Bankrupt Birmingham council to sell off athletes' village at over £300m loss
Birmingham City Council is facing heavy criticism for its decision to sell off 755 homes built for the 2022 Commonwealth Games at an estimated loss of over £300 million. The council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt last year due to a financial crisis, cited 'challenging and volatile' market conditions as the reason for the sale. Despite the city's acute housing shortage, with over 23,000 households on the waiting list for council accommodation, they have remained empty since their completion in 2023. The decision has been branded a 'scandal' by local MP Ayoub Khan, who argues that the homes should be retained for social housing to alleviate homelessness rather than sold at a significant loss. The council's report acknowledged the financial burden this sale would impose, leaving £142m-£152m of debt unpaid and adding further pressure to the city's strained finances. The Government has ordered the council to explain why the homes were left empty for so long, as calls grow for intervention to prevent the sale. See
A level results: more than a quarter achieving top grades
A Level results for 2024 have been revealed, with 27.8% of UK students achieving top grades of A or A*, marking an increase from last year’s 27.2% and surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This is the highest proportion of A* grades awarded since their introduction in 2010, excluding the pandemic years when grades were based on teacher assessments. Despite the increase in top grades, the overall pass rate (A* to E) fell slightly to 97.2%, down from 97.3% last year and 97.6% in 2019. The number of students accepted into UK degree courses rose by 3% from last year, with 425,680 placements secured so far. In a notable trend, boys outperformed girls at the A* grade level, continuing a historical pattern that was briefly interrupted during the pandemic. While many students celebrated their success, challenges persisted, such as the discovery of unsafe building materials in some schools, which led to disruptions. Calls for an uplift in marks for affected students were not universally granted, highlighting ongoing concerns about educational inequality.
Russia: Ukraine’s incursion threatens Putin’s image
Volodymyr Zelensky says that his troops are still advancing into Russian territory, in a bold and surprising incursion. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj627x96gxxo This development marks a significant challenge to Vladimir Putin’s authority: the offensive, which has now lasted over a week, threatens his image as ‘Mr Security’. Despite initiating the ‘special military operation’ to enhance Russia's safety, the nation now faces an expanded NATO presence on its borders, frequent Ukrainian drone attacks, and territorial breaches. Putin minimises the situation through cautious language, referring to it as ‘the situation in the border area’ or ‘a provocation’, avoiding terms like ‘invasion’. He has dismissed the idea of peace talks, stating that his goal is ‘to force the enemy from Russian territory’. Despite these challenges, Putin shows no remorse for his decisions and remains convinced of Russia's eventual victory in the conflict.
Greece: wildfires cause widespread damage and evacuations
Although wildfires around Athens have now been brought under control, Greek officials remain on high alert due to the risk of flare-ups caused by high winds and temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F). Over 100,000 acres of land have been scorched, leading to the death of one woman and dozens of injuries. Thousands of residents were evacuated as flames reached up to 25 metres (82 feet) high. Firefighters continue to douse affected areas, with a strong presence maintained in the region. The government is assessing damage, and assistance has been given by several European countries, including Italy and France. The country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, returned early from his holiday to address the crisis. Buildings, businesses, and even a school have been destroyed by the fires. Greece has just experienced its hottest June and July on record.
