A former UK government scientific adviser warned amid the shattering' heat that worse is still to comeMet Office has just offered an update on temperatures across the UK, with several stations already reporting temperatures above 30C - and it's not even 11am.It's 30.4C in Wych Cross, 30.3C in Charlwood, 30.2C at Kenly Airfield. Continue reading...
As Karoline Leavitt plans to step down, it's apparent how the president above all values a readiness to twist the truthAs Karoline Leavitt prepares to step down from her role as Donald Trump's fifth White House press secretary, a brief review of her tenure, and that of her predecessors, makes clear that the most fabulist president in US history prizes one quality above all else in the women and men who speak for him: a willingness to tell outrageous lies.Leavitt started her tenure by telling a wild falsehood at her very first news conference, when she claimed that the Biden administration had planned to use $50m in taxpayer dollars to send condoms to Gaza. Later the same day, the Guardian reported that the claim was directly contradicted by USAID records. Continue reading...
Phillip Ormerod was taken to hospital after the incident in the Crow's Nest in Cwmbran and later died of his injuriesA 102-year-old man has died of his injuries after allegedly being assaulted at a pub in south Wales.Phillip Ormerod of Cwmbran in the Welsh valleys, was taken to hospital after the incident at the Crow's Nest pub on 1 August. Gwent police said on Thursday that he had since died. Continue reading...
Prize was eighth largest in Powerball history and followed three months without a top prize winnerA Powerball ticket sold at a gas station in western Illinois was the sole winner of the $1bn jackpot, ending a three-month drought without a top-prize victor.The ticket that won the jackpot on Wednesday night was purchased at a Hy-Vee station in Quincy, about 100 miles (160km) west of the state capital of Springfield along the Missouri border, Illinois Lottery officials said. The winning numbers were 4-26-66-67-69 with the Powerball number of 9. Continue reading...
by Shrai Popat and Mabel Banfield-Nwachi on (#77NC2)
Leavitt's departure three months before midterms raises questions over who will communicate Trump's messages as his approval rating falls to record low, says YouGov polling
The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelectionThe number of patients in England being cared for in hospital corridors or makeshift areas has remained above 3,000 a day for the second month in a row, as the NHS experiences a summer surge", the Press Association reports.This was happening as A&E attendance numbers reached 2.5m in July - higher than any other single month on record. May and June were also record months for A&E attendance, in part because of the extreme heat.Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, warned yesterday the health service must start planning for summer pressures in the same way as winter.However, the data shows overall waiting times for treatment fell slightly in June after rising for two months in a row.The NHS normally experiences spikes in demand during the summer months, as the public spends more time outside which can lead to a rise in accidents. But this summer has seen unprecedented pressure, with the heat contributing to an increase in admissions caused by more outdoor activity and respiratory issues linked to dry weather, as well as worsening of underlying medical conditions.The first minister is right to ask about this. This is 1,500 jobs in the north of Scotland. It's also an area that is being transformed by that move towards offshore renewables, Scotland continuing to contribute.It's an area which is, in general terms, important for security. Scotland is contributing to European energy security, which is a concern across Europe when you speak to leaders there. Continue reading...
South American fish with razor-toothed jaws was probably released by someone who owned it as a pet, officials sayAn eight-year-old boy fishing for bass in Pennsylvania was stunned to catch something more associated with the Amazon - and countless horror movies - than the rolling landscape of the eastern US.Seamus Coffey, who was fishing with his father Michael in a lake near Philadelphia, hauled in a large red-bellied piranha, complete with the razor-toothed jaws that the fearsome breed is so famous for. Continue reading...
Indiana faced most outages at 267,000, about 8% of its customers, with severe thunderstorms and wind aheadPower supply was cut on Thursday to about 540,000 homes and businesses across the US midwest as severe storms battered the region, data from PowerOutage.us showed.Indiana was the hardest-hit state, with more than 267,000 outages, representing about 8% of its roughly 3.3 million customers, the data showed. Continue reading...
Incheon airport had 38.39m international passengers in first half of 2026, as traffic diverted from Middle East hubsSouth Korea's Incheon airport has become the world's busiest airport for international passengers, in part owing to disruption in the Middle East caused by the Iran war.The airport, South Korea's main gateway, about 30 miles (48km) west of Seoul, handled 38.39 million international passengers in the first half of 2026, according to preliminary figures compiled by the Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade body for airports. Continue reading...
Mina Smallman, whose daughters were killed in north London park in 2020, says force decides who matters'The Metropolitan police does not take all cases of violence against women seriously and instead decides who matters", the mother of two murdered women has said.Mina Smallman, whose daughters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were killed in a north London park in 2020, also said Britain's biggest police force was incapable of change. Two police officers were jailed in 2021 after taking photographs of the dead bodies of her daughters and sharing the images in WhatsApp groups, referring to them as dead birds". Continue reading...
by Damien Gayle Environment correspondent on (#77N91)
Biological factors mean a child's core temperature rises faster than an adult's - and that can result in a medical emergencyChildren and babies are more vulnerable in heatwaves than healthy adults. As temperatures rise again, how do we keep children safe? Continue reading...
Settlers and soldiers cut off water and electricity to homes, and block medical care in campaign of terrorIsraeli militants have besieged two Palestinian families in their homes since the weekend, aiming to take over their properties in the West Bank village of Qusra through a campaign of terror.A group of settlers and soldiers set up a tent outside the home of Yousef Hassan on Sunday afternoon, trapping him inside with his wife and two young daughters. Continue reading...
by Alexandra Topping Political correspondent on (#77N7G)
Longest ballot in UK voting history features likes of Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope alongside Reform leaderPolls have opened in Clacton, with thousands of residents in the Essex seat to vote in a ballot featuring Nigel Farage and a range of novelty and fringe candidates led by Count Binface.The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelection in an attempt to address complaints over a deepening scandal about gifts he received. Continue reading...
Health secretary praises more collegiate style under Andy Burnham and says previous No 10 sidelined her from key policy launchYvette Cooper admits Labour has not done government very well" in the last couple of years, and accused Keir Starmer's No 10 of sidelining her during the launch of a key immigration policy when she was home secretary.Speaking on the Political Currency podcast with the former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, Cooper highlighted some of the difficulties ministers faced with Starmer's leadership, which she summarised as bring me solutions, not problems". Continue reading...
Exclusive: Ministers explore diverting male prisoners serving short terms or on remand away from tougher jailsMinisters are examining a possible upgrade of security at men's category C and women's prisons to deal with an overcrowding crisis across the England and Wales estate, the Guardian understands.Officials have explored diverting prisoners on remand or serving short sentences away from category B reception" prisons such as HMPs Liverpool, Manchester and Pentonville in north London. Continue reading...
Hakainde Hichilema is bidding for second term, but feud between him and family of Edgar Lungu, who died in 2025, continuesAs Zambians go to the polls, the ghost of the current president's predecessor hangs over the elections.Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021. Continue reading...
by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondent on (#77N7C)
Rise in new mine proposals, mainly in states of Odisha and Jharkhand, comes despite plateau in global demandEnough new coalmining projects were proposed last year to increase global supplies by 2.5bn tonnes a year, an increase of 11% from the year before, even as demand for coal plateaus, according to a new report.Global Energy Monitor, an NGO, found that India ignited a rise in new coalmine proposals in 2025 despite a global slowdown in the number of mine openings because of falling demand for the fossil fuel. Continue reading...
by Nino Bucci Justice and courts reporter on (#77N5W)
Victorian corruption watchdog alleges weapon was used to hit man's head, with another officer accused of kneeing him in same incident last yearTwo Victorian police officers have been charged with assault after allegedly using a Taser and knee to repeatedly strike a man in the head during an arrest last year.But the officers remain on duty, police have confirmed. Continue reading...
Kelce's remarks on his marriage to Swift at Madison Square Garden comes weeks after the event, which remains shrouded in mysteryAmerican football star Travis Kelce has described his secretive early July wedding to pop sensation Taylor Swift as the best night of my life."I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and, you know, had fun with us," the Kansas City Chiefs player told a briefing. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker, Tobi Thomas and Aletha Adu on (#77N45)
RCN calls for more air conditioners as Burnham faces pressure to recognise urgency of adaptation to climate crisisNurses are collapsing during shifts amid inhumane and impossible" conditions caused by extreme heat, their union has warned, as Andy Burnham promised to grapple with the bigger questions" of climate adaptation.Amid growing pressure from Labour backbenches to fully acknowledge the urgency of adaptation measures as the climate crisis bites, Burnham said he was for now focusing on the immediate crises caused by an ongoing summer of extreme heat. Continue reading...
by Ashifa Kassam in Madrid, Miranda Bryant and Chris on (#77MZK)
Beginning in Russia's remote Arctic north, the eclipse traced an arc over much of western Europe - with the best views in Spain, Iceland and GreenlandIt was a moment of awe shared by millions across Europe: an eclipse that blocked out the sun, plunging parts of the continent into a daytime darkness in which temperatures dropped and birds suddenly went quiet.Wednesday's eclipse began in Russia's remote Arctic north, going on to trace an arc over much of western Europe. From the UK to northern Italy, tens of millions of people turned to the sky as the light of the setting sun was almost completley blocked out. Continue reading...
People came from far and wide to witness phenomenon that has thrilled humans for thousands of yearsAt 6pm the beach and village began to empty, and those in the know headed up the hill towards the old granite coastguard station on the headland.This is the best spot," said Sennen Cove resident Lisa Redfern, who had built a pinhole camera for the eclipse out of an old Ryvita Thins box. Continue reading...
Angel Aguirre indicted in case that rocked Mexico and became symbol of its brutal cartel violenceThe former governor of Guerrero state in Mexico has been formally charged over his alleged involvement in the disappearance of 43 students in 2014, a case that has become a symbol of the country's brutal cartel violence and government impunity.Angel Aguirre, who was arrested last week, is accused of forced disappearance and obstruction of justice for ordering the destruction of surveillance tapes that may have shed light on what happened to the students from the Ayotzinapa teacher training college on the night of 26 September 2014. Continue reading...
by Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent on (#77MX5)
Organisers says new rule will ensure contest provides safe and welcoming environment' for participantsBroadcasters will no longer be eligible to host the Eurovision song contest if their state is involved in an armed conflict" or sensitive geopolitical situation".Eurovision is traditionally hosted by the previous year's winner's broadcaster, with next year's show due to take place in Bulgaria after the singer Dara's victory for the country in May. Continue reading...
PM warns extreme heat conditions could be with us fo some time yet'Just 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the part of government tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security, a freedom of information request has revealed. Sandra Laville has the story.On his visit to Stevenage, Andy Burnham also said he would visit the town on Remembrance Day to mark its 80th birthday.I'm going to come back to Stevenage on 11 November. We will pay our respects for Remembrance Day around that time, but I'll be here because if I'm right, that will be 80 years to the day that the post-war Labour government created the first new town right here in Stevenage. Continue reading...
Kyaw Zwar Minn was ousted for declaring loyalty to Aung San Suu Kyi after 2021 coup but refused to leave his homeMyanmar's ousted ambassador to the UK has gone on trial on trespassing charges for refusing to leave a diplomatic residence after being unceremoniously locked out of the embassy in 2021.Shortly after Myanmar's military seized power in 2021, triggering mass protests that spiralled into a civil war, Kyaw Zwar Minn was locked out of the embassy for declaring his loyalty to the deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Continue reading...
Family, friends and colleagues attend service at Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, which former MP described as her safe haven'About 100 family, friends and colleagues of Ann Widdecombe have attended a funeral service for the former Conservative minister, who was killed in her home in Devon last month.Politicians and broadcasters were among the mourners at Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, a Catholic abbey in Devon where Widdecombe regularly worshipped and which she described as her safe haven". Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#77MHV)
Errors by police and prosecutors left serial sex offender free to murder Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl WilkinsSimon Levy, the prolific sexual predator left free by police and prosecution errors to murder two women, will never leave prison after being sentenced to a rare whole-life tariff.Judge Lucraft KC said Levy, 40, ruthlessly" exploited women for his sexual pleasure, and had a proven history of sexual offending dating back to 2018. Continue reading...
Crowley pulls off last-minute victory in tight race after polls had shown Hong as the clear Democratic frontrunnerDavid Crowley, the Milwaukee county executive, won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor after beating the democratic socialist Francesca Hong in a tight contest.Crowley pulled off a last-minute victory in the critical swing state after re-entering the campaign and snagging an endorsement from Tony Evers, the outgoing governor. Continue reading...
Family extremely grateful' to four-month-old Goosey' who ran out of fire-billowing building and repeatedly squawkedA pet goose is being credited with helping save a Texas family's animals after sounding a honking alarm as a fire tore through their barn.The dramatic moment unfolded on the morning of 4 August in Fort Bend county, where four-month-old Goosey repeatedly squawked outside the burning barn, alerting his owners, the Gerber family, to the danger. Continue reading...
Rumors of plea deal in federal case have been circulating since June for suspect accused of killing Brian ThompsonAn unexpected hearing in the federal stalking case against Luigi Mangione has been scheduled, leading to speculation that the alleged United Healthcare CEO assassin was seeking a plea deal that would in turn end a murder prosecution in New York state court beginning next month.Prosecutors and Mangione's lawyers filed a joint letter requesting the hearing at 11am on Friday in Manhattan federal court. Continue reading...
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