UK News
View All 9US strikes key Iranian targets as Tehran retaliates across Middle East
American forces struck key targets across southern Iran on Friday as Tehran retaliated with attacks on US military bases across the Middle East, marking a seventh consecutive night of hostilities.Iranian state media reported the overnight bombardment hit at least five bridges, an airport, a surveillance tower and a vessel.The coastal city of Bandar Abbas appeared to be the primary focus of the assault. The strategic port serves as headquarters for Iran's navy and sits at the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Among the structures destroyed were the Kahorestan Bridge and Gariveh Bridge, both on key routes leading to Bandar Abbas.A railway station in Bandar Khamir and Iranshahr Airport in the south-east were also struck, according to Iranian media.US Central Command confirmed the operation was carried out "to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief's direction".Tehran responded by launching retaliatory strikes against American military installations across the Middle East, targeting bases in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as a radar facility in Oman.The Iranian barrage caused significant damage in Kuwait, where missiles and drones struck a power generation plant and water desalination station, prompting authorities to impose emergency energy rationing.Later on Friday, the Revolutionary Guard's naval forces "targeted" a Thai-flagged vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's state news agency reported.Iran's health ministry said at least 38 people have been killed and more than 400 wounded since hostilities resumed last week.Friday's strikes alone claimed seven lives, according to Iranian state media.IRAN - READ THE LATEST:Liverpool man charged with allegedly assisting Iran's intelligence serviceIran shows off sick billboard of Donald Trump's entire family in coffinsJD Vance warns of '94 million people flooding into Europe' in grim 'experiment'Iran's energy ministry has also urged citizens to reduce electricity consumption and switch off air conditioning during peak hours, even as temperatures soar across the country.Officials blamed American strikes on energy infrastructure for placing further strain on the national power grid.Tehran condemned the attacks as "heinous" and accused Washington of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.In a statement carried by Tasnim news agency, Iranian authorities said US forces destroyed "a completely civilian structure" at Chabahar port, which was built with Indian support and serves as a vital trade route for Afghanistan.The conflict erupted after a temporary peace agreement collapsed last week, with Washington and Tehran exchanging strikes for seven straight days, fuelling fears of a wider regional war.A memorandum of understanding signed a month ago failed to deliver lasting peace, with both sides deadlocked over control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.Mr Trump warned earlier this week: "We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."Mohsen Rezai, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, issued a stark warning on social media, saying that if America continues military action "in the next 2-3 days, we will enter the stage of the enemy's 'full-scale invasion and annihilation'."The Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers have urged both sides to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Speedboat killer now charged with attacking girlfriend after being freed from jail
Jack Shepherd, the man convicted of killing Charlotte Brown in a River Thames speedboat crash, now faces fresh criminal charges after allegedly attacking a new partner following his release from prison.The 38-year-old has been charged with intentional suffocation, controlling and coercive behaviour, criminal damage and two counts of actual bodily harm, according to recently released Parole Board documents.The alleged victim, referred to as Ms X, is a woman in her 50s who lived in the same building as Shepherd after his release from custody in 2024.He remains in custody. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The pair began a relationship following Shepherd's release, but Parole Board documents reveal it deteriorated dramatically towards the end of 2024."Towards the end of 2024 the relationship with Mr Shepherd became violent and coercive on the part of Mr Shepherd," the documents read.Ms X eventually reported the alleged abuse to police, leading to Shepherd's arrest on August 5 on suspicion of controlling, coercive and violent behaviour.Her statement to officers detailed a series of alleged assaults in February, June and July 2025.When interviewed by police, Shepherd submitted a prepared statement denying all of the allegations.Shepherd's criminal history dates back to December 2015, when 24-year-old Charlotte Brown drowned after a first date with him ended in tragedy on the River Thames.His trial heard he had been drunkenly showing off in a defective 14ft speedboat he bought to impress women, earning him the nickname "Captain Jack".The vessel struck a submerged log and capsized, throwing Ms Brown into the freezing River Thames, where she drowned while Shepherd survived.CRIME - READ THE LATEST:Ten Evri workers detained amid crackdown on illegal delivery workingPatrick Spencer MP not guilty of sexually assaulting women at private members' clubBritish man to be extradited to Greece to serve sentence after killing tourist in drunken brawlRather than face justice, Shepherd fled to Georgia and was convicted in his absence in July 2018 before being jailed for six years.He later received a further four-year sentence for a glassing attack on a hotel barman in Devon.Shepherd was released in January 2024 after serving half of his combined 10-year sentence.However, the 38-year-old's freedom proved short-lived.Authorities revoked his licence and returned him to custody in September 2025 after he allegedly contacted Ms X in breach of his bail conditions and failed to comply with his evening curfew.Those alleged breaches only emerged following the publication of the Parole Board documents.At the time of his arrest in August, reports said he had been detained over allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
TV Licensing explains £5 extra annual fee for certain households
People have been told that there is a way to avoid the charge Sophie Buchan Money and Lifestyle Writer The price varies depending on payment method(Image: Getty) TV Licensing officials have said that some households may need to pay an extra £5 fee per year. But there is a way to avoid it. Currently, UK residents must pay an annual fee of £180, which covers them for a colour TV Licence, if needed, or £60.50 for a black-and-white set. This follows a price increase on April 1, 2026. TV Licensing informs people about the requirement to hold a Licence, issues renewal letters and processes enquiries, applications and payments. It also maintains a database of licensed and unlicensed addresses across the UK, using this information to identify and visit addresses believed to be in use without a valid licence. Addressing the £5 charge, it explains that there are many ways to pay to avoid it. However, if you pay the TV Licence fee , this is when you can expect to fee. View 2 Images Not everyone has to pay this extra fee(Image: Getty) It explains: "Unlike utility and other consumer bills, which are usually paid for in arrears, the TV Licence fee is a fixed fee to permit the installation or use of television receiving equipment to receive television programme services, and is charged annually in advance. "Because the licence fee is paid in arrears under the Quarterly Direct Debit Scheme, this payment method comes with a £5 annual charge (£1.25 per quarter). The £5 charge is prescribed (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (as amended)." Officials caution: "People are advised of the charge whenever they choose this payment option, and it is outlined in the payment plan accompanying each new licence. If people would prefer not to pay this, then there are other payment options, including annual and monthly direct debit." How do I pay for a TV Licence? Pay monthly - from £15 "We'll usually spread the cost of your first Direct Debit licence over six months, at around £30 a month. From then on you’ll pay around £15 a month." Pay quarterly - from £46.25 "We'll take four payments throughout the year. Each payment will include a £1.25 charge." In further information about the quarterly direct debit, it explains: "Individuals can pay the licence fee in arrears under the Quarterly Direct Debit Scheme. This payment method comes with a £5 annual charge (or £1.25 per quarter) because the licence fee is paid in arrears. "The £5 charge is prescribed (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (as amended).
The travel tool that could keep teenagers happy on long journeys with unlimited mobile data
From streaming films to scrolling social media and chatting with friends, staying connected can make long travel days much more enjoyable, especially for teenagers.
World News
View All 10Russia says Ukrainian drone attack killed several in Moscow logistics centre
A local official said that a Ukrainian drone attack killed seven night-shift workers and wounded 24 at a Moscow logistics centre on Saturday, as part of a larger-scale attack including 370 drones, most of which were "neutralised" according to the city mayor. Kyiv says its attacks on Russia are fair retribution for Moscow's four-year war in Ukraine. What is this page? The website you are visiting is protected. For security reasons this page cannot be displayed.
Iran War Updates: Bridges and Water Plants Hit as Strikes Stretch to 7th Straight Day
Overnight and into Friday, Iran reported U.S. strikes on infrastructure that can serve civilian purposes and has targeted similar sites in Gulf countries that host American bases. In the afternoon, the U.S. military announced a new round of attacks on Iran.
Rhode Island Man Who Fled 2005 Rape Trial Is Arrested in New York
Ronald L. Fischer vanished just before he was convicted. After more than 20 years on the run, he was arrested on a sailboat in the East River, the authorities said.
How Trump Is Using Federal Agencies to Target Elections
Nick Corasaniti, a Politics reporter, explains how the Trump administration is deploying federal agencies to investigate and reshape electoral processes under state jurisdiction.
Politics
View All 10Farage’s furious clash with Times editor stuns figures close to him
Nigel Farage speaking at the inaugural CPAC GB event on 17 July. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Nigel Farage speaking at the inaugural CPAC GB event on 17 July. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock Farage’s furious clash with Times editor stuns figures close to him ‘Strong confrontation’ comes at fragile moment for Reform’s relations with rightwing media as coverage turns negative Nigel Farage is no stranger to expressing his ire at what he regards as the liberal establishment, but even figures close to him were surprised at the tirade of anger he unleashed upon the editor of the Times. The exchange, which is said to have included an expletive aimed at Tony Gallagher, was triggered ’s outrage that the paper was planning to run a story about his houses, which he said endangered his family. A source with knowledge of the encounter said it ended in “a strong confrontation”. It is a fragile moment for Reform’s relationship with Britain’s rightwing media, whose coverage of Farage and his byelection gamble has taken a negative turn since questions were raised about his funding and finances. Coverage , part of Rupert Murdoch’s News UK stable, as well as the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, has made for tough reading for Reform in recent days. While the Telegraph has given column inches to party figures to air their grievances at the media, recent stories have also described Farage’s decision to subject himself to a “people versus the establishment” byelection in Clacton as a “summer gamble” and a farce. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch appeared in its pages stating the Conservative party “is for serious people, not a retirement home for failed politicians” – a jibe at Reform’s collection of Tory defectors. View image in fullscreen Nigel Farage points to coverage inside the Sun during a Reform campaign speech at a working men’s club in Durham last year. Photograph: Victoria Jones/REX/ShutterstockThe Mail has run a positive interview with Farage, but an editorial on the same day read: “How quickly times – and political fortunes – can change. It is only weeks since Reform UK’s rise appeared almost unstoppable. But two byelection defeats and concerns over leader Nigel Farage’s financial affairs have significantly altered the landscape.” This time last year, Farage was wooing News UK’s leaders and readers, seen as a crucial group in converting Reform’s poll lead into a broad enough power base to make a serious assault on Downing Street.
Why Britain is getting a new prime minister without a general election
Veteran Labour Party politician and popular former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is set to become Britain’s next prime minister on Monday, formally taking over from Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last month. Burnham was the only candidate to secure enough support from his fellow Labour lawmakers to replace Starmer as leader of the governing party. Because Labour holds a majority in government, its leader also becomes the U. Burnham received support from 349 out of 401 Labour Party lawmakers, and was announced Labour leader at a special party conference on Friday. He didn't officially become prime minister right away, though — that happens on Monday, when he meets King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for a formal go-ahead. Until then, Starmer remains caretaker prime minister. A look at how and why Britain is getting a new prime minister just two years after Starmer led his party to a landslide election victory: Why is there a change of leader without a general election? Britain’s parliamentary democracy allows governing parties to change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a general election. Prime ministers can be replaced if one has resigned as leader of their party, or been forced out by a leadership challenge. The next national election does not have to be held until 2029, five years from the last election in 2024. Starmer announced he was quitting as Labour leader on June 22 after barely two years in power, ending a tenure marred by a series of political missteps -- most notably his decision to appoint a man with close ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. Heavy losses suffered a midterm set of local elections in May prompted many lawmakers to demand Starmer's resignation. And when Burnham — favored — won a special election for a seat in Parliament, Starmer gave in to the mounting pressure to quit. His resignation automatically triggered a Labour leadership contest. Under Labour rules, a lawmaker can challenge the leader if they have the backing of a fifth of the party's House of Commons lawmakers. There was no other contestant other than Burnham, who comfortably surpassed that threshold. Burnham will be the 7th prime minister in a decade It’s not unusual for prime ministers to come to power without a broad election under Britain’s parliamentary system. In fact, four of the six British prime ministers in the past decade took the top job , not .
David Crowley set to rejoin Wisconsin governor’s race after lieutenant governor exit
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley will rejoin the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor following the sudden exit of Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D), who ended her bid on Friday over an ongoing scandal related to campaign finance errors. Crowley teased on social media that a “big announcement” would be coming in a campaign…
Paul Pelosi faces misdemeanor hit-and-run charge
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband was charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run on Friday, weeks after he allegedly crashed into an unoccupied parked car and left the scene. Paul Pelosi, 86, was charged under a California state law that requires drivers involved in collisions resulting in property damage to stop and provide their driver’s…
Business
View All 10Superdrug owner considers delay to planned London IPO
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Data errors mar UK regulator’s new short selling disclosure rules
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Washington pushes EU to announce import rules rollback
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The next crash: why this time might not be different
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Technology
View All 10SteelSeries Coupon Codes: 15% Off in July 2026
Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story SteelSeries Coupon Codes: 15% Off Gaming Headsets It’s not a great gaming setup if you don’t have a headset to let you immerse yourself into the game. Most of my favorite games stay longtime favorites thanks to their soundtrack, after all, and gaming headsets are also designed to let you both join a Discord call without muting the game’s music. Both the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite and Arctis Nova 3P Wireless were recent hits with our reviewers, and now you can use the SteelSeries promo code POWERUP15 for 15% off gaming headsets. 10% Off With a SteelSeries Coupon for First Orders Making your first order ever from SteelSteries? There’s a discount code for that. The SteelSeries first order coupon code lets you take 10% off your first full-price purchase as a new customer. To use it, skip the sale section, and pick anything else at full price that catches your eye on SteelSeries’ site. It’s a great way to splurge without totally splurging on things like gaming mice and controllers that might not already be on sale. Get the Latest SteelSeries Deals and Offers If you’re curious about what’s already on sale without needing a SteelSeries coupon code, check out the SteelSeries deals section. You’ll find headsets, keyboards, controllers, mice and more already on sale, with discounts often up to 30% or more. It’s a great spot to shop if you’re not picky about what you want, and there’s several colors of the Arctis Nova 3P Wireless you can find for sale right now. Up to 39% Off SteelSeries Bundles If you know you want a little of everything—a keyboard! A controller!—then you should look at a SteelSeries bundle to get a better deal. You won’t need a formal SteelSeries coupon code for these, and can instead head to the gaming bundles section of SteelSeries’ site to get up to 39% off bundles of gaming gear. I’m personally a sucker for the White Out Core Bundle that’s 22% off, but there’s tons of bundles that vary for what you might be looking for. SteelSeries Promos: 30% Off Gaming Controllers There’s no gaming without a gaming controller for me, at least where most games are involved. Sure, I want a keyboard handy when needed, but I find it infinitely more comfortable to use a controller instead of the keyboard shortcuts to walk around (not everyone feels that way, so you do you.) If you need a new controller, SteelSeries has you covered with discounted gaming controllers on its site.
Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out
In late May, Neil Rimer said something during a sit-down I had with him in Athens that I haven’t been able to shake. At a vibrant new tech festival in the city, talking about the wealth piling up around AI, he said he has “a strong sense that there will be some sort of a redistribution.” He continued on. “It’ll either be voluntary or it’ll be involuntary, but it’ll happen, and I hope it’s voluntary,” he told me, adding that he thinks tech leaders “can play a leading role in seeing that through.” Coming from most people, that would sound like standard-issue populism. Coming from Rimer, a co-founder of Index Ventures, one of the most successful venture firms of the last three decades, it seemed a striking thing to say in public. Rimer stepped back from day-to-day investing in 2021, and these days spends much of his time in Athens, where his wife is from and where his children treasure their Greek passports. He turned up to our interview in a rumpled button-down and jeans, not the quarter-zips and fine knitwear that mark so many of his peers. Yet Index’s returns in recent years have been exceptional: the firm has raised roughly $15 billion from outside investors since its founding, and last year’s exits including Figma’s IPO and Google’s purchase of the cybersecurity firm Wiz reportedly netted Index roughly $9 billion. Rimer has found ways to give back. He sits on the board of Endeavor Greece, which mentors entrepreneurs in emerging markets, and chaired the board of Human Rights Watch from 2019 to 2025. In late 2021, he and his father and two brothers gave $13 million to McGill University to renovate a campus building, now the Rimer Building, and found a new Institute for Indigenous Research and Knowledges. In the meantime, his comment about redistribution comes at an odd moment, to be charitable, for giving. The Giving Pledge, the promise Warren Buffett and Bill Gates launched in 2010 to get billionaires to commit half their fortunes to charity, is becoming increasingly irrelevant. One hundred and thirteen families signed in its first five years, then 72, then 43, then just four in all of 2024, per a New York Times report in March that underscored how out-of-fashion philanthropy has become among some of the richest people in tech. (Noted that piece: “Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has said that his businesses ‘are philanthropy.’”) The pattern appears to hold beyond the Pledge.
Applications close in 48 hours — here’s everything Australian founders need to know about Stripe x Startup Battlefield
The window is almost shut. On August 19, eight startups will take the stage at Stripe Tour Sydney in front of investors, global press, and the Australian tech community. One startup walks away with automatic entry into TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco — no application, no further competition, a guaranteed spot on the world’s most iconic startup stage. There are only 48 hours left to apply. Don’t wait. Here’s everything you need to know. What is Stripe x Startup Battlefield? Startup Battlefield is TechCrunch’s flagship pitch competition — the one that launched Dropbox, Cloudflare, Discord, and Trello. Collectively, Startup Battlefield alumni have raised $32 billion and produced more than 250 exits across 1,700+ companies worldwide. The Stripe x Startup Battlefield is a first-of-its-kind partnership with Stripe, bringing the competition to Sydney for one night only. Eight Australian startups will be selected to pitch live. One will go to San Francisco. Grand winner: $15,000 in Stripe fee credits + automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt, San Francisco, October 13–15, 2026. Second place: $5,000 in Stripe fee credits. Third place: $2,000 in Stripe fee credits. Every applicant — whether selected to pitch or not — will be invited and registered to attend Stripe Tour Sydney on August 19. What we look for — and what won’t hold you back We are not looking for the most polished companies in Australia. We are looking for the most promising ones. The question we ask about every application is simple: Does this change something? A few things that will not disqualify you: Some press coverage won’t hurt you. If your company has had local or industry coverage but your core technology hasn’t had its moment yet, that’s exactly what this stage is for. You don’t need customers yet. You need a working MVP, but revenue and launch are not requirements. Many Startup Battlefield companies applied more than once before being selected. A past rejection is not a data point about your company’s future. How to put together a strong application Show your product working. Not a pitch deck with screenshots. Your actual MVP, in real time, on video — even if it’s rough. This is the single most important part of your application. Be honest about your competition. Naming your competitors and explaining specifically why you win tells us more about your market understanding than any TAM slide ever will. The founding story — what you saw, why now, why you’re the right person to build this — is a meaningful part of how we evaluate teams.
Kaiser nurses say AI, workplace surveillance are making their jobs, care worse
Kaiser Permanente advice nurse Raquel Alvarez Sanchez works from her home office in Santa Rosa on April 6, 2026. Kaiser Permanente nurses have raised concerns about the growing use of AI to monitor their work ahead of upcoming contract negotiations. (Chad Surmick for CalMatters) KAISER PERMANENTE NURSES who answer advice and triage calls say their duty of care for patients is being increasingly threatened . Seven current and former nurses told CalMatters that those who spend more than 15 minutes on a call with a patient routinely face criticism from Kaiser management or get called into performance evaluation meetings. Call time, they said, factors into monthly performance scores they receive. In addition to tracking call length, they said Kaiser uses software that tries to predict on a daily basis whether they’re being unproductive or failing to answer calls quickly. Artificial intelligence systems have also been used to rate their empathy and tone of voice. Their comments come as the California Nurses Association begins negotiating a new contract with Kaiser this month with AI a likely issue. Kaiser nurses went on strike against AI for one day in March and picketed against AI last fall. The CNA is bargaining for 25,000 nurses, including 1,000 in call centers. At the same time, California lawmakers are considering several bills regulating AI in the workplace, including one that would protect from retaliation doctors and nurses who override automated care recommendations. Kaiser defended its use of AI, saying it deploys the technology with patient safety in mind and does not use “average handle time” to assess performance. Kaiser Permanente is the largest private employer in California, providing healthcare services to more than 9 million people in the state and to 3 million other Americans. That means the company’s use of artificial intelligence could set important precedents for managing workers with AI. It could also have a big impact on patient care, providing an early example of how the healthcare sector balances cost-cutting automation with human presence or touch. Raquel Alvarez Sanchez, a Kaiser Permanente advice nurse in Vallejo since 2010, said she was on a call with a patient who was suicidal last year that took more than an hour because she had to wait for police to arrive before hanging up. She tried to make the man feel cared for, even though she was cognizant that staying on the call that long would throw off her average call time for weeks and could lead to questions from management.
Science
View All 10Trump threatens new Canada tariffs over fires sending 'filthy' air into US cities
Smoke from the massive wildfires has cast an orange haze over New York City US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada after hundreds of wildfires have left much of the northern US covered by a blanket of smoke. The threat follows complaints 's premier Doug Ford asking the US to send support to fight the fires, rather than complain. "The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air," Trump said, threatening to impose new levies over Canada's "willful negligence". As of Friday, there were about 888 fires actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, external - with the majority burning out of control. More than 190 of those blazes are burning in Ontario, some out of control. Trump said in his post to Truth Social that he would call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to demand an explanation over his country's "willful negligence," accusing the country of "not properly maintaining" their forests and brush. Fellow Republicans have used the issue to renew Trump's call to make Canada the 51st US state, a musing that has offended Canadians and prompted many to stop travelling to their southern neighbour in protest. Others online suggested a delay in opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a Canada-funded project that will connect Ontario to Michigan. Carney earlier noted that it was the responsibility of both countries to fight climate change. After Trump's remarks, Carney's emergency management cabinet minister said the two countries remain in constant contact and share a long history of working together on such disasters, citing a reciprocal fire-fighting agreement from 1982 and another assistance agreement from emerged from the 2025 G7 summit. Canada has worked to prevent wildfires and invested about C$12bn ($8.5bn; £6.4bn) in forests sustainability and fire prevention, MP Eleanor Olszewski said in the statement. "This is a challenge that knows no borders, and Canada is working with speed, collaboration and coordination to keep people safe," she added. Relations between the US and Canada have been tense at times over the last year, mostly due to trade. Last year, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada - a country that had enjoyed decades of free trade with the US - and both countries have still yet to reach a trade deal. What to know about Canadian and US wildfires The impact of wildfire smoke and how to protect yourself Canada fires prompt US air quality alerts According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, nearly 3 million hectares of land in Canada has already been destroyed .
Second half of summer to bring chances for rain but heatwave threat persists
The UK's weather may turn a little more changeable during the second half of summer with spells of rain featuring in some long-range forecasts. There is also a high chance that temperatures will remain largely above average during late July and August and further heatwaves cannot be ruled out. The season so far has been notable for its heat, with a number of records broken - including some which date back to the notorious summer of 1976. A lack of rain has also been a big part of summer with some places in southern England seeing no measurable rain for more than four weeks. Hosepipe bans are in force for millions of households and dry vegetation has provided fuel for wildfires to burn in a number of areas. Current trends suggest a chance of more changeable weather during the second half of summer. However, the signals from computer weather models are rather mixed meaning there is a lot of uncertainty. The latest sub-seasonal forecast from DTN - the BBC's weather data supplier - suggests that areas of low pressure will feature more prominently over the next couple of weeks, especially for Scotland and Northern Ireland. This would mean an increase in wet weather. However the Azores high, a semi-permanent large area of high pressure over the North Atlantic which can block weather fronts from reaching the UK, is likely to be close by. This will keep things drier, although not necessarily completely so. Temperatures are most likely to remain above the seasonal norm, especially in England and Wales where further hot spells or heatwaves are possible into early August. The latest Met Office long range forecast hints at similar conditions, suggesting that "the influence of high pressure may wane somewhat" during the final part of July. This would mean an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity, initially in the north of the UK but with rain eventually spreading southwards at times. The Met Office forecast also suggests a changeable start to August, but with above-average temperatures and the chance of further hot spells. Long-range forecasting is fraught with uncertainty. The behaviour of our chaotic atmosphere generally becomes harder to predict the further into the future you gaze. Forecasters are looking for overall trends rather than day-by-day detail and at the moment those trends look rather unclear. Whatever your plans for the rest of the summer, you can always keep up to date with the latest forecasts on the BBC Weather app.
Using AI for creative pursuits? Moderation is key
There is a “Goldilocks zone” for AI use during creative pursuits Clare Jackson/Alamy “Mischa’s parents are hosting their daughter’s engagement party at their country mansion. As she makes a toast, her wine glass slips from her hand to reveal an object embedded in the stem – a tiny memory card. The discovery unravels a decades-old corruption scandal involving her own family, forcing her to choose between justice and loyalty.” Not bad, I suppose. I have just asked ChatGPT to create a series of concepts for a movie, based on the creative writing prompt “Her face went still as her eyes widened, watching the glass shatter on the floor”, and this is one of its better suggestions. My aim is to develop a short outline of a plot within 30 minutes. No, I don’t have any serious aspirations to break into Hollywood. But I wanted to test out the findings of a recent paper by Hsuan-Che Brad Huang during his PhD at the University of British Columbia in Canada. There has been a lot of online discussion about whether algorithms will replace human brainwork, but Huang wanted to see whether AI can enhance our own creativity – and the answer depends on how much we use it. Too little or too much and our thinking suffers. In the “Goldilocks zone”, however, it can inspire new ideas that we might have never considered by ourselves, while leaving us with a satisfying sense of ownership over the work we have produced. Sadly, I find it highly unlikely that my experiment has produced the next blockbuster, but it has helped clarify my thoughts about the nature of creativity. Huang’s hypothesis was based on the fact that human creativity is often constrained ; we all carry certain assumptions that will direct our thinking in one direction, and so it can often be useful to hear from other ways of seeing the world. There is evidence that is why teams are often more creative than individuals. But AI could also be a tool for getting a different perspective. The technology has its limits, of course. LLMs, which are in essence statistical tools, often present a kind of “average response” to questions, without the amazing idiosyncrasies of the human brain, and they often absorb biases and prejudices from their training data. Worse still, they can undermine our own feelings of competence, producing a kind of apathy.
Supplement that binds to microplastics may remove them from our body
Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment, but we’re still figuring out what effect they have on our health, if any watchwaterrr/Adobe Stock A postbiotic may limit our absorption of microplastics, according to the first human trial of a microplastic-removal supplement. It uses the rough surface of dead bacteria to attract microplastics, preventing them from entering cells. Microplastics, which are less than 5 millimetres long, are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected throughout the human body. Research has shown that people with arterial plaques containing microplastics are more than four times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with plastic-free plaques. Higher concentrations of microplastics have also been reported in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. They then incubated microplastics and Qi601 together and found the plastic particles stuck to the walls’ rough surfaces. To gauge whether this would work in the body, they added nanoplastics – smaller than 0.001 millimetres – and Qi601 to fluids resembling different parts of the digestive system and found that up to 92 per cent of them spontaneously bound to the postbiotic. The researchers also exposed human intestinal-like cells to nanoplastics with and without the postbiotic and found that when Qi601 wasn’t present, nanoplastics accumulated within cells and on their surfaces. When Qi601 was added, significantly less nanoplastics were visible inside or on the cells, suggesting that the postbiotic mopped them up before they could be absorbed. Plastic particles (round) sticking to the rough surfaces of dead bacteria’s cell walls Quorum Innovations In another part of the experiment, the researchers wanted to see whether Qi601 could remove nanoplastics already inside cells. They first exposed cells to nanoplastics in the lab for 24 hours and later added Qi601, which reduced the number of plastic particles inside the cells by 43 per cent. This seems to happen by Qi601 capturing plastic when it is transported in and out of cells during a process called vesicle recycling. Finally, participants chewed commercial gum, which releases numerous microplastic particles into saliva, until they had collected 10 millilitres of saliva. The researchers then repeated the experiment but placed 10 milligrams of powdered Qi601 in the participants’ mouths after 5 seconds of chewing. Analysis of the saliva from one participant showed 2152 freely floating plastic particles after chewing gum alone, compared with 185 when Qi601 was added. “Our results represent the first demonstration of microplastics being bound by a microplastic mitigant in [people],” says Berke.
Environment
View All 10What this desert city can teach the world about tackling heat deaths
It has been a blisteringly hot summer for much of the US and Europe. Scientists have warned that these extreme temperatures are the new normal for these communities. France reported an increase of more than 2,000 deaths during the record-breaking heatwave in late June. In England and Wales, scientists estimated that more than 2,700 people may have died from heat-related causes from a series of heatwaves since May. And in the US, at least 44 heat-related deaths were reported over the 4 July holiday weekend from the extreme weather. For many, the rising temperatures have been a shock to the system, a new reality people have had to adjust to as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense with climate change. "People don't realise this is not the same heat that we were experiencing 10 years ago, it is actually worse, because in many cases nighttime temperatures are not cooling off," Jennifer Marlon, a Yale University researcher who looks at the impacts of extreme heat, told the BBC. Our bodies rely on cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from the heat of the day. But for one city in the US, hot temperatures are not new. Officials in Phoenix, Arizona, have spent years working on solutions to reduce heat deaths, an effort that seems to be working, and could provide a blueprint for the world. Maricopa County where Phoenix is located, has some of the hottest temperatures in the US so it finds itself at the forefront of the battle over heat safety - working on programmes that offer residents access to cooling centres and free air conditioning. More than 2,700 people may have died in exceptional May and June heatwaves in England and Wales France records 2,025 excess deaths at peak of heatwave as Europe braces for more extreme weather Free air con? US cities look at new ways to prevent heat deaths Phoenix was the first city worldwide to hire a heat officer in 2021. "We've had the the relative benefit of knowing that this is going to be a problem every year, but it appears to be more and more of a problem or more of a predictable event in communities across the globe," Maricopa County's chief medical officer Nicholas Staab told the BBC. The county's efforts to reduce the number of heat-related deaths have proved successful in recent years. After heat-related deaths reached a peak of 645 in 2023, they declined to 405 in 2025 - with many experts attributing part of the decline to the policy changes.
What to know about the Canadian and US wildfires and their impact
Wildfire smoke is expected to continue affecting air quality in Toronto and US cities throughout the week Cities across north-eastern Canada and the US are suffering from intense smoke brought on . Many of the blazes are burning out of control, with some causing evacuations and damage. The blazes left one tribal community completely decimated in northern Ontario, ripping through the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation with little warning. In the US and across parts of Canada, a blanket of thick smoke has remained due to the fires, hiding prominent city skylines and causing many to don facemasks. On Friday, Detroit, Chicago, Washington DC, and New York topped the list for the worst air quality in the world, drawing warnings from local officials to limit time outdoors due to potential health impacts of inhaling the fumes. The cross-border effects are also causing a row between Canadian and US officials with President Trump threatening new tariffs to cover the cost of the smoke damage, which he claimed was "incalculable". Canada wildfires leave train 'encased in flames' as smoke drifts towards US There are currently about 888 wildfires actively burning across Canada – nearly 200 of those in Ontario - according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Along the northern edge of Minnesota, there are 15 fires that are still burning and an emergency declaration is in place to help mobilise suppression efforts. In Ontario, the fires are north of Lake Superior in more remote parts of the province, but within or close to national parks and First Nation communities. So far, six communities are under evacuation orders with reports of damage to properties. Matthew Hoppe, incident commander for the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, told the BBC that his community was devastated . Community members had to "self-evacuate" via small boats on Monday afternoon with the fire rapidly approaching, Hoppe said, adding that there were no deaths or direct injuries, he says, but the community has been "completely levelled". Wildfires are very common in Canada, but the number of outbreaks has rapidly increased in recent weeks. A sea of red indicating wildfires from earlier this week The National Interagency Fire Centre in the US and Natural Resources Canada predicted this was likely, external because of sustained hot weather at the end of June across northern Ontario, and below average rainfall, external. This hot weather is being caused by a heat dome - an area of high pressure that gets stuck trapping warm air and the smoke underneath.
Thousands flee as First Nations bear the brunt of Canada’s wildfires
More than 900 wildfires are burning throughout Canada, with devastating impacts for First Nations. Thirteen Nations remain under evacuation orders that have forced 2,182 people from their homes. The Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation watched one blaze largely destroy its entire community in less than an hour, forcing residents to flee by boat. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How The effect has been greatest in Ontario, where seven First Nations have fled the 193 fires now burning there. According to the Chiefs of Ontario, several communities were cleared under mandatory orders issued . In addition to Namaygoosisagagun, Whitesand First Nation, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, and Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek are among those impacted . Dozens of non-Indigenous communities throughout the province have been ordered to evacuate as well. The Namaygoosisagagun (Collins) First Nation is about 125 miles north of Thunder Bay and inaccessible by road. Debassige told The Canadian Press that residents did not receive advance warning from provincial or national officials, nor did they receive any evacuation support. It’s been reported that community members went door-to-door warning their neighbors, and more than two dozen people fled . Meaghan Daniel, a lawyer who represents Collins First Nation, told The Canadian Press that residents also are being denied assistance because the national government does not recognize it as a First Nation. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How Although residents are recognized as First Nations people under the Indian Act, the community itself is not. Its leaders have long sought official recognition. Daniel sent a letter to Mandy Gull-Masty, the Indigenous Services minister calling on the agency to provide the emergency, recovery, and reconstruction support recognized communities are entitled to. “To be clear, if Namaygoosisagagun is denied access to the emergency and rebuilding supports available to recognized First Nations, it will not simply suffer a slower recovery. It may lose forever the opportunity to rebuild the community its members spent decades creating,” the letter states, according to The Canadian Press. “In those circumstances, the question is not merely whether recovery will be delayed. It is whether Namaygoosisagagun will have a future in the place it has called home since time immemorial.” Read Next A ‘crisis communication gap’ threatens Indigenous peoples Dionne Phillips In a statement emailed to The Canadian Press, Eric Head, a spokesperson for the agency, said efforts are now underway to determine the community’s immediate needs and coordinate support to meet them.
Most “zombie credits” locked out of new UN carbon market after China and India snub
Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print China and India have declined to back any of their old United Nations carbon credit projects seeking to sell offsets under the new UN market, driving a cull of nearly three-quarters of applicants, analysis of official data shows. Only 415 out of more than 1,500 projects and programmes hoping to move from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the new carbon market set up under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement won the approval of their host governments by the 30 June deadline - a crucial step in transitioning them. The two Asian giants, home to two-thirds of all applicants, account for the bulk of the exclusions. Brazil, the other heavyweight of the CDM era, took the opposite path, approving nearly all of its projects in a last-minute rush that leaves it with the largest number of activities still in the running to sell credits under the new mechanism. Carbon market watchers have long regarded the CDM, set up under the Kyoto Protocol which has now been largely replaced , as largely discredited for failing to drive real emission cuts. They also warned that letting its projects live on could dent confidence in the mechanism's successor. If all projects seeking transition had been successful, they could have flooded the market with up to more than 900 million credits generated with largely outdated rules, according to UN estimates. One credit is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 900 million tonnes is similar to Japan's annual emissions. Already have an account? Log in here → Upgrade to keep reading For 15 years we’ve rigorously reported on the decisions shaping our climate. Upgrading to a paid subscription is how readers like you help keep this work going. £40/quarter → Or £130/year — best value. China and India have declined to back any of their old United Nations carbon credit projects seeking to sell offsets under the new UN market, driving a cull of nearly three-quarters of applicants, analysis of official data shows. Only 415 out of more than 1,500 projects and programmes hoping to move from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the new carbon market set up under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement won the approval of their host governments by the 30 June deadline - a crucial step in transitioning them. The two Asian giants, home to two-thirds of all applicants, account for the bulk of the exclusions. Brazil, the other heavyweight of the CDM era, took the opposite path, approving nearly all of its projects in a last-minute rush that leaves it with the largest number of activities still in the running to sell credits under the new mechanism.
Weather
View All 8Today: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 10°C (50°F) Maximum Temperature: 23°C (73°F)
This video can not be played After early sunny spells, cloud will build for a time with a few light spots of rain or drizzle in spots. Later on, the drizzle will dry out and cloud will break up, leaving sunshine. Tonight will continue dry, and there will be mainly clear skies. Just a few patches of cloud drifting in from the north at times. Tomorrow then looks to be a dry and fine day with plenty of sunshine around throughout. Outlook for Monday to Wednesday Staying dry on Monday, with sunny spells but also some areas of patchy cloud in places. Tuesday looks to see patchy cloud build in for a time in the early afternoon, but the cloud will clear later on to sunny spells. Variable cloud to start on Wednesday, but sunshine developing more widely later, along with a small chance of the odd shower. Average wind speed 1 Miles per hour, East North Easterly1Average wind speed 2 Kilometres per hour, East North Easterly2 Humidity: Humidity: 93%,93% Visibility: Visibility: Good, Good Pressure: Pressure: 1020 millibars, Rising,1020mb, Rising Observation station: Rostherne no 2 (53.367° North, 2.383° West)Observation station: Rostherne no 2 (53.367° N, 2.383° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan OutnaboutReported , Tameside Razzamataz Reported , Bolton keithReported , Wigan Northern Rambler Reported
Sunday: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 12°C (54°F) Maximum Temperature: 24°C (74°F)
This video can not be played After early sunny spells, cloud will build for a time with a few light spots of rain or drizzle in spots. Later on, the drizzle will dry out and cloud will break up, leaving sunshine. Tonight will continue dry, and there will be mainly clear skies. Just a few patches of cloud drifting in from the north at times. Tomorrow then looks to be a dry and fine day with plenty of sunshine around throughout. Outlook for Monday to Wednesday Staying dry on Monday, with sunny spells but also some areas of patchy cloud in places. Tuesday looks to see patchy cloud build in for a time in the early afternoon, but the cloud will clear later on to sunny spells. Variable cloud to start on Wednesday, but sunshine developing more widely later, along with a small chance of the odd shower. Average wind speed 1 Miles per hour, East North Easterly1Average wind speed 2 Kilometres per hour, East North Easterly2 Humidity: Humidity: 93%,93% Visibility: Visibility: Good, Good Pressure: Pressure: 1020 millibars, Rising,1020mb, Rising Observation station: Rostherne no 2 (53.367° North, 2.383° West)Observation station: Rostherne no 2 (53.367° N, 2.383° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan OutnaboutReported , Tameside Razzamataz Reported , Bolton keithReported , Wigan Northern Rambler Reported
Major M7.3 earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico, hazardous tsunami waves forecast
Epicenter of M7.3 earthquake in offshore Chiapas, Mexico on July 17, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google The epicenter was located 48 km (30 miles) SW of Aquiles Serdán (population 1 135), 67 km (42 miles) SW of Huixtla (population 32 033), 72 km (44 miles) WSW of Tapachula (population 202 672), 73 km (45 miles) WNW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate (population 13 743), MExico, and 121 km (75 miles) WSW of San Marcos (population 47 063), Guatemala. 382 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 1 056 000 strong, 4 668 000 moderate and 12 367 000 light. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 m (1 to 3 feet) above tide level are possible along some coasts of Guatemala and Mexico. Waves below 0.3 m (1 foot) above tide level are forecast for the coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. No PAGER alert has been issued . Alert information for this event is currently under review and will be available soon. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and mud wall construction. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses. Liquefaction triggered /or spatial extent. The number of people living near areas that could have produced liquefaction in this earthquake is extensive. Little or no landsliding is expected. Little or no population is exposed to potential earthquake-induced landslides. Epicenter of M7.3 earthquake in offshore Chiapas, Mexico on July 17, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking Selected cities exposed Regional seismicity References: 1 M7.3 earthquake Offshore Chiapas, Mexico – USGS – July 17, 2026 2 M7.3 earthquake Offshore Chiapas, Mexico – EMSC – July 17, 2026 3 M7.3 earthquake Offshore Chiapas, Mexico – PTWC – July 17, 2026 Teo Blašković I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers. news.
Severe thunderstorms kill 2, leave 53 000 without power in France
/Pixabay Franceinfo reported that a woman was killed by a falling tree in Saint-Victurnien in the Haute-Vienne department. A man was also found dead in Dolomieu, in the Isère department, after a workshop caught fire following an apparent lightning strike. Around 53 000 customers remained without electricity on Friday morning, according to electricity distribution operator Enedis. Enedis reported that the outages were concentrated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle-Aquitaine regions, where about 25 000 and 20 000 customers respectively remained without power. The storms affected several departments, including Loire, Isère, Haute-Savoie and Corrèze, bringing strong winds, large hail and intense lightning, according to Franceinfo. In the Loire department, firefighters carried out 422 emergency interventions after roofs were damaged, trees fell onto roads and vehicles were struck . At the height of the event, up to 8 000 households lost electricity, while regional rail services between Lyon and Roanne remained disrupted on Friday. In neighboring Isère, around 5 000 households were left without power, while in Haute-Savoie a house caught fire after being struck by lightning. In Corrèze, strong winds forced the cancellation of a concert at the Lovely Brive Festival. According to the Keraunos observatory, around 3 000 lightning strikes were recorded across the Limousin region over the previous 24 hours. Météo-France lifted all remaining orange thunderstorm warnings on Friday after the storms moved away. France has experienced repeated episodes of extreme heat in recent weeks, with dry conditions contributing to major wildfires, while successive rounds of severe storms have caused widespread disruption to power and transport networks. References: 1 Storms leave 2 dead, 53,000 households without power in France – AA – July 17, 2026 Reet Kaur I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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