UK News
View All 9Family nearly misses out on eye-watering £1m lottery jackpot after ignoring phone calls for a week
A family nearly missed out on an eye-watering £1million National Lottery jackpot after ignoring their phone calls for a week.Mark Jefferson received several calls from the lottery for days on end.Eventually, on the 10th day of calling, the builder from Ilminster in Somerset reluctantly picked up his phone.Mr Jefferson, his wife and four children were told they won after matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the lottery draw on June 24. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say His daughter, Alexandra, chose the winning numbers, he said.The family set up the lottery syndicate in July 2025 to celebrate his birthday."Knowing the family has opportunities we have never imagined before is the best feeling in the world," Mr Jefferson said.He believed he had won just a "few pounds" after receiving a notification to check his lottery account.He assumed the subsequent phone calls and emails were from salespeople.When he finally did answer the phone, he took some convincing to believe his family had actually won.He said: "When I was told I'd won a million pounds, I genuinely thought someone was winding me up."A builder from Somerset being told over the phone he'd won £1million? I wasn't convinced at all."NATIONAL LOTTERY LUCK - READ MORE:National Lottery winner whose £12million ticket was thrown in bin WILL scoop jackpotNational Lottery winner finally collects £1million prize after leaving winning ticket gathering dustNational Lottery jackpots remain unclaimed with winning tickets just miles apartFloored by the huge sum, he described the win as "incredible".It will now be shared between him, his wife Naomi, and children Alexandra, Lily, Emily and Taylor.The rest of the family went "absolutely wild" after he shared the news he said."You always hear about people winning and wonder what it would feel like," Mr Jefferson said."Now we're the family everyone talks about."It was a moment none of them would ever forget, he added.Each of the six members of the family are now making plans for their share of the eye-watering sum.These include a large family holiday abroad, a new convertible for Naomi and a caravan on the south coast for weekends. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Albanian crime gangs caught offering 'one-stop shop' to set up cannabis farms in Britons' homes
GB News has exposed Albanian crime gangs' brazen new service to set up illegal cannabis farms in homes across the UK.Gangs are now advertising on social media, offering a "one-stop shop" to construct the illegal grows.Posing as legitimate construction teams, the gangs will arrive with vans full of cannabis seedlings, as well as hydroponic kits and heat lamps.Within hours of arriving at a residential address, the criminal construction squads can convert whole rooms into cannabis nurseries. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say GB News has obtained multiple videos showing the slick new criminal enterprise at work.The gangs rewire the electrics within a property, to power the many heat lamps and irrigation system needed to assist the growing process.The gangs even insulate the property, lining the rooms with silver screed to keep the heat in and help prevent police helicopters and drones from detecting the tell-tale heat loss through the roofs of buildings used to grow cannabis.Other sinister videos show bars across the windows and doors that the gangs also erect to prevent rival criminals from robbing the cannabis grows, or to hinder police if they attempt to raid the properties.Once the plants have fully grown and been harvested and sold off, the crime gangs will even provide a clear-up service, deconstructing the farms, emptying the rooms and returning the homes to normal.One organised crime source told GB News: "This is utterly brazen."The crime gangs have evolved in their sophistication."If you are tempted to enter the world of illegal drugs, you don't need any expert knowledge."Just pay the gangs a share of your profits, and they'll provide you with everything you need, from plants, to pots, to heat lamps."CRIME - READ MORE:Clapham pub shooting victim named by Met Police as 25-year-old bus driverElderly woman forced to watch as intruders steal belongings from her home'Intimidating' woman, 38, clambers over stadium seats to grope schoolgirl - but won't face jailGB News understands the social media adverts are being aimed directly at the UK's 150,000-strong Albanian population.Albanian crime gangs now control the vast majority of cannabis crime in the UK, slowly taking over the illicit trade from Vietnamese crime gangs over the past decade.The illegal trade in cannabis is enormous, totalling more than £2.5billion a year.For street level dealers, the trade in cannabis is even more lucrative than dealing in class-A drugs like cocaine.As a result, cannabis crime is responsible for fuelling much of the gang violence on UK streets, as criminals fight for a share in the illicit trade. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding
Officials have explored moving prisoners away from category B ‘reception’ prisons like HMP Manchester, pictured here. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Officials have explored moving prisoners away from category B ‘reception’ prisons like HMP Manchester, pictured here. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian Category C and women’s prisons could be upgraded to ease overcrowding Exclusive: Ministers explore diverting male prisoners serving short terms or on remand away from tougher jails Ministers 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. Instead, they are assessing the feasibility of holding male prisoners in alternative sites, such as men’s training prisons or repurposed and emptied women’s jails, once security has been improved. Andy Burnham asked the justice secretary, Alex Norris, this week to deliver a plan to free up more space in overcrowded jails. It follows intense pressure on the new government over how to block the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. Ministers have been advised that they can only move prisoners from category B to category C or women’s prisons if security is improved. There are 30 men’s reception prisons across England and Wales. Also known as local prisons, they tend to be Victorian and severely overcrowded, holding remand and short-term prisoners. They tend to have high walls and fences, often topped with razor wire, bars on windows, CCTV and controlled access and internal partitions. Remand prisoners comprise approximately one-fifth of the total prison population in England and Wales, a proportion that has risen steeply in recent years because of court backlogs. X-ray body scanners are deployed across category B local prisons and are used on many prisoners entering the estate to detect internal concealment of contraband including drugs, phones and weapons. About half of England and Wales’s 86,000 prisoners are held in category C prisons, which specialise in preparing offenders for work and resettlement. Prisoners in category C jails are assessed as a low to moderate security risk and are held in “closed” conditions but do not face high security such as razor wire and internal partitions. They tend to face fewer body scans and searches.
India fuels worldwide jump in planned coal production
Coal is loaded into a truck at an open-cast mine near Dhanbad, India. The country plans to increase its coal production by nearly 100m tonnes. Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP View image in fullscreen Coal is loaded into a truck at an open-cast mine near Dhanbad, India. The country plans to increase its coal production by nearly 100m tonnes. Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP India fuels worldwide jump in planned coal production Rise in new mine proposals, mainly in states of Odisha and Jharkhand, comes despite plateau in global demand Enough 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. The increase was driven almost entirely , which doubled their proposals for new coalmines in line with an ambitious plan from India’s ministry of coal to increase the country’s output. The Guardian view on India’s green growth gamble: it will need more than private finance | Editorial India plans to increase its coal production by nearly 100m tonnes to 1.15bn tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year to help meet the country’s rising demand for electricity to support economic growth and contend with heatwaves, which have become more severe and more frequent because of the climate crisis. The planned increases come despite signs that the world is beginning to turn its back on coal in favour of renewable electricity, Global Energy Monitor said. Coalmine proposals slowed in the years after the Covid-19 pandemic but have begun to climb again, raising concerns that mining could increase in the future despite a slowdown in the number of new facilities. The startup of new coalmining projects has fallen steadily in recent years, according to the Global Energy Monitor’s latest report. It found that enough new coalmines to produce about 113m tonnes each year began operations last year, down by 40% from 2024, which was already the lowest annual total in a decade. This was largely owing to a slowdown in new mines in China and Australia, which fell by 44% and 96% respectively. Global Energy Monitor warned that India’s rise in new mine proposals was at odds with the slowdown in global coal demand predicted . skip past promotion after promotion Wind and solar power surpassed coal generation in the global electricity mix for the first time last year, according to a separate report from energy thinktank Ember, in a “milestone moment” for climate action.
World News
View All 10Trump Administration Lets Parts of the National Firearms Act Lapse
The retreat by the Justice Department effectively allowed a pillar of the Prohibition-era National Firearms Act to lapse.
Russian Blockade of Major Ukrainian Ports Threatens Global Grain Supplies
The deadly strikes are part of a long-running maritime battle with Ukraine and echo battles over other key shipping routes around the world.
Police rescue 60 cats and kittens from abandoned sailboat off Washington beach after 6-day operation
close Video Police bodycam video captures arrest of Florida father accused of killing kittens in front of teen daughter Bodycam video shows Lee County deputies arresting a Fort Myers father accused of killing two family kittens and injuring a third as a form of punishment against his teenage daughter, according to authorities. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An abandoned sailboat off a Washington beach was home to an unexpected crew: 60 cats and kittens, many of them some frightened and malnourished. The Tacoma Police Department said the unusual rescue began Aug. 6 when its Marine Services Unit responded to reports of an abandoned 40-foot sailboat in the waters off Owen Beach. Officers initially discovered more than 30 cats and kittens living in unsafe conditions aboard the vessel, with many appearing frightened and malnourished. Marine Services began coordinating with Animal Control and the department's Forensics Unit to safely remove the animals. What initially appeared to be a rescue involving more than 30 cats eventually grew to 60 over the course of a rescue effort spanning six days. FLORIDA MAN ALLEGEDLY KILLS FAMILY'S KITTENS IN FRONT OF TEENAGE DAUGHTER AS FORM OF PUNISHMENT: OFFICIALS Tacoma police rescued 60 cats and kittens from a 40-foot sailboat located off Owen Beach after a six-day rescue effort. (Tacoma Police Department) "That's a wrap! The final cat is off the boat. Fur real this time!" police wrote. "Final cat count: 60!" Police said Animal Control was "as certain as they can be that all cats have officially disembarked." "That's all for meow!" the department joked online. Despite believing all 60 cats had been rescued, police said they would continue making trips to the boat this week as a precaution. HERO SHEEPDOG BECOMES UNLIKELY RESCUE PARTNER AFTER UNEXPECTED MOVE AIDS FIRST RESPONDERS Tacoma Animal Control and Marine Services worked to safely remove 60 cats and kittens from a sailboat anchored off Owen Beach. (Tacoma Police Department) "While we believe we have safely removed all of the cats from the boat, as any cat owner knows, cats are exceptionally good at hiding," police said. "Because there is always a possibility that a cat may remain onboard, our work isn't quite finished." The department said the additional searches would be conducted under the authority of a search warrant. Police said Marine Services has also begun the process of having the legally registered vessel moved. Authorities asked people visiting Owen Beach or boating nearby to notify Animal Control if they spot another cat aboard the vessel, while warning members of the public not to attempt their own rescues.
Dallas-Fort Worth airport to install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms
close Video Trump announces $22B makeover for Dulles International Airport President Trump announces a $22 billion renovation for Dulles International Airport, aiming to make it the 'best' in the country. Secretary Sean Duffy confirms the removal of 'people movers,' replacing them with an efficient train and walkway system. Trump, who has long criticized Dulles, used a laser pointer to detail the extensive revamp plans. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms at the facility, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The project was officially registered with Texas regulators on July 31, according to documents detailing the project. The installations of the Wudu ablution stations are expected to be completed . "Project consists of adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D, one Men's ablution station in existing men's restroom and one Women's ablution station in the existing women's restroom," the project details read. TRAVELERS CLASH AFTER TSA SHARES SURPRISING GUIDANCE ABOUT AIRPORT ETIQUETTE Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will install Islamic foot wash stations inside bathrooms. () It is privately funded and expected to cost around $300,000, the documents state. The updates aim to prevent water on standard restroom floors and protect sink counters. Similar low-level basins and interfaith spaces already exist at other major international airport hubs across the U. Some conservatives were outraged online over the project plan, while others urged people to take a more measured approach, noting that the new stations are not about pushing any ideology. The installations of the Wudu ablution stations are expected to be completed . (Shelby Tauber/Bloomberg via ) "People are freaking out over foot-washing stations at DFW, but let’s look at the actual facts before jumping to conclusions. This isn't about pushing an ideology—it's basic airport management," conservative activist Ryan Fournier wrote on social media. "Safety & Plumbing: People washing their feet in standard bathroom sinks creates soaked, slippery floors and breaks the counters. Low-level wudu basins keep the restrooms dry and safe for everyone," he continued. "Standard Infrastructure: DFW is one of the busiest travel hubs on the planet. S. airports like Chicago O'Hare and Indianapolis have had these and interfaith rooms for years to handle international traffic cleanly," Fournier added. FLIGHT CANCELED AFTER TODDLER REFUSED TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, STRANDING PASSENGERS OVERNIGHT The updates aim to prevent water on standard restroom floors and protect sink counters. () DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Fournier said the addition is "just about keeping the bathrooms clean and preventing people from slipping on wet tiles.
Politics
View All 10UK economy grew by 0.4% in second quarter as Iran war prompts slowdown
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Clacton polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates
Count Binface and Nigel Farage are among the candidates on the ballot. Photograph: Leon Neal/ View image in fullscreen Count Binface and Nigel Farage are among the candidates on the ballot. Photograph: Leon Neal/ Clacton polls open with Farage up against slew of fringe candidates Longest ballot in UK voting history features likes of Count Binface and Howling Laud Hope alongside Reform leader Polls 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 . 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. He is expected to face a formal investigation , which was opened in May after the Guardian revealed he had received a £5m personal gift from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based crypto billionaire, in April 2024. Farage has denied the gift amounted to an inducement to run for office, insisting it was personal in nature. He has given a series of explanations for the gift, including that it was for his security and a reward for Brexit. The inquiry will look into allegations Farage was financially supported , a close friend, after the Sunday Times reported that Cottrell’s support included security and social media staff who worked on Farage’s online content in the year before he was elected. Reform UK claimed that was a “baseless and contrived story” and that no parliamentary rules had been broken. The inquiry, which was suspended on 8 July after Farage’s decision to force a byelection, could restart as soon as Friday if he is re-elected. If parliament imposes sanctions for failing to declare the gifts, he may be removed from the House of Commons and face a second byelection. All of the main parties have boycotted the byelection, announcing they would not stand candidates for a “media circus” and a “vanity project”. Instead, Count Binface, the self-declared “entirely independent space warrior” created , stepped into the void. A record number of candidates are seeking election, presenting voters with the longest ballot paper in British electoral history. Among the 34 candidates on the ballot paper are independents, the actor and rightwing political activist Laurence Fox and three figures from the Monster Raving Loony party: Howling Laud Hope, Baron Von Thunderclap and Nick the Incredible Flying Brick.
Yvette Cooper says Labour ‘did not do government very well’ under Starmer
Yvette Cooper summarised Keir Starmer’s leadership as ‘bring me solutions, not problems’. Photograph: WPA/ View image in fullscreen Yvette Cooper summarised Keir Starmer’s leadership as ‘bring me solutions, not problems’. Photograph: WPA/ Yvette Cooper says Labour ‘did not do government very well’ under Starmer Health secretary praises more collegiate style under Andy Burnham and says previous No 10 sidelined her from key policy launch Yvette 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”. She said she had found a more collegiate style under Andy Burnham, and argued in favour of trying to form a national consensus around social care and reintroducing Sure Start-style children’s centres for young families under his leadership. Contrasting the new prime minister with Starmer, the health secretary said there had been “a style of leading the government that maybe doesn’t necessarily work in politics” under the last administration. As an example, she was critical of how she was in effect excluded from launching the immigration white paper in May 2025 while home secretary. At the launch, which was fronted by Starmer, he spoke of introducing policies to deal with the risk that Britain could become an “island of strangers”, which Cooper later had to defend. She told Osborne: “Keir wanted the immigration white paper. And I’m not sure you can do that in politics … the thing you see with Andy is ‘hang on, bring me the problems. I want to talk to you about the problems. She said she also wanted to build national agreement around the principles of Sure Start, a programme to help young families that was cut when Osborne was chancellor. Telling Osborne she was “still angry” about his decision to cut funding for Sure Start children’s centres, she said: “I actually want to build that same national consensus on how we start our kids’ lives, so that no future government of whatever party would think, you know what, it’s OK to rip up Sure Start, because actually we establish this as something that’s so important in children’s lives.
What time is the Clacton by-election result announced and is there an exit poll?
Polling stations will be open to voters on Thursday for the high-profile snap by-election in Clacton. Voters will be able to choose from a record number of candidates, but the Labour Party, the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Restore Britain have all said they will not be standing. Instead voters will have the choice of Reform UK, Count Binface and an array of other independent candidates. Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, initiated the by-election, which will be held on 13 August, in protest against parliamentary scrutiny of his financial affairs and backers. open image in gallery A Nigel Farage placard stands ahead of a by-election triggered (Reuters) When does voting close? Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm. The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday. But because there are a total of 34 candidates - a record number for any parliamentary contest - counting could go on for longer than anticipated and push the announcement to 5am. open image in gallery Count Binface signage in Kirby Cross, ahead of a by-election triggered (Reuters) Will there be an exit poll? Often a poll is taken immediately after voters exit the polling station during general elections, but there will be no exit poll for the Clacton by-election. However, a survey -election suggests Mr Farage would win 73 per cent of the vote, while his main rival Count Binface could sweep up an estimated 20 per cent of the vote. In an Ipsos poll asking the general public who they would vote for in a hypothetical head-to-head, a third (33 per cent) of British adults said they would prefer Count Binface to win the race, while only 21 per cent back the Reform UK leader.
Business
View All 10Zaman: Rise in Japanese Long Yields Could Support Yen
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Lenovo Shares Surge 22% After Revenue Beat Renews AI Optimism
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‘Hormuz remains blocked’: Iran disputes Trump claims as traffic sinks to near 3-month lows
Livestream Menu The Persian Gulf Strait Authority said "the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted." This comes after U. President Donald Trump said that the U. S. had "total control" over the Strait. A top advisor to Iran's IRGC told PBS Tuesday stateside that the U. S. military was "weaker than what we perceived." Ships are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz on August 10, 2026 off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Ali Saeedi | Iranian authorities have pushed back on U. President Donald Trump's repeated claims that Washington has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday stateside, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said in a post on X that "Claims and repeated posts by U. S. officials that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer blocked do not change the reality: the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted." Trump had said in a Truth Social post earlier that "The U. A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!" While both sides continue to make contradictory claims, data from trade intelligence firm Kpler showed that ship traffic through the Hormuz waterway is near a 3-month low. Vessel transits sat at a 5-day average of around 13 on Tuesday, nearly the lowest level since May 12, according to a CNBC analysis of data provided . This includes ships of all types, from cargo vessels to oil tankers. Traffic is about 90% lower than the daily average of 130 ships that transited Hormuz before the U. S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Both Washington and Tehran have hardened their negotiating stances, asking for "reparations" from the other side, among other demands. Iran's Supreme National Security Council laid out sweeping demands over the weekend for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the U. S. naval blockade, sanctions relief, American troop withdrawals and war reparations. The developments come as Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a top advisor to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told PBS in an interview on Tuesday stateside that "victory is on our side" and that "we have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived." He pointed to what he described as Washington's shifting objectives over the course of the conflict, including wanting to invade Kharg Island and opening the Strait of Hormuz. "We saw confusion and bewilderment in America.
Trump is taxing the dark matter that pays America’s way
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Technology
View All 10This 236-Million-Year-Old Fossil Just Rewrote the Story of Live Birth
Biology This 236-Million-Year-Old Fossil Just Rewrote the Story of Live Birth Scientists have long thought cynodonts, the ancestors of all modern mammals, laid eggs. For the first time, researchers have found evidence to the contrary. 13, 2026, am ET Reading time 3 minutes The skull of the Chiniquodon theotonicus individual that was used for this study. © Leandro Gaetano Read Later Read Later Comments (0) The vast majority of mammals alive today—including us—give birth to live young, but this reproductive mode isn’t unique to mammals nor universal among them. In fact, it evolved independently many times in other groups of vertebrates, and some mammal species actually lay eggs. For years, scientists believed cynodonts—a major group of mammal-like reptiles that gave rise to all modern mammals—probably laid eggs, too. After all, egg-laying is common among reptiles, as well as the most ancient lineage of living mammals: the monotremes, which include platypuses and echidnas. However, efforts to determine whether cynodonts laid eggs or gave birth have been inconclusive—until now. A study published today in the journal Frontiers in Mammal Science presents the first fossil evidence to suggest that a cynodont species gave birth. Chiniquodon theotonicus lived roughly 236 million years ago, during the late Triassic period. This discovery pushes the timeline of this evolutionary adaptation back 95 million years, according to the researchers. Stumbling upon a major discovery Co-author Maria Miceli Baro, a graduate student at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, was examining the bone microstructure of a fully grown C. theotonicus specimen when something surprising appeared. “She came with her samples, and we were looking at them, and we said, ‘Hey, look, you have embryonic tissue. This is very weird, I have never seen this,'” lead author Leandro Gaetano, a paleontologist at Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council who is based at the University of Buenos Aires, told Gizmodo. Data from living species helped Gaetano and his colleagues identify a neonatal line, a distinct growth ring that can be found in bones or teeth. It results from the strong growth-rate acceleration that occurs just after birth. The researchers realized this discovery could finally offer a way to test the universally accepted hypothesis that cynodonts laid eggs. “We started trying to figure out how we could use this new information to test the working hypothesis, and we came up with this idea about using body size as a proxy,” Gaetano explained. Piecing together a reproductive puzzle The researchers measured the neonatal line and the specimen’s outer surface to estimate its size and weight at birth and at death.
'Specialists aren't required' anymore: How to stay valuable in an AI agent workplace today
Innovation 'Specialists aren't required' anymore: How to stay valuable in an AI agent workplace today Written , Senior ContributorSenior Contributor Aug. 12, 2026 at p. m. PT filadendron/ E+ via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Polymaths will be in high demand in the age of AI. These adaptable professionals will embrace agents. They will ally AI skills with deep subject expertise. Experts recognize that agentic AI is changing the workplace. From the deployment of intelligent assistants to the rise of autonomous businesses, agents are expected to fulfill a range of activities traditionally carried out by professionals. While there's agreement that agents will have a significant impact on operations, there's less consensus on the role humans will play in the agentic-enabled workplace of the future. However, what's already clear is that the future of work will require a careful blend of human expertise and AI capabilities, with professionals working effectively and productively alongside their agentic counterparts. Also: The new enterprise AI expert every company needs - and why For Gerrit Kazmaier, president of product and technology at Workday, finding the right balance between human and AI agency presents new opportunities. He said earlier this year that agentic AI amplifies workers' strengths, allowing them to function as polymaths. Experts suggest the term polymath has its roots in Ancient Greek and describes someone who excels in multiple fields. In the age of agentic AI, as suggested a recent blog post, the rise of the polymath is associated with a shift in labor demand away from specialists who know everything about a single domain to professionals with knowledge across multiple disciplines. Also: How Workday and other software providers plan to survive AI Kathy Pham, vice president of AI at Workday, also acknowledged the rise of the polymath and told ZDNET that professionals who can work with agents across multiple areas simultaneously will be crucial. "These are the gaps that we need to fill, and maybe we can then redirect our energy to higher-value areas, because we've now automated the less valuable parts of our working lives that took our time," she said. So, what will a successful polymath look like? Business leaders told us that two core characteristics will be crucial: adaptability to AI-enabled change and the confidence to make valuable decisions that agents can't. Also: The 3 types of people who will excel in the AI agent era, according to tech leaders Kairinos used the analogy of a musical instrument to explain skills development in the AI era.
Toddler's tragic death from brain-destroying amoeba offers lessons for doctors
Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav A healthy toddler in Washington state fell ill abruptly. It began with vomiting, lethargy, and weakness on his right side. Then it progressed to a headache, fever, and trouble swallowing. At one point, he briefly became unresponsive, and he had episodes where he stopped breathing. Doctors admitted him to the hospital, but his condition only deteriorated. The boy was infected with an ultra-rare amoeba known for ravaging the brain. The opportunistic pathogen was first identified in 1986 from the brain of a San Diego Zoo monkey, which died from the infection. Since then, only about 200 human cases have been recorded worldwide. About 90 percent of them have been fatal. The initial symptoms can be vague and, given its rarity, the infection is notorious for being undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Still, the scant medical literature does provide some telltale signs, clues of what it can look like on tests and scans. But for the toddler, the infection looked different, sending doctors down the wrong path. It took over 30 days for his medical team to finally figure out what was going on. By then, it was too late. The boy had profound, irreversible brain injuries. After initial attempts at therapy had no effect, the boy’s parents made the heartbreaking decision to remove his breathing tube to end his suffering. A subsequent autopsy showed that he had had a severe stroke, the vasculature in his brain was necrotic, and his brain tissue was brimming with amoebas. In a case report, published Wednesday in BMJ Case Reports, the toddler’s doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital review how they were led in the wrong direction and how to prevent it from happening in the next case. They also report that the boy’s parents agreed to share his medical case in hopes that it can lead to earlier diagnoses. False lead One of the biggest missteps was a misdiagnosis early in his case. Often in these rare amoeba cases, the early symptoms are so vague that diagnoses are delayed. But in the boy’s case, doctors jumped to a diagnosis—the wrong one—based on an unusual presentation. When his parents brought him to an emergency room, his symptoms were vomiting, fatigue, lethargy, and weakness. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed he had a hemorrhage on his brain, requiring a shunt.
The web’s newest weapon against AI scrapers is a font
Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav AI companies’ penchant for scraping through large swathes of the public web in search of valuable training data has already led to lawsuits and technical fixes aimed at stopping the practice. Now, a pair of designers are hoping to stymie these scrapers with a new font designed to offer people a perfectly readable webpage while serving scrapers a subtly edited, nonsensical version in the underlying HTML. ShieldFont, as designers Isaque Seneda and Gabriel Abrucio write in a recent white paper, was made to offer web publishers “a practical opt-out from unauthorized AI training and [to] disrupt what is collected when that choice is ignored.” When is a horse a potato? The font is based around ligatures, a long-standing feature of many fonts that is usually used to replace certain letter pairs with a more readable version when they’re smushed up next to each other. With ShieldFont, though, those ligatures are instead used to replace entire words with others in an attempt to destroy the text’s value to scrapers. This substitution only happens when the font engine draws the page on screen, meaning scrapers that simply download plaintext source code get an altered version that end users never see. When it comes to fooling AI scrapers, though, not all ligature-based word replacements are created equal. Simply replacing common words with synonyms or antonyms would be too easy for a smart scraper to reverse. On the other end, replacing words with completely unrelated gibberish could lead to easier detection (and potentially circumvention) by a smart scraping filter. The original content, as seen . ShieldFont The original content, as seen . ShieldFont The raw HTML, before being processed by ShieldFont, which gets scraped by bots. The raw HTML, before being processed by ShieldFont, which gets scraped by bots. The original content, as seen . ShieldFont The raw HTML, before being processed by ShieldFont, which gets scraped by bots. So ShieldFont replaces words with similar parts of speech that occupy a completely different informational context—swapping “horse” with “potato,” for instance. The result is a scrapable sentence that looks semantically correct but has a completely altered meaning. Thus, even altered pages that get through a scraper’s quality filter will contain scrambled informational content that can poison a training data set. After refining their word-swapping dictionary over three months, the ShieldFont creators ended up with a list of nearly 12,000 common words that can be replaced with ligatures.
Science
View All 10Cloudy skies lead to mixed fortunes for Scotland's eclipse hunters
The view of the eclipse from Orkney was - like for much of Scotland - obscured at least partially , lucky skygazers have caught glimpses of the eclipse - despite cloud covering much of the view. The Sun disappeared almost entirely behind the Moon, in what was the most dramatic solar eclipse visible from the UK since August 1999. The spectacle started just after on Wednesday evening, and lasted about two hours, with the Sun setting about. At the beginning of the eclipse, heavy cloud cover across much of Scotland left visibility poor. But as the phenomenon progressed, cloud in some areas cleared at least partially, offering glimpses of the rare celestial event. Parts of Spain and Portugal witnessed the phenomenon of a total eclipse, but in Scotland the eclipse shadow meant that up to 95% of the sun was obscured . At its peak, only an arc of the Sun was visible in Scotland. In areas where the clouds obscured the view, some viewers reported that it temporarily got a little darker than it otherwise would have been, as the Moon blocked the light from the Sun. While there will be smaller solar eclipses over the next few years, the next total eclipse will not take place until . Experts had suggested that west was best for those hoping to eclipse. They had advised eclipse watchers to find a spot in an elevated location with unobstructed views west. Crowds at Whitelee Wind Farm hoped to eclipse, but clouds mostly obscured the view Whitelee Windfarm at Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire hosted one of the biggest eclipse events in Scotland. BBC Scotland's Selena Jackson said 50-60 people had gathered there to watch the spectacle. She said that cloud cover scuppered the view for most of the time, but about the clouds parted and a sliver of the sun was visible from behind the moon. Some of the crowd gasped as the sight came into view. Excited eclipse hunters waited patiently on Ayr Beach - but there was not much to see for them due to cloud cover Those at Ayr Beach were disappointed with their view of the eclipse At Ayr Beach, the BBC's Ben Philip said it temporarily felt darker, cooler and eerily quiet during the eclipse. But he felt the dozens who had gathered to witness the eclipse left disappointed not to have got a better view. On a few occasions, the odd break in the cloud gave a glimpse of the Sun and the Moon for a few seconds.
Photos: See the best photos from the solar eclipse
Photos: best photos from the solar eclipse : The Picture Show Millions of people in Europe stepped outside this evening to watch a spectacular sunset with a solar eclipse. The path of totality passed through portions of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, The Picture Show Photos: best photos from the solar eclipse August 12, 20269:38 PM ET By NPR Staff The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain, August 12, 2026. Christian Hartmann/REUTERS hide caption toggle caption Christian Hartmann/REUTERS Millions of people in Europe stepped outside this evening to watch a spectacular sunset with a solar eclipse. The path of totality passed through portions of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, People record a video of the moon partially covering the sun during a solar eclipse, as seen from Berlin, Germany. Fabrizio Bensch/REUTERS hide caption toggle caption Fabrizio Bensch/REUTERS People wear protective glasses to observe a partial solar eclipse in Budapest, Hungary. Bernadett Szabo/REUTERS hide caption toggle caption Bernadett Szabo/REUTERS A fish jumps out of the water during a solar eclipse as the moon partially covers the sun and briefly dims the afternoon light along the coast of Fregene, near Rome. Guglielmo Mangiapane/REUTERS hide caption toggle caption Guglielmo Mangiapane/REUTERS A beachgoer wearing special eclipse glasses looks up during the beginning phase of a solar eclipse at Puerto de Sagunto beach near Valencia, Spain. Alberto Saiz/AP hide caption toggle caption Alberto Saiz/AP The Hallgrímskirkja church is seen in the dark during a total solar eclipse on a cloudy day in Reykjavik, Iceland. Marco di Marco/AP hide caption toggle caption Marco di Marco/AP A drone picture of people wearing special protective glasses to observe a partial solar eclipse at the top of St Mary's Church bell tower in Rickmansworth, Britain. Suzanne Plunkett/REUTERS hide caption toggle caption Suzanne Plunkett/REUTERS The Sun's corona glows as the Moon completely blocks the Sun during the totality phase of the total solar eclipse as seen from Lodoso, Burgos province, Spain. Cesar Manso/AFP via hide caption toggle caption Cesar Manso/AFP via Staff from the University of Toulouse prepare equipment ahead of observing a partial solar eclipse on the summit of the Pic du Midi, France. Ed Jones/AFP via hide caption toggle caption Ed Jones/AFP via The partial eclipse is seen from Observatorielunden park in central Stockholm, Sweden.
From the mine to the grid
As we go about our everyday lives, we’re constantly interacting with things made possible by mining – often without realising it. From the phones in our hands to the cars we drive, almost everything relies on core minerals and commodities that begin their journey in the earth. Along the way, there is a chance that leading heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu has played a role. This is also true of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s FW48 challenger. You may think a modern race car is just made of carbon fibre, but that is only part of the story. Beneath the surface of the machine lies a myriad of advanced materials across the powertrain, electronics, bodywork and chassis, each playing a vital role in the car’s design and performance at the highest level. Unearthing performance In the cockpit, the halo safety structure relies on titanium for its exceptional ability to withstand extreme loads. Magnesium, one of the lightest structural metals, is found in the wheel rims, helping to improve acceleration and overall handling. Nearby, iron, refined into steel, is used in selected fasteners, bolts and drivetrain components, delivering the necessary strength for high-load applications. At the heart of the FW48’s electrified powertrain is the battery system. Lithium provides the high energy density required to deliver the electrical power that defines the sport’s new generation of power units. Alongside it, copper forms the backbone of the FW48’s electrical systems, carrying power and data between wiring, electronics and sensors. In the engine and exhaust systems, lightweight and highly machinable aluminium helps reduce overall vehicle mass and efficiently dissipates heat from critical engine components. Meanwhile, nickel alloys retain their strength at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, ensuring reliability in one of the harshest environments on the car. From one pit to another Facilitating the journey of these materials from the first cut into the earth to lights out on race day is a fleet of Komatsu mining machines working around the clock. From 320XPC drills preparing blast holes, to PC9000 hydraulic excavators and 4100XPC electric rope shovels loading material, to 930E autonomous ultra-class, electric-drive haul trucks moving hundreds of tonnes in every load, Komatsu equipment helps uncover, move and process the resources that the world depends on. Together with the incredible people behind every operation, Komatsu machines ensure that mining is performed safely and efficiently across the globe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Running with a stroller seems to reduce the risk of injuries
If people with young children have the time – or motivation – to exercise, running with a pram may reduce their injury risk Cameron Spencer/ Running with a pram or stroller might make parents less susceptible to ankle pain and injuries to their calf muscles, foot arches and Achilles tendons. A survey of parents suggests there is a 37 per cent drop in injury risk with pram use. This may be partly due to changes in vertical forces – how much force our legs absorb with each step – when pushing a child. “You get a little bit of a walker effect where you’re leaning and putting some weight on the stroller,” says Allison Altman Singles at Pennsylvania State University, who ran with a pram after the births of her two children. “That led me to wonder, you know, is this actually protective?” Previous research suggests that people running with a pram tend to have shorter strides and slower speeds. They also lean forward more, with greater hip flexion and forward pelvic tilt. Last year, Altman Singles and her colleagues found there is a 16 per cent lower vertical impact force when running with a pram, but whether this affects injury risk was unclear. To learn more, Altman Singles and her team analysed self-reported running and injury data from 196 parents who used any kind of pram on at least some of their runs while their children were younger than 3 years old. These individuals were compared against another 53 mothers or fathers who ran when their children were the same age, but without prams. All the participants had some running experience before becoming parents. The two groups of parents covered similar total distances and were relatively well matched in terms of factors like age, height and weight. But there were many more women than men in both groups, particularly the pram one. Overall, 30 per cent of the non-pram runners reported having had running-related injuries, compared with 19 per cent of the pram runners. These included a higher incidence of ankle pain, calf muscle injury, plantar fasciitis (heel pain that occurs when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot becomes irritated or inflamed) and Achilles tendinitis (injury of the Achilles tendon). “Generally, stroller running involves rapid steps with short stride lengths,” says Cara Wall-Scheffler at Seattle Pacific University. “Although this can increase metabolic cost, it can also decrease the force production at each foot strike, which might explain some of these injury reductions.” Wall-Scheffler says we should see this paper as a “great start” to understanding an important topic.
Environment
View All 10Trump administration pulls support for annual Arctic environmental report
The Arctic Sea, 1,200 nautical miles from Tromsø, Norway, on . Photograph: Anadolu/ View image in fullscreen The Arctic Sea, 1,200 nautical miles from Tromsø, Norway, on . Photograph: Anadolu/ Trump administration pulls support for annual Arctic environmental report Move , a region that is already heating up four times faster than the global average due to the climate crisis. On Tuesday, Kim Doster, the communications director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), said the federal agency was withdrawing its support for the Arctic Report Card, which has provided environmental updates on the region to scientists and the public since 2006. Without explaining why the government stopped its support, Doster told the New York Times: “Coordination of the 2026 Arctic Report Card will not be facilitated through NOAA … All data historically contributed .” Doster told the outlet that other Noaa programs would continue to support research in the region that contributes to “national security, weather prediction, safety of navigation and the economic vitality of coastal communities”. Dismay as Trump officials to dismantle key ocean monitoring system The Guardian has approached Noaa for additional comment. Over the last 20 years, the peer-reviewed report has tracked crucial changes across the Arctic’s atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere and tundra. The climate crisis has made the Arctic the world’s fastest-warming region. In recent years, the region has experienced severe sea ice decline, carbon sink reversals and ecosystem upheavals. In the 2025 Arctic Report Card, scientists found that surface temperatures across the Arctic from October 2024 through September 2025 were the warmest recorded since 1900. It also found that in March 2025, Arctic winter sea ice reached the lowest annual maximum extent in the 47-year satellite record. Meanwhile, on land, the report noted that ongoing glacier loss contributes to steadily rising global sea levels, threatening Arctic communities’ water supplies, driving destructive floods, and increasing landslide and tsunami hazards. It also found that in more than 200 Arctic Alaska watersheds – large land areas where rain and melted snow drain northward into the Arctic Ocean – iron and other elements released 10 years. The “rusting rivers” have in turn increased acidity while elevated levels of toxic metals have degraded water quality, in turn affecting aquatic habits, rural drinking water supplies and subsistence fishing. Rick Thoman, the lead editor for this year’s report, said: “We are scrambling to pull the pieces together. I am optimistic that we can find a path forward for 2027 and beyond. Given the late date, whether we can pull it together for 2026 is an open question, but we’re trying to make it happen.” Meanwhile, Twila Moon, one of the report’s editors and a scientist at the Colorado-based National Snow and Ice Data Center, said: “The US is an Arctic nation.
Great Britain braced to pay millions for backup electricity during solar eclipse
The government’s electricity grid operator is expected to make multimillion-pound payments to secure electricity at short notice before the moon blocks up to 95% of the sun over parts of the country, the most dramatic solar eclipse visible in Great Britain since 1999. Gas plants are among the generators that are expected to claim payments of more than four times the market price after the grid operator raised an official alarm that it expects there will not be adequate power generation on Wednesday evening. Hotel prices in Europe jump before total solar eclipse The Connah’s Quay gas plant in Flintshire, owned , agreed to generate electricity on Wednesday afternoon for a price of £875 per megawatt-hour, compared with the market price of just below £212/MWh for this evening. The payment suggests that the gas plant may be kept running through the evening to help meet the rising demand for electricity, possibly at even higher prices. The darkening of the skies is expected to wipe out between 300 megawatts (MW) and 1,100MW of solar power, just as the fifth heatwave of the summer raises demand for electricity to run air conditioning, fans and refrigeration systems. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) had initially anticipated an overall shortfall of more than 1,700MW of electricity when compared with the grid’s peak evening demand, according to a warning issued on Tuesday night, or the equivalent capacity of a solar farm the size of 8,500 football pitches. Under a second market notice issued on Wednesday morning, it said the shortfall remained about 1,200MW. A spokesperson described the warning notice as a “routine tool” that meant it was asking the energy market to make any additional capacity the generators might have available. It added that the margin notice was a “precautionary measure to the market” because of the solar eclipse and there was “no risk to customer electricity supplies”. The grid operator later cancelled the alarm. Market data shows that it requested electricity via the high voltage power cables linking the UK to continental Europe totalling 1,200MW for an hour from 4pm this afternoon, 2,550MW between 5pm and 6pm, and 1,200MW between 7pm and 8pm, according to Timothy Santonastaso, an electricity expert at the market data provider Argus Media. Electricity margin notices are relatively common in winter when energy demand is higher, but it is the first time that supply warnings have been issued in summer because of the frequent heatwaves, according to Jess Ralston, the head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a thinktank.
Generations of fish 'wiped out' after pollution incident
Daera said the number of fish killed remains to be confirmed An angling club has said a fish kill in a County Down river is the "worst environmental event" it has ever witnessed. The Department of Environment (Daera) said 5km of the Kilkeel River in the Mournes area was impacted and they are investigating the incident which took place last week. A spokesperson said trout, eels and lamprey were all confirmed dead. Kilkeel Angling Club said the scale of the destruction was "devastating". Daera said "no active discharge was found" but "a definite line of enquiry is being followed regarding the source of the pollution". They added the number of fish killed remains to be confirmed. Kilkeel Angling Club said "several generations of juvenile fish have been wiped out". "The incident could have serious consequences for the river's salmon and sea trout populations for many years to come," added the club. "The Kilkeel River is an important local watercourse and wildlife habitat. "Our club and its members have invested a great deal of time and voluntary effort in protecting and improving it, which makes the extent of this damage particularly difficult to comprehend." David Crozier says it was a "scene of devastation" when the fish were found dead David Crozier, a committee member at Kilkeel Angling Club, told BBC News NI that it was a "scene of devastation" when the fish were found dead, and described the incident as "heartbreaking". "It's the worst pollution incident I remember on this river," he said. He said it will take "years, without question," to bring the river back the condition it was in before the kill. "It's the biggest fish kill any of us remember in south Down for decades.
Burnham to consider ban on disposable barbecues as wildfires rage in UK
Disposable barbecues have been identified as the main cause of a number of serious fires over the last few years. Photograph: thepurpledoor/ View image in fullscreen Disposable barbecues have been identified as the main cause of a number of serious fires over the last few years. Photograph: thepurpledoor/ Burnham to consider ban on disposable barbecues as wildfires rage in UK PM to look at imposing restriction on devices in public spaces, though campaigners fear it does not go far enough The government will look at banning disposable barbecues as wildfires continue to rage across the UK, Andy Burnham has said. Disposable barbecues have been the cause of a number of serious fires over the last few years, but campaigners were critical of the prime minister’s failure to link those fires more broadly to the climate crisis. In July this year, firefighters called to Cannock Chase found an area the size of a football field blazing in the summer heat. The heathland in Sherbrook Valley, part of a special area of conservation, was home to adders, toads and other wildlife, which were thought to have suffered severe damage, though no people were harmed. The cause of the fire was identified as a disposable barbecue. This was one of two fires in the area that were particularly concerning, Staffordshire council officials said, because Cannock Chase is home to protected wildlife, including ground-nesting nightjars. Fires can destroy nests, chicks and vital heathland habitat, causing damage that can take many years to recover from. Disposable barbecues, which can be carried into public areas, present a number of problems: they remain hot, sometimes for hours, after they are used, making them extremely difficult to dispose of safely, and when they cannot be carried away, people are forced to leave them or place them into bins where they carry on smouldering. View image in fullscreen Disposable barbecues can remain hot, sometimes for hours, after they are used, making them extremely difficult to dispose of safely. Photograph: Pat Tuson/AlamyBurying the barbecues, as some try to do, will not stop the danger as these trays of charcoal can reach 450C and will carry on burning underground, where they can still ignite fires long after use. On beaches, the buried coals and metal grills are also a hazard for walkers, and in fields for farm animals. Over the last few years they have been identified as the cause of a number of serious fires including: Children injured, wildlife slaughtered, forests ravaged: is it time to ban disposable barbecues?
Weather
View All 9Amber warning of extreme heat affecting East of England
This page has an accessible alternative. What do the warning colours mean? Red warning Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Amber warning There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. Yellow warning Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered . Follow alerts in the app UK weather warnings Thu 13 Aug Amber weather warning Fri 14 Aug No warnings Sat 15 Aug No warnings Sun 16 Aug No warnings Mon 17 Aug No warnings Tue 18 Aug No warnings Wed 19 Aug No warnings We are experiencing issues. These warnings may be out of date. Extreme heat × Today UTC+1 Today Very high temperatures may lead to impacts on Thursday. Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat-related illnesses Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required Some heat sensitive systems and equipment may fail, with the potential for some power cuts and the loss of other services to some homes and businesses. More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays What should I do? Keep yourself safe ; drink plenty of fluids, keep out of the sun and avoid any exercise between 11am-3pm when the sun is strongest and close curtains in rooms that face the sun. If you are going out take water with you, stay in the shade, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat. Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays , or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary. If using public transport, there are many simple things you can do to keep yourself safe; carry water with you, take a small hand-held battery powered fan, if you feel unwell get off at next stop for some fresh air, dress in light fabrics in light colours to help stay cooler, keep an eye on fellow passengers for signs they may be struggling.
Today: Sunny, Minimum Temperature: 17°C (63°F) Maximum Temperature: 34°C (94°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Red Met Office Weather WarningsAmber Met Office Weather WarningsYellow Met Office Weather Warnings Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High34° 94° Low17° 63° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h S9 mph14 km/hsoutherly Sunny and a gentle breeze Friday 14th AugustFri 14th , Light cloud and a gentle breeze Light Cloud Light Cloud , High24° 76° Low12° 54° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Light cloud and a gentle breeze Saturday 15th AugustSat 15th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High21° 70° Low11° 51° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h NW9 mph14 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunday 16th AugustSun 16th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 68° Low12° 54° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h NW6 mph9 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Monday 17th AugustMon 17th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 67° Low14° 57° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h SW6 mph9 km/hsouth-westerly Light rain and light winds Tuesday 18th AugustTue 18th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low12° 54° , Wind speed10 mph17 km/h W10 mph17 km/hwesterly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Wednesday 19th AugustWed 19th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low11° 52° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h W9 mph15 km/hwesterly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Thursday 20th AugustThu 20th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low10° 50° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h NW9 mph14 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Friday 21st AugustFri 21st , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High19° 67° Low10° 50° , Wind speed8 mph12 km/h W8 mph12 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Saturday 22nd AugustSat 22nd , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 67° Low11° 52° , Wind speed5 mph8 km/h W5 mph8 km/hwesterly Light rain and light winds Sunday 23rd AugustSun 23rd , Light rain showers and light winds Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High20° 68° Low11° 51° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Light rain showers and light winds Monday 24th AugustMon 24th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 68° Low11° 51° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NW6 mph10 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Tuesday 25th AugustTue 25th
Friday: Light Cloud, Minimum Temperature: 12°C (54°F) Maximum Temperature: 24°C (76°F)
Search for a location Search Manchester - Weather warnings issued 14-day forecast Red Met Office Weather WarningsAmber Met Office Weather WarningsYellow Met Office Weather Warnings Forecast - Manchester Day Today , Sunny and a gentle breeze Sunny Sunny , High34° 94° Low17° 63° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h S9 mph14 km/hsoutherly Sunny and a gentle breeze Friday 14th AugustFri 14th , Light cloud and a gentle breeze Light Cloud Light Cloud , High24° 76° Low12° 54° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h W9 mph14 km/hwesterly Light cloud and a gentle breeze Saturday 15th AugustSat 15th , Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunny Intervals Sunny Intervals , High21° 70° Low11° 51° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h NW9 mph14 km/hnorth-westerly Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze Sunday 16th AugustSun 16th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 68° Low12° 54° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h NW6 mph9 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Monday 17th AugustMon 17th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 67° Low14° 57° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h SW6 mph9 km/hsouth-westerly Light rain and light winds Tuesday 18th AugustTue 18th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low12° 54° , Wind speed10 mph17 km/h W10 mph17 km/hwesterly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Wednesday 19th AugustWed 19th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low11° 52° , Wind speed9 mph15 km/h W9 mph15 km/hwesterly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Thursday 20th AugustThu 20th , Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High19° 67° Low10° 50° , Wind speed9 mph14 km/h NW9 mph14 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain showers and a gentle breeze Friday 21st AugustFri 21st , Drizzle and a gentle breeze Drizzle Drizzle , High19° 67° Low10° 50° , Wind speed8 mph12 km/h W8 mph12 km/hwesterly Drizzle and a gentle breeze Saturday 22nd AugustSat 22nd , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 67° Low11° 52° , Wind speed5 mph8 km/h W5 mph8 km/hwesterly Light rain and light winds Sunday 23rd AugustSun 23rd , Light rain showers and light winds Light Rain Showers Light Rain Showers , High20° 68° Low11° 51° , Wind speed6 mph9 km/h N6 mph9 km/hnortherly Light rain showers and light winds Monday 24th AugustMon 24th , Light rain and light winds Light Rain Light Rain , High20° 68° Low11° 51° , Wind speed6 mph10 km/h NW6 mph10 km/hnorth-westerly Light rain and light winds Tuesday 25th AugustTue 25th
Weatherwatch: Why Britain’s heatwaves don’t always end with thunderstorms
Temperatures in the city climbed to a record 38C in June. Photograph: David Burton/Alamy View image in fullscreen Norwich Cathedral at sunset. Temperatures in the city climbed to a record 38C in June. Photograph: David Burton/Alamy Weatherwatch: Why Britain’s heatwaves don’t always end with thunderstorms The science behind summer storms – and why they have yet to break the hot spell gripping the country “The English summer: three fine days and a thunderstorm,” George II is reputed to have said, although the line has also been attributed to Charles II and others. It was not recorded until 1867, . A brief hot spell ending in a thunderstorm is a familiar pattern, but it is not what we have experienced in recent weeks. Summer thunderstorms develop in an unstable atmosphere, where hot air warmed by Earth’s surface sits beneath a layer of cooler air. Just a few days of sunshine can be enough to make warm, humid air rise, condense and build into towering cumulonimbus clouds. These are classic storm clouds, with rising and falling particles rubbing against one another, generating electrical charge. The resulting potential difference creates lighting. In some tropical regions, an evening downpour after a day of intense sunshine is almost routine. Hot weather alone, however, does not create instability. Sometimes there is little distinction between warmer and cooler air, with hot air leaking upwards at a steady rate without forming clouds. During a prolonged dry spell, limited evaporation at ground level leaves the rising air too dry to form clouds as it cools. Without that moisture, thunderstorms fail to develop – and the heatwave persists. Explore more on these topicsUK weather Weatherwatch Summer features Share Reuse this content Most viewed Most viewed
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