites.

Dr Jack Cooper said: “I really cannot explain how going up to a shark and touching it or riding it is doing anything to aid conservation. All you’re doing is showing a shark getting harassed by a human.”

Marine biologist Eric Clua said: “The message transmitted by influencers is ‘Look! Touch the shark, nothing will happen to you.'”

With shark-diving tours booming across holiday hotspots like the Maldives, experts have issued a stern warning: hunting for social media clout could come at a gruesome price.

Ever miss how early aughts magazines used to help us pick an aesthetic, or guide us to our “best” beauty match? That’s essentially what the “birth month makeup” trend that’s currently blowing up social media is doing right now.

One TikTok video, from creator @kianadalleave, has picked up over 10.7 million views and 1.2 million likes on the one video alone. It just goes to show that we’re still very much here for whimsy and a little playfulness when it comes to our makeup.

What is birth month makeup?

Like the name suggests, the trend helps to match different makeup aesthetics to the birth months of the year, tapping up your cosmic sign, the season you’re born in, and even your birth stone to help determine the perfect makeup look for you.

Creators on the app have had a go at doing their birth month makeup, reporting back how accurately it captures their personality, or noting that it pushed them out of their comfort zone to try an aesthetic they never would have run with before.

Interested to know your makeup match? Find your birth month makeup below…

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August

Bombshell makeup

August babies know what’s up. You’re birth month has main character energy, what with being one of the hottest months of the year. Add to this the fact that the majority of August babies fall into the confident and charismatic Leo star sign—and end of August babies benefit from meticulous Virgo energy—and an immaculately sculpted bombshell makeup look is the only answer.

“We have a fire and rescue service across the country that isn’t properly set up to deal with these incidents,” Burnham said.

“We don’t have the capability in the way that we should have to fight these fires.

“There’s thousands of firefighters out there today doing back-breaking work, in full kit, in the most difficult conditions”, he added.

He said the UK must face up to the “changing climate” and transition to “more clean energy”.

His comments came ahead of the appointment of Baroness Blake of Leeds as fire minister.

Friends of the Earth urged the prime minister to tackle the “root cause” of the “climate emergency” that is fuelling this summer’s extreme weather events.

“Without urgent action to curb the carbon emissions driving this crisis, future heatwaves, droughts and wildfires will only get worse and the ability for future generations to adapt will disappear” the environmental group warned.

Burnham was speaking during a visit to Stourbridge to see the impact of a devastating blaze.

As the UK experienced its hottest day of the year on Thursday, residents fled their homes when fires spread through dry grass and tore through houses.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it treated 54 casualties at eight different fires across the region. Nineteen people were taken to hospital for treatment.

In 2025, fire and rescue services in England and Wales broke a new record when they responded to nearly 1,000 wildfire incidents, with the NFCC warning at the time that climate change is increasing their risk and severity.

The conditions the UK is experiencing so far this summer also mirror the warnings given by climate scientists that human-induced climate change would lead to more frequent and intense heatwaves, as well as potential summer droughts.

In England, the Rugby Football Union has delayed the start of the community rugby season because of concerns about player welfare and pitch conditions because of the drought conditions.

Two metal detectorists recently struck gold — literally — after finding three Bronze Age gold bracelets worth six figures.

The detectorists, Alan Daniels, 48, and Andy Crammond, 34, found the bracelets near Carlisle, England in May, Bournemouth News and Picture Service (BNPS) reported.

Images show the bracelets — also called torcs — in remarkable condition.

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The bracelets date back to roughly 1100 B.C. and have a combined weight of 18.27 ounces, or 1.14 pounds. They’re estimated to be worth roughly $400,000, according to BNPS.

“Gold doesn’t tarnish at all, and they came out of the ground just the same as when they went in over 3,000 years ago,” Daniels said.

Speaking to BNPS, Crammond joked about almost having a heart attack when he found the first one just a few inches under freshly plowed soil.

He alerted Daniels, who searched the area and soon found a second one.

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Daniels later found a third torc about 20 feet away from the others.

“Detectorists dream of these things and that is how it still feels, like a dream,” said Crammond, per BNPS.

“We have never found anything valuable before and always come home disappointed — until now.”

“I’m waiting for someone to come out of the woodwork and say they aren’t real. It is the find of multiple lifetimes.”

Daniels told BNPS this is the first time he’s found a valuable item.

COUPLE STUNNED AS TUDOR-ERA TREASURE SURFACES BENEATH THEIR BACKYARD GARDEN

“We have been detecting together now for a few years,” he said.

“We have never found anything valuable before and always come home disappointed — until now.”

The hobbyist initially thought that the excursion might be a waste of time.

“After about two hours, all we had found were some bits of aluminum cans,” Daniels said.

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“We changed fields. … I went off in one direction and Andy in the other. After a short while, I saw the figure of Andy out of the corner of my eye walking toward me [with the treasure],” added Daniels.

The torcs are being assessed by the British Museum.

A coroner will ultimately determine whether the torcs legally qualify as treasure under British law. 

If they do, a museum or institution could buy them at market value, with the proceeds shared among Crammond, Daniels and the landowner.

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If no buyer comes forward, the torcs could be returned to the finders to sell at auction.

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Metal detecting has turned up some striking ancient finds in recent months.

Earlier this summer, a metal detectorist discovered a remarkably preserved 2,700-year-old bronze sword standing upright in the ground in northern Poland.

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In Australia earlier this year, a metal detectorist who was exploring a former Gold Rush-era campsite discovered an unusual coin at an abandoned sports field.

Experts warn the rise of ‘Frankenstein’ designer cats is causing lifelong suffering, urged on by celebrity trends and a lack of UK breeding regulation

Cruel “Frankenstein” cat breeding is creating a generation of pets doomed to a lifetime of agony, animal welfare experts have warned. Demand for bizarre “designer” breeds, including flat-faced cats, hairless mutants and short-legged “XL Bully” felines, is exploding across the UK.

But charities warn that buying felines bred for “cute” extreme looks is causing “unnecessary suffering” and devastating health problems. Animal experts are now sounding the alarm, warning that felines could soon bear little resemblance to the traditional British moggy unless urgent action is taken.

Social media trends and celebrity owners, such as Taylor Swift, who owns Scottish Folds, have triggered a surge in demand for cats with folded ears, squashed faces, stunted legs and missing hair.

Scottish Folds now make up around two per cent of the entire UK cat population. However, the gene responsible for their folded ears damages cartilage throughout their bodies, causing severe bone deformities, constant pain and crippling lameness.

Alice Potter, senior scientific and policy officer at the RSPCA, said: “Cats must not be forced to suffer unnecessarily because of physical traits that some humans find desirable.”

Recent years have seen an alarming boom in hyper-mutated breeds. Between 2016 and 2025, the RSPCA recorded a massive 200 per cent spike in British Shorthairs and a 180 per cent surge in Persians.

Both are brachycephalic, meaning they are deliberately bred with deformed, flattened skulls.

Meanwhile, the controversial “XL Bully” cat has exploded in popularity since first landing in the UK in 2024.

Created by cross-breeding hairless Sphynx cats with short-legged Munchkins, the controversial mix leaves animals unable to function properly.

They lack whiskers needed to navigate, suffer painful limb deformities and cannot even go outside in the sun.

Madison Rogers, associate director of advocacy at Cats Protection, said: “Cats’ body shapes have remained broadly similar for hundreds of years, but in a relatively short space of time this has dramatically changed.”

She added: “If action is not taken quickly, we are likely to see more alarming examples of what we are calling ‘Frankenstein’ cats – who bear no resemblance to our beloved moggy and, tragically, come with multiple health issues.”

The health defects crippling these breeds are severe and widespread. Flat-faced Persians suffer from squashed skulls that cause severe breathing difficulties, eye ulcers, painful conjunctivitis and misaligned teeth.

Hairless Sphynx cats are left defenceless against UV rays, highly prone to skin infections and unable to regulate their body temperature in deadly heatwaves.

Meanwhile, Scottish Folds suffer from deliberate genetic mutations that trigger untreatable, agonising joint conditions.

Unwitting owners often face astronomical vet bills before abandoning the animals at overcrowded rescue centres.

Commercial cat breeding remains largely unregulated in the UK, save for minor licensing rules in Scotland.

The RSPCA and Cats Protection are now demanding urgent government intervention to ban breeding cats with harmful genetic traits.

Frequently asked questions

“You definitely want to find one that doesn’t cause raccoon eyes or smudge on the skin, as that can darken the area above and below the lids, which isn’t flattering for mature women,” says Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty. She advises avoiding waterproof formulas, which can be difficult to remove and irritating, and suggests prioritizing nourishing, paraben-free options that are safe for sensitive eyes.

Makeup artist Nina Soriano emphasizes the importance of the lower lash line in completing the face’s frame. Soriano notes, “A little swipe on your bottom lashes can really widen the eye. You can also build this look or just add a layer for dimension. Either way, there’s no age barrier to wearing mascara on bottom lashes.” This technique not only adds a youthful openness to the eyes but also allows for versatility, whether you are going for a subtle everyday definition or a more dramatic finish.

Managing eye makeup while dealing with blepharitis requires a balance between aesthetics and ocular health. Since the condition involves chronic eyelid inflammation, the products you apply can easily exacerbate the irritation. Julie Chung, MD, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon specializing in glaucoma and cataract surgery, and cofounder of hair tool maker T3, explains: “There are two types of blepharitis—anterior, which involves crusting and debris on the lashes, and posterior, which is about clogged, inflamed meibomian glands. Mascara can make both worse, particularly when it’s not properly removed. And honestly, most people don’t remove it thoroughly enough. I’m realistic with my patients—I’m not going to say never wear mascara.” Dr. Chung recommends picking a formula that comes off easily and being diligent about removing it completely every night while treating your blepharitis.

Keep them healthy and hydrated, Dr. Hilal-Campo suggests. “That means maintaining good hygiene—gently using cleansers like hypochlorous acid to keep bacteria away—and using natural oils to hydrate the lashes,” she explains. She recommends argan oil, noting that it’s rich in alpha-linolenic acid and helps hydrate lash shafts to make them look fuller. “You can also apply a primer before mascara to help lashes appear thicker,” she says.

Hilal-Campo suggests starting with an eyelash curler to lift the lashes. Then deposit the product, sweeping it up to the tips. Work from the inside out, and when you get to the outer corners, turn the wand vertically and use just the tip to coat those lashes.

If you want to coat your lower lashes, Dr. Hilal-Campo recommends applying mascara sparingly. Use the wand vertically and focus on just the tips, especially at the outer corners. Be sure to clean up smudges with a cotton swab lightly dipped in makeup remover.

Dr. Hilal-Campo recommends a preservative-free micellar remover applied to a microfiber cloth and held against the eye for 30 seconds before gently wiping. (Her pick: Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover. It’s a preservative-free micellar water that uses tiny oil molecules to effectively remove makeup.) “The key is to be gentle, so you don’t pull out or break lashes, and to protect the delicate skin around the eyes from becoming more wrinkled,” she says.

Dr. Chung says to look for mascaras that tout the following buzzwords: fragrance-free, oil-free, ophthalmologist-tested, and hypoallergenic.

While it’s sometimes said that older women should avoid wearing black mascara lest it look harsh or emphasize lash gaps, Lobell calls this a beauty myth. Now in her 60s, Lobell says: “Black is still my go-to. It gives the eyes the most definition and instantly makes them look brighter and more awake.” For those with fair coloring, “Sometimes I do a coat of brown mascara and then add black to the middle to ends of lashes,” she says. This creates an ombré effect, which helps open the eyes and makes lashes appear fuller.

“The biggest mistake I see is older women reaching for a mascara that’s too heavy or clumpy,” Lobell says. “Instead, look for a formula that defines, lifts, and separates. A good brush is just as important as the formula because it helps grab every little lash and really opens up the eyes.” Dr. Lee cautions against using waterproof mascaras too liberally. “They can be too harsh if used daily because they require more rubbing to remove,” she says.

Glamour editors with mature lashes swiped through dozens of top-rated formulas, taking note of each mascara’s texture, transfer (or lack thereof), and ease of washing off. We also paid close attention to the brushes’ pitfalls and perks, and noted how each formula actually performed—marketing claims aside—in terms of length, volume, separation, and lift. Finally, we automatically weeded out any mascaras that irritated our testers’ eyes or lids, and spoke to the following experts to get their top recommendations for brittle lashes, gray lashes, and more:

• Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty
• Nina Soriano, editorial and celebrity makeup artist
• Julie Chung, MD, ophthalmologist and eye surgeon specializing in glaucoma and cataract surgery, cofounder of T3, a prestige hair tools company
• Jeanine Lobell, makeup artist and founder of Stila and Neen
• Nicole Negbenebor, MD, board-certified dermatologic surgeon with UI Health Care
• Erica Taylor, pro makeup artist and IT Cosmetics global makeup coach
• Nicole Lee, MD, board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Epoch Dermatology