UK News
View All 9Labour slips Pakistan £153million in 'aid' while it refuses to take back Rochdale rape gang ringleader
Labour ministers have given the green light to hand Pakistan £153million in aid - despite the South Asian country refusing to take back Rochdale rape gang monster Shabir Ahmed.Last night, the Foreign Office released figures for the aid package for the next three years, despite the Government claiming it was doing "everything possible" to kick the Pakistani-born paedophile out of the country. The 73-year-old walked free from prison earlier this month after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.Ahmed was placed in a secure bail hostel following his release - but has since been moved after the location was leaked on social media. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Senior Tory and Reform UK figures have blasted the Government's decision to keep handing out aid to Pakistan while the country refusing to take back convicted grooming gang members. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Vile paedophile child rapists who came here from Pakistan should all be deported back."We should stop all overseas aid and issuance of new visas for Pakistani citizens until they take Ahmed and those like him back."Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel told the Mail: The fact Labour have approved £153million aid for Pakistan when they are refusing to take back Shabir Ahmed tells you all you need to know."No surprise that Labour slipped this out on the last day of this session of Parliament - so nobody can hold them to account.'Meanwhile, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said the decision was "proof the political class do not care about the British people". "Reform will stop foreign aid and visas issued to Pakistan immediately," he added. The announcement of the latest aid package to Islamabad comes after the South Asian country blamed Britain for turning the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader to a life of crime.GROOMING GANGS - BRITAIN'S SHAME:Ex-Attorney General urges 'weak' Labour to fight for Pakistan to accept Shabir AhmedRochdale grooming gang ringleader forced to move from bail hostel after location shared onlineEight men charged as part of grooming gang in South Wales sexually exploiting childrenTahir Andrabi, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman, pointed the finger at the UK for Shabir Ahmed's crimes because he "grew up, was raised, groomed and, unfortunately, spoiled" in Britain.He said the onus was "exclusively" on Britain, declaring publicly for the first time that Pakistan would not be taking back the 73-year-old paedophile, despite him being born there.Mr Andrabi said in a statement today: "His heinous crimes demand serious introspection rather than a quest to search for extraneous causes."Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Monday she would change immigration laws to close a loophole which currently prevents the paedophile's deportation.The 1971 Immigration Act currently forbids the removal of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973.Downing Street has insisted that the Government is "engaging" with Islamabad and "doing everything possible to deport him". No10 has insisted that the aid package will not be handed over to the Pakistani Government and instead be delivered to charities and other bodies operating within the country. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office said the aid will help forge a "safer, more resilient Pakistan" which would help limit "security and migration risks to the UK". Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Every woman in Britain owes a debt of gratitude to Lynne Pinches for standing up to trans cultists
Sometimes the liberties and freedoms we enjoy as citizens are won and maintained through the efforts of people we will never meet and whose names we don’t even know.When it comes to the ongoing struggle to defend women’s rights, for example, the name Lynne Pinches might not be uppermost in everyone’s mind.Neither, I imagine, would most people think of the field in which she operates – she is a professional pool player – as an obvious combat zone in that particular battle.However, every woman owes a debt of gratitude to Lynne. Her sheer courage and determination in the face of injustice and hostility are rooted in the finest traditions of popular struggle and have helped to strike a blow for the rights of her sisters-in-arms everywhere. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Lynne, 53, from Norwich, is a veteran competitor in her chosen sport. She created waves in 2023 when, having reached the final of a prestigious national tournament, she refused to participate against her opponent, a trans-identifying male. As the match was about to get under way, Lynne shook her opponent’s hand politely, packed away her cue and departed the arena.It was a small but deeply principled act of resistance against the cult of gender ideology and all its gross injustices.Lynne argued, as many female pool players do, that biological men enjoyed physical advantages in cue sports. (For example, men are able to make more powerful breaks through greater upper-body strength, and they enjoy height and reach advantages at the table.)Lynne lambasted the sport’s governing body for refusing to defend the integrity of the female category. “I don’t care about the money or the title or the trophy,” she said after forfeiting the match. “I care about fairness.”The following year, and in protest at the situation, she turned down what would then have been her first professional playing contract.After that, Lynne’s card was well and truly marked by the sport’s authorities, as well as by radical trans activists. She was subjected to a stream of abuse on social media and in person. On one occasion she was screamed at by the partner of a trans-identifying male competitor, and on another she had a bottle thrown at her.Such was the level of intimidation Lynne was advised by police to wear a bodycam at future pool events. She did so in April 2025 when attending a match organised by the sport’s main promoter, Ultimate Pool. Yet the bodycam was spotted by a trans activist who promptly informed security. Even though she offered to remove the camera, Lynne was booted out of the venue. Worse, she was later banned from all the promoter’s future events, not only as a competitor but also as a mere spectator. This seemed especially cruel given that both Lynne’s sons played in tournaments and she watched them regularly.Just days later, the Supreme Court ruled women and men were defined by biological sex for the purposes of equalities law. This forced the pool's governing body to change the rules so trans-identifying males were prevented from competing in the female category. Lynne’s principled stance had been vindicated.But even this did not persuade Ultimate Pool to lift the ban on Lynne. She remains blocked from attending all its events. So, in a further act of defiance, she is now suing the promoter for discrimination and victimisation and has launched a crowdfunder to that effect.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSMilitant trans group issues guide telling supporters how to cause ‘direct harm’Former Supreme Court judge who denied biological sex exists says she wished she had delivered the ruling that proved her wrongParents, teachers and doctors risk JAIL for trying to talk child out of trans treatmentLynne says she is taking the action “so that no one else is put through this in the future, because if they can do it to me after a lifetime of playing, they can absolutely do it to anyone”.For its part, the promoter strenuously denies the ban had any connection with Lynne’s gender-critical stance and has vowed to fight the claim. Plainly the courts will have the final say on that.In my view, Lynne is a hero – one of a growing number of women who have put their head above the parapet because they are sick and tired of seeing extremist ideologues and reality deniers try to erode the very concept of womanhood and smash up their hard-won sex-based rights.Events have shown that the Supreme Court judgement, welcome though it was, does not represent the final word in the battle to defend the freedoms and liberties of women and girls from attacks by the trans cultists. Across Britain, bodies and institutions captured by gender ideology are still trying to sidestep the judgement and appease the fanatics. So the fight goes on.Lynne Pinches has played the game of pool for 35 years. It is truly a disgrace women like her, who simply wish to compete on fair terms in the sport they love and have dedicated their lives to, are called upon to take part in these exhausting political and cultural battles.Nevertheless, they do so because they want to do what is right and to express their solidarity with women and girls everywhere. For that, they deserve the solidarity of the rest of us.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Parents not told about paedophile careworker
Paedophile Mark Campbell was a childcare worker at North Tyneside Council A council has apologised for failing to inform parents of looked-after-children that a former childcare worker had been convicted of child sex offences. Mark Campbell had unsupervised access to their children through his work at North Tyneside Council at the time of his offending last year. The council suspended him when he was arrested, but parents did not find out until reading media reports after he was jailed, with one saying she was "shaking" when she read about his crimes. The council said it was "sorry some families learned about this matter online rather than hearing from us directly", but there had been legal limitations on what could be shared before he was sentenced. Campbell's offences were revealed when he was caught sending messages to what he thought was a young teenage girl in July 2025. The offences are not believed to have involved children from his work. One mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was "in shock" because Campbell had taken her children swimming. "I felt physically sick knowing he had been around my children," said the woman, who we are calling Laura. "He was in a cubicle, he could have been looking at any child, not just mine. I can't get it out my head." Laura said she "felt physically sick" when a friend sent her a news article reporting on his sentencing. "Every single person who he has had contact with should have been notified on his charge," she said. Laura wants to quiz the council about how they can be certain no child in their care was affected. "I'm just angry," she said. "I want answers. They need to answer the questions." A council spokesperson said: "At no point have the police informed us that any children in care were involved in this case." Another mother, who we are calling Sarah to protect her identity, said she felt "so angry" at the discovery because Campbell had had unsupervised contact with her children. "I changed my daughter's nappy in front of him," she said. "In one session, he said my daughter was beautiful. I didn't think he was anyone to be worried about. "I can't get that comment out of my head now." After catching him in a police sting, officers also discovered indecent images of children on his mobile phone. The 52-year-old army veteran pleaded guilty to all charges in June 2026 and was jailed for 18 months last week.
Reviewer says this cellulite roller showed results after just two weeks - and it’s now less than £30 (aff)
A once-sceptical shopper says this manual massage tool has become a regular part of their beauty routine after they noticed visible improvements in just a fortnight
World News
View All 10Japan's parliament enshrines male-only succession for the shrinking imperial family
Japan's parliament enshrines male-only succession for the shrinking imperial family Japan’s parliament has enacted a historic revision to the 19th-century Imperial House Law -lineage men can become emperor ByMARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press July 16, 2026, PM TOKYO -- Japan’s parliament enacted Friday a historic revision to the 19th-century Imperial House Law -lineage men can become emperor, sparking fear that it could doom the already shrinking imperial family. The revisions include adoption of distant male relatives to father future heirs and allowing princesses to keep their royal status after marrying commoners. Royal watchers and experts fear the new measures could doom the 1,500-year-old hereditary institution , sparking worry about the shrinking, fast-aging imperial family. Emperor Naruhito ’s 24-year-old daughter is hugely popular, and many Japanese want her to be his successor, but Princess Aiko is ineligible because she is a woman. Japan’s male-only succession rule means the line must move to the emperor's younger brother, then to his 19-year-old nephew Prince Hisahito. Next in line after him is the emperor's 90-year-old uncle. In an imperial family that places a premium on male royal babies, Hisahito is the first such boy to be born in four decades. Only five of the 16 adults in the imperial family — there are no children — are men. This matters, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and other conservatives insist the male bloodline is “the only source of the emperor’s authority and legitimacy,” which will be the basis for the upcoming measures. While an emperor's mother can be a commoner, as is the case with the current one, only boys born to men with royal blood can be heirs to the throne, according to the Imperial House Law. The revision passed Friday to the antiquated law is meant to solidify the principle of that crucial bloodline . The new measures will also allow princesses to keep their royal status if they marry a commoner. “It’s a declaration to prevent female monarchs ... and to defend the male-lineage at all costs,” said Hideya Kawanishi, a Nagoya University expert on monarchy. “They cannot say it’s male chauvinism, so they call it tradition.” There have been eight female monarchs. The last was Empress Gosakuramachi, who ruled from 1762 to 1770. The paternal-line male succession was stipulated for the first time in the 1890 Imperial House Law, when Japan promoted patriarchal systems. That law was largely carried over to the current 1947 version. Friday’s revisions have led to protests from Japanese who government efforts as meant to eliminate Aiko from ruling and to justify discrimination against women and a patriarchal system. “It’s very ironic that the first female prime minister herself is the leading proponent of the obsession with male-succession,” Chizuko Ueno, a prominent feminist scholar, wrote recently referring to Takaichi.
A Trump Obsession That Carries a Cost for Democracy
In demanding steps to address the integrity of voting, President Trump persisted in relitigating his 2020 election defeat while finding ways to cast doubt on the 2026 outcome.
Takeaways From Trump’s Speech Claiming Election Vulnerabilities and China Interference
Documents released by the Trump administration to support the president’s claims did not back up his most aggressive statements.
Cyclosporiasis cases linked to lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations: CDC, FDA
Cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations: CDC, FDA The locations were in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia ByYouri Benadjaoud July 16, 2026, PM Recent cases of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis have been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. A traceback investigation carried out a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico that supplied the Taco Bell locations where people who became sick reported eating. The supplier has not been publicly identified. The CDC and FDA said more than 1,644 cases in the current outbreak involve people who reported eating at Taco Bell in those five states, including 94 people who were hospitalized. "Do not eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia," the CDC said in a notice posted Thursday. "CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak." The CDC said Taco Bell is working to stop using the lettuce. In an earlier statement, Taco Bell said it had taken "immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states" following "ongoing conversations with public health officials." The statement went on to say in part, "We believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests. Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same." In an FDA statement, the agency said it is working directly with the identified supplier to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market. "As part of this investigation, FDA and state partners have initiated collection of product samples for testing and analysis," the statement said. Additionally, FDA has increased screening at the border for products implicated in the outbreak. Kris Jenner's mother Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon dies at 91 Jul 16, PM 'Trees vanished in seconds': Canadian wildfire smoke prompts air quality alerts in US Jul 16, PM Democrats launch prebuttal to Trump address: 'He's scared to death' of the midterms Jul 16, PM Michigan health officials had previously said preliminary findings suggested lettuce or salad greens as a possible source of the outbreak but had not identified a specific ingredient, grower, supplier or retailer.
Politics
View All 10Head of Roman Abramovich foundation says UK blocking his salary over Ukraine dispute
For help please visit help. ft. com. We apologise for any inconvenience. The following information can help our support team to resolve this issue.
Five takeaways from Trump’s big elections speech
President Trump delivered an address to the nation on Thursday evening in which he sought to paint the state of U.S. election security as indefensible. In the process, Trump hoped to push for the passage of contentious legislation he favors — and to persuade more Americans to accept his widely debunked allegations of fraud in…
Democrats call ‘bull—-‘ on Trump’s election interference claims
Democrats raised alarm after President Trump’s revived his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election during a Thursday evening address. “You have to be a special kind of stupid to believe this bull—-,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said in a statement shared on…
Trump rails against election systems — and familiar enemies
None of the information Trump described appears to support his long-running claims that the 2020 election was stolen or that ballots and vote totals were manipulated.
Business
View All 10Xi pitches China as AI partner to developing world, warns against risks and security overreach
Livestream Menu Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will provide developing countries with 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities over the next five years. Beijing will also expand AI cooperation with blocs including ASEAN, the African Union and BRICS. Xi called for a “people-centered” approach to AI governance and said AI should remain “secure and controllable,” while warning against putting one country’s security above others. SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 17: Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives at the opening ceremony for the World AI Conference on July 17, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo -Pool/) Pool | News | Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday positioned China as a partner in artificial intelligence to the Global South, saying that countries should come together to build AI and help developing countries as well. Speaking at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Xi announced that China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs, as well as develop AI cooperation with various blocs, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States and the African Union. "China is willing to work with all parties to seize and address the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence development with a more open attitude, more pragmatic actions, and a longer-term vision,," according to a Google translation of his speech in Mandarin. Xi said that AI development should not be a "solo performance" by a single country, but a "symphony of international cooperation" and China was "ready to be more open, take more practical actions, and assume a more visionary perspective." Xi's remarks came a day after 29 countries signed an agreement in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO, which will be headquartered in the city, according to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua. Xi also urged to strengthen risk awareness, and ensure that AI was "secure and controllable," and was "always remains under human control," adding that countries should oppose "overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI, or placing one country's security over that of others." While the Chinese president did not name a specific country, the U. S. has implemented various export controls measures aimed at curbing China's access to high-end tech. S. began tightening restrictions during President Donald Trump's first term, including placing Huawei on the Commerce Department's Entity List in 2019. The Biden administration later introduced export controls in 2022 to restrict China's ability to buy advanced computing chips and manufacture advanced semiconductors, citing national security risks.
FirstFT: Burnham plans policy blitz
For help please visit help. ft. com. We apologise for any inconvenience. The following information can help our support team to resolve this issue.
The dangers of investor fatalism
For help please visit help. ft. com. We apologise for any inconvenience. The following information can help our support team to resolve this issue.
Trump doubles down on 2020 election claims in national address, alleging China meddling
Livestream Menu President Donald Trump in a national address sowed doubts about the security of U. S. election systems and voter information. Trump alleged extensive meddling 2020 election cycle, among numerous other claims that were quickly challenged . The speech comes as Trump and his allies work to reshape elections ahead of the November midterms. Polling shows Democrats are favored to win the U. US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026. Saul Loeb | Via Reuters President Donald Trump in a national address Thursday night sowed doubts about the security of U. S. election systems and voter information, alleging widespread meddling 2020 cycle among numerous other claims that were quickly challenged . Trump, who has falsely claimed for years that his loss to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 race was "rigged" due to widespread fraud, claimed in the primetime speech that newly declassified intelligence reveals "shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure." The roughly 25-minute primetime speech came as the president and his allies work to impose major changes in U. S. elections ahead of the November midterms via redistricting, adding procedural steps for Americans to vote and casting doubt on the validity of the country's electoral systems. Polls show Democrats are favored to retake the U. House amid Trump's slumping popularity, and Trump has expressed concerns about investigations he could face if Democrats control one or both chambers of Congress. Trump alleged Thursday that the documents posted to the White House website show China carried out the "illicit acquisition of 220 million U. S. voter files" starting in 2020, when Trump was president. Other files show the "deep state" worked to hide the "extent of China's sinister election meddling," Trump said, while claiming China did not want him to win reelection in 2020. But Trump, in early January of 2021, was shown classified intelligence gathered on foreign threats to the 2020 election, according to the declassified assessment from the U. S. intelligence community. "We assess that China did not deploy interference efforts and considered but did not deploy influence efforts intended to change the outcome of the US Presidential election," that report said. It later adds that intelligence officials assessed, "Beijing did not interfere with election infrastructure, including vote tabulation or the transmission of election results." That contradicts Trump's claim in Thursday's speech that Chinese meddling activities "included an attempt to manufacture illegal ballots" for Biden.
Technology
View All 10Home Depot Promo Codes: 50% Off in July 2026
Otherwise, you can the Home Depot coupon or text alerts to get an immediate $5 off the next in-store purchase of $50 or more. Another easy way to save sitewide at Home Depot is to set up a subscription for your go to products and automatically get 5% off and free delivery on your order. Join the Home Depot Text Program for $5 Off If you already shop a lot at Home Depot and are looking for other ways to save, signing up for The Home Depot’s Promo Text Program is a good idea. You’ll receive text messages with special promotions, offers, how-to guides for projects, and great design ideas. Plus, you’ll get $5 off your next purchase when you . Save Up to 50% With These Home Depot Coupon Codes and Discounts Home Depot deals are in full swing with huge discounts on a myriad of gifts and home project-related items, like 10% off flooring for Pro members with promo code SAMPLESAVE10, or 20% off Electrolux handheld electronics with code ELECTROLUX20, like the ever-popular Electrolux handheld garment steamer. There are also offers for free tools with battery kit purchases, and buy one get one free deals from top names like Milwaukee, DEWALT, and RYOBI. Power tools and hand tools are discounted up to 50% this season, as well as extremely handy lawn and outdoor power equipment that can help with shoveling and general pesky snow removal and home upkeep. Home Depot Online Coupons: Up to 30% Off Air Conditioners Summer’s here and that means rising temperatures, longer days, and higher heat index. Don’t be caught in the next heat wave without being prepared. With this Home Depot coupon, you can get up to 30% off air conditioners, plus everything else you need to stay cool like fans, smart thermostats, and more. This means saving hundreds on potentially lifesaving (and house-cooling) devices from top air conditioning brands like Midea, Windmill, LG, GE, Frigidaire, and more. Up to 15% Off Grills at Home Depot The best grills now offer a fair amount of tech to measure and control temperature (think: temperature probes and fans to modulate airflow). The WIRED Reviews team has been testing grills for more than a decade—searing, smoking, grilling, and even baking on them in all kinds of weather—to find the best choice for everyone. And Home Depot has a wide selection of grills for up to 15% off online right now. Get ready for outdoor summer grilling for less with Home Depot’s discounted grills—there’s something for every type of home chef, including gas, charcoal, pellet, portable, and kamado grills, plus smokers.
Paramount+ Coupon Codes and Deals for July 2026
The trial lasts one week, is for new subscribers only, and can’t be paired with other offers. There are tiered plans, including Essential, which allows for 3 devices, select Showtime series, NFL games, and can be streamed on up to 3 devices at once, but has ads; and Premium, which includes all that except there are no ads, downloadable content, CBS live, and all of Showtime content. Find the Right Paramount+ Plan Pricing and Get the Latest Deals It’s important that you choose the right Paramount+ streaming plan for you so that you can get the best bang for your buck. Lucky for you, all plans come with a 7-day free trial so you can make sure you’re choosing the right plan for you. The first is Paramount+ Essential, which is $8 per month. It has ads included, but you’ll have access to over 40,000 episodes and movies. And you’ll be able to stream on 3 devices at once, be able to watch NFL games on CBS and UEFA Champions League, and select Showtime series are also available. Paramount+ Premium is the next tier (and the most popular choice), which starts at $13 per month (after the free trial ends), and you’ll get everything mentioned in the previous tier, without ads. You’ll have all that as well as the ability to watch in 4K UHD, Dolby Vision or HDR10, downloadable movies and shows, streaming CBS live and all of Showtime’s content library. Can You Cancel Paramount Plus at any Time? If you find the service isn’t right for you, or just need to cut down on subscriptions, you can cancel Paramount+ any time. However, the cancellation process depends on where you signed up. If you signed up directly on the website, you’ll need to go to your account page. Save on a Paramount+ Subscription With Student and Military Discounts If you’re a student now (or have your student ID lying around somewhere), you can get a Paramount+ plan at only $4 a month. All you have to do is verify your student status and you’ll get 50% off any plan of your choosing for the first year. Or if you’re a military member, Paramount+ gives 50% off any subscription for life. Watch Paramount+ Originals and Fan Favorites There’s truly something for everyone in the family, with movies, kids’ shows, and Paramount+ originals included in every plan.
Princesses in Ancient Egypt Weren’t Just Royalty—They Were Trained Archers
Human History Princesses in Ancient Egypt Weren’t Just Royalty—They Were Trained Archers The weapons buried with royal women weren't just for show, new research suggests. 17, 2026, am ET Reading time 3 minutes The dagger buried with Princess Ita. Image: Sameh Abdel Mohsen Read Later Read Later Comments (1) The lives of princesses in ancient Egypt are often described as luxurious and sheltered, surrounded . A new look at the burial chambers of some ancient Egyptian princesses, however, reveals that they also took part in skilled physical activity and knew their way around weapons. A team of researchers studied six royal women’s mummies from the Middle Kingdom, some of whom were buried with items like bows and arrows—items traditionally associated with men. Scientists have long debated whether weapons found in the graves of ancient Egyptian princesses were ceremonial or functional. In other words, did the princesses use the weapons they were buried with? , the researchers found that the princesses were highly physically active in ways consistent with using the weapons buried alongside them. The findings are detailed in a study published today in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology. Not your average princess The mummies were originally found in the 1890s at Dahshur, a pyramid complex located southwest of Cairo. They were later rediscovered in 2020 during a curation project for the Egyptian museum after having been lost for years. Four of the six women were sisters: Princess Ita, Princess Khenmet, Princess Itaweret, and an anonymous woman provisionally identified as Princess Sathathormeryt; all were daughters of the pharaoh Amenemhat II. The four princesses were buried in matching underground chambers, which contained items like bows and arrows. A particularly striking dagger was buried alongside Princess Ita. The two other mummies belonged to Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor, who were also buried with similar items. Archaeologists analyzed their bones to determine their age, height, and sex, as well as any illnesses or injuries. The skeleton of Princess Itaweret revealed that she was a skilled archer who had survived broken ribs and foot fractures, while Princess Khenmet had robust ligament attachments. “These injuries were most likely caused by accidents, falls, hard blows, or other impacts linked to an active lifestyle, whether through hunting, military training, or other demanding activities,” said Hashesh. The mummies of Princess Noub-Hotep and King Hor showed similar evidence that they were archers. The findings suggest that members of the royal family actively took part in physically demanding activities such as archery and hunting, as reflected in the way their bones developed to support heavy muscle use.
How Has Roman Concrete Lasted for Millennia? 1,900-Year-Old Latrine Offers Clues
The Canopus, a pool at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, Italy Carole Raddato via Flickr under CC BY-SA 2.0 Ancient Roman infrastructure has stood the test of time. Today, you can walk through Italy and see concrete buildings, roads and aqueducts that have survived for about two millennia. Modern concrete, on the other hand, usually crumbles within roughly 100 years. Scientists have long tried to uncover the secrets of Roman concrete’s durability. For years, they assumed that its longevity was thanks to one key chemical process: the pozzolanic reaction, which occurs when volcanic ash reacts with the chemical lime and water. While that still holds, there seems to be more to the story. It turns out that another chemical reaction, known as carbonation, might also contribute to Roman concrete’s longevity. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances on July 8, could help researchers develop more sustainable and resilient concrete materials. For the new work, researchers traveled to the 1,900-year-old Hadrian’s Villa, a UNESCO World Heritage site that sits about 17 miles east of Rome. The sprawling estate is an architectural marvel, but one of its scientific gems are the communal toilets. They offer an unprecedented opportunity to study Roman concrete in its original state, unaltered . “Nobody restores a latrine,” says Paulo J. Monteiro, a study co-author and civil engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, to Sam Macdonald at Scientific American. “So, the material sat undisturbed for 19 centuries, quietly running an experiment no one alive could start.” Need to know: Who was Hadrian? Hadrian was the emperor of Rome from 117 to 138 C. He’s well known for having a wall, called Hadrian’s Wall, built in northern England to protect the Roman province of Britannia from neighbors in what’s now Scotland. Monteiro and his colleagues took a concrete sample from underneath a toilet seat. Back in the lab, they examined it under a high-powered microscope, scanned it with X-rays and analyzed its chemical composition. As expected, the specimen contained evidence that volcanic ash, lime and water had been combined to form the material. However, a closer look at the concrete’s pores and fractures revealed that calcite, a mineral with calcium, carbon and oxygen, was the primary binding agent. When atmospheric carbon dioxide reacts with the calcium compounds in the concrete, it forms the hard mineral calcite, which contains a lot of the compound calcium carbonate. The mineral fills small cracks and pores in the concrete, allowing ancient structures to strengthen and heal over time. “While the pozzolanic reaction is of fundamental importance, our findings suggest that carbonation over a long period of time also enhances the durability of concrete and can help it seal cracks as it ages,” Monteiro says in a statement.
Science
View All 10UK heatwave approaches two-week mark
Some parts of the UK are now approaching a fortnight of heatwave conditions. Places in southern England have recorded an unbroken run of 13 days above their heatwave criteria, and with Merryfield in Somerset reaching 30.6C (87.1F) on Thursday, the UK has seen 12 consecutive days at or above 30C, the longest such spell since 2006. In Bournemouth and Heathrow, temperatures above 26C and 28C respectively have continued now for nearly two weeks and whilst some slightly cooler air will arrive from the north this weekend, a few locations may well see another few days of heatwave yet. However, the 1976 UK record of 16 days at or above 30C seems unlikely to be broken. One of the most striking features of this heatwave has been how long it has lasted. Several factors have come together to create this intense and lengthy spell. First, our climate is changing - fast. Temperatures in the UK are now on average 1.33C warmer than they were during 1961-1990. However, the very hottest days have warmed three times quicker than this - by 4.5C in the Greater London region - according to the Met Office. Secondly, the weather set-up so far this summer has been especially conducive for building heat. The jet stream has meandered well to the north of the UK, allowing high pressure to build and warm air to drift in from south. As the high pressure has been so slow moving we have seen the development of a "heat dome". This weather pattern results in air sinking downwards, compressing and heating up as it hits the ground. This air also dries out, meaning no clouds can form, so strong sunshine is able to heat the ground even further. A slow-moving high pressure system over recent weeks has trapped hot air over western Europe allowed air to warm as it sinks downwards in the atmosphere This year is already shaping up to be an extraordinary one for weather records in the UK, having broken those for monthly temperature in both May and June . This is the third heatwave of 2026. At the same point last year, we had also just seen the third heatwave of 2025. However, last July, some places in the south saw four consecutive days above 30C. So far this July we have now reached 12 days above 30C and 13 days in heatwave criteria across parts of England and Wales. Heatwave conditions have also gripped parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland this week but the heat has been less intense and has not lasted as long.
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 test launch aborts at last second (video)
SpaceX tried to launch the Starship megarocket on its 13th test flight today but couldn't quite pull it off. Something went wrong just as the giant vehicle's 33 first-stage Raptor engines started to fire up, and an abort was triggered. "We'll take some time, dig into what triggered that abort once the booster was igniting to launch, and then we'll figure out what our path forward is going to be," SpaceX's Dan Huot said during the company's launch webcast today. SpaceX's second V3 Starship vehicle tries to launch on July 16, 2026. The attempt was aborted at the last second. ()It didn't take long for SpaceX to narrow in on the root cause and address it. "To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week," company founder and CEO Elon Musk said this evening via X, the social media platform he owns. Starship Flight 13 will fly from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas. Today's attempt occurred at p. m. EDT (2245 GMT; p. m. local time), right at the beginning of a 90-minute launch window. View Deal Flight 13 will be the second test launch of Starship Version 3 (V3), an upgraded variant of the megarocket designed to get it up to operational status. V3's first jaunt, Flight 12 on May 22, was mostly successful, but there were a few issues. For example, Starship's Super Heavy first stage didn't steer itself back for a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico as planned, and the Ship upper stage wasn't able to relight one of its Raptor engines in space. Starship V3 will get a second chance on Flight 13, whose goals are similar to those of Flight 12: Get Super Heavy down on target in the Gulf and send Ship most of the way around the world, for a controlled splashdown of its own off the coast of Western Australia. (Ship pulled that off on Flight 12.) There are a few new objectives, however. The most notable is the payload suite flying on Flight 13 — 20 of SpaceX's next-gen Starlink V3 internet satellites. The company wants to build a constellation of 100,000 Starlink V3 spacecraft in low Earth orbit using Starship, and Flight 13 will mark the satellites' first-ever trip to space. They won't stay up there, however; the spacecraft will be deployed on Ship's suborbital trajectory and will crash back to Earth after about 20 minutes, according to SpaceX. Six of the 20 Starlinks going up on Flight 13 will be equipped with cameras, to image Ship's heat shield.
At least one dead in Texas floods ravaging same area where campers died
This video can not be played Watch: Flood waters surge in Texas after huge rainstorms At least one person has died in flooding across central Texas - the same area that saw more than 130 deaths in flash floods last summer. "Large and deadly" flooding from the Guadalupe River is expected to ravage the region, following days of torrential rain, the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Antonio reported. Last year's flash floods originated from the same river. Early Thursday morning, emergency officials were encouraging residents in the area to evacuate. More than 130 people died there in floods last July, including 25 children and two counsellors at Camp Mystic, an all-girls camp near Kerrville, Texas, located along the river. In a Thursday afternoon update, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced at least one person has died in the flooding. "We will be doing everything possible to save human life," Abbott said in a social media post. He added that about 80 rescues have been made, and the person who was killed was not a camper in the region. The "rapidly rising rivers" will continue to surge throughout the day, the governor said. The NWS has offered constant updates, noting the urgent threat and urging for people to get to safety. "CATASTROPHIC flooding is occurring. Move to higher ground now! Guadalupe River is rapidly rising and will continue!" The San Antonio NWS posted on X. The Guadalupe River has already risen 32ft (975cm) in a four-hour span, according to the Texas Tribune. The flooding has impacted several counties in South Texas, including Uvalde, Kerr and Kendall. Video from the area shows cars slowly driving through flooded roads, with the brown water reaching up to their windows. A group of deer drifted with the current, stretching to hold their heads above water. Rescuers lifted small children out of the rising waters, carrying them in their arms as they waded back to dry land. The rain continued to splatter cars parked in a residential area, half-submerged in a brown soup. Floodwaters engulfed the Rodeo Los Corrales Dance Hall in Comfort, Texas Carter Lopez, 30, lives in Boerne, Texas, one of the areas affected . He helped pull people out of the water near his apartment, he told BBC News. Lopez's downstairs neighbours had nearly four inches of water flood their home after yesterday's storm. They had to take shelter in Lopez apartment, he said. Last year's floods weren't "quite as bad" as this year, he said.
Dangerous wildfire smoke continues to blanket parts of the U.S.
Unhealthy air quality across swaths of U. S. from wildfire smoke Orange skies and heavy smoke covered large parts of the U. S. on Thursday as Canada and Minnesota grapple with wildfires. Hazardous air quality is expected to continue. Environment Story Of The Day NPR hide caption toggle caption NPR Environment LISTEN & FOLLOW RSS link Environment Dangerous wildfire smoke continues to blanket parts of the U. Updated July 16, 20268:20 PM ET Originally published July 16, 20264:32 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By Ava Berger Dangerous wildfire smoke blankets parts of the U. Listen · Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www. npr. org/player/embed/nx-s1-5894857/nx-s1-9851584" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript Haze from Canadian wildfires blankets the Manhattan skyline as seen from the Top of the Rock Observation Deck on July 16, 2026 in New York City. Spencer Platt/ North America hide caption toggle caption Spencer Platt/ North America Heavy smoke continues to spread across the Great Lakes region into New England and as far south as Maryland, leading to unhealthy and even hazardous air quality in a number of states. The combination of extreme heat and dry conditions in Ontario and northern Minnesota led to significant spread of wildfires on July 13. More than 800 wildfires are actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System. Record breaking temperatures created a heat dome across western Ontario and Minnesota with some places reaching over 100 degrees. This allowed fires to continue on an "unprecedented run," said Derek Mallia, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah. In Ontario, dramatic videos on social media show intense fire and smoke-filled skies. The air quality in certain areas was labeled "very high risk" . Thousands of people in the region have been forced to evacuate. Air quality ranging from hazardous to unhealthy is also affecting parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, choking major northeastern cities like Philadelphia, New York City and Baltimore, according to AirNow. Loading... "You have a firehose of smoke coming right now," Mallia said. Those areas are expected to experience smoke-filled skies at least through the weekend. And longer and more severe droughts and prolonged heat waves are resulting in drier vegetation. Climate Air pollution still plagues nearly half of Americans. That does a number on our health "The frequency and intensity of these wildfire smoke events are increasing," said Dan Westervelt, an associate research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
Environment
View All 10‘We are waiting with bated breath’: experts alarmed as BoM says gathering El Niño could be strongest on record
A map showing the development of El Niño in the tropical Pacific. Red areas are where sea surface temperatures are warmer than average. Illustration: Bureau of Meteorology View image in fullscreen A map showing the development of El Niño in the tropical Pacific. Red areas are where sea surface temperatures are warmer than average. Illustration: Bureau of Meteorology ‘We are waiting with bated breath’: experts alarmed as BoM says gathering El Niño could be strongest on record Most Australian capital cities have at least 80% chance of unusually warm and dry spring as climatologists watch developing system with increasing alarm Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our email, free app or daily news podcast The El Niño climate phenomenon linked to record global temperatures and now locked in place in the Pacific Ocean could develop into the strongest on record, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. Climatologists are watching the strengthening El Niño with increasing alarm, saying the forecasts from climate models in the coming months are “mind blowing” and “astounding”. Globally, experts have said a strong El Niño could work in tandem with global heating to deliver the hottest year on record either this year or, more likely, in 2027. The bureau has stressed that the strength of an El Niño does not necessarily correlate with the strength of impacts in Australia, but the system generally brings hotter and drier conditions in winter and spring for southern and eastern parts. The climate phenomenon is characterised , with the subsequent atmospheric upset fuelling more severe storms in some parts of the world and hot, dry conditions in others. the Australia emailA major indicator of the strength of an El Niño is the sea surface temperatures in one area of the equatorial Pacific – known as Niño 3.4. Dr Zhi-Weng Chua, a senior climatologist at the bureau, said the highest reliable temperature value for previous El Niños was a monthly average of +2.6C seen in that Pacific region in January 1983. But he said climate models were suggesting this El Niño could peak between +2.2C and above +3C. Oceans have been absorbing the world’s extra heat. But there’s a huge payback “There is a realistic chance that the peak anomaly of this event will rank in the top events, with a chance it could rank as the highest. It is remarkable, and it shows just how much heat there is in the ocean. “It’s perhaps not a surprise, given climate change and how oceans have been gathering heat in the last few decades.” The bureau’s own model has the El Niño peaking at about +3.3C with the phenomenon staying in place until at least the coming summer.
The Aral Sea isn’t just an ecological nightmare – it’s a carbon bomb
The Aral Sea sits between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and was once the fourth-largest inland body of water on Earth. For the past 60 years, though, humans have bled it nearly dry irrigating cotton crops, leaving behind a salty plain the size of Ireland. Its loss has long been seen as an ecological and humanitarian problem, but new research shows that it has also been a significant driver of climate change. The Aral Sea is technically a lake. But when nearly any body of water is full and works as it should, organic matter collects on the bottom, where it remains trapped, often for centuries or millennia. “They accumulate carbon in the sediment,” explained Rafael Marcé, a research scientist at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Blanes, Spain and the lead author of the study, which was published today in the journal Science. “They are carbon sinks.” If the water dries up, however, stored carbon is released, turning sinks into sources. It’s something that Marcé has seen in smaller lakes he’s studied, but even he was surprised 2022 expedition to Central Asia. “We didn’t go to the Aral Sea blind. We had some previous evidence,” he said. “We had no idea about the potential magnitude.” The Aral Sea has left behind a timeline of sorts. The edges dried out decades back, while some areas were wet until just a few years ago. Marcé and his colleagues collected samples along this gradation. The technique allowed them to reconstruct how much carbon the lake had emitted as it evaporated. Between 1960 and 2022, they found, the Aral Sea had pumped a remarkable 748 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That’s three times the annual emissions of Spain. Grist thanks its sponsors. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How “At the beginning it goes pretty fast, then it slowly decays,” said Marcé, noting that about half of the carbon dioxide is released in the first 15 years after a section of the lake is exposed. The paper also found that nearly a fifth of emissions came from wind blowing sediment away, an aspect of drying that experts say hadn’t been adequately studied before. “This dust is a really big issue,” said Sarian Kosten, an aquatic ecologist and professor at Radboud University who was not involved in this research. She called the overall science fascinating and sound, yet the trend disheartening. “I always find it very sad to see these pictures of the declining water surface there.” Oneof the study’s limitations, said Marcé, is that scientists could bring only relatively light-duty equipment to the Aral Sea.
Data centers are booming. Indigenous leaders want help protecting their lands.
This story is published through the Indigenous News Alliance. AI is the transformative technology of our time, with the potential to reshape our world on a global scale. And yet, underpinning its potential is the need for so-called hyperscale data centers that require vast amounts of land, energy, and water. As tech companies and governments continue to develop this infrastructure at a huge scale, Indigenous peoples around the world are responding to this threat in different ways. They are raising concerns about mounting pressure on water resources and inadequate consultation, but in some cases embracing projects for their economic benefits. The rapid expansion of this massive digital infrastructure has Indigenous leaders, governments, and experts calling on those developing them to comply with the principle of free, prior, and informed consent while exploring whether this infrastructure can be established in ways that advance Indigenous rights and priorities. During a panel discussion on the second day of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or EMRIP, Indigenous delegates said that while there must be policies to ensure that AI does not harvest Indigenous knowledge without consent, protections for Indigenous lands and waters are equally important. Grist thanks its sponsors. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How “AI is resource-intensive and requires vast amounts of energy. In Sápmi, we already large data centers put [immense] pressure on our territories,” said Maren Storslett, who is a member of the Sámi Parliament in Norway. “This forces a conversation about priorities and limits and we need to be at the table on these discussions.” According to the International Energy Agency, conventional data centers, which store thousands of computer machines and other equipment to power everyday digital life like cloud storage, may draw around 10 to 25 megawatts of power per year. But a hyperscale, AI-focused data center, of the likes being built , can require 100 megawatts or more annually, consuming as much electricity as 100,000 households would use over the same time. All of that energy is needed to power the immense racks of servers that provide the computing power behind things like ChatGPT, Claude, and other platforms. They also require copious amounts of water to keep them cool. This demand for energy and water, driven in part , is a frequent concern raised . S. alone directly consumed approximately 17.4 billion gallons (66 billion liters) of water in 2023.
Africa can lead the Age of Electrification
Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print Mohamed Adow is the founder and director of Power Shift Africa. At London Climate Action Week, electrification moved from the margins of climate policy to the centre of the road to COP31. The launch of the Electrify Now campaign gave fresh momentum to a target floated at the Bonn climate talks: by 2035, electricity should provide 35% of the world's final energy consumption, up from just over 20% today. That makes electrification one of the defining tests for this year's climate summit in Türkiye. If COP31 is to be more than another exercise in negotiating text, it must show how the world can replace fossil fuels in transport, heating, industry and everyday life with clean electricity. For Africa, this agenda presents both an extraordinary opportunity and an immense challenge. For decades, the continent has been viewed primarily through the lens of energy poverty. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. Yet that very deficit also means many African countries are not locked into ageing fossil-fuel infrastructure in the way industrialised economies are. They have the chance to build cleaner energy systems from the outset. Log in here → Continue reading with free access For 15 years, Climate Home News has rigorously reported on the decisions shaping our climate. Join the community of readers who make this work possible. Join free and keep reading → It takes less than a minute. Mohamed Adow is the founder and director of Power Shift Africa. At London Climate Action Week, electrification moved from the margins of climate policy to the centre of the road to COP31. The launch of the Electrify Now campaign gave fresh momentum to a target floated at the Bonn climate talks: by 2035, electricity should provide 35% of the world's final energy consumption, up from just over 20% today. That makes electrification one of the defining tests for this year's climate summit in Türkiye. If COP31 is to be more than another exercise in negotiating text, it must show how the world can replace fossil fuels in transport, heating, industry and everyday life with clean electricity. For Africa, this agenda presents both an extraordinary opportunity and an immense challenge. For decades, the continent has been viewed primarily through the lens of energy poverty. More than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. Yet that very deficit also means many African countries are not locked into ageing fossil-fuel infrastructure in the way industrialised economies are.
Weather
View All 8Today: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 12°C (54°F) Maximum Temperature: 26°C (79°F)
This video can not be played Today will be a dry and fine day with sunshine and just a few patches of cloud in spots. A cooler day than the previous, but still rather warm. After a sunny evening, tonight will remain dry with clear skies for most and just the odd isolated patch of cloud possible. Tomorrow will be slightly cooler, and areas of cloud will sink in from the north through the day bringing the odd light shower, but there will still be sunny breaks in between. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday Sunday looks to be a dry and sunny day throughout with only the odd light patch of cloud in spots. Staying dry on Monday, with sunny spells but also some areas of patchy cloud in places. Tuesday looks to turn a little cloudier for a time in the early afternoon, but the cloud will break up later on to sunny spells. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, South Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, South Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 95%,95% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1017 millibars, Steady,1017mb, Steady 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
Saturday: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 10°C (49°F) Maximum Temperature: 23°C (73°F)
This video can not be played Today will be a dry and fine day with sunshine and just a few patches of cloud in spots. A cooler day than the previous, but still rather warm. After a sunny evening, tonight will remain dry with clear skies for most and just the odd isolated patch of cloud possible. Tomorrow will be slightly cooler, and areas of cloud will sink in from the north through the day bringing the odd light shower, but there will still be sunny breaks in between. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday Sunday looks to be a dry and sunny day throughout with only the odd light patch of cloud in spots. Staying dry on Monday, with sunny spells but also some areas of patchy cloud in places. Tuesday looks to turn a little cloudier for a time in the early afternoon, but the cloud will break up later on to sunny spells. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, South Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, South Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 95%,95% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1017 millibars, Steady,1017mb, Steady 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
Weatherwatch: How English summer clouds can warn of trouble ahead
Cirrocumulus clouds above woodlands in Dunsden, Oxfordshire. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Cirrocumulus clouds above woodlands in Dunsden, Oxfordshire. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex/Shutterstock Weatherwatch: How English summer clouds can warn of trouble ahead Mackerel skies and mare’s tails signal arrival of warm fronts that push moisture to high altitudes and creates distinctive clouds “Mare’s tails and mackerel scales make lofty ships to carry low sails,” runs an old English saying about summer skies. Mackerel skies are cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds in regular but patchy rows, resembling the light and dark-scale pattern on a mackerel. The cirrocumulus version is white and wispy, altocumulus is grey and thicker. One easy rule is that cirrocumulus is narrower than a finger at arm’s length, altocumulus more like three fingers. View image in fullscreen Altocumulus clouds. Photograph: Dave Porter/AlamyMare’s tails are correctly known as Cirrus uncinus or “curly hook”. These are high-altitude clouds formed of ice crystals, with a dense, comma-shaped head trailing a series of fainter, swept-back plumes. They really do resemble a horse’s tail. Both cloud types signal the imminent arrival of a warm front or a low-pressure cyclonic-storm system. As a warm front advances, it pushes moisture to high altitudes and creates these distinctive patterns. Mackerel skies are the result of turbulence, mare’s tails result from ice crystals being swept out into long faint plumes . View image in fullscreen Cirrus uncinus, or mare’s tails, in Wokingham, England. Photograph: George Anderson/WMOThe old saying turns out to be accurate. Sailors of tall ships were right to lower the sails, reducing the sail area to avoid being overbalanced . Explore more on these topicsMeteorology Weatherwatch UK weather England features Share Reuse this content Most viewed Most viewed
Minnesota sets new air pollution record, Superior National Forest reports the worst wildfire conditions in 20 years
Smoke rising from wildfires in Superior National Forest Minnesota on July 14, 2026. Credit: USFS Superior National Forest Minnesota is experiencing one of its most severe wildfire smoke events on record, with smoke concentrations becoming so extreme that they exceeded the normal operating range of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) automated quality-control system. The agency confirmed that its air quality monitors were functioning properly after technicians inspected affected stations and said the unprecedented readings have established a new set of record observations. The MPCA has issued an Air Quality Alert from CDT Wednesday, July 15, through CDT on Friday, July 17, covering east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota, including the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Air quality is forecast to reach the Maroon Air Quality Index (AQI) category—Hazardous—for central, east central, north central, and northeast Minnesota, while Purple (Very Unhealthy) and Red (Unhealthy) conditions are expected across other parts of the alert area. Heat is expected to exacerbate the health impacts of the smoke, and the agency warned the alert may need to be extended beyond Friday for parts of the state. The extraordinary smoke concentrations prompted the MPCA’s automated quality-control (QC) system to flag the observations because they were far outside the normal range. The agency said staff were dispatched to inspect the affected monitoring stations in the Arrowhead region and confirmed the instruments were operating normally. Satellite image showing dense wildfire smoke over Canada and USA at UTC on July 15, 2026. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers “Our previous records were readings of 476 in that region. We now have a new list of the top 10 observations that come in at more than 1 000,” the MPCA said. The most heavily affected areas include Brainerd, Alexandria, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Winona, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, White Earth, Red Lake, Grand Portage, and Fond du Lac. The smoke is being generated ’s Arrowhead region and southern Canada. According to the MPCA, very heavy smoke from these fires will continue spreading south through central, northwest, and portions of southeastern Minnesota before a forecast cold front gradually brings cleaner air into the region. Existing smoke, along with additional rounds of dense smoke, is expected to linger through Friday morning. Fifteen active wildfires are burning across Minnesota’s Superior National Forest following a widespread lightning outbreak, with officials warning that extreme fire behavior, rapid fire growth, hazardous smoke, and deteriorating weather conditions are creating the most widespread fire conditions seen on the forest in more than two decades.
Live Discussion
LiveAbout NewsBin
Freedom of speech first. Comment anonymously on today's news. No accounts, no tracking, no censorship.
All content resets every 24 hours at midnight UTC.
No comments yet today.
Be the first to share your opinion!